An unfamiliar ceiling.

That was the first thought that came to mind as I opened my eyes. Sunlight was streaming through the window, and judging by the brightness, it felt like it was just past noon.

I immediately sat up. I needed to assess the situation. But as I braced myself against the bed to get up—

“Ugh…”

I had to clutch my forehead as a throbbing pain shot through it. What’s going on? Why does it hurt so much?

‘...This feeling.’

I looked around the room while holding my forehead. It was an unfamiliar room. It seemed to be an inn, but it wasn’t the Baeklim Tavern where I was staying.

As I took in my surroundings, I began to remember the events right before I lost consciousness. Specifically, when I saw my father’s fist in front of my face.

Did I pass out from that hit?

‘If that’s true… that’s incredibly embarrassing, isn’t it?’

I had activated Dual Heaven Piercing Technique and was ready to give it my all, only to be knocked out by a single punch.

After all that bravado, I got knocked out cold. To make matters worse…

‘I lost… and that means I won’t get the answer, will I?’

The entire purpose of that duel had been to find out where my mother was. All I needed to do was land one successful hit.

But I failed. And my father even agreed to fight with one arm restricted. In the end, the difference in our abilities was too great for me to overcome.

‘It’s not like I expected to win.’

I never thought I could win, but I didn’t expect to lose this miserably. It only meant that my father was much stronger than I had anticipated.

With some difficulty, I managed to lift my upper body.

First, I needed to figure out how long I’d been out and what happened after I fainted.

That’s when—

“Huh?”

As I stretched out my hand, I felt something unusual.

Someone was lying on the small bed next to me.

“…What…?”

Startled, I quickly pulled my hand back. Who was it? Who was in my bed?

My mind raced, rapidly cooling down.

There were only two—no, maybe three people who would sneak into my bed while I was sleeping. Among them, the most likely candidate was…

‘Namgung Bi-ah?’

She had snuck in before, though she hadn’t done it recently. If anyone would do it now, it would be her.

I hesitantly lifted the blanket with a cautious hand. If it really was Namgung Bi-ah, what then?

What could I do? I’d probably scold her a bit, then we’d go eat together as usual…

“Hmm…?”

Contrary to my expectations of seeing blue hair, what greeted me was black hair.

Black hair? Who else had black hair?

“Ugh…”

The groaning voice was deep. At least, it didn’t sound like a woman’s voice.

Was I hearing things because I had just woken up?

As I stood there in bewilderment, the person sensed my presence and started to get up.

“Ugh… Morning… Ahk!”

As soon as I saw who it was, I kicked him reflexively. He tumbled off the bed from the unexpected strike.

“Ouch! Who kicks a monk, you bastard!”

Holding his stomach and yelling in pain was Woo Hyuk, the Sleeping Dragon.

“…What the hell are you doing here?”

Why was he here? And why was he shirtless? That annoyingly well-built physique was right in front of my eyes.

How did I feel? Well, it was downright unpleasant to wake up and see a half-naked guy first thing.

Suppressing my disgust, I started talking.

“Why are you here?”

I guess I had become more tolerant over time. In the past, I would’ve thrown a punch without a second thought. Now I was asking questions first.

“What do you think someone is doing in a bed? I was sleeping… Put your hand down. Why are you clenching your fist?”

Of course, my patience was wearing thin. I was barely holding back.

“I’m counting to three.”

“What’s with the numbers?”

“It means I’ll give you three chances to explain yourself before I beat you up. So talk.”

“That’s a vague and suspiciously quick judgment, don’t you think? What kind of rule is that?”

Hearing him complain about arbitrary rules was ironic, considering he was the king of arbitrary decisions. I ignored his protests and extended one finger.

“One.”

“Wait, hold on. Why are we doing this? Can’t we just talk this out?”

“Two.”

“Hey! At least give me a weapon so I can defend myself! This is unfair!”

Woo Hyuk looked around frantically for something to defend himself with, but there was nothing useful in sight.

“We should resolve this with words, not fists…!”

“Three. Now, you’re gonna—”

“I ran away from home!”

I froze just as I was about to grab his head.

What did he say?

“...Ran away?”

“I ran away from home. I left… Ouch!”

I couldn’t help but smack him across the head. He glared at me with a wounded look.

“Why’d you hit me when I told you?”

“Sorry, but it’s hard not to hit someone spouting nonsense.”

Running away? What nonsense is that? For someone who technically lives with the Wudang Sect, not at his family estate, “running away” doesn’t even make sense.

Especially considering I know his real name, it made even less sense.

“Run away from what? Where did you go?”

“Put down your fist, and I’ll explain. Where did I run away from? Obviously, I left the sect.”

He didn’t even mention his actual family. It made sense since he hated that place.

“Wait, are you saying you left the Wudang Sect?”

“Are you crazy? If I did that, I’d lose my martial arts and my core would be shattered. I just mean I left temporarily… I’ll go back eventually.”

I sighed, processing what he was saying.

“So, out of the blue, you decided to run away?”

“...”

“One…”

“Ugh, you’re so impatient.”

“Spit it out.”

Annoyed by my persistent questioning, Woo Hyuk hesitated, licking his lips. He seemed reluctant to talk. Normally, I wouldn’t press him.

“Two.”

But I was irritated enough to insist on an answer. I began channeling my energy into my hand, causing Woo Hyuk to flinch and respond quickly.

“It’s a protest.”

“A protest?”

“Yes… a protest.”

“Who are you protesting against?”

A protest? Out of nowhere? Running away to make a statement?

Woo Hyuk just wore an awkward smile in response. I knew that look. It meant he wouldn’t say anything more, no matter what.

At this point, no amount of beating would get anything out of him. I clicked my tongue and moved on to another question.

“Fine, whatever. Protest or not, why are you here?”

The personal stuff aside, what mattered to me was why Woo Hyuk was here, in my bed.

He broke into a bright smile as if he’d been waiting for that question.

That grin was somehow even more annoying, especially coming from someone with such a handsome face.

“Oh, that. I ran away, so I needed somewhere to stay.”

“So?”

“It’s not like I’ll be gone for just a day or two.”

Woo Hyuk grinned at me.

“So I thought I’d crash at your place for a bit. Just kidding! Kidding! Put out the fire! The whole place will burn down!”

Seeing the flames rise around me as I smiled, he quickly waved his hands in panic.

“Right? You were just joking? Good thing I stopped, or I might’ve burned you alive.”

“You’re seriously intense…”

Woo Hyuk groaned, seemingly exhausted by my reaction. Was he really planning on freeloading at my place?

Noticing my sour expression, he chuckled.

“Don’t worry, it was half a joke. I do have a place to stay.”

“That’s a relief.”

“You’re not even curious about where? I’m a little hurt here.”

“You’d tell me even if I didn’t ask.”

My nonchalant answer made him blink in surprise.

“You know, it’s always surprising how well you know me. Were we close friends as kids or something?”

“You’re spouting nonsense again.”

“It’s just that most people don’t know me this well. But you always seem to get it.”

“Hurry up and talk. Stop with the roundabout nonsense.”

Seeing I wasn’t amused, Woo Hyuk scrunched his nose in frustration.

“I heard you’re headed to Sichuan.”

I had to raise my eyebrows at that one.

“How did you know that?”

“Huh? Iron Prince told me.”

Woo Hyuk casually revealed the source of his information—Iron Ji-sun.

‘...Just wait until I see him again.’

Ji-sun, that loudmouth! I’ll make him regret that.

As I seethed inwardly, Woo Hyuk continued.

“Anyway, my master happens to be in that area right now. Why don’t we travel together? I’m planning to stay there.”

A master? This piqued my interest.

‘Does he actually have a master?’

I had assumed he trained under someone from the previous generation, like Yeongpung. Maybe he was connected to someone like Gu Ryun or the Demon Sword Empress.

I’d never heard about a master for the Sleeping Dragon before. But in Sichuan?

“My master travels around often, but he’s in Sichuan this time.”

“You have a master?”

“Yeah. I didn’t learn too much from him, but you’d know him if I mentioned him. He’s pretty famous.”

“Who is it?”

Someone famous enough for me to recognize? That would be unusual. With curiosity, I looked at Woo Hyuk as he sat up to answer me.

“Kyu-do.”

I tilted my head, unfamiliar with the name.

It sounded like a name, but I hadn’t heard of it. If he was famous, I should have known him by now.

“His nickname.”

Woo Hyuk added, and my eyes widened in shock.

“Wudang’s Demon Immortal.”

“…!”

“That’s my master.”

A well-known figure, indeed, in every sense.

The Wudang Demon Immortal, Kyu-do.

One of the most prominent masters of Wudang Sect, yet also one of the most notorious figures. He was a treasured relic of the Namgung Family.

And the future wielder of the Ghost Blade, Thunder Fang, once wielded by the Demon Sword Empress herself.