The professors, who had only managed to fall asleep at dawn, awoke when the sun was already high in the sky.

Just as they had naturally gathered for a discussion the previous night, they came together again. However, having slept outdoors, they all looked a bit disheveled. Their hair was tousled, and their clothes were slightly damp with dew.

Hwayeon Shinni spoke up.

“Is everyone here?” “Yes.”

Normally, Hyun Gong would have led the meeting, but today was different. Even the most esteemed scholars and family heads were like children before Hwayeon Shinni, so it would have been presumptuous for the barely thirty-year-old Hyun Gong to take charge.

Leaning casually against Sam Anbul, Hwayeon Shinni asked the group, “So, what do we do now?”

Unlike the previous night, the focus of the meeting was not on martial arts but on the future course of action for the martial world. Discussions on martial arts could be leisurely, but responding to the leader required timely action, as delays could drastically change the situation.

Namgung Jincheon was the first to voice his opinion.

“Shouldn’t we extract the leader now?”

Before Hwayeon Shinni could seek other opinions, Myeon Ryuksong immediately opposed.

“Do you think we can eliminate the leader just by following him now?”

The group recalled the leader’s overwhelming prowess displayed the previous day. It was an achievement that could be called unparalleled. The professors surrounding the leader felt insignificant in comparison. No one could stop the departing leader, not even once.

Namgung Jincheon addressed Myeon Ryuksong.

“Of course, it’s not easy. But I assure you, this is the time when the gap between us and the leader is the smallest. The leader didn’t seem to be in perfect condition… If we don’t act now, we may never have another chance.”

“You’re right in many ways. But just because the gap is smallest now doesn’t mean we can handle the leader. You saw it yesterday.”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Yoo Jin-gwang, or more precisely, to the sword at his waist, which had been effortlessly cut down. No one had forgotten the sight of Yoo Jin-gwang’s sword being cleanly severed.

Despite the intense scrutiny, Yoo Jin-gwang remained silent, casting a hopeful glance at Namgung Myung instead.

Myeon Ryuksong continued, “We must be cautious. If we provoke the leader recklessly and something goes wrong… we won’t be able to recover.”

“So, are we just going to stand by and let the leader fully consolidate his power? Is that what you’re suggesting?”

“The matter is out of our hands. Just as no one can stop the moon from waxing and waning, the leader has slipped beyond our grasp.”

Namgung Jincheon looked troubled by Myeon Ryuksong’s words.

“Are you saying we should just quietly follow the leader’s decisions, hoping he harbors no ill will?”

”…We must be realistic. It was hard enough to endure the leader before, but now that his skills have advanced significantly, how can we possibly contend with him? His swordsmanship aside, without a way to counter that brilliant sword… we can’t subdue the leader.”

Namgung Jincheon was not as eloquent or persuasive. He could only repeat that this was their only chance, while Myeon Ryuksong had much more to say.

“Moreover, it’s not just about relying on the leader’s goodwill. Didn’t the leader say yesterday that he wouldn’t come out once he entered the celestial realm?”

“That was when we were sitting idly.”

“You know well. The leader wasn’t saying he’d retreat because his enemies lost at the battle of Jangho.”

“Yes.”

Namgung Jincheon was slightly dissatisfied but had nothing more to say. He wasn’t used to such debates. From the moment he was scouted, Namgung Jincheon had rarely engaged in verbal sparring. He gave orders, and others followed.

In the end, Namgung Jincheon turned to the one person who had been most adamant about pursuing the leader and the great protector, Jang Il-nam.

“Jang Il-nam, don’t you have something to say?”

But Jang Il-nam couldn’t answer immediately, looking confused.

“I… need to think a bit more.”

Since last night, Jang Il-nam hadn’t voiced any opinions in the discussion. His mind was filled not with the leader’s prowess or the direction of the inevitable, but with the image of the leader coming to kill him and the great protector stopping him.

What tormented Jang Il-nam wasn’t the brief moment of fear or helplessness he felt.

‘It can’t be.’ ‘You’re lucky.’

The image of the great protector holding back the leader wouldn’t leave his mind. He didn’t know the great protector’s intentions, but one thing was clear: without the great protector, he would have died there.

‘My enemy saved my life. What should I do? Should I give up my revenge against the great protector? That’s absurd. I can’t. Even if I were to slice him from head to toe and swallow him whole, it wouldn’t be enough…’

As Jang Il-nam sank back into his dilemma, Namgung Jincheon sighed softly. At least he had one more ally.

Namgung Jincheon turned to Hyun Gong.

“Seung Ryong Sword, what about you?”

Hyun Gong, instead of answering, looked uneasily at Namgung Myung.

Namgung Myung stood up with a calm demeanor and said, “We must fight.”

Namgung Jincheon felt a surge of hope. Even a troublemaking son could be useful at times.

Then Myeon Ryuksong spoke again.

“Is there a way to face the leader? No matter how negative the talk, agreeing unconditionally is-”

“Shouldn’t we at least prepare for the possibility?”

“That’s the problem…”

As Myeon Ryuksong said this, Namgung Myung drew his sword.

At first, people thought it was nonsense, but soon their eyes widened. Namgung Myung’s sword was glowing.

It wasn’t as bright as the leader’s, nor did it burn with the same fierce red light. But it was unmistakably glowing white, visible even under the sun.

Yoo Jin-gwang nodded approvingly at the sight.

Myeon Ryuksong asked, “How… how is this possible?”

Namgung Myung, with a slightly arrogant smile, sheathed his sword.

“I’m not saying we should fight right now. But if we’re going to face the leader, we need at least one way to counter his sword.”

It was a statement with significant implications. To confront the leader, the first step was to find a way to counter his brilliant sword. Namgung Myung was essentially offering to teach others a skill similar to that of the leader’s sword.

It was a bold decision, almost unbelievable.

How many martial artists in the world would willingly share their achievements and insights with outsiders, not just their children or disciples, or even members of the same sect? Namgung Jincheon was visibly surprised by his son’s decision.

Myeon Ryuksong, observing Namgung Myung and the others, regained his composure.

“Namgung Myung, are you sure about this?”

Meanwhile, the leader, known for his exceptional martial arts, had grown even more formidable, enduring such a grueling journey. But Eom Soyul was different. Traveling for a day and night was manageable, but by the second day, it was unbearable. By the third day, she couldn’t tell if she was running or sleeping.

After three days of travel and a night’s rest, they were on the second day of their journey when Eom Soyul spoke to the leader.

“Leader…!”

The leader turned to look at her. Eom Soyul, with an uncharacteristically pitiful expression, asked, “Can we rest for a bit?”

”…Let’s do that.”

Having traveled a long way along the road, they were bound to come across an inn soon. It would have been nice to rest there, but the leader suddenly veered off the path, heading into a secluded mountain area.

‘Sigh.’

This had become a habit of the leader’s recently. He never slept under a roof, always seeking out remote places when it was time to rest. At first, Eom Soyul thought it might be an attempt to spend some private time together, but the leader showed no such intentions.

It was odd to think it was to avoid pursuers, as they traveled comfortably along the road.

‘Is it to prevent being ambushed while sleeping?’

As they moved a bit further, the leader spoke.

“We’ll sleep here tonight.”

Once again, it was not a place with a roof, not even a clearing, just an ordinary forest.

Eom Soyul considered climbing a tree to sleep but decided to lean against a large trunk instead. She feared she might fall and hurt herself if she slept in a tree.

Normally, such a thing wouldn’t happen, but she was so exhausted now that she might not even notice if she fell.

Eom Soyul glanced at the leader, who was gazing at the moon. The night air was getting chilly, and she wished he would come closer to share some warmth, but he remained where he was, quietly watching the moon.

“Leader, aren’t you going to sleep?” “The moon is bright.”

Eom Soyul looked up at the moon. It wasn’t a full moon, something between a half and a full moon. It wasn’t particularly bright, and wispy clouds floated by, occasionally obscuring it. It wasn’t an ideal night for moon-gazing.

Eom Soyul watched the leader gazing at the moon and gradually drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, when Eom Soyul awoke, the leader was nowhere to be seen.

”…Leader?”

Feeling a bit flustered, Soyul glanced around, only to find the leader appearing as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Except, he was holding four steaming, golden dumplings. They looked so substantial that just one could stave off hunger.

The leader handed three of the dumplings to Soyul.

Soyul, without showing any sign of discomfort, continued on until nearly evening. Unable to hold back any longer, she spoke to the leader.

“Leader, could we rest for the night?”

“Is something wrong?”

“I feel a bit off. Maybe it was the dumplings, or perhaps it’s just fatigue…”

Normally, this wouldn’t happen to someone like Soyul. A seasoned martial artist like her wouldn’t be affected by spoiled food, nor would she fall ill easily.

But things were different now. Since leaving Luoyang, her meals had been irregular, she barely slept, and she hadn’t had a proper rest. In such conditions, even minor ailments couldn’t be shaken off easily.

Moreover, she hadn’t bathed in nearly ten days, leaving her feeling sticky and itchy. Sweat during the day and drying off at night had likely left her with an unpleasant odor.

Soyul realized this belatedly, her face turning red with embarrassment, even her ears.

‘No wonder the leader’s been avoiding me!’

Having shown such a sorry state, she felt apologizing was pointless. Half resigned, she pleaded like a child.

“Anyway, I’d like to wash up and spend the night under a roof. Is that too much to ask?”

In the past, she wouldn’t have dared to make such a request, but her relationship with the leader had grown much closer. She expected him to agree without hesitation.

However, the leader hesitated for a long moment before finally responding.

”…Alright.”

With his consent, they slowed their pace and eventually arrived at a small village catering to travelers with food and lodging.

Soyul went to a nearby stream to wash up and bought a simple new outfit. The clothes reeking of sweat were discarded after a single sniff.

‘These are beyond saving…’

After eating until she was full, Soyul entered her room, intending to sleep, but first looked around. It was a quiet village, with no martial artists or threatening figures in sight.

‘Where did the leader go?’

She stepped outside to find him.

The village was small, so it didn’t take long to spot him. The leader was sitting on the inn’s roof, seemingly deep in thought, unaware of Soyul’s gaze.

He was staring intently, fiddling with his sword hilt, watching the passersby.

Soyul called out to him.

“Leader… I mean, Master Yeon! Don’t be so tense. Come inside and get some rest!”

Only then did the tension leave his eyes.

“Alright, I will. Go ahead and sleep; I’ll join you soon.”

Lying in her room, Soyul kept her eyes open, waiting for the leader to come in. She didn’t want to be caught drooling in her sleep when he arrived.

But once again, the leader didn’t come in before she fell asleep.