The door creaked open as Byul Rak entered.
Inside, a middle-aged man sat cross-legged. He was none other than the esteemed Dokgo Gupae, the current Sect Leader of Mount Hua Sect and one of the Twelve Greats.
“It’s been a while since we’ve spoken like this.”
“…”
“Sit first. You look terrible.”
“…”
“Yeah, sit down. Your appearance is quite a sight.”
“…Yes.”
Byul Rak sat cross-legged in front of Dokgo Gupae. Dokgo’s expression remained stoic, void of emotion.
Plop.
Dokgo Gupae lifted the teapot and poured tea into a cup. The steaming cup was then handed to Byul Rak.
“Drink first. Your throat must be dry after all that shouting.”
“I’m fine.”
“A gentleman should always maintain decorum, no matter the situation. Weren’t those your own words to Bin?”
“…Thank you.”
Byul Rak accepted the teacup and took a sip, after which Dokgo Gupae followed suit.
After swallowing about a mouthful, Byul Rak placed the cup on the ground. Dokgo carefully observed his movements before speaking up.
“Bin… No, I…”
Changing the pronoun indicated Dokgo’s intention to speak as a father-in-law, not merely a master.
“I didn’t like you.”
“…”
“To be honest, I even hated you. That was my honest opinion.”
“So you did.”
“I couldn’t help but hate the man who took away my only daughter.”
“I understand.”
“Yes, you can understand. You’re also a father now.”
Dokgo reminisced about the past. One memory stood out especially.
“It was when I heard about you earning the nickname ‘Sword Sage’ and becoming one of the Five Greats of the World. I was already impressed when you gained the title of ‘Divine Sword,’ surpassing the Nine Dragons, but learning you’d reached such an unfathomable level—completely out of reach—even gave me chills. I still remember the thrill.”
“…”
“To be honest, since then, I began to secretly take pride in you. I thought that even though you were an eyesore as a son-in-law, at least our daughter had chosen well. …I mean, she couldn’t stay single forever anyway.”
“That I didn’t know.”
“Yes, probably so. After you took my daughter, the Huashan Sect and Namgung severed ties. It was just a small grudge.”
“You ignored me when I came to pay my respects.”
“That’s right. Back then, you weren’t yet the Sword Sage. There was no reason for me to meet the thief who took away my precious daughter. Of course… even if you had been the Sword Sage, I probably would have avoided you too, outside of official business.”
“Why bring this up now?”
“Because I have something to ask you.”
Clank.
Dokgo Gupae placed his tea cup on the ground. Immediately, the atmosphere in the room shifted.
“I heard about my daughter.”
“…”
“She seems to be going through a tough time. Especially when it comes to you.”
“What do you want to ask?”
“Everything.”
Dokgo’s voice became threatening.
Lines like tiger stripes creased his face.
“What exactly happened while I was in seclusion after the war?”
“…You were in seclusion? I didn’t know.”
“Why my daughter fell so far and why you became one of the greatest villains… tell me everything from the very beginning, as a father-in-law.”
“…Yes. If you wish, I’ll tell you everything.”
It was the moment when Byul Rak’s hazy eyes, weary from the day, regained clarity.
“…That’s what happened.”
Byul Rak recounted to Dokgo Gupae everything about the last three years, omitting only the fact that he had returned from the future, mainly speaking of the machinations and schemes involving Bin Namgung. Since fate had forced him to return, there wasn’t much to hide anyway.
He had nothing to be ashamed of.
“So, I thought you weren’t fulfilling your duties as a husband to my daughter.”
Dokgo sighed.
“It turns out that my daughter didn’t fully live up to her duties as a wife to you.”
Deep sorrow laced his voice.
“To have lived beside you and yet not trust her own husband… how foolish… Have I raised her too naïvely…?”
Byul Rak gave a faint smile.
It was pitying.
Talking to someone who was technically no longer his father-in-law felt strange.
For a moment, his mind flashed to Woo-yong Jin, who always addressed him as “Father-in-law.” Although Dokgo was the complete opposite of Woo-yong’s frivolous demeanor,
“Still, don’t worry about it.”
“Worry about what?”
“Despite her shortcomings, I will always fulfill mine.”
“…”
For the first time in his life, Dokgo realized that a voice could sound lonely.
“You’ve… you haven’t. She’s a disgraceful woman who couldn’t trust you.”
“She’s apologized. It’s over.”
“The world doesn’t mend with just an apology. Even just now, you punished those who you said had atoned. Moreover, she still hasn’t completely trusted you, hasn’t she?”
“It wasn’t out of malice. She just did her best within her circumstances. She’s still doing her best.”
“…Yes, she’s doing the best she can.”
Both Dokgo and Byul Rak thought of Gayoung Jin’s recent actions: touring the sects to distribute tributes, protecting Su-a Namgung from the hail of snowballs thrown by onlookers, and even kneeling in front of him, pleading earnestly.
“I did well to choose you as a son-in-law. Though, I guess you aren’t my son-in-law anymore.”
“…”
“Alright, you can go.”
Byul Rak stood up.
There was nothing left to say, so no reason to linger.
As he half-rose, Dokgo’s voice stopped him.
“About Moon Blossom… I want to apologize on behalf of my unworthy disciple.”
Byul Rak froze mid-step.
“Even though she’s cast out now, she was once my pupil. Not to say that Bin was entirely in the wrong either.”
Dokgo changed how he referred to himself.
This was clear.
From now on, he would speak not as a father-in-law but as the Sect Leader of Mount Hua.
“That’s not something you should be apologizing to me for.”
“Why not?”
“At some later date, you should formally apologize to my Sect Leader. I neither have the right to forgive nor the right to hold her accountable.”
“Understood. You’re making a clear distinction between public and private matters.”
Upon hearing these terms, Byul Rak paused for a moment before adding another remark.
“Still, let me give you a piece of advice.”
“Go ahead. I’m curious to hear it. Planning to teach me some moral lesson on propriety again?”
“Before I ask, may I inquire—what does Huashan teach newcomers first?”
“We start with basic martial techniques, like the Three Treasures Swordplay. We push them hard early on to sort out the promising from the unworthy.”
“…”
“Why the question?”
“Not to criticize Huashan’s methods, but where I come from, we encourage newcomers to read sacred texts first. The Four Books and the Five Classics. They read them regardless of understanding.”
“…”
“To cultivate their character before learning martial arts. While not everyone will gain enlightenment, at least Namgong students learn about chivalry, righteousness, and propriety before they touch martial techniques.”
Dokgo could only smile faintly, unable to argue.
Though he could come up with a hundred counterarguments, he somehow found himself agreeing with what Byul Rak had to say.
“Please aim to teach them character first. Humans, not beasts.”
Byul Rak glanced vaguely toward the door.
Dokgo chuckled with a bitter smile.
“Huh…”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Byul Rak straightened his back fully, rising from his half-crouched posture.
As he stepped out, Dokgo added a final remark.
“You need not worry about those you killed. As Sect Leader, I’ll take care of the aftermath.”
“…”
“Thank you.”
With that, Byul Rak bowed once more in respectful farewell before leaving the Huashan Sect’s chamber.
Meanwhile, as Byul Rak returned to the Taewon Jin Clan’s quarters and let Gayoung Jin sniff an unexpected blood fragrance,
In the room, Dokgo watched the retreating figure with an empty gaze and whispered to himself:
“Changchun Sword King…”
Thinking about the decorous and mannered figure of Byul Rak.
“What a proper disciple he is from that troublemaker.”
Comparing him to his father, the late Changchun Sword King, Namgung Cheon.
“Does trouble breed trouble?”
Then, Dokgo, recalling Byul Rak’s earlier words, tilted his head in puzzlement.
“Anyway… teaching newcomers the classics at Namgong? Most of them are illiterate, aren’t they? They couldn’t possibly teach reading and writing as well, so what exactly did he mean?”
Meanwhile, on the way to Taewon Jin’s quarters,
– Son-in-law! Are you alright?!
Byul Rak frowned deeply at Woo-yong Jin’s incessant chatter.
‘Did he get enough rest? He could have used some more…’
– This guy can talk. But why do you look like this? Did you fight someone?
Woo-yong Jin gestured toward the blood-stained fabric of Byul Rak’s clothes.
Byul Rak smiled faintly in response.
‘Just now fulfilling something I should have done long ago.’
Woo-yong Jin understood the implications.
‘And… I’ve managed to untangle some of the knotted relations.’
– You look quite pleased.
‘Why lie to someone who knows everything?’
– Ha! You’re a funny one. Kid, good job. Rest now.
“Eh….”
Slowly opening my eyes, bright light filled my vision.
The soft touch against my back and palm indicated cushions—perhaps a bed.
…Wait, a bed?
I always sleep on a blanket on the floor. What’s going on?
Hustle!
“Chul-bin? Are you awake?”
Lifting my upper body, I noticed my surroundings.
The first thing I saw was Jade Flower, her white hair pulled back, revealing a serene throat.
“Oh, Jade Flower? Why are you here?”
“Rest more. You looked very unwell.”
“No… Why did you…”
“Ah, do you want to wash your face? I’ve prepared it for you already.”
“Hmm…?”
What exactly is going on here?
