Never Give Up.
The sky cleared after the rain that had fallen since yesterday morning. But the expression on Feng Yun's face was grim as he stood before a thatched hut near the burnt remains of Cheon Ryu yeong's home.
It had already been five days since Cheon Ryu yeong lost consciousness.
The young physician brought from Sahan County had examined him and assured everyone that it was nothing more than exhaustion—that he would soon get back on his feet.
But when three days had passed with no change, those waiting for Cheon Ryu yeong's recovery began to worry.
Even the physician admitted he had no idea why it was taking so long, looking troubled himself.
Originally, Cheon Ryu yeong had planned to spend only a single night here before returning to Chengdu, so he could closely monitor the Demonic Cult's movements until the Emei Sect arrived.
Two days ago, Dokgo Seol had tried to have him moved to Chengdu by carriage, but the young physician had adamantly refused. If someone had been unconscious for three days, it could be more serious than it appeared—absolute rest was necessary.
As a result, Dokgo Seol's party could do nothing but wait, pacing in frustration.
Creak.
The hut's door opened, and Dokgo Seol came out. Having spent five days at Cheon Ryu yeong's side with his family, tending to him without proper sleep, her face was gaunt and pale.
Feng Yun asked, his voice tinged with hope.
"Sister Seol, how is Brother Tian?"
Dokgo Seol ran a hand through her disheveled hair and shook her head.
"No change. His breathing is steady, his wounds are healing—it's not critical. But I can't understand why he hasn't woken up."
"You're saying he's burned through every last thread of his remaining internal strength. I'm not sure if that's even possible."
She sat on the porch, glanced at the sky, and asked gloomily,
"What about the others?"
"Lord Yakcha Sword took half our people back to Sahan County—to buy food…"
Lowering his voice out of consideration for the physician brewing medicine in the backyard, he added,
"And to ask around for an especially skilled doctor."
"The other half?"
"They're keeping watch around the village, just in case."
Dokgo Seol nodded, then fixed her gaze intently on Feng Yun.
"How long were you planning to keep it a secret—that you're a top-tier master?"
"..."
"Would it be rude if I asked about your master or your sect?"
Feng Yun let out a faint sigh.
"I'm sorry, Sister. I had no intention of deceiving anyone for some hidden agenda."
"..."
"Could I answer that another time?"
Reading the complex emotions in his face, Dokgo Seol nodded.
"All right. I don't want to force an answer out of you. If I did, all I'd get are excuses or lies."
Stretching her arms behind her to brace herself on the porch, she said seriously,
"You're only a year younger than me, yet you're already a top-tier master. That's the kind of news that would shake the martial world to its core. Even I can hardly believe it. Still, answer me one thing honestly."
"Ask away."
"I can trust you… can't I?"
Feng Yun gave a sheepish nod.
"Yes, Sister."
At that, some of the tension eased from her expression.
"And one more thing—this is a request, not a question."
"I'm listening."
"I don't know what your circumstances are, but I do know you have no desire for fame or ambition. You truly wish to live quietly, peacefully, and for a long time. But having strength means you also bear the duty and responsibility that come with it. Even if you don't want to, there will be times you must use that strength."
"..."
"For example, when you revealed your skill out of anger at the Jinsan Escort Agency's misdeeds."
Feng Yun nodded.
"Yes, I know. But I… don't really like my own strength. Or, to be precise, I mean the martial arts I've learned."
There was pain in his words—hatred even—for the very martial arts he practiced.
Why?
If one truly despised the martial arts they practiced, they could never reach the realm of the top masters. They would have quit long before. What kind of story lay behind this?
"You don't want to show yourself to the world… not just because you lack ambition, but because you want to run away from something, don't you?"
Her sharp question made the corner of Feng Yun's eye twitch. But when he didn't reply, Dokgo Seol gave a small smile and continued.
"That's fine. I'll wait for the day you open your heart to us completely."
"What's the request?"
She stood up from the porch, stretched, and looked up at the dazzlingly clear sky.
"Please take care of Master Tian. You're his bodyguard. I'd like you to stay by his side no matter what happens."
Feng Yun remained silent.
And Dokgo Seol waited.
She didn't think he would stay within Cheon Ryu yeong for long—not after getting to know his values.
Cheon Ryu yeong had become famous. Which meant that, in time, his bodyguard would also come into the public eye.
Feng Yun, who disliked being noticed, might not accept this request.
As she feared, he fell into deep thought.
The reason he had agreed to be Cheon Ryu yeong's guard in the first place was curiosity—both about him and because it didn't require him to fight on the front lines.
Once his curiosity about Cheon Ryu yeong and about how he'd discovered his martial level was satisfied, he had planned to leave.
The silence stretched on, until Feng Yun finally spoke.
"It's definitely my fault Brother Tian ended up like this. I'll take responsibility."
Dokgo Seol's face brightened into a rare, broad smile.
"Thank you. That makes me feel much more at ease."
"It's nothing. It's only what I ought to do."
"Still, thank you. I feel bad that a promising top-tier master like you will be 'wasted' as one man's bodyguard…"
Feng Yun cut her off with a shake of his head.
"You know now that I don't like being in the spotlight."
Dokgo Seol thought privately, We'll see.
In her eyes, turbulent times were brewing.
The Heavenly Demon Sword she had seen up close was no easy foe. He would not withdraw quietly. Sooner or later, he would bare his claws to the world again.
And because of that, the world would be thrown into chaos. In such troubled times, how long could a top-tier master like Feng Yun live quietly?
Even a great tree will have its branches shaken by the wind, no matter how still it stands. But for now, just knowing he would remain as Cheon Ryu yeong's bodyguard was enough.
"That's why I'm even more grateful. I think Master Tian will someday spread his wings and make a name for himself across the world. And when that happens, you'll be noticed too…"
Dokgo Seol trailed off with an apologetic look. But Feng Yun smiled faintly and replied.
"I can't stay by Brother Cheon Ryu yeong's side for the rest of my life. I'll probably leave after a few years. But until then, I intend to actively help him in his training—until he can defend himself, just as he said he would."
Dokgo Seol frowned.
"You think Master Tian can become that strong?"
"You told him yourself, five days ago, to go ahead when he said he would grow stronger."
"Well… the situation was what it was. How could I have been so cold as to say it was impossible right then?"
Feng Yun shrugged and glanced toward the room where Cheon Ryu yeong lay.
"I thought the same as you at first."
Her eyes narrowed.
"So you've changed your mind?"
"Yes."
His tone was firm. But Dokgo Seol gave a skeptical click of her tongue.
"I don't know. Sure, beating Jin Guk-ju in such dire circumstances was impressive. But at the time, Jin Guk-ju was caught off guard. Who would have expected Master Tian to have the nerve to attack at the same time?"
"That nerve you just mentioned—most people don't have it. Another way to call it is courage."
"Courage… I still think it was recklessness. He was lucky. If something like that happened again, I'd risk my life to stop him."
At her resolute words, Feng Yun shook his head.
"In all the urgent moments of our fight against the Demonic Cult, Brother Tian never once wavered. He's a natural warrior—born for battle. Of course, courage without execution is just recklessness. But he's someone who acts on his words and his will."
Again, he looked toward the room where Cheon Ryu yeong lay.
"When he fought Jin Guk-ju, I was shocked. If I'd been in his condition… I could never have beaten him."
Unconsciously, Dokgo Seol nodded. It was like a fight between a cat and a mouse—utterly one-sided. For her, it was like imagining herself facing the Heavenly Demon Sword.
"Yes. It was incredible."
"He already knew Jin Guk-ju was going for his head. That means he has the most important quality for a martial artist—keen battle sense. And in that split second, he decided not to defend, but to give up his shoulder in order to counterattack. That decision alone gave me chills."
"..."
"And what shocked me even more was that, with his exhausted body and the impact to his shoulder, his strike didn't waver in the slightest."
At that, a glint of realization flickered in her eyes.
Come to think of it, Master Tian had been struck hard on his left shoulder. Naturally, a club swung with the right hand should have lost its aim and veered off.
"That's true…"
"He absorbed and braced against the impact to his left shoulder by shifting his right foot sideways. That means he calculated that movement in advance before swinging the club. The initial target wasn't the groin—it was the waist. But by moving his right foot, the club's path shifted to hit the vital point instead. In other words, he aimed for the waist, knowing it would end up hitting the groin."
"...!"
Dokgo Seol swallowed hard. What Feng Yun was saying was that in the instant Jin Guk-ju attacked, Cheon Ryu yeong had calculated everything—his opponent's attack direction, the force, the effect on his own body when he took it on the shoulder, and the outcome of his counterattack.
"Is… is that even possible?"
"It's not."
"..."
"But Brother Tian made the impossible possible."
Following Feng Yun's gaze, Dokgo Seol looked toward the room.
"Yes… he made the impossible possible again. How does he do it?"
Feng Yun gave a small, knowing smile.
"There's only one reason."
"...?"
"He never gives up."
Her lips curved in a smile.
"Never gives up… yes. You're right. No matter the situation, he doesn't give up."
"Yes. That's what my late father left me as his dying words—never give up."
"..."
"He told me that all great things come from passion and determination that never give up."
Dokgo Seol nodded silently, then added,
"Yes… then I won't give up either."
"Hm?"
"I'll surpass you someday!"
Feng Yun waved his hands dismissively.
"That will be difficult."
"Oh? So you're saying you're a top-tier master at only twenty years old, and you're bragging now?"
Just as she glared at him, the door flew open and Cheon Su-yeon burst out onto the porch, calling toward the backyard.
"Doctor! Doctor! My brother's regained consciousness! He's opened his eyes!"
Dokgo Seol and Feng Yun's faces lit up, and they rushed inside. The young physician, looking relieved, hurried after them.
Whoooosh!
It was as if a hole had opened in the sky—rain poured down in sheets.
Thirty li from Mount Qingcheng, on the Chengdu Plain, stood the Qingping Inn (淸平客棧).
It was here that the Heavenly Demon Sword, Baek Yun-hoe, had challenged the Qingcheng Sect Leader to a one-on-one duel.
For that reason, despite the downpour, about a hundred people had gathered at the inn. If the weather had been good, the crowd might have numbered in the thousands.
Still, only about a hundred onlookers were present, since most doubted a real duel would take place.
In the wide clearing before the inn stood a dozen Qingcheng Sect Taoists, rain soaking their robes.
One middle-aged man among them wiped the rain from his face with his palm and addressed the elderly man at the front.
"It seems he won't come after all. We should head back."
All nodded in agreement, wearing wry smiles at having come for nothing. But then, a gleam lit the old man's eyes.
"A guest… is coming."
"Sir?"
They all sharpened their gaze.
The rain blurred their vision.
Whoooosh…
Only the sound of the downpour filled the air. But after half a breath, two figures on horseback appeared faintly through the rain.
Neigh!
The whinny of a horse pierced the storm.
Faces around the inn grew tense. None had truly expected the Heavenly Demon Sword to appear—but could it be?
Splorch, splorch, splorch…
The two horses slogged through the rain-soaked, muddy ground.
The Qingcheng Taoists swallowed hard. Could it really be Baek Yun-hoe, the Heavenly Demon Sword—and with only a single subordinate?
Perhaps not. Just passersby, maybe. But if it was him…
Before they could decide, the distance shrank to within five jang.
A man in black, wearing a bamboo hat, looked down from horseback with an arrogant gaze, sweeping over the Qingcheng Taoists. A cold smile curled his lips as he spoke.
"Gwan Tae-rang."
"Yes, Commander."
"Kill everyone except the old man at the front."
"At once!"