“I-I’m called Woo.”

Woo stammered out a reply, and Kang-oh nodded.

“Understood. I’ll remember that.”

Asking a servant for their name had been a half-impulsive act. Yet Woo’s eyes were blank, as if he hadn’t expected such a question. It was as though Woo knew Kang-oh well, or at least gave that impression.

Kang-oh’s intuition was generally right. But this time, he hesitated. He had absolutely no memory of this servant. If Woo served his master, Kang-oh might have met him in passing, but this was the first time he’d ever seen him.

Though Kang-oh was usually indifferent to his surroundings, if someone walked differently from others, he’d normally remember it, even if only vaguely…

Woo caught a glimpse of Kang-oh’s serious expression and hunched over even more. Every one of Kang-oh’s reactions weighed on his mind. Had he been a complete stranger, Woo might not have been this shaken.

Though he hadn’t eaten much, his stomach felt uneasy. The tension tightened his chest, and though he walked ahead, he fought the urge to frequently glance back. It had been years since he’d been so conscious of his limp, which was why his steps were slow.

But Kang-oh, without a word of complaint, adjusted his pace to match Woo’s. Kang-oh, who could easily outpace him just by taking longer strides, without even the need for any martial techniques, said nothing about the sluggish pace, which made Woo feel both guilty and appreciative. It revealed something about Kang-oh’s character. Evidently, Ye Jin-rang had trained his disciple diligently.

No, Kang-oh had always been kind from a young age.

Reflecting on memories long buried, Woo’s steps slowed even more. At that moment, Kang-oh, who had been quietly following behind, finally spoke.

“Are your legs in much pain?”

“Pardon? Ah, no, not at all. If my slow pace is frustrating, I can walk faster.”

Woo stammered as if he was ready to prostrate himself on the ground at any moment. Kang-oh furrowed his brows.

“No, I only asked because I wondered if you’re having a hard time walking because of me.”

Indeed, cold sweat was beading on Woo’s neck. Kang-oh, who had been walking slowly behind him, spoke up, realizing that he might be pressuring someone who was injured to hurry.

“It’s fine. This lowly one is only causing trouble for Young Master. I am deeply sorry.”

Woo bowed his head deeply. It was true that he wasn’t in good condition, but he had grown accustomed to pain over the past few years, and this level of discomfort was something he could endure. Patience had become Woo’s companion as he continued to live out his current circumstances.

“…….”

As Kang-oh looked down at Woo, his mind felt far from at ease. Strangely, he even had the impulse to carry this servant himself. It was unlike him, the Third Disciple of Black Sky Clan, who had never shown any interest in observing his surroundings or interacting with others.

The fact that they were almost at their master’s residence was perhaps the only relief.

Ye Jin-rang, the Lord of Black Sky and the grandmaster of the demonic arts, was standing at the entrance of his residence. The courtyard of Black Sky Lord was adorned with rare and exquisite flowers, making it difficult to distinguish whether this place belonged to the mortal realm or the celestial. Yet among the scenery, the most beautiful presence was none other than Lord Ye Jin-rang himself. His appearance, unlike his fearsome reputation of being the number one in the demonic world, was incomparably graceful. His sharp eyes were the only indication that his personality was not ordinary.

With his hands behind his back, the man strolling through the garden noticed the approach of his youngest disciple merely by sensing his presence. He raised his head and smiled.

“It’s Kang-oh, isn’t it?”

That smile was so radiant that, for a moment, it became difficult to tell the difference between the flowers and the person. Moreover, although advancing in martial arts often slows the aging process, Ye Jin-rang appeared almost as if he had reversed time, looking like a youthful young man. Considering the fact that he had already passed the age of fifty—an age referred to as ‘Zhitianming’ (knowing the will of Heaven)—his youthful appearance made him seem nearly otherworldly, almost like a mythical creature.

“Master.”

Kang-oh bowed deeply to show respect to his master. However, he was immediately lifted back to his feet by Ye Jin-rang, who had silently approached him.

“No need for all the formalities,” Ye Jin-rang said warmly. Despite being known for being prickly in almost all aspects of life, Ye Jin-rang had always insisted that his youngest disciple dispense with such formalities. Yet Kang-oh never failed to show proper respect whenever he encountered his master, for his position within the Black Sky was a unique one.

The Third Disciple’s status in Black Sky was indeed special in many ways. One day, Ye Jin-rang had suddenly appeared with a boy, bruised and battered, and had taken him as his disciple. But that wasn’t all; he had even bestowed upon the boy a new name and his own last name.

Considering that Jin-rang’s two prior disciples were both from prestigious families, the unparalleled favor shown to Kang-oh, who had no such background or connections, was exceedingly unexpected. Even the oldest Grand Disciple, rumored to be a prodigy among prodigies, had not been granted his master’s surname. The Black Sky Lord doted on Kang-oh to such an extent that it was no wonder rumors began circulating that the Third Disciple was being groomed as a potential successor.

For Kang-oh, who had no interest whatsoever in taking his master’s seat, the rumor was troubling. He tried to act as if he was well aware of his limitations. While it was said that the Grand Disciple was a warm-hearted man, who could truly know his inner thoughts? All Kang-oh could do was conduct himself properly, even if Ye Jin-rang treated him informally.

“And…”

Ye Jin-rang’s gaze slowly drifted away from Kang-oh and moved to Woo, who was standing beside him.

“Did you bring Kang-oh here?”

“Y-yes.”

Woo, who had immediately prostrated himself with his forehead to the ground upon Ye Jin-rang’s arrival, stuttered in response. His faltering words made it seem as though he was overwhelmed by Ye Jin-rang’s imposing presence. However, Ye Jin-rang knew that Woo’s stiff demeanor was not because of him, but rather due to Kang-oh.

“It seems even a worm can be of use sometimes. You may leave for today.”

“Th-thank you.”

Kang-oh’s brow furrowed. Although Ye Jin-rang was known for his harsh and abrasive personality, this was the first time Kang-oh had seen him treat a servant so disdainfully. After confirming that Woo had left, Ye Jin-rang turned back to his youngest disciple, reading discomfort clearly on Kang-oh’s face.

“Is there a problem? If that one behaved in an unsatisfactory manner towards you, tell me right away. I’ll make sure to discipline them.”

“No, it’s not that. I simply wanted to express my gratitude for being kindly guided here despite their discomfort.”

“That’s their duty. It’s nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

Jin-rang, who was generally kind to the youngest disciple, was determined to cut off Kang-oh’s interest in Woo. With the immense power Jin-rang wielded, he had no need to pay attention to others’ opinions, and his emotions were expressed directly and candidly.

Kang-oh sensed that Jin-rang’s attitude toward Woo hadn’t just formed overnight. For the Black Sky Lord to so openly dislike someone… Jin-rang, upon feeling displeased, never hesitated to remove the source of discomfort immediately. Yet, how was this person still alive? Not only that, from piecing together what he had said and Jin-rang’s attitude, it seemed Woo was even serving as Jin-rang’s servant.

That man Woo was by no means ordinary.

“Is that so? I met him by the stream, and his body was covered in wounds.”

Generally obedient, Kang-oh kept bringing up matters concerning Woo, causing Jin-rang’s expression to visibly harden. After a brief pause, Jin-rang seemed to recall what Kang-oh had said earlier and asked about it.

“…So, you say you want to show your gratitude? How do you intend to do that?”

“I think it would be best to send him some medicine for his wounds and let him rest until he fully recovers.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Jin-rang nodded without hesitation. He had no desire to send medicine to Woo or let him rest, but at the moment, it was more important to divert Kang-oh’s attention from the man.

“…You’re not questioning it.”

Kang-oh murmured, as if puzzled. Though his voice was quiet, almost like talking to himself, Jin-rang’s sharp hearing picked up his words.

“What are you referring to?”

“Master’s servant was injured badly enough to require wound medicine. Yet, you haven’t asked how that happened, which I found a bit surprising.”

“That is because…”

“Oh no,” Jin-rang muttered, biting his tongue. In his frantic effort to remove Woo from Kang-oh’s presence, he had inadvertently displayed his usual harshness in front of his youngest disciple.

“May I search for the one who mistreated Master’s servant?”

“There’s no need for you to involve yourself in such a trivial matter. I’ll send my men to investigate.”

Jin-rang wanted to stop him, knowing that the situation had escalated because he had allowed Woo’s mistreatment to continue unchecked. However, his youngest disciple was uncharacteristically resolute.

“The fact that someone dared to lay a hand on someone who hasn’t learned martial arts, and in the domain of Black Sky Clan no less, is a serious offense. Moreover, that person is your servant, master. Please allow me, as your disciple, to personally ensure that Black Sky Clan’s principles are upheld.”

Kang-oh, having made the traditional hand gesture of respect and bowing deeply, showed no intention of rising until he received permission. Jin-rang bit his lip anxiously.

Had it been any other disciple, he would have coldly dismissed the request. But this was Kang-oh. Jin-rang had a particular weakness for his youngest disciple. People assumed the Black Sky Lord held possession of everything in the world, yet in truth, very little remained in the palm of his hands. After years of hardship, it was Kang-oh who had unexpectedly come into his life like a miracle.

So Jin-rang had no choice but to yield to Kang-oh, even if it went against his normally unyielding nature.

“Do as you wish.”

“Thank you. Then I shall take my leave now.”

Jin-rang waved his hand dismissively to send Kang-oh away. Even though he had granted permission for Kang-oh to investigate Woo’s affairs, there was no denying the turmoil within his heart. The fact that the paths of those two had crossed once again unsettled him deeply.

How much effort had he put in over the past ten years to make sure that Kang-oh and Woo wouldn’t meet?

And yet, in the end, they had met again. If fate truly existed, it was brazenly audacious. Jin-rang clenched his fist tightly. Blood started to drip from his palm as his fingernails dug into his flesh.

The moment Kang-oh, like iron drawn irresistibly to a magnet, had shown such a keen interest in Woo after their reunion, Jin-rang’s heart had sunk.

“My Lord!”

The servant, always stationed nearby to attend to the Black Sky Lord, cried out in alarm upon noticing the pool of blood forming on the ground. Jin-rang frowned. He hadn’t even realized he had torn open his own palm. It was an old habit—hurting himself in fits of rage. A habit he thought he had discarded after taking in Kang-oh as his disciple, but it returned with full force the moment Woo and his youngest disciple crossed paths again.

“Be quiet. It has healed, so stop the fuss and summon the Third Overseer.”

The palm, which had long since healed, only bore faint scars. It was only possible due to his exceptional healing abilities, a mark of the profound level of skill he had attained. Even the scars soon disappeared, but Jin-rang’s eyes were bloodshot as he gazed down at his hand.

He almost regretted not being able to see that bastard’s offspring suffer directly. If there is any justice in this world, it would be fitting for that person’s son to live in misery, having lost both name and honor, now reduced to a pitiful existence like that of a wretched beast.

For now, however, it was crucial to separate Kang-oh from him. Never again would he allow them to be entangled. Jin-rang resolved to summon the Third Overseer to send Woo somewhere beyond Kang-oh’s sight.

Although it meant deceiving Kang-oh, Ye Jin-rang was convinced without a doubt that this was the right thing to do.