Chapter 20

When the masked figure, covered entirely in black cloth, quietly appeared beside Jang Sam-i after hiding his identity and dealing with the bodies…

“Young Master has been severely injured. The master is very angry.”

The term “master” refers to Sima Bu, the current head of the Sima Family. A man who smiles while cutting people down, yet hypocritically cherishes his family above all.

‘…If I had predicted that the kid Young Master cared for would suddenly go berserk and beat him half to death, I’d be a fortune teller. Can he survive?’

Though he had much to say, Jang Sam-i simply rubbed the back of his neck and replied casually to the cold, mechanical scolding of the masked figure.

“So, what now? Are you going to punish me?”

“No. The master is grateful for saving Young Master, albeit belatedly. He will likely reward you soon.”

Sima Bu usually employs two methods when scolding his subordinates: either killing them outright or rewarding them. The message is clear—do better if you want to live.

“…How is Young Master’s condition?”

“Hard to say. He looks fine on the outside, but we should keep an eye on him until winter, just in case.”

“Understood. I will relay that to the master.”

As the masked figure vanished into the darkness as suddenly as he had appeared, Jang Sam-i sighed inwardly. He thought of the young friend who remained oblivious, still asleep.

‘How did someone like Young Master come from such a dark family like the Sima Family?’

It’s a strange thing.

***

Summer passed, and autumn arrived. His left hand had fully healed.

Looking down at both hands, he clenched and unclenched them repeatedly. It was definitely healed. The rehabilitation over the summer had paid off. Rebuilding the muscles in his left hand, which had atrophied from disuse, was harder than he thought.

Good. Now that his left hand is fully recovered, it’s time to seriously train in Double Hands Fighting.

Though it had wounded his pride every time it was mentioned, and he had stashed it away in a corner, fighting Guhae in her half-dragon state had made him realize something.

He had to learn Double Hands Fighting no matter what.

If he could use Dog Chasing Stick Technique with his right hand and Empty Clarity Fist with his left, switching freely between offense and defense, he wouldn’t have been so badly injured.

Even now, he could use them freely, but stopping one martial art to use another was different from using two simultaneously.

Mastering Double Hands Fighting would allow him to use two skills simultaneously without delay while others were still switching between skills.

He turned his body and looked at Guhae, who was napping softly. He poked her soft cheeks.

Guhae was growing stronger in real-time. Though she couldn’t learn Heavenly Polar Bear Formation and Dog Chasing Stick Technique due to incompatibility, she had already mastered everything else. There was nothing left to teach her in terms of martial arts.

Dragon blood flowed through Guhae’s veins. As she grew, her half-dragon form would also grow stronger… Could he really defeat a stronger half-dragon than before?

At first, the half-dragon moved like a wild beast, but over time, through their battles, her movements became more cunning and she grew accustomed to fighting.

Her growth rate was ridiculously fast. Like the Saiyans from Dragon Ball, she grew stronger in real-time during battles.

Though it hurt his pride, he couldn’t think emotionally when planning countermeasures. If they fought again, he might die this time.

…In his current state, he would definitely die.

He looked down at Guhae, brushing her soft black hair aside. Her round, pretty forehead was revealed. Her small mouth moved as if she was dreaming of eating something.

The best scenario would be her not going berserk, but you never know with human affairs. It’s better to prepare in advance.

Steeling his resolve, he began the most basic training for Double Hands Fighting.

Holding a brush in each hand, he drew circles and squares. The right hand drew circles, the left drew squares. Once he got used to it, he switched. He emptied his mind and repeated the process.

It might be a waste of paper, time, and effort. Even his master couldn’t teach him Double Hands Fighting.

People have their own constitutions, and learning martial arts that don’t suit them is nearly impossible.

…But turning the impossible into possible is what makes a true genius. And I, Sima Mantian, am a genius who can deceive even the heavens.

Double Hands Fighting is a martial art that those with cluttered minds cannot learn. So, he emptied his mind. In a state of no thought, he drew only circles and squares.

The difference between a genius and a fool is a single sheet of paper. He emptied his mind and became a fool.

***

A month later.

…He threw the brush aside and sprawled on the floor to rest. Guhae, who had been playing with brushes and drawing pictures while following his training, tilted her head.

“Mantian, not training?”

“…It’s not giving up. It’s a strategic break.”

Double Hands Fighting, you damn bastard. Let’s see who wins in the end. I’ll never give up.

No matter how many years it takes, I will master it. …But for now, let’s rest. My head hurts. I’m tired.

“Jang Sam-i! Gather some fallen leaves!!”

“Huh? Fallen leaves? Why?”

At the sudden shout, Jang Sam-i, who was sweeping the yard, expressed his confusion. I opened the door wide and stepped out, feeling the cool autumn breeze on my body.

“Let’s roast some sweet potatoes.”

Yeah, people shouldn’t live trembling in fear. Carpe diem—seize the day—exists for a reason.

While preparing for the future is good, enjoying the present with friends and having some leisure is also important.

“Roasted chestnuts too!”

Guhae, who loves sweets, sparkled her eyes. She must have liked the roasted chestnuts I bought her at the market before.

“Sure, sure. Let’s roast everything we can.”

We ate the warm roasted sweet potatoes, chatted, and played happily.

Why do happy times pass so quickly? By the time the leaves had all fallen, winter had arrived.

***

A letter came from my father. It was a letter telling me to return home.

…Well, it was about time. I was originally here as a temporary student at the Jiegal Family. I was always meant to leave when the time came.

I looked around the now-familiar room. I had thought of it as a place to stay briefly, but I had grown attached.

In one corner of the wall, there was a small doodle. It seemed Guhae had drawn it before.

I went closer to look. It was a sparrow happily playing with other sparrows.

If I were the homeowner, I’d be angry, but since I was leaving soon, I reminisced and gently touched the doodles Guhae had left.

She even drew the sweet potatoes we ate. …Is this Guhae?

While admiring the doodles, I saw one with long black hair. Next to it was something leaning on a cane.

Is this supposed to be me? Should I have made her study drawing more seriously?

The doodles of a naive child on the wall. But the hands of the two doodles holding each other looked very warm. They looked happy.

“…Jang Sam-i, where’s Guhae?”

“Hmm~ She’s probably outside making a snowman.”

As I hobbled over with my cane, Guhae, who had been happily making a snowman with an innocent face, noticed me and ran over with a bright smile.

It seemed she no longer cared about shark teeth.

“Not busy anymore?”

“Nope. Not busy. Let’s play together.”

We made snowmen and played happily. We made more and more. We kept making them. The snowmen lined up like the Terracotta Army.

Finally, I couldn’t hold back and shouted.

“Hey! Let’s take a break! My hands are going to get frostbite. Let’s rest and play.”

“Ah… It’s snowing.”

Looking up at the sky, it was indeed snowing. The white snowflakes fell beautifully, slowly covering the ground.

Guhae spread her arms and spun around, dancing to the falling snow. The audience was me and the snowmen—a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

The wind blew, and Guhae’s long hair fluttered. Her blue eyes sparkled. A dreamlike atmosphere enveloped the surroundings.

She danced, avoiding the irregularly placed snowmen without even looking. She moved as if she knew where the snow would fall.

Her steps were beautiful, without any unnecessary movements, and she seemed to read the heavens’ will.

“…Heavenly Mystery Step.”

A cold wind brushed my cheek. Guhae was no longer the weak child I needed to protect.

She had long surpassed me. There was nothing left for me to teach her.

That fact made me proud, but also a little, just a little, sad. A bittersweet smile emerged.

When the dance ended, Guhae, with her flushed face and blue eyes, looked at me, seeking praise. I tried to speak in my usual calm voice.

“Guhae, I’m going home.”

***

Currently, Guhae was living with Jiegal Yang’s granddaughters.

She didn’t want to see the bad Mantian, who had promised to stay together forever and teach her so many things, but was now leaving on his own.

…That’s a lie. She actually wanted to see him. But she was scared.

She wanted to see him, wanted to see him, really wanted to see him, but didn’t want to see him. She was scared. She didn’t know what to do.

“Mantian is… a liar.”

Tears fell.