"By the way, you mentioned you sustained internal injuries—are you alright, Cheon Hwi-da?"

"Well, the medicine worked well. And Senior Seo Mun-Hwarin's Acupuncture Blood Release helped, too."

As I shrugged, Seo Mun-Hwarin flinched and glanced nervously at Tang Sowol. Seol Lihyang, who had been shrinking back at the mere mention of Acupuncture Blood Release since earlier, did the same.

Despite their awkward reactions, Tang Sowol paid no mind. She placed her hands on her hips and urged me forward.

"Don't just say you're fine—explain your condition in detail."

"Would you like to check for yourself?"

I casually extended my arm. Without hesitation, Tang Sowol grasped my forearm and ran her fingers over it, nodding in satisfaction before releasing it.

"Your arm is quite firm. I rather like that."

"...Weren’t you supposed to be checking my internal injuries?"

"Then why did you touch my arm?"

"Because I wanted to. Is there a problem?"

She said it so boldly that I had no response.

After all, she was my fiancée, and it wasn't as if I particularly disliked it.

However, her behavior must have been quite the sight, as Seol Lihyang and Seo Mun-Hwarin leaned in and whispered to each other.

"It's good that they seem to have a strong relationship as an engaged couple, but... watching them is a little much."

"Tang Sowol and Cheon Hwi-da have always been like this. Haven’t you seen it a few times, Elder?"

“E-Elder?!”

No, it seemed like Seol Lihyang was just using the opportunity to tease Seo Mun-Hwarin out of sheer pettiness.

As I glanced at Seo Mun-Hwarin, who looked dispirited by Seol Lihyang’s oddly cold remark, another request for my arm came from a different direction.

"Son-in-law, let me see your arm for a moment."

"...All of a sudden?"

I instinctively looked at Tang Jincheon with wary eyes, but he merely shrugged.

"Now, now. Is that how you look at your father-in-law, who rushed all this way out of concern for your safety? Unlike Sowol, I can at least perform a basic pulse diagnosis while moving, so just hold out your arm."

"Yes, sir."

He must have already heard about my condition from Tang Sowol, but he had likely been deeply worried before that.

For the past three years, I had been a part of the Tang Clan, and Tang Jincheon was someone who cherished his family.

With an awkward smile, I extended my arm. Tang Jincheon checked my pulse, sending a faint trace of internal energy into my body to assess my condition.

After a thorough examination, he let out a relieved sigh and nodded.

"From the way you wielded your sword earlier, I could tell your condition wasn't too severe, but I see now that your internal injuries were worse than I thought. You're much better now, but still."

"Yes. I was lucky."

I had known that the Golden Venom Physician had taken a liking to me. But I hadn't expected him to go as far as to provide me with such a rare and valuable remedy.

And then there was Acupuncture Blood Release—something even Seo Mun-Hwarin hadn’t done for me in my past life.

With all these miraculous treatments, it would have been strange if my recovery had been slow.

"Still, you need to rest for a while. Unfortunately, it looks like you'll have to sit out the rest of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering."

"The Dragon and Phoenix Gathering isn’t over yet?"

"It was temporarily suspended, but now that the situation has settled, it'll resume soon."

"...Huh."

I had assumed they would push forward with the competition, even if it wasn't outright canceled, and that a winner would have been decided by now. I had already given up on obtaining the Great Return Pill…

But now, things were different.

"Tsk tsk. Don't get any funny ideas."

"And what idea would that be, exactly?"

"What else? You're probably thinking it's worth giving it a shot. I've spent enough time observing you to know."

"Is it not possible? I think I could manage even without using internal energy."

"Don't talk nonsense. If you push yourself unnecessarily and reopen your wounds, it'll be a much bigger hassle."

I let out a long sigh of disappointment.

Tang Sowol, noticing my reaction, crept closer and asked,

"Why do you suddenly look so down, Cheon Hwi-da? Did Father scold you again?"

She shot a playful glare at Tang Jincheon. In response, he simply chuckled and shook his head.

"I was scolded by my father-in-law, but I also gave him reason to."

"Hmm. Then let me take a guess."

"Go ahead."

"You were thinking that since the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering isn’t over yet, you might as well participate, weren’t you?"

"How did you know?"

"I was standing right behind you, listening the entire time."

Tang Sowol smirked, shrugging her shoulders. Then, as if scolding a stubborn child, she lightly patted my back and continued.

"If your injuries are bad enough that you can’t even sense someone this close, you should really just rest. Given your age, you can always aim for the next gathering."

"Five years is too long."

"If you're only worried about missing out on the chance to observe high-level martial arts, you don't need to fret. Even after the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering ends, many participants stay in Wuhuan City to hold private sparring matches. Some do it to fight opponents they didn't get to face during the tournament, while others challenge those they already fought for a rematch."

"That is good news. But that's not my only reason."

"Then why push yourself despite knowing you're not in the best condition?"

"It's because of the Great Return Pill."

"...Ah. No, more precisely, it's because of internal energy, isn't it?"

"That's right."

As a child, I had never doubted that I was a genius.

I had even suspected that I possessed a special constitution.

But in truth, the only thing I was born with was sword talent.

Since I started learning martial arts late, my meridians had already hardened, my muscles and bones were nothing exceptional, and my foundation was built on unorthodox techniques, making my internal energy impure.

Of course, thanks to the insights I gained from my past life and the numerous elixirs I received from the Tang Clan, my meridians had expanded significantly.

But compared to those who had undergone Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing from childhood and consumed all sorts of rare elixirs, I was still lacking.

I had refined my internal energy by tempering it with my killing intent, making it more obedient to my will and significantly increasing its potency.

However…

In the end, I would have to keep wielding my killing intent, and the more I fought at full strength, the greater the strain on my mental energy.

In a short battle, it wouldn't be an issue. But in a prolonged fight, I would quickly find myself at a disadvantage.

That said, I wasn’t in a bad situation.

Even though I had started receiving support late, the Tang Clan’s backing was something I couldn’t have even imagined in my past life.

And above all, my greatest strength was how quickly I could elevate my martial realm through enlightenment.

If I could just replenish my internal energy, I could step into the early Peak Stage. That would be enough to handle most opponents.

The problem, however, was that my ultimate enemy was the Heavenly Demon.

To surpass not just the strongest under the heavens, but the greatest across all ages, I needed to push myself harder and move faster.

“I… I must become stronger.”

“Aren’t you already growing stronger at an incredible pace?”

“It’s not enough.”

It only seems like I’m advancing rapidly because I’m regaining my past strength.

Once I reach the Sub-Perfection Stage and face the wall I couldn’t break even in my past life, I will struggle just like everyone else.

Or worse… I might never break through it at all.

For a while, I had only been facing warriors my own age.

But when I witnessed the clash of auras between the Black Lotus Sect Master and Seo Mun-Hwarin, I realized something.

Even if I regained all my past martial prowess, the realm of Flowering Stage masters was still an unfathomable peak.

And even those Flowering Stage masters had been slaughtered like insects before the Heavenly Demon.

The image of the world engulfed in demonic energy, with that man standing at its center—expressionless and unmoving—flashed through my mind.

My brow furrowed involuntarily.

Watching me in silence, Tang Sowol suddenly reached out.

Press, press.

She gently pressed on my creased brow, smoothing it out before speaking in a calm voice.

“There’s no need to be so impatient.”

“But…”

“I may not fully understand, but I can see that you’re frustrated with yourself, Cheon Hwi-da. If that frustration doesn’t turn into obsession, it can be a powerful drive for growth. Even so, I will still say this—there’s no need to rush.”

“Why? If you’re worried about Qi Deviation, you don’t have to be. I’m always cautious, and… my obsession isn’t anywhere near the level that would lead to inner demons.”

“That’s good to hear. But that’s not what I meant.”

Saying that, Tang Sowol suddenly pulled Seol Lihyang—who had been eavesdropping while pretending not to—closer.

“T-Tang Sowol?!”

Seol Lihyang flailed in surprise, but Tang Sowol held her firmly, pressing their shoulders together.

Then she spoke.

“It was a while ago, but do you still remember? Just as you are my strength, I promised that I would also be your strength.”

“Of course, I remember.”

“There’s no need for you to do everything alone.

Where you lack, we will make up for it.”

“Uh… Me too?”

Seol Lihyang looked around anxiously, uncertain, but Tang Sowol merely tilted her head as if it were obvious.

“Isn’t that right? Lihyang, didn’t you say you wanted to become someone who could one day repay Cheon Hwi-da for his help?”

“Kyaaah! W-why are you saying that out loud, Tang Sowol?!”

Seol Lihyang hastily clamped her hands over Tang Sowol’s mouth and darted a glance in my direction.

So she had been thinking that way.

The two of them bickered back and forth for a moment until Tang Sowol bit Seol Lihyang’s fingers lightly, making her pull away with a defeated huff.

Finally free, Tang Sowol took a deep breath and continued.

“Hoo… Anyway, if you remember that promise, then just watch us this time. See how strong Lihyang and I have become. See if we are still just people you need to protect.”

I felt like I had been struck on the back of the head.

Tang Sowol was right.

I knew that both she and Seol Lihyang had talent equal to or greater than mine.

And yet, I had been thinking only of how I needed to handle everything alone—even after she had scolded me for this exact mindset before.

I understood why.

Their deaths had left the deepest scars in my memories.

Tang Sowol had been slain by the Heavenly Demon before I was.

And Seol Lihyang had died in my arms.

Seo Mun-Hwarin was different. She was already an absolute master at the Flowering Stage, and in my past life, she had been like a mentor to me.

But for Tang Sowol and Seol Lihyang, my failure to protect them had left behind an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

However…

That wasn’t the case anymore.

Tang Sowol and Seol Lihyang were still alive.

They weren’t injured or suffering like they had been in my past life.

“…Fine. I’ll just watch quietly this time.”

“Fufu. A wise decision, Cheon Hwi-da. I… might struggle a bit, but Lihyang here will definitely win and bring back the Great Return Pill!”

“Wha—?! Me?!”

Seol Lihyang, still trapped in Tang Sowol’s grasp, practically jumped in shock.

“H-how?! You do realize I’m still just a first-rate warrior, right, Tang Sowol?!”

Tang Sowol chuckled and teased her.

“But you can’t use poison techniques in the competition.”

“…That’s true, but… that’s true, but—!”

Seol Lihyang looked utterly overwhelmed as she struggled to break free.

At that moment, our eyes met.

I clenched my fist slightly and gave her a nod.

“I’ll be cheering for you.”

“Cheon Hwi—you too?! Ugh, fine! Fine! I’ll do it! I don’t know about winning, but I’ll make sure to shock everyone, so just you wait!”

“Alright. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

I smirked and nodded, and a warm atmosphere settled around us.

I could feel it in the air.

Tang Jincheon and the Murim Alliance Leader were both watching with satisfied expressions, nodding to themselves.

Well, I could understand why.

It was the kind of youthful, innocent scene that could only be witnessed at this age.

Perhaps because the mood had relaxed too much…

Or perhaps because she thought it was the perfect moment…

Seo Mun-Hwarin suddenly dropped a bombshell.

“Hmm-hmm. That is all correct. And do not forget—Cheon Hwi-da, you have This One, your mother. Should the need arise, you may rely on This One as well.”

…This is going to drive me insane.