“Um… My lord. The outcasts have arrived.”

“Oh, thank you. I will be out soon.”

At Jeomsoi’s announcement, Hyeok Gi-rin adjusted his attire while wearing a white coat.

‘Master…’

Hyeok Gi-rin visualized his first meeting with Miss Yeo Il-ye.

‘Those eyes were filled with poison and hatred.’

From that moment on, Hyeok Gi-rin always worried about Yeo Il-ye. She had been through enough in her young age to detest the world itself. Hyeok Gi-rin did his best to embrace her. Maybe as a result of that, Yeo Il-ye would at least pretend to listen to his words.

Hyeok Gi-rin’s efforts prevented Yeo Il-ye from hating the world itself, but he couldn’t keep her from hating outcasts.

That part always weighed on Hyeok Gi-rin’s mind.

On a day when he was ready to really lecture her for causing trouble again, Yeo Il-ye returned with completely different eyes.

‘I truly want to take revenge.’

Hyeok Gi-rin tried to block Yeo Il-ye’s way, but he couldn’t grasp the situation. Was it really right to stand in the path of Yeo Il-ye, who wanted to punish her true enemies and free herself from the mindset of hating outcasts? Was telling her to forget all the grievances of her family floating in the air and hold her back truly the right thing for her?

Hyeok Gi-rin, who couldn’t get a handle on the situation, was unable to block Yeo Il-ye, who had become stronger through her darkness.

Hyeok Gi-rin walked toward the Daoist Hall.

In front of the Daoist Hall stood Yeo Il-ye draped in pure white robe.

Rest Period.

Yeo Il-ye, having brought Mo Yeobu to Jeomchang, immediately applied for a rest period. The Jeomchang Faction is a sect that serves the prodigies. Every disciple of the Jeomchang Faction is a Taoist. By having their name listed among the thieves of Jeomchang, they become an official disciple.

Usually, Taoists must shed all worldly matters and seek their own path, but how can a person’s affairs be severed so cleanly?

Even Taoists are human and have strings that tie them to the mundane. That’s why in Jeomchang, one can apply for a rest period once in their lifetime.

It’s an opportunity to shed the identity of a Jeomchang disciple and wrap up worldly matters.

Yeo Il-ye waited for the rest period ceremony to be held over ten days.

“Welcome, Big Brother.”

“…Yeah.”

Hyeok Gi-rin found Yeo Il-ye, who had gained enlightenment, a little bit awkward. Yeo Il-ye often held a grudge against him and opposed him. Hyeok Gi-rin had always taken on the role of controlling her.

He was much more familiar with the Yeo Il-ye who was filled with annoyance and rage towards him than this new version.

“Big Brother.”

“Hmm?”

“Since coming to this Jeomchang, I owe an incalculable debt to you. Other brothers embraced me as well, but I knew it was you who embraced me the most, even before attaining enlightenment.”

Yeo Il-ye smiled softly. Hyeok Gi-rin gulped as he felt the gratitude and affection in her gaze.

“The one who provided the question that awakened me from this long dream was definitely you, but it was only now that I realized it was this Jeomchang and my brothers… and you who supported me through that long dream until I met my benefactor.”

Hyeok Gi-rin could certainly feel that Yeo Il-ye had changed. He hadn’t realized until now simply because he had repeatedly breezed in and out of the sect without having a proper conversation.

“Are you really planning to spare your enemies?”

“I will take their heads. I’ll expose their evildoings to the world and soothe my family’s grievances. However, I will do my best to ensure that innocent blood no longer flows.”

After the heavy topic ended, the two began to catch up. Yeo Il-ye didn’t know about the current happenings in Jeomchang while Hyeok Gi-rin was curious about what Yeo Il-ye had been up to outside.

“Apparently, Changnyeong has entered seclusion. He’s determined to complete the Ten Thousand Bow Technique.”

“Haha, isn’t this already the third time?”

“…I see you remember.”

Yeo Il-ye also shared her recent experiences.

“Do you know who I met at Hyeong Gwi-san? I met the Poison Doctor.”

“Are you talking about that three great name, the Poison Doctor?”

“Indeed. And by coincidence, I also met my benefactor.”

Hyeok Gi-rin was immersed in the conversation with Yeo Il-ye. He had tried many times to talk to Yeo Il-ye, but she had never voluntarily shared her story like this before.

From meeting the Poison Doctor of the Three Greats to coincidentally running into Ho Cheon-an and everything that followed, all of it stimulated Hyeok Gi-rin’s curiosity.

“It seems time is running out.”

“Yeah.”

Before they knew it, time had passed. Hyeok Gi-rin, who had lost track of time while listening to Yeo Il-ye, coughed awkwardly, his face turning red. Seeing this, Yeo Il-ye smiled subtly before composing herself.

“Well then, Big Brother. I wish you well.”

“…I hope you come back safely.”

During the rest period, the ties between Yeo Il-ye and the Jeomchang Faction would be cut. Until Yeo Il-ye’s name was listed among the thieves again after the rest period ended, she and Hyeok Gi-rin would no longer be siblings.

Thus, the rest period ceremony would take place outside the sect’s enclosure at a small Daoist Hall, and the attire would not be the Jeomchang uniform. Until they conducted the rites at the main hall again, everything would thoroughly follow that principle.

The door of the small Daoist Hall closed. Watching that scene, Hyeok Gi-rin walked towards the entrance of the Jeomchang Sect.

‘Bandits have appeared in Sacheon City.’

After speaking with Yeo Il-ye, he became certain. While Yeo Il-ye didn’t mention the specific names of her enemies, she didn’t hide that they were powerful individuals. After all, Yeo-ga Mountain Villa had amassed considerable wealth fifteen years ago. Those were the people who swallowed up that villa. They could never be weaklings.

With that wealth from the Yeo-ga Mountain Villa as a stepping stone, they would only have continued to grow stronger.

‘This is a warning aimed at Yeo Il-ye.’

Hyeok Gi-rin’s eyes narrowed sharply. It wasn’t like they completely wiped out the villa; they had only managed to capture a clan leader, yet four villas showed up. It would have been impossible without someone’s influence. In Hyeok Gi-rin’s mind, certainty replaced doubt.

After all, he was one of the people deeply acquainted with the behaviors of those in power.

Recalling the conversation he had with Yeo Il-ye, Hyeok Gi-rin felt a fire erupting inside him. Yeo Il-ye was calm and able to smile easily. She wasn’t just someone consumed by hatred and anger.

Yeo Il-ye remembered everything.

She remembered exactly how far her brothers had advanced in martial arts, who had gone into seclusion multiple times, and what thoughts Hyeok Gi-rin had while blocking her way.

The bloodline of the Yeo-ga Mountain Villa, which was too great for a single person to bear, had merely engulfed every part of Yeo Il-ye.

‘I can’t forgive this.’

Hyeok Gi-rin thought while suppressing his rising anger. Was it not enough to slaughter the family of the Yeo-ga Mountain Villa and seize their wealth? The method of robbing the innocent of their wealth and taking them hostage simply could not be condoned.

Yeo Il-ye’s revenge was her own. As the rest period was underway, Hyeok Gi-rin could no longer be the Big Brother of Yeo Il-ye. Therefore, he couldn’t participate in her revenge, nor should he.

However, dealing with the bandits swarming in Sacheon was something he could take action on without being related to Yeo Il-ye. Punishing the bandits that harass and plunder innocents was a duty he should fulfill as a disciple of Jeomchang.

‘I must resolve the matter of the bandits establishing a foothold in Jeongnam Mountain!’

With that resolution firmly in mind, Hyeok Gi-rin exited the inn.