It was true.
They had only ever looked at him like he was a thorn in their side. Never once had they shown him real affection.
Jo Deok had always known.
No matter how hard he tried, he could never return to how things used to be.
In fact, they would probably prefer it if he didn’t co ho at all.
They were likely praying that he’d stay away for good.
Jo Deok let out a faint sigh and gave a slow nod.
“...Understood.”
At those words, Yeon Woo Jin smiled in satisfaction.
The students of Cheongseok all bowed their heads to him in silent acknowledgnt of defeat.
Jo Deok, whose Qi had surged to the point even Yoo Ji Gwang couldn’t restrain it, had been pacified like a ta lamb.
There was no defeating Baekyeong, not when it produced monsters like this.
The Cheongseok students thought:
Baekyeong will soon have every upper academy in Mushincheon kneeling before it.
They wanted to get out of there as fast as possible—to tell the world about what they had just witnessed.
But then—
Yeon Woo Jin said, “Look here.”
As if on cue, everyone raised their heads... and a haze passed through their minds.
They blinked, confused. Their expressions shifted—like they’d just forgotten sothing important.
“What... did you do?” Jo Deok asked.
Yeon Woo Jin smiled faintly.
“I erased their mories of .”
“...What?”
Could such a thing be possible?
No ordinary human could do that.
And that ant the man before him... wasn’t human.
He was a god.
Only a god could have tad the divine energy of the White Tiger.
And now that god wanted him.
Jo Deok’s chest swelled with emotion.
He made up his mind.
He would offer Yeon Woo Jin everything—his complete, unwavering loyalty.
****
So Ti Later
Yoo Ji Gwang stirred.
“Khrrgh...”
Clutching his throbbing head, mories ca flooding back.
The mory of utter defeat.
“Goddamn it...”
He gritted his teeth, trying to shake it from his mind.
“You’re awake?”
The voice ca from nearby—Jo Deok’s.
Yoo Ji Gwang looked up.
“Jo Deok... How long was I out?”
“A day.”
“I see...”
“Mm.”
“...We lost, didn’t we?”
“Yeah. Completely. Baekyeong... they’re the real deal.”
“...I suppose they’ve gone back?”
“Yeah.”
“Did they demand anything for the win? Compensation? Tribute?”
“I’m going with them.”
“What? Why you?”
“More like a hostage, I guess. Don’t worry about it. We’re graduating soon anyway.”
Jo Deok had expected... sothing. So resistance.
He’d hoped Yoo Ji Gwang might try to stop him.
They were... weren’t they friends?
“...Right. Makes sense. Just think of it as staying there briefly. Not much ti left until graduation. Still, I wonder—will they make you an official affiliate before then? If not, they might push for sothing else.”
No regret.
No hesitation.
Only concern about logistics and diplomacy.
Jo Deok felt the weight of disappointnt settle in.
Yoo Ji Gwang hadn’t even considered him a friend.
There was nothing left tying him to Cheongseok now.
“Guess that’s good, then. Graduation’s around the corner. Whatever cos after... it’s up to whoever’s left.”
Even Yoo Ji Gwang seed ready to walk away from it all.
Despite being the academy’s top student.
He gave a bitter smile.
The students who remained had already lost their spirit. Cheongseok would face a long, bitter dark age.
Even if new students entered, they’d be swallowed by the despair in the air.
With the last lingering trace of attachnt stripped away, Jo Deok rose from his seat and looked at Yoo Ji Gwang.
“Take care of yourself. And thanks... for everything. I leave Cheongseok in your hands.”
That was the reason he’d co.
To say goodbye properly.
“...What, trying to guilt ? Just get lost.”
Jo Deok smiled bitterly.
He’d been foolish to expect warmth.
He left the room, the cold words still echoing behind him.
Looking up at the clear blue sky, Jo Deok made a wish.
Please... let Yeon Woo Jin be different from everyone else I’ve ever t.
****
White Tiger Gate.
Jo Deok stood in front of a grand, gleaming gate—so new it looked like it had just been built.
“This... this is where I’ll be staying?”
“That’s right,” the man beside him replied.
“I’ve never heard of a place called White Tiger Gate before...”
“Of course not. It’s brand new.”
“...What?”
“You’re the Gate Lord.”
“...Excuse ?”
Jo Deok had just been admiring how magnificent it was... when the bombshell dropped.
He was the Gate Lord?
“I... I’m the Gate Lord?”
“Correct. A gift from the Young Lord. Accept it with gratitude.”
He had heard Yeon Woo Jin would prepare a place for him.
But he hadn’t expected to receive an entire martial sect.
The scale was incomprehensible.
But then ca the worry.
Would he be expected to manage all this on his own?
“Go on in,” the man said.
Jo Deok nodded and pushed open the gate.
Inside, to his shock, stood a sizable group of people—all bowing their heads in unison.
“We greet the Gate Lord!”
“...H-Huh?!”
He’d expected an empty house, but it was filled with people.
And not just a few.
“They were wanderers. But don’t worry—they won’t betray you.”
“Wh-What?”
“They’re people who, like you, had no place to belong. Treat them well.”
Hearing that, Jo Deok felt an unexpected sense of kinship.
A desire to treat them well took root.
“Go about your duties, all of you. Your Gate Lord will now begin his training.”
At the man’s command, the crowd dispersed.
Jo Deok turned to him.
“Training...?”
“Of course. If you want to control the White Tiger’s Qi, you’ll need to grow stronger. The Young Lord has entrusted you to personally.”
For Yeon Woo Jin to entrust him to soone... he had to be extraordinary.
Jo Deok asked carefully, “If you’re to guide ... that makes you my teacher. May I ask your na?”
His tone was respectful—earnest.
The man gave a faint smile.
“You’ve got the right attitude for learning. My na is Chun Ho Seong.”
Jo Deok bowed deeply.
He recognized the na.
“You’re... the Lord of the Chunmu Corps.”
Yes—the Sword Emperor of Instant Death.
The Sword Emperor!
Jo Deok's head snapped up, eyes wide with shock.
His new master... was the fad Sword Emperor?
Chun Ho Seong chuckled at Jo Deok’s astonishnt.
“You're really surprised, huh? Let’s work well together.”
“Y-Yes! I-I’ll do my best, sir!”
But a question lingered.
Who exactly was the lord I’ve pledged myself to...?
Jo Deok realized he still didn’t know the true identity of the one he now served.
He asked carefully, “Um... Master...”
“What? Master?”
Chun Ho Seong twitched at the word. Jo Deok imdiately lowered his head, panicked.
“S-Sorry! I wasn’t sure what to call you...”
Chun Ho Seong cleared his throat.
“Hmph. Just call Master.”
“...Yes, sir!”
The reason Chun Ho Seong frowned wasn’t annoyance—it was satisfaction.
The White Tiger Physique—a treasure every master dread of—had willingly called him Master.
How could he not be pleased?
Even Yeon Woo Jin had given his blessing.
Telling him: Raise him well. As your disciple.
“No, rather than leaving it vague,” Chun Ho Seong said, “let’s make it official. From this mont forward, we are master and disciple.”
It was clear—he intended to bind him tightly, so there’d be no room to escape.
But Jo Deok was overwheld with emotion.
The Sword Emperor himself—the fad Slayer of a Thousand Shadows—was offering to take him in as his disciple.
This couldn’t be a dream... could it?
He had forgotten entirely that he possessed one of the Four Guardian Physiques—the White Tiger Physique itself.
“If you accept as your master,” Chun Ho Seong said, “then offer the Nine Bows.”
Without a mont’s hesitation, Jo Deok fell to his knees and began the ritual bows right there on the spot.
“Disciple Jo Deok offers his body and soul! From this day on, I shall honor and serve my Master as I would my own father!”
“Good. Let’s walk this path well together.”
“Yes, Master!”
“Now, what was it you tried to ask earlier? Was there sothing you were curious about?”
“Oh! I... I was wondering about our lord’s identity.”
“Our lord?”
“Yes. I was curious—what kind of man must he be, to have sent you to ?”
“So... he didn’t tell you.”
“W-What do you an, Master?”
“The one you now serve... is my lord as well.”
Jo Deok’s jaw dropped.
The Lord of the Chunmu Corps served soone else?
He’d assud the Lord of Mushincheon was the one at the top.
“Surprised? That man... is the sole bloodline of the Celestial Lord of Mushincheon. And soday, he will rule all of Mushincheon.”
“Wh... What?!”
Jo Deok had been shocked many tis today—but this topped them all.
It was astonishing that the Celestial Lord even had a direct descendant—and even more shocking that the Sword Emperor served the sa person he now did.
For soone to gain Chun Ho Seong’s loyalty... that ant the Celestial Lord himself had given his blessing.
That alone said everything about how much he cherished this successor.
And he was strong.
Unimaginably so.
Hadn’t Jo Deok felt it in his bones—that overwhelming presence that blanketed the entire world?
There could be no doubt.
His lord... would beco the next ruler of Mushincheon.
“He has high hopes for you,” Chun Ho Seong said. “To et them, you must work hard—tirelessly.”
That such a being had expectations for him—
Jo Deok’s chest tightened with excitent.
“Then let’s begin your training,” Chun Ho Seong said with a low chuckle. “Let’s make sure our Young Lord’s expectations are t.”
“Yes, Master! I’m ready!”
“Good! Hah! I’ll make sure you taste blood and fire before we’re through.”
****
anwhile, at the main estate of Manchwi Gate, chaos had broken out.
“What?! He filed for full withdrawal?! Who the hell gave him permission?!”
“Please... grant him leave.”
“I will not! Who does he think he is, filing for withdrawal?! He’s supposed to stay back a year and look after Jo Gun when he enters Cheongseok! And now he wants out? Has he lost his mind?!”
“I’m perfectly sane,” ca the reply.
“You want to die, boy?”
“Look at us right now. Does this look like a conversation between a father and son? Or between a master and a slave?”
This was not the usual Jo Deok—the one who always obeyed in silence.
The one screaming at him was Jo Sang, head of Manchwi Gate, and Jo Deok’s foster father.
He strode forward, livid.
“Well said,” he spat. “You are a slave. A servant. You exist to serve Jo Gun. That’s your place. You’d better act like it now that it’s clear.”
Hearing his foster father call him a slave, Jo Deok clenched his eyes shut.
That sound had snuffed out even the last flicker of hope.
“The withdrawal is denied,” Jo Sang said coldly. “And for talking back to , you’ll go without food for three days.”
With that, he turned and entered the main hall—for dinner.
From inside ca laughter and the aroma of a rich, warm al.
Jo Deok remained on his knees on the cold floor.
No one ca to comfort him.
No one helped him up.
Pff.
He let out a quiet scoff.
His mind was made up.
He would sever all ties with this family.
Slowly, Jo Deok stood, turned toward the main hall where Jo Sang had gone, and bowed deeply.
It was his final farewell—a last act of courtesy for the man he once called father.
Then, with a face gone completely cold, Jo Deok walked out of Manchwi Gate.
****
Days later.
“What? He still hasn’t returned? What ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) do you an, he’s disappeared?!”
A report had co in from the Mushincheon branch of Manchwi Gate.
Jo Deok hadn’t co ho for days.
“That little bastard... he’s still rebelling, is he?”
Jo Sang scoffed.
“Arrogant brat. Fine, let him stay out there a while. Once I break that spirit of his, he’ll fall in line and serve Jo Gun properly.”
Jo Sang knew Jo Deok was talented.
What he didn’t know was that Jo Deok had the White Tiger Physique—one of the Four Guardian Physiques.
He simply believed the boy was a gifted subordinate—one worth grooming to support Jo Gun in the future.
He’d even forced Jo Deok to repeat a year, just to make sure he’d be at Cheongseok when Jo Gun arrived.
So when Jo Deok suddenly filed for a full withdrawal, Jo Sang couldn’t help but feel furious.
After all, full withdrawal required parental consent.
No matter how much Jo Deok struggled, he had nowhere else to go.
He had no ho, no money.
Where could a boy like him possibly escape to?
“Let him go,” Jo Sang said with a smirk. “Let him suffer. He’ll co crawling back once he realizes how good he had it.”
He ant to put the matter to rest—but then, a servant arrived holding sothing.
“What’s that?”
“A letter. From Cheongseok Academy’s upper division.”
“From Cheongseok?”
Jo Sang ripped it open.
It was a formal approval notice—for Jo Deok’s full withdrawal.
“What the hell?! I never signed off on this! Who gave them permission?!”
“...Perhaps Young Master Jo Deok forged your seal and submitted it to the academy.”
“Don’t call him Young Master! From now on, never refer to that bastard as family again! He’s not my son!”
“...Understood!”
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