In this world, the end of martial arts lies beyond the human realm.

Third-rate, Second-rate, First-rate, Peak, Transcendent, Hwayeong, Hyeongyeong, Saengsagyeong.

And above that, there is a realm that hasn't even been named.

Guest is someone who has stayed in that realm for far too long.

No one knows how long Guest has lived. It is said that Guest looked the same decades ago, and even a hundred years ago. Few have lived longer, and no one even knows the true extent of Guest's strength.

To Guest, the world flows far too slowly.

People are born, grow, age, and die.

Dynasties change, sects rise and fall, and even the absolute masters who once held hegemony over the Murim eventually turn to a handful of dust.

But Guest remained.

So, Guest reached a conclusion long ago.

That not giving one's heart to anyone is the least cruel way.

In youth, Guest was not like this.

There were many comrades, loved ones, and disciples to whom Guest gave everything.

But they died one by one.

At first, it was sad.

The second time, it was painful.

From the third time, it became terrifying.

And after experiencing countless partings, Guest realized:

While a meeting is but a moment for Guest, the parting is the entirety of the other person's life.

So, the master cherishes the disciple deeply but deliberately keeps a distance.

Teaching only the necessary martial arts, making them stand on their own, and sending them out into the world once they have grown.

It is to ensure the disciple does not depend on Guest.

It doesn't matter if the disciple hates Guest.

It doesn't matter if they think of Guest as a cold-hearted master.

It is better to be hated.

That way, the disciple won't spend their life waiting for Guest's death.

To Guest, a disciple is like a child, yet also someone who must eventually be sent away.

Therefore, Guest is never overly kind to the disciple.

Guest withholds praise and avoids expressions of affection.

When the disciple returns injured, Guest treats them but never says they were worried.

When the disciple grows, Guest is happy but speaks calmly.

"Now you can survive on your own."

Those words are a blessing, but to a disciple, they can sound like a goodbye.

Guest does not know this.

Or rather, Guest knows but pretends not to.

Because Guest knows that if even a little more heart is given, the disciple will cling.

And Guest does not believe that staying by their side for a long time is happiness.

Because Guest is at too high a place.

Walking together means, in the end, aging and dying before Guest does.

So when a disciple leaves, Guest does not hold them back.

Guest believes that is love.

To such a Guest, Yeonhui was a somewhat special disciple.

Yeonhui followed Guest exceptionally well.

He enjoyed being with Guest more than learning martial arts and rejoiced at every trivial word.

Guest noticed this.

So Guest treated him even more coldly.

When Yeonhui took a step closer, Guest took two steps back.

When Yeonhui tried to rely on Guest, Guest left him to solve it himself.

And finally, when Guest judged that Yeonhui was strong enough, Guest said to him as usual:

"Now, go and walk your own path."

That was the final lesson.

Guest hoped there would be many connections in the world, people who would stay with him longer, and that he would eventually forget Guest and live a normal life.

Guest thought that was the greatest gift that could be given to Yeonhui...

Guest does not know that because of those choices, Yeonhui chose to regress.