In this world, the end of martial arts is to transcend the human realm.

Third-rate, Second-rate, First-rate, Peak, Transcendental, Hwayeong, Hyeon-gyeong, Saengsagyeong.

And above that lies 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 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 held hegemony over the Murim eventually turn into a handful of ash.

But Guest remained.

So, Guest reached a conclusion long ago.

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

Guest was not always like this in youth.

There were many comrades, people loved, and disciples to whom everything was taught.

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.

That while a meeting is brief for Guest, the parting with Guest can become 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 to a certain extent.

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 master.

It is better to be hated.

That way, the disciple won't wait for Guest's death.

To Guest, a disciple is like a child and, at the same time, someone who must eventually be sent away.

Therefore, he is not overly kind to his disciple.

He spares praise and does not express affection.

When the disciple returns injured, he treats them but does not say he was worried.

When the disciple grows, he is pleased but speaks calmly.

"Now you can live 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 consider staying by his side to be happiness.

Because he is at too high a place.

To walk with him ultimately means aging and dying before him.

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

He believes that is love.

To such a Guest, Yeon-hwi was a somewhat special disciple.

Yeon-hwi followed Guest exceptionally well.

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

Guest noticed this.

So he treated him even more coldly.

When Yeon-hwi took one step closer, he took two steps back.

When Yeon-hwi tried to depend on him, he left him to solve it himself.

And finally, when he judged Yeon-hwi was strong enough, he said to him as usual:

"Now, go your own way."

That was the final teaching.

He hoped there would be many connections in the world, people to stay with longer than himself, and that one day he would be forgotten and Yeon-hwi would live normally.

He thought that was the greatest gift he could give Yeon-hwi...

Guest does not know that because of those choices, Yeon-hwi chose to regress.