If one is a direct descendant born in the Soongmuiga family, they must inevitably face the third trial.
The Warrior's Journey.
"I knew it, but I didn't expect you to say it so directly. So, your trip to Cheonwisan was for this, after all."
It was something I had thought of, and Butler Choi had also suspected, so there was no way my father hadn't noticed.
I answered honestly.
"Yes, that's correct. But rather than leaving early for the Warrior's Journey, my main reason was to improve my personal abilities."
My father gazed at me in silence.
Just meeting his eyes made me feel as if I were being crushed by a heavy boulder.
"You always try to achieve multiple goals while doing a single task. It's not a bad habit, but you must assess the situation carefully. That habit might strangle you one day."
It was both advice and a warning.
I bowed deeply.
"…I will keep that in mind."
"So, the Warrior's Journey, huh."
The final trial that every child of Soongmuiga must undertake.
Experiencing the world outside the family and growing from it—without any support from the family.
In truth, such a journey was not unique to Soongmuiga.
Across both the East and the West, any family dedicated to martial pursuits had a similar tradition.
It was simply called by different names, such as the Martial Pilgrimage or the Knight's Quest.
'Fifteen years old… That's young.'
If I were to leave for the Warrior's Journey now,
I would be departing at an even younger age than Itaeshin.
Itaeshin had entered Cheonwisan at the age of sixteen to complete the final rite before embarking on his journey.
Unlike other trials, which must be undertaken at a set time, the Warrior's Journey could not be attempted at all unless one met the necessary conditions.
Since it involved stepping out into the world, one had to prove they would not bring disgrace to the family name.
From that perspective, fifteen was too young.
The family rules required it to be completed before adulthood, but most undertook it at seventeen or eighteen.
'Most people, that is.'
Itaeshin saw a flaw in that notion.
This child was not one to be bound by what was considered normal.
He had already confirmed with his own eyes that the boy's skills were far beyond the level of a mere trainee.
Those who carried the blood of Soongmuiga had to prove themselves by breaking boundaries.
That was the proper way for a young warrior who would bear the future of Soongmuiga—and for his own kin.
'And seeing this child surge ahead will make the others wary.'
It would serve as a good wake-up call for the complacent and lazy members of the family.
"Alright, very well."
He had given his approval.
Unseen by my father, I clenched my fist in triumph.
For me, the family was now more of a hindrance than a help.
There was much to be done outside the family, and within it, only enemies remained.
'One day, they won't be a concern anymore, but there's no need to clash with them just yet.'
It wasn't that I feared them even now.
It was simply that wasting time on them was irritating.
At that moment, my father spoke again.
"But there are two conditions."
Two conditions.
I listened closely.
And after hearing them, my eyes widened in surprise.
***
The place where I stayed was a small house on the outskirts of the residential area within the main estate.
As I neared my quarters,
I saw someone waiting at the entrance.
It was my nanny, warming her frozen hands with her breath.
"Young Master!"
The moment she saw me, she rushed forward and pulled me into a hug.
"Nanny, it's been a while. I'm back."
"You've been through so much. Why are you dressed so lightly? Here, at least wear this."
Hurriedly, she removed her own scarf and earmuffs and wrapped them around me.
She didn't even consider that I had mastered magic or that I would be inside the house in just a few steps.
Her eyes shimmered with tears.
"You've lost so much weight."
"How long have you been waiting? You're freezing."
"I haven't waited long."
"What do you mean? I was delayed meeting Father, yet you were still out here. You should have waited inside."
"How could I stay still when I knew you were coming back? Truly, I didn't wait long."
Her every word warmed my heart.
Together, we entered the house.
"I've already arranged your things. Fresh clothes are ready by the bath, so wash up and eat quickly."
As I prepared to bathe and change, I finally noticed my training uniform.
Even though it was made from a special material, it was torn and tattered in multiple places.
That uniform was proof of everything I had endured.
Even though I had brought several sets, this was my last training uniform. The rest had been worn to rags from the grueling training.
"…Nanny, I'll be honest. I think this is what I missed the most."
"Hehe, home-cooked meals are the best, after all, right?"
When I came out after washing up, my nanny had already set the dining table.
Looking at the countless side dishes spread across the table, I swallowed my saliva.
Creak—
Maybe it was just my imagination, but the sheer amount of food seemed enough to break the table legs.
"I thought you might not have been eating well during training, so I prepared a lot of meat-based dishes."
"Thanks. I was actually looking forward to your braised short ribs."
During my time in Cheonwisan, my family sent food supplies every week, so I never lacked anything.
But the problem was the cooking.
There was no time to cook properly, so I only focused on nutrition, not taste.
That's why the only thing I truly missed while in Cheonwisan was my nanny's cooking.
"Eat up. Here, we also have this year's batch of kimchi. And this is from Tongyeong…"
"Nanny, I'll eat at my own pace. Don't worry."
Steaming white rice, tender short ribs, and freshly made kimchi.
Before I knew it, I had already finished three bowls of rice.
"Phew… Now it really feels like I'm home."
Although the main house was technically my home, the place that truly felt like home was wherever my nanny was.
"I brought some sikhye and apples. Have some to cleanse your palate."
"Nanny… are you trying to kill me?"
"Huh? Why?"
"If I eat any more, I might actually explode."
"Oh my, should I take it back then?"
"That would be unacceptable."
I sipped the cold sikhye, ice floating on the surface, as I chatted leisurely with my nanny.
After finishing my drink, she brought out tea and snacks from somewhere.
I really thought I couldn't eat anymore, yet somehow, my hands were already reaching for the teacup.
"Young Master, you'll be staying here for a while, right? You haven't completed your cadet training yet."
"Ah, well… nanny…"
I carefully brought up the topic of Musahaeng (Warrior's Journey).
"What?! Musahaeng? Already?!"
The Musahaeng was a trial that people usually embarked on at 17 or 18.
For me, who hadn't even graduated from the cadet academy yet, setting out on the Musahaeng was unheard of.
"Not right away."
"Still… leaving again so suddenly…"
My nanny's face darkened.
I felt a little guilty.
'The Musahaeng prohibits any contact with family members. On top of that, it's a test that takes several years to complete.'
That meant that if I left now, I wouldn't return for years.
Suddenly, my nanny clenched her fists and looked straight into my eyes.
The sadness in her expression was gone, replaced with firm determination.
"Just let me know when you plan to leave. If you need anything special, tell me. I'll make sure it's ready."
"I'm sorry, nanny."
"Don't apologize. I'm here to support you, not to make you feel guilty. So, when do you plan to depart?"
"In a month or two. I'm not exactly sure yet. If it gets delayed, I don't know by how much."
"Has the decision for Musahaeng not been finalized?"
"It has."
"Then why…"
"Father set some conditions."
I told my nanny about the two conditions my father had given me.
"That means I won't have time to rest from now on. I need to get moving."
I bit into the last remaining slice of apple.
***
From the first day of my return to the family, I had to move busily.
As soon as I finished speaking with my father and nanny, I headed straight to the administration building.
'I might not need to see everyone, but I should at least greet Uncle. There are things I need to hear from him too.'
The administration building was easy to find even within the vast estate of the Sungmuiga family.
In the main house, buildings taller than three stories were rare.
Instead of building upward, the family preferred to construct multiple separate buildings in a traditional Korean style.
However, the main administration building had been built taller for efficiency.
At first, some opposed it, saying it ruined the aesthetics of the main house, but after consolidating all departments into one place, work efficiency significantly improved.
Thanks to notifying them in advance, I was guided straight to the general director's office without any trouble.
"You brat! You must've had a tough time!"
The moment I stepped into the office, my uncle greeted me with a big smile.
"Uncle. Have you been well?"
"I'm always well! But you… wow! You've grown so tall! And so handsome too!"
For someone claiming to be doing well, his dark circles were quite prominent.
"Come, sit down. Want something to drink? Just tell me what you like."
"I just ate with my nanny. I appreciate it, but if I eat anything else, I might get indigestion."
"Haha! That's true. Your nanny must have taken good care of you. So, tell me, how was your time in Cheonwisan?"
"I went there to train, so… it was just constant training."
I spoke more comfortably about my experiences at Cheonwi Mountain than I did when talking with my father.
Though training stories wouldn't normally be interesting, my uncle listened intently to every word I said.
"Haha, so you've even learned alchemy?"
Lee Tae-hong smiled as if he found it adorable.
It wasn't out of mockery—alchemy was genuinely a difficult discipline to master. Unlike handling ordinary pills or herbs, alchemy involved magic, making it several times more challenging than conventional medicine.
Even though his nephew had shown exceptional talent before, this was on a completely different level.
"Yes, even the mountain keeper acknowledged it as a fine medicine."
"The mountain keeper?"
That surprised him a little.
Lee Tae-hong knew that goblin.
That creature often spouted nonsense, but if even a goblin recognized its efficacy, then it truly must be a remarkable elixir.
"Haha, so even the mystical beings were tempted by it. I would have liked to see it for myself."
"Actually, I prepared one for you, Uncle, since you've been working late every night."
"What? Haha! You're the only one who thinks about me."
I took out a small box containing the pill from my pocket.
'I have already absorbed enough of its effects, so it's useless to me now…'
Thanks to my trade with the mountain keeper, I was able to gather even better herbs than originally planned, which resulted in an elixir of much higher quality.
Because of that, I was able to set one aside for my uncle.
Lee Tae-hong accepted the box his nephew handed him.
'What is this scent…?'
Whoosh—
A fragrant aroma, reminiscent of a pine forest after rain, wafted from the pill, which was about the size of a newborn's fist.
"Try it now. While it doesn't drastically enhance magical power immediately, it will keep you energized for weeks and significantly improve the function of your mana system."
"Oh, um, alright. I'll give it a try."
Lee Tae-hong, filled with both anticipation and excitement, placed the pill in his mouth.
'Ah.'
As the pill dissolved, he felt a wave of warmth spread through his body.
His eyes widened in astonishment.
'This… is incredible.'
While it didn't instantly boost mana like a high-grade elixir, it was nearly on par.
With this in his system, training in mana techniques would be several times more effective than usual.
'I've been in his debt so often… This is the least I can do in return.'
I watched my uncle as he examined his mana system in awe.
While part of me wanted to be rewarded for this, it was also a strategic move.
'I'll need my uncle's help if I want to make use of this elixir recipe in the future.'
My uncle slowly opened his eyes.
"Amazing. You really made this?"
"Yes, Uncle. I made this elixir myself."
"Do you know the formula?"
"Of course."
"Are the ingredients difficult to obtain?"
"Some of them, but there are substitutes. The effectiveness would decrease a little, though."
"This could be useful when you grow older, in one way or another. Magical herbs… I heard that a lot of them are being discarded in the North these days."
Lost in thought, my uncle mumbled to himself before snapping back to reality.
"Ah, sorry about that. It's just that this is such an incredible creation. Keep this formula to yourself. When you grow older, you might be able to use it for business or other purposes."
"Understood, Uncle. When that time comes, I'll be counting on you."
"Haha! You're already planning to put me to work? You've grown a lot. Ah, sorry for interrupting. What happened next?"
I continued my story.
And when the topic of the Martial Journey came up, my uncle was truly shocked.
"How old are you again?"
"Fifteen."
"Hah… A Martial Journey at fifteen."
Lee Tae-hong studied his nephew with newfound curiosity.
'This will definitely stir up controversy.'
As soon as he heard that Lee Tae-shin had permitted it, he started considering the potential consequences.
Even the recent expedition to Cheonwi Mountain had sparked a lot of discussion.
However, it had been a fair reward, and since it was a direct order from the family head, no one had dared to speak out against it.
But if the Martial Journey followed right after?
'There's no way favoritism accusations won't arise. No one will dare challenge my older brother, so all the uncomfortable, critical gazes will fall on Cheol.'
In reality, Lee Cheol had never once been favored.
Lee Tae-shin had given his children equal trials and equal rewards.
And Lee Cheol had simply used those rewards as stepping stones to carve out his future.
This Martial Journey was something he had to undertake as a fair exchange for his reward from Cheonwi Mountain, but the family's power-holders wouldn't see it that way.
"The Martial Journey isn't something the family head can approve on his own. The Elder Council must also give their consent."
Even if Lee Tae-shin issued a direct command, no one would dare oppose him, but that wasn't his style of governance.
"Moreover, you haven't proven all the necessary qualifications yet. There are plenty of ways they can object. The elders already dislike you, and you haven't even completed your cadet training… Honestly, why don't you just give up before this turns into a bigger issue?"
Lee Tae-hong offered his advice sincerely, thinking of his nephew's well-being.
However, his nephew only responded with a mysterious smile.
"I expected the concerns you're mentioning, Uncle. That's why Father set conditions."
"Conditions?"
I explained the conditions my father had laid out.
My uncle's eyes widened.
"As expected of my older brother. The first condition makes sense, but… Do you think you can fulfill the second?"
"That's why I need your help, Uncle."
"Hm? My help?"
I smiled as I looked at my uncle.
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