True to his word, that very same day, Hae-Hyuk requested Isla to bring in Sophia. It was the first time they truly met. She had known him and saw him from afar before. This was the moment she introduced herself to him though. Her mother had told her about this mysterious and powerful man many times. There were so many stories about his accomplishments... She felt a little awkward to be standing in front of someone that she had looked up to as if a legend.

After all, seeing the 'hero' of your bedtime stories was quite a peculiar moment. But, it turned out that he was nothing like the stern or chivalrous images she had. He seemed to be a relaxed man. He was easy to talk to and amiable. She was quite relieved.

That being said, she wasn't quite sure why she had been invited here. She did want to ask but didn't dare. Her mother was here and she knew for a fact that it was better not to something that could anger or displease her. She still recalled the fearsome punishment of a month in isolated cultivation...

Fortunately for her, Hae-Hyuk didn't plan to talk for the entire day. He cut to the chase after some pleasantries: "Sophia, your mother has asked me to take you in as my legacy disciple. However, I cannot pick just anyone so we both agreed to give you a small test. I will give you a week to show me your sincerity about becoming my disciple. For the entire week, I will allow you to meet me anytime"

Sophia was taken aback. She didn't expect this at all. She knew how much her mother placed importance on this friend but she never ever thought such a thing could happen... Becoming someone else's legacy disciple? But then, what about her mother's legacy? She looked awkwardly at her mother who nodded at her and answered the unasked question: "Being his legacy disciple won't stop you from being mine later on, don't worry sweetheart and grab this opportunity"

"Yes, mother!"

Hae-Hyuk nodded and got up. He said: "Isla, I will be retiring for the moment. I need to check on my two troublemakers too"

Isla smiled as she waved him away: "Sure~ sure~ Go on~ I have some things to discuss with my daughter"

Hae-Hyuk left and only the mother-daughter pair remained. Isla nearly ordered her daughter to take a seat making Sophia fidget. Oh, she was very much aware of what kind of situation she was in. There were very few moments when her mother acted so seriously... It was never good. She feared the scolding that was bound to happen.

But she had no plans to escape it. She deserved to be scolded and, except for her mother, who would dare do it? So, she remained here, waiting anxiously as her mother drank her tea. It was only once the teacup was put back on the table that the silence was broken: "I am glad you're safe, don't do this ever again"

She was so surprised that she didn't know how to react. She had expected a lot of things but not that. In the end, she began to cry. She hoped to be scolded deep down. Her mother got up and took her in a hug, patting her head to calm her. She told her: "What you did might have seemed the right thing to do...but was it? This world is more complex than you think, Sophia. It is my fault that you don't know about it. I kept you in this cage under my wing all this time..."

"No, Mom, *sniff*, it is all my fault"

"Aye, stop crying child, what am I to do with you... *sigh*... In any case, I have asked Hae-Hyuk to take you in as his legacy disciple, you should know what that means"

"That's..."

"This is the greatest opportunity I can give you. Take it. And make the most of it"

"I will, mother!"

"Alright, alright. Now, go get some rest. Then tackle Hae-Hyuk's"

"Yes, mother"

As she sent her daughter away, Isla grumbled "Why can't she call me mommy like she used to..." before she decided to go find Hae-Hyuk in his quarters. It was quite unlikely that her daughter would go straight to find him so she still had a little bit of time to enjoy his presence. She had missed him so much in the decades she hadn't seen him...

Meanwhile, Sophia didn't take her mother's advice and didn't go rest. She arranged her appearance then went around asking the tower members about what 'sincerity' meant. It was a technique master's test, it couldn't be taken lightly. It had to have a deep meaning behind it.

She mostly received two answers. It was either about giving something of value or giving herself. She definitely didn't think it was the second option. That man was as old as her mother and this couldn't be what he was after. She didn't even consider this as an option. Which left only the first one.

Now, what could be considered of value? Money? Artifacts? Equipments? Pills? There were many possibilities but that man was a technique master. What could be of value to such a man if not a new technique? Proud of finding out the answer to the riddle, it was only then that she went to rest. As for the technique she would gift him...They had hundreds in the vault, thee would surely be a few worth gifting.

It was unfortunate that she forgot who she was asking. She had asked the men who worked as gigolo in her mother's tower. Cultivators who enjoyed pleasure and loved wealth. Could the perception of 'sincerity' of these people be the same as the one from Hae-Hyuk? Unlikely. And so, she was unknowingly already on her way to masterfully fail her test...