Chapter 13

Seol Unwi silently stared at the unconscious Han Seokhyeon.

Not bad.

Since his return, all he’d seen were people either running or begging. But this was the first time someone had made a clear-headed judgment in such a pressing situation.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect.

But decisiveness and insight—that’s what mattered.

Those qualities could be refined.

Before long, Cheonpung, having loaded all the Cold Ridge Jade Crystal, reported back to Seol Unwi. He answered crisply.

“We return.”

“Yes, sir!”

****

Seong Yangho.

He had watched over Seol Unwi since childhood, a butler who had genuinely cared for him. When Seol Unwi was appointed as Branch Leader of Seolap, Seong Yangho had followed him without hesitation.

Usually referred to as Inspector Seong, he was the only inspector of the Seolap Branch and managed nearly everything that happened in Seolap.

Because the branch existed in name only, he oversaw everything—from the distribution of basic cultivation resources and financial management to building repairs and even the upkeep of the gardens.

It was well beyond what one man could handle. And yet, strangely enough, he managed it all without issue.

There had never been a single financial mishap within the Seolap Branch—that alone was proof.

Even he found the current situation baffling.

No—if he were being honest, it was driving him crazy.

On one side, dozens of unfamiliar people were arriving with several hundred geun of Cold Ridge Jade Crystal.

On the other side stood a man, arms crossed, silently watching the scene unfold.

That man was Lee Jichang.

Nicknamed Frozen Snow Sword Scar—Elder of the Juryung Sword Sect, one of Yangnyeong’s dominant forces, and the mentor of Yawoon Sang, who had recently been killed by Seol Unwi.

His expression suggested sheer disbelief—and in that, he looked just like Inspector Seong.

Giving out three silver taels? That could be overlooked.

Everyone knew the mines had been stolen years ago. And now they had been reclaimed.

And in the process, the Long Sword Sect’s martial artists who had guarded those mines had been slaughtered.

He had heard everything.

And that was why he wore that face.

Most martial artists live and die by vengeance.

Inspector Seong was no exception. Seol Unwi probably wasn’t either.

But not every martial artist acted like Seol Unwi.

There’s a reason why “lines” exist.

Right now, Seol Unwi was going far beyond those lines.

A day to clean out the branch.

A day to advance his cultivation.

A day to retake the Cheongneung Mine.

And apparently, right after that, he had gone straight to the Seolhan Mine and handled that too.

At that point, words failed.

Three days.

He had done in three days what would normally take someone months.

Even in medicine, rapid progress brings backlash.

Inspector Seong’s gaze turned to Frozen Snow Sword Scar.

That man was the backlash.

With arms crossed and a faint smile on his face, he exuded something Inspector Seong immediately recognized:

Undisguised killing intent.

Frozen Snow Sword Scar had reached the third stage of the Four Realms of Refined Qi—Samhwa Meditation Hall, while Seol Unwi was at the first stage—Yang Radiance Appears.

By conventional logic, they weren’t even close to being equals.

He thought seriously.

“...Should I intervene?”

No, he decided.

He shook his head and forced a smile.

Now was not the time. Frozen Snow Sword Scar wasn’t a fool. He wouldn’t risk everything here and now.

He was here to deliver a warning.

At that moment, Frozen Snow Sword Scar turned to look at Inspector Seong. Seeing his awkward smile, the elder let out a faint chuckle.

“You’ve served the wrong master.”

“Ah... You mean me?”

“You’re Seong Yangho, the one and only inspector of Seolap, aren’t you?”

“...Yes... That’s right.”

“For someone of your capability, it’s a waste, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ serving a brat like that.”

“Hehe... well, you know... things happen.”

Inspector Seong looked completely ordinary—maybe even a bit slow.

It was a masterful performance.

Just then, another group entered the branch compound.

It was Seol Unwi and the other four branch members.

They were pulling over ten carts. Judging by the horses panting heavily, they hadn’t taken a break along the way.

Frozen Snow Sword Scar, watching them approach, murmured under his breath.

“Speak of the devil. That little roach.”

He didn’t notice.

He didn’t see the sudden chill that flashed across Inspector Seong’s face.

In his mind, Inspector Seong carved the character for “patience”, then forced a smile again.

Seol Unwi approached.

“You came without sending word.”

“Yes, and yet you don’t even greet your senior?”

A smile tugged at Seol Unwi’s lips. Surprisingly, he gave a very proper martial salute.

“I greet my senior with utmost respect.”

“Mm.”

“I didn’t expect you to come in person.”

“How could I not, when you killed my disciple?”

At that, Seol Unwi tilted his head slightly.

“Oh, so that’s why you came?”

“What else would I come here for?”

“I thought perhaps you were here to return all the resources you extorted from Seolap over the years and offer a formal apology.”

The moment Seol Unwi said that, the miners and branch members froze in place, along with Inspector Seong, who had been standing with his head bowed.

A bloodthirsty smile crept across Frozen Snow Sword Scar’s lips.

“...You little bastard... Are you insane?”

“Senior, I’m perfectly sane.”

Seol Unwi gestured to Inspector Seong.

The meaning of the gesture was clear: Bring it.

Inspector Seong swallowed hard.

His eyes asked Are you really going through with this?, but Seol Unwi didn’t so much as flinch. He had no choice.

Inspector Seong let out a long breath, then hurried inside. A moment later, he returned with a small box. Seol Unwi took it with a pleasant smile and handed it to Frozen Snow Sword Scar.

“A gift.”

“...Heh... You really are unpredictable. One moment you’re making demands, now you’re offering gifts...”

Frozen Snow Sword Scar opened the box—and his expression hardened instantly.

Inside was a severed head.

Crawling with maggots.

Yawoon Sang’s head.

“It’s not much. The head of a worm who destabilized Seolap and funneled our resources to Juryung Sword Sect and Yangnyeong. He was a piece of trash to me, but to you, he was a disciple, wasn’t he?”

“...Do you have a death wish?”

“Not at all. I really want to live a long time. And just so you know, unfortunately that head is all that remains of him. The rest was hacked into pieces and fed to wild dogs. If you want, you can track down those dogs and piece him back together.”

Murderous intent exploded from Frozen Snow Sword Scar’s body. His hand shot out and grabbed Seol Unwi by the collar.

But—

Surprisingly, Seol Unwi didn’t move.

In fact, the branch members who had been hauling Cold Ridge Jade Crystal had drawn their swords and were rushing in—

“Stop. Don’t come any closer.”

At Seol Unwi’s command, they halted instantly.

“...You think I won’t lay a hand on you just because you’ve got the Everlasting Snow Palace behind you?”

To that, Seol Unwi let out a soft chuckle.

“Senior, not long ago I killed the beggars here in Seolap.”

“...”

“I don’t know why everyone keeps saying the same thing. You and I are in different factions, and this isn’t a problem between me and the Everlasting Snow Palace. It’s between me and Yangnyeong. Also—”

Seol Unwi struck down the arm that was gripping his collar.

“Let go. You can’t even tear it off.”

“...Tch.”

“Do you know what separates you and me?”

“What is it?”

“You’re bound.”

“...What?”

“As for me—if the Martial Alliance comes after me, I’ll take the Alliance Leader’s head. If the nation comes for me, I’ll take the Emperor’s. My background is meaningless. This is personal.”

“...You’re insane...”

“I’ve heard that one plenty of times. But I’m not talking about madness—I’m saying the problem here isn’t about affiliations or factions. It’s about the individual. Do you understand?”

“...So?”

“I don’t act recklessly. If I do something worth killing for, I kill the one responsible. But those who benefited from that person—I give them one warning.”

“...Heh. Fine. Keep talking.”

“You’ve been exploiting Seolap through Yawoon Sang. Return everything you’ve taken. And cease all involvement in the Cheongneung Mine—it's located on Seolap’s land. If anyone besides those I’ve authorized shows up there again, I’ll kill every last one of them—including the ones who sent them. And—”

“That’s enough. I don’t need to hear any more.”

Frozen Snow Sword Scar stepped forward, eyes locked on Seol Unwi.

“This is your first and final warning. Listen carefully. Cheongneung Mine belongs to Yangnyeong. So does Seolhan Mine. We of the Juryung Sword Sect will continue to manage both of them. As for the so-called exploitation you mentioned—that was Yawoon Sang acting on his own. We knew nothing about it. We’ll let you keep the ore over there. But if you interfere with Yangnyeong or the Juryung Sword Sect again, blood will rain down on Seolap—starting with you. Understood?”

Surprisingly—

Once again, Seol Unwi responded with a gentle smile.

“Yes. Understood.”

“...You really are impossible to read.”

Frozen Snow Sword Scar reached out and tapped Seol Unwi on the head with his fingers.

“From now on, try to understand the difference between when to crawl and when not to. Got that?”

That same gesture, those same words—he had used them not long ago on the men he’d killed.

But this time, Seol Unwi didn’t smile.

“And as for you—so you spent six years playing the fool, preparing something or other. Fine. But that’s where it ends. You’re an illegitimate child. That’s your fate. In the end, you’ll always have to cling to someone. That’s just who you are. Accept it. That’s advice from someone who genuinely pities you—carve it into your bones.”

Frozen Snow Sword Scar meant every word.

To him, Seol Unwi was just a bastard son.

Sure, the Everlasting Snow Palace stood behind him—but hadn’t they been watching all this time?

Even with all the provocation, the palace had stayed quiet. Sovereign Seol Jungcheon hadn’t lifted a finger. Nor had his brothers.

The mines belonged to Yangnyeong.

And the ruling family of Yangnyeong was the Juryung Sword Sect.

That was already decided. It might as well have been fate.

And yet, here stood Seol Unwi—an illegitimate child with no real backing—strutting around with nothing but arrogance. It was disgraceful to behold.

“You know as well as I do—your future is not your own. Sure, Yawoon Sang was just a pawn, and now he’s gone. But that’s fine. If you become the new pawn, your life will be even more comfortable. So bow your head and learn your place. Playtime’s over. Got it?”

“...”

“And soon, we’ll send someone to deliver the new operational policies Seolap will follow. Be prepared.”