Chapter 44

Seolap and Yangnyeong.

What happened in that remote backwater—barely even a proper town—reached the heart of Everlasting Snow Palace almost instantly.

When the # Nоvеlight # report came, Seol Jungcheon, the Lord of Ice and Heaven, showed a rare expression.

A faint chuckle escaped his lips.

For anyone else, that might not mean much. People laugh all the time. But this was Seol Jungcheon.

A man known as a cold-blooded tyrant, he was not one to laugh, not even in mockery.

That was why everyone in the palace’s inner circle froze in shock. Especially Yang Seoljin, who had been delivering the report—he was visibly shaken.

He’d always thought he understood Seol Jungcheon better than anyone. But something felt... off.

Had he been mistaken?

It was then that Seol Jungcheon asked him a question.

“So, all four major sects in Yangnyeong were annihilated?”

“Yes, sir.”

“A warrior settled a grudge with his own hands. Is that a problem?”

It would depend on who was watching—but by any measure, Hyeon Seollin, Seol Unwi, had taken Yangnyeong through just means.

In fact, his justification had been sound from the very beginning.

He’d lived as a puppet for six years. And now, his revenge had been carried out flawlessly.

But there was one complication.

“I’m told he also killed the magistrate.”

Still, Seol Jungcheon didn’t seem bothered.

“If those so-called sects were extorting funds from Seolap, the magistrate must’ve been complicit. Isn’t that right?”

“...Yes, sir. But there’s no solid evidence.”

“I heard there was a ledger.”

“That ledger is in Hyeon Seollin’s possession. We haven’t seen its contents...”

“So you don’t know?”

“That’s correct.”

Seol Jungcheon fell silent, lost in thought.

This was... unexpected.

He hadn’t exactly been hoping for much. But this? This went far beyond his expectations.

They had made a wager—about the paths they’d walk, who would reach the end first. He never imagined it would be this path.

A path balanced precariously between the Way of Demons and the Way of Tyrants—walking a tightrope between destruction and righteousness.

But if you traced the chain of events, it became clear this wasn’t something ordinary.

First came the warning, sent via letter. Then a deadline—midnight.

Before they could even formulate a response, Seol Unwi had already infiltrated Yangnyeong and assassinated the leaders of all four sects.

Then came the appearance of the master of Juryung Sword Gate, who had been in seclusion. That part was impressive, too.

Naturally enraged, the master rallied every last martial artist of the four sects—and they too were wiped out.

He collapsed a cliff...? This wasn’t a reckless gamble... he chose the most efficient path possible.

And where was Seol Unwi now?

At the early stage of Twin Radiance Manifestation.

A martial artist at that realm, seeking the best outcome, would have done exactly what Unwi did.

Then what if—what if he reached the level of Earth and Heaven Transcendence?

He wouldn’t just rely on raw strength. He would use his mind.

There were now many who saw Unwi in a new light after this incident.

Impressive. Again and again—impressive.

The execution was flawless.

A martial artist of Twin Radiance Manifestation had seized control of an entire county with fewer than forty people.

Even with government forces involved, he’d secured proper justification and sealed the matter with the ledger.

Yang Seoljin had said the ledger existed—but no one could confirm whether the magistrate’s name was written inside.

That’s the thing.

Depending on what Unwi decided, the name could be there—or it could not.

Had he calculated that far ahead?

Truly...

It was astonishing.

Finally, Seol Jungcheon’s lips twitched—

And then—

“Ha... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”

A booming laugh burst forth so suddenly that everyone in the chamber went silent.

Just moments ago, they had all been clamoring that Seol Unwi should be summoned and scolded, that he should be held accountable, that this mess might destroy their alliance with the Yang Empire—and someone must take responsibility.

Now? Those same people swallowed their words.

“Ha ha... It’s entertaining. Truly entertaining.”

And Seol Jungcheon meant it.

“Now you’re finally acting like a true heir of the Polar Throne.”

The youngest had made a promise—and kept it.

Now, it was time for the father to fulfill his own.

“Vice Palace Lord.”

“...Yes, my lord.”

“That flower we spoke of—the Everfrost Flame Blossom. Is it ready?”

Once again, every person nearby widened their eyes. The Everfrost Flame Blossom?

That priceless spiritual creature? All of a sudden?

“I made a promise to Hyeon Seollin. I intend to keep it.”

One shock followed another.

It wasn’t just the flower itself—but that he intended to give it to the youngest?

“My lord...! You mustn’t!”

The one who cried out was Jin Yangje, master of the Hanbing Sect—one of Seol Unwi’s maternal bloodline clans.

“You mustn’t? Why?”

“...That treasure, how can you give it to someone who’s only reached Twin Radiance Manifestation? More than that—he’s committed a grievous offense—”

“I.”

Seol Jungcheon cut him off coldly.

His eyes were icy.

“I made a promise. To Hyeon Seollin.”

“...”

“Now that it’s been said aloud... there’s something I’m curious about.”

“Y-yes?”

“No matter how lowly a child of a concubine Hyeon Seollin may be, he is still the heir of the Polar Throne. Why, then, did those sects in Yangnyeong try to kill him? What exactly were they relying on?”

“...”

“Jin Yangje. Would you be satisfied if I launched a full investigation into this incident?”

“N-no, sir.”

Seol Jungcheon stared at him for a moment with an odd look, as if the whole situation fascinated him.

“Allow me to offer one piece of advice.”

“I—I will listen carefully.”

“Any grudge or feud within the palace... I do not intervene. That will not change. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my lord. I understand.”

Truthfully, he didn’t understand at all.

What did that even mean?

He doesn’t interfere in personal feuds? So nothing’s changed?

Yang Seoljin, sorting through documents with darkened eyes, didn’t understand either.

But both of them—should have carved that warning deep into their hearts.

“Hyeonshim.”

At Seol Jungcheon’s command, a man leaning against a pillar at the corner of the chamber straightened his back and knelt on one knee.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Go to Hyeon Seollin. Tell him I’ve summoned him to the main palace.”

“At once.”

And with that, Hyeonshim’s body vanished like smoke.

****

By the time the catastrophe in Yangnyeong reached the main palace of Everlasting Snow Palace and began rippling through the martial world, there were already some who had begun to breathe sighs of relief.

Those people were the World Commerce Association—Yangnyeong’s dominant trading group.

The four major sects had fallen. The magistrate was dead.

But that was it.

The Cold Ridge Jade Essence extracted from the two mines between Seolap and Yangnyeong had always passed through the World Commerce Association before reaching the market.

That arrangement had been established through a simple agreement by Cheon Eojin, the head of the Association:

Once the ores were extracted, they would all be sent to the Association. The Association would then transport and sell them throughout Zhongyuan.

The resulting profits were split between the four sects and the magistrate according to prearranged percentages.

As a result, the World Commerce Association became the only trading group in Yangnyeong. All others had been driven out.

A complete monopoly.

So when the sects collapsed and the magistrate was executed, Cheon Eojin had trembled with fear.

Would Seol Unwi’s wrath reach them next?

Would the World Commerce Association be left unscathed?

It seemed unlikely—but strangely, even as the first day passed, nothing happened.

And so, they exhaled.

We’re in the clear.

Even Seol Unwi must have some use for the Association.

With that conclusion, the future didn’t seem hard to predict.

Seol Unwi would visit them soon, most likely.

Then, they’d renegotiate terms.

The Association had sold Cold Ridge Jade Essence multiple times before. They were practically experts.

A new deal would be struck. Business would resume.

Cheon Eojin’s forecast was, to an extent, correct.

At the very least, he was right about one thing—Seol Unwi would be paying them a visit.

That much, he got right.

Cheon Eojin was sipping tea on the top floor of a tower that overlooked the entire Association headquarters, including the front gate, when he felt something... off.

Almost unconsciously, he glanced toward the main gate—

KRAAAAA-KOOM!!

The gate exploded.

He jumped to his feet.

The two guards stationed at the entrance were beheaded on the spot. And before anyone could react, a sword pierced the chest of Jin Janghyeok—better known as the “Single-Sabre of the Horizon,” a master hired from Zhongyuan.

Something...

Something had gone terribly wrong.

****

BOOM!

The doors were kicked open without hesitation.

As the hinges shattered, Cheonpung and Wonyang rushed in, slicing through the two guards at the entrance with brutal efficiency.

It all happened in a flash—far too fast for anyone to react.

Footsteps followed, calm and unhurried. As they crossed the threshold, someone shouted from ahead:

“You there! This is the World Commerce Association! How dare you launch a daylight—!”

“Who are you?”

“...You don’t recognize me?”

“No.”

“Hmph. I suppose it’s not surprising, stuck out here in some Yangnyeong backwater. I am the Single-Sabre of the Horizon.”

“The what?”

Han Murin leaned in and whispered to me.

“He’s a martial artist who gained some fame out west in Hwalryang, near the Yang Empire’s border. Name’s Jin Janghyeok. His cultivation is at the Three Fire Convergence stage. He fights with twin sabers. No one’s sure where he originally trained, but he’s affiliated with a group now.”

Didn’t even need to guess.

“Stormwind Alliance.”

“Ah, your insight is always impressive.”

“Just from the way he walks, it’s obvious he’s trained in the Wind-Beyond-Dust Step. Would’ve been weirder if I didn’t know.”

Han Murin’s eyes twitched hard.

“So it’s true, then... That you can read a man from his footwork alone.”

I turned my head slightly.

Stormwind Alliance.

A rogue martial group founded by Jang Cheonryong, the so-called “Wave King.” It was often referred to as the Vagabond Union.

Jang Cheonryong had reached the second realm of the Martial God’s Five Paths: the Realm of Martial Apex Incarnation.

There was a reason they called him the Wave King.

He created the Wind-Beyond-Dust Step—a technique taught to every martial artist who joined the Alliance.

For newcomers at the Foundation Stage, he offered the basic Breathing Step. For those at the Flame Convergence realm, he introduced the Adaptive Step. Once they reached the Transcendence of Earth and Heaven, he passed down the Dust Step. And for those beyond, the Profound Step.

The Wind-Beyond-Dust Step was among the highest-tier movement techniques in the Heaven grade. It had been a pain to deal with in my previous life.

Jin Janghyeok’s footwork now alternated between featherlight steps like wind and weighty presses like stormclouds—yet with a deceptive softness, as if he were walking on air. On the surface, it might not seem like much, but there was a clear rhythm to it.

Just from that, it was obvious.

He was a rogue from the Stormwind Alliance.

“I don’t care that you’re being paid for this job, but I’ll say this once. Listen closely.”

“You insolent bastard. Do you have any idea who I am? I’m—”

“Leave. Now. If you go, I won’t chase you.”

“Hah... So the name of the Stormwind Alliance scares even you. Then allow me to offer you a deal instead. I’ll take responsibility for the two dead guards—just walk away now.”