Chapter 71

“...I’ll finish it quickly.”

As soon as Unwi gave a small nod, a blinding white light burst from Chief Steward Seong’s body.

That light began shredding through every last trace of demonic energy within Unwi, and his groans grew louder by the second.

Sweat gathered on Seong’s brow.

His eyes were razor-focused, his body perfectly still.

Chief Steward Seong was no ordinary man.

Juche, the head of the White Snow Phantom Corps, had once said that whatever task Seong undertook—he completed it perfectly, no matter what it was.

That assessment wasn’t wrong.

His inner energy erupted in a controlled surge, and with it, he purged even the last remnants of demonic energy coursing through Unwi’s blood.

Pah-sseuseuk.

A strange, almost hissing sound rang out. The swollen veins that had risen across Unwi’s body began to settle, and his face returned to calm.

Color returned to his cheeks.

“Huu... It’s done.”

I stared quietly as Chief Steward Seong withdrew his hand.

The disguise had long since worn off.

“...Thank you.”

“No thanks needed. But—what the hell happened?”

“Do you want the long version or the short?”

Without waiting for an answer, Seong pulled out a pill from inside his robe.

This was a precious elixir he’d always kept on hand in case of emergencies.

Its name: Gongdahwan.

It was especially effective at restoring damaged meridians. The kind of medicine that would easily cost a thousand taels of silver.

“...Your body’s in rough shape. You’ve got incredible recovery, but even so, you’ll need at least a day of rest. Save the long version for later. Just give me the short of it. And take this.”

“...The short version, huh.”

Unwi skipped every detail and went straight to the core.

“I obtained the Heavenly Demon’s martial art.”

The Gongdahwan pill, halfway to Seong’s mouth, slipped and dropped to the floor.

“...Who?”

“The martial art of Won Gukcheon, the last Heavenly Demon of the Thousand-Year Demonic Sect.”

He was speechless.

Won Gukcheon.

The Thousand-Year Turmoil was officially remembered as a clash between the Demonic Sect and the Martial Alliance.

But that was just the story people told.

The real central figure was just one man.

The ruler who had unified the entire martial world.

The monster among monsters said to have lived for a thousand years.

The final Heavenly Demon—Won Gukcheon.

Anything related to him appearing in the world would be enough to send the martial world into chaos.

Let alone his martial art?

Insanity. This was insane.

No, not yet. Calm down.

“Y-you... you eliminated all the witnesses, right? Of course you did. You would have. You must have. Right?”

Unwi shook his head.

And Chief Steward Seong nearly collapsed from a spike in blood pressure.

Ignoring him, Unwi picked up the Gongdahwan from the ground.

“You sure I can still take this?”

“...You said there are witnesses. At this rate, we’re all going to die. What’s the point of taking medicine now?”

“Then you take it.”

Seong let out a deep, exhausted sigh, took the pill, brushed the dust off it, and handed it back to him.

Unwi smirked.

“Didn’t you just say, ‘What’s the point of taking it?’ And now you’re handing it back?”

“...Just take it. If you’re going to become a vengeful ghost anyway, at least let it be a healthy-looking one. You’re still young, after all. Gotta look your best.”

“...Chief Steward.”

“Yes, Young Master?”

“I have a plan.”

At those words, the color returned to Seong’s face as if someone had flipped a switch.

“...Of course. Of course you do. A man who reached Absolute Oneness—how could he not? I knew you had a plan that someone like me couldn’t even begin to imagine.”

Unwi didn’t bother replying.

He tossed the pill into his mouth and muttered quietly.

“I’m thirsty.”

“Hehe, I’ll bring you water right away.”

Chief Steward Seong really was easy to read.

****

The next day, just past the start of the Hour of the Snake (11am–1pm), Ju Soa arrived at the Yangnyeong branch.

Her face made it clear that she was very much not pleased to be here.

She looked up at the main hall with a deep scowl.

Seated in a tilted posture inside was a man.

Her first impression:

“...He’s good-looking.”

She’d heard all descendants of the polar north had white hair, but this one had an unusual shade of ash-gray.

That must’ve made his childhood rough.

That was about as far as her # Nоvеlight # interest went.

She wasn’t here for him.

Seol Unwi—the Snowy Mountain Demon.

He looked at her and spoke.

“You’re here for a job?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a bit unexpected.”

She shrugged.

“Why unexpected? Usually, in situations like this, the proper response is open arms and warm welcomes, isn’t it?”

Seol Unwi let out a faint laugh.

“Bold.”

Ju Soa blinked.

That voice—his tone—it felt oddly familiar.

No, more than that—

“...Wait. Are you talking to me?”

“Well, who else here would I be talking to?”

She glanced around the room.

Standing beside Unwi was a man who looked to be in his late thirties. Near the entrance to the training grounds were three others: one large man with a hulking frame, another more compact but tightly built, and finally a short-haired woman with striking features.

“...There’s a handful of people around, sure. But I guess you really were talking to me. Makes it even more baffling.”

She meant it.

Apparently, the bastard child of Everlasting Snow Palace didn’t quite grasp the gravity of the situation.

Maybe he needed a bit of education.

“And by the way. Even if you’ve got Everlasting Snow Palace backing you, the three cities nearby aren’t exactly safe playgrounds. Right in the middle of them is Shinsamgok—Shinsamhwa’s biggest cultivation zone. Not far from here, if you walk a bit, there’s even a gold mine. I’m right, aren’t I?”

“You’re more familiar with the geography here than I expected.”

“How could I not be? No one really cared about Yangnyeong before. Out front you’ve got... what was it again... Seolap? Yeah, that place. Who in their right mind would come poking around where Everlasting Snow Palace is staring you down? That’s why some random martial artist at the Five Banners Form could dominate a whole city like Yangnyeong.”

“Go on.”

“But now the situation’s changed. The other three cities are obviously going to get nervous, and of course they’ll try to push back. And right now... I have to say... this isn’t looking great.”

Ju Soa’s gaze slid toward the branch members.

“That pretty one’s at Dual Light Manifestation. The other two... well, they’re bound to reach that level soon, but right now they’re still stuck at Root Heaven Stage.”

She let out a short, incredulous laugh.

“Don’t tell me those three are all you’ve got?”

“That’s all of them.”

“...I see. That’s really all of them. And over there we’ve got Yangnyeong’s strongest man at Spirit Ascension Stage... and our branch master in front of me sitting comfortably at Five Dragon Blooming Star. Are you seriously planning to face the other three cities like this?”

“You think we can’t?”

“If I were to apply basic logic and common sense, I’d say absolutely not. You don’t even have to look far. The neighboring city of Bongnae alone has more than five martial artists at Five Banners Form and one at Harmonization Stage. In Jeokan, there are two Harmonization experts and one at Spirit Ascension. Saryang’s about the same as Bongnae. But it doesn’t stop there. Inside Shinsamgok? That’s where Paemun is based. Honestly, this entire branch might as well be playing house.”

She crossed her arms and sighed inwardly.

This man—Seol Unwi—wasn’t quite the person the rumors made him out to be. He seemed far more composed and grounded. But there was no mistaking it—his cultivation level was only Five Dragon Blooming Star.

And the branch? Just three members.

Well, four, if you counted Seong Yangho at Spirit Ascension Stage.

But ruling a region wasn’t just about raw strength.

You needed numbers. A presence. Infrastructure.

And this?

This wasn’t it.

Ju Soa was a martial artist, yes—but also the master of the Killing Sword Sect.

If not for the fact that she owed Nameless her life, there was no way she’d be here, standing in this shaky branch, offering herself up like this.

This place—just one hard wind, and it might collapse.

So what would it take to fix it?

She spoke again.

“Someone like me could actually be useful. What Yangnyeong needs most are martial artists trained in the Continuation Realm. You need a solid spine before anything else. Give me a decent wage, and I could stay for at least a year. Within that time, I could train at least ten fighters at Continuation Realm. Maybe twenty more at New Mountain Realm. What do you say?”

“You have an unusual personality.”

“Me?”

“Don’t you know yourself?”

“I might come off a little arrogant, but isn’t that just... confidence?”

“There’s a difference between arrogance and confidence.”

Unwi’s voice struck her ear with sudden clarity.

“Still, most of what you said is right. And more importantly, a martial artist at Five Banners Form isn’t easy to come by. You’re hired.”

“Perfect. Then let’s get a contract dra—”

“There happens to be an idiot serving as the sub-branch lord.”

“...What?”

“And under him are three even bigger idiots. Your job is to teach those idiots.”

Ju Soa’s arms dropped.

Her eyes widened.

Why... why was he saying those exact words?

She hadn’t stopped thinking about it.

The man who saved her life in the secret realm.

His words. His voice. His presence. His movements. Everything about him was still carved in her memory.

Unwi spoke.

“Chief Steward Seong.”

“Yes, Young Master?”

“Show her to her quarters. Explain the layout as well.”

“Yes, understood.”

As Unwi rose from the main hall and turned away, he paused mid-step.

He glanced over his shoulder.

“You’re still curious, aren’t you?”

“...About what?”

“My name.”

“...Ah.”

The memory rushed back.

—What’s your name!?

She had asked that.

And he had answered—

—You’ll find out soon enough.

And now... she had.

Ju Soa stood frozen, lips parting like a fish.

“If you don’t have more questions, go get to work.”

Unwi turned his back and walked away.

And behind him, Ju Soa slowly, quietly, began to smile.

So it was you.