Chapter 97

Wang Soyun's maniacal laughter echoed through the air.

The second sword form.

Wang Soyun’s body shot up into the sky.

It was a core movement of the Iron-Tuned Swordplay.

Soaring like a bird in flight and slashing downward, it was often categorized as a type of swift sword technique.

But the foundation of martial arts lies in one’s center.

Seogeok—!!

Wang Soyun’s sword carved through the air.

And it brushed past Unwi’s face—missing by barely an inch.

“Hehehehe... You dodged that? Remarkable. Truly remarkable!”

Landing back on the ground, Wang Soyun’s eyes gleamed with a frenzied light.

His right thigh began to swell, and both his shoulders twitched unnaturally.

The ultimate move of the Iron-Tuned Swordplay—Falling Bird Soars to Heaven (Nakho Bicheon).

Wang Soyun’s sword began to spin. At first, it looked like a graceful bird dancing through the air—but in an instant, a burst of blue light exploded from his blade.

Dozens of sword auras filled the sky like a flock of birds.

Unwi’s eyes flashed as he watched them.

“This will do.”

Among the sword arts recorded in the Ten Thousand Snow Bamboo Scroll, there was one: Absolute Ice Returns to Void Sword (Jeolbing Gwiheogum).

The Hollow Qi that had been circulating through his meridians immediately began transforming into Ice-Snow Qi.

Slowly, then swiftly, Unwi’s sword moved.

As if condensing the cold of a snowy mountain into a single beam of light, that frigid, merciless flash tore through the dazzling sword auras of the Iron-Tuned Swordplay and shot straight toward Wang Soyun’s throat.

Seogeok—!

Wang Soyun’s neck was severed. And before his head even hit the ground, Unwi had already sheathed his sword.

***

Cheonpung raised his greatsword.

At the sight, Jang Maenggang’s gaze sharpened.

Even under mind control, the instincts of a martial artist don’t simply vanish.

All it did was shift his priorities. Nothing more.

Right now, Jang Maenggang paid no attention to the martial artist of Yanggwang Ihyeon standing before him, nor to the 'ordinary man' beside him.

All of his senses were focused behind him.

That was where Unwi stood.

He had to play a game.

He had to raise his realm through a game.

If he could face that man in a match, he could become strong.

Yes—strong.

A word that made his blood boil. A goal no martial artist could ever abandon.

That was when—

Cheonpung charged.

Irritation flared in Jang Maenggang’s eyes.

“Haaah... Get out of my way!”

His blade sliced through the air.

As expected of a master from the Five Flag Origin, his sword extended without a hair of deviation, striking toward Cheonpung’s neck.

But at some point, Yang Cheol’s fingertip lightly tapped Jang Maenggang’s shoulder.

‘When...?’

Jang Maenggang’s body was knocked off balance. Naturally, the sword aimed at Cheonpung’s neck veered off course.

Cheonpung seized the opening without hesitation.

His greatsword, tilted sideways, swept toward Jang Maenggang’s abdomen.

In that moment, Jang Maenggang was more concerned about the man named Yang Cheol than the sword bearing down on him.

He looked like an ordinary person—so how could he move like this?

He’d closed the distance in an instant? Jang Maenggang hadn’t read it, hadn’t even sensed it.

Shhaaaak—!!

He concentrated his internal energy in his abdomen.

A typical martial artist of the Yanggwang Ihyeon level couldn't possibly break through the defensive qi of someone at Five Flag Origin.

No—instead of breaking through, they'd only shred their own hands.

That level of defense should have been enough.

Soon, Cheonpung’s palms would split open, he'd collapse in pain, and Jang Maenggang would split his head in two with his blade. After that, he could deal with this mysterious coachman and finally face Unwi in a game.

But his plan unraveled from the very first step.

Kwaaaang—!

The impact struck his abdomen like a metal hammer.

Jang Maenggang’s body arched like a bow, then flew backward.

“Guh... Khh—...”

He felt like his whole body was floating in the air. His feet barely touched the ground again, only for him to be shoved back like a cow kicked by its hind legs.

Shock flooded his eyes.

‘What kind of absurd physical power is this...?’

Cracks had formed in his defensive qi.

A martial artist at the Yanggwang Ihyeon level had delivered a genuine blow to his Five Flag Origin-level defensive technique.

Jang Maenggang wasn’t the only one stunned.

So was Yang Cheol.

He stared at Cheonpung with trembling eyes.

‘Cheonpung... I’d heard his physical strength was impressive, but not to this degree...’

Just look at that.

It seemed Yangnyeong was gathering all sorts of hidden talents.

In that instant, as Jang Maenggang came to his senses, he thrust his sword forward.

Blood-Fated Salvation (Hyeolun Changsaeng).

Red ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) energy burst from his blade, spreading to envelop the surroundings.

This time was different from before.

Now, it was infused with deadly intent—he was determined to kill Cheonpung no matter what.

But that too—

Was as far as it got.

Yang Cheol moved first once again.

His foot slammed into Jang Maenggang’s right thigh, dropping him to the ground.

Cheonpung treated practice like live battle.

Jang Maenggang’s sword stabbed into the dirt, but the red energy he had scattered still hovered in the air.

Cheonpung charged straight through it. A sharp slicing sound rang out as blood splattered from his body.

And then—

“Right shoulder.”

Unwi’s quiet voice pierced clearly into Cheonpung’s ear.

In that instant, Cheonpung’s eyes changed. He had originally intended to swing horizontally, but now he raised his greatsword high.

And brought it down.

Thud—!

The greatsword buried itself deep into Jang Maenggang’s shoulder.

BOOM—!!

And then exploded.

The final form of the Thousand-Kill Avalanche Slash—Cold Star Shatters the Sky (Hanseong Pagong).

It had been unleashed.

With the explosion, Jang Maenggang’s body was hurled backward. His shoulder was torn to an unrecognizable mess, and he screamed in agony on the ground.

“A—Aaagh—!!”

The fight was over.

Cheonpung stood there, greatsword still in hand, dazed as if he couldn’t comprehend what had happened. Once more, Unwi’s voice landed in his ear.

“When you were in close range, Jang Maenggang had concentrated all his internal energy into his abdomen.”

Step, step.

Behind the slowly approaching Unwi, Wang Soyun’s head rolled on the ground in a grotesque display.

“Remember this. Your sword is simple, and your opponent can always read it.”

“...Master...”

“What you need is always a strike that defies expectation. Change your thinking, broaden your vision. In that brief moment, Jang Maenggang’s right shoulder had the weakest internal flow. Don’t forget this moment. Replay it in your mind.”

Cheonpung immediately dropped to his knees and shouted loudly.

“Understood—!”

Unwi’s gaze shifted toward Jang Maenggang.

“A game... Let’s play a game... I must...”

Muttering the same line over and over, Jang Maenggang didn’t stop.

Unwi kicked him in the head.

BOOM—!!

His skull exploded on the spot. As blood and bone fragments splattered in every direction, Cheonpung found even that beautiful to behold.

Unwi spoke curtly.

“We’ve wasted more time than I expected. Yang Cheol.”

“...Yes, Lord Hyeon Seollin.”

“How long to Binghaeju?”

“At best, it’ll take three days.”

“Make it two.”

“...Excuse me?”

“There’s no guarantee we won’t be delayed again. We won’t rest, and I have no intention of sleeping. Map out every point we can switch horses mid-journey and find the most efficient route. We must arrive within two days.”

“...It’s possible... Yes. I’ll make it happen.”

Unwi gave a nod and looked around briefly.

The two corpses were one thing, but there were far too many eyes watching from the surroundings.

At least several dozen. News would spread through Murim like wildfire.

Someone—

Had interfered with the game he was playing.

Tsk.

Clicking his tongue, Unwi stepped into the carriage. Cheonpung followed after, and Yang Cheol—

Let out a sigh, then resumed driving.

***

The fact that the two martial artists of the Sacheon Alliance had been mind-controlled wasn’t the important part.

To those unaware of the situation, it looked like they had challenged me to a match—and I killed them.

That was the key.

Judging from how events unfolded, it was clear someone had interfered. But their identity remained uncertain.

Based on the overall picture, one might think Gun Mugyeol of the Martial Alliance had moved—but no.

My intuition tells me there’s less than a fifty percent chance it was Gun Mugyeol.

Creating conflict between the Sacheon Alliance and the Everlasting Snow Palace wasn’t a bad move for the Martial Alliance, but that perspective only holds if you think like the Martial Alliance.

In Go, you must always consider your opponent’s perspective.

That’s basic.

So how would this look from the Sacheon Alliance’s side?

Let’s keep it simple. Among the leaders of Murim’s sects, some are extraordinary, some are fools.

But in a federation that manages multiple sects, the leader must be exceptional.

A fool couldn’t hold it all together.

The leader of the Sacheon Alliance, Heaven-Conquering Overlord Kang Cheon-u, is no fool.

So who would he think is behind this scheme?

Chances are, he wouldn’t suspect me.

But still—some form of action must be taken.

A frown formed between my brows.

That single, seemingly insignificant move had tangled together the Everlasting Snow Palace, Martial Alliance, and Sacheon Alliance.

The one who would benefit most from this—

The one who knew the Soul-Entrancing Hypnosis Art—

There’s only one person who fits perfectly.

The High Priest of the Blood Heaven Church. Cheondoja.

That old hermit in the mountains must’ve found this game amusing for once. I didn’t expect him to personally place a stone on the board and start toying with the match.

“...Master...? Are you alright?”

Cheonpung’s voice, full of concern, made me lift my head.

“I’m fine.”

“...Thank goodness. Even if you’re a man of calm and calculation, you must be worried—your older brother’s been injured... If there’s anything I can do, please command me.”

I spoke calmly.

“Your presence alone is a great help. Stay by my side. That’s all I need.”

“Ah... Y-Yes... I will.”

Cheonpung’s eyes reddened with emotion, but he didn’t say more.

I turned to look out the carriage window.

A massive ice-covered city came into view.

We had arrived in Binghaeju.

***

A woman, who had gone from biting her lips to gnawing nervously at her fingernails, paced outside a chamber.

Seol Yeonhwa, third of the Polar Descendants.

Her face was painted with anxiety, worry, bewilderment—all tangled together.

It was no surprise.

Though they were twins, Seol Muryeon had emerged into the world first, making him the elder brother. And now, he was inside that chamber, coughing up blood.

Physicians hovered around him, dumping every medicinal ingredient they had into him—but there was no sign of recovery.

She was starting to fear they might really have to hold a funeral soon.

“Nuna.”

The voice made her turn.

There were two men.

One of them was massive... honestly, she didn’t know who he was. But the other—

She knew him all too well.

“Youngest...”

Her eyes welled up. It felt like something inside her was about to burst.

Unwi walked over silently and gently placed a hand on Seol Yeonhwa’s shoulder.