Chapter 146

“I’ll finish what I was saying. If you commit wrongdoing, the Snow Palace will judge and punish you accordingly. As people of the Snow Palace now, there are things you are obliged to uphold.”

“We will heed your words!”

“First—loyalty. No matter what force may approach you, you must never forget that you now belong to the Snow Palace. Second—stability. From now on, you will govern Saryang. If you exploit the people’s lifeblood or cause severe damage to the Snow Palace’s dignity, that crime will be paid for with your lives. Can you uphold these two?”

“Yes!”

“Then I will accept you.”

Unhwi drew a written oath from his robes and laid it before the three.

“Sign your names.”

There was not a moment’s hesitation. The three men drew blood from their fingertips and signed their names.

Without a word, Unhwi folded the oath again and held it out to the side. Commander Seong, waiting behind him, stepped forward and received it at once.

Unhwi spoke again.

“Saryang has now come under the protection of the Eternal Snow Palace. And you now bear the responsibility of defending that shield. Remember this well—loyalty is like walking on a blade’s edge. A single misstep can bring eternal downfall. Engrave that in your hearts.”

The three men bowed simultaneously.

“Thank you, Lord Seol!”

“Rise. From this moment, you are mine.”

The three stood slowly. In their eyes gleamed both reverence and a flicker of hope. Unhwi turned and walked back toward the platform. The light of the setting sun painted his back in crimson.

Ju Soa and Han Murin were watching everything unfold. In Ju Soa’s eyes was awe; in Han Murin’s, wonder.

***

Unhwi’s accomplishments were truly astounding.

Jeogan. Bongrae. Saryang. Yangryeong. And even the central region—Shinsamgok.

Unhwi had now become the master of a vast territory encompassing all five of these lands.

It was impossible not to be impressed.

Among all the successors of the Polar Lands, none had ever achieved anything like this.

More than anything, the fact that he had swallowed up territories controlled by both the Martial Alliance and Sichuan Alliance—without any intervention from the main Palace—meant that Seol Unhwi’s capabilities far exceeded expectations.

It was no longer appropriate to call him a mere branch master.

“We will change the designation of Yangryeong to Yangryeong Province, and appoint Hyun Seollin as its Provincial Commander.”

Seol Jungcheon’s firm declaration brought silence.

No one in the palace dared to speak easily. After all, what Seol Unhwi had accomplished defied reason.

From Unhwi’s perspective, both Cheonseolmun and Snowflake Manor—maternal sects—said nothing.

The branch sect leaders—Seollyeong Pavilion, Baekseol Pavilion, and Baekryeon Pavilion—remained equally quiet.

So did Yang Seoljin, the Vice Palace Lord; Hyeon Sim, head of the Baekryeong Guard; and Ju Che, the leader of the Baekseol Ghost Brigade.

No one objected.

Except for one man.

Seol Cheonhwa.

The Snow Palace had no shortage of masters.

Some had once roamed the Central Plains; others had served in critical posts within the Palace. As time passed, many of them retired to pass on their roles to younger successors.

These elders formed the Council of Ancients—a hidden strength of the Snow Palace.

Currently, that council was led by Seol Cheonhwa.

He was also Seol Jungcheon’s uncle, a master who had reached the level of Union of Heaven and Man. He was 130 years old this year.

In general, those who reached the Fifth Martial Boundary lived significantly longer. Those at Union of Heaven and Man or Formless Manifestation might live to 150 or even 200 years; at Grand Void Formless, they could live past 300.

Such was the nature of the world.

“Palace Lord. May I offer a word?”

“Go ahead.”

“I agree that Hyun Seollin has achieved something remarkable—but I believe the title of Provincial Commander is excessive.”

“...Excessive?”

“Yes. Though the accomplishments are indeed great, they do not yet rise to the level of ‘legendary.’ And more than that, he is only seventeen. I’ve also heard that in Jeogan, he appointed a mere Ogijo-level martial artist as the branch master... in Bongrae, he simply bestowed new titles upon the four dominant factions... and in Saryang, he delegated governance to existing powers. As for Shinsamgok, its strategic value considered, this seems to be a ploy to hold it using only the Snow Palace’s name... The number of branch members defending Yangryeong Province is only three... plus former Baekseol Ghost Brigade member Seong Yangho... That’s four in total. Practically an empty house. Is this truly appropriate?”

“Is that the official stance of the Council of Ancients?”

“It is my personal view, but yes, you may treat it as the Council’s opinion as well. Frankly speaking, conquest is easy—holding territory is hard. While I do not oppose raising Yangryeong to provincial status, appointing Hyun Seollin as its commander is inappropriate. Would it not be better to install another and allow him to inherit the post once he reaches greater maturity?”

A strange smile curved Seol Jungcheon’s lips.

There was no way he didn’t know the truth—that this old snake, while speaking calmly, was full of ambition. So he asked:

“Then who do you think should take that position?”

“Hmm... Well, the Pavilion Master of Baekryeon Pavilion over there wouldn’t be a bad choice.”

Baekryeon Pavilion Master Ma Cheongwon, who had been quiet, flinched. His mind grew complicated at once.

And understandably so.

Seol Cheonhwa—even though he was now just a Council Elder—had once been the man the current Three Pavilions of the Snow Palace had all followed.

To be precise—he was their teacher.

“If not Master Ma, then perhaps Master Jo or Master Wi would be suitable.”

As the names of Jo Wolshim of Baekseol Pavilion and Wi Socheon of Seollyeong Pavilion were mentioned, both men gulped.

Naturally, Seol Jungcheon’s gaze drifted toward them.

Fists clenched tightly.

His thoughts were tangled.

Why was Seol Cheonhwa suddenly doing this? The pressure was suffocating.

“Even if the Eternal Snow Palace is like a kingdom beyond the Central Plains,” Cheonhwa said, “to those within the martial world, it is still just one external faction. So if we were to dispatch the renowned Three Pavilions to govern Yangryeong, it would raise our prestige. Our strength would ripple across the martial world. As Elder Head of the Council, I believe that—”

“I cannot allow it.”

Seol Cheonhwa’s brow furrowed sharply.

Not just because he was interrupted—but because the one who had interrupted him was Sa Cheonuk.

Head of Cheonseolmun, maternal sect of the eldest heir Daeseollin.

A master who had reached Union of Heaven and Man, just half a step from Formless Manifestation—one of the greatest martial artists alive.

“...What did you say?”

“I said I cannot allow it. Elder or not, this oversteps your authority. Or am I alone in thinking so?”

There was one who agreed.

Man Seokcheong, of Snowflake Manor—the maternal sect of Seol Muryeon and Seol Yeonhwa.

“I also concur. The one who conquered all these lands is right there. How can someone else be assigned to manage them? It is only right that Hyun Seollin—Seol Unhwi—be the one to rule them. Elder, this time you’ve gone too far.”

Seol Cheonhwa’s expression chilled at the intervention of these two men.

“Moreover, no one has ever touched the region around Shinsamgok. Even as an Elder, you must know the reason why... Do you not?”

“...”

“You called his deeds ‘not great but impressive’? Hah. Even a passing dog would laugh. Anyone can see they’re great.”

Sa Cheonuk’s words echoed through the hall.

He respected Unhwi’s achievements more than anyone. And with good reason.

If the main Palace had mustered force, it could have pushed out all three powers.

But that would’ve been madness.

If the main Palace moved, would the central Martial Alliance stand by? Would the Sichuan Alliance? The Imperial Court of Yangje?

No matter what, the main Palace couldn’t get directly involved.

Yet now, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} Seol Unhwi had taken all of Shinsamgok.

Without any help from the Palace.

That, in itself, was unthinkable.

He had taken on the Martial Alliance, the Sichuan Alliance, and the Yangje Empire—and not only emerged victorious, but had done so without even taking damage.

He had outmaneuvered Jeong Muheun, the Vice Lord of the Martial Alliance.

And his forces?

Had sustained almost no losses.

“Hyun Seollin brought Shinsamgok into the domain of the Eternal Snow Palace and elevated its reputation to new heights. Who would dare mock him—or the Snow Palace? He’s proven everything through results. And yet you want to strip him? As your junior, I must say—your actions are... hard to watch.”

“...Are you dismissing the Council?”

“I’m not dismissing the Council. I’m dismissing you. What are you doing, Elder? Instead of offering sound advice, you're clouding the Lord’s judgment with nonsense.”

Sa Cheonuk wasn’t just relying on his prestige.

This was something someone had to say.

“Nonsense... Ha. I see this old man of the Council is quite unwelcome, then?”

Sa Cheonuk gave no reply. Man Seokcheong didn’t comment either. Jin Yangje of Hanbingmun had no intention of getting involved from the start.

He still wore the leash Unhwi had placed around his neck—and had no desire to resist.

Meanwhile, the Pavilion Masters of the Three Pavilions, all once disciples of Seol Cheonhwa, now looked at Sa Cheonuk and Man Seokcheong with mixed contempt.

Strangely, the atmosphere of the great hall seemed divided into two clear factions:

The maternal sects versus the Council of Ancients.

All were undeniably core pillars of the Snow Palace—but the air was tense.

And so, Seol Jungcheon made his decision.

“The Council’s proposal is rejected.”

“...”

“Hyun Seollin began as a minor branch master in the town of Seolap. He devoured Yangryeong. He claimed the remaining three cities. And now he has taken the center—Shinsamgok. In none of this did the main Palace intervene. Am I wrong?”

“...”

“Neither the Council’s hand, nor the Three Pavilions’ strength played a role. No one helped. He did it alone. In that situation, for someone else to be given command—as Master Man said—would not be just.”