Chapter 147

“...Then... Palace Lord, your decision is...?”

“All management shall be handled by Hyun Seollin. Defense as well. If he proves unable to hold it, it still won’t be too late to intervene then.”

Surprisingly, Seol Cheonhwa withdrew at that point.

“Very well. I will abide by the Palace Lord’s judgment.”

Naturally, Seol Jungcheon’s gaze dimmed slightly.

The Council of Ancients held great influence.

Enough to mobilize a significant portion of the Palace’s martial forces, should they wish to.

He turned his eyes toward the masters of the Three Pavilions.

There were things now visible to him that had once gone unseen.

Finally, his gaze landed on Yang Seoljin.

From the beginning of the meeting to now, Yang Seoljin had maintained a steady, unreadable expression—but no one could truly know what lay behind it.

“Vice Palace Lord.”

“Yes, Palace Lord.”

At the Palace Lord’s summons, Yang Seoljin stepped forward.

“Send an official notice. As of today, Yangryeong shall be formally designated Yangryeong Province, and Hyun Seollin, Seol Unhwi, will be appointed its Provincial Commander. Should he require anything, instruct him to send a letter or visit in person.”

“I receive the Palace Lord’s command.”

Seol Jungcheon rose from his seat.

The meeting ended swiftly—and definitively.

***

The first to receive the missive, delivered via top-grade message hawk, was Commander Seong.

After reading the contents, he rushed straight to the training yard, where Unhwi was in the midst of practice.

Beaming brightly, he handed over the letter and proclaimed in a loud voice,

“Congratulations on your appointment as Provincial Commander!”

At those words, Ju Soa, Wonyang, and Han Murin all responded in unison.

“Congratulations!”

Unhwi gave a faint smile and waved a hand dismissively.

It was only the natural progression of events.

He wasn’t unaware of the accomplishments he’d made.

“Oh, and it said you can request whatever you need... Shouldn’t we start recruiting people now?”

“We should.”

Unhwi wiped the sweat from his brow and was about to speak again when—

His brows suddenly furrowed.

Then, Commander Seong’s brows furrowed too.

Followed by Ju Soa, and the rest of the squad.

For good reason.

BOOOOM—!!

A thunderous roar split the air, and a pressure beyond description crashed down upon them.

Everyone except Unhwi instinctively drew their swords.

Slowly—

A man began walking through the main gates.

Lion-like, long, unkempt hair.

A colossal frame, easily six cheok and seven chon tall.

Eyes sharp as blades. A soft smile tugging at his lips.

And at his waist, a greatsword of impossible length.

“...Why is that man here...?”

Commander Seong’s trembling voice came from beside him, but Unhwi didn’t bother replying. Not just him—everyone present recognized who this man was.

Unhwi’s eyes moved to the severed head in the man’s right hand.

A familiar face.

When the man reached Unhwi, the corners of his mouth twitched.

“...Hahahahahaha!!”

Laughter exploded from him.

The entire compound—no, the entire Province Command—shook with it. Spectators who had gathered crumpled where they stood, unable to bear the pressure.

Some even coughed up ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ blood.

“Well now... You do look like someone with a stubborn streak.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course it is.”

He glanced around. Apart from the onlookers, those near Unhwi seemed unaffected by his pressure.

They only felt a mild discomfort.

It was, in fact, deliberate.

An act of restraint.

Unhwi respectfully clasped his fists in greeting.

“Seol Unhwi, Provincial Commander of Yangryeong Province, greets the Lord of the Sichuan Alliance.”

Kang Cheonwoo (Gang Cheonwu), the Dead Sky Tyrant.

He had come to meet Unhwi in person.

Kang Cheonwoo casually tossed the severed head to Commander Seong, who barely managed to catch it.

Up close, there was no doubt.

It was Myeong Sohwan, Master of Iron Clarity Pavilion under the Sichuan Alliance—the very same who had secretly conspired with Lee Jagyeom of Jeogan.

“A gift.”

“I see.”

“You’re not surprised.”

“I didn’t expect you to come in person... but I did anticipate receiving Myeong Sohwan’s head.”

Kang Cheonwoo burst into laughter again.

“Damn... You’re a strange one, every time I see you.”

Why had Kang Cheonwoo come here himself?

He answered.

“I came to kill you.”

***

Unhwi responded in an unexpected way.

He let out a dry chuckle.

“Look at this brat. Laughing?”

“I laughed because it was clearly a joke.”

“You think I’m joking?”

“If you weren’t, why bring me the head of Iron Clarity Pavilion’s master? You even called it a gift.”

Kang Cheonwoo chuckled again.

“Usually, when I say things like that, people scream or drop to their knees. But you—your sense is too sharp for that, huh.”

“Putting that aside... isn’t it rather low for someone at the brink of Grand Void Formless to threaten a cultivator at the Three Flowers Gathering Purity stage?”

“Oh? So you are afraid.”

“Not afraid. Just intrigued.”

“‘Intrigued,’ you say...?”

Unhwi asked.

“Do you bear any personal grudge against me?”

“Didn’t. But I might, soon.”

“Was the Jeogan affair really that upsetting to you?”

“Of course it was.”

“Then perhaps you should’ve managed your own people better.”

Kang Cheonwoo’s eyes opened wide at the unexpected jab.

“I retaliated because I was provoked. I took what was there to be taken. I had no reason to accommodate your preferences in doing so.”

“...”

“I don’t belong to the Sichuan Alliance. And I have no personal ties to you, Alliance Lord.”

Kang Cheonwoo, stunned silent, slowly smiled.

“Ha... Hahaha... Hahahahahaha!!”

Wild laughter.

“Aha, ahahahaha... This... this one’s a real piece of work.”

He found it fascinating.

How had a man like this lived so long with his head bowed?

“Incredible. Truly incredible. You’re right. Why should a cultivator at Three Flowers Gathering Purity be intimidated? Ha... It’s good. I like it. Very much.”

He meant it.

“This is what it means to be a hero. This is the attitude a martial artist should have. No matter the opponent, one must speak without fear. That is where true worth lies. Yes, you’re right. You have no reason to bow to me.”

With that, Kang Cheonwoo sat down in front of Unhwi. Unhwi sat as well.

Despite the dust rising from the training yard, neither hesitated.

Etiquette and decorum were secondary. For men like them, what mattered was the person.

Kang Cheonwoo asked,

“I hear you’re quite the Go player.”

“To say I ‘dabble’ would be false modesty.”

“That’d be beyond modest—it’d be a lie.”

“Then I’ll be frank.”

“Go ahead.”

“Yes. I’m excellent at Go. Unmatched, in fact.”

“...Had that come from anyone else, I’d call it arrogance. But from you...”

Kang Cheonwoo’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

“It suits you. I believe it.”

“Thank you for the praise.”

“Alright, let’s see that skill for myself.”

Kang Cheonwoo waved his hand, and a Go board with stones flew from the hall, landing between them.

“Would you like the first move?”

Unhwi asked.

Kang Cheonwoo replied immediately.

“You claimed there’s no equal under heaven, didn’t you? Then clearly I’m the weaker player—I should go first.”

A touch of jest. The kind born of absolute confidence.

That was the kind of man Kang Cheonwoo was.

He picked up a black stone and dropped it onto the center.

Immediately, a wave of energy burst from his body, pressing down on Unhwi.

In this absurd situation, Unhwi’s brows knit together.

“...Alliance Lord Kang.”

“Hmm? Speak.”

“You have a rather poor hobby.”

Kang Cheonwoo grinned slyly.

“A weak player can use weak tricks. Why? You don’t like it?”

Letting one’s qi seep out with each move—in some eyes, it was just interference.

“I suppose just going first wasn’t enough?”

“Heh heh... If you’re facing the best Go player in the world, you fill in any gaps you can.”

Unhwi let out a soft laugh.

Not bad.

This level of interference was almost refreshing.

Even if it tore his flesh or caused internal injury, it didn’t matter.

This lowly body needed to take damage now and then.

“Let’s continue.”

“...Yes. Let’s.”

Kang Cheonwoo, still gazing at Unhwi in admiration, placed another stone.

BOOM—!!

Energy exploded. The doors of the main hall blew apart.

“...Will you be paying for that?”

“Of course. I’m the Alliance Lord of Sichuan. You think I don’t have money?”

Unhwi wiped the blood from his lips and responded,

“I don’t mind you harming me. But leave those around me untouched.”

“Oh...?”

“This is a match between me and the Alliance Lord. You came here to see who I am, didn’t you?”

“You’re right. I came to understand you.”

Kang Cheonwoo smiled gently.

“Then as you wish—I won’t harm those around you.”

“Understood.”

Click.

Unhwi placed a stone.

The match had begun.

***

High above the sky, two men stood.

The shorter-haired one asked,

“Should we not intervene?”

“Let them be,” Seol Jungcheon replied.

At his words, Hyeon Sim fell silent, his expression conflicted.

The visit of Kang Cheonwoo, Lord of the Sichuan Alliance—by importance, this was an event of the highest magnitude.

If even the Lord of the Snow Palace and the Supreme Commander of the Baekryeong Guard failed to grasp that, they had no business holding office.

Kang Cheonwoo had kindly spread his energy wide—and Seol Jungcheon, being of equal level, sensed it at once.

The moment he read it, he rushed over—and Hyeon Sim, noticing Seol Jungcheon’s abrupt movement, had followed. That was how the two now found themselves here.

They hovered in the sky, watching the match unfold between Unhwi and Kang Cheonwoo.

“...What do you think?”

In Hyeon Sim’s view, Seol Jungcheon was the finest Go player in all of the Snowy Mountains.

He didn’t know that Seol Jungcheon had already played many times against Unhwi—and even lost to him.

Still, he asked, believing that Seol Jungcheon would know which way the match was leaning.

And indeed, Seol Jungcheon answered with certainty.

“Unhwi will win.”

“...Ah.”

“If Kang Cheonwoo didn’t emit energy with every move, Unhwi would win for certain.”

That was Hyeon Sim’s concern as well.

He knew that Seol Unhwi’s Go skills were superb—but his opponent was Kang Cheonwoo.

A master of Grand Void Formless.

Every time he placed a stone, his energy rippled through the air. Even without malicious intent, it would inevitably inflict harm.

Unhwi’s level was only Three Flowers Gathering Purity.

Hyeon Sim’s gaze shifted toward Unhwi.

Even at a glance, Unhwi’s condition did not look good.