Chapter 165

"A ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) promise is like a blade. Those who betray grace shall be destroyed."

"A single word outweighs a thousand gold pieces. Heaven's thunder shall surely answer it."

The verses were brief, but carried a striking intensity.

Yang Seoljin, who had been staring blankly at them, burned them away with the Sammae Flame. Once his resolve was firm, he began writing something right then and there.

It read:

—Hand ‘it’ over to Daeseollin, or Chaseollin.

Daeseollin entering seclusion was not a new occurrence.

But he remained the greatest obstacle. One way or another, he had to be removed.

The primary target was Daeseollin. The secondary was Chaseollin.

Right now, Yang Seoljin had made his move.

It was the greatest gamble of his life.

Daeseollin (Great Snow Lin), Seol Horyeong, had been in seclusion for nearly four full months.

It hadn’t been planned from the start, but ever since that conversation with Unhwi, his entire body had felt a constant itch. He couldn’t hold it in anymore, so he entered seclusion.

That period lasted longer than expected.

Originally, he thought it would be about a month—but it ended up being nearly four.

Now, having emerged from seclusion after four months, Seol Horyeong let out a loud, hearty laugh.

“Hahahahahahaha!!”

It was only natural.

Unhwi had made Yangryeong into Yangryeong Province,

had received the Heavenshaking Spiritblade from Kang Cheonwoo, the Lord of Sichuan Alliance,

had stirred the depths of the Original Blood Sect,

and even played a grand match of Go with the Celestial Daoist.

And all of this had happened—two months ago.

“Vice Commander.”

At Seol Horyeong’s call, a man in his mid-forties hurried over. His frame was extremely thin—his eyes, arms, and legs all narrow. Yet oddly, because of the long robe he wore, his torso looked disproportionately large. It was obvious at a glance.

That robe concealed countless hidden weapons.

This man was Gong Yuchan, Vice Commander of Cheonsnow Province.

He answered swiftly.

“Yes, Commander.”

“If such fun things were happening, you should’ve called me.”

Gong Yuchan gave him a dumbfounded look.

“...Would you have come if I had?”

“Of course I would’ve. But you didn’t.”

“...Tch... seriously...”

Seol Horyeong gave a small grin and patted both of Gong Yuchan’s shoulders.

“Thanks for holding down the fort while I was gone.”

“...Next time, say something before you go into seclusion. Do you have any idea what hell I went through?”

“I said I’m sorry.”

And as he chuckled like a fool, Seol Horyeong looked utterly wretched.

Filthy clothes, an unkempt beard, long white hair hanging loose—

To put it crudely, he looked worse than a beggar among beggars.

Still, some things had to be said.

“...Aren’t you twenty-seven right now?”

“Twenty-seven, yeah.”

“...That’s insane...”

“Hey, what kind of tone is that? You’re the Vice Commander.”

“Can you blame me? At that age, and already in the Entry-Spirit Stage?”

“I’m not the only one, though?”

“Like who?”

“Well, there’s the Sichuan Overlord of the Sichuan Alliance... or that Supreme Martial Master of the Blood Sect... and those two monsters are fond of our youngest?”

“Why’s the topic veering like that.”

“How could it not? You think our youngest is going to leave Snow Palace at this rate?”

“...Who knows. If it were me, I probably would.”

With a smile, Seol Horyeong turned his head.

This place—Cheonsnow Province, the heart of the Snow Palace—was the grandest city in the territory of Everlasting Snow Palace.

Ice towers pierced the heavens, and the walls of pale blue ice looked down coldly upon any would-be invader.

The place that overlooked all this was Yeongseollu, the Commander’s office in Cheonsnow Province.

Gazing at the view, Seol Horyeong spoke firmly.

“If he wants to leave, I won’t stop him. But before he goes, he’s got to accept this big brother’s gift.”

“...Are you going like that?”

“Does it matter how I look?”

“It does. Please, just wash up before you go.”

“Fine, fine.”

“And one more thing.”

With that, Gong Yuchan approached Seol Horyeong and discreetly handed him a letter.

“This is from the Pavilion Lord of Baekryeongak. He said to give it to you when you came out.”

“What is it?”

“How should I know?”

“You didn’t check?”

“Of course not. It’s addressed to the Commander. Why would I open it?”

“If there’s no Commander, the Vice Commander is the Commander.”

After unfolding the letter and skimming through it, Seol Horyeong gave a soft snort.

“Says there’s a secret realm.”

“...What?”

“A secret realm showed up near Hanbing Valley. Supposedly discovered earlier today, just after 1 a.m. They expect it to open in about five days.”

With clear interest, Seol Horyeong handed the letter over to Gong Yuchan.

Gong Yuchan read it quickly, then blinked.

“...This... looks real.”

“Doesn’t it?”

“Yes... And it’s too perfectly timed. The Commander breaks seclusion, and bam—a secret realm appears?”

“Sounds fun, right?”

“...Are you going to enter?”

“Of course.”

With a grin, Seol Horyeong flung open the doors of the office.

His view was instantly filled—

Hundreds of martial artists had come to welcome him.

They all knelt in unison.

“Congratulations to the Commander on reaching the Entry-Spirit Stage!!”

Seol Horyeong smirked.

“Did you really need to go and prepare all this?”

Gong Yuchan shrugged.

“Of course. You’re the future Lord of Snow Palace.”

As Seol Horyeong looked out at the gathered crowd, his thoughts drifted to his youngest sibling.

He hadn’t seen him nearly enough.

He needed to offer thanks. Give a gift.

There was much to do.

***

Two months and fifteen days had passed.

In that time, his father had visited exactly five times.

Regretfully, he’d gained a few minor insights, but hadn’t managed to elevate his realm.

Across the martial world, speculation was still rampant—why had the Celestial Daoist of the Blood Sect visited Seol Unhwi?

Theories abounded—

That Unhwi would soon join the Blood Sect.

That he was the Daoist’s direct successor.

That he was the Daoist’s hidden son.

It was absurd.

And yet, Yangryeong Province remained peaceful.

But that was always how it was—right before a storm, things seemed the most calm.

“So peaceful.”

At those words from Commander Seong, who was quietly drinking tea beside him, Unhwi turned his head.

“Would you want it to stay like this forever?”

“What more could I ask? As you know, I only hope the Young Lord continues to enjoy such peace.”

“You think that’s possible?”

“...Why do you say that? You make me anxious.”

Outwardly, things did seem peaceful—just as Commander Seong had said.

As he’d discussed with No Cheonmyeong before, the former site of Juryeong Sword Gate on Cheongunsan had been turned into an academy—Bingseol Academy.

No Cheonmyeong served as Dean, his disciple Paewoon was the main instructor.

In the two months since its founding, twenty local disciples had passed the entrance test, and students from across the central plains had gathered—now numbering forty in total—studying a wide array of disciplines.

It was truly peaceful.

But it would not last.

It could not last.

Anyone who knew the ways of the martial world understood that truth.

Unhwi turned his head.

A man was descending from the sky.

Commander Seong tensed, but the man didn’t draw his qi or make any hostile move. Instead, he scratched his head and gave an awkward smile.

“I said I’d come once you became the lord of Yangryeong. Was I the only one who heard that?”

Seo Hyo spoke as he landed.

“...I’m sorry.”

“Someone from Cheonrim came, said you had personal matters... but I didn’t think it would take this long.”

“...Again, I apologize. But... is our agreement from back then still valid?”

“It is.”

“Thank you.”

It had to be. Even if Seo Hyo hadn’t shown up in person, he had consistently delivered the spirit pills and herbs as promised, and profits from Cheonrim’s black market had kept rolling in.

“Seo Hyo.”

“Yes, Lord Seol.”

“I don’t think you climbed to that seat by luck.”

“...”

“Even if you’re strong in Heavenly Human Realm, if you hadn’t kept both the ethics of a merchant and the duties of a martial artist... you’d never have made it.”

“...”

“Let’s not have something like this happen again.”

“...If it ever does, feel free to terminate the entire contract. And I’ll hand over every ‘item’ in that vault to you. I swear it—on my name.”

Unhwi gazed at Seo Hyo.

To be honest, he was curious about what had happened.

He had one guess.

He tested it, just in case.

“Does this have something to do with me?”

“...They say you’re a genius blessed by the heavens... Looks like you really do see through everything.”

It had been a shot in the dark, but he didn’t show it.

“If you need help, say so.”

“...I might. Would it be possible to meet privately sometime soon?”

“Privately?”

“Yes. Just the two of us.”

Unhwi gave Seo Hyo a curious look.

Their relationship was one of mutual gain—both turned a blind eye to each other’s secrets.

If one owed the other a favor, the balance would collapse. That was why Unhwi had rejected Seo Hyo’s offer of help before.

But now—

“I’d like to request your help.”

So he was saying it like that now.

“Is it urgent?”

“...I’ve bought us some time, so no, not quite yet.”

“Not quite yet...”

Unhwi briefly looked past Seo Hyo’s shoulder. Seo Hyo must have sensed something too—his brow twitched slightly.

Unhwi spoke softly.

“I’ll send a letter. Be ready.”

“...Understood.”

With that, Seo Hyo quietly withdrew, and Unhwi and Commander Seong rose to greet the man approaching from the residence.

“We greet Daeseollin.”

“Hahahahaha! My youngest, been doing well?”

A towering build. Keen, intelligent eyes.

And impossibly pure white hair.

More than anything, the man’s presence and stride were immense.

“Congratulations.”

“Hm? For what?”

“You’ve reached the Entry-Spirit Stage, haven’t you.”

“I have... But how did our youngest, still in the Three Flowers Gathering Purity stage, know right away?”

“I heard the news.”

At that, his eldest brother let out a half-laugh.

“Right. Makes sense. With your value rising in the main palace... I bet there’s a long line of people waiting to cozy up to you.”

And he threw an arm around Unhwi’s shoulders.