Chapter 171

And so.

Once there were no more enemies left to fight, the Arhats turned into light and began returning to the walls.

The great hall once again fell into stillness.

「You have passed the first trial. You have awakened to the first teaching of the Dharma—anattā (non-self).」

As the statue atop the lotus pedestal raised its hand, one of the scriptures floating in the air slowly flew toward them. It was a book radiating golden light.

「This is the Yijinjing. A method conceived by Master Bodhidharma while gazing at the Chart of Heaven-Earth Creation during his wall-facing meditation. Only one person has ever mastered it—Master Kusŭng Chŏnsa, and only those who embody the true teachings of the Dharma are worthy of receiving it.」

The book hovered near Hyeonjin, then moved to Dongwoo. After lingering there briefly, it passed to Yeon Chuha, then moved on again—to Seol Horyeong.

After staying in place for a while, it drifted toward Seo Hyo, but as if realizing it had the wrong recipient, it redirected itself and landed in front of Unhwi.

Unhwi caught it naturally, not even sparing the book a glance as he continued to look toward Jiun.

Jiun spoke briefly.

「The next trial awaits in the Diamond Hall. There, you shall be tested on the strength of the heart. Prepare yourselves.」

And just like that—as if /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ it had never existed—Jiun vanished completely.

The great iron door on the far side of the hall opened at once.

But no one moved.

In Unhwi’s hand was the Yijinjing.

Its value was beyond imagination.

No need to go far.

Who was this Master Kusŭng Chŏnsa mentioned by Jiun?

He was none other than the head of the Martial Alliance and the abbot of Shaolin Temple who stood against Wŏn Geukcheon, the cult leader of the Thousand-Year Demon Sect during the Millennium Calamity.

His martial arts were said to reach the heavens. He was a monster among monsters, said to have reached the realm of the Pre-Heaven Three Scriptures—a level now considered nothing more than legend.

Only he had ever fully mastered the Yijinjing.

And if that text was devised by the famed Bodhidharma himself...

Its worth could not even be equated to the level of Martial God.

It was higher.

A technique of the Pre-Heaven Realm—a level never before seen in the world, unknown to all.

Unhwi quietly ran his fingers over the Yijinjing, then let out a slow sigh.

He’d intended to simply wait out this secret realm until the end—but it seemed this was the point where things needed to be settled.

“Seo Hyo.”

Until now, Unhwi had referred to him as "Seoha." But there was no need to use a false name anymore. Seo Hyo understood that, too.

“...Yes, Young Lord.”

“Draw your sword again.”

“...Pardon?”

Unhwi’s eyes were fixed on the three men sitting on the floor, catching their breath.

He began walking slowly.

His elder brother was wearing an incredibly complex expression. Understandably so.

The recently deceased Yang Geon of the Baekseol Ghost Brigade—if one were to put it in familiar terms—was in the same role to Unhwi as Commander Seong.

Just as the Baekseol Ghost Brigade was assigned to Unhwi, Seol Horyeong too had members of that group who had been with him since childhood.

If one of those loyal men had turned on him, then this reaction made sense.

“Brother.”

“...Yeah. Little brother.”

Seol Horyeong forced a smile.

“Thank you. I owe you my life.”

“It’s nothing. Someone of your caliber could’ve killed all 108 Arhats and then some.”

“You never know. Without internal force, who’s to say? I can’t deny it was your doing.”

His gaze moved to the book in Unhwi’s hand.

“You’ve gained something incredible, huh? That’s what happens when you don’t get greedy. Train it well.”

And then, he added,

“I’ll make sure this doesn’t leak. So don’t worry.”

Ordinary martial artists, when seeing martial arts of such caliber, would be overcome with desire.

But although Seol Horyeong was a martial artist too, he wasn’t the kind to discard righteousness just to steal from his brother. His eyes held not a hint of greed—that was proof enough.

“If you want it, I can give it to you.”

“No need. I don’t know Buddhism the way you do. You earned it. It’s yours.”

He wanted to show him the contents, but for some reason, the book would not open.

Unhwi said quietly,

“And now, I’m going to do something.”

“What are you planning?”

“You might find it unpleasant. But—do you trust me?”

“I do. Family must trust family. If not, who can you trust?”

“Understood. Please rest a little, then.”

Leaving his elder brother behind, Unhwi walked toward the three men gathered together, tending to each other’s wounds.

Seo Hyo followed at his side, and the sword in his hand glinted sharply, even in the vastness of the great hall.

As Unhwi stood before the three, they lifted their heads.

He wasn’t expecting thanks for saving them or anything of the sort. But seeing how, without a second thought, their eyes were fixed on the Yijinjing in his hand...

He could only sigh.

“Yeon Chuha, vice pavilion master of the White Lotus Pavilion. His guardian, Hyeonjin. And Dongwoo of the Thirteen Heavens of Cheonseolmun. I will now speak to you three senior martial artists.”

“...Why are you speaking so formally and heavily?”

“It’s an important matter. I won’t make it long, but I will speak clearly so you can understand. However, I will set one condition.”

“...A condition? What are you—”

“You may not interrupt before I finish. No questions will be permitted. If you break this rule—then I will kill you on the spot. Choose carefully.”

Naturally, words like these always made certain people react like provoked animals.

And in this case, all three of them did.

“What kind of nonsense is this?!”

“Lord Hyeonseollin! Even if you are the Heir of the Polar Palace, we are in a secret realm where our lives are mutually in each other’s hands! How dare you say something so outrageous!”

“As the commander of the Thirteenth Heaven of Cheonseolmun, I absolutely cannot condone this situation! We already have the Daeseollin wounded—how can you worsen the mood like this!”

The three erupted in outrage, shouting and spitting.

Unhwi simply watched them with cold, expressionless eyes.

Eventually, under his chilling gaze, their voices began to quiet.

And then, silence.

“Now... are we clear?”

“...”

“Your injuries are severe. Here, internal force cannot be used. Naturally, neither can natural qi. The same goes for Heaven-Earth spiritual energy.”

“...Are you saying... you plan to kill us?”

“I did consider it. But not because you’re injured.”

“...”

“If you’ve said your piece, I’ll begin now.”

“...”

“Seo Hyo.”

“Yes, Young Lord.”

“I trust I don’t need to repeat myself.”

“You don’t. I understand.”

Hands behind his back, Unhwi began.

“Some time ago, twenty sects near Snow Mountain were annihilated. You all know this.”

“...”

“Those twenty sects were infiltrated by Blood Sect spies. You also know that I provided that list.”

There was no way they didn’t.

“And though I didn’t mention it, in truth—it wasn’t twenty. It was twenty-three.”

“...”

“I removed that part from the ledger I obtained. Only the twenty were exterminated. I’ll speak plainly now: two of those remaining three sects were affiliated with the Snow Palace Triad.”

He looked at Hyeonjin and Yeon Chuha.

“Those two were Seolryeong Pavilion and the White Lotus Pavilion.”

“...This is slander...”

“Is it? Funny—I hadn’t expected the White Lotus Pavilion’s vice master to come in person. I hear you had a discreet meeting over bamboo-leaf liquor with Yu Hwarin. How did the drink taste?”

Yeon Chuha abruptly tried to stand—but Seo Hyo’s blade was already at his throat.

Unhwi continued quietly.

“There are many impure elements within the Snow Palace. And even now, plenty have already turned.”

“...”

“I won’t drag this out. You didn’t know this secret realm would be structured this way. You only knew it was third-tier. And you came in with a single goal.”

“...A goal?”

“To assassinate the Daeseollin of the Polar Palace, over there.”

The three bristled again—but could not act.

Not only was Seo Hyo’s sword pressed close, but Seol Horyeong now stood silently at Unhwi’s side, arms crossed, clearly waiting to see what would unfold.

Unhwi continued.

“Fortunately, I ended up joining the expedition. And you no doubt intended to kill me as well. ‘Seoha’ here—you must’ve thought he was just some low-ranking swordsman. No real threat.”

This was the undeniable truth.

Identifying someone’s martial realm wasn’t easy. Even Yeon Chuha, a Heaven-Human Embodiment martial artist, hadn’t recognized Seo Hyo’s level.

That was due to a special high-level technique applied to Seo Hyo’s body. Unless one had exceptional perception like Unhwi—or had reached the level of Martial Manifestation Realm—it was impossible to see through it.

In any case—

“As Yang Geon already proved, your mission was clear. That’s the end of my statement. From here on, I’ll make you a proposal. If you have anything to say, now is the time.”

“...Proof. Do you have any proof?”

“Proof?”

“...How can you accuse us of such things without proof?! You’re just a man with ambitions for the vice lord’s seat—trying to kill us to make room for yourself. Tell me I’m wrong—!”

“Yes. You’re wrong.”

“...”

“I have no interest in the Vice Lord seat. That matter was settled with the Lord of the Palace long ago. I think we’ve had enough of these excuses disguised as questions. I’ll make my proposal now.”

He raised one finger.

“Only one of you—only a single person who confesses—will be spared.”

Everyone fell silent, except for Dongwoo of Cheonseolmun.

He looked to Seol Horyeong and spoke.

“...Daeseollin. I am Dongwoo of Cheonseolmun.”

“I know.”

“Please don’t doubt my loyalty. Hyeonseollin is trying to monopolize the treasures of this secret realm by killing us.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Though we are martial artists of the Heaven-Earth Apex, here we must rely on our bodies alone, with no internal force. Worse, we’re already wounded. Everyone knows Hyeonseollin consumed the Ten-Thousand-Year Fireweave and remade his body. He’ll kill all of us—and in the end, even you.”

“...Is that so?”

Seol Horyeong looked at Unhwi with a strange smile.

***

TL Note: Yijinjing - a legendary Pre-Heaven martial art that reshapes the body and qi. Created by Bodhidharma, it grants supreme power and was mastered by only one monk in history.