Chapter 185

Unhwi appeared after just a quarter of an hour—and even had the nerve to smile faintly. If it had been anyone but Hyeonseollin, he might’ve been slapped across the face.

“...What the hell... What just happened? What the hell happened just now?”

“Did I worry you?”

“Are you seriously asking that?”

Unhwi brushed Hyeonsim’s shoulder with his left hand.

“My apologies.”

“...Uh... excuse me?”

“I’m sorry for making you worry—but I gained something worthwhile.”

“...What... did you gain?”

After a moment’s thought, Unhwi spoke quietly.

“You’re probably one of the people the Palace Lord trusts the most.”

“...It’s not as if I could deny that under the current circumstances. Yes, I believe so. I trust the Palace Lord, and he trusts me as well. Just like he told me back then—my loyalty belongs solely to him.”

“Next would be the Everlasting Snow Palace.”

“That’s right. My only thoughts are to protect the Palace Lord, and to protect the Everlasting Snow Palace. If you doubt that, I’m prepared to prove it.”

Unhwi shook his head.

“There’s no need to prove it. I already know.”

Hyeonsim tilted his head. He was trying to figure out what this conversation was about, but Unhwi’s next words made everything clear.

“I found the secret cave that the First Palace Lord, Seolheon-nim, left behind.”

“...Excuse me...?”

“Surely you suspected something. Aren’t you overreacting a bit?”

“...A suspicion is different from a confirmation.”

“You’re right. It is different. That’s why I’m telling you now. Can you bring the Palace Lord here?”

“Right now?”

“Yes. And very discreetly. You must avoid the eyes of all three wives—and Yang Seoljin. No, not just them. No one can know.”

Hyeonsim rubbed his face.

It was the middle of the day.

The idea that the Palace Lord would sneak away during daylight, evading the notice of everyone—was, frankly, absurd.

But—

“Give me a little time, and I can manage it.”

“How much time do you need?”

“...At most two sijin, maybe three sijin if things go long.”

“Then please bring the Palace Lord here.”

“...What about you, Lord Hyunseol...”

“I’ll remain here.”

Hyeonsim looked around and sighed.

“...Will you be all right?”

“How could a man of the Snow Mountains be afraid of snow?”

He wasn’t wrong—so Hyeonsim had nothing left to say.

“I’ll be back. Please wait.”

“...Understood.”

And with that, Hyeonsim disappeared.

Left alone atop the Everlasting Snow Mountain, Unhwi rifled through his sleeve.

He pulled out the ice crystal he had brought from the hidden cave and tossed it into his mouth.

When it came to absorbing elixirs, the most effective method was to consume them raw.

Just like when he had chewed fresh Ten-Thousand-Year Flower Pearls—because he ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) hadn’t wanted to lose even a single sliver of their power. It was the same with this ice crystal.

Processing it would make it easier to consume, but would reduce the energy density. That’s why Unhwi bit down on the crystal without the slightest hesitation.

Crunch. The frozen gem shattered in his mouth.

He gathered his False-Origin True Qi and directed all the energy into his dantian.

Slowly, Unhwi folded his legs and sat in the lotus position.

Today, he would ascend to the Five Origins Convergence.

***

Hyeonsim clenched his fists as he descended the mountain. Bringing the Palace Lord in secret—under normal circumstances, no one would dare make such a request.

Even if the Great Seollin himself had asked him to come in secret, Seol Jungcheon would never have complied.

But Unhwi was different.

If it was Unhwi, he could command even the Palace Lord to come or go.

To be honest, Hyeonsim already knew.

He was aware that Seol Jungcheon had been secretly meeting with Unhwi every fifteen days.

As they say, a long tail gets caught. With his expansive awareness, it would’ve made no sense if Hyeonsim hadn’t noticed.

So he had helped.

This case could be seen as the same—but its weight was far heavier than anything before.

He had to exercise the utmost caution.

It was nothing less than the secret cave.

The one left behind by the First Palace Lord of the Everlasting Snow Palace—Seolheon.

The same secret cave that Seol Jungcheon had spent over a decade obsessively searching for like a madman.

It had to be reported. The Palace Lord had to be brought in while evading every gaze.

The snowstorm grew stronger.

Descending the Everlasting Snow Mountains was always perilous, but to Hyeonsim, it was nothing but routine.

His breathing remained steady, and his footsteps made no sound even on the snow.

Such was the martial prowess of the Chief of the White Falcon Guard.

It took him a quarter-hour to reach Seol Jungcheon.

Another quarter-hour to assess the state of the main palace.

Based on current intel, Hyeonsim devised a plan.

How could he secretly get Seol Jungcheon out?

From Unhwi’s words, it was clear—there were many spies currently embedded in the Snow Palace.

Chief among them was Yang Seoljin—an undeniable spy.

The problem was, he couldn’t be killed so easily.

Leaving aside the fact that Unhwi was maintaining good relations with the Celestial Daoist, if Yu Cheong was backing Yang Seoljin, there was no telling what he might do.

Above all, Unhwi had clearly stated: if Yang Seoljin were killed now, the Snow Palace would certainly be annihilated.

...There has to be a way. The Palace Lord’s unwavering trust in Unhwi must be based on something.

Hyeonsim believed in Seol Jungcheon. And he believed in Unhwi too.

Unhwi was the one who would restore the Snow Palace.

Surely, he had a masterstroke prepared—one that could slice away all the inner corruption at once and pressure those behind it.

Hyeonsim lifted his head.

This was Juyeon-gak. A library that housed books from not only the Central Plains but also foreign lands.

Seol Jungcheon was here now.

When Hyeonsim stepped inside, he saw Seol Jungcheon’s face—worn with exhaustion.

That was what it meant to be a Palace Lord.

Never at ease. Always working.

The state of the Central Plains. The politics beyond the sea.

The happenings within the martial world, the inter-sect dynamics, and what to consider when negotiating with them.

The overall vision—that was the responsibility of the Palace Lord. And to draw that vision, he had to naturally know a great many things.

Hyeonsim approached Seol Jungcheon.

“Palace Lord.”

At Hyeonsim’s quiet call, Seol Jungcheon looked up.

“What is it?”

“I have something to report...”

Hyeonsim glanced around. Two attendants stood at a distance. Seol Jungcheon read the look in his eyes.

“Leave us.”

Once the attendants had exited, Hyeonsim spoke.

“Palace Lord, Hyunseollin has made a discovery.”

“A discovery? What kind?”

He hadn’t anticipated it at all.

“He discovered a providence left behind by Seolheon-nim at the mountain’s summit.”

Which explained why he now staggered to his feet.

His eyes widened, and his arms trembled.

“...He... he found it?”

“Yes.”

To the dazed Seol Jungcheon, Hyeonsim said,

“I don’t know the full details, but the young lord has requested that you be brought to the summit. Discreetly, and without anyone finding out...”

Seol Jungcheon shot to his feet, then scanned the room.

“Where is Yang Seoljin?”

“The Vice Palace Lord is currently entertaining guests in the outer garden.”

“And the wives?”

“The First Lady is reading in the west chamber. The Second Lady is resting in her quarters. The Third Lady was drinking tea in the garden but then went to the apothecary, and from there headed to visit the recovering Third Seollin in the outer residence.”

Seol Jungcheon paused in thought.

“If I disappear, suspicion will be inevitable. Especially from Yang Seoljin...”

“There’s a way.”

Hyeonsim bowed his head.

“Do you remember the secret passage you used for meditation in the past? If you exit through there, no one will know. I will inform them that the Palace Lord wished to rest and that Juyeon-gak has been sealed for the day.”

Seol Jungcheon nodded.

“Good. But I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. We’ll need something more certain.”

At that, Hyeonsim fell silent for a moment.

Honestly—

It was difficult to say out loud.

But nothing else came to mind.

“...Palace Lord.”

“Why are you hesitating? Speak.”

“...This is clearly an emergency situation, is it not?”

Seol Jungcheon nodded.

“It’s unprecedented. It’s also the moment your long-held wish comes true... But under these circumstances, there’s no way to vanish without a trace. Especially with Yang Seoljin—he’s also reached Limitless Manifestation, like me. Even if I say Juyeon-gak has been sealed, he’ll still be able to sense whether you’re inside or not.”

“That’s true.”

“More than that, we still don’t know exactly who’s bowed to Yang Seoljin, or who’s already sold out to the Original Blood Sect. And we now know that Yang Seoljin’s ultimate goal is Seolheon-nim’s treasure.”

All of it was true.

Seol Jungcheon understood, respected, and trusted Hyeonsim.

They both understood what Yang Seoljin wanted.

Hyeonsim continued.

“Any of the attendants who just left, or any of the servants I passed on my way here... It’s highly likely that one of them will tip him off.”

Hyeonsim was not a man who spoke at length. If he was saying this much, it meant he was extremely cautious about revealing the conclusion.

Seol Jungcheon found it strange. What on earth was he trying to say?

“If we assume your absence will be discovered, then we must create a reason why no one would dare follow.”

“And what would that reason be?”

“...Take on a mistress.”

Seol Jungcheon’s brow furrowed deeply.

“It’s unseemly, yes—but there is no method more foolproof. And I will assist you.”

Seol Jungcheon considered it carefully. It was undoubtedly the most reliable plan.

Especially in this urgent situation—Hyeonsim’s solution was the best way to avoid pursuit.

Even so, Seol Jungcheon hesitated for a moment. For the Palace Lord of the Everlasting Snow Palace to take on a mistress and sneak out like this...

“Truly... my dignity is crumbling to dust.”

Hyeonsim shook his head.

He didn’t say it—but hadn’t it already happened before?

Ten years without reaching Void-Transcending Limitlessness from the Peach Blossom Barrier Realm.

Seol Jungcheon had once given up martial arts altogether and lived as a commoner for a year. And when he returned, he brought back a child.

That child was Unhwi.

It wasn’t something Hyeonsim planned to speak aloud, but he responded in a cautious tone.

“Not to the ground, surely. More importantly, your actions will provoke Yang Seoljin. That alone would suffice.”

Tsk.

Clicking his tongue, Seol Jungcheon waved his hand.

“So be it.”

“Understood. And... forgive me for the offense.”

“Enough.”

Seol Jungcheon turned and pressed lightly on the wall of Juyeon-gak. A hidden passage opened.

Just before he stepped inside, Seol Jungcheon paused and looked back.

“This must be done properly.”

“Understood.”

“And make sure you follow. I’ll be waiting.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seol Jungcheon disappeared into the tunnel, and Hyeonsim, now alone, let out a sigh.

Then he stepped quietly outside.

Earlier, Yang Seoljin had been entertaining guests from the main palace—but at this hour, that was likely over.

As expected—

Yang Seoljin was walking toward Juyeon-gak.