Chapter 278

Such a monster would make even those without manners learn them, yet strangely, Unhwi seemed to be an exception.

...A lunatic...

Among the Eight Heavenly Seats, the head of the Dokgo Clan, Dokgo Hyeon, muttered inwardly.

This was correct.

A man of Yeong Unseong’s stature could seat anyone as an elder if he so wished.

Of course, there was the process of recommendation and approval by the Cult Leader or Deputy Cult Leader, but there was a reason the position of Great Elder existed.

Even a commoner—if Yeong Unseong sponsored them—could become an elder. That was an undeniable fact. And if one became an elder of the Original Blood Cult, it would be right to throw away positions like Heavenly Alliance’s Heavenly Arbiter or whatever else and run to accept it.

For becoming an elder meant gaining influence across the entire martial world.

Compared to how the Heavenly Alliance could only exert influence in Tianshu, the power, wealth, prestige—everything one gained—was overwhelming.

The Current Original Blood Cult was an organization of that scale.

And yet he refused it like that?

...If he’s a genius who created a new realm... perhaps his thinking is simply different...?

Holding that sincere doubt, Dokgo Hyeon turned his head. He had turned unconsciously, sensing a gaze—Yeong Unseong was staring straight at him.

He sucked in a breath and quietly offered a martial salute.

“I am Dokgo Hyeon, head of the Dokgo Clan. It is an honor to pay respects to Great Elder Yeong Unseong of the Original Blood Cult.”

“Heh-heh, the Dokgo Clan is quite far from Tianshu, yet you managed to come here.”

“I hold a small connection to the Heavenly Alliance. I wished to offer a modest honor to the rise of its new alliance lord... but with Great Elder Yeong present, the light I hoped to contribute feels shamefully faint.”

“Hahaha, and the head of the Dokgo Clan speaks so humbly.”

Yeong Unseong seemed pleased.

Soon after, all remaining members of the Eight Heavenly Seats paid their respects to Yeong Unseong as well.

The situation began to twist.

Without question, the protagonists of this event were Mae Wuidong and Unhwi.

Especially Unhwi, who had just killed Jin Muhyeok, the Vice Branch Leader of the Gaebang.

And he had done so while freely displaying the power of a realm he himself had created—so the spotlight should have been firmly upon Unhwi.

And yet, anyone watching might have mistaken Yeong Unseong as the star of ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) the day.

After receiving greetings from the Eight Heavenly Seats and exchanging words with the other martial artists, Yeong Unseong turned his head.

His eyes met Unhwi’s expressionless gaze.

Yeong Unseong smiled faintly. Unhwi, too, allowed a small laugh to slip out.

Truly.

This man had not changed.

Simple, yet not incapable of thought. And above all—because he possessed power, his actions always appeared shocking.

And Unhwi knew better than anyone how to handle this Yeong Unseong.

The intention Yeong Unseong was sending was simple:

With the position of Great Elder of the Original Blood Cult alone, I can overshadow your entire Heavenly Alliance. I will make the offer one more time—this time, respond reasonably.

There was no mistake.

“I shall make the offer one final time. Will you enter the Original Blood Cult as an Elder?”

All gazes turned to Unhwi.

And Unhwi answered without hesitation.

“My answer will always be the same.”

“...I cannot tell if this is arrogance or conceit. What you say now is no different from belittling the standing of the Original Blood Cult.”

The atmosphere chilled instantly.

Yeong Unseong leaned in and smirked.

“This creates justification. They said you were a genius, yet you do not understand something so basic.”

“...”

“You looked down on the Original Blood Cult. You publicly slighted me, Yeong Unseong. If I ‘educate’ you here, who could say a word against it?”

By “education,” of course, he meant physical education. Knowing his temperament, he would certainly shatter two limbs entirely, and leave the remaining two barely functional enough to move.

That was the kind of man he was.

Yeong Unseong reached out and grabbed Unhwi’s shoulder.

Only then did Unhwi speak.

“Judging by the way you act, you seem eager to reconnect an old thread.”

Yeong Unseong frowned, not understanding.

Old thread?

“You sent Jin Muhyeok to seize Gaebang’s hegemony. And now you intend to make me your enemy as well?”

“...What?”

“I had thought to resolve the remaining accounts with Lord Hyejeongsan. But if you continue like this, I’ll simply add you to that list.”

“This crazy bastard, really...”

“Did you and Elder Hye fail to have a proper conversation?”

Yeong Unseong flinched.

As said before—Unhwi knows exactly how to deal with him.

When confronted with unexpected answers or actions, Yeong Unseong is more shaken than anyone. For example—

A swordsman suddenly throwing his sword during combat. A bare-handed fighter suddenly drawing a dagger.

And in situations like this—

When a name he did not expect to hear is spoken.

Yeong Unseong’s expression rapidly turned cold, his mind racing.

Just like now.

“....”

As Yeong Unseong fell momentarily speechless, Unhwi lifted his hand and brushed aside the arm on his shoulder.

“Remove your hand. You won’t be able to tear anything off anyway.”

“...You... Speak clearly. This ‘Elder Hye’ from your mouth—is that perhaps...”

“Yes. The one called the Original Blood Cult’s True Source.”

“...How?”

“You are unaware that I played a game of go with Elder Hye?”

It was not that he didn’t know.

But that was a different story. For such a situation as now to have been discussed then was impossible.

This meant they had met again, recently.

So then...

“...When?”

“I have no wish to say.”

“...Say it. While I ask nicely.”

“Whether nicely or not, I have no intention of answering—and you, senior, cannot force my mouth open.”

Yeong Unseong’s eyes flashed.

He reached out his arm.

And—

Unhwi smoothly stepped back, executing footwork.

It was a matter of barely a hair’s breadth.

Everyone watching widened their eyes.

A master of the Supreme Void of Non-Being had reached out—and he had dodged it?

This should have been impossible.

But this case was different.

And if the person in front of Unhwi was Yeong Unseong, then not dodging would have been the stranger outcome.

Unhwi had spent thirty years with Yeong Unseong in his previous life.

He knew every motion—which direction he reached when grabbing, what he attempted under certain conditions—there was no way he wouldn’t know.

Yeong Unseong, eyes wide, furrowed his brows. And when Unhwi drew the Heavenshaking Spiritblade from its sheath, that expression shifted to bewilderment.

He could not comprehend the situation.

He was a master of the Supreme Void of Non-Being. And yet a martial artist merely in the Heaven-Earth Four Realms dared to draw a sword before him.

It was no different from suicide.

Did he not understand that? Or was this act truly sincere?

Doubt appeared—but he could not be certain. For Unhwi’s eyes held not a single tremor.

“Yeong the Great.”

Unhwi spoke quietly.

“I have never once bowed.”

“....”

“I do not intend to start now.”

Unhwi leveled the Heavenshaking Spiritblade forward.

“Better to break than bend—that is the path I walk as a martial artist.”

Everyone in the plaza stopped breathing.

How many in this world could speak such words before a master of the Supreme Void?

Yeong Unseong was no exception.

A junior of far lower realm, even younger in age—was showing such spirit before him.

“...You madman,” Yeong Unseong muttered.

Yet at the same time—a strange emotion stirred.

It was odd.

He should, without hesitation, kill this boy. Yet something made him hesitate.

Then suddenly, a memory surfaced.

Hyejeongsan, the Branch Leader of Gaebang. He too was a master of the Supreme Void. And when he spoke alone with Unhwi—what had he felt?

At that time, Unhwi was slaughtering Gaebang disciples mercilessly. Hyejeongsan had to intervene personally—yet what was the result?

The conversation concluded peacefully, the massacre stopped—and every benefit went to Unhwi.

Control of all intelligence in the vast territory of Sacred Vineyard fell into Unhwi’s hands. Gaebang withdrew.

Why had Hyejeongsan chosen that?

Yeong Unseong had not understood then.

But now—he began to.

Unhwi was simply not like other martial artists.

He could not yet define what was different—but it was undeniable.

And above all—

The matter of his conversation with the True Source hung heavily.

If that was true—

then...

Thoughts tangled.

Unhwi was pointing his sword at Yeong Unseong. And Yeong Unseong was taking no action.

Everyone watched this bizarre tableau.

People wondered:

Why is Yeong Unseong hesitating?

Why is he not acting?

Could it be that he is frightened?

Yeong Unseong? Frightened?

Then frightened of whom?

Seol Unhwi before him?

Or the Palace Lord of Ten-Thousand-Year Snow, Seol Jungcheon?

No one could know.

Before long, Unhwi lowered his sword.

“So you were not proposing a fight.”

“...What?”

“I nearly misunderstood. I do not believe Yeong the Great to be so narrow-minded—but being on the receiving end was... unpleasant.”

Yeong Unseong stared blankly. The situation was veering somewhere absurd.

“I understand now.”

“...Understand what?”

Sliding the blade back into its sheath, Unhwi said,

“You came to offer congratulations.”

“...I... came to congratulate?”

“Did you not?”

Yeong Unseong was at a loss for words.

Even he no longer knew why he had come. He had not come to kill Unhwi. He merely doubted whether Jin Muhyeok would succeed and wished to see the rumored Seol Unhwi in person.

On impulse, he made an offer. It was refused.

His pride was scratched. So he tried to reassert control through intimidation.

And in the span of a few light responses and subtle shifts—the entire situation had flipped.

Before he knew it—he had come to congratulate.

It felt like being possessed by a ghost.

The martial artists watching felt the same.

Why had Yeong Unseong remained still even when a sword was pointed at him?

The man known for—if someone pointed a blade at him, he would not only break the blade but also the arm holding it.