Chapter 283

Seol Unhwi sat near a tree, studying the documents closely.

Chief Seong watched him with warm eyes.

No matter what Unhwi said or did, Chief Seong felt once again the certainty that he was walking the correct path.

Seol Horeong was currently in an extremely important position.

He was the Young Palace Lord of the Snow Palace—there was nothing more to say about his status—and to have a debt that had to be repaid hanging over such a Young Palace Lord...

In any form, it would become a tremendous advantage.

From U Hwangseok’s position, if he ever had to request Seol Horeong’s aid—and if that aid ever touched military conflict—then Seol Horeong would have no choice but to move.

Because what he had received was the Grand Restoration Pill.

Unhwi had brought back the manufacturing method from the Secret Realm in the Buddhist monastery, but to create even one complete pill required at least several decades; and even to produce an inferior, diluted version with only a portion of the effect took years.

Receiving such a Grand Restoration Pill and then ignoring the debt was impossible.

No exaggeration—this was a matter that anyone would have to settle, in some form.

Chief Seong understood that such debts and favors one day returned as enormous problems.

History had proven so.

For Unhwi to erase such a debt meant that the Snow Palace still remained alive within his heart.

That was why Chief Seong could not help but smile.

Seo Hyo approached Chief Seong and asked quietly:

“How did this happen?”

Chief Seong explained everything that had occurred.

After hearing the full account, Seo Hyo’s conclusion was simple.

“Perfect.”

There could not have been a better outcome.

Seo Hyo understood this well: Unhwi was acting according to his own free will.

Then what existed that could restrain such a Unhwi?

Only one thing.

The Snow Palace.

Just as Unhwi valued debts and favors, Seol Jungcheon and Seol Horeong valued them as well.

The debt U Hwangseok owed Seol Horeong would, later on, very likely return as a very large blade pointed their way. Unhwi did not merely prevent that possibility—he seized U Hwangseok and So Yehwa as hostages.

They would not be able to leave Aseon County without Unhwi’s permission.

“It inspires admiration. Did he plan this from the beginning?”

Chief Seong shrugged.

“Of course. We are not speaking of some ordinary man—we’re speaking of the Heavenly Arbiter.”

When Seo Hyo gave Chief Seong a strange look, Chief Seong asked:

“But are you really going to do it?”

“If the order comes, I have no choice but to obey.”

Seo Hyo had not come under the Heavenly Alliance’s jurisdiction merely to deliver information.

“If I become an Elder of the Heavenly Alliance, wouldn’t that rank be lower than my current position as the Heavenly Arbiter’s Dharma Protector?”

At Chief Seong’s teasing, Seo Hyo let out a dry laugh.

“Since when have we ever been the sort to fuss over titles with each other?”

It was as they spoke that the thought struck them.

What kind of future was Unhwi drawing for the Heavenly Alliance?

Where, exactly, had all of this begun?

The answer came more easily than expected.

The expressions of the two men hardened at the same time.

A moment later, the silent Han Murin’s expression hardened as well.

All three men turned their heads.

A white-haired old man approached, a faint red aura coiling around him.

“...Every time he appears, the atmosphere changes like this.”

Seo Hyo asked by sound transmission:

—The Flame King, yes? That man truly is the Vice Lord of the Mukse Society?

When Chief Seong nodded, Seo Hyo’s brow tightened slightly.

He had thought that Yucheong of the Original Blood Cult was not a simple man.

No—not just not simple—he had thought him formidable.

But not to this degree.

A martial force composed of former masters of earlier generations.

And even more astonishing—that such a force had been perfectly hidden.

Seo Hyo had been the Lord of Cheonrim, and yet he had not known until Unhwi told him.

That alone revealed the level of Yucheong’s control.

Seo Hyo’s gaze fixed on the Flame King.

Flame King Hwa Munyeom.

The man had not appeared anywhere in over ten years.

And yet such a man was the Vice Lord of the Mukse Society?

That Unhwi had persuaded this man into the Mukse Society was astonishing.

And that such a man had been won over by Unhwi was even more astonishing.

What, exactly, had he said to him?

And then, in that instant, Seo Hyo realized.

Chief Seong realized the same.

The two men exchanged looks—they were clearly thinking the same thing.

What picture was Unhwi drawing?

The answer became clear the moment Hwa Munyeom stood before him.

Unhwi set the letter down.

“I’ve been waiting, senior.”

“You said you wished to speak urgently. Speak.”

“I will be direct. I need one Heaven-tier martial artist, at least four Earth-tier martial artists, and about fifty Human-tier martial artists who can be mobilized under those Earth-tier ones.”

A crease formed between Hwa Munyeom’s brows.

“...They are people who live in the shadows. What do you intend to use them for?”

“You know the answer, so why ask?”

Unhwi smiled faintly and said plainly:

“I intend to fill the vacancies of the Heavenly Alliance with the Mukse Society.”

Hwa Munyeom’s eyes widened greatly.

Seo Hyo’s eyes widened as well.

This was not a simple matter.

Who was Unhwi currently fighting?

Cheonrim itself—in other words, the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect.

And yet Unhwi intended to fill his power structure with the Mukse Society.

In that case, this could be regarded as a direct conflict between Cheonrim and the Mukse Society.

“...This cannot be taken lightly. Yeon Songbaek, Lord of Cheonrim and Sect Master of the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect, is no trivial figure. And how could we allow a picture in which Cheonrim and the Mukse Society collide, when they share the same ultimate purpose?”

Unhwi stepped forward.

“I find myself confused. Did you not tell me before that you intended to unify the martial world under a new order—the order of the Thousand-Year Demon Cult?”

“I did.”

“Then why are you hiding like this?”

Hwa Munyeom’s gaze shifted.

“What do you mean?”

“Cheonrim and the Mukse Society both operate from the shadows. Yucheong hides within the Original Blood Cult, and you hide within the Mukse Society.”

Unhwi stepped closer.

“Is that how a true order is created? Masking identities, pulling strings from behind the scenes, plotting in the dark... is that what you call creation?”

“Such matters require caution. If we move too hastily—”

“And how long will you hide?”

Unhwi cut him off.

“Ten years? Twenty? Or will you wait another hundred?”

“Do you understand what you are saying?”

“How could I not.”

Unhwi’s voice carried certainty.

“I believe the collision between Cheonrim and the Mukse Society is the true beginning. Sharing the same purpose does not mean one must walk the same path.”

Hwa Munyeom was silent.

“Consider it differently. Both Cheonrim and the Mukse Society desire the restoration of the Thousand-Year Demon Cult, yet both act only from the shadows. Will you establish a new order from the shadows? It must be the opposite. What if these two groups merged into one?”

“...”

“Seo Hyo, you, and the unseen Heaven-and-Earth-tier martial artists of the Mukse Society—all of them are exceptional. To have them scattered is the height of inefficiency. To unite them into one seed—to let it awaken and germinate—is the correct course.”

Everyone—Seo Hyo, Chief Seong, Han Murin, and even Hwa Munyeom—sat stunned.

Unhwi stepped forward again.

He now stood within a handspan of Hwa Munyeom.

“Hwa, you know this better than I do.”

“...Know what?”

“Order is made by the strong. But there is no such thing as a strong man who hides in the shadows. No such being can establish anything.”

Hwa Munyeom slowly nodded.

“...An interesting perspective. But the process will demand many sacrifices.”

“They are already being sacrificed.”

Unhwi was not a fool.

Why had Jang Icheong left the Mukse Society?

And why had he joined the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect?

The Mukse Society’s method was darker than that of the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect.

The fact that even Seo Hyo had not known meant that they had done nothing visible.

How many had simply died breathing in the dark, doing nothing?

Unhwi could infer.

Hwa Munyeom knew.

It hurt.

The ones who had died.

Jang Icheong had said fewer than ten.

Hwa Munyeom knew otherwise.

As Vice Lord, he maintained the roster.

In the fifty years of the Mukse Society’s existence, over a hundred had died doing nothing, suffocating in the dark.

Unhwi’s approach denied that method entirely.

“A martial artist’s end should be on the battlefield. Otherwise, no matter what cause he holds, it is nothing but a meaningless death.”

“...”

“You already know what is right. And yet you hesitate.”

Unhwi’s gaze sharpened.

“Is it because of the Lord?”

“...”

“If not, then is it because of Yucheong?”

Hwa Munyeom’s hand shot out and seized Unhwi by the throat.

“...I have always liked your boldness. But I thought that boldness would one day cross the line. It seems that day is today.”

Unhwi was serious.

Hwa Munyeom was serious.

“I have decided to step into the board you have arranged. But if the nature of that board changes, then I must distance myself. That much can be considered rational conflict during strategic decision. But to speak that man’s name—goes beyond that.”

Slowly—

A smile appeared on Unhwi’s lips.

“Disappointing.”

“...What?”

“All those grand words about restoring the Thousand-Year Demon Cult and creating a new order—was all of that dependent on one man?”

Unhwi’s voice turned cold.

“If Yucheong is absent, then the Thousand-Year Demon Cult cannot be restored, and a new order cannot be born—correct?”

Hwa Munyeom’s grip tightened, but Unhwi did not waver.

Unhwi met his eyes directly.

“What is your true wish, Hwa? To realize Yucheong’s will? Or to rebuild the Thousand-Year Demon Cult with your own hands before you die and bring true order to the martial world?”

“...”

“The difference is as vast as heaven and earth. If it is the former, then you are {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} merely Yucheong’s retainer. Even with the title of Vice Lord, you will simply remain hidden in the shadows until death.”

“...”