He bent down slightly and whispered into Seol Unhwi’s ear.

“It seems a little too empty. I think we’ll need to fill it in a bit more, hyung.”

“What…?”

The answer came back through sound transmission.

—We need the names of Seollyeong Pavilion’s Head and Vice-Head.

Seol Unhae, staring into Unhwi’s chilling eyes, began writing the names of Seollyeong Pavilion’s Head and Vice-Head as if entranced.

Setting aside Baekryeon Pavilion, whose betrayal was already certain—he didn’t know why Seollyeong Pavilion had to be included too, but he didn’t think further.

He wanted to live.

“…Unhwi… I wrote it all… I did… I’m sorry, really… Won’t you please spare m—”

Unhwi kicked.

Crack—!

His foot slammed into Seol Unhae’s face. His body slumped over limply.

He had fainted.

Unhwi stood silently over him for a moment, then turned his head.

There stood a man with long hair.

“Ah… I happened to overhear something unintended…”

A middle-aged man in white robes scratched his head awkwardly and smiled. It was Yang Seoljin, Vice Palace Lord of the Everlasting Snow Palace.

“This is serious. Truly…”

Yang Seoljin slipped his faintly trembling hands inside his sleeves to hide them.

No matter how seasoned he was, the scene before him was not something one could easily remain composed about.

One of the descendants of the Extreme North had cut off his elder brother’s arm—decisively.

And more importantly…

How is that boy still alive?

Inside the Secret Realm… did they fail?

It didn’t make sense.

There had been a Heavenly Rank master, a Mythic Rank master, and a Transcendent Rank master involved—yet it had failed?

Tsk.

Clicking his tongue inwardly, Yang Seoljin composed his expression and smiled at Unhwi.

“Hyun Seollin-nim, if you have a moment… how about a cup of tea?”

Unhwi’s face didn’t waver in the slightest.

“Let’s do that.”

The two moved to a quiet garden where they could drink tea.

It was a small pond surrounded by snow-covered trees and stones.

As soon as they sat, an attendant approached and poured fragrant tea.

Yang Seoljin took a slow sip.

“What I just witnessed… was quite shocking.”

Unhwi said nothing, merely sipped his tea. Yang Seoljin lightly shook his head, still seemingly in shock.

“That the Third Seollin would do such a thing… I truly never imagined. Colluding with Baekryeon Pavilion, of all places… It makes me worry for the future of the Everlasting Snow Palace.”

Unhwi slowly set his teacup down.

“Did the Vice Palace Lord not notice any signs of this beforehand?”

Yang Seoljin’s eyes twitched slightly.

That tone… it sounded like a reproach.

“Shamefully, I did not notice a thing.”

“I see.”

“…More than that, it seems something also happened within the Shaolin’s Secret Realm. That right arm—is it the result, Hyun Seollin-nim?”

“Yes.”

“Are you all right?”

“I am fine.”

“And the Great Seollin…?”

“She is even more fine.”

Yang Seoljin chuckled.

“That is truly a relief.”

Unhwi silently watched the man.

He had seen Yang Seoljin in his previous life, but this was the first time they were meeting alone in this one.

And now that he looked closer—wasn’t he even more composed and poised than back then?

But unfortunately for Yang Seoljin, his fate was already sealed.

“What do you make of the Third Seollin’s collusion with Baekryeon Pavilion?”

“It is deeply regrettable. Baekryeon Pavilion holds a unique position even within the Snow Mountains. The Three Pavilions are essentially branches of the Everlasting Snow Palace… This can only be described as betrayal. More than anything, targeting the Great Seollin means they wanted to place the Tea Seollin on the Little Palace Lord’s seat… It must be thoroughly investigated.”

“You suspect Second Brother?”

“My stance is that it’s better to be certain than not.”

“If one can classify internal discord as beginner, intermediate, and advanced—then forcing a beginner-level issue into the advanced category is foolish.”

Unhwi smiled as he spoke, and Yang Seoljin’s brow twitched faintly.

“Calling it a beginner-level issue…”

“They say that a weak-willed man remains weak even with a strong sword, but a strong-willed man is strong even with a broken one. Second Brother is a clear strong-willed man. He is not someone to make foolish choices.”

“Huh…”

“Above all, Third Brother lacks the brains to orchestrate something that implicates Second Brother. If he were capable of that, he wouldn’t have been caught.”

“…I see. Truly… your insight is exceptional. But I noticed the Third Seollin wrote something else at the end. Was there someone besides Baekryeon Pavilion?”

Unfortunately, Yang Seoljin had not seen the final few names Seol Unhae had written.

“As of now, Baekryeon Pavilion is all we have.”

“I see. Remarkable, as expected.”

“You flatter me. But rather—Vice Palace Lord, you seem quite knowledgeable about our palace’s internal affairs.”

“It’s my duty, after all.”

From Yang Seoljin’s demeanor, Unhwi read only calm.

In his past life, Yang Seoljin had been a ferocious, overly confident man.

But now, he seemed too relaxed—so much so that he looked full of openings.

Was he always just… this much?

Or was he simply underdeveloped, still at the Unawakened True Form stage?

Unhwi sighed inwardly and asked,

“There is one more thing I’m curious about.”

“Yes?”

“Not long ago, spies from the Original Blood Sect were uncovered. I do not believe this incident is unrelated.”

Yang Seoljin’s eyes twitched subtly—a movement so faint a normal person would never catch it. But Unhwi did.

“It’s only speculation for now, but I don’t believe we’ve completely uprooted them. So I ask—do you know of any factions connected to the Original Blood Sect?”

“The Original Blood Sect…”

A difficult, cautious smile crept over Yang Seoljin’s face.

“They’ve been enemies of the Snow Palace for a long time, but whether any allied forces exist… I cannot say for sure. Still, if it’s truly the Original Blood Sect, surely they would be biding their time, would they not?”

A smile touched Unhwi’s lips as well.

“You’re right. They would wait for the right moment.”

Silence fell between them. A cold wind swept through the garden.

“You’ve grown significantly lately. It’s quite impressive.”

“Thank you.”

Yang Seoljin took another sip and spoke again.

“In fact, I sometimes think it would be wonderful if someone as outstanding as Hyun Seollin-nim could lead the Snow Palace.”

Unhwi’s gaze sharpened.

“What is it you’re trying to say, Vice Palace Lord?”

Yang Seoljin smiled.

“I believe your talent could make the Snow Palace great. So, I have a proposal.”

“What sort of proposal?”

“Why don’t we work together? To make the Snow Palace even stronger.”

“For an Extreme North descendant to work under the Vice Palace Lord… Isn’t that a bit strange?”

Yang Seoljin gently raised a hand and waved it.

“Not under me. With me.”

“With you, you say.”

“Yes. If your talent and my experience join forces, the future of the Snow Palace will shine brighter than ever.”

Unhwi seemed to fall into thought. Nothing could be read from his expression.

“An intriguing offer.”

“Then may I hear your answer today?”

“You seem to be rushing a little. You know how it is—haste ruins even what might have succeeded.”

“…Mm.”

“I ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ will consider it.”

Unhwi slowly stood.

“Thank you for the tea and conversation, Vice Palace Lord. I believe I must take my leave now.”

Yang Seoljin also stood.

“Of course. You’ve only just returned from the Secret Realm. Rest must come first. I hope we can talk again soon.”

Unhwi nodded and began to leave. Then, turning back toward Yang Seoljin, he asked,

“What sort of Snow Palace do you intend to build?”

Yang Seoljin seemed to ponder for a moment—but the answer was already set.

“Stronger, greater—a true powerhouse that none in the world would dare challenge.”

Unhwi chuckled softly.

“Interesting. I dream of the same.”

“Then we are of one mind.”

Unhwi didn’t reply.

He simply smiled silently, and Yang Seoljin couldn’t tell whether that smile was agreement or denial.

This brat… His depths are far too vast.

And with that, the conversation ended.

Unhwi left the garden, and as Yang Seoljin silently watched his retreating figure, his expression changed. The previous elegance and leisure vanished. Now, only cold calculation and sharp ambition remained in his gaze.

Far too exceptional to eliminate immediately.

Through that brief conversation, Yang Seoljin had recognized Unhwi’s true worth—something completely different from the evaluations of Kang Cheonu of the Sichuan Alliance or Gun Mugyeol of the Murim Alliance.

Let’s raise him just a bit more.

Make him stronger. Give him power. Grant him opportunity. Then, he would become a blade sharper than any other.

In rebuilding the Thousand-Year Demon Cult, the greatest task was eliminating obstacles—and Unhwi could wipe out more than half of them alone.

And eventually, once he had served his purpose, Unhwi could be discarded.

A perfect plan.

Smiling faintly, Yang Seoljin began composing a letter to his “Master.” At that moment, his thoughts were already leaping to the next phase.

Meanwhile, as Unhwi exited the garden, a steely resolve glinted in his eyes.

His conversation with the seemingly insignificant Yang Seoljin had been immensely worthwhile.

The time has come.

Before long, Yang Seoljin would die.

No matter how many times he replayed the conversation or reviewed his past-life memories, there was no longer any reason to let Yang Seoljin live.

Thus, each of them now carried the image of the other’s death in their respective plans.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep