“No, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Why would a White Lotus Warden be meeting with the Vice-Captain of the White Snow Phantom Corps?”

“…You bastard… Hey, are you suspecting me right now? That’s kinda cold, isn’t it? We crossed the line of death together, didn’t we?”

At the expression in my eyes demanding an explanation, Sim Munryong finally let out a sigh.

“He just asked to see me. That man.”

“For what reason?”

“What else? For close cooperation between the White Lotus Wardens and the White Snow Phantom Corps. Something like that.”

“Cooperation?”

At my response, Sim Munryong’s eyes widened.

“Wow… So you know everything about the world, and you didn’t know this one?”

“Cut the suspense. Get to the point.”

“It’s not a big deal. Even if I’m just a low-ranked member, I’m still one of the Twelve Frost Commanders. I have a few subordinates under me, but less than the other commanders. He said he’d like to recommend about four people to me. Asked what I thought.”

Interesting.

Four people…

“What do you plan to do?”

“What do you think? I already accepted.”

“Why?”

Sim Munryong gave a sly smile.

“Hey. Do I look like an idiot? With the positions of the White Lotus Wardens and the White Snow Phantom Corps, they’re not in any position to grow chummy. But he went out of his way to approach me? He has an agenda.”

“Such as?”

“What kind of such as? There’s not a soul out there who doesn’t know I’m one of your people, even if I’m a newbie among the Twelve Frost Commanders. He’d have to be a fool not to figure it out by now. It’s you. You.”

Sim Munryong grinned.

“He’s probably trying to latch onto you by getting close to me. Or maybe he’s trying to get in your good graces. Either way, wouldn’t it make sense to accept?”

“Hm…”

“The more pieces you can put on the board, the better it is for you. You’ll be the one deciding later anyway. So can you stop glaring at me like that now? You’re making me a little uncomfortable.”

I had always considered myself someone who could read people well, but it seemed I had underestimated Sim Munryong a little.

“You bastard… your eyes changed right away. So you do feel a little bad, huh?”

I patted his shoulder.

I already knew he was a man who repaid favors. But the fact that he’d willingly take the role of bait and quietly set up a move to help me later—

Honestly, I was a little moved.

“Come to Bingbaek Gorge in fifteen days and four.”

“That place again? Who are we killing this time? Don’t tell me it’s the Original Blood Sect?”

I shook my head.

“The secret realm of the Plum Blossom No-Sword will open there.”

“…Oh…?”

“The Plum Blossom No-Sword, Cheongmun, is recorded as a martial artist at the level of the Grand Void Formless, but the essence of that realm doesn’t lie with Cheongmun.”

Of course not.

“The master of the Plum Blossom No-Sword was none other than the Plum Blossom Sword Deity, Chunhwa Jin-in.”

“So you’re saying Chunhwa Jin-in’s martial arts might still be in that secret realm?”

“Do you think they wouldn’t be?”

“I mean, I wouldn’t know. I’m not even sure if that secret realm will appear at all.”

He wasn’t wrong.

I’m the only one who knows that secret realm will appear.

I didn’t enter it in my past life, but I do know what came out of it.

From the records I examined, what Chunhwa Jin-in left behind were a few koans and some murals carved into the walls—but unfortunately, nothing of those murals was preserved.

The testimony came from one of the few survivors who barely escaped that place, and he died from his injuries less than fifteen days after getting out, so if he had known more, that would’ve been stranger.

“Sim Munryong.”

“What now?”

“Be fully prepared.”

“You’re suddenly scaring me?”

“It’s a secret realm dangerous enough to warrant it. And bring all the ones Yeon Suon designated.”

“Just those four?”

“Only those four.”

“Alright, got it. I’d love to escort you to Yangryeong Province myself, but one of those four is near Pungbyeok right now. I have to go fetch him, so I won’t be able to take you.”

I chuckled.

“I wasn’t expecting you to. Don’t forget—fifteen days later at Bingbaek Gorge.”

After sending off Sim Munryong, I borrowed a carriage from the main palace.

A burly man approached and respectfully cupped his fist in greeting.

“Greetings, Lord Hyeon Seolrin.”

It was Yang Cheol of the White Snow Phantom Corps.

He had helped me at Yaksu in killing the defectors and retrieving the ledger with their names. He’d continued serving as my eyes and ears even recently. That same Yang Cheol.

“It’s been a while. But… I heard Cheonpung left.”

“He did.”

“That’s unfortunate. He was bound to become someone great.”

“He’ll be back. Don’t worry.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We leave immediately.”

“Yes. I will escort you to Yangryeong Provi—”

“Not Yangryeong Province.”

“…Pardon?”

“Hancheon Gorge.”

At the sudden mention of a place, Yang Cheol’s eyes widened.

He knew why.

Hancheon Gorge was where the main division of the White Snow Phantom Corps was located.

“Why… are you going to Hancheon Gorge…?”

“I intend to meet with Yeon Suon.”

“…Ah.”

“You don’t like that?”

“Not at all, sir. I will depart at once.”

“And take a longer route than usual.”

“If we’re taking the long way around… I see. Understood.”

Yang Cheol began driving the carriage, and I sat back with my eyes closed.

Yeon Suon, Vice-Captain of the White Snow Phantom Corps.

I didn’t know him in detail. But one thing was certain.

That him assigning a few of his men to Sim Munryong had nothing to do with me.

If Yeon Suon had been colluding with Yang Seoljin, he’d have been certain I would die.

And not just me. He’d also have been sure Daeseollin would be killed. So why go through the trouble of attaching men to Sim Munryong?

There are only two possibilities.

First, he assumed my elder brother and I would be dead, and he was laying the groundwork for a future plan.

Second, he had no connection to Yang Seoljin or Yu Cheong, and was simply giving his subordinates field experience out of pure goodwill.

If it’s the former, things get complicated. If it’s the latter, I end up looking like a fool for doubting him.

“Yang Cheol.”

At my call, Yang Cheol turned his head from the driver’s seat.

“Yes, Lord Hyeon Seolrin?”

“In your opinion, is Yeon Suon the kind of man who would betray Seolgung?”

Yang Cheol scratched his head.

“As I said before, sir, the Vice-Captain lost all his internal energy due to deviation, and even lost his left arm.”

I looked at him silently.

“He said he would resign from all duties and go into seclusion in eight years’ time, yes?”

“Yes, sir. And this year marks the seventh. It’s been about six months since he first said that. So there’s six months left.”

When he said that, Yang Cheol had once insisted: How could someone like that ever betray the palace? But his phrasing had been slightly encoded.

More like, How could anyone question the loyalty of such a ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) man?

“True. It would seem that way.”

“…Pardon?”

“Lost his arm, lost his qi, and still spends the rest of his life raising disciples and serving Seolgung. And I’m out here slandering him like a deranged madman… It’d make even a demonic overlord shake his head.”

“T-That’s… a bit much, sir…”

“There’s no need to force a denial. Just suspecting Yeon Suon already draws negative looks, like the one you’re giving me now. If he turns out not to be the traitor, then I’ll have to step down from my place in Seolgung. That’s the situation.”

That much was true.

But I had to consider the reverse, too.

“Yang Cheol.”

“…Yes, sir?”

“Set aside your personal feelings and answer me. A captain can move freely behind everyone’s backs and carry out a plan. That makes him suspect by nature. Instructor Gok Jinbung, for example—he’s not even a captain or vice-captain, but he holds enough sway to pull something like that off. Just based on capability alone, he could do it. Now, what about Yeon Suon?”

“…”

“Even if he lacks force of arms, just the fact that people hesitate to suspect him says enough. Sometimes intangible strength is more frightening than tangible strength—and this feels like one of those times.”

“…You’re going too far, sir.”

“So you’re saying you don’t suspect him?”

“…Hearing you speak, Lord Hyeon Seolrin… Yes. Yeon Suon fits the profile of someone who could act in secret. Everyone knows of his loyalty. If someone investigated him in secret, others would immediately tip him off or act on his behalf. He’s the spiritual pillar of the White Snow Phantom Corps.”

I crossed my arms and said quietly:

“Then do I still seem like I’m doubting an innocent man for no reason?”

Yang Cheol let out a deep sigh.

“…No, sir… If one of the high-ranking members of the White Snow Phantom Corps betrayed us, we couldn’t rule out Vice-Captain Yeon Suon.”

I leaned back.

“Someone will come looking for me. Don’t wake me until then.”

“Yes, sir.”

I closed my eyes—but peace didn’t last long.

The carriage stopped.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Yang Cheol looking startled.

I felt like I’d been through this before.

“…Um, sir. Would that person over there be the one looking for you?”

He asked before I could even say who?

“It’s the Third Lady.”

He wasn’t exactly wrong. It was someone I would have had to meet eventually.

***

When Unhwi opened the carriage door and stepped outside, he came to a halt on the spot.

He didn’t show it, but he was a bit taken aback.

So was Yang Cheol.

And understandably so.

A woman stood before them.

Clad in a purple silk robe.

She was Jin Soyeom, the Third Lady of the Eternal Snow Palace. Known for her beauty and poise, her face now bore a deep, troubled expression—but that wasn’t the point.

What mattered was that Jin Soyeom… wasn’t standing.

She was kneeling.

Yes.

That was what mattered.

She raised her head and met Unhwi’s calm, unwavering gaze.

Even in this situation, there wasn’t the slightest ripple in Unhwi’s eyes.

In as composed a voice as she could manage, Jin Soyeom spoke.

“Hyeon Seolrin. Please save my son.”

Unhwi silently looked down at the kneeling Jin Soyeom.

The Third Lady—one of Seol Jungcheon’s official wives, and the birth mother of Seol Unhae, heir of the Polar Bloodline.

That such a woman would kneel to a concubine’s son was clearly unexpected—but Unhwi’s heart remained still as a calm lake.

“Third Lady.”

“…Yes, Hyeon Seolrin.”

“The fact that you are here like this implies that you know the situation behind the scenes. Am I correct?”

“…Not in detail. I just spoke with Unhae. From what I’ve heard, it seemed serious enough to warrant action.”

“I see.”

With that, Unhwi continued, calmly.

“First, please rise.”

“I cannot.”

Jin Soyeom looked up at Unhwi, her face set in determination.

“My son made a mistake. But he is still young and foolish. I have no other path but to kneel before you and plead. Please… I beg of you, grant him one more chance.”

Unhwi gazed at her with deep, measuring eyes.

What had happened in the secret realm replayed in his mind.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep