Seo Hyo glanced around briefly, then spoke in a low voice.

“I’ll compile the intel as thoroughly as possible before your departure to the Thousand Justice Alliance. Also, a letter arrived—Yang Seoljin has been ordered to report on what happened inside the hidden realm.”

“Did you send a reply?”

“Not yet.”

“Then wrap it up and send it off—make it convincing.”

“Using my own judgment?”

“Package it however you think is most ideal. Yang Seoljin is going to die soon anyway.”

“…What?”

Seol Unhwi looked at the startled Seo Hyo and said, as if tossing out a simple remark.

“The forces under Yu Cheong, entrenched inside the Snow Palace, will be purged within a fortnight.”

Seo Hyo was a perceptive man.

Not just perceptive—extremely quick-witted.

There was only one reason the Everlasting Snow Palace hadn’t been able to kill Yang Seoljin.

They didn’t have a master who’d reached the Heaven-Earth Apex.

But that changes once such a master appears.

“D-Don’t tell me… has he ascended? The Lord’s father…?”

“Keep it secret.”

“…Of course. Naturally, we must. If we can’t keep this a secret, what else possibly could be…”

Mumbling incoherently, Seo Hyo wiped a hand over his face and exhaled.

“Whew… Then I suppose a bloodbath will erupt inside the Snow Palace now.”

“That bloodbath will happen swiftly. You’re going to be used as bait to lure Yu Cheong, so make up something suitable.”

“…That man Yu Cheong is absurdly sharp. Will this really work?”

“It will.”

“…Understood. I’ll prepare it. But—why are you going to Hancheon Gorge?”

“Why do you think?”

Unhwi lifted his gaze slightly.

It wasn’t visible from here, but if one walked far enough in that direction, a gorge would appear.

The main base of the White Snow Mourning Corps.

“I’m going to confirm the traitor hiding there.”

“Whom do you suspect?”

“Juche, Yeonsu-on, Gok Jinbung. Do you know any of them?”

Seo Hyo shook his head.

“Yu Cheong’s subordinates operate strictly as independent cells. Not just me—even Yang Seoljin probably doesn’t know them all.”

“I see.”

Unhwi sounded indifferent, as though he hadn’t expected anything to begin with. Seo Hyo silently took out a small bottle from his robes and handed it to him.

“You really do have money to burn.”

“Even with money, Qingchen Stone Oil is nearly impossible to get. You know that.”

Unhwi gave a small laugh and shook the bottle.

“I’ll put it to good use.”

“Yes. And I sincerely hope all goes well.”

With a nod, Seo Hyo turned and vanished.

Unhwi then set off alone toward Hancheon Gorge.

***

The gorge looked from afar like a crack split into a mountain by a massive blade. From a distance, it seemed like just a fissure in the rock face, but the closer one approached, the more its true scale revealed itself.

This was Hancheon Gorge.

The carriage halted at the entrance.

Unhwi belted the Heavenshaking Spiritblade at his waist and stepped down.

The mouth of the gorge was so narrow that only two people could walk side by side. Looking up, the sky appeared as a thread-thin sliver, the canyon so deep it cut through like a blade. The wind that blew through was frigid, as if it came straight down from a snowy mountain.

The path narrowed as it went on. Ice crystals clung to the walls on either side, and a thin stream trickled beneath his feet.

The water was mostly frozen, but beneath the ice, a faint sound of flowing could be heard.

Unhwi walked deeper into the gorge. After about a hundred steps, the canyon suddenly opened into a vast space. It was like a giant circular basin.

Buildings lined the walls of the gorge in terraced layers, and at the center stood a wide training field and an imposing structure.

This was the main headquarters of the White Snow Mourning Corps.

At that moment, the shadows clinging to the gorge walls began to shift.

Unhwi didn’t respond at all.

Three black-clad figures landed naturally in front of him. Perhaps sensing the unusual air about him, they did not lower their guard.

The one in the center spoke.

“Who are you?”

Unhwi glanced at the symbol on their swords—mark of the White Snow Mourning Corps.

He could see even more shadows moving along the ridges. They had likely been watching him since the moment he entered the gorge.

He spoke calmly.

“I am Seol Unhwi, Supreme Commander of Yangryeong Province.”

At his words, the three figures simultaneously bowed.

“We greet the Polar Descendant of the Everlasting Snow Palace. What brings you to Hancheon Gorge?”

“I’ve come to see Yeonsu-on, Vice Captain of the White Snow Mourning Corps.”

One of the three stepped forward.

“Vice Captain Yeonsu-on is currently at Baekryeong Hall. Allow us to escort you.”

Unhwi stared at the three for a moment, then asked tersely.

“New recruits?”

“…No, I’ve been here five years. The two beside me are in their second year.”

“Two years, you’d still be learning the basics. That’s understandable. But five years—surely that’s enough to have seen combat missions. And yet, you don’t recognize the face of the Polar Descendant?”

“…My apologies.”

“To disappoint me on a first meeting…”

“…”

“Lead the way.”

With a slight nod, Unhwi fell into step behind them.

They crossed the stone bridge that cut through the center of the gorge, heading toward Baekryeong Hall.

As they walked, more and more members of the White Snow Mourning Corps appeared, bowing in respect to Unhwi, but he gave no response.

He simply walked in silence until they reached a structure.

It stood at the center of the gorge, built from white stone. It looked like an ice palace. As he approached, the massive doors opened without a sound.

“This way, please.”

Following the escort, Unhwi entered Baekryeong Hall.

Inside, contrary to expectations, it was warm.

Brazier flames glowed gently along the walls, suffusing the space with cozy heat.

They walked down a corridor, and at the end of it, a small garden came into view.

Surprisingly, white plum blossoms, which only bloomed in summer, were in full bloom.

At the center of the garden sat a man.

Dressed in a white robe, he raised his head to look at Unhwi. His long hair, reaching down to his waist, fluttered gently in the breeze. His left sleeve was empty.

His face had the pale, serene air of a scholar.

On the surface, no internal energy could be felt from him at all, and his eyes held a serenity that seemed detached from the affairs of the world.

“You must be Lord Hyeonseollin, whose name echoes across even the Central Plains beyond the Snow Palace.”

His voice was soft and composed.

“In all these years, not once have we met. It’s an honor to receive you now.”

Yeonsu-on rose slowly and bowed to Unhwi.

His movements were slow but elegant. Even with only his right arm, he rose in perfect balance and smiled at Unhwi.

But surprisingly—

Unhwi, who would normally return a courtesy of that level, said nothing.

He didn’t just remain silent.

He walked straight up to Yeonsu-on and looked down at him.

Yeonsu-on stood 5 cheok 8 chon—about 174 centimeters.

Facing him, Unhwi offered nothing but silence.

Yeonsu-on smiled and slowly sat down again.

“Strange… Lord Hyeonseollin seems quite angry with me.”

“…”

“A curious thing for a first meeting. Is it because I dispatched White Snow Mourning Corps members to Commander Sim Hanryeong of Baekryeong Guard?”

“…”

“Then what could possibly be the cause? Will you not tell me?”

“…”

“Is this your first visit to Hancheon Gorge?”

“…”

“This place is remote from the world, and all the more peaceful for it.”

Yeonsu-on’s gaze softened.

“I’ve lived here thirty-five years now. After suffering qi deviation, I could no longer use internal energy. This became my place of rest.”

Indeed, Yeonsu-on had lost both an arm and his internal power.

Yet amidst his tranquility, one thing stood out—his gaze.

Eyes filled with profound wisdom and calm, as though attained by overcoming endless trials.

“What assistance can I offer you, Lord Hyeonseollin?”

Though Unhwi remained silent, Yeonsu-on continued to speak—almost like a man trying to resolve things with words alone.

As though evangelizing his own benevolence.

But beneath that serenity, it felt more like a desperate flailing—like a man terrified of exposing his inner self.

Unhwi finally opened his mouth, and his voice was cold to the extreme.

“Yeonsu-on.”

“…You truly seem to be offended. And I, as Vice Captain of—”

“You made me uneasy.”

“…Pardon?”

“To lose both an arm and all internal energy means one’s life as a martial artist is completely finished. Yet to remain in the martial world—there must be something to gain from that.”

“…”

“I kept wondering what that something was. But the more I investigated you, only one thing kept appearing.”

“And what is that?”

“Influence.”

“…”

“Your reputation spreads beyond the White Snow Mourning Corps, across all of Snow Mountain. Those who cast suspicion on a man of such loyalty are bound to be reviled. You’ve cloaked yourself in an intangible power.”

“…I’ve cloaked myself? In what, exactly?”

“To question or criticize you is to betray a man’s character, not just his martial honor. But I kept feeling doubt.”

“…You don’t seem to hear my question.”

He ignored it.

“Could it really be just that? No… I needed to see the root. What does a martial artist, whose life is already over, desire most? Mere reputation? I don’t think so.”

Unhwi took one step closer, now face to face with the seated Yeonsu-on.

“Rebirth.”

“…”

“The thing most desired by one whose life is ended… is life itself. I had so many questions I wanted to ask. What were you doing while the Original Blood Sect’s scum infiltrated Snow Mountain? Who are the subordinates that met and took orders from you during that time? How did Yu Hwarin of the Ghost-Soul Gate make contact with so many sects while ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) evading all eyes? I had so many…”

He looked down coldly.

“But now that I’ve seen you, I realize there’s no need.”

“…I truly have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Well then.”

Unhwi drew the Heavenshaking Spiritblade.

“Would you care to explain the Original Blood Qi I clearly see radiating from you?”

Primordial Blood Energy was fundamentally different from ordinary blood energy.

It was akin to Unhwi’s False-Origin True Qi—a force near the very source.

Of all the martial artists Unhwi had fought or met, only one had ever truly perceived the essence of his energy.

Original Blood Qi was the same.

Only those who understood its essence could recognize it—just like now.

Unhwi had met only four such users in his life:

The Celestial Daoist, Yu Cheong, Elder Yeong Unseong of the Original Blood Sect,

And Jung Docheon, the Lord of the Thunder Demon Cult.

…No.

There was one more.

Yeonsu-on, Vice Captain of the White Snow Mourning Corps.

A single red glint flickered across Yeonsu-on’s eyes.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep