Unhwi stepped back a couple of paces and fixed his gaze on Juche.

Amid the piercing screams of Yeon Suon and Gok Jinbung, he stood there, fists clenched tightly, eyes burning into Unhwi.

If looks could kill, Unhwi would have died hundreds of times in that moment.

“You brat. Relax, will you? You think I’d let you die here when I’m standing right next to you?”

No Cheonmyeong remained at Unhwi’s side, wearing a lazy grin as though he found the whole situation deeply amusing.

And he kept just the right distance.

If Juche made a move—any move, anywhere—he’d be able to reach and stop him instantly. It was the perfect position.

“Hey, I’m sure you’ll handle this just fine, just like when you wiped out the Original Blood Sect bastards.”

“Don’t worry. And after this help, I plan to clear the debt between us, Senior No.”

“Huh?”

“I’m telling you—you no longer need to live your life owing me anything.”

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Who told you to settle that debt on your own?”

Unhwi tilted his head slightly.

“You may think it’s settled, but I don’t. You brought me back from the dead and even treat me with respect. I’ll settle the score when I feel like it. So just keep bossing me around.”

“Doesn’t that annoy you?”

“Me? Annoyed? Hmm. Don’t see why I should be.”

And he meant it.

No Cheonmyeong didn’t take lightly the favor Unhwi had granted him. Even if Unhwi treated him like a subordinate, he’d still follow him gladly.

After all, every time Unhwi asked for help, something fascinating always unfolded.

“You must’ve been terribly lonely up in Shinsam Valley.”

“You little… If you know that, then call me more often. And come on—when else in my life will I get to watch one of the two great pillars of the Eternal Snow Palace crumble?”

In the midst of agonized shrieks echoing around them, Unhwi couldn’t help but laugh.

His laughter, while blood-curdling screams rang out, was itself enough to make the scene even more chilling.

The hundreds of Baekseol Wilyeongdan members watching couldn’t begin to comprehend what was happening. Juche was barely containing his rage, while Yangcheol had his eyes closed in silent thought, grappling with betrayal by Yeon Suon.

Two figures who had managed to maintain their composure stepped toward Unhwi.

It was Seol Muryeon and Seol Yeonhwa.

Unhwi had initially hoped the two would subdue Baekryeongak along with Seolhwasanjang, but this wasn’t a bad outcome either.

After all, even just Seolhwasanjang—his maternal sect—could subdue Baekryeongak on its own.

“I apologize for calling you all the way out here.”

Unhwi’s voice was calm, but the two watching him looked deeply worried.

Blood flowed down his body from severe wounds. No Cheonmyeong was doing his best to stop the bleeding and had applied golden salve, but the injuries were unmistakably grave.

“No need to worry about the wounds. I’m a martial artist.”

“…Right. You are.”

Seol Muryeon took a deep breath and asked,

“We’ll set aside this situation for now. I want to ask something else. I read your letter—read all of it. Was this really necessary?”

“Yes. Doing it this way makes it easier for Father to make a decision.”

“…A decision? Don’t tell me this is about Cheonui Alliance?”

Unhwi nodded.

To be clear, the affairs of Seolgung and the Cheonui Alliance were entirely separate.

But Unhwi fully intended to participate in the grand endeavor to revive the Cheonui Alliance.

“The revival of the Cheonui Alliance is a burning topic even in central murim. But that place…”

Seol Muryeon was quick-witted. Quick enough to realize the truth instantly.

What would happen there would be a miniature reenactment of the righteous-versus-demonic war.

If factions like Sama’s Outer Sect or the Five Great Sword Clans gained control of it, murim would plunge into chaos.

Unhwi could not allow it to become someone’s private militia.

He smiled gently.

“You needn’t worry. It’s the most dangerous place—but precisely because of that, I must go. You and Sister should remain in Seolgung and assist Eldest Brother.”

And then—

“Today, I will show you the rot festering within Seolgung. You may think what you will of me—but you’ve trusted me this far, so I ask you to trust me to the end.”

Leaving the two nodding behind him, Unhwi turned.

“Stop… stop—!! I’ll talk… no, I’ll confess everything!”

Unable to endure Commander Seong’s torture, Gok Jinbung was the first to break.

“It was… Yeon Suon… Yeon Suon ordered me to let assassins from the Ghost-Soul Gate and poisoners from Viper Valley infiltrate Snow Mountain. And…”

And—this next part mattered most.

“We delivered our own members to the Thunderblood Demon Cult…!”

Commander Seong wept inwardly.

This pitiful wreck of a man—Gok Jinbung hadn’t always been like this, thirty years ago.

Back then, those bright eyes had taught Commander Seong the value of the snowy peaks. He had taught him what it meant to be a man protecting the Polar Descendants.

Even after reaching the Harmonization Stage, even while receiving orders under Juche’s command—Commander Seong had respected Gok Jinbung.

Truly, he had respected him.

“I never wanted to do it… that filthy bastard Yeon Suon threatened me… I had no choice… truly, I didn’t…”

Gok Jinbung grabbed at Commander Seong’s pant leg.

“You know me… don’t you? I cared about the members… Please, explain that to Sir Hyeon Seollin…”

Commander Seong kicked him aside.

Thud—!

“Gguh… Ghhhak.”

Gok Jinbung collapsed with a whimper and said no more. He lay sobbing.

Yeon Suon, meanwhile, stared at Unhwi with chilling, resigned eyes.

It was over.

Unhwi turned his gaze to Juche.

“Anything else you want to say?”

Juche shut his eyes tight—and dropped to his knees.

“…Nothing.”

“Then, there’s something you must do now.”

Was Juche innocent—or not?

Was this truly the deviation ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) of the Deputy Commander and Chief Instructor—or not?

Was this simply Juche’s incompetence?

There was only one way to explain it all.

Juche silently struck his own acupoints.

The Cheonji Qi enveloping his body dispersed.

Juche—

Had simply been incompetent.

***

The Vice Palace Lord’s office in the Eternal Snow Palace’s main palace sat within an enormous hall.

From its windows, the vast snowy mountains could be seen in their full splendor. Yang Seoljin often visited the spot during work to admire the view.

Today was no exception.

Ever since he had taken shelter in Seolgung—or perhaps even before then—his goal had never changed.

Swallowing Seolgung? That was not his true aim.

It would simply be a convenient byproduct.

Yang Seoljin’s purpose had never shifted for even a moment.

It was that—the Primordial Relic resting in the snowy mountains.

He knew of the Thousand-Year Demon Sect’s records.

And those records read:

Fifteenth day, third month, Year of the Metal Ox (辛丑年)—someone secretly stole the Heavenly Source Crystal from the main base of the Thousand-Year Demon Sect in Ten Thousand Mountains.

This was a catastrophic event that shook the very foundation of the sect, throwing it into unprecedented chaos.

Fifth day, second month, Year of the Water Tiger (壬寅年)—the list of suspects narrowed to the True Person Cheonhwa of Mount Hua, and Seol Heon of Northern Sea Ice Palace. The Light King ordered absolute secrecy and dispatched assassins to pursue both.

In conclusion, it wasn’t Mount Hua.

And while Seol Heon couldn’t be confirmed either, those names were recorded for a reason. Mount Hua was annihilated, and there was no record of the relic being recovered—so Seol Heon was the most likely.

Thus, Yang Seoljin had entered Seolgung.

And then he saw the poem Seol Heon had left behind.

That was all the confirmation he needed.

The Heavenly Source Crystal was here.

That meant the treasure of the snowy mountain—the relic of the primordial era—was one of the Three Great Artifacts of the Thousand-Year Demon Sect.

He would reclaim it.

He had already collected two.

Only one remained.

That last one would complete the Thousand-Year Demon Sect’s restoration.

Stroking his chin, he turned to go.

By now, the Palace Lord must have returned. There was much to discuss.

In his absence, Seolgung had been thrown into chaos.

As if orchestrated, the Polar Descendants moved. Cheonseolmun moved. So did Seolhwasanjang.

There’s no trail that could lead back to me—but I should be cautious nonetheless.

Yang Seoljin opened the door—and froze.

From the opposite corridor, Seol Jungcheon and Hyeon Sim were approaching together.

Yang Seoljin kept his expression neutral and bowed properly.

“I greet the Palace Lord.”

He showed due courtesy, but inwardly, unease stirred.

Something… something about Seol Jungcheon felt different.

A subtle shift—barely perceptible, but he couldn’t be sure.

What is this?

He lifted his head slightly.

Seol Jungcheon had just returned from seeing another woman.

But his eyes were far too calm. So calm, they seemed… ominous.

…Something’s changed. But what…?

Yang Seoljin had reached Mu-geuk Hyeonsin and stood at the cusp of the next level: Do-hwa Gwonjin.

His instincts sensed the difference. But his mind could not yet grasp it.

Something… something was definitely there.

Seol Jungcheon approached and lightly patted Yang Seoljin’s shoulder. The touch was gentle and soft—yet Yang Seoljin felt a chill run down his spine.

“A great deal seems to have happened while I was away.”

“…Yes. Indeed.”

Cheonseolmun, Baekryeongak, Seollyeonggak—and—

Baekseol Wilyeongdan.

Some were dead. Others captured alive.

Normally, Yang Seoljin would run at this point.

But to flee was to admit guilt. And if there was no evidence tying him in…

If he were truly clean—there would be no reason to flee.

Yang Seoljin was a thorough man. He had long prepared his response.

“To dare challenge the Palace Lord’s authority, to threaten the sacred bloodline of the Polar Descendants—such people must not be granted an easy death.”

Seol Jungcheon smiled gently.

And oddly enough—that smile resembled Seol Unhwi’s.

“You say all the right things.”

“You flatter m—”

“And that’s why I don’t intend to let you die easily. You will spill every last thing you know.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Did you enjoy yourself?”

That cold voice made Yang Seoljin’s heart seize.

How…

How does he know…?

“For now, sleep.”

Seol Jungcheon snapped his fingers.

Snap—!

And at that sound—

CRACKLE CRACKLE CRACKLE—!!

The entire building, save for Hyeon Sim, froze over solid.

Hyeon Sim looked on with awe at Seol Jungcheon’s back. His broad shoulders. The posture of a man destined to carry all of Snow Mountain on his back.

Seol Jungcheon turned his head. Behind him, Yang Seoljin stood frozen solid, and Seol Jungcheon’s eyes had turned a pure, blinding white.

“Hyeon Sim.”

“…Yes, Palace Lord!”

“I’ve heard some of the story—but it’s not enough. Learn everything that happened in my absence. Every detail.”

“By your command—!”

The master of Snow Mountain—had returned.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep