“Baekryeongak, Seollyeongak, the Baeksul Mourning Legion, and even the infiltrators and turned agents from Yuhonmun—none of them could possibly be traced back to me. That such a link would exist is, from the start, impossible. I acted with that in mind every single moment. So yes, you have no justification for restraining me, a Lord of Cheonrim who serves as disciple to none other than Yu Cheong, the Deputy Sect Master of the Original Blood Sect.”

Seol Jungcheon looked at Yang Seoljin with a gaze tinged with curiosity.

“Now that I’ve reached the Union of Origin and Sovereignty, I suppose you think I feel like I’ve conquered the world. I understand. But if you release me now, I’ll overlook today’s insolence—”

“Are you scared?”

“…What?”

“It sounds like you’re begging for your life. But unfortunately, you’re not leaving this place alive.”

“Hah! Seol Jungcheon, how long do you think it’ll take me to undo these blades and formations binding me? A year? Two? Ten? No—just one day. That’s all I need to unravel every—kehkk!”

A strangled cry of agony echoed through the prison as Yang Seoljin screamed in pain.

He was right.

His dantian had just been shattered.

“A… aagh… AAAAAAH!”

Seol Jungcheon, who had been standing still with a finger outstretched, simply flicked that finger.

Crackle—!

With a chilling sound, Yang Seoljin froze in place once again.

In the now-silent prison, Seol Jungcheon turned his body and walked onward.

The cell beside Yang Seoljin’s was not empty.

Inside sat a man, legs crossed, posture upright—like someone who had already resigned himself to everything.

Seol Jungcheon addressed him.

“How many were there?”

At that, Juche, commander of the Baeksul Mourning Legion, opened his eyes.

“…It will hurt to hear it, sir.”

“I still wish to know.”

The question referred to the number of legion members that Deputy Commander Yeon Suon and Chief Instructor Gok Jinbung had handed over to the Thunder Vein Demon Sect.

“Over eight years… a total of five hundred.”

“That includes new recruits and active-duty members?”

“…Yes.”

“I’m not blaming you, but you’re not the type of person to overlook something like that. So why didn’t you know? Didn’t you feel even the slightest hint of something wrong?”

“…I apologize.”

“I’m not asking for an apology—I’m asking for a reason.”

“…It’s the same as yours, sir.”

Seol Jungcheon closed his eyes tightly.

“Yeon Suon was widely respected and, in my absence, was the most suitable person to lead the Legion. Had I not lost my inner power, I would’ve handed him the commander’s seat myself. As for Gok Jinbung… I truly never saw it coming.”

“……”

“I wasted too much time trying to raise my cultivation realm, and I neglected my duties as commander. It was my failure—just as Hyeon Seollin once said, it was my incompetence.”

This wasn’t mere self-reflection.

“Palace Lord. May I make one request?”

“Speak.”

“Kill me. Reinforce the discipline of the Baeksul Mourning Legion and choose a new commander in my place.”

“You really wish to die that badly?”

“Yes. I only hope that my death will hold meaning.”

Seol Jungcheon let out a quiet sigh and slowly sat down in front of Juche.

“It’s been a while. Care for a game of Go?”

“…Palace Lord…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll prepare the stage for you to die. But just for today, let’s put everything aside—talk, and play a match. Will you indulge me?”

Strictly speaking, Juche’s inner power had only been sealed. If he wanted to, he could break free and walk out at any time. But he didn’t.

Through all the recent chaos in Seolgung, Juche had never betrayed the palace.

He had simply been too distracted.

“…May I say something, sir?”

“Go ahead.”

“I keep thinking of what I missed.”

“……”

“What must those members have been thinking before they died? Their commander didn’t even suspect a thing. But even then… did they still believe in me? Still hold onto hope? I despise myself to the point it’s unbearable. So please, Palace Lord…”

“…Go on.”

“I must die. Just give me the stage.”

Seol Jungcheon, while looking at Juche, was seeing something else entirely.

He wondered what he had been like in his past life.

When he lost all the Northern Polar Descendants… when Yang Seoljin took Seolgung from him—what had gone through his mind?

Had he not felt exactly as Juche did now?

The only reason he didn’t walk the same path as Juche…

Was because Unhwi helped him.

Thanks to Unhwi, he was able to protect both the Northern Polar Descendants and Seolgung.

“…I’m sorry.”

“…Why are you apologizing to me, sir?”

Without a word, Seol Jungcheon pulled out a cold-blue ice crystal Go board from his sleeve.

“Would you like to place the first stone?”

“…Then I won’t hold back. And…”

A single tear rolled down Juche’s cheek.

“Congratulations… on reaching the Union of Origin and Sovereignty.”

Seol Jungcheon gave a quiet nod.

***

Once the Baeksul Mourning Legion had been handled, there was no more reason to stay.

He returned immediately to Yangryeong Province and resumed his duties as Regional Commander.

He walked in silence, watching the falling snow.

Behind him was Wonyang—and behind her, twenty men and women, the members of the Yangun First Squad under her command.

“Wonyang.”

At his call, Wonyang stepped up beside him.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Once the patrol is done, return to headquarters with the squad.”

Wonyang looked momentarily puzzled but then nodded.

“As you command.”

After sending them off, he turned down an alleyway beside a building across the street. It was a dead-end with no side exits, rarely traveled by anyone.

There, he slowly turned his body.

A man stood waiting.

Someone whose appearance utterly clashed with a place like this—yet among all the times he had seen him, never had he seemed more imposing, more like a master.

Unhwi brought both fists together and bowed with the utmost formality.

“Greetings, Palace Lord.”

His father shook his head.

“There’s no need to be so formal in front of your father.”

His voice was deeper than before—resonant, like a mountain collapsing.

It was fitting. No—exactly as it should be.

“You’ve completely stabilized your footing in the Union of Origin and Sovereignty.”

His father smiled gently. In that smile was a newfound sense of ease.

“Your help was invaluable. The hidden cave of the First Palace Lord… what I found there, and the words you spoke that awakened me to my own shortcomings—all of it came together and brought me enlightenment. No—”

He reached out and brushed Unhwi’s shoulder with a warm hand.

“I said that wrong. It wasn’t help—you were entirely responsible.”

“Your words honor me, Father. I merely showed the path.”

The wind blew gently between them, but neither paid it any mind.

His father’s heart—and his own.

The two were now united. At this moment, nothing could intrude between them. Their bond was unshakable.

“Unhwi.”

“Yes, Father.”

“This father… no longer feels worthy to face you.”

The sudden remark caught him off guard.

“You orchestrated the rebirth of Cheonyeomeng… exposed Unhae’s betrayal… dismantled Yang Seoljin’s plot… sorted through the names of those who turned their backs and those who didn’t. You even dirtied your own hands to make my decisions easier, laying the board and providing justifications… I’m ashamed to have placed so much on your shoulders.”

Unhwi shook his head.

“I only did what needed to be done.”

“…To be honest—I’ve always believed you were the man closest to Heaven in your past life.”

He did not deny it. To do so would not be humility—it would be a lie.

He had stood near the heavens. He had built Blood Heaven’s dominance through the Original Blood Sect.

It was no exaggeration to say he accomplished feats akin to those of the Thousand-Year Demonic Cult that once unified the central plains.

“To be named Blood-Heaven Sovereign meant that in truth, you—not Yu Cheong or even the Celestial Daoist—were the one who ruled the sect. That’s why entrusting you with these burdens seemed the most logical way forward.”

Unhwi looked into his father’s eyes without speaking.

“Now that I’ve reached the Union of Origin and Sovereignty… I’ve become painfully aware of my own inadequacies.”

“You needn’t say that. Who could dare call you lacking, Father?”

His father shook his head.

“You think I don’t understand what it means to involve ourselves in the revival of Cheonyeomeng?”

“……”

“You intend to extend Seolgung’s influence from the outer Murim world into the central plains—and solidify it.”

“That’s correct.”

“But if things don’t go as planned, you’re ready to erase Cheonyeomeng entirely.”

“That’s also true.”

His father’s eyes turned serious.

“Then it’s time I pulled my weight too.”

“…If by that you mean—”

The hand resting on his shoulder radiated warmth.

“My son. I will shoulder some of your burden.”

“Father…”

“I too wish to protect this Everlasting Snow Palace. How could I dump all that weight on my son and sit back like some retired old man?”

Since beginning this new life, Unhwi had never once complained of hardship—yet his father had felt it all the same.

“You once told me: to make Seolgung into an impregnable fortress, certain conditions had to be met.”

Those conditions were clear: either he or his father had to reach the Union of Origin and Sovereignty.

“One of those conditions is now fulfilled. But there are others—such as the vacancy of the Lesser Palace Lord seat.”

“That’s right.”

“I’m going to join you at the table you’ve set. I will appoint Horyeong as Lesser Palace Lord—and send you to Cheonyeomeng.”

“You’ll announce this at the succession ceremony?”

His father nodded.

“It’s time this father helped you walk your chosen path.”

Unhwi smiled softly.

There was no denying that the situation demanded attention from all sides.

His realm was still only at the Five-Foundation Stage, and due to the Lightblood Veins, he couldn’t accelerate his cultivation like others could.

He had merely used what he had, to the fullest, and moved events forward.

Fortunately, things seemed to be progressing well.

“I’ll send Unhae to Pungbyeok.”

Pungbyeok was one of the most dangerous places in Seolsan.

Known as the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) northern fortress, it was the front line against invading barbarians.

“You’re giving him the chance to die a warrior’s death.”

“When Horyeong was cleaning up internal corruption in Seolgung, the support of Hanbing Gate was invaluable. According to the Three Ice Guardians, you were the one who advised the Lady of the Gate—is that true?”

“Yes, it is.”

“…Perhaps, the person with the coldest heart… paradoxically… is the warmest of all.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep