“I’d like to get to the point. I want to know your intentions in seeking contact with us.”

At Heukmyeong’s blunt, direct question, Unhwi answered without pause.

“Because I judged you to be someone I could have a meaningful conversation with.”

“…A conversation?”

“I don’t trust the Five Great Sword Schools. Nor do I trust the Sama Outer Sect. In that situation, the only thing I can give even a semblance of trust to is the Black Heaven Demon Beast Palace among the Sama Outer Sect.”

“…That’s oddly phrased in a way that doesn’t feel particularly flattering to the listener.”

“When I became certain that the one connected to Im Chiun was the Black Heaven Demon Beast Palace, I thought it wasn’t a bad thing.”

“…Go on.”

“The Black Heaven Demon Beast Palace is located in an extremely barren region. It’s not wealthy, and the gazes from those around you are hardly favorable.”

“…”

“You need to expand your territory, but unfortunately, as long as you’re bound to the Sama Outer Sect, the moment you make a move, hostile eyes will follow you—and that makes you prime prey for the Martial Alliance. Since the Sama Outer Sect doesn’t truly look out for one another, you’re ultimately fated to be isolated.”

Heukmyeong and Jeong Chusan exchanged a glance. Their eyes ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) were filled with surprise—for the simple reason that there wasn’t a single flaw in Unhwi’s reasoning.

“If it were any other group, perhaps not, but in the case of the Black Heaven Demon Beast Palace, you’ll be earnest about this Heavenly Alliance rebuilding. Am I right?”

“You’re right.”

“Then I’m earnest as well. No matter how things unfold from here, at least within the Heavenly Alliance, why don’t we join hands?”

“…Join hands, you say…”

Heukmyeong looked back and forth between Unhwi and Commander Seong.

Perhaps the manpower was what he found questionable.

Unhwi was a quick man to read people.

“You’re concerned about numbers.”

“…Hmm.”

“I know your demon beasts are stationed separately down below. Counting both beasts and men, you have more than forty, but fewer than fifty. Am I wrong, senior?”

“Speak.”

“Numbers don’t matter in the slightest.”

“…”

“Your will to establish a foothold and expand your territory is the same as mine. Do you think someone with that will has handled matters so far relying only on numbers?”

“…”

“If you don’t trust my proposal, we can simply go our separate ways here. But… do you really want that?”

Heukmyeong let out a short, incredulous laugh.

He had already suspected this man was no ordinary person, but seeing him in person confirmed it.

This confidence.

And the path he had walked.

From those alone, it was fair to say Seol Unhwi was a man worth a hundred.

“If I’ve offended you, I apologize.”

“It’s fine. If a man’s pride could be hurt by something like this, could he still call himself a man?”

“Heh… heh heh… Good. Very good.”

Heukmyeong extended his hand.

“As you said—at least while we’re in the Heavenly Alliance, we’re allies.”

“I’m glad to hear it, senior.”

***

The Heavenly Dragon Hall of Seongjak Province was steeped in a desolate, eerie air.

Unhwi stepped slowly inside. Dust swirled under his feet.

Once a building that symbolized the dignity of the Heavenly Alliance, it now held nothing but dust and cobwebs.

The high roof beams were rotting from damp, and the banners hanging on the walls were tattered, as if abandoned.

Most old buildings of note retained at least some trace of their past glory—but not here.

This was simply a neglected place, littered with trash, as though beggars or vagrants of Seongjak Province had lived here.

These were the quarters where the Heavenly Guardians of old had lived while managing Seongjak Province.

After Ye Wonje’s death, the Guardian here had abandoned this building—and the position as well.

Commander Seong, following quietly behind, spoke softly.

“No one’s here.”

Unhwi nodded at his words.

“It tells you exactly what the local sects of Seongjak Province think of the Heavenly Alliance.”

Glancing briefly over the interior, Unhwi let out a sigh.

The place where the former Guardian had once conducted affairs looked as if a gang of bandits had ransacked it.

“…Pathetic.”

From this alone, the atmosphere of the situation could be clearly understood.

“Looks like I should have come a little sooner.”

Commander Seong gave a short, wry laugh.

“The other delegations probably got easier postings.”

“Most likely. We were the last to arrive, and we were given the hardest location. But… we have no grounds to complain.”

“Which is why I told you we should hurry.”

He nagged, but Unhwi didn’t mind.

“If it’s in this bad a state, it might actually be better.”

After glancing at the Commander scratching his head, Unhwi headed for a pavilion on the outer grounds of the Heavenly Dragon Hall.

It was the cleanest spot here.

Large enough to hold around thirty people, and aside from some dust that needed sweeping, it was usable.

Unhwi sat quietly in the pavilion.

It had been a while since he’d started somewhere empty-handed, but this wasn’t bad at all.

The first step in solving a problem is always to figure out exactly what the problem is.

“There should be an Open Gate Guild here. Go and get some information.”

“Yes, sir.”

There was no need to specify what information. Commander Seong had enough sense to know.

He left the Heavenly Dragon Hall immediately and returned to Unhwi about an hour later.

“That took a while.”

“…Young master, can we just not do this?”

At the sudden remark, Unhwi silently held out his hand.

It meant Give me what you found. With a deep sigh, Commander Seong handed over a thick bundle of documents.

Sitting down, Unhwi began quietly reading through them. Commander Seong spoke in a low voice beside him.

“The factions currently controlling Seongjak Province, the former Guardian, and… even officials from the Yun Nation—it’s a mess. An absolute mess.”

For once, Unhwi agreed entirely.

Even just what was written here was enough to make the word “mess” come naturally.

Put plainly, Seongjak Province was now all but severed from the Heavenly Alliance.

Unhwi’s eyes stopped on one section of the documents.

“Seongjak Union…?”

“Yes. The Seongjak Union. Munyang Pavilion, Fragrant Flower Hall, Iron Ship Hall, Wind Sword Pavilion, Ironworks Guild, River-Wave Gate, and the Golden Cloud Iron Association. Seven factions in total, and they’re currently walking their own path.”

Frankly, it was laughable.

How had these seven groups, calling themselves the Seongjak Union, come to control Seongjak Province?

Or rather—how had they gained any power at all?

It was entirely thanks to the Heavenly Alliance.

Seongjak Province’s geography was critical. As mentioned repeatedly, this was a coastal city of great importance to the Yun Nation—its coast connecting not only to Jeokan, but all the way to the Central Plains.

“So the coastal authority that used to belong to the Heavenly Alliance has now passed to the Seongjak Union.”

“That’s right. Unless they’ve struck some deal with the Yun Nation, it doesn’t make sense for them to control it. They’re… impressive, in their way.”

Even if Ye Wonje had been a man lost in his ideals, his influence could not be ignored.

He was a master of the Peach Blossom Sword Formation, and had done his utmost to grow the Heavenly Alliance.

Whether right or wrong, it was he who had personally negotiated with the Yun Nation to obtain control over that coast.

Naturally, it belonged to the Heavenly Alliance. Yet the Seongjak Union had somehow inherited it without resistance?

As Commander Seong said, they were indeed “impressive.”

It was shamelessness without a sense of proportion, and a gall that was almost impressive in its brazenness.

“I don’t know what gives them the nerve. As far as I can see, the rightful claim lies with the Heavenly Alliance.”

“…It looks to me like they’ve already settled things with the Yun Nation. Basically, they’re daring us to do something.”

“Then we should give them exactly what they want.”

“…Seriously?”

“They asked for it—what else can we do?”

As Commander Seong scratched his head, Unhwi gave him a few instructions, then leaned back against the pavilion.

He intended to do things the same way he always had.

As usual.

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