“They say he’s been bedridden for nearly five days. A large scar has formed on his forehead, and with the deep wounds on his arm and leg, he’ll need at least half a month to recuperate… but there’s a gap in the information, so this part requires confirmation.”

It was highly likely to be true.

In the end, Hyejeongsan had gained everything there was to gain.

He had preserved his face by beating the Everlasting Snow Palace’s genius young lord half-crippled and re-establishing a Gaebang branch in Seongjak Province, while Seol Unhwi earned the reputation of a madman who would not back down even if the opponent was the Lord of Gaebang himself.

The more he heard, the more displeased Jang Icheong felt.

“Soon the matter will be decided in the secret realm, and at a time when even training isn’t enough, he went crawling up to Hyejeongsan only to get injured and be forced into recuperation? He knows nothing.”

Was it that the man was making light of him, or that he simply did not see the coming situation as anything serious?

Perhaps.

“…Could it be that he intends to use this friction with Gaebang as an excuse to avoid the fight?”

That was, unexpectedly, a possibility.

Come to think of it, the agreement had been to settle things inside the secret realm, not to fight a battle of life and death.

Interpretation might vary depending on context, but at least within the words exchanged, no one had explicitly spoken of killing.

If Seol Unhwi turned the question back, asking whether he had misunderstood, Jang Icheong would be left with nothing to say.

“He must have been frightened by your renown, Master Jang of Cheonsu Temple.”

At his subordinate’s words, Jang Icheong turned his head.

“For a warrior at the Origin-Foundation stage to bare his fangs at a master of the Celestial Being Stage, it is inevitably not truly to fight, but simply a trick to preserve his own face.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. No matter how many higher-realm experts he has overcome, your case is different, is it not?”

It was different.

He was no ordinary Celestial Being Stage master.

“This very incident proves it. He refused to yield to the Lord of Gaebang and saved face, so in the same way, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) he will bare his fangs at you, Master Jang, and scheme for another trick to preserve his face. There is no need to concern yourself.”

Jang Icheong nodded.

“Your words have some merit. But we must enter that secret realm regardless. So head to Seongjak Province at once and investigate anything that might reveal his true intent.”

“Yes, I will do so,” said his subordinate, Yang Supyeong, bowing his head.

When Yang Supyeong departed, Jang Icheong remained alone, tilting his cup of wine.

Exactly twenty days remained until the secret realm revealed itself.

Was the man truly seeking to avoid it?

Even if he was, it made no difference.

Jang Icheong could not forget, even now, the outrageous words that had come from that man’s mouth.

Whether he demanded an apology or some recompense, at the very least he had to see that man bow his head. If Seol Unhwi’s goal was to save face, then Jang Icheong would claim something greater than what the Lord of Gaebang had taken.

For that, he intended to act by any means necessary.

It was then.

A strange presence brushed against his back.

Jang Icheong slowly turned his gaze.

There stood an old man in black robes. His face was gentle, but his eyes were as deep as the abyss.

Letting out a sigh inwardly, Jang Icheong rose to his feet.

“…It has been a long time, Vice Lord.”

It was Hwa Munyeom, the Flame King, Vice Lord of the Muksehoe.

“It has been a while, Icheong.”

“…Though my dwelling is humble, would you take a seat?”

“I will not refuse.”

When Hwa Munyeom took the empty seat, Jang Icheong placed a cup before him and filled it with wine.

“What brings you here?”

“Because of that boy.”

“When you say that boy, you mean Seol Unhwi?”

Hwa Munyeom nodded.

“Rumors spread that he slaughtered Gaebang beggars and stood against the Lord of Gaebang.”

Jang Icheong gave a short laugh.

“Stood against him? Wasn’t he subdued instead? And thoroughly at that.”

“Is that how it seems to you?”

Jang Icheong faltered.

There was a barb in Hwa Munyeom’s words.

“So Vice Lord, you see it differently.”

Jang Icheong pressed, since Hwa Munyeom gave no reply.

“Even if the direction of Cheonrim and Muksehoe align, to move as one body is to go against that one’s will.”

At that sudden remark, Hwa Munyeom, who had been raising his cup, froze in place.

“To use Seol Unhwi as a blade is clearly that one’s will. But why have you yourself moved? As I understand it, this matter was entrusted to Cheonrim alone, with Muksehoe’s assigned warriors merely providing support.”

It was the truth.

Why had Unhwi, across both his lives, never known of Muksehoe’s existence?

Because the very existence of that organization was a secret.

Yu Cheong was no fool. Precisely for that reason he employed organizations that were publicly known, drawing out the maximum of their capabilities. Yet suddenly Hwa Munyeom had appeared.

Even Jang Icheong had not foreseen this.

From the beginning, Jang Icheong had been a man of Muksehoe.

Because his ideals did not align with them, he had shifted to Ihwageom Cheonjong, which was why even Unhwi had never known of Muksehoe’s existence.

Above all, Jang Icheong had once been a promising warrior of Muksehoe. It was to such a man that Hwa Munyeom now spoke.

“So then?”

“I can guess the reason. Because of your ‘daughter,’ is it not?”

“And so?”

Jang Icheong gathered his composure as much as he could before this man.

This was one who did not worship demonic ways, yet believed the order called ‘the demonic path’ was necessary.

An intent no ordinary man could possibly harbor — only a madman, in some sense, could.

Jang Icheong understood Hwa Munyeom’s essence.

The man was dangerous.

That he still lived even after mentioning ‘the daughter’ could only be because of ties from the past.

He shifted the topic.

“…If you are prepared to suffer that one’s reproach, then so be it, but allow me to speak plainly. Seol Unhwi is a fine blade, but far too unruly.”

“Is that so.”

“Look no further than this Gaebang affair. He carried out a massacre that was never in the plan and even clashed head-on with the Lord of Gaebang. Completely beyond control.”

Hwa Munyeom let out a sigh.

“What are you trying to say?”

Raising his cup again, Jang Icheong continued.

“He needs a leash at his throat. A blade must behave as a blade.”

“That is Cheonrim’s will?”

“Yes. Though Seol Unhwi is said to be close with Master Seo Hyo, Lord Rim has judged that alone insufficient. And besides…”

Jang Icheong’s eyes gleamed.

“…You know well what Seo Hyo’s end will be, do you not?”

There was no one ignorant of Seo Hyo’s abilities.

An orphan who had once gathered herbs in the mountains to sell in the marketplace, who by his own hand had risen to become Cheonrim’s master.

He was not lacking in ability. Most of all, he possessed will.

He was a spur sticking out.

Lord Rim of Cheonrim had already squeezed every use out of Seo Hyo and was preparing to discard him, and Yu Cheong had raised no objection.

Thus his future was already sealed.

If Seo Hyo were to die, Seol Unhwi would almost certainly rampage. He had to be controlled by some means.

Quietly listening, Hwa Munyeom exhaled.

“So, you intend to enter the demonic realm with him?”

“Yes. I will go.”

“Do you truly mean to kill him?”

“Why should I not?”

“…”

“If he dies at my hand, that only proves he was a warrior of that level and no more.”

Hwa Munyeom’s expression shifted subtly.

“If he is to be the blade for the Thousand-Year Demonic Sect’s restoration, then of course he must be strong. How can one who dies to the likes of me possibly achieve such a thing?”

From Jang Icheong’s tone, Hwa Munyeom read anger.

In the end, this was a matter of pride between warriors.

It was clear: Jang Icheong meant to kill Unhwi.

“This is a proving ground. To test whether he truly is blade-worthy.”

Hwa Munyeom was silent for a long while.

Not an ordinary Celestial Being Stage master, but one with only a half-step left to the Union of Man and Heaven, preparing to fight to the death with a mere Origin-Foundation warrior?

On its face, it made no sense. And yet the board was already set, and neither man seemed inclined to avoid it.

So thinking, Hwa Munyeom slowly rose from his seat.

“In that case…”

Looking down at Jang Icheong, he spoke.

“Do it well.”

It was puzzling.

As Hwa Munyeom turned to leave, Jang Icheong called out to him.

“Vice Lord.”

“Have you more to say?”

“…I do not regret leaving Muksehoe.”

“And?”

“But neither has my conviction changed that Muksehoe’s way is mistaken.”

“You feel that way.”

“Cheonrim acts with vigor. It is an organization of shadows, but not merely shadows. In the light, it bears the thick renown of one of the Five Sword Schools, and in the dark, its footing as master of Cheonrim is firm. But Muksehoe…”

“…does nothing.”

“Correct. They do nothing, and live in the shadows. Only when support is requested do they stir. By my count, more than ten of my seniors died having done nothing at all.”

Hwa Munyeom’s expression did not change.

“Why do you remain still there?”

“I merely await the time.”

“….”

“I believe that time will surely come. You must believe the same. So may you have no regrets in your choice.”

Jang Icheong asked, “Have you caught that one called ‘Mumyeong’?”

Hwa Munyeom gazed at him in silence. That was answer enough.

“You have not. I too investigated in my way. He is likely a man of the Central Plains. His realm is at least Mythic Stage, and though he clearly walks the demonic path, outwardly he honors the orthodox.”

“…”

“If you revealed yourself directly to Seol Unhwi to glean information from Ju Soa, who survived the demonic realm of Yangryeong, then allow me to say plainly: it was a mistake.”

“How so?”

“You surely know that the former Lord of Viper Valley, now long dead, had dispatched a disciple.”

“Of course.”

“Before that disciple died, Ju Soa sent a letter saying she knew nothing. Because her mind had been dominated before questioning, its accuracy was near perfect. Which means…”

“…that I have been barking up the wrong tree, is that what you mean.”

“Yes. Cheonrim’s judgment is that this figure belongs to the Five Sword Schools, the Five Great Clans, or perhaps operates within the Martial Alliance’s headquarters. The investigation is already underway, and ten warriors have been narrowed down out of hundreds. Digging into them will surely reveal something.”

Hwa Munyeom gave a short laugh.

“Unfortunately, I am not searching for this figure called Mumyeong.”

“…Are you refusing that one’s order?”

“Not refusal. Simply that there is no reason for me to search.”

At that, Jang Icheong tilted his head.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep