U Hwangseok spoke with a hardened expression.

“I humbly ask the Heavenly Arbiter for this request. Please forgive our Chief Heavenly Commander for her discourtesy.”

So Yehwa bristled to retort, but U Hwangseok shook his head.

U Hwangseok was not merely a first disciple.

The current Sect Master of the Suncheon Sword Sect had three direct disciples— and U Hwangseok was one of them.

In other words, he was of the direct line.

Unhwi asked him calmly:

“As you well know, I have just begun my first duty as Heavenly Arbiter. It is only proper to set an example. The discourtesy of Chief Heavenly Commander So is a perfect pretext to show my will to both the Heavenly Alliance and the entire martial world.”

“……I acknowledge that.”

“But if I am to overlook that discourtesy, then there must be a proper price, must there not?”

A faint tremor ran through U Hwangseok’s eyes.

There was something here.

Thinking back, every action of Seol Unhwi had contained purpose.

Even if the beginnings were coincidence— even if things had begun by chance— he had a way of turning every result into his own.

And now as well.

Had he known So Yehwa would act like this?

Had he provoked her in that meeting, so she would make a rash move and create a stage like this?

He couldn’t say.

But one thing was clear.

Unhwi did not hesitate in killing So Yehwa. And now that the entire intention of the Five ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Great Sword Sects and the Outer Demonic Sects uniting into a new alliance had been exposed, So Yehwa might as well have been a hostage.

He clenched his teeth.

U Hwangseok understood what Unhwi wanted.

U Hwangseok had left a debt to Seol Horeong, the Young Palace Lord of the Snow Palace.

He had given him the one and only Grand Restoration Pill. Something that would certainly bring great benefit to U Hwangseok’s life someday.

He turned his head to look at So Yehwa.

U Hwangseok valued bonds between people.

So Yehwa was his junior sister, and he owed her much.

He could not lose her.

“……I once gave that Grand Restoration Pill to your elder brother.”

A subtle smile tugged at Unhwi’s mouth.

“And?”

“……The Young Palace Lord promised to repay that kindness in the future, and I have remembered that promise to this day.”

“I see.”

“I know this is improper to say— but for the sake of that promise, I ask that you overlook this.”

Unhwi propped his chin on his hand.

“Hmm… this is quite the dilemma. As Heavenly Arbiter I am preparing for something significant, yet I cannot pretend not to know my elder brother’s debts…”

U Hwangseok shut his eyes tight and bent forward into full prostration.

“I beg of you!”

“……Junior sister! Stop this at once—”

“Please. Stay silent.”

Unhwi watched them a moment. Then he ground the end of his smoke into the cup before him and spoke softly.

“I am not without human feeling. So I will consider it for a moment.”

A quiet, heavy silence settled.

U Hwangseok remained prostrated.

So Yehwa clenched her fists in frustrated shame.

Unhwi sat still with his eyes closed.

About half a quarter-hour passed before Unhwi opened his eyes.

“Very well. The bond between master and disciple has moved me. I will place two conditions. First— I hereby erase the debt to the Young Palace Lord of the Snow Palace. From this moment, never again mention any obligation regarding the Grand Restoration Pill. The promise ends here. Do you understand?”

“Yes. I understand.”

“And second— no one from the Suncheon Sword Sect will take a single step outside Aseon County from this day forward.”

“……What?”

“The so-called Nine-Gate Assembly has been discussed but not formally established. To respond properly, the Suncheon Sword Sect personnel will serve as my hostages.”

“……”

“Is that unfavorable to you?”

“……Is this the Heavenly Arbiter’s method?”

Unhwi smiled.

“My original method was to kill all of you and hang your heads outside the gate.”

Everyone flinched— even Chief Seong.

“If that happened, your Sect Master, enraged beyond reason, would bring the core of the Suncheon Sword Sect here. And then I would kill all of them. One of the Nine Gates gone— leaving me to deal with only eight.”

No one spoke.

No one could.

Was this man even human?

“In my experience, that is the most certain method. But since I stand as a man of the Heavenly Alliance, not the Origin Blood Cult, I suppose I should take a gentler route.”

Though he said it gently, no one believed Unhwi was being gentle.

He intended to gain advantage by taking them hostage— especially U Hwangseok, a direct disciple of the Sect Master.

With U Hwangseok detained, the Suncheon Sword Sect could be restrained.

He was that valuable.

At this moment, U Hwangseok fully understood.

Seol Unhwi was truly terrifying.

Not the martial talent— though that alone was extraordinary enough to create a new realm at such a young age and overpower a Divine Manifestation-stage martial artist in two moves.

What was terrifying was this—

He would take profit from any situation.

His judgment.

His decisiveness.

That was the frightening part.

After a slow breath, U Hwangseok said:

“……The Heavenly Arbiter is correct.”

“Good.”

Unhwi turned his gaze to So Yehwa.

“It seems I may have misunderstood.”

“……What?”

“As a Chief Heavenly Commander, I cannot imagine you would hand Aseon County entirely to the Nine-Gate Assembly. It appears I may have acted too forcefully.”

“……”

“Surely, here and now, the Suncheon Sword Sect intended to declare that it would not participate in the Nine-Gate Assembly. Is that correct?”

So Yehwa could not answer— but U Hwangseok could.

“Yes. The Suncheon Sword Sect had merely agreed to lend its name and would not take active part.”

“I see. That is fortunate.”

U Hwangseok shuddered at the gentle smile that accompanied those words.

Unhwi looked at So Yehwa and spoke:

“My apologies for my discourtesy, Senior So.”

“……You… what…?”

The smile vanished. Unhwi stood, his expression tightening.

So Yehwa instinctively stepped back; Unhwi stepped toward her.

He spoke softly:

“Have you still not assessed the situation?”

“……”

“I spared your life, preserved some face for you, and showed courtesy— so why do you keep speaking to me as if I’m beneath you?”

“……I—”

“Do I look like your subordinate?”

She had no time to answer before his hand closed around her throat.

Her breath stopped.

“So Yehwa.”

“……kh— …kha…”

“If you survive on another’s ties, the proper response is shame. Yet this is the level of shamelessness you show?”

“……”

“A martial artist should act like a martial artist. Know when to submit. Know what fights you may enter and what fights you may not. To be clear— this stage is far beyond one such as you. Do you understand?”

He released her. She collapsed onto the floor.

She lifted her head with trembling eyes— and they were full of fear.

Unhwi gave a gentle smile.

“I entrust Aseon County to you. Please ensure what I have said is carried out. Senior.”

“……Y… yes…”

“That will do.”

Unhwi looked to U Hwangseok.

“Senior U.”

“……Yes.”

“Do not forget today.”

U Hwangseok looked up.

Did he mean to be grateful for being spared?

To sit still in Aseon County?

To remember the debt to the Snow Palace no longer existed?

“Once is all you get. Do you understand?”

All of them.

“……I understand.”

Unhwi nodded, then looked to Magistrate Lim.

“You seem uncertain where to stand, not knowing whether the Heavenly Alliance will fall. So let me be clear.”

Lim braced himself. He expected: The Heavenly Alliance will not fall. Stand firm.

But that was not what came.

“First— fulfill your duty.”

“My… duty?”

“You are the magistrate. Governing Aseon County alongside Chief Heavenly Commander So is the first and foremost thing you should be doing.”

“……Th—that is true.”

“What more do you need?”

Lim could not understand this man at all.

When Lim nodded, Unhwi gave a small smile.

“I hope we meet next time under better circumstances, Magistrate.”

“……Likewise.”

“Then rest well. My apologies for disturbing you at night.”

Without hesitation, Unhwi turned and left. Chief Seong and Han Murin followed.

The task was clear.

The Nine-Gate Assembly had to be crushed.

U Hwangseok and So Yehwa were hostages.

With them, the Suncheon Sword Sect could be separated from the Nine-Gate Assembly.

But that was all.

This was only temporary.

This was not real work.

Outside Aseon County, in the middle of the main road, Unhwi stopped.

A faint smile curved his lips.

The fundamental question:

Was breaking apart one or two factions the best way to destroy the Nine-Gate Assembly?

No.

First— the cord tying Cheonrim and the court of Unguk had to be severed.

And who knew that cord best?

“It has been a while, Minister.”

Seo Hyo approached with an awkward smile. Unhwi extended his hand.

It clearly meant give it.

Seo Hyo scratched his head.

“You’ve gotten a bit more impatient than before.”

He drew a bundle of documents from his breast and handed it over.

“Information on the Chancellor, the Inspector of State Affairs— the one linking Cheonrim and the Unguk court.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep