Jang Seok flailed in alarm and shook his head.

“How could I ever strike you from behind, sir…!”

“If Hyejeongsan sets his mind on it, it will proceed without you even knowing.”

There was a calm sense of reality in Unhwi’s voice.

“Hyejeongsan is flustered right now. He lost a disciple who was like a son to him, and in a few days both his right arm and left arm were lopped off. Even so, he’s a clever man. Even now, flustered as he is, he’s surely thinking of the next move, «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» and with time he’ll find a way to turn this situation to his advantage. When that moment comes, he’ll try to use you.”

Jang Seok’s face went pale.

“I’ll make my own preparations, and I’ll do cross-checks through the people I can command, but if even so we stumble into a trap…”

Unhwi gave a faint laugh. There was something transcendently unruffled in that smile.

“Then we ought to get caught, no? Since he put that much care into it.”

Jang Seok bowed his head deeply, moved.

“Sir. I’ll do my best in my own way. If the Sect Lord of Gaebang tries such tricks, I’ll make sure you hear of it.”

“Don’t overdo it. And keep your distance from me as we discussed last time.”

“I understand.”

Unhwi stared into empty air for a moment, then spoke again.

“From now on, you— as head of the Seongjak Province branch of Gaebang—will be the core of an intelligence net that links Seongjak Province directly to the Heavenly Alliance.”

Jang Seok’s eyes flashed. This was not a mere promotion; it was shouldering a massive responsibility.

“So I’ll ask: can you get me the composition of the envoy delegations?”

Jang Seok smiled brightly.

“I thought you’d ask—so I brought it.”

He took a carefully folded paper from his breast and handed it to Unhwi. As Unhwi unfolded the list and read down it line by line, a subtle change touched the corners of his mouth.

Interest—and a calculating smile.

Watching him, Jang Seok asked carefully,

“It seems something amusing occurred to you.”

Nodding, Unhwi turned his head and looked toward the Heavenly Dragon Hall.

He was genuinely curious.

Just how strong was the Heavenly Alliance’s Alliance Lord, Mae Wuidong.

A master at the Unity of Heaven and Man holding one of the Eight Celestial Seats—yet Unhwi had never once seen him fight.

It would be a decent stage.

“Jang Seok.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good work.”

Jang Seok beamed.

***

Five days passed.

In the Heavenly Dragon Hall of the Heavenly Alliance’s main headquarters, a total of ten men and women were seated.

Alliance Lord Mae Wuidong, and nine envoys dispatched by the Nine-Gate Assembly.

As Unhwi entered, an indescribable tension already in the air turned razor-edged.

One gaze in particular was fierce.

Jo Taehwa, the Adamantine Sword Knight, Vice Sect Lord of the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect.

A master at the Unity of Heaven and Man; aside from Alliance Lord Mae Wuidong present here, he was the strongest person in the room.

“You look well.”

At his words, Unhwi paused.

His head slowly turned.

“Are you Vice Sect Lord Jo Taehwa of the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect.”

“You know me well.”

“I understand you’re here as both Vice Sect Lord and as an envoy.”

Jo Taehwa let out a short laugh.

“And so?”

“With respect, sir, mind your manners.”

Jo Taehwa, who had been curious what he would say, suddenly knit his brows.

Was this brat insane.

“Manners? You little—”

“If, having eaten your years, you wish to be addressed as a senior in the martial world—well, I hold the office of Heavenly Arbiter, and over there sits the Alliance Lord of the Heavenly Alliance. How dare a mere Vice Sect Lord speak down.”

Just as Jo Taehwa was slowly rising from his seat—

Mae Wuidong, who had been quiet, slipped in.

“Senior Jo, with respect, you came here to talk. Might I suggest we all calm ourselves first.”

“…Listen, Alliance Lord Mae. I came as Vice Sect Lord of the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect, and I’m supposed to sit here and be talked down to by a snot-nosed whelp? And when the one in the wrong is the loudest voice, am I to sit and watch? How exactly is Alliance Lord Mae running the Heavenly Alli—”

Jo Taehwa broke off and swept his arm to the side.

KWA-AAANG—!

Unhwi’s Heavenshaking Spiritblade, thrusting in, was knocked away to the flank.

“This insolent brat dares swing a sword at—”

He stopped again.

Using the recoil to turn his body, Unhwi’s heel swept toward his head.

Blocking with his left forearm, Jo Taehwa immediately kicked out.

Everyone thought the same thing.

Unhwi would be struck by that kick and sent flying to smash into the wall.

It was the obvious sequence.

Mae Wuidong was much too far to intervene, and there wasn’t a single person present willing to step in and block for him.

That was right.

So thought everyone—until their eyes rounded wide.

Unhwi’s foot blurred the floor and in an instant he slid half a step to the side. The movement was so smooth, like a shaft of light; Jo Taehwa’s kick passed harmlessly by Unhwi’s flank.

Jo Taehwa’s eyes flew wide.

“…What…?”

Unhwi loosed his grip on the Heavenshaking Spiritblade and shot out his palm.

The Immortal Adamantine Palm.

It struck dead-center on Jo Taehwa’s chest.

KWA-AAANG—!

With a thunderous boom, Jo Taehwa skidded backward.

He raised his head.

True to a master of the Unity of Heaven and Man, his body and mind seemed unshaken by such a strike—yet his expression was another matter.

“…A Buddhist art. Profound to the extreme—how does one of the Snow Palace know this ascendant dharma.”

“Is that what concerns you now.”

“…You cur…”

“Sit. Everything has an order.”

Picking up the Heavenshaking Spiritblade and sheathing it, Unhwi turned his back and walked away.

Frowning as if it were absurd, Jo Taehwa looked around.

Everyone was flustered and of one mind.

Speak first.

It was galling to have given the fellow face, but for now he sat.

Taking the empty seat, Unhwi quietly looked around.

Jo Taehwa, the Adamantine Sword Knight of the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect.

Yu Myeongsan, the Moonlight Sword Hand of the Suncheon Sword Sect.

Park Cheonun, the Fire Dragon Quick Sword of the Cheoneum Sword Sect.

Im Jeongwol, the Soul-Clefting Light-Severing Sword of the Cheongun Sword Sect.

Oh Munyeom, the Taesan Sword Lord of the Shinsal Sword Sect.

Han Cheolsu, the Blood-Bearded Ghost of the Mixed Path Demon Flame Palace.

No Taesan, the Profound Philosophy Swordsman of the Black Heaven Demon Prison Palace.

Baek Seolhwa, the Jade Maiden Sword Immortal of the Cheonma Mind Spirit Sect.

Jeong Un, the Black Wind Knife Guest of the Heart Demon Path Sect.

Every one of them was a core figure who held real power in their respective sects.

In martial realm, except for Jo Taehwa at the Unity of Heaven and Man, all others were masters at the Celestial Being Stage.

Unhwi spoke slowly.

“There was a minor accident, but as all things have their order…”

He trailed off, then rose briefly and cupped his fists.

“Heavenly Arbiter Seol Unhwi offers respect to his seniors.”

The air was still cold.

Unhwi sat, unconcerned.

Jo Taehwa said coolly,

“Very well—let the tussle pass. Now speak. How do you intend to handle this affair.”

Next, Yu Myeongsan opened his mouth.

“Heavenly Arbiter, we can somewhat guess why you called us here.”

Park Cheonun of the Cheoneum Sword Sect took the thread.

“You know what became of the talents we dispatched to aid the Heavenly Alliance—especially Jin Socheon, a prospect we in our Sword Sect looked to for the future. So tell us how you will take responsibility.”

It was not the end.

Im Jeongwol of the Cheongun Sword Sect spoke in a sharp voice.

“Our Cheongun Sword Sect’s Hang Ryeo is dead. And for that death, the Heavenly Alliance bears responsibility. Yet you ignored every letter we sent and then suddenly summoned us? That must mean you have something to say—make it satisfy us. If not, the Cheongun Sword Sect will be enemies with the Heavenly Alliance forever.”

As if on cue, Baek Seolhwa of the Cheonma Mind Spirit Sect spoke.

“Our Xiao Linghua, whom we sent to the Heavenly Alliance, is dead as well. ‘Promising future’ and such—too obvious to bother with. Why was she killed, and how will you take responsibility—let’s hear it.”

Unhwi listened in silence.

Watching him, Mae Wuidong felt a measure of curiosity.

How exactly did he mean to cut through this.

Slowly, Unhwi opened his mouth.

“We all know what we know, do we not.”

“…What?”

“You hardly came all the way to Cheonsu to suffer the trouble of stating obvious facts that tire the tongue.”

All eyes turned to Unhwi.

He had arranged this board. So first, they would hear him out.

His gaze flashed.

“Let us begin with the Nine-Gate Assembly.”

“…”

“Your plan in forming the Nine-Gate Assembly was, in its way, grand. The plan was decent and the ingredients were decent. The problem was one: the cook was below par.”

Jo Taehwa of the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect bristled, but Unhwi paid it no mind.

“The Nine-Gate Assembly is finished. The scheme to clasp hands with the Un’guk court has collapsed, and the scheme to drive out the Heavenly Alliance has collapsed. That is why you came here, is it not.”

“I’ve heard enough nonsense,” Jo Taehwa snapped. “Clasp hands with Un’guk and drive out the Heavenly Alliance? Yes, that was the plan, but things have hardly changed. The bond between the Five Sword Sects and the External Four Demon Sects is firm, and the Nine-Gate Assembly has not dissolved. And the Heavenly Alliance will ‘face’ the Assembly? Do you think that possible?”

Unhwi said nothing.

In a voice brimming with confidence, Jo Taehwa continued,

“You must satisfy us here. By killing our people, you weakened the Assembly’s power. And you did it in violation of the martial world’s code.”

“The code, you say.”

“Ask anyone in the world. If there’s a madman who kills those who came to help, he’ll be cursed and pointed at regardless of the reasons. What exactly have you done right to hold your head so stiff!”

A slight smile touched Unhwi’s lips.

“You force us to speak the things we all know.”

“What?”

“Very well—let me say it plainly. Why did it happen.”

“…”

“I am asking what was the beginning of all this.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Do you know why the Greenwood bandit strongholds around the Heavenly Alliance were smashed.”

Unhwi looked straight at Jo Taehwa and said,

“Why did the man called Baek Mujin of the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect foment division in Seongjak Province and then strike at my back.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep