The dantian, which had always been distinct, was now separated, and the power I once wielded, drawing on the spirit of the heavens and the earth, had disappeared like dust, yet I was alive.

And I could start again.

But first, I needed to understand the phenomenon.

Why had this happened?

Defying time meant defying the natural order and the flow of the universe, something utterly incomprehensible.

The fate of defying heaven isn’t something anyone can bear, and not everyone is capable of defying heaven.

Not even those heavyweights above the skies could manage it.

I stroked my face as I looked in the mirror.

The last moment.

I had been caught in an avalanche.

The protective aura around my body had been meaningless then since I had already expended it all.

I distinctly felt my limbs being torn apart, my neck ripped open, and my head crushed.

No.

Wait.

I focused more intently.

There was something more.

The realm I had reached was the Sovereign of Primordial Oneness.

At such a level, one could hardly be called human.

Even with a shattered head, one could survive.

No matter how depleted and tired, to truly kill a warrior of the Sovereign of Primordial Oneness, certain conditions must be met.

First, the head must be destroyed followed by the heart.

Second, the heart must be destroyed followed by the head.

Or else, both the heart and head must be destroyed simultaneously.

Only the complete loss of both heart and brain functions results in death.

Let’s think again.

I had definitely felt my limbs being ripped apart and my head being crushed.

So, at that moment, what happened to my heart…

Had it burst?

Yes, it had. But before it burst, something had pierced it.

I touched my chin thoughtfully.

What could have pierced it?

It was the avalanche that occurred in the great Everlasting Snow Mountains, which I had split in half.

It couldn’t have contained just snow and dirt.

There must have been byproducts.

What if one of those byproducts was a heavenly treasure capable of defying heaven?

If so, that would explain the current phenomenon.

I looked up at the window. The enormous Everlasting Snow Mountains, clearly visible, filled my view.

Those mountains that had stood there for thousands of years must hold many secrets yet to be uncovered.

A smile formed on my lips.

All those things I had burst out with before dying were sincere.

The life of a bastard.

As a child, I felt that life was like being a pig tied up in shackles, and I had to escape from there to live a truly human life.

The only thought occupying my mind was that this place was not where I belonged, and everything I did was a mess.

To be honest, after leaving the Snow Palace, my life did change.

I entered a mysterious realm, learned martial arts there, made a name for myself with those martial arts, and eventually joined the Central Blood Sect, known as the most malicious sect in the Central Plains.

40 years.

That was how long I had lived as a warrior in the Blood Sect.

And only 19 years, that was how long I had lived in the Snow Palace.

The 40 years I lived wildly, without regrets, but those 19 years were filled with deep regrets.

They always held me back, haunting even my dreams.

Since I was no longer able to return to the Snow Palace, I had wished from afar that it would last forever.

However, as time passed, the Snow Palace began to resemble a filthier group than even the Central Blood Sect, and I had to make a decision.

I personally destroyed it.

Though I have no regrets about that, now a new opportunity has arisen.

I plan to live without regrets.

“…Branch Chief?”

I turned my head. A middle-aged man with unkempt hair stood there.

There is only one general manager who handles various matters in this Snow Compression Branch.

His name is Sung Yangho. Usually, he’s called Manager Sung.

“All the branch members have assembled.”

I nodded and moved forward.

Then, pausing beside him, I placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Manager Sung.”

“Yes, sir… ah, Master.”

“Is the job manageable?”

“…Yes, of course.”

Something about this situation made me laugh unwittingly.

“I know the job of a manager is tough.”

“…It’s… okay.”

“It’s strange to be okay with a job you never expected to have.”

For a moment, Sung Yangho’s eyes flashed.

But that was fleeting. Had I not returned, I wouldn’t have noticed such a brief moment.

“Manager Sung.”

“…Yes… Master.”

“There will be a storm of blood today, make sure the subordinates don’t falter.”

No reply came.

“Why do you look at me like that?”

“…Are you… okay?”

“Do I look ill?”

“It’s not that, but you seem much changed.”

I laughed.

“In a world where one must change to survive, of course, I must change.”

“…”

“If you need anything, come find me. And let’s standardize the form of address. Whether it’s ‘young master’ or ‘branch chief.'”

“…I’d like to call you ‘young master.'”

“Then let it be so.”

With that, I stepped outside.

****

There were 18 people in total.

These were the members gathered at the training grounds of the Snow Compression Branch, regardless of age or gender, all harboring the same question.

Seol Unwi had changed.

Once a subordinate figure, always crouching, he had killed a man today.

Not just any man, but Yawoon Sang, a deputy chief of the Snow Compression Branch.

Who was Yawoon Sang?

He was a distinguished disciple from the Jurisdiction Sword Sect, officially dispatched to the Snow Compression Branch.

Among the disciples of Bingseolgeomheun (Ice Snow Sword Scar), Lee Ji Chang—one of the four elders of the Jurisdiction Sword Sect—Yawoon Sang was a promising individual. But now, he lay there, just a head remaining.

A madman.

This had to be madness from a bastard.

It was an act no sane person could conceive.

Suddenly, another question occurred.

Yawoon Sang was at the beginning stages of the Yangkwanghyeon realm, but how could Seol Unwi, who was barely at the Jucheon level, have killed him?

And why had he gathered us here like this?

Putting other questions aside, the last one was soon answered.

“Is everyone here?”

Everyone turned towards the still youthful voice.

At seventeen years of age.

His face looked youthful as his voice, but strangely, he carried a ‘weight’ about him.

Seol Unwi quietly surveyed the members of the Snow Compression Branch with inscrutable eyes.

“You must be curious why I’ve gathered you here.”

“…”

“Yawoon Sang, who lies dead over there, dared to overstep his role as a deputy chief and tried to usurp the authority of the chief. He stole money and power, and he deserved to die for his crimes.”

Seol Unwi paused for a moment, then smiled lightly as he put his hands behind his back.

“I am the chief of the Snow Compression Branch. And each one of you is an integral part of this branch. From this moment on, one absolute rule is established in the Snow Compression Branch. Absolute obedience to the chief’s words.”

“…”

“Anyone who violates this will be executed immediately. I will rip their heads off and grind their limbs to feed to the dogs. If anyone dislikes this arrangement, raise your hand now, or turn around and leave the branch.”

Why had Seol Unwi gathered them here?

It was for two main reasons.

The first was as just stated.

From this moment on, the Snow Compression Branch would change.

The role of branch chief is not a lowly one.

Especially here in the North, where the Everlasting Snow Palace is located, the branch chief holds a very high position.

Everyone knows that there is no ‘nation’ in the North.

The Everlasting Snow Palace might not be a nation, but it operates in the form of one.

Most of the lands around these snowy mountains are under the rule of the Everlasting Snow Palace, and the position of branch chief is akin to that of a military governor or magistrate in these parts.

Surprisingly, there was no one who opposed Seol Unwi’s speech.

Everyone stood their ground, only looking at him with stern eyes.

Meeting their gaze, Seol Unwi brought up the second reason he had summoned them.

“Second from the left, the ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) one with long hair, step forward.”

A man with a displeased look took two steps forward.

“And at the far right, the bald one, come forward too.”

As Seol Unwi instructed, the man with the shiny bald head walked forward.

Seol Unwi looked at them and asked.

“You seem to have grievances, speak up.”

“…Master. I understand what you’re thinking, but this isn’t right.”

“This isn’t right?”

“…Yes. Yawoon Sang was a distinguished disciple of the Jurisdiction Sword Sect. His master is Bingseolgeomheun, a warrior among warriors who has reached Samhwachujeong.”

Seol Unwi looked at the man curiously.

“A warrior among warriors… That’s not a common phrase, what’s your name?”

The man, as if implying that Seol Unwi should know the names of his subordinates, introduced himself.

“I’m Kang Sang.”

“And the bald one, what about you?”

“…Woo Sanghyun.”

“Good, we’ve introduced ourselves. Continue, Kang Sang.”

“…The wrath of Bingseolgeomheun will come down upon the Snow Compression Branch.”

“And?”

“His wrath will not only fall on you, Master, but all of us branch members will likely die as well.”

Kang Sang’s story continued, detailing the influence of the Jurisdiction Sword Sect in the neighboring city of Yangryeong, how much the elders of the sect had cherished Yawoon Sang, that Seol Unwi had been in the Snow Palace before Yawoon Sang was even a deputy chief here, and how Yawoon Sang had wielded significant influence.

Seol Unwi listened very quietly to the entire account.

After it seemed Kang Sang had said all he needed to, he finally shut his mouth.

“Are you done?”

“Yes. I’m done.”

“Interesting. But listening to you brought up a question.”

“What question?”

“While belonging to the Everlasting Snow Palace, why do you speak on behalf of the Jurisdiction Sword Sect?”

Kang Sang flinched.

“If this Bingseol or whatever comes here, this place will become his grave.”

“…Excuse me?”

“If he brings people with him, they will die too.”

Seol Unwi moved closer until he was right in front of Kang Sang’s face.

“What do you think this place is?”

“…That is…”

“This is Snow Compression. I am the master here.”

Seol Unwi looked at Kang Sang with steady eyes.

“Being the master means I hold the life and death of everyone here in my hands. Talking about it brings back memories that had become vague.”

“…What memories are becoming clear?”

It was a memory from the past, and it was confusing.

But it was clear that Yawoon Sang had devoured Cheongwoon Trading Company.

In Seol Unwi’s past memories, that event had definitely occurred, and from that point on, Yawoon Sang began to exert tremendous influence in Snow Compression, while Seol Unwi increasingly became a puppet.

The Everlasting Snow Palace had never intervened.

In the past, Seol Unwi had resignedly thought that the Snow Palace didn’t care because he was a bastard, but upon reflection, that wasn’t the case.

The Palace’s ruler had been giving him opportunities all along.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep