When Seol Unhwi arrived in Cheonsu, he was able to meet Seo Hyo, who was waiting to greet him at the entrance.

The first thing Seo Hyo said was this.

“…I have no face.”

Seol Unhwi let out a short laugh and patted his shoulder.

“There’s no need to despair. Even I didn’t know for sure where it was.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Seol Unhwi’s brow twitched.

“You couldn’t find anything?”

“…Yes. It’s too clean. This is the first time in my life I’ve seen a ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ human being this clean.”

“The first time….”

He had expected it.

Seo Hyo hadn’t even known Mukse Society existed. Even Seol Unhwi, who carried memories from his previous life, hadn’t known.

With secrecy at that level, would it surface this easily?

That would have been the stranger thing.

“…I’m just sorry.”

While Seol Unhwi had been proving himself, Seo Hyo had been doing the same.

He had proved himself, too. But this time he had failed to bring back the result Seol Unhwi had expected—Seol Unhwi could understand why he blamed himself.

“Seo Hyo.”

“Yes.”

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

“…Right. There’s no one who doesn’t.”

“Then follow me.”

“…Yes?”

“We’re going to strip off a mask. And since you decided to follow me, watch what the person you chose can do.”

Seo Hyo scratched his head and looked back and forth between Chief Seong and Han Murin at Seol Unhwi’s side.

It was a look asking if it would be all right, but unfortunately, those two didn’t know the full details either.

If Seol Unhwi’s inference was right—

And if he could strip off that mask—then with Seol Unhwi’s temperament, it wouldn’t be words that started. It would be blade-work.

No matter how much of a genius Seol Unhwi was, even if he had risen to the Triple Profound Realm, facing a Realm of Martial Divinity master was not merely difficult—it was impossible.

More than anything, these three did not judge Seol Unhwi by the common sense line ordinary martial artists used.

Seol Unhwi had shattered common sense too many times already, so they adjusted their thinking to match—but even so, this was a bit—

“You all look like you’re thinking deeply.”

At Seol Unhwi’s words coming in hard and fast, everyone turned their heads.

“I trust you, but it seems you don’t trust me.”

“N-no… that’s not—!”

Han Murin answered quickly,

“Young Master…! Why would you say something so hurtful? How could I not trust you.”

Chief Seong spoke belatedly,

“…I may look like this, but I am the Bright Lord of the Four Lords. I don’t bow my head to just anyone. It’s because you are our Chief Commander—no, because you are a great hero—that I give you trust and bow my head. I’m starting to feel hurt, too.”

Seol Unhwi gave a small smile.

“Then that’s enough.”

“……”

“If I trust you and you trust me, what more is needed than that.”

The three of them shut their mouths at the same time.

“Follow me. And.”

Seol Unhwi pointed with his hand at a large man standing there blankly.

“Bring Division Chief Wei along too.”

***

As a matter of course, Seol Unhwi’s group headed for Heavenly Dragon Hall.

And at the entrance, they were able to meet a bald, large-built man.

He approached Seol Unhwi first.

“Huang Mujung greets the Heavenly Arbiter.”

The low voice, like metal being scraped, was memorable. This man was the new elder of the Heavenly Alliance whom Mae Wuidong had personally brought in.

As the man performed a fist-and-palm salute, Seol Unhwi returned it.

“So you are Senior Huang Mujung, famed by the epithet Upper Profound Iron Fist. I’ve long heard of your reputation.”

“I dare not compare to the Heavenly Arbiter, but it pleases me to hear you speak well of me.”

Seol Unhwi asked abruptly.

“By the way, your voice seems quite distinctive.”

Huang Mujung gave an awkward smile.

“A long time ago, I took a grave wound near my throat. Since then, it hasn’t recovered easily.”

“I see. More than that, I must report the progress so far to the Alliance Lord now. How about we make time separately later and share a seat.”

After briefly looking around, Huang Mujung nodded.

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

After passing him, Seol Unhwi gestured at Wei Tianhu as if telling him to come here.

The one singled out made a startled face, but who would dare not come when called?

When Wei Tianhu came close, Seol Unhwi opened the doors of Heavenly Dragon Hall.

Mae Wuidong, seated at the place of honor, smiled brightly.

“You’ve come, Heavenly Arbiter.”

“Yes. I’ve come, Alliance Lord.”

Mae Wuidong wore an expression full of interest.

“And our proud Martial Righteous Unit’s Division Chief Wei Tianhu is here at your side as well.”

Wei Tianhu performed a fist-and-palm salute toward Mae Wuidong, and Mae Wuidong waved a hand.

From Seol Unhwi’s demeanor, and from Wei Tianhu’s bewildered expression, Mae Wuidong read several things.

“The reason you returned so quickly after going to Calmheart County… I understood this to be a meeting to hear the progress report, but it seems that’s not the case.”

“It isn’t.”

“So you have something to say to me?”

“Yes. Something extremely urgent.”

“Heh… very well. And if Division Chief Wei would step out for a moment—”

“No.”

“…Pardon?”

“Division Chief Wei must be present as well.”

“…Mm….”

Seol Unhwi shifted his gaze to Wei Tianhu.

“Division Chief Wei, do you remember?”

“…Remember what?”

“When we decided to work together, I believe I said it clearly.”

“……”

“I asked who you were loyal to.”

“…Yes. To that question, I said I was loyal to the Heavenly Alliance, and I spoke of my small ambition for how I would raise the Martial Righteous Unit.”

“And before you said that, I gave you a warning as well.”

“……”

“If there was any lie mixed in, you would certainly die.”

“…I have never lied—”

“Division Chief Wei, I’m not asking whether you lied or not. I’m giving you a chance.”

“…A chance?”

“I’ll ask one last time. During the time the Calmheart County column was traveling, you left your post multiple times, and each time you sent a letter to someone. Who was that letter sent to?”

Wei Tianhu did not blink once as he answered firmly.

“I did not send any letter to anyone.”

“Then did you receive something like a secret order from someone?”

“…I did not.”

“No lies this time either?”

“None.”

Seol Unhwi’s gaze turned to Mae Wuidong.

Mae Wuidong wore an extremely inscrutable expression—so natural that if an outsider saw it, they might think that was simply his usual face.

But that naturalness—

Shattered with Seol Unhwi’s next action.

It happened truly in an instant.

Thud.

Seol Unhwi’s hand seized Wei Tianhu by the throat.

Wei Tianhu, panicked, tried to wrench that hand away, but—

Crack—!

His neck broke faster.

When Seol Unhwi, who had completely crushed the neck-bone, released his grip, Wei Tianhu’s corpse collapsed onto the floor.

“…Wh—what… what are you doing right now?”

Seol Unhwi smiled faintly.

“What else. I keep promises I’ve made.”

“A promise? You just killed the Martial Righteous Unit’s Division Chief and you’re talking about a promise?”

“I warned him clearly. If he spoke a lie, he would die. Yet Wei Tianhu never once told me the truth—not for a single moment.”

“……”

“I gave him chances up to the last moment, and he failed to take them. What else is there to do. I had to kill him.”

“Huh… you killed him on suspicion alone, with no evidence? The Martial Righteous Unit’s Division Chief?”

Seol Unhwi shook his head.

“Why do you think there’s no evidence.”

“…Pardon?”

“Now that Sa Seollan has become an elder, have you checked what she’s been doing lately?”

“…….”

“You couldn’t have. You had other things you needed to do.”

“…Heavenly Arbiter? What are you saying—”

“Among the people who departed for Calmheart County, there is someone who was neither recorded nor reported.”

Mae Wuidong’s expression hardened.

“Sa Seollan followed me from behind and carried out what I ordered perfectly. You asked for evidence? First day, Si hour. Second day, Yin hour. Third day, Chen hour. Fifth day, Xu hour. Sixth day, Zi hour.”

“…….”

“The Alliance Lord remained silent, and Wei Tianhu remained silent as well. I will state it clearly. I am not a lawless thug. Killing people on suspicion alone without evidence? I swear I have not done that for even a single moment in my life.”

“…….”

“And I’ll sit down.”

Even if Mae Wuidong told him not to, Seol Unhwi had no intention of listening.

Seol Unhwi sat quietly and asked shortly.

“What do you think about when the rabbit is caught, the hounds are killed?”

“…It doesn’t seem like the atmosphere for that kind of conversation right now.”

“Is my question wrong? I asked something simple. Answer it.”

“When the rabbit is caught, the hounds are killed—one of the methods of those in power, and the surest kind of scheme.”

“Then as Master (Mukse Society), am I an eyesore to you? Or as the Alliance Lord of the Heavenly Alliance, am I an eyesore to you?”

Mae Wuidong’s brow creased sharply.

“Truly… you keep forcing me to repeat the same words. I said it clearly in the very place where I killed Jo Taehwa. I don’t even know of an organization called Mukse Society, and I have no interest in reconstructing the Thousand-Year Demon Cult.”

Seol Unhwi looked at Mae Wuidong without speaking. Mae Wuidong knew exactly what that stare meant, so he continued quickly.

“I exchanged secret letters with Division Chief Wei—yes. That’s correct. I did. The reason is simple. I was worried about the Heavenly Arbiter.”

“Worried?”

“The war with the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect has begun, so we don’t know what kind of person they might put forward. There are Unity of Heaven and Man masters, and there are Celestial Being masters. No matter how important a sect’s face is, I thought someone like Yeon Songbaek would do whatever it took to kill the Heavenly Arbiter. I had to prepare for that. As the Alliance Lord.”

Mae Wuidong emphasized the words “Alliance Lord” to make his position clear, and Seol Unhwi still wore that peculiar smile.

Huh….

Mae Wuidong swallowed and continued slowly.

“Fine. Let’s strip it bare while we’re at it. Why, exactly, are you suspecting me?”

“Suspecting… I’m certain. But the mask on the Alliance Lord’s face is thicker than I expected.”

“…….”

“I agree with the Alliance Lord. Let’s make it definitive.”

“Then explain it step by step now. I want to clear my own grievances too.”

Seol Unhwi began to present them one by one.

“When I first moved to Cheongpung City to kill Poison Lord Mu Cheoru, my route was known perfectly.”

“Isn’t that only natural? We had to secure the Heavenly Arbiter’s safety.”

“But the real intent then was to fracture the Four Lords. You set the board so I would suspect the Killing Lord and the Shadow Lord.”

Mae Wuidong fell silent for a moment, then answered.

“Fracture… Poison Lord Mu Cheoru set it up that way, and if not him, then Yeon Songbaek set it up that way. For me to insert myself into that situation, I would have to sit here in Heavenly Dragon Hall and predict every move the Heavenly Arbiter would make, again and again. I’m not that kind of genius.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep