From the perspective of an assassin, if one had to infiltrate the Juryung Sword Gate right now,

where would they strike?

There were only three possible entry points into the Juryung Sword Gate.

The first was the canyon leading directly to the main gate.

However, with less than two hours having passed since the murder of three sect masters, more than a hundred warriors were standing there, forming an ironclad defense.

The second was the rear mountain behind the Juryung Sword Gate — a steep cliff stretching a thousand spans high, renowned as one of the most breathtaking sights in Yangnyeong County.

Even under normal circumstances, fifty elite warriors guarded it.

Now, in this crisis, their number had likely doubled.

And finally, the third —

A subterranean waterway running beneath the eastern wall.

It was an old channel, built a hundred years ago to divert mountain water when the Juryung Sword Gate was first founded.

Unlike the other areas, only five warriors patrolled it.

Why so few?

Because no one considered it a realistic point of infiltration.

Only an idiot would try it.

The sect master’s residence — where Han So-cheon currently was — was located far from the drainage outlet.

Anyone serious about infiltration would either storm the front or attempt the cliffs.

No one would be stupid enough to come through the third route.

And yet—

Seol Unwi chose the third.

While everyone’s attention was focused on the front gate and the rear cliffs, a single shadow slipped silently beneath the eastern wall.

It was Seol Unwi.

His steps were utterly soundless, as if walking on clouds.

No one could detect the stealth of Trace-Free Shadow Returning Step.

Thus, he strolled leisurely into the inner grounds —

Encountering the first patrol squad at the edge of the rear courtyard.

Releasing his stealth, he drew the sword from his hip.

“Wh-Who goes there?!”

The eight warriors cried out — and then they saw it.

A sword, gleaming white under the moonlight, descending through the heavy snowfall.

And that sword was rapidly closing the distance.

The first strike aimed for the throat of the foremost guard.

With a wet slicing sound, the man’s head launched into the sky.

Next, the warrior standing beside him.

Slash—!

Once again, the target was the neck.

Blood erupted in a geyser even before the severed head hit the ground.

Seol Unwi’s sword was already moving toward the next target.

“S-Seol… Un…!”

The third warrior tried to shout —

But his voice was cut off midway.

Seol Unwi’s sword pierced his chest, twisting as it exited —

Dragging the man’s heart out along the blade.

The remaining warriors lunged at once, swords flashing.

But in Seol Unwi’s eyes, their every move was laid bare.

Stepping lightly with Snow Cloud Step, he moved between their attacks with an almost lazy grace.

Slash.

The fourth warrior’s arms were severed at the shoulders.

Slice.

The fifth was cleaved in half at the waist.

Crack.

The sixth’s neck shattered under a blow from Seol Unwi’s sword sheath.

The courtyard was drenched in blood.

The last three warriors were frozen, terror written across their faces.

“R-Run!”

As they turned their backs, Seol Unwi’s killing intent surged.

He charged, sweeping his sword in a great arc.

Heavenly Ice Blossom.

Three heads flew into the night sky at once.

Flicking the blood from his sword, Seol Unwi resumed walking.

Along the way, he encountered two more patrols —

But he simply ignored them.

He advanced without hesitation toward the sect master’s residence, where Han So-cheon awaited —

And soon arrived.

At the entrance, three men stood guard.

Seol Unwi charged immediately.

Even before they could fully turn—

Slash—!

One man’s head soared skyward.

Stab—!

Another’s heart was pierced through.

Clang—!

The third barely managed to deflect Seol Unwi’s blade —

But he couldn’t stop the follow-up kick that shattered his heart.

Crack.

“Guh… guh-ugh…!”

As the fallen warrior clutched his broken chest—

Slash—!

Seol Unwi calmly beheaded him.

Lifting his gaze, he stared at the door ahead.

He moved forward and pushed it open.

In that instant, a sharp streak of sword light shot out from the gap.

Seol Unwi twisted his body, spinning backward to dodge.

The air where the sword light had passed was torn apart.

A low chuckle echoed.

As the door swung fully open, a man stepped out.

The sword in his hand gleamed blue under the moonlight.

“So, the illegitimate son of the Everlasting Snow Palace has stooped to playing assassin now.

How wretched this world has become.”

Seol Unwi, recognizing him from the intel obtained through the Open Gate Sect, muttered his name quietly.

“Hwang So-pyeong.”

The Soaring Light Sword, leader of the Sword Spirit Corps.

A master of the Samhwa Meditation Hall realm.

“I had planned to kill you eventually.

But it seems you’re impatient to meet your end tonight.”

“Hah. You arrogant fool — failing in your assassination and yet spouting such drivel instead of begging for your life.”

“Failure?”

A dry laugh escaped Seol Unwi’s lips.

“Unfortunately for you, I don’t attempt actions doomed to fail.

Unlike you.”

“…The way you speak… Is it truly you, Seol Unwi?”

Seol Unwi didn’t bother answering.

There was no point repeating himself to a man soon to become a corpse.

“Come.”

“Hah. Very well.

I’ll tear you in half with my Soaring Light Heaven-Sundering Sword.”

Hwang So-pyeong charged, unleashing the first technique of his sword art.

Radiant Spirit Sundering Heaven.

His sword energy slithered through the air like a living serpent, striking toward Seol Unwi.

But Seol Unwi did not move.

Only his eyes gleamed coldly.

He lifted his sword — and cleaved through the attack in one stroke.

Clang—!

“…Hrm…”

The force behind Seol Unwi’s blow was far beyond what Hwang So-pyeong had anticipated.

Suppressing a grimace, Hwang So-pyeong staggered.

Seol Unwi charged in at once.

His sword thrust forward like a spear.

Barely managing to twist his body aside, Hwang So-pyeong dodged by a hair’s breadth—

Thud!

Only to be struck brutally in the right thigh by Seol Unwi’s follow-up kick.

His body stumbled.

Seol Unwi raised his sword high —

Then brought it down mercilessly.

BOOM—!

The impact sent Hwang So-pyeong skidding across the floor.

And yet, showing the resilience of a true master, he somehow blocked the fatal blow.

But his face was painted with shock.

And anyone else would have worn the same expression.

“…How… how can this be possible…?”

They had been exchanging blows — sword to sword.

How could a martial artist at Yang Radiance Appears fight evenly against a master of the Samhwa Meditation Hall?

It defied all common sense.

But there was something Hwang So-pyeong did not know.

Regardless of Seol Unwi’s reincarnation —

There was a reason the Four Realms of Refined Qi were grouped together.

The heart of the Four Realms was the Middle Dantian.

When it began to open — Yang Radiance Appears.

When fully opened — Five Dragons Converge.

When united with the Lower Dantian — Samhwa Meditation Hall.

When the full unification completed — Sovereign of Primordial Oneness.

At the level of Sovereign of Primordial Oneness,

Seol Unwi’s head would have been severed before he could even lift his sword.

But up to Samhwa Meditation Hall?

The difference could be overturned by skill.

Especially for someone like Seol Unwi — who had once ruled the martial world.

Even if he hadn’t dueled such masters before, he could still predict their movements —

And counter them.

Seol Unwi was simply that exceptional.

And he had no intention of explaining any of this.

Hwang So-pyeong sprang to his feet, unleashing his ultimate technique without hesitation.

Radiant Thunder Blade.

Blades of light shot out like lightning from every direction —

Twenty-two of them, at a rough count.

It was a spectacular assault.

But in that moment, Seol Unwi’s eyes were already dissecting the attack —

Seeing the spaces between the twenty-two blades.

He saw the path.

There were four paths Seol Unwi could take to slip through the twenty-two sword beams and reach Hwang So-pyeong.

He didn’t hesitate.

Once judgment was made, action had to follow.

He pushed off the ground.

The twenty-two slashes tore through the hems of his Snow-White Cloak — but not a single cut reached his body.

Through the wide-open path—

Hwang So-pyeong’s eyes filled with despair.

Seol Unwi’s remained calm, unflinching.

Without pause, Seol Unwi’s hand slipped to his belt —

Gripping the dagger secured there.

Flashing Void Single Thorn Technique.

The dagger shot forward at lightning speed.

Thunk—!

It buried itself precisely in Hwang So-pyeong’s throat.

“Guh…!”

Seol Unwi twisted the handle — snapping the man’s cervical spine —

And then wrenched the blade free.

Leaving Hwang So-pyeong’s collapsing corpse behind, Seol Unwi walked on.

Inside the residence, a faint sound of movement stirred —

The small, terrified scuffle of a man too afraid to breathe.

Seol Unwi didn’t miss it.

He approached.

There, cowering and trembling, was Han So-cheon.

“P-Please… please spare me…!”

But no plea could slow Seol Unwi’s steps.

Soon, he stood before Han So-cheon, gazing down at him with quiet, indifferent eyes.

“Is Han Jang-gwang still shut away in seclusion?”

“Y-Yes… yes, he is…!”

“You’ll be seeing your father very soon.”

“…What…?”

Flashing Void Single Thorn Technique.

Seol Unwi’s dagger struck mercilessly.

The blade pierced Han So-cheon’s throat.

Desperately, Han So-cheon grabbed at Seol Unwi with trembling hands, clinging to life.

Seol Unwi’s eyes didn’t even flicker.

“Do you wish to live?”

“Guhk… Y-Yes… yes…!”

“I gave you every opportunity.

You were the ones who refused.”

“…Th-That was…”

“If you couldn’t handle the consequences,

you should never have reached for more than you deserved.”

“……”

“Because of your greed, I’ll now erase your Four Great Houses completely.

I’ll leave not even a single ant alive.

And your father will be no exception.”

“P-Please…”

“Too late.”

Seol Unwi twisted the dagger.

A sickening crunch echoed as Han So-cheon’s spine shattered.

Seol Unwi calmly finished it —

Decapitating him in a single, silent motion.

Just as silently as he had entered, Seol Unwi left the Juryung Sword Gate.

He returned to the drainage channel he had used to infiltrate, retrieved the three heads he had hidden there,

and made his way back to Seolap.

It had all unfolded within the span of just two hours since Seol Unwi first set foot in Yangnyeong County.

****

The blizzard raged on, as if a hole had been torn in the sky itself —

showing no signs of letting up.

Yet there was someone waiting for him at Seolap.

Beneath the eaves, hugging her knees tightly to her chest,

a young woman slowly lifted her head.

“You waited?”

It was Seol Unwi.

At the sound of his voice, Wonyang’s face lit up in a bright smile.

“Yes. I waited. But… um, about your trip—”

Her words trailed off.

Not because of fear —

But because she had just caught sight of what Seol Unwi was holding.

Four severed heads, swinging in his right hand.

Her eyes widened, her mouth falling open in stunned silence.

“You recognize them, I see.”

“H-How could I not…?

They’re… they’re the sect masters of the Four Great Houses… and the acting master…”

Seol Unwi set the heads down on the ground, speaking quietly.

“Commander Seong.”

As if waiting for his cue, a man emerged from the shadows.

It was Commander Seong.

Clearly, Wonyang had no ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) idea he had been there all along —

and she jumped again in fright, but didn’t interrupt.

“Bring the White Tiger Heavenly Garments.”

“…Yes, Young Master.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep