“Chief Seong.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Kill them all.”

As if he had been waiting for the order, Chief Seong nodded and kicked off the ground.

In an instant, the head of Chae Yun — known as Bone-Melting Silver Needle — shot into the air.

“W-what kind of madness…!”

They had already proven they were the type to discuss mercy while holding killing intent in their hands.

Unhwi had warned them.

He had even offered payment for their greed.

He had staked his own name. No matter what, he would have paid — yet they wanted something greater.

Those who could not control their greed despite knowing their place left only one answer.

They had to die.

Chief Seong began fighting the four martial artists.

Unhwi did not move, and neither did the young man.

The two men ignored everything happening around them and looked only at each other.

Chief Seong began killing them one by one.

When the head of Willow-Wind Sword Han Seok fell last, Unhwi spoke.

“Not him.”

Chief Seong, who had been about to rush the youth using Cloud-Mist Flow Steps, stopped.

“Stand behind me.”

“…Understood, Young Master.”

As Chief Seong moved behind Unhwi, the youth applauded.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

“Heavenly Arbiter, Snow-Mountain Demon Lord — stirring the martial world with countless titles and offices. Truly worthy of reputation. At such a young age you must carry tremendous burdens, and forcing those burdens through must have been agonizing. Yet you always produce clear results and secure advantage. It is difficult to even describe…”

“Is the Heavenly Gate this idle?”

At the sudden mention of the organization, the youth’s mouth shut.

Unhwi had once mentioned this group during a conversation with Seol Joongcheon.

An organization almost unknown in the martial world.

Yet filled with masters of the Five-God realm.

Even Seol Joongcheon had never heard its proper name: Heavenly Origin Dao Training Gate.

Shortened — Heavenly Gate.

Whether the full name or the shortened one, almost no one knew it.

Enough to shake the youth. Unhwi continued.

“I wonder whether ignoring warnings is the leisure of one hiding in the brush, or the arrogance of one seated above the clouds.”

“…How…?”

“The Ten Pillars of the Heavenly Gate?”

“….”

The Ten Pillars were the Heavenly Gate’s shadow — ten martial artists who personally descended into the martial world.

Their realms varied.

“What is your name?”

“…Yeomubaek. Sixth of the Ten Pillars.”

“I see.”

“…May I ask how you know? The Heavenly Gate, the Ten Pillars — even the true name. These are the highest secrets.”

“Do I have a reason to tell you?”

“….”

“What matters is why you are here.”

“….”

“The Ten Pillars would not move over something trivial. Not for a single hidden realm.”

Unhwi stepped forward.

“Then the objective must be me.”

“….”

“So the Heavenly Gate is watching me.”

Yeomubaek remained silent.

Unhwi smirked.

“Silence is an answer too.”

“…Haah…”

“Interesting. Do I appear that dangerous?”

“Rather than dangerous…”

Yeomubaek spoke.

“Interesting.”

“Interesting?”

“Yes. I was curious what change a man named Seol Unhwi would bring to the martial world.”

Yeomubaek looked directly at him.

“The rise of the Heavenly Alliance, the destruction of the Demon-Flame Palace, cooperation with the Slaughter-Soul Gate, dealings with the Murim Alliance — you are reshaping the balance.”

“And?”

“I wanted to see what kind of man you are.”

Yeomubaek smiled.

“You exceed expectations.”

Unhwi nodded.

“Finished observing?”

“Not yet.”

“Then you wish to continue?”

“Yes.”

Unhwi shook his head.

“Then that is unfortunate. After today, you will have no such opportunity.”

“…What do you mean?”

“I clearly warned you not to enter this hidden realm.”

“…Is claiming ownership not hypocrisy?”

“Hypocrisy? Did you not read the letter outside?”

“….”

“If it were hypocrisy, I would not have written exactly what I would give you for staying away.”

“….”

“You ignored it.”

“…Isn’t that excessive?”

“Does it seem so?”

“You know I am one of the Ten Pillars and still intend to fight?”

“Should I refrain because of that?”

“Can you handle it?”

Unhwi smiled faintly.

“Can the Heavenly Gate handle me?”

“…Do you think the Heavenly Gate would stay still because of your relationship with the Heavenly Daoist?”

“Do you not understand?”

“What?”

“Is the Heavenly Daoist someone who protects a single life?”

“…Everyone knows he intervened between you and Yucheong.”

“He intervened. Only to stop a Honywon-Supreme master from interfering. Nothing else.”

It was true.

The Heavenly Daoist did not protect Unhwi.

He merely observed.

If Yucheong personally acted, everything would end instantly. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Only that was prevented.

And it was not as though Unhwi had fought only weaker opponents.

From Four-Realm masters to Five-God masters.

He fought them all, survived, and seized everything.

“I see now you hold a serious misunderstanding.”

“…What misunderstanding?”

“That stopping Yucheong was not to protect me.”

“…Then why?”

“To avoid conflict with the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace.”

“….”

“If the palace lord joined the battle, the matter would escalate. Even the Heavenly Daoist would lose freedom of action. The Origin-Blood Sect could not stay idle. If they moved, the Murim Alliance and the Four-Heavens Alliance would also move.”

“….”

“So you did not know.”

“….”

“Either you’ve grown detached from the world while playing immortal in the mountains, or your leadership is foolish.”

Slowly, Unhwi drew the Trueflame Heavenly-Spirit Sword from the dusk pouch.

“You should not have entered.”

“…Please sheath the sword.”

Ignored.

Unhwi had already decided.

Why was a hidden realm the perfect assassination ground?

Because no one would ever know what happened inside.

Had they stayed out, they would have gained fortune. He had staked his name — he would have kept the promise.

But they entered.

Then they must all die.

A promise only has meaning when upheld without exception.

Make exceptions, and it becomes convenience — an excuse.

Unhwi kicked off the ground, and Yeomubaek sighed deeply.

Then his eyes flashed.

The master of Heaven-Human Unity gathered all his qi.

As he extended his hand, crimson characters embroidered the air.

Five-Element Borrowing Technique.

Fiery-Qi Explosion.

BOOOOM—!!

***

The explosion, formed by drawing out the world’s spiritual energy itself, produced a massive shockwave.

Air tore apart, the ground split, and flames spread in all directions.

Unhwi’s body was pushed back. His feet carved into the earth. Only after sliding more than ten paces did he stop.

“Do not overexert yourself. Even a genius cannot surpass certain techniques.”

Watching Yeomubaek’s relaxed figure, Unhwi thought:

The Heavenly Gate… unchanged from the previous life.

Masters at the Heaven-Human Unity level used sorcery rather than martial arts.

“Our Heavenly Gate Method exists on an entirely different level from the world’s mediocre arts.”

Not incorrect.

Directly borrowing the world’s spiritual energy made it powerful and efficient.

But weaknesses existed.

“Your eyes still do not die. Very well — I shall educate you further. Showing a frog the world is also teaching.”

Yeomubaek moved his hand again.

“Do not take it personally.”

Golden energy erupted.

Five-Element Borrowing Technique.

Metal-Qi Cleaving Rend.

Sharp metallic force sliced through the air toward Unhwi like dozens of invisible blades.

Unhwi raised the Trueflame Heavenly-Spirit Sword to block.

A chain of metallic clashes rang out. His hand numbed. Blood ran from his palm.

Heavy.

Heaven-Human Unity.

Whether sorcery or martial arts — the raw difference in realm could not be ignored.

Yet every technique had an opening.

Unhwi stared at Yeomubaek’s left shoulder.

When using Five-Element Borrowing Technique, qi momentarily biased to one side — an unavoidable imbalance while drawing world energy.

Yeomubaek moved again.

Five-Element Borrowing Technique.

Earth-Qi Suppression.

He blocked sideways.

KRAAANG — overwhelming weight crushed through the blade. His body trembled. Knees bent. The ground caved.

Then—

Unhwi’s eyes flashed.

Now.

Yeomubaek’s left shoulder — the qi there faltered.

While drawing earth energy, the opposite side weakened.

Unhwi’s body blurred.

Like a shadow in a snowstorm, he vanished and appeared at Yeomubaek’s left.

The Trueflame Heavenly-Spirit Sword shone.

Absolute-Ice Return-to-Void Sword.

Blue sword energy shot forward, freezing the air as it struck toward Yeomubaek’s shoulder.

“Mm?!”

Yeomubaek twisted, but not completely.

Slash!

The blade grazed his shoulder. A shallow yet precise wound. Blood scattered, instantly freezing white.

Yeomubaek’s face hardened.

“…What was that?”

Was he simply fast?

From one knee he redirected qi and moved in a single motion — all for one target.

The shoulder.

Certainty.

…Coincidence?

He dismissed the thought.

He would change tactics.

Yeomubaek spread both arms.

Heavenly Gate Method.

Void-Reality Heart Division.

As he formed the seal, the world distorted.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep