“You don’t look surprised. I take it you already suspected.”

“If Everlasting Snow Palace was breached, then naturally it must have been by someone from the White Snow Phantom Corps. If that traitor had been limited to a mere Cold Aura Officer, it could have been prevented.”

“……”

“It would’ve taken someone of the Twelve Cold Phantoms’ caliber to fool not only the White Snow Phantom Corps but also the intelligence network of the Phantom Corps itself. That much makes sense. But… I wasn’t expecting there to be two of them.”

“Are you surprised because there were too many?”

He shook his head.

“No… I’m surprised there were so few.”

“……”

“I expected at least three. Just two? Are you sure you investigated properly?”

“In my eyes, it’s two members of the Twelve Cold Phantoms and three Cold Aura Officers. That’s all.”

Nodding, Unwi asked,

“Where were they from?”

“Various places. Two of the Cold Aura Officers were with the Stormwind Alliance, one was from the Central Blood Sect. As for the Twelve Cold Phantoms—one came from the Martial Alliance, and the other… also from the Central Blood Sect.”

Unwi fell silent.

“You look surprised.”

He didn’t deny it. He was surprised.

He had anticipated the Central Blood Sect’s involvement, but not infiltration by the Stormwind Alliance or Martial Alliance.

“I take it… you killed them all.”

“I did.”

“Did you get any useful intel out of them?”

“I did extract something, but it wasn’t of much value.”

Not useful?

“It’s true that the two spies from the Central Blood Sect were responsible for luring the Venom Serpent Valley into Everlasting Snow Palace, but… that’s it.”

“So they were merely waiting on standby, is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s right.”

“Did you torture them?”

“I did.”

“I assume you didn’t stop at just physical torture. Did you involve their families too?”

“I did.”

Unwi fell silent again.

This… didn’t make sense.

It wasn’t that he doubted Hyeonshim, but if the torture had gone that far, they should’ve cracked.

And if they hadn’t, it could only mean one thing: they were truly just meant to lie in wait.

Which meant their real role was still to come.

“There is one minor detail. They seemed to be… looking for something.”

“Looking for something?”

“Yes. One of the Twelve Cold Phantoms mentioned it with his dying breath. Said he was searching for ‘the treasure of Snow Mountain.’”

Not a treasure of the palace—but of the Snow Mountain itself. At that, Unwi’s brow twitched.

“Who was looking?”

“Yu Cheong of the Central Blood Sect.”

Yu Cheong.

In the martial world, that name alone was enough to send shockwaves. Naturally—because while the strongest man in the Central Blood Sect was its cult leader, the one handling its real day-to-day operations was its Vice Leader.

Vice Leader Yu Cheong.

He was the one who, some forty years later, would break away from the sect and restore the Millennium Demon Cult.

After that, the vice leader’s seat remained empty. The cult leader once offered that position to Unwi himself—but Unwi declined.

After a moment of thought, Unwi spoke in a quiet voice.

“Who knows about this?”

“As of now, only the Palace Lord, the Vice Palace Lord… and you, Lord Hyeon Seollin.”

“Who’s the next to be informed?”

“Lord Daeseollin. After that, word will be passed down in order to all Polar Descendants.”

And yet, the reason Hyeonshim had informed Hyeon Seollin first—skipping even the Palace Lord’s heir—was obvious.

He was the first one Hyeonshim had ever told about the spies.

Unwi rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought, and Hyeonshim waited. At length, Unwi said,

“I see. More importantly—what are your plans for the vacant seats in the Phantom Corps?”

“They’ll be filled.”

“Are you planning to promote internally?”

“I am.”

Unwi gave a faint, ambiguous smile.

“There’s one expert I’d like to recommend—he’s reached the Realm of Enlightenment.”

That unexpected remark made Hyeonshim blink.

“…A recommendation? If you mean someone from the White Snow Phantom Corps…”

“No.”

“Then… an outsider?”

“Yes.”

“…We can’t accept an outsider into the Phantom Corps without thorough vetting.”

“I understand. Have you heard of Sim Munryong?”

“Sim Munryong… You mean the one they call the Lone Phoenix of Mount Hua?”

“That’s the one.”

Hyeonshim ran a hand down his face. The title said it all—Sim Munryong was the last disciple of the annihilated Mount Hua Sect.

More precisely, he was the only surviving martial artist of this generation continuing the sect’s legacy.

His current level: Enlightenment Realm.

More than enough to take a Cold Aura Officer’s seat in the Phantom Corps.

Of course… that would be if he were to transfer allegiance to Everlasting Snow Palace.

There was only one reason Hyeonshim was hesitant.

“…Isn’t he infamous for being a mad dog?”

“He is, for now.”

“And even if we summoned him, do you think he’d come?”

“Would you be willing to take him in?”

That question made Hyeonshim falter slightly. Over the course of their conversation, he hadn’t even realized it.

At some point, he’d begun accepting Unwi’s words without question.

“A year from today, to the date, a hidden realm will open in Frozen White Gorge. It’s the Hidden Realm of Cheongmun.”

“…Cheongmun? You mean… Plum Blossom No-Sword?”

“Yes. One of the two disciples of the Plum Blossom Sword God. If not for the Millennium Calamity, he was destined to reach Supreme Unity and lead Mount Hua. That Cheongmun.”

“…May I ask where this intel came from?”

“I saw it in a dream.”

Hyeonshim was stunned into silence.

Unwi continued without pause.

“The Cold Aura Officers aren’t strictly necessary for the Phantom Corps to function. But the Twelve Cold Phantoms… must be complete.”

“……”

“Bring Sim Munryong into the Phantom Corps. I’ll vouch for his talent. He’s already in the Realm of Enlightenment, and he’ll reach the Celestial Realm faster than anyone. In time, he’ll be a true blessing to Everlasting Snow Palace.”

“If the hidden realm doesn’t appear… who knows what that lunatic might do?”

“It will appear.”

And even if it didn’t—it didn’t matter.

Unwi had all of Mount Hua’s techniques in his head.

He could simply pass them on.

“I understand your concerns, Commander. But as I said before—I, too, want Everlasting Snow Palace to endure forever.”

Hyeonshim looked at Unwi in silence. Unwi did not avoid his gaze.

“…Understood. I’ll meet Sim Munryong in person and decide then.”

“Please do. As for returning to the palace—I’ll depart once my business here is done.”

“Then I hope you’ll finish as soon as possible.”

“I’ll try.”

As Unwi rose to his feet, Hyeonshim called out.

“Lord Hyeon Seollin.”

Unwi turned.

“That offer I [N O V E L I G H T] made—to take you in as my disciple. It still stands.”

Unwi smiled gently.

“As I said then, I’ll accept the sentiment. Nothing more.”

Though his words were firm, Hyeonshim didn’t look like he was giving up.

It seemed he still planned to keep offering.

And truthfully, how could he not?

Even now, Unwi was like this. Who could say what he’d become in time?

He was more than fit to be the next master of the Phantom Corps.

_________

Chapter 4

Exactly one day had passed.

Cheon Eojin of the World Commerce Association brought a proposal for establishing a county office. I accepted without hesitation.

He even brought a declaration of extension that he’d drafted himself. It wasn’t just passable—it was practically flawless.

He must’ve spent so long stuck in political gridlock with the heads of the Four Great Sects and the local magistrate that he could now copy their handwriting to perfection.

Even if I were to give him only five percent of what I plan to extract from the Yang Empire, he’d probably thank me on his knees. And in fact, he did.

His way of reading the wind impressed me.

In more ways than one, I liked him. I’d already decided—he’s more useful alive than dead. I intend to keep him at my side.

And—

“Han Seokhyeon.”

The young man with the gentle face smiled.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Serve your master well. Help him accomplish what he desires.”

He offered a respectful fist-and-palm salute.

“Thank you.”

Han Seokhyeon was clearly an unpolished gem.

I had briefly considered bringing him into the palace to fill the vacant General Administrator position. But he made his choice—to remain with the World Commerce Association.

I don’t force anyone to choose. I merely present the options.

In his case, he’d already provided critical intel during my campaign to crush the Four Great Sects. I owe him.

And I pay my debts.

Cheon Eojin, watching us both in turn, gulped quietly. Then, wisely, he excused himself and left with Han Seokhyeon.

If he had any sense, he’d have no choice but to assign Han Seokhyeon to a major position.

What happens from here is up to Han Seokhyeon.

After they left, I remained behind, glancing between the ledger and the declaration. Seong, the Acting Administrator, approached me and asked,

“Lord Unwi… what exactly is your plan here?”

“You worry too much.”

“…Can you blame me? Yangnyeong is more important than you might think. To the west is Saryang, a coastal city. To the east is Jeokan. And to the south—Bongrae.”

He didn’t say it outright, but the truth was clear: all three were commandery-level cities.

Bongrae Commandery, Saryang Commandery, Jeokan Commandery.

All of them ranked above a mere county like Yangnyeong. That meant bigger populations, more sects.

And yet, each one had already been claimed by a major power: Bongrae by the Martial Alliance, Jeokan by the Stormwind Alliance.

Saryang was split in two—half controlled by the Martial Alliance, half by the Stormwind Alliance.

That was what Seong was worried about.

Yangnyeong, tucked away in a backwater region and bordering Everlasting Snow Palace territory, had always been avoided by major sects. That’s why even a second-rate martial artist could act like a king here.

But that wouldn’t hold true for the surrounding commanderies.

“Administrator Seong.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Let me tell you something interesting.”

“What is it?”

“That concern of yours—do you really think you’re the only one who has it?”

“…Pardon?”

“Bongrae, Saryang, Jeokan… each of them is already feeling cautious just from the fact that they border Everlasting Snow Palace territory. And apparently, the martial world has given me a new nickname.”

“…You mean Demon Lord of the Snow Mountain?”

“At first, I didn’t care. But after hearing it a few times, I’ve grown rather fond of it.”

Normally, a nickname with “Lord” in it is far too grand for someone like me—someone who’s only just reached the Nascent Qi Realm.

No—far too grand doesn’t even cover it. It’s absurd.

But under certain rare circumstances, it becomes permissible.

First, the fact that I carry the bloodline of Everlasting Snow Palace directly.

Second… when I do something so outrageous, no one can help but mock it.

And it’s that second one that matters most.

“The nickname Demon Lord of the Snow Mountain was clearly meant to be an insult.”

“…That’s true.”

“But why insult me?”

A smile crept across my lips.

“In just one day, every sect in Yangnyeong County, every constable, even the magistrate—wiped out. And all of it done by a bastard son who barely qualifies as a minor noble? Alone? Is that even possible?”

Seong looked completely dumbfounded.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep