“Kurgh... kuhheok...”

That man was clearly an assassin from Guihon Pavilion of the Ghost Soul Sect. But even Seol Unwi couldn’t possibly know every single assassin working under Guihon Pavilion.

Judging by his level, he was likely in the Five Dragon Blooming Star Realm—probably a low-ranking operative even within Guihon Pavilion.

Which explained why Yu Hwarin had brought him along so casually.

That was Yu Hwarin’s habit. He liked surrounding himself with easy-to-control pawns to act like he was someone important.

Unwi turned his head toward Cheonpung.

He walked over to where Cheonpung had collapsed and personally pulled the embedded daggers from his body.

Each time one was removed, Cheonpung let out odd sounds like “Hiiik” or “Kkeheok,” but Unwi didn’t pay it any mind.

He’d said it before, and he’d say it again: Cheonpung was gifted.

He had a sense of responsibility, and whenever he was given a task, he completed it—no matter what it took.

Unwi applied pressure to stop the bleeding and spoke briefly.

“Rest for a bit.”

“Heh... yes... understood.”

Unwi moved forward at a slow pace. An assassin lay collapsed on the ground, still squirming.

His mask had torn, exposing his face, but it wasn’t anyone Unwi recognized.

He didn’t particularly care to know the man’s name or identity either.

“You probably won’t get to die peacefully.”

No sooner had Unwi spoken than the man tried to bite his own tongue.

Thwack—!

Unwi kicked the man’s solar plexus with the tip of his foot, causing him to gasp and vomit blood.

Unwi immediately struck his pressure points.

Frozen solid without so much as a twitch, the assassin lay motionless as Unwi continued.

“Knowing Yu Hwarin’s personality, he definitely kept a ledger.”

The assassin’s eyes widened.

It was simple logic.

Yu Hwarin was an assassin who handled the infiltration and planting of spies.

Which sects had spies placed in them—all of that information probably existed in his head, but the world didn’t work that easily.

No matter how much one memorized, anything related to spy networks had to be written down.

To hold the leash for when, not if, they turned traitor.

That was a given.

“I have a few guesses, but I want certainty. If you tell me where that ledger is, I’ll give you a painless death—right here, right now.”

He released the man’s pressure points and waited.

The assassin looked up and asked,

“...Can you... swear... on that?”

“I swear.”

“...”

“I’ve never broken a single promise in my life. That includes ones I made to enemies.”

After a long pause, the assassin lowered his head.

“...I’ll talk.”

“But first,” Unwi added, “there’s something you need to understand.”

The assassin looked up.

“I hate games.”

Unwi crouched before him.

“If you try anything clever to buy time or send me in circles, you’ll spend the rest of your living days regretting this choice.”

The assassin swallowed hard.

“Ten years. I’ll keep you alive for ten years, and in that time, I’ll drive every agony you’ve never imagined deep into your flesh. Do you understand?”

“...Yes... yes, I understand.”

Unwi asked quietly,

“Where is the ledger?”

***

He had joined the White Snow Spirit Guard, trained, and spent years carrying out real missions all across the Central Plains—sometimes as a merchant, sometimes a porter, sometimes a manager or coachman.

Twenty years of that.

And all those years, he’d believed that experience to be something grand.

But the past few days had forced him to reconsider everything.

It was overwhelming.

This wasn’t something he’d ever imagined, let alone thought he’d witness with his own eyes.

The youngest of the Polar Successors—Seol Unwi.

That man had reached the Three Harmonies Purification Realm and slain an assassin in the Harmonization Stage.

And assassins at that level were nothing like ordinary martial artists.

Their methods of fighting were on another plane entirely—yet Seol Unwi had killed one using assassin-style tactics.

This was just...

It didn’t make sense.

His decisiveness never wavered. He could see one, two—no, five or more moves ahead.

...He’s a monster...

There was no other word for it.

Even his insight was terrifying.

He had just obtained a ledger from the captured assassin and was now flipping through it in a corner.

His injuries weren’t minor... and yet he had the time for this.

Not just Seol Unwi—Cheonpung, who’d had three daggers stuck in him, was the same.

He should have been in too much pain to laugh—and yet he was laughing.

Unwi looked like a monster. But Cheonpung looked completely insane.

Is that thing even human?

Just as those thoughts passed through Yang Cheol’s mind, Unwi’s voice reached his ears.

“Yang Cheol.”

“Y-yes?”

“Come here.”

“...Yes.”

Like a rabbit before a predator, Yang Cheol trembled as he stepped forward.

There was no explaining a man like this.

From the moment they first met—when Unwi had seen right through him—Yang Cheol had known they didn’t live in the same world.

Without question, Seol Unwi was the most promising talent in the Everlasting Snow Palace.

“Sit.”

“...Yes.”

Yang Cheol carefully sat down across from him.

Unwi was still reading the ledger. A faint smile played on his lips, as if he’d found something interesting.

But let’s be clear—calling that thing a “ledger” was being generous.

It was a kill list.

A record of names of those who’d betrayed the Palace and pledged allegiance elsewhere. The term “kill list” suited it far better.

“Fascinating. The names written here.”

Yang Cheol said nothing. Unwi continued calmly.

“Judging by the contents, this was compiled over a long period.”

He closed the ledger and looked up. His gaze seemed to pierce right through Yang Cheol’s soul.

“Yang Cheol.”

“...Yes, Honored Successor.”

“What kind of reports do you submit to the Commander each week?”

Cold sweat ran down Yang Cheol’s spine.

What was this supposed to mean?

“I... I...”

“It’s a simple question. As a member of the Spirit Guard, what reports do you submit to the Commander?”

Just as he was about to answer—

“The Spirit Guard compiles reports on the movements of the Polar Successors, any contact with outsiders, the Palace Lord’s health, activity of the White Guard, Sky Guard, and Tactical Division... whether any threats have breached the Palace, and whether any spies are present.”

Unwi’s eyes were freezing cold.

“Yang Cheol. Doesn’t something about this strike you as strange?”

“...Are you saying...”

His words faltered. He couldn’t continue. That’s how heavy this was.

“Look with your own eyes. Does this ledger look thin to you?”

“...No. It looks thick.”

“How many families do you think are listed in here?”

Yang Cheol swallowed hard and thought it over.

He didn’t know who Yu Hwarin was. He didn’t know what Guihon Pavilion was.

He wasn’t an assassin, but he lived similarly and knew how they operated.

The spies listed in this ledger had clearly pledged themselves to Yu Hwarin. So what kind of evidence would he have left behind?

Names, timeframes, information received, and other random details.

Judging by the thickness of the ledger, through the eyes of a professional—

“...At least nineteen. At most, twenty-five.”

A smile formed on Unwi’s lips.

“Not bad. You were close.”

“...Thank you.”

Unwi stared at him for a while before speaking casually.

“If you’re not an idiot, you know what I’m about to say.”

“...Yes.”

“Most of the names here are from regions outside the Palace. But a few are close to the inner palace. Yu Hwarin may have been a top assassin and information broker—but this many is beyond belief. More importantly, no one’s forgotten that the Poison Serpent Valley from the Original Blood Sect infiltrated Snow Mountain recently. Yang Cheol.”

“...Yes, Honored Successor.”

“At the time, I suspected the White Guard for one reason—the place where the poisoners were hiding was under their jurisdiction. But now... even that seems questionable.”

“...Are you saying... you suspect the Spirit Guard?”

“If you were me, wouldn’t you ask the same?”

“...”

“I’m asking a reasonable question. For spies like this to be planted under the Spirit Guard’s nose? The simplest explanation is that the Spirit Guard assisted them.”

“But...”

“How would they know who left what position, when, and who replaced them? That kind of information had to be provided. Otherwise, this list couldn’t exist.”

Another thought crept into Yang Cheol’s mind.

Shouldn’t they have captured Yu Hwarin alive?

Unwi read that thought like a ghost.

“You’re thinking things would’ve been easier if I hadn’t killed Yu Hwarin. Am I wrong?”

“...No.”

“But you already know the answer to that question. Don’t you?”

“...Yes.”

It was simple logic.

Even if Yu Hwarin had been Pavilion Lord of Guihon Pavilion, he still answered to someone.

The one who gave him orders—

In other words, the Sect Lord of Ghost Soul Sect, or one of its high-ranking vice lords—those were the people they would need to catch to get the full story.

And worse—Ghost Soul Sect was located frighteningly close to the main headquarters of the Original Blood Cult.

Which meant the Everlasting Snow Palace would have to purge them themselves.

Unwi spoke decisively.

“There’s a traitor in the White Snow Spirit Guard.”

Yang Cheol’s head jerked up.

“Honored Successor...!”

“The way you flinched tells me you understand how serious this is.”

“...Of course I do. You know as well as I do that only the Commander and the Palace Lord know all the Spirit Guard members by name.”

Unwi shook his head.

“Think carefully. There are two more people who would know.”

Yang Cheol swallowed hard.

“Vice Commander Yeon Suon... and Instructor Gok Jinbung.”

“But... ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) those two... that’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“...Yeon Suon lost all her internal energy from qi deviation, and even lost her left arm. She stepped down from all her roles and declared she’d retire in eight years. This is the seventh year. What reason would she have to betray the Palace?”

Unwi laughed.

“What about Gok Jinbung?”

“...He trains the Spirit Guard, but he doesn’t know all the members. As you know, the Commander handles most affairs, and he...”

“You know, something about this bothers me the more I listen to you.”

“...Yes?”

“You’re not certain they’re innocent—you just want to believe they are.”