Sim Munryong gave a faint laugh.

“You don’t have to explain, but... is this a normal situation? It’s your organization’s business, so why the hell is it being handed to someone like me, who’s part of the White Guard—ah... Aha... Damn. I get it now.”

He may have been a loose cannon with crude speech, but Sim Munryong wasn’t an idiot.

“Someone in your organization screwed up, huh? And not just a little—someone royally messed up.”

He chuckled like he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

“I wonder if that bastard has any clue just how deep Seol Unwi’s mind really goes. If he gets his hands on him, he’ll wring him out until there’s not a single drop of blood left. I’d love to see what kind of bastard it is, but I guess I won’t get the chance.”

He spoke like someone who’d truly experienced Seol Unwi—and Yang Cheol silently agreed with every word.

“Hey.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What was your name again?”

“Yang Cheol.”

“Yang Cheol, huh... Alright. Then go tell Seol Un... no, tell Hyun Seollin this—‘I’ll be one of the Twelve Cold Commanders soon, so if he needs anything, just say the word.’”

“...I’ll deliver that in slightly softened terms.”

“Do whatever you want. Now get out of here. I’m starting to get attached.”

“I’ll be going.”

Yang Cheol turned and left.

Even though that man spoke that way, it was clear that he truly cared about Seol Unwi.

If he didn’t, then when Seol Unwi’s Go prowess began spreading across the Central Plains, he wouldn’t have vouched for him—putting his own name on the line to protect him from skeptics.

In the twenty-some years that the famed First Peak of Mount Hua had been active in the martial world, that had been the only time he ever shielded someone like that.

Yang Cheol took a few steps, then glanced back.

Sim Munryong was also walking away.

There was no need to guess where he was headed.

To Hyun Sim, the leader of the White Guard.

There was a reason reporting chains existed. The right thing to do was to report to the commander before taking any action.

Based on Yang Cheol’s experience, those twenty sects listed in the ledger would likely be erased from the world within three days—four at most.

Then a thought struck him.

What were the names of the three sects on those three torn-out pages that Seol Unwi had taken?

Just what kind of sects were important enough for him to keep them hidden?

***

Yang Cheol’s question was valid.

Even someone like Cheonpung, whose brain didn’t work quite like Yang Cheol’s, had the same question.

Seol Unwi sat inside the carriage, silently gazing at the three pages he had taken.

His expression and aura were so serious that Cheonpung, who was driving the carriage, didn’t dare ask anything.

But when Seol Unwi gave a dry laugh, Cheonpung could no longer hold his curiosity.

“Master... if I may... What sort of sects are written on those pages... to make you react this way?”

Seol Unwi lowered the papers and looked at Cheonpung.

“You’re curious?”

“...Yes. Honestly... I’m very curious.”

“Cheonpung.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Have I ever acted without reason?”

Cheonpung thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“Never.”

“It’s the same now.”

His eyes were firm.

“There’s a right time for everything. But that time is not now.”

“...”

“So say nothing of these documents.”

“I understand. My lips are sealed, Master.”

Seol Unwi placed the papers into a leather pouch and looked out the window.

The cityscape of Yangryeong came into view.

As he gazed upon it, other thoughts filled his mind.

He had suspected.

But he hadn’t expected this much.

There were exactly twenty-three sects listed in the ledger.

He had torn out three pages, and each page had one sect written on it.

If he were to report them to his father, those three sects could be wiped out immediately.

But he could say with certainty—

That would be a stupid move.

He rubbed his temples.

The picture was starting to come together.

He could now tell who the spies were, and who had betrayed them.

The White Snow Spirit Guard.

Those three sects.

And even Deputy Palace Lord Yang Seoljin.

And while not yet certain, he could name at least four more sects.

There was only one reason Seol Unwi wasn’t eliminating them all right now.

That one reason... was too great.

Where was Seol Unwi in terms of cultivation?

Tri-Flower Gathering Essence Realm. And only barely at that.

And the Palace Lord, Seol Jungcheon?

Taihe Supreme Realm—Taihe Mushang.

All that talk about being a half-step away from Hunwon Dokjon meant nothing.

The only thing that mattered was that he was in the Taihe Supreme Realm.

All of them—those sects, those traitors—were connected.

If he struck one, the rest would lash out like a chain reaction.

If he took them down one by one, Snow Palace’s power would weaken.

And the martial world was ruthless.

The moment Snow Palace weakened, its enemies would grow stronger. If something happened, they’d be unable to respond.

If it were up to his heart, he’d draw his sword and start killing right now.

But that couldn’t happen until one of two conditions was met.

Either Seol Unwi had to reach the Hunwon Dokjon realm—

Or Seol Jungcheon did.

One way or another, a master at that level had to exist.

Even if they did nothing, even if they just breathed and sat still—their existence alone would be enough.

For now, there was only one thing Seol Unwi could do.

Handle what was right in front of him.

Just like now.

The carriage came to a halt.

They hadn’t even reached the Yangryeong branch yet—so why stop?

“...Master? There’s a checkpoint ahead.”

“A checkpoint?”

“Yes...”

Before Seol Unwi could respond—

“A carriage carrying the Yangryeong Branch Lord? Get out immediately!”

A voice barked from outside.

Seol Unwi gave a hollow laugh and opened the door.

It was truly a spectacle.

No—more than that, the situation itself was absurd.

If they were from a local sect in Yangryeong, he could understand.

But they weren’t even affiliated with Yangryeong.

In fact, they weren’t part of the Snow Mountain at all.

“Yangryeong is under my jurisdiction. Who gave you the right to set up a checkpoint here?”

“...Oho. You speak boldly. We are from the Sichuan Alliance.”

“Then answer the question—who gave you permission to conduct checkpoints?”

“...Are you unaware of the situation?”

“No, it seems you are the ones who don’t understand.”

Seol Unwi turned his head.

From beyond, the Yangryeong branch members were sprinting toward them like madmen.

Leading them was Ju Soa, with Wonyang and Han Murin behind her.

They rushed to stand before Seol Unwi and saluted with cupped fists.

“We greet the Honored Successor.”

Seol Unwi stared at them in silence before speaking curtly.

“Explain.”

As acting branch leader, Ju Soa opened her mouth.

“Four days ago, warriors of the Sichuan Alliance entered Yangryeong and began enforcing control.”

“Enforcing control...”

Seol Unwi’s eyes narrowed at Ju Soa.

She looked troubled, but he didn’t care.

He lifted his leg and kicked her in the solar plexus.

Thud!

“Kh—!”

Ju Soa tumbled backward.

Then Wonyang took a blow to the same spot and flew.

Han Murin followed immediately after.

Ju Soa raised her head.

She looked angry at first, but when she saw the cold, sunken expression on Seol Unwi’s face, she immediately lowered her head.

It wasn’t a joke—if she had talked back, a sword would have flown.

“What a mess.”

“...”

“I left trusting you, and in that short time, you handed over Yangryeong to the Sichuan Alliance.”

She wanted to deny it—but kept her mouth shut.

Now was not the time for excuses.

Just like Wonyang and Han Murin beside her, she silently dropped to her knees.

“Ju Soa.”

“...Yes.”

“This is the martial world you want to live in?”

“...”

“Only those who rule an area have the right to conduct checkpoints. So tell me—who do you think Yangryeong belongs to?”

“...I...”

“To me, it looks like it belongs to the Sichuan Alliance. You still think you have something to say?”

“...I apologize.”

Seol Unwi was deeply disappointed in those three branch members.

And in one more.

“Where is Director Seong?”

“...In his quarters.”

Han Murin’s answer made Seol Unwi’s brow twitch.

He hadn’t imagined the situation would be this messed up.

But he wasn’t stupid.

There had to be a valid reason for all this. There had better be.

“If, as members of Yangryeong Branch, you allowed this nonsense without valid reason...”

His cold eyes moved across everyone—everyone except Cheonpung.

“...Then be prepared. My disappointment won’t be the only thing you’ll have to deal with.”

He turned his head.

About eighteen men and women in black martial uniforms were visible.

“Sichuan Alliance. I’ll say this once. So listen—”

“We heard you recently killed Wang Shaoyun and Zhang Mengqiang.”

His sentence was cut off, but surprisingly, he didn’t say much about that.

Instead—

“So what?”

He simply replied.

“You killed two warriors of Sichuan Alliance’s Iron Command Pavilion! And for what? They just wanted to play ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) a game of Go! I don’t know how you gained such fame with that kind of violence, but the Sichuan Alliance demands an apology!”

“An apology? I should be the one getting an apology. Don’t make me laugh.”

Seol Unwi stepped up to the man who had raised his voice.

“You. What’s your name?”

“...I’m Wu Menggyeok, from Iron Command Pavilion, third squad.”

“Wu Menggyeok, answer me. I clearly said I had urgent business at the Palace. I even asked for your understanding. It was a matter so critical that someone like you can’t even fathom it. If I had been delayed by those two fools and forced to play Go, I would have erased the Sichuan Alliance from the face of the earth.”

“W-What!?”

“My brother was gravely ill, and I was the only one who could treat him. The Sichuan Alliance obstructed that, so the one who deserves an apology... is me. And yet you dare set up a checkpoint and try to enforce authority in Snow Palace territory?”

Seol Unwi’s gaze darkened.

“This will be your first and last warning. Open your ears. Don’t interrupt. Just listen. Kneel and apologize—right here, right now—and I’ll let this go.”

“...Are you insane?”

They couldn’t kneel.

As representatives of the Sichuan Alliance, their actions represented the Alliance’s position.

Kneeling meant submitting—something they absolutely could not do.

But that was enough for Seol Unwi.

He took that silence as a refusal.

Thunk!

A dagger from Seol Unwi’s waist buried itself in Wu Menggyeok’s throat in an instant.

Flashing Hollow Needle Technique (Seomha Ilchimsul).

As blood gushed upward, the dagger twisted sideways.

Crunch—!

His spine snapped—and Wu Menggyeok departed this world.

Seol Unwi tossed the corpse aside and spoke in a chilling tone.

“Cheonpung, you’re the only one I can trust to handle this.”

“It’s an honor, hehe...”

He casually moved to stand beside Seol Unwi.

Though Cheonpung’s wounds wouldn’t fully heal for a few more days, he could still move.

And that meant he still had the strength to stab someone.

Seol Unwi drew his sword and whispered.

“Kill them all.”

“Hehehehe... Yes, sir!”

He didn’t need to kill all of them.

Even if he left just one alive, that was enough.

Which meant—

Seol Unwi alone would deal with seventeen enemies.