At those words, one man furrowed his brows slightly.

It was Jang Yunhong, Sect Master of the Red Flame Blade Sect.

“Climbing up, you say... Lord Seol.”

“Yes, Senior Jang.”

“Well, going up is your decision, so I’ll leave it at that. But—why are you here?”

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t be?”

Jang Yunhong’s expression sharpened—he asked as though genuinely baffled.

“You swallowed up Jeokan, didn’t you? That place must be in shambles right now... Aren’t you going to clean it up?”

Unwi’s smile didn’t fade. Still wearing that same smile, he replied.

“Every matter has its own priority, Senior Jang.”

“...Are you lecturing me now?”

“I once said something to someone. ‘If three walk together, one is my teacher’—I believe it’s not about who teaches you, but what lesson you take from it.”

“......”

“Since you’re worried, I’ll answer. There are people who trust me, and people who owe me. I’ve left the stabilization of Jeokan in the hands of someone trustworthy—so there shouldn’t be any major issues.”

“...After provoking the Sichuan Alliance that badly, and you say there won’t be issues?”

“Yes. There were higher priorities, and I simply made the choice that seemed right to me. But, Senior Jang—”

“...Speak.”

“Weren’t you with the Martial Alliance?”

At those words, Jang Yunhong flinched.

“How is it that someone from the Martial Alliance is concerned about friction between me and the Sichuan Alliance?”

It was strange that Jang Yunhong, not Kang Cheolsan, brought up the Sichuan Alliance first.

It meant one thing.

These two men—regardless of being Martial or Sichuan—were already cooperating behind the scenes.

“I’d heard from Gaebang’s intel that there were frequent clashes between the two factions, but clearly, one should judge with their own eyes.”

Jang Yunhong remained ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) silent, and Kang Cheolsan finally spoke up.

“There are conflicts, but it’s all over the Shinsam Flower. Even bitter rivals can join hands briefly when it comes to that. Don’t you agree?”

“Not incorrect. Very well, I’ll take it that way.”

“......”

“And I was planning to send both of you a letter, but since we’ve met like this, all the better. May I speak?”

Jang Yunhong and Kang Cheolsan glanced at each other, then nodded.

“Go ahead.”

“The main factions of both the Sichuan and Martial Alliances can no longer retaliate against the board I’ve set.”

“......”

“The outcome is already decided. The Lords of both factions are not so incompetent as to retaliate under these conditions.”

“...What exactly are you trying to say?”

“It’s simple. If we use Shinsam Valley as the center, there are four cities within a hundred-ri radius: Yangryeong, Bongrae, Saryang, and Jeokan.”

This was fact.

Of course, smaller towns and villages weren’t counted.

There was no need to.

Fundamentally, the reason these four cities even came to be was because of Shinsam Valley.

The key point came next.

Beyond Yangryeong lies Seolap, and further beyond, the territory of Snow Mountain forces, which needn’t be considered. But the other three cities aren’t like that.

To reach the city past Bongrae, one must travel over 180 ri; past Saryang, it’s 150 ri; and from Jeokan on the coast, it’s 200 ri west to find a city on par with a military base.

In short, outside those four cities, the next closest settlement to Shinsam Valley is at least 200 ri away.

That was why Saryang couldn’t be left alone.

Only by bringing Saryang under control could all regions around Shinsam Valley be fortified into a military stronghold.

“I’ll give you one day.”

“...One day?”

“Withdraw from the Martial and Sichuan Alliances. Capture Saryang’s magistrate and bring him to me. There may be obstacles along the way, and making a decision might take time—but do not exceed two days.”

No sooner had those words left his mouth than the two men exploded.

“You... you arrogant bastard!!”

“Have you gone insane?!”

That was the expected response.

Unwi’s words were the same as demanding their surrender.

“...You think Lord Kang will just let this slide? Hah! You must be completely out of your mind. As if he’d sit still. He’s surely already devising his next move to pressure you. And for the deaths of the Iron Pavilion’s Third Unit soldiers you killed, our regional lord may act personally. You’ve won a few battles and now you’re lost in a delusional fantasy.”

“I feel insulted by what I just heard. This is no different from an affront to me personally. I demand an apology!”

Unwi silently watched the two men rant, then quietly erased his smile.

Apologize? He had neither the intent nor the reason.

“It seems you still don’t understand the situation.”

“What...?”

“Talk of retaliation from the Martial or Sichuan Alliances—of plotting the next move—none of it matters anymore.”

“...What are you saying?”

The two men—and everyone, really—were making a massive mistake.

The most important thing here was:

“How far I intend to go. That is the most important.”

“......”

“The Martial and Sichuan Alliances—these two factions are currently in conflict with me. But I wasn’t the one who started this. Threatening someone who deserves an apology is the conduct of beasts, not men.”

The two men didn’t understand what Unwi was saying.

But one thing drilled into their minds.

Started the conflict?

He said he didn’t start it?

“This guy’s more delusional than I thought. You arrogant bastard. This all started because you killed two of the Sichuan Alliance’s martial artists! And now you act like you’ve done nothing and shift the blame?”

Unwi stared calmly at the two men.

Even though the Demonic Cult’s Heavenly Daoist had intruded on the board, things could’ve been pulled back.

In truth, Kang Cheonwoo and Gun Mugyeol had intended to pull back.

But then that fool Lee Jagyeom acted on his own, creating a variable, and Kang Cheonwoo and Gun Mugyeol responded accordingly.

To be clear, this couldn’t all be chalked up to coincidence.

The greatest blame fell on the Heavenly Daoist, next on Lee Jagyeom, and then on Kang Cheonwoo and Gun Mugyeol.

Unwi had no intention of explaining all this. Nor did he want to.

“There’s nothing more meaningless than preaching scripture to a cow.”

And from that point forward, the two men could no longer raise their voices.

Because Chief Seong stepped to Unwi’s right.

And on his left stood Namgung Wonyang, heir of the Namgung line.

Unwi spoke in a tone closer to a notification than a suggestion.

“Do not go through the same procedures as Lee Jagyeom. You have two days. If you give me the answer I want within one day, you will be rewarded accordingly. If you answer on the second day, I will accept it without reward. But after that—I will not engage in any discussion whatsoever. Understood?”

“......”

“I’ll take that silence as yes.”

Unwi walked forward, brushing past the two men.

Even as he ascended the stone steps, the two remained silent—and only after he disappeared from view did they clench their fists.

“...That son of a bitch...”

“...Compose yourself. Have you forgotten who lives up there?”

What kind of place was Shinsam Valley’s Paemun, really?

Fifty years ago, there was a man whose overwhelming talent shook the martial world.

No Cheonmyeong — He Who Stood Against Heaven.

A monster among monsters who reached Heavenly Human Realm at just thirty-seven years old.

All in the martial world believed he would ascend even further and leave his mark in history.

But tragically, that was where No Cheonmyeong stopped.

Upon reaching the Heavenly Human Realm, he abruptly declared his seclusion in Shinsam Valley.

It’s already been fifty years since.

He’s lived alone in Shinsam Valley for fifty years—and took on a single disciple about twenty years ago.

Who is the true master of Shinsam Valley?

To be precise: No Cheonmyeong.

But he shows zero interest in things like harvesting Shinsam Flower.

You could say he’s utterly detached from worldly affairs.

Fifty years ago, he said this:

“I have no interest in the Shinsam Flower. I’ll build a small villa at the top of Shinsam Valley. Just don’t disturb me.”

He swept away the bandits who once ruled the valley, using their corpses as fertilizer—and no one dared oppose him after that.

A Heavenly Human Realm master isn’t exactly common—and in outer regions like this, they’re practically mythical.

So the governors of the cities mining Shinsam Flower periodically send him food, spiritual pills, gold, and medicine crafted from Shinsam Flower—Shinsamhwan and Shinsamyeon.

A new kind of order, one might say.

No Cheonmyeong had made it clear he had no interest in Shinsam Flower mining—but conflict naturally erupted among those who wanted it.

Who would be allowed to mine?

Everyone knew the Shinsam Flower’s value.

But such a precious thing couldn’t just be taken by anyone—so power-hungry factions emerged, and an unspoken rule took form:

“Anyone who wants to mine Shinsam Flower must first receive No Cheonmyeong’s permission.”

This wasn’t a rule he wanted—it was a pretext made by martial artists.

But No Cheonmyeong accepted it.

To avoid meaningless bloodshed, he agreed to permit only the regional representatives.

In Saryang, those two men were the designated representatives.

But today, they’d been issued a banishment decree.

Naturally, they were flustered.

That could only mean one thing—

The already-reclusive No Cheonmyeong was truly busy today.

So Seol Unwi, who’d just gone up, would likely be turned away as well.

That seemed certain.

But it was a miscalculation.

A danjeong passed, and then another...

Yet Unwi did not come down.

“......?”

***

At the end of the stone stairs was a small plateau, and atop it stood a modest yet refined jangwon (mountain villa).

Built from stone and wood, the building blended seamlessly with the mountain itself—harmonizing perfectly with the breathtaking view of Shinsam Valley.

It looked like a scene from a painting.

My steps halted before the villa.

Two characters were engraved above the entrance: 敗門 (Paemun).

This was the place.

In my previous life, I’d always been curious.

I had wanted to come here at least once.

At last, the door opened—and a young-looking man, eyes wide in surprise, looked at me and spoke.

"...Come in. He’s been waiting for you."

I nodded—and stepped inside.