Seong, the chief bodyguard’s, shoulders heaved once. He slowly lifted his head, and a different, deeper light began to seep into his eyes.

As if something long imprisoned were finally being released.

I reached out and set a hand on his shoulder.

“So keep your self-doubt only to that extent. I make mistakes too, and others cover those mistakes for me. Do you think I would ever disregard it when you do the same for me?”

“......”

“There isn’t a perfect person in this world. I’m not perfect, and neither are you. We can strive to draw closer to perfection, but if that striving turns into self-doubt, the road only grows longer.”

I let a little strength settle into the hand on his shoulder.

“Stop looking back. How about we only look forward now—together.”

Seong said nothing. I didn’t add anything more.

I lowered my hand and looked around.

Those who had finished sweeping the mountain stronghold were lined up in formation.

We were done here.

“We’re returning. Those with severe wounds, there are wagons at the foot of the slope—hold out just until there.”

“Yes, sir!”

When I started walking, Pung Muhwi of the Cheonrak Unit and the rest fell in behind me.

We took perhaps six steps and then stopped.

So did everyone else.

There was a reason for all of us to halt.

Turning my head slowly, I could see Seong, back where he had been, seated cross-legged and sinking into selflessness.

I couldn’t help but smile.

One need only look at the natural energies rising and whirling around him to be sure.

A leap into the Mythic Realm.

At last, Seong—who had been stalled for so long—had shattered the wall.

I glanced around and spoke quietly.

“My apologies. I’d like to amend my words: how about we rest a little longer before we go.”

At Unhwi’s remark, the Cheonrak Unit chuckled under their breath, and Pung Muhwi chimed in.

“To be honest, our injuries are a tad serious—we wouldn’t mind a short rest, lord.”

As if it had been agreed upon, everyone sat down on the spot.

A door that had been barred for a very long time began to open.

Trust yourself.

Unhwi’s words resounded from the depths of his heart.

All this time he had believed he trusted himself—but he had not.

As he weathered what was happening around him, he fell into an obsession with advancing his realm, and that hardened into compulsion.

He had doubts about himself, but he forcibly smothered them.

He refused to answer them at all, turning away.

The Lord entrusted him with the martial arts of his life, saying there was no one but Seong who could someday bear the Baekseol Ghost Brigade.

And Unhwi gave him ceaseless, boundless trust.

Was he truly a man of that caliber? It was hard to answer—and to be frank, he still didn’t know.

There was only one thing he knew now.

Whether he met the expectations around him or not—such things were always secondary.

The first thing, in the end, was himself.

If he had conviction in the road he would walk, he need only believe in it and go.

Not martial techniques nor inner-heart methods, but the most basic and most important thing: a human being’s mindset.

Seong’s breathing deepened. All sound around him vanished.

No wind, no brush of leaves, not even the beat of his own heart.

Within that stillness, he gazed inward.

There was fear.

Fear of failing to protect Unhwi. Fear of not being enough. Fear of never becoming as strong as others.

But beyond that fear lay something else.

Love.

A deep affection for Unhwi. A sense of responsibility toward the Baekseol Ghost Brigade. And an earnest heart for everything he wished to protect.

Ah, so this is what it was.

Seong understood.

What he had been seeking wasn’t greater strength.

It was what he already possessed.

Faith.

An unchanging faith toward Unhwi. An unwavering trust in the Baekseol Ghost Brigade. And an adamant conviction in the path he himself walked.

These were his weapons, and the cultivation he needed to temper.

Energy began to rise from Seong’s body.

The wall of the Ipshin Realm began to fissure.

Meridians long blocked started to open.

But it hurt.

Not a pain of flesh—one of the mind.

All the doubt and anxiety that had bound him burst forth at once.

—Am I truly of any use?

—Do I have the right to be here?

—Will the young master be endangered because of me?

Countless voices of self-doubt gnawed at his heart.

But Seong no longer yielded to them.

No one is perfect.

Everyone makes mistakes. However great a person may be, there are things they lack.

So it was for Unhwi, and so it was for Seol Jungcheon, lord of the Everlasting Snow Palace.

But such things do not make a person worthless.

What is lacking is also oneself.

Seong accepted all of himself.

His lacks. His fears. And his faith.

In that instant—

Crack—!

The sound of a massive barrier collapsing rang through his whole being.

From Ipshin Realm to Mythic Realm.

At last, he broke through the wall.

A new energy flowed through his entire body.

Deeper, wider, warmer.

The world around him began to answer him.

The wind circled about him; the leaves danced. Vitality rising from the earth wrapped his body.

But the greatest change was in his heart.

He was no longer anxious. He no longer doubted himself.

He knew who he was.

Seong, chief of the Baekseol Ghost Brigade. Unhwi’s most reliable companion.

He opened his eyes.

The world looked different.

Clearer, more vivid, more beautiful.

Unhwi was looking at him with a smile. In that smile were sincere congratulations and pride.

Seong rose slowly. His body felt light as a feather.

“Young master.”

His voice was not as it had been—deeper, steadier with conviction.

“I’ve finally climbed. I have.”

Unhwi nodded.

“You have. To the Mythic Realm.”

“...It feels a little unreal.”

Unhwi’s gentle smile came into view.

“It will be awkward at first, but in time you’ll grow used to it.”

“......”

“The road is long, but the step you took today will be far larger than you think. Steel your heart.”

Seong drew a long breath, and suddenly tears traced down from the corners of his eyes. Tears of joy.

He bowed his head deeply to Unhwi.

“I want to keep walking at your side, always.”

Unhwi smiled.

“Of course you should.”

A warm wind blew.

“No matter how much time passes, the place at my side is always yours. I have not doubted that for even a single moment.”

It was plain truth.

“We have a road to travel. Let’s save the rest of this talk for Seongjakju.”

“Are we to share a drink?”

A wry smile touched Unhwi’s lips.

“If red liquor is acceptable.”

At that, Seong tilted his head.

Red liquor?

He smiled anyway.

Because he felt good.

“Understood, young master.”

Hearing Seong’s reply, Unhwi looked around and spoke.

“We’re heading back.”

“Yes—sir!”

***

Only on the fourth full day did Unhwi’s party reach Seongjakju.

Much had happened in those four days.

In response to the Heavenly Righteous Alliance’s request for aid, eight new Heavenly Commissioner were appointed.

Among them, Unhwi, Jang Icheong, and Heukmyeong of Heukcheon Masugung moved.

The remaining Heavenly Commissioner looked into why those three were on the move—and immediately found the answer.

Running their own calculations on that answer,

they began to act as if by prior agreement.

It was simple.

Over those four days, every Green Forest stronghold near the Heavenly Righteous Alliance was purged. One could almost say the roots were ripped out.

This was a situation where you went all-in or not at all.

Eradicating the Green Forest.

It was one of the surest ways, as a Heavenly Commissioner, to earn the absolute trust of the common folk.

Above all, the Green Forest was so vast that even slaughtered and slaughtered again, # Nоvеlight # they seemed endless; blood winds were blowing across the regions, yet the commoners were said to cheer like mad.

All of that had happened in only four days.

At the entrance to Cheonryong Hall, Pung Muhwi spoke.

“At first I didn’t see it clearly, but it’s certain now—every time the honored Heavenly Commissioner moves, only good outcomes follow.”

“Is that so.”

“The people loathed the old Heavenly Righteous Alliance, and many martial men did as well. It chased profit and ignored cries of pain. I, too, have not a shred of excuse there—but in the time I serve you, lord, I intend to pay down that debt.”

After a moment’s thought, Unhwi asked quietly,

“Are you confident?”

“I am.”

“Your mindset is admirable.”

“More than that—can I help you further in any way?”

Unhwi smiled.

“No. You’ve done your part. The aftermath is mine to handle, is it not?”

Pung Muhwi tilted his head.

There’s something here.

Why say that?

The aftermath?

“Off you go.”

Ordinarily the Cheonrak Unit would lodge here at Cheonryong Hall, but Unhwi intended a full renovation of the complex.

For now, there was no space for them.

More importantly, with Pung Muhwi currently the unit chief, Unhwi meant to have the Cheonrak Unit stay at Punggeomgak for the time being.

“...Understood. And may I ask you for guidance in the martial path again?”

“Do so.”

Pung Muhwi nodded and once more offered a cupped-fist salute; following him, the Cheonrak Unit did the same.

“Rest well!”

With that, they departed as one.

Left alone together, Seong smiled.

“Young master. Are we going to match cups now?”

Then, catching Unhwi’s quiet, steady gaze on him, Seong scratched his head, a little sheepish.

“...Did I... make another mistake?”

Unhwi shook his head.

“Not a mistake—more that you’re getting a little full of yourself.”

“Me...?”

Unhwi lifted his eyes to the sky.

Most will think it’s over.

The Green Forest has been cleared; his talk with Jang Icheong points to a month hence; the Muksehoe matter is also a month out; and though the Heavenly Righteous Alliance’s settlement meeting was scheduled for before the secret realm appears, if Unhwi and Jang Icheong declare they will enter that realm, the date will very likely be pushed back.

Plainly put, what remains for Unhwi now is to govern Seongjakju as a Heavenly Commissioner for the time left, settle any disturbances, and prepare for the month ahead.

People will truly think that’s all—but regrettably, something remains.

“Doesn’t it strike you as odd?”

“...What do you mean?”

“What kind of stratagem was Jang Icheong actually laying?”

“...Pardon?”

“By killing the bandits disguised as government troops, I’d be pressured at the national level... and that becomes a leash? Isn’t that far too flimsy?”