Unwi pointed to one of his white stones. It was firmly connected to the others around it.

“Mount Hua’s swordsmanship did not waver, just like a mountain standing firm in its place. They guarded their center, as the mountain keeps its ground.”

Sim Munryong’s eyes widened.

“Your game of Go focused too much on attack and lost its connections. Just like you, who has pursued only Mount Hua’s swordsmanship and lost Mount Hua’s path. Their swords were never meant to harm others. They were meant to guard the self—and from that center, to embrace the weak.”

Unwi gestured at the scattered black stones around his cluster of white ones.

“Look. The cohesion of these stones has rendered your black stones powerless. This is Mount Hua’s sword. There is no needless killing. Just solid, unshakable links centered on the self—that was more than enough.”

Sim Munryong’s hand trembled.

To think that the sword of Mount Hua he had pursued so desperately... was this.

Not to harm enemies—but to guard the center, and from that place, to protect the weak.

A realization struck him like thunder.

“Ah... ah...”

He couldn’t speak.

This was it.

That elusive feeling, always just beyond reach.

No... this wasn’t the hint of enlightenment. This was enlightenment itself.

Sim Munryong shot to his feet—and dropped immediately into the lotus position.

From within him, a vast mountain began to rise.

Unwi, watching, slowly stood up.

The result had been a victory by fifteen and a half points.

A crushing win.

Upon the board, white stones—like freshly fallen snow—covered the vital areas. Sim Munryong’s black stones had scattered without forming any solid connection.

***

Chief Steward Seong wore a speechless expression.

It had taken barely half a sijin.

In that short time, he had summoned everyone, assessed the warriors' capabilities, and aligned the logistics accordingly.

He thought he had moved quickly—but that cocky Baekryeong Unit warrior had fallen into a state of no-self.

That phenomenon, that form.

It was unmistakable.

He was ascending to the Myth Realm.

“...My lord...?”

He had only played a game of Go... and ascended from a game?

What in the world was this?

“Chief Seong.”

“...Yes.”

“Stand guard while he cultivates.”

“...Shouldn’t I come with you?”

Unwi shook his head.

“There’s no need for you to intervene.”

“...There could be a Harmonization Stage martial artist.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Unwi’s confidence wasn’t baseless.

If he were still at the level of Yangguang Ihyeon or Five Dragon Star, he would have avoided clashing with a Harmonization Realm martial artist.

But now... he had reached Samhwa Chwijeong.

That meant he had formed the True Core (Jindan-jeon). And with it, he could wield condensed internal energy—Genuine Qi.

By mixing Genuine Qi with False Form Qi, even a Harmonization Realm opponent—

He could fight them head-on.

He might end up wounded, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that he could take them on.

“And besides...”

A faint smile rose on Unwi’s lips.

“Do you know how to play Go?”

“...Of course. Who in the martial world doesn’t know how to play?”

“Then let’s play a game when I return.”

“...Will I end up like that?”

Unwi shook his head.

“I can give you something akin to insight, but accepting it depends on the individual. Especially in your case, since your martial senses haven’t fully returned, once won’t be enough.”

“...My lord.”

“Speak.”

“I have something in mind. You’re not thinking what I think you are, are you?”

Unwi didn’t answer.

“Rest.”

***

Between Bongnae and Yangnyeong sat a village called Oksu Village—and within it, the entrance to the gold mine.

As soon as Unwi arrived, his expression shifted.

His keen senses detected the presence of enemies in hiding.

“Cheonpung. Han Murin.”

His voice was cold—like the chill of the Snow Mountains.

“One up in the left tree. Two at the entrance. Let’s see how far you’ve come.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

It was the smile of the Snow Mountain Demon Lord.

“Kill them all.”

“Understood.”

Cheonpung and Han Murin carried out the order in their own ways. Their killing intent sliced through the air.

Cheonpung hurled the greatsword he’d been holding. Like a bolt of lightning, it severed the tree cleanly in two.

The martial artist hiding there leapt out in surprise.

Fatal mistake.

Cheonpung sprang forward and grabbed the man’s head, slamming it into the ground.

KWAANG—!

The man—clearly a Yangguang Ihyeon-level martial artist—was no more than an eggshell before Cheonpung’s brute force.

Cheonpung lifted the ruined head and grinned.

“Taken care of.”

Unwi nodded and turned.

Han Murin had already drawn his twin swords and was charging toward the entrance. Silver arcs traced through the air behind his blades.

The two men guarding the gate flinched in horror.

“W-Wait a—!”

Han Murin gave no verbal answer.

He responded with a smile—and his blade.

SLASH—!

One man’s head soared into the air.

Han Murin spun. The remaining man brought his sword down—

CHANG—!

Han Murin’s other blade parried it cleanly.

SHLUK—!

His right-hand sword pierced the man’s throat.

And then—

BOOM—!!

He detonated.

Heaven-Slaying Wolf Star Arts.

Frost Star Shatters the Void.

Han Murin flicked the blood from his twin blades and smirked.

“All done.”

Unwi nodded—his gaze turned to the entrance beyond.

From there, dozens of martial artists began charging out.

The occupying warriors of the Lightning Sword Gate, along with followers from the Twin Sword Sect and the Hidden Blade Sect.

Unwi looked at them and spoke.

“Listen.”

The branch officers of Jade Tiger Gate, Blue Cloud Sect, the Yeong Family, and Tianha Trading Company, along with the rest, turned to Unwi.

“No prisoners.”

His voice was firm—his command, absolute.

“Kill them all. Miners, merchants, unaffiliated warriors, cultivators—no exceptions.”

““Understood!””

Ju Soa and Wonyang charged forward first, followed by Cheonpung and Han Murin, then the remaining sect members of Yangnyeong.

Blood splattered.

Flesh tore.

In the midst of this battlefield, two alone remained calm.

The man in charge of Bongnae’s forces—Cold Star Iron Sword Su Gwangho.

And Unwi.

Su Gwangho spoke, voice laced with frost.

“You’re a cruel one.”

“You mean me?”

Unwi’s calm reply earned a bitter laugh from Su Gwangho.

He had expected negotiations, not a bloodbath.

This was far beyond prediction.

But more than that—

“You really ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) intend to slaughter them all?”

“Yes. I do.”

Unwi’s response held no hesitation.

Su Gwangho silently surveyed the carnage.

So many lay dead, yet his gaze was as if none of it concerned him.

Bizarre, to say the least.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Yes. Your title, your name, your cultivation, and your affiliation—I know them all.”

“And even so, you brought this about? You’ll see this through?”

“If a man draws his sword—and makes a choice—then he must see it through. That’s how it should be.”

“If you know my level, then surely you know seeing this through would be... delayed. You’re insane.”

Unwi shook his head.

“A man’s conviction should not bend before cultivation. Even if I am merely Samhwa Chwijeong and you are Harmonization Stage, my will remains intact.”

“...So this is your path.”

“Yes.”

Chief Seong had said it.

There might be a Harmonization Stage martial artist—so he offered to come along.

Unwi replied:

It didn’t matter.

He said that because he truly intended to see this through.

He continued calmly.

“This gold mine belongs to Yangnyeong. You know that, don’t you?”

Su Gwangho’s gaze sharpened.

“That’s not a simple question. I hear it used to belong to Bongnae.”

“Ownership changes.”

Unwi’s voice carried the cold weight of logic.

“Bongnae lost the mine to Cheonrim. And I took it from Cheonrim. Now Bongnae wants to take it back—so what can I do? I’ll gouge out their eyes so they never look this way again. Isn’t that the way of martial law?”

“...No choice, then.”

Su Gwangho drew his sword.

“You may be of Snow Palace blood—but you don’t have two lives. You know that, don’t you? If you die here—what then?”

A faint smile touched Unwi’s lips.

“Well. I’ve never really thought I’d die. But if I do—so be it.”

“Until now, no one has tried to kill you. Because harming you means harming Snow Palace. They’ve always gone for suppression over execution. You’ve used that—run wild because of it. Isn’t that the truth?”

“I don’t see it that way. But judging by your words, it seems you do.”

A chilling aura laced Su Gwangho’s sword. The air itself froze.

“Today, I’ll kill you. That’s the promise I came with... Don’t hold a grudge.”

“I won’t. But I do have one question.”

“What is it?”

“Your tongue’s awfully long. Did you commit a sin in that place before coming here?”

“...”

“To see a fallen Transcendental Stage cultivator in a place like Oksu Village... is quite the rare sight. So let me ask: if I kill you here—who comes next?”

“That won’t happen. But if I do die, then Golden Dao Chess Master Wang Muha will come.”

Unwi had heard the name.

This had nothing to do with the Lightning Sword Gate or Bongnae.

Wang Muha—Golden Dao Chess Master.

One of the Eight Elders of the Martial Alliance.

Currently at Union of Heaven and Man.

A future powerhouse who would one day reach Peach Blossom Subjugation.

It was laughable when he thought about it.

No matter how mad the Lightning Sword Gate was, acting like this wasn’t sane.

Someone had to be backing them.

And the Lightning Sword Gate belonged to the Martial Alliance.

So did Su Gwangho.

In other words—the Martial Alliance stood behind them.

Not long ago, Unwi played Go against Cheonrim.

Now, it was the Martial Alliance.

That was all.

His gaze turned cold.

“...I see. That’s enough, then.”