“...That...”

“Do exactly as I said, and I will keep my promise. I will spare your life.”

“...My... life?”

“I also intend to treat your leg. It was broken cleanly, so recovery will not be difficult. Of course, whether you escape and evade your pursuers will depend on your own ability.”

“...Can you... truly promise that?”

“I have never broken a promise, not even once. I have played with words from time to time, but I will make an exception for you.”

“...”

“Choose. What will you do?”

“...I’ll send it.”

“A wise decision.”

***

Around Tiger Hour that night, a man appeared at Twilight Inn on the outskirts of Heaven-and-Earth Province.

He wore a black hat and a face covering, and even his robe was black. To an unknowing observer, he would have looked like nothing less than an assassin.

He opened the door without a word.

The inn was quiet.

A few martial artists could be seen, but they were all talking about Song Hak’s death in Heaven-and-Earth Province.

He ignored them and silently went upstairs.

Only two people were there.

His gaze settled on the gray-haired man.

Sitting with one leg crossed over the other and arms folded, the man radiated an unmistakably extraordinary presence.

That man was Seol Unhwi of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace.

He spoke.

“You’re late.”

“Was it so urgent that you waited for me?”

“Do I look urgent?”

“You do not.”

“Sit.”

“...”

“I do not repeat myself. Sit.”

The man removed his black hat and lowered his face covering.

He looked to be in his early forties. What stood out most about him, however, were his eyes.

One eye was white, as if he had lost his sight. The other was red, as if stained with blood.

Without a word, he walked over and sat across from Unhwi.

“It seems you didn’t bother with face-shifting arts.”

“There was no need.”

Namgung Wonyang, standing beside Unhwi, leaned in and whispered something into his ear.

After hearing it, Unhwi asked the man,

“Jade Muhan of the Heterochromatic Blood Eyes, is that correct?”

“That is correct.”

“A master who has reached the Heavenly-Man Realm, and once the Great Elder of the Cloud-Iron Sword Sect?”

Ok Muhan nodded and added,

“And one of the Return-of-Life Envoys you were looking for.”

Unhwi gave a faint, incredulous chuckle.

“The Cloud-Iron Sword Sect is still intact, yet a former Great Elder joins the Return-of-Life Society? That is difficult to understand.”

“Do I need your understanding?”

Unhwi smirked.

Then Ok Muhan glanced at Namgung Wonyang beside him.

“I heard on the way here—you subdued Ilhwa.”

Namgung Wonyang did not answer. She had not been given permission to speak.

“A loyal subordinate, I see. Let me ask one thing. Did you kill her?”

Namgung Wonyang glanced at Unhwi. When he gave a slight nod, she spoke immediately.

“I did not kill her.”

“...I see.”

Ok Muhan turned his gaze back to Unhwi.

“I would like to see Ilhwa.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I do not wish to.”

Unhwi uncrossed his arms and placed his hand on the table.

“It seems you care about that subordinate named Ilhwa.”

“...”

“She was the bait used to summon you, yet you make no effort to hide how much you value her. Curious. Am I correct in what I’m thinking?”

“You are.”

Unhwi let out a dry laugh.

“Then I’ll ask a few questions first.”

“Go ahead.”

Unhwi looked at him directly.

“What is the purpose of the Return-of-Life Society?”

Ok Muhan tilted his head.

He had already heard what happened in Yangnyeong City. He knew Hyeolmu was dead. So why ask something so obvious?

Though puzzled, he answered.

“To divide nations. To start wars. That is our purpose.”

“I already know that.”

Unhwi continued,

“That is not what I am asking.”

“...?”

“Why do you do it?”

Ok Muhan hesitated briefly before answering.

“We have lost everything. Our families, our sects, our kin.”

“So?”

“The world abandoned us. So we abandon the world in return.”

“That is not a reason.”

“...What?”

“Revenge against the world? That cannot serve as justification.”

Unhwi’s eyes turned cold.

“Who, what, and why. Only when those are clear does it become true revenge.”

“We have justification—”

“You do not.”

Unhwi cut him off.

“I know your doctrine. One life for one life. A blood debt is repaid in blood.”

“...”

“But whose life are you repaying? Whose blood debt are you repaying?”

Ok Muhan could not answer.

“What grievance did you have with Song Hak?”

“...None.”

“Then why kill him?”

“...To start a war.”

“Is that revenge?”

Unhwi tapped the table.

“You are not taking revenge. You are merely being used as someone else’s tool.”

“...What are you talking about?”

“Think about the ultimate purpose of the Return-of-Life Society.”

Unhwi spoke quietly.

“Division between nations. The provocation of war. In the end, who benefits?”

Ok Muhan’s expression stiffened.

“Those who seek to expand their power through chaos.”

Unhwi continued,

“Those who intend to devour weakened nations through war.”

“...”

“The Return-of-Life Society is their tool. You believe you are taking revenge, but in truth, you are merely moving to fulfill someone else’s ambition. Or perhaps someone else’s personal revenge.”

Ok Muhan clenched his teeth.

“...How much do you know?”

“More than you think.”

“...”

“You already know what will happen next.”

“...I do.”

“The Yang Empire and the Enemy State will move. And once the martial artists connected to them begin to act as well, the Return-of-Life Society will inevitably be dismantled.”

“...”

“When that happens, those who were used as tools will all be captured and killed. Return-of-Life Envoys... even those at your level will die. At best, only the Society Leader and the Return Decree they follow will survive.”

“...”

“Unfortunately, I have no intention of sparing or protecting the Return-of-Life Society. You, that subordinate named Ilhwa, all of you will die. And that is a consequence of your own actions.”

“...”

“Of course, those who were used out of ignorance will die meaningless deaths. But even that is something they brought upon themselves. They will not have the right to call it unjust.”

Ok Muhan ran a hand over his face.

Seol Unhwi.

When he had only heard the rumors, he thought them absurd.

How could a man barely past youth accomplish such things?

But seeing him now, it was entirely possible.

This man...

He is truly terrifying.

He understood now why he had been summoned.

“...I have one request.”

“Speak.”

“Spare Ilhwa.”

At that point, it became clear why Ok Muhan had joined the Return-of-Life Society.

“The master of the Flying Swallow Pavilion was a man named Il Ji-seok. He had one daughter.”

“...”

“Ilhwa, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“What was your relationship with Il Ji-seok?”

“...We were friends.”

“So you joined the Return-of-Life Society to avenge your friend, and you have actively used his daughter, Ilhwa.”

Ok Muhan frowned.

“Used?”

“Does the word bother you?”

“It does.”

“Then do you deny it?”

“...I do not.”

His expression twisted, but he did not refute it.

If one gives, one must receive.

“Do you know who the Society Leader is?”

At Unhwi’s question, Ok Muhan shook his head.

“What about the Return Decree?”

“...I know one.”

“State the name.”

“...If you promise, in your own name, to spare Ilhwa, I will tell you.”

Unhwi had no intention of making things difficult, but this was different.

He had already promised Ilhwa her life, but what Ok Muhan was asking was for him to take responsibility for everything.

“I can provide her with a place to stay, with her identity hidden.”

“...Where?”

“The Palace of Soul-Devouring Demonic Flames.”

Ok Muhan’s eyes widened.

“If it is an organization under the protection of the Heavenly Alliance, and with my backing, then at the very least she will not die as a member of the Return-of-Life Society. That is the best promise I can offer.”

“...Very well. I will tell you.”

Ok Muhan spoke in a quiet voice.

“An elder of the Sacheon League—Gwak Seunghan, the One-Eyed Dragon Elder.”

“Are you certain?”

“I am.”

Unhwi looked at him with an unreadable expression.

He had indeed seen the name Gwak Seunghan in the records of the Return-of-Life Society from his previous life.

This was something that needed to be confirmed.

In his previous life, the identity of the Society Leader had never been revealed.

Only three Return Decree had been identified.

And one more person he had personally suspected.

If that one was correct, that made four in total.

“I have one more question.”

“What is it?”

“Has anyone ever seen the Society Leader?”

Ok Muhan frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean exactly what I said. Has anyone seen that person directly?”

“...Other than the Return Decree, no. And since we are speaking of it, you are fortunate.”

“Is that so?”

“Not all Return-of-Life Envoys even know the Return Decree. Even I, after fifteen years in the Society, only saw Gwak Seunghan in my thirteenth year.”

That was enough.

Unhwi nodded.

“That will suffice.”

Then Ok Muhan spoke {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} slowly.

“Take care of Ilhwa.”

Unhwi nodded.

Ok Muhan drew a short blade from his robes.

Namgung Wonyang placed her hand on her sword, but Unhwi raised his hand to stop her.

“My lord?”

“Leave him.”

Ok Muhan placed the blade against his own neck.

“Seol Unhwi.”

“Speak.”

“Will you deliver a message to Ilhwa?”

Tears gathered in Ok Muhan’s eyes.

“Tell her... that the one who exterminated the Flying Swallow Pavilion was Zhuge Yeonghyeon of the Murim League.”

Zhuge Yeonghyeon had done so many absurd things that this hardly surprised Unhwi.

“And your identity?”

“...You may tell her that as well.”

“Very well. I will tell her everything you said.”

Ok Muhan let out a faint laugh.

And then—

Slash!

He cut his own throat.

Blood spurted like a fountain.

His body collapsed to the ground.

Silence fell.

Namgung Wonyang looked at Unhwi.

“My lord.”

Unhwi turned his head.

“Do you have something to say?”

“...Yes.”

“Speak.”

“...Is it the Sacheon League? The force behind the Return-of-Life Society?”

Unhwi shook his head.

“It would not be accurate to call them the force behind it. It would be more correct to say they are hiding within the Sacheon League.”

“...I see.”

Unhwi could not fail to understand what she was thinking.

“Are you worried about Chief Seong?”

“...Yes.”

“Do not worry.”

“Pardon?”

“He is not someone who will die easily.”

“...”

“And Kang Cheonwoo is not the kind of man who would stand by and watch that happen. Chief Seong will be safe.”

“...Understood.”

Unhwi looked down at Ok Muhan’s corpse.

“Take this body to Mak Sohong, and inform Ilhwa of what has just happened.”

“Yes, my lord.”