Taking care of Ilhwa was easy enough.

She had been greatly shocked to learn that the one who had been giving her orders all this time was a friend of her father who had died long ago, but she seemed to understand it to some extent.

Before leaving for the Palace of Soul-Devouring Demonic Flames, Ilhwa, leaning on a crutch, gave Unhwi a cupped-fist salute.

“...Thank you for your grace, sir.”

To be honest, there was one thing he wanted to ask.

“Do you not resent me?”

“...”

“Ok Muhan was your father’s friend. He took his own life, and to speak plainly, that situation was no different from something I intentionally brought about.”

Ilhwa shook her head.

“...I know that you are an extraordinary man.”

“...”

“Someone ordinary like me could never follow, let alone surpass, the thoughts of someone like you. But that does not mean I have no path of my own.”

“Is that so.”

“I could not find a clear target. Why my family was killed, why the Flying Swallow Pavilion was exterminated, I knew nothing. A directionless grudge... was just a single rope I wanted to cling to, but not anymore.”

That was true. Not anymore.

“Zhuge Yeonghyeon. Now I only need to kill that one man. I finally have a clear reason... and you spared my life as well, so resenting you would not be the act of a proper person, nor of a martial artist.”

After saying that, Ilhwa briefly looked at Namgung Wonyang standing beside Unhwi.

There was no conversation. No mind-voice transmission either.

Ilhwa gave another cupped-fist salute.

To her, Unhwi said something rather strange.

“Before long, you will hear good news.”

“...For me?”

“Not only for you, but for all those like you.”

Ilhwa tilted her head, but did not bother to ask. It did not seem likely that he would answer even if she did.

And so Ilhwa departed.

Left alone with Unhwi, Wonyang asked him,

“What will you do now?”

The Return-of-Life Society was indeed dangerous, but they had made a fatal mistake.

In truth, calling it a mistake was not quite right. They had had no choice but to move according to their doctrine.

Usually, this was called binding oneself with one’s own rope, but however one looked at it, this was entirely their problem.

There was nothing more for Unhwi to do here.

Mak Sohong, filled with rage, would move, and so would the court of the Yang Empire. The prince of the Enemy State who had been framed would move as well.

A secret organization is dangerous only so long as it remains hidden. Once exposed like this, it is no longer all that threatening.

Above all, he did not have the time to keep clinging to the matter of the Return-of-Life Society.

He had already learned who stood above them, and through the experience of his previous life, he had also intuitively grasped who the Society Leader was.

To do more than this would be strange.

Now he had to deal with what he had postponed.

“I will stop by Yangnyeong briefly, then go straight to the Murim League.”

Wonyang nodded.

After that, the two of them headed for the stable inside Heaven-and-Earth Province.

They intended to leave for Yangnyeong, but strangely enough, someone was already there waiting for them.

“Mak Sohong.”

“Sir Seol.”

Mak Sohong answered with a cupped-fist salute. His waist bent far deeper than before.

He was the sort of man who gave one a new impression every time one saw him.

Thinking that, Unhwi asked,

“Have you been waiting?”

“I have.”

Mak Sohong’s gaze was serious. He spoke.

“Thank you.”

In a solemn voice, Mak Sohong said it again.

“I thank you sincerely, Sir Seol. Had it not been for you, I... no, the Yang Empire would have stepped onto a path from which there was no return.”

The Return-of-Life Society.

If they had fallen for that scheme, the Yang Empire would have collapsed by its own hand.

A war against the Enemy State, and a war without justification at that.

Just imagining it made a chill run down Mak Sohong’s spine.

Mak Sohong took one step forward.

“Sir Seol, if you ever need help, say the word.”

“...”

“Whatever it may be, I will rush there at once and help you.”

Fire blazed in Mak Sohong’s eyes.

“Though I am from a military office and cannot recklessly interfere in the affairs of the martial world.”

He clenched his fist tightly.

“If you require it, then I will come running even if I must lead the soldiers of the Yang Empire.”

“...”

“These are not empty words. It is a promise.”

Mak Sohong’s voice was resolute, but unexpectedly, Unhwi shook his head.

“That must never happen.”

“...Why not?”

“Elder Song could have used me, the man who offered him a political alliance, to accomplish many things.”

“...”

“There was only one thing he asked of me: to ensure that the Yang Empire did not fall. That was Elder Song’s foresight, and also a rational judgment made from seeing farther into the future.”

“I see...”

“When martial artists and the court become entangled, the end is never good. Do you not understand? Elder Song foresaw that now or later, the court would become entangled with other martial artists and be consumed by a great blaze. His promise with me was preparation for that day.”

“...A kind of... using poison against poison.”

“Exactly. Which is why, if I were to make use of you, Elder Song would be sighing in despair from the heavens.”

“Ah...”

“I appreciate your feelings, but unfortunately, it is better for officials and martial artists not to become deeply entangled. The current line is the most appropriate.”

“...”

“There is only one thing you must do.”

Mak Sohong’s gaze changed.

“Please tell me.”

“The Return-of-Life Society.”

At that instant, killing intent flared in Mak Sohong’s eyes.

“Root them out completely.”

With a solemn expression, Mak Sohong gave a cupped-fist salute.

“I will do so, Sir Seol.”

In the end, Unhwi let out a dry laugh.

He did not really want to say this in such a serious atmosphere, but still.

“The word ‘sir’ is a little burdensome.”

“Then... what form of address would you prefer?”

“Could you not call me what you used before?”

“...I do not think I can.”

In that case—

“Then just call me sir.”

Mak Sohong laughed, and Unhwi laughed as well.

And so Unhwi and Wonyang boarded the carriage and headed for Yangnyeong.

***

Yangnyeong City headquarters.

When the carriage arrived, a familiar scene unfolded before them.

But it was a little different.

There were people gathered in front of the main gate.

Namgung Wonyang looked at Unhwi.

“It looks like a delegation.”

Unhwi looked out the window as well.

He could see the banner of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace. By his eye too, it seemed to be a delegation. Come to think of it, Seol Jungcheon had said this.

That he would put together a delegation and send it.

So this must be that delegation.

He stepped out of the carriage.

At that moment—

“Little brother!”

A familiar voice rang in his ears.

When he turned his head, a woman in pure white clothes was running toward him.

Seol Yeonhwa.

Unhwi’s older sister, and one of the polar heirs.

“It has been a long time, older sister.”

“It really has.”

Seol Yeonhwa threw her arms around him.

“...People are watching.”

“So what if they are? You’re my little brother.”

Seol Yeonhwa beamed.

She was still as free-spirited as ever.

As she released him, Seol Yeonhwa asked,

“I heard the rumors, and they’re incredible.”

“They’re exaggerated.”

“Exaggerated? You raised the Heavenly Alliance into one of the three great powers of the Central Plains, and yesterday you even caught spies in Heaven-and-Earth Province.”

“That part is true.”

“Then none of it is exaggerated.”

Unhwi closed his mouth at that, and Seol Yeonhwa said,

“You’re going to the Murim League now, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going too.”

“...”

“Don’t you remember what you told me before? The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”

Once, Seol Muryeon, the second among the polar heirs, had caused a huge incident.

When he had been hovering between life and death, Unhwi had personally gone to the Ice-Sea Province and saved him, and there he had said this to Seol Yeonhwa.

That if the day ever came when he went to the Murim League, she had to tell him.

It was hardly anything new, but whether it was the Murim League or the Sacheon League, they were alliances in the end, and so it was only natural that the martial artists within them would rank one another.

Various tournaments were held for that purpose, but setting aside the minor ones, the Murim League had two major gatherings.

The Gathering of Sages and the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

As far as Unhwi knew, there should still have been about four months left before the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

“Is the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering being held now?”

“Yes. It got moved up.”

“Is that so.”

“The repairs to the martial grounds were finished, the formations were all installed, and the martial world has been so noisy lately that I thought it would be delayed even more if anything, not moved up. But somehow that’s what happened.”

Unhwi looked at Seol Yeonhwa with a strange gaze.

“Why? Should I not go?”

Unhwi shook his head.

“You may go. More than anything, if you came all this way, that means father has already given his permission, so what right do I have to stop you?”

A promise was a promise.

Unhwi turned his head. He saw a tall man.

The man spoke.

“Hyun Seollin.”

Ha Baekhyun.

The First Order of the Twelve Orders.

“I am Ha Baekhyun, the one placed in charge of this delegation to the Murim League.”

Unhwi gave a cupped-fist salute.

Ha Baekhyun returned it.

Their gazes met.

The air sank with a subtle heaviness.

Unhwi walked right up to him until he stood directly before him.

“There is a great deal I want to say.”

“...”

“Do you have nothing to say to me?”

Ha Baekhyun mulled over the question, then answered in a firm tone.

“I received orders only to escort the Ice-Snow Spirit and Hyun Seollin.”

“Escort...”

As he stared at Ha Baekhyun, the light in Unhwi’s eyes changed strangely.

“Can I trust that?”

“It is the Palace Lord’s order. As the First Order of the Twelve Orders, I intend to obey it.”

“...”

“Of course, I have no power to refuse it either.”

Unhwi could guess why his father had sent Ha Baekhyun here.

So much had changed from the previous life that this man might also change, so go see him yourself and judge.

Whether to make Ha Baekhyun his man, or eliminate him.

That choice had been left to him.

But that was not all.

Seol Jungcheon was by no means a fool.

Unhwi looked up at the sky for a moment.

That was enough.

“Senior Ha.”

“Yes.”

“For this matter alone, I will give you my trust.”

“...”

“Do you have the confidence not to disappoint me?”

The surroundings fell silent.

Even Seol Yeonhwa simply watched the two of them without a word.

Ha Baekhyun slowly opened his mouth.

“I do.”

“Then that is enough.”

Unhwi extended his hand.

“Let’s do this properly.”

Ha Baekhyun took his hand.

“The same to you.”

This was enough.

Unhwi released his hand.

“The road is long. We will depart at once without delay, so make your preparations.”

“Understood.”

Ha Baekhyun stepped back.

As Seol Yeonhwa watched his retreating figure, she approached Unhwi.

“Little brother.”

“Yes, older sister.”

“There’s something I don’t know, isn’t there?”

“There is.”

“...And if I ask, you’ll answer?”

“If you want me to.”

Seol Yeonhwa thought for a moment, then shook her head.

“I’m not as much of a genius as our little brother, so just tell me roughly what I need to do.”

Unhwi smiled.

“Understood.”

He turned his head.

He could see Ju Soa leaning against a tree off ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ in the corner.

Her arms were crossed, and she looked displeased about something.

Unhwi walked over to her.

Ju Soa spoke at once.

“I’m a little hurt.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why aren’t you taking me with you?”

“Because I trust you.”

Caught off guard by the answer, Ju Soa’s eyes widened.

She was so startled that she even uncrossed her arms.