“If there is anyone who can protect Yangnyeong City in my absence, it would be no one but you.”

“...Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“I am only stating the truth.”

Unhwi looked directly into Ju Soa’s eyes.

“The Heaven-and-Earth Fourfold Realm is by no means low. If you look at the magistrates and governors who manage other cities, many of them are ordinary people. If someone at the Heaven-and-Earth Fourfold Realm guards a territory, its stability naturally rises by that much.”

Nocheonmyeong, a master at the unity of heaven and man, was only the headmaster of the academy.

He could offer help, but Ju Soa’s position and Nocheonmyeong’s position were different. That was an undeniable fact.

“Once I bring in the Baekryeong Guard or the Snow-Heaven Guard later, things should become freer. So until at least this matter is done, remain here and protect Yangnyeong City. Can you do that?”

“...If you put it that way, then... of course I have to. Th-that is, when are they coming?”

“It will not take long. A month at most.”

“...Isn’t a month a long time?”

“It will pass quickly. So do not cause trouble.”

“What do you mean cause trouble? Am I a child?”

Scratching her head, Ju Soa gave a cupped-fist salute.

“Have a safe trip.”

Unhwi nodded.

That day, the delegation departed.

Its destination was Gongneung, where the Murim League’s main headquarters stood.

The expected travel time was fifteen days.

***

Gongneung.

It was where the Murim League’s main headquarters was located.

As soon as the delegation’s carriage passed through the city gate, people’s eyes turned toward it all at once.

The banner of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace.

That alone was enough.

The city began to stir.

Because everyone knew who was riding inside.

Two of the polar heirs.

And not just any two, but Seol Unhwi and Seol Yeonhwa.

Seol Yeonhwa was extremely famous. Her beauty was so extraordinary that she was adorned with all manner of titles, as though her appearance had been sculpted by the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Mountain itself, but unfortunately, on this day of all days—

To put it bluntly, she might as well have been a folding screen.

Because the existence of Seol Unhwi beside her was simply too overwhelming.

He was even younger. The year had turned, and now he had finally reached twenty. Look at all he had accomplished already.

Calling it remarkable was not enough.

There were countless martial artists who admired Seol Unhwi, and just as many who envied him. It was that kind of presence.

Namgung Wonyang looked out the window and murmured quietly,

“...It’s incredible.”

“What do you mean?”

“This place, Gongneung. It’s bigger than Yangnyeong City... and it even feels grander than Heaven-and-Earth Province.”

Unhwi did not answer.

He merely looked out the window.

Gongneung.

He had come here countless times in his previous life.

As Chief Justice of the Heavenly Alliance.

As a master of Sole Primordial Mastery.

And each time, this city had shown him a different face.

At times, it had welcomed him.

At times, it had opposed him.

But now it was neither.

It was ambiguous.

It looked as though it welcomed him, yet beneath that lay caution. The Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace was neutral. It did not distinguish between righteous and evil.

More than that, it was backing a new force called the Heavenly Alliance.

And the figure connecting all of that was Seol Unhwi himself, and that very man had come to the Murim League.

It was only natural for them to be wary, and just as natural for suspicion to be rising everywhere.

“Our little brother really is amazing.”

He glanced briefly at Seol Yeonhwa, who was smiling brightly.

“This older sister, famous for her beauty, has now been overshadowed by our little brother. I feel quite slighted.”

Unhwi shook his head.

“Isn’t it because you are here, older sister, that I can shine even more?”

“...Ah...?”

“It is thanks to you.”

“...You really do speak well. I suppose there’s a reason they kept calling you Chief Justice of the Heavenly Alliance.”

Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Murim League’s main building.

Unhwi got out first, then Seol Yeonhwa, and after her Namgung Wonyang stepped down.

Namgung Wonyang, seemingly overwhelmed by the grandeur of the building and the atmosphere, swallowed dryly.

That was when Ha Baekhyun approached. His eyes met Unhwi’s. The two men exchanged a look.

“Welcome.”

A deep voice rang out.

Everyone turned their heads, and from the steps beyond the entrance of the main building, several men and women were descending.

The man at the very front gave a cupped-fist salute.

“I am Zhuge Yeonghyeon, Vice Leader of the Murim League.”

It was the first time in such an «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» official setting, but Zhuge Yeonghyeon, whom Unhwi had already met several times, now showed a face entirely different from any he had shown before.

Leaving aside how polite he was, there was even dignity in him.

Unhwi let out a silent sneer inwardly, then returned the salute with utmost courtesy.

“I am Seol Unhwi, Hyun Seollin of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace.”

After Unhwi—

“I am Seol Yeonhwa, Ice-Snow Spirit of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace.”

Seol Yeonhwa finished her greeting as well.

“You must have had a tiring journey.”

From the look in Zhuge Yeonghyeon’s eyes as he said it, Unhwi read many things. Outwardly, he seemed welcoming, but deep beneath that lay wariness and calculation.

It was obvious.

He must have prepared some scheme. Together with Gun Mugyeol.

This was a tiger’s den. Unhwi recognized that clearly.

“Thank you for inviting us.”

“It was only natural. The Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace and the Murim League have been on ‘friendly terms for a long time.’”

Zhuge Yeonghyeon smiled.

Naturally, Unhwi’s gaze shifted to the old man standing beside him.

“Ah, you have met before, haven’t you? This is Elder Wang Muha, Golden Blade Chivalric Hero, one of the Murim League’s Eight Great Elders.”

At Zhuge Yeonghyeon’s introduction, Wang Muha glanced at him, then looked at Unhwi.

“It has been a long time, Young Master Seol.”

The smiling Wang Muha was clearly sincere.

“Senior Wang, it has indeed been a long time. Have you been well?”

“Haha... well enough. I went to the Heavenly Alliance once before to see you and regretted not being able to meet you then, so it is good to see you now at least.”

“Unfortunately, my physical condition was not normal at the time... I am deeply concerned whether any of my subordinates may have behaved rudely.”

“Haha, no need to worry. I was treated warmly, and I understood the circumstances, so do not concern yourself.”

There was something extremely peculiar in Wang Muha’s gaze.

Even now, all manner of speculation was spreading through the martial world about how Mae Wi-dong, the former leader of the Heavenly Alliance, had died.

Wang Muha might well have been one of the people capable of inferring the truth.

Yet he gave no sign of it and did not bring it up.

Because he held favor toward Unhwi.

The same was true the other way around. Unhwi also held favor toward Wang Muha.

If he had to pull exactly one person out of this vast Murim League, and if he could make only that one person an ally, Unhwi would choose Wang Muha without a moment’s hesitation.

Not because he possessed the talent to one day rise to the Future Blossom Right Fist.

But because of the kind of man he was.

A smile appeared at the corner of Unhwi’s lips.

A man who preserved his own Way upon the vast board that was the martial world.

That was the kind of person he was.

“I am relieved to see that you too are in good health, Senior.”

“Healthy indeed. This Wang Muha is not ready to die yet.”

Wang Muha burst into a hearty laugh.

Zhuge Yeonghyeon’s gaze shifted subtly.

But he soon smiled again.

“Come, please go inside. We have prepared guest quarters for you.”

“Thank you.”

The group entered the Murim League’s main building.

The corridors were wide and spotless.

But Unhwi saw other things.

Martial artists stationed here and there.

On the surface, they looked like attendants or guards, but every single one of them was a master.

At minimum, Entry-Divinity Realm.

At the highest, even Heavenly-Man Realm.

The Murim League was wary.

Of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace.

No, of him.

Unhwi paid it no mind.

If anything, this much had been expected.

They arrived at the guest quarters.

“Please rest comfortably. A banquet has been prepared for the evening.”

“Understood.”

Zhuge Yeonghyeon withdrew.

But Wang Muha remained.

“Young Master Seol.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“I have something to say to you for a moment.”

Wang Muha looked around.

After confirming that everyone else had gone inside, he approached Unhwi.

“Be careful.”

“...What do you mean?”

“There are those who do not think well of you.”

Wang Muha’s voice lowered.

“Both inside the Murim League and outside it.”

“I know.”

“...You do?”

“Yes.”

Unhwi looked at Wang Muha.

“I am simply grateful that you are worried for me.”

“Haha, as I have said more than once, I still have not repaid the debt I owe for that game.”

Wang Muha patted Unhwi on the shoulder.

“So if you find yourself in difficulty, come find me. This old man will help you.”

“I am grateful, but there is one thing I would like to correct.”

“And what is that?”

“You owe me no debt, Senior Wang.”

“...Hm?”

“That game was only a game. More importantly, I did not raise your realm or do anything of the sort, so all that remains is the fact that one man played a game with another.”

“Mm... Is that how you see it?”

“That is how I would like to see it. That way you will not feel burdened.”

“Hoh... Do I look like a man putting shackles on himself?”

“Yes.”

“...You truly are... Just when I think I understand you, I find I do not. You are a truly mysterious man.”

“Thank you.”

“I will remember your heart.”

Unhwi nodded, then moved his lips quietly.

It was mind-voice transmission.

-Senior.

Wang Muha’s eyes widened.

-...Hm?

-I have one request.

-Speak.

-Tomorrow, or the day after, no matter what happens, do not move.

Wang Muha’s face hardened.

-...What do you mean?

-Just remain in the guest quarters. Or go far away.

-Young Master Seol, just what—

-It will benefit you, not harm you.

Wang Muha looked directly at Unhwi.

His eyes were full of doubt.

But the Seol Unhwi he knew was not a man who spoke nonsense.

He could not take such words lightly.

-...Very well.

-Thank you.

-By any chance.

Wang Muha asked cautiously,

-...Is something going to happen in the Murim League?

-Do not worry.

Unhwi smiled.

-It is a good thing.

-A good thing?

-Yes.

Unhwi said no more than that.

Wang Muha did not ask further.

“Then I will be on my way.”

“Take care, Senior.”

Wang Muha left.

Now alone, Unhwi went into the guest quarters.

Namgung Wonyang was waiting.

“My lord.”

Wonyang gave a respectful cupped-fist salute, and Unhwi asked,

“The thing I told you to confirm?”

“I confirmed it.”

“And the answer?”

“They said it was positive.”

That was more than satisfying enough.

“Wonyang.”

“Yes.”

“There are two choices.”

“...I am listening.”

“I will have a private meeting with Gun Mugyeol tomorrow night. The first choice is for you to be with me there.”

“And the second?”

“The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering opens tomorrow morning. The second choice is for you to participate in it.”

At Unhwi’s words, Wonyang’s eyes widened.

“...You are saying you are giving me a chance to raise the fallen name of Namgung once more.”

“You could say that.”

Wonyang answered as though there were no need to think any further.

“I will stay with you, my lord.”

“If things go wrong, you may die.”

“Being buried with you would not be so bad.”

Unhwi gave a soft snort of laughter.

“You might die alone.”

“...”

“I am joking.”

Unhwi slowly walked over and came to stand beside Wonyang.

“And one more thing.”

Wonyang turned her head.