“Whichever way you interpret it, the result is the sa. You complete your revenge, and the Soul Demon Fla Palace ends up in your hands.”
Unhwi spoke firmly.
“To annihilate the Soul Demon Fla Palace and to make the Soul Demon Fla Palace your own—both are the completion of your revenge. The only difference is thod.”
“......”
“The first thod is destruction. The second thod is conquest. Which will you choose?”
Han Murin deliberated for a long ti.
And at last, he opened his mouth.
“Please give so ti.”
“How long?”
“A week. That should be enough.”
Unhwi nodded.
“Very well. Give your answer in a week.”
Han Murin bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Commander.”
***
The Heavenly Righteous Hall of the Heavenly Alliance’s main headquarters in Cheonsu.
Silence # Nоvеlight # filled the wide audience chamber.
The seat of the Alliance Lord was still empty. Since Ye Wonje died suddenly, no one had taken that seat, and Mae Wuidong, the only one qualified to do so, had for so reason declined to inherit it.
Perhaps he judged himself unprepared. Or perhaps there was another reason. But now, as he sat in the Vice Alliance Lord’s seat, Mae Wuidong’s expression was more complicated than ever.
He had wanted to restore the Heavenly Alliance.
Yet those who had gathered for its revival had ended up fighting amongst themselves—and now, they had even created new enmities.
His gaze swept across the empty seats.
The Sword Emperor of Myriad Transformations, Jang Icheong of the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect.
Jin So-cheon of the Heaven-Sound Sword Sect.
Hang Ryeo of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.
So Ryeong-hwa of the Heaven Demon Spirit Sect.
All empty seats. None of them could ever return here.
Only three remained.
So Yehwa, the Wind-and-Cloud Sword of the Suncheon Sword Sect. A woman with neatly tied hair and sharp eyes.
Heukmyeong, the Thousand-Wolf Demon Spear of the Black Heaven Demon Beast Palace. A middle-aged man clad in black whose presence radiated the cold air of the Demon Beast Palace.
On his shoulder perched a crow—small in size, yet exuding the aura of a spiritual creature.
Reasonable enough.
Its color was white. This was the beast Heukmyeong kept with him: the White Crow.
And the last: Red Fla Lord Hwa Muryeong of the Soul Demon Fla Palace.
She was the only one aligned with Unhwi’s side, and so, with a complicated expression, Mae Wuidong asked Hwa Muryeong:
“Red Fla Lord—do you know when the Snow Mountain Army Lord will arrive?”
His tone was serious and courteous.
Hwa Muryeong thought for a mont, then answered:
“He will arrive soon.”
“Is there a reason he is not accompanying you?”
“I judged it more appropriate that I take my place first.”
“I see.”
As soon as Mae Wuidong nodded, So Yehwa spoke coldly.
“The Snow Mountain Army Lord... At first that epithet sounded strange, but now it suits him perfectly.”
“What do you an by that?” Hwa Muryeong narrowed her eyes.
So Yehwa smirked.
“The Snow Palace has always claid to revere the orthodox path. Yet its polar successor carries an epithet with ‘Demon’ in it. Strange, isn’t it? But after watching his actions—well, the na suits him just fine.”
In other words, even if Seol Unhwi walked the demonic path, it would not be surprising.
Hwa Muryeong frowned.
She held no deep emotional attachnt toward Seol Unhwi one way or another. But while his actions had been excessive, they had been necessary.
If Unhwi had not done what he did, Jang Icheong would be sitting here instead.
Hwa Muryeong let out a soft laugh.
“......Why are you laughing?”
“I’m laughing because it’s worth laughing at.”
“......”
“Does the Suncheon Sword Sect revere the orthodox path, then?”
“You’re not asking because you don’t know.”
“I know. That’s why I asked. If you truly revered the orthodox path, you’d have a few words for the one who’s now rotting in the Underworld river. Considering that everything began with that bastard, is your sect covering for him because you’re both among the Five Great Sword Sects, or are you simply closing your eyes on purpose? Are you confident in yourselves?”
So Yehwa shot to her feet.
“Miss So.”
Heukmyeong quietly stopped her.
“This is not the ti for such words.”
“But—”
“If the Chief Heavenly Commander were alive, he would indeed deserve the sa judgnt. Considering that all of this began with him, one could even say the Snow Mountain Commander is closer to a victim.”
“......”
“Granted, I have received assistance from him, but I trust you know I am not one who confuses public and private matters.”
“...I do know.”
“Then let us wait for now. The Snow Mountain Commander is not even here yet, and we have not heard anything from his own mouth.”
So Yehwa clicked her tongue, glared briefly at Hwa Muryeong, then threw back her tea in a single motion.
Once the tension settled, Mae Wuidong spoke in a solemn voice.
“What we must discuss now is not the Snow Mountain Army Lord’s epithet, but the future direction of the Heavenly Alliance.”
But before he could continue—
The doors of the Heavenly Righteous Hall opened.
Every gaze turned.
Unhwi was entering.
He carried himself with overwhelming presence.
Clad in black, his aura was wholly different from before—this was the dignity of one who had reached the Heaven-Earth Apex.
Mae Wuidong’s eyes brightened at the sight.
So Yehwa and Heukmyeong were the sa.
Regardless of what he had done, who could now dare treat him lightly?
Whatever consequences his actions brought—that was secondary. Unhwi was already among the upper echelons of the martial world.
That was what mattered most.
He walked forward unhurriedly and seated himself in the empty place.
“My apologies for the delay.”
“It is no issue. You arrived at the right ti.”
Mae Wuidong spoke with courtesy.
“First... you endured much through these events.”
“I rely did what was necessary.”
Behind Unhwi stood five figures. So Yehwa frowned at the sight and interjected.
“That’s quite a lot of people.”
Unhwi’s gaze shifted to her.
“You must understand what kind of eting this is. Isn’t bringing people without ‘authority’ here excessive?”
At her pointed tone, Unhwi smiled gently.
“I understand very well what you are trying to say.”
“...Do you?”
“Yes. I brought them because they were the principal actors in the incident. They are here to receive recognition for their rit.”
“...rit? Recognition? For killing four Heavenly Commanders?”
The atmosphere chilled.
Unhwi looked directly at her.
“Not four Heavenly Commanders—four fools bloated with greed.”
“......”
“And do you know why they died?”
“Well? Why do you think?”
“Because my people bled.”
Unhwi’s voice remained perfectly calm.
“If my people shed blood, why would I not demand a price?”
“But because of that—”
“You an to say the Heavenly Alliance has beco troubled, correct?”
“......”
“Then such a situation should never have arisen to begin with. This is the martial world. Those who submit lose everything. Do I look like soone who submits?”
So Yehwa stared blankly.
Is this man actually insane?
“If one intends to take everything from another, one must also be prepared to lose everything. And tell —are you in any position to question ?”
“...What?”
“There is nothing more unpleasant than soone without authority pretending they have it. Senior.”
So Yehwa once again surged up from her seat—
“The Snow Mountain Army Lord and the Wind-and-Cloud Sword. This is not the ti to bla one another.”
At Mae Wuidong’s words, she halted.
Mae Wuidong released a long breath.
“Let us organize the current situation of the Heavenly Alliance.”
He began counting on his fingers.
“North River Province, Bogae County, Juksan County, Balhwa County. Four regions are now territories without owners.”
“......”
“And the Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect, the Heaven-Sound Sword Sect, the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, and the Heaven Demon Spirit Sect will unquestionably beco adversaries of the Heavenly Alliance.”
This was not an exaggeration.
This morning, letters denouncing Seol Unhwi’s actions had already arrived from all four sects.
Mae Wuidong looked at Unhwi.
“You stand at the center of all this.”
Unhwi spoke evenly.
“So what will you do?”
“What do you an...?”
“You know it. I know it. This is the mont of choice.”
Unhwi spoke clearly.
“Will you embrace and face those four sects—or will you cast aside and shift all enmity onto ?”
He had struck the core without missing a beat.
All the enmity centered on Unhwi.
If the Heavenly Alliance discarded him and left all responsibility to him, there would be no backlash.
The dead have no voices. And attaching a few justifications to a corpse would silence any protest.
It was an old martial tradition.
Mae Wuidong asked:
“What is it that you desire?”
“I don’t particularly care.”
Unhwi’s tone was tranquil.
“But I will make one thing clear.”
“What is that?”
“If you discard , the Heavenly Alliance will remain just another alliance. But if you stand with ...”
Unhwi’s eyes flashed.
“...Whether it ends in triumph or ruin, the Heavenly Alliance’s mandate will take root across the world.”
Silence fell.
Only then did Mae Wuidong fully understand.
Why Unhwi brought his people here.
He was showing sothing.
Seong Yangho, Joo Soa, Namgung Wonyang, Han Murin, Pung Muhwi.
And even Hwa Muryeong.
Each of them commanded people of their own. Whatever their abilities were—Unhwi had devastated four entire regions with just these.
Those regions were now hollowed out. Their forr ruling powers crippled.
And at the center of it all—was Unhwi.
If he could do that with only these few—
What would he do with the Heavenly Alliance behind him?
He had used this kind of psychological leverage before.
When he consud the Bright Spirit Domain, he stimulated imaginations—and then surpassed them.
This ti was no different.
A subtle smile appeared on Mae Wuidong’s lips.
The rumors had not been exaggerated.
This was a specin.
His behavior. His tone.
The atmosphere he created effortlessly.
“Before we begin the eting, may we speak privately for a mont?”
Unhwi smiled faintly.
“Yes, Vice Alliance Lord.”
The two n stood and headed toward the outer pavilion.
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