“Huh.”

Unhwi let out a strange laugh. Rare would have been an understatement—this was the first time Ju Soa had ever seen it.

“You laugh like that too?”

“When something is truly funny, this is how I laugh.”

“...Is it funny?”

In any case.

“What matters is actual combat experience, and you will be getting more than enough of that soon, so steel yourself.”

“...Pardon?”

Ju Soa’s eyes widened, unable to understand what he meant.

“This time, I will be going to the Chaotic Heaven Region. I am taking you, Namgung Wonyang, and Chief Seong with me.”

“...Ah...”

The Chaotic Heaven Region.

Ju Soa had heard of it as well.

A dangerous place beyond the northern extreme lands.

The place from which the Chaotic Heaven Ones poured forth.

“...Then I suppose I need to recover as quickly as possible.”

Unhwi nodded.

“The period will be long anyway. There are also places we must stop by on the way.”

“...Places we must stop by?”

Unhwi did not say anything further.

“Focus on your recovery. We will depart before the day is over.”

Rising from his seat, Unhwi left Ju Soa behind and stepped out of the training ground.

At one corner of the training ground,

Unhwi sat down quietly.

Chief Seong approached.

“Young Master...”

At the sight of Chief Seong’s worried expression, Unhwi gave a small laugh.

So much in this world might change, but that attitude of Chief Seong’s likely never would. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

“I know what it is that troubles you.”

“...Then perhaps... you might consider seeking a somewhat different solution...”

“There are other methods, but is there any need to bother?”

“......”

“I will choose the best course. Do you not trust me?”

“...What are you saying, Young Master? How could I not trust you?”

Unhwi smiled.

“Then do not worry, and bring Han Seokhyeon and Shin Suje to me.”

“...Understood.”

Chief Seong shot away, and not long after, returned with the two men.

“We greet the Commander.”

Han Seokhyeon and Shin Suje cupped their fists in salute.

Unhwi nodded, then looked at Shin Suje.

“Shin Suje.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“You may already have guessed this.”

Unhwi continued slowly.

“I do not bear any especially deep attachment to the Yangryeong Corps.”

Shin Suje’s gaze wavered.

It might have sounded like a strange thing to say.

But it was true. Shin Suje had felt it, and not only Shin Suje—Han Seokhyeon and Chief Seong standing beside him had felt it as well.

“The Yangryeong Corps is merely an organization created to maintain order in Yangryeong.”

“......”

“I made Ju Soa its commander, and Namgung Wonyang and Dong Murin its field leaders, for the sake of their growth.”

Unhwi’s voice was calm.

“But.”

He looked directly at Shin Suje.

“Shin Suje.”

“Yes.”

“Your talent is quite decent.”

Shin Suje’s eyes widened.

“Th-thank you.”

His voice trembled. So did his heart, pounding madly in his chest. Who was the man standing before him now?

This was Seol Unhwi.

And he had just praised his talent. As Shin Suje swallowed hard, Unhwi continued.

“Ju Soa and Wonyang, who are my people, once said this to me.”

Unhwi paused briefly.

“That the most outstanding person in the Yangryeong Corps, and the one who could be trusted without reservation, was you, Shin Suje.”

Shin Suje lifted his head.

Disbelief filled his face.

“And Senior Noh also said your talent was the most promising. I believe I saw you once before in connection with the affairs of the Heavenly Alliance, and what I saw then was your sharp sword. Fortunately enough, my people place their trust in you.”

Pausing a moment, Unhwi continued slowly.

“I will «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» place my trust in you as well.”

“Com... Commander...”

Unhwi took something from his robe.

A book.

No—a martial manual.

Taking it into his hands, Shin Suje slowly read the title aloud.

“Heaven-Slaying Wolf Star Art.”

“From the time I was in Seolap, only three men ever learned it—Namgung Wonyang and Dong Murin, who remained by my side, and Cheonpung, who is not here now because he left for training. It is a Heaven-grade martial art.”

Unhwi handed the manual to Shin Suje.

“Learn it.”

“M-me... this...?”

“Take it.”

With trembling hands, Shin Suje received the martial manual.

“And. Stop by the apothecary and collect twenty top-grade Triple Divine Pills.”

“Com... Commander...”

Tears streamed from Shin Suje’s eyes.

He had once been nothing more than a wandering martial artist. Back then, his realm had not even been the Five Qi Origin realm, but the Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown.

A man with no place to settle, he had drifted from place to place until by chance he entered the Yangryeong Corps, and here he had risen into the Five Qi Origin realm.

The city had a good atmosphere. There were no major problems, and the people were kind.

He had judged it a place worth staying in, and the occasional crises that erupted were so extreme that, even as a martial artist, he had found them strangely exciting.

Yet even more interesting had been Namgung Wonyang and Ju Soa.

From Shin Suje’s perspective, the talents of those two were clearly above his own. They trained desperately and wasted no time at all.

They were worthy of respect, and the keen intellect of Han Seokhyeon, who served as Chief Administrator, had impressed him as well.

His desire to settle here had grown very strong, and now he had been given an opportunity better than any he could have imagined.

Recognition from the man called the genius who shook all of Murim.

“I will take Ju Soa and Wonyang, stop by the main palace, and then go to the Chaotic Heaven Region.”

“......”

“I will not be returning in the near future, so your role is important.”

Shin Suje dropped to his knees.

“Please, give me whatever order you wish!”

“Protect Yangryeong Province.”

“...Yes!”

“Learn the Heaven-Slaying Wolf Star Art and pass it on to the martial artists of the Yangryeong Corps. And if there is anything lacking, ask Senior Noh. He will guide you.”

Shin Suje lifted his head.

“Commander, do you intend to expand the Yangryeong Corps?”

Unhwi shook his head.

“I believe there are thirty men at present, and that is enough. And.”

Unhwi drew something else from his robe.

Another martial manual.

Shin Suje’s eyes widened.

“This is...”

“A martial art I created on the way here.”

“...Created?”

“It is a God-grade martial art formed by combining the arts of the two Heaven and Man realm martial artists I killed at the Murim Alliance.”

He had originally intended to give it to Ju Soa, but since she had already brought the martial art he had given her before to great completion, there was no real need.

Unhwi handed the martial manual to Shin Suje.

“Among those here in the Yangryeong Corps, this martial art will suit you best. Learn it.”

With trembling hands, Shin Suje accepted the manual.

And then—

he prostrated himself fully upon the ground.

He pressed his forehead to the earth.

“Th-thank you! Thank you!”

His voice shook.

“I will absolutely live up to your expectations!”

“It is fine if you stumble, and fine if you fall.”

Unhwi spoke slowly.

“Just do not die.”

“Commander!”

“The wounds you receive in the process of carrying your path through to the end will only make you stronger.”

Unhwi rose from his seat.

“When I return, I will see your achievements—and the achievements of the Yangryeong Corps.”

Shin Suje rose as well.

His body caked in dirt, he cupped his fists in salute.

“By your command—!”

His voice rang out powerfully.

Receiving that salute, Unhwi spoke briefly.

“Go on, then.”

Shin Suje immediately started running toward the apothecary.

This time, Unhwi turned to Han Seokhyeon.

“Han Seokhyeon.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Are you satisfied with the position of Chief Administrator?”

Han Seokhyeon blinked. Did he mean to strip him of it? Or was he telling him to step down on his own?

It was neither.

“I intend to seat you in the position of Deputy Commander.”

Han Seokhyeon’s eyes flew wide open.

“Com... Commander...?”

“And later, I intend to raise you to the position of Commander. I would like to hear your thoughts.”

“...I believe it is far too great a position for me.”

“Is that humility?”

“I simply know my proper measure.”

“Then you know it incorrectly.”

“...Pardon?”

“You are a man fully capable of sitting in the Commander’s seat and leading Yangryeong Province well enough.”

“Commander...”

“The timing is delicate at present, so rather than placing you immediately into the Commander’s seat, I will first raise you to Deputy Commander. Once you have built the headquarters staff into one composed of your own people, I will formally raise you to Commander. What do you think?”

“...Do you truly intend to entrust it to me?”

“Of course.”

“I failed to respond properly in this recent affair. I neither checked the Thirteen Heavenly Snow Companies properly nor dealt with them.”

“Did you not do the best you could?”

“......”

“In the end, the reason the Thirteen Heavenly Snow Companies came here was because of me. Even if the Elder Council intervened and the Heavenly Snow Sect got involved, it was I who made the request in the first place, so it is only right that I bear the responsibility as well. What matters is this.”

Unhwi looked directly at Han Seokhyeon.

“You did the best you could.”

“......”

“That is why I can entrust it to you. Build the Yangryeong Corps into an organization of your own, and bring in people you can trust. If it proves difficult to discover such people, you may seek Cheonrim’s assistance. There are many who owe me debts as well, so it is fine to bring them in and use them.”

Swallowing hard, Han Seokhyeon respectfully cupped his fists.

“If you entrust it to me, I will produce the best result possible.”

Unhwi nodded.

“From today onward, you are the Deputy Commander of Yangryeong Province.”

Lowering his salute, Han Seokhyeon spoke to Unhwi with a face that looked somewhat relieved.

“Thank you. And I will not disappoint you.”

***

That night, at the Hour of the Dog,

one enormous wagon draped with a great canopy and one large carriage had been prepared at the gates of Yangryeong Province.

Chief Seong approached and said,

“Young Master. Preparations are complete.”

Nodding, Unhwi walked to the wagon and lifted the canopy.

There, the severed heads of the martial artists belonging to the Fifth Unit of the Thirteen Heavenly Snow Companies had been placed in a row. Every one of them was frozen, and at the center lay a small Ice Crystal.

No matter when it might be,

those heads would never thaw.

“...To be honest, I am still worried.”

At Chief Seong’s words, Unhwi turned his head.

“Seol Cheonhwa of the Elder Council... and Sa Cheonuk of the Heavenly Snow Sect... both are masters of the Unity of Heaven and Man, Young Master.”

“So?”

“I hope you do not get hurt.”

Unhwi shook his head.

“If one fears being wounded, then one can no longer be called a martial artist.”

“......”

“If one has begun something, should one not see it through to the end?”

“But...”

“Do not worry.”

He lowered the canopy again.

As Unhwi slowly resumed walking, he spoke briefly.

“Chief Seong.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“All will go well. So just follow behind me.”

Leaving Chief Seong scratching at his head, Unhwi opened the carriage door.

Inside were Ju Soa lying down, and beside her, Namgung Wonyang feeding her porridge.

Ju Soa tried to force herself upright, but Unhwi shook his head.

“Stay lying down.”

The carriage was extremely large, and the wagon attached behind it was no small thing either.

At this pace, it would take roughly ten days to reach the main palace.

If they moved truly fast, without resting at all, it would take about seven.

Ju Soa could stand now, but Unhwi judged it would be better if she did not.

Unhwi climbed into the carriage, and Chief Seong took the driver’s seat.

“Set off.”

A voice came from the driver’s seat.

“Yes, Young Master.”

The carriage and the wagon attached to it began to move.

Their destination was the Elder Council, located within the main palace of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace.