Unhwi shifted his gaze to the Poison Marquis Witch.
“You disapprove?”
“...Well... it’s not exactly that. I’ve heard plenty of rumors already. But like I said before...”
“You neither understand nor know the methods of the Blood Heaven Sect?”
“Yeah. Something like that.”
A faint smile touched Unhwi’s lips.
“I believe you are mistaken.”
“...Mistaken? Me?”
“Are the methods of the Blood Heaven Sect truly different from the methods of the martial world?”
“......”
“In the martial world, the strong rule above all. The words of the strong become law. Can one understand the Blood Heaven Sect while excluding the law of the strong?”
“......”
“To put it another way, because you already understand the law of the strong, you are capable of understanding the methods of the Blood Heaven Sect. Poison Marquis Witch Shin Aryeong.”
“...Yes.”
“Do I displease you?”
“......”
“The truth is, even if I do displease you, there is very little you can do about it.”
Unhwi stepped forward.
He stopped directly in front of the Poison Marquis Witch.
“I would like to emphasize something.”
“...And what would that be?”
“Several of the things you said were correct.”
“......”
“I come from the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace. That place is also part of the martial world and follows the law of the strong, but the degree of it is far thinner than most imagine.”
“......”
“Because of the blood flowing through my veins. I was treated as a Polar Heir, and even when I committed wrongdoing, it remained far removed from anything called fairness.”
Unhwi’s voice was not loud.
Yet every word drove clearly into everyone’s ears.
“But this place is somewhat different.”
“......”
“If you are dissatisfied, and if something displeases you, then challenge me. In a world ruled by the strong, I will make you understand through strength.”
The Poison Marquis Witch’s brows twisted sharply.
“...A mere Unity of Heaven and Man sits in the position of Blood Heaven Arbiter and claims this place differs from the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace? No. From what I can see, it is no different at—”
She abruptly failed to finish.
Because Unhwi’s hand had moved.
Her brows furrowed deeply. Her realm was Manifestation of the Boundless.
Clearly one level above Unhwi.
She swung her arm and knocked aside his hand.
At the same moment, Unhwi’s hair blazed white as radiance scattered outward. His hand shot forward again.
The speed was on an entirely different level from before.
Not the speed of Unity of Heaven and Man.
It was comparable to Manifestation of the Boundless itself—no, perhaps even something beyond the Harmony realm.
Naturally.
Thunk.
Unhwi seized the Poison Marquis Witch by the throat.
She grabbed his wrist with both hands.
She tried to snap it—
But once again she froze.
Because she felt the strength tightening within the hand gripping her throat.
Everything stopped.
In a quiet voice, Unhwi spoke.
“No different... No. As I have said repeatedly, it is very different.”
From beginning to end, not the slightest change appeared on Unhwi’s expression.
“If I were to kill you here and now, it would become the correct course of action.”
“...How... could that possibly be considered right?”
“Because I subdued you as the stronger party. That alone grants me even the right to kill you.”
“......”
“As a member of the Blood Heaven Sect, are you denying the methods of the Blood Heaven Sect?”
The Poison Marquis Witch lost her words.
Unhwi quietly watched her for a moment before loosening his grip. She immediately stepped backward.
Unhwi swept his gaze across the surroundings.
“Does anyone else have questions?”
There certainly were.
This was the Blood Heaven Sect.
A place overflowing with people who possessed immense pride in belonging to the greatest organization in the Central Plains, and with countless individuals of extraordinary ability.
Im Socheon, master of the Heavenly Demon Palace, rose to his feet.
“I have a question as well.”
“Please speak.”
“What do you intend to do as the Blood Heaven Arbiter?”
Unhwi glanced briefly toward the Heavenly Wayfarer.
The Heavenly Wayfarer had said the position would connect headquarters and the branches.
But he had never explained specifically how that would be done. Ultimately, someone needed to suppress the ambition of those who dreamed of unifying the Central Plains without any real plan.
Since the Heavenly Wayfarer had no intention of doing so himself, Unhwi would do it in his place.
Quietly, Unhwi answered.
“The branches each possess their own goals and their own methods.”
“......”
“I intend to respect that. But I will not permit recklessness.”
“...Recklessness?”
“That’s correct.”
Unhwi surveyed the grand hall.
One by one.
“The branches moving independently is fine. But staining the name of the Blood Heaven Sect will not be tolerated.”
His gaze settled on Jeong Docheon.
Jeong Docheon’s body stiffened.
“The Blood Heaven Sect is one. Whether headquarters or branch, all belong to the same Blood Heaven Sect.”
Unhwi’s voice echoed through the hall.
“Therefore, we must respect one another and protect one another.”
“......”
“But what is the situation now?”
Unhwi walked slowly.
Toward the center of the grand hall.
“Headquarters disregards the branches, and the branches resent headquarters.”
“......”
“They have turned their backs on each other, despite belonging to the same Blood Heaven Sect.”
Unhwi came to a halt.
Even the Heavenly Wayfarer watched with interest.
“This seat has no desire to unify the Central Plains. But the rest of you are different.”
“......”
“So the first thing I will correct... is that.”
A sharp light flashed through Unhwi’s eyes.
“The unification of the Central Plains is premature. More importantly, this seat has not even made such a decision. How dare you presumptuously attempt to overstep this seat’s will?”
The atmosphere gradually turned hostile.
“I will make this clear in advance. Unless this seat permits it, there will be no unification of the Central Plains. And if you insist on continuing to harbor such ambitions, then you will wager your lives for them.”
Im Socheon immediately closed his mouth.
This seat was watching. He did not dare reveal too much on his face.
How could a person abandon the dream held in his heart so easily?
Im Socheon, along with most members of the Blood Heaven Sect, believed the same thing.
An organization as powerful as the Blood Heaven Sect should be capable of unifying the Central Plains.
They wanted to stand within that moment of history.
And they wanted to create that history with their own hands.
Truthfully, such thoughts were only natural.
Not a single organization had unified the martial world since the Thousand-Year Demonic Cult.
If any organization were to succeed, then it should be the Blood Heaven Sect.
The ambition burned so greatly that even the Heavenly Wayfarer could not easily interfere with it.
He was a man who respected the paths walked by martial artists.
To interfere with that ambition directly would mean denying those paths entirely.
Which was why the Heavenly Wayfarer chose silence.
But Unhwi was different.
“I believe I’ve spoken enough for one inauguration ceremony.”
As he spoke, Unhwi turned his head.
“Now then, I think I’ll begin with some actual work.”
Once again, every gaze focused on Unhwi.
And Unhwi’s eyes locked onto Jeong Docheon, cult leader of the Thunder Demon Cult.
“Cult Leader Jeong.”
“...Yes...”
“We have never met before, yet strangely enough, you feel familiar.”
Jeong Docheon coughed awkwardly.
“We can arrange a private meeting for personal conversation later. For now, let us discuss something official.”
“...What... are you referring to?”
“The Thunder Forest Blood Regiment.”
Jeong Docheon’s eyes widened.
“As I understand it, the Thunder Forest Blood Regiment is currently suffering from internal division.”
The Thunder Forest Blood Regiment was the Thunder Demon Cult’s most elite force.
More specifically, it was divided into two battalions, each commanded by an elder of the Thunder Demon Cult.
Simply put, the elders themselves were fractured.
The factions had split apart, fighting over trivial nonsense about who was right and who was wrong.
“To be precise, the conflict between the regiment commander, the Great Elder, and Elder Lee, commander of the First Battalion, is consuming the Thunder Demon Cult from within. The only reason the issue has not become public is because Elder Sam of the Second Battalion has remained neutral.”
“......”
“Maintaining neutrality is admirable. But surely you understand this already. If a branch wavers, it affects headquarters as well.”
“...Ahem...”
“I will help you.”
Unhwi’s voice rang with absolute certainty, and Jeong Docheon’s brows twisted sharply.
“I will resolve the internal division within a matter of days.”
Jeong Docheon could not even answer.
This was outright humiliation.
To expose internal division in such a public place?
You bastard.
“Do you dislike that?”
Jeong Docheon cautiously glanced toward Yu Cheong before opening his mouth.
“Why... would I dislike it?”
“Good. Then it’s settled. I’ll visit soon.”
At the same time, Unhwi sent a voice transmission.
-Once this gathering ends, come see me. Alone.
The target was naturally Jeong Docheon.
Jeong Docheon flinched.
-If you do not come, you will die. And today, the Thunder Demon Cult will be exterminated as well.
He swallowed hard.
That insane bastard.
If that man said he would do it, then he would.
Jeong Docheon gave the slightest nod.
That alone was answer enough.
Unhwi spoke again.
“And the Red Spirit Court.”
The Red Demon, master of the Red Spirit Court, lifted his chin.
As though he had never expected his name to be called.
“As I understand it, the Red Spirit Court is currently suffering from financial difficulties.”
The Red Demon’s eyes widened.
“The Western Region trade route has been blocked, cutting off your income. Am I correct?”
“...Ahem...”
“The Murim Alliance has interfered. If these financial troubles continue, the Red Spirit Court will weaken. And that too will affect headquarters.”
“...How do you know all of this...?”
“There are ways of knowing. I cannot provide direct financial support from headquarters, but I will open a new trade route for you. And I will also stop the Murim Alliance’s interference.”
The Red Demon’s eyes widened further.
Because they were a branch, acting openly was difficult.
It was true that the Murim Alliance had intervened.
It was true they were fighting them.
But it had not escalated into full-scale conflict. Before matters reached that point, both sides merely restrained one another without inflicting severe damage.
The real issue was that the trade routes had been blocked because of it.
“Once the Thunder Demon Cult’s issue is resolved, I will handle yours as well.”
After saying that, Unhwi swept his gaze across the hall.
“You need only do your own jobs properly.”
Slowly, he lifted his eyes toward Yu Cheong.
“Do not cross the line. And do not even dare dream beyond your place.”
“......”
“If someone commits an act worthy of death, then dying is only right. And if someone deserves to be beaten, then being beaten is only right.”
“......”
“What are your thoughts, Vice Leader?”
“...I believe you are correct.”
“Thank you. It seems the Vice Leader has chosen to support my side.”
Yu Cheong’s brow twitched.
Smiling faintly, Unhwi looked toward the Heavenly Wayfarer.
“This seat.”
“Speak.”
“I will make good use of the authority you have granted me.”
“Heh heh... then do your best.”
***
The same place where Unhwi had once played Go and spoken with the Heavenly Wayfarer.
The surrounding scenery was magnificent, and among the highest locations within headquarters.
Its proper name was the Blood Spirit Hall.
As of yesterday, the Blood Spirit Hall had become Unhwi’s residence.
Location-wise, it was not bad at all.
The Heavenly Wayfarer was far too free-spirited for somewhere like the cult leader’s palace to hold meaning for him, but at the very least, this residence stood at the complete opposite end from the quarters where Vice Leader Yu Cheong resided.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter