“What was I asking you?”
“You asked... whether I had watched everything.”
“And?”
“I... yes!”
“Do you have anything to say?”
Jeong Docheon swallowed hard.
To be honest, the thought had crossed his mind.
What if he launched a surprise attack right here and now?
Kill this man, then fabricate the story so it looked like both elders had perished alongside him.
From Jeong Docheon’s perspective, that would create an extremely clean ending.
But—
Seol Unhwi looked far too composed.
So composed that Jeong Docheon could not even bring himself to attempt an attack.
And then came the question.
Did he have anything to say?
Yes.
“...Is this... truly the path for the Thunder Demon Cult?”
At that question, Unhwi let out a faint chuckle.
“You asked the wrong question.”
“...Excuse me?”
“There is no such thing as a path for the Thunder Demon Cult. You should have asked whether it is the path for the Blood Heaven Sect.”
“......”
“Jeong Docheon.”
“...Yes.”
“The Thunder Demon Cult is a malformed organization.”
“......”
“In an organization like the Blood Heaven Sect that worships strength, the martial artist with the highest realm should naturally stand at the top. But the Thunder Demon Cult was different.”
“That’s...”
“You are at the Manifestation of the Boundless realm, and Great Elder Cheol Jinseok was also at the Manifestation of the Boundless realm. In fact, Cheol Jinseok was half a step ahead of you. Do you still not understand?”
“...Understand what?”
“The factions were born because you were insufficient.”
Jeong Docheon’s brow twisted sharply.
No matter how convincing the words sounded, there was still something he believed in.
“Your Blood Stone production techniques? Impressive. But then you should think about it from the opposite perspective.”
“The opposite... perspective?”
“Your departure.”
“...What?”
“Do you trust Yu Cheong?”
Jeong Docheon’s eyes widened.
“I thought you were someone whose mind worked quickly. Apparently not.”
“...What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Factions emerge. Those factions create problems. There are even elders claiming neutrality. Once the internal situation descends into chaos, your attention can only be dragged in that direction.”
“You mean another responsibility is being forced onto me?”
“Exactly. Someone wants you focused solely on producing Blood Stones and managing internal affairs so you cannot spare attention for anything else. And on top of that, there just so happens to be an elder maintaining neutrality who stands on your side.”
“......”
“You trust that elder. Because he appears to share your neutrality.”
Unhwi sheathed the True Fire Heavenly Spirit Sword into the storage pouch and began to walk.
Right before passing Jeong Docheon, he paused briefly.
“You said it yourself. You are an important figure. Do you really think Yu Cheong would simply leave someone that important alone?”
“......”
“You have served him for so many years, yet you understand him less than I do. Doubt the people around you. You seem to believe your greatest value lies in the abilities you possess, but unfortunately...”
A strange smile touched Unhwi’s lips.
“To me, they look more like the greatest shackles around your neck.”
Jeong Docheon stared at Unhwi with trembling eyes.
“...Are you trying to plant suspicion inside me?”
Unhwi shook his head.
“I’m telling you the truth.”
“......”
“Yu Cheong must have told you to play along.”
Jeong Docheon flinched.
Then his eyes widened at Unhwi’s next words.
“But why do you think you are the only ones playing along?”
Who had arranged this entire board?
Yu Cheong? No.
Unhwi? No.
It was the Heavenly Wayfarer.
“Have you still failed to realize that you are not the only ones standing inside the enclosure?”
“...That...”
“Reorganize the regiment around First Elder Mugyeong. If another faction emerges and causes disorder, you will be the one held responsible.”
Jeong Docheon swallowed hard.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“...Yes. I understand. You’re saying that since you’ve already fastened the first button for me, I should act like a proper cult leader and fasten the rest myself... Yes. I understand completely.”
Jeong Docheon truly was quick-witted.
Unhwi nodded once and slowly resumed walking.
This was enough for the Thunder Forest Blood Regiment.
As he walked away, Unhwi spotted an elderly man approaching from the distance.
The man offered a fist salute to Jeong Docheon before immediately turning and offering one to Unhwi as well.
First Elder Mugyeong.
He spoke to Unhwi.
“Thank you, Blood Heaven Arbiter.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, the division within the Thunder Forest Blood Regiment has been resolved. I sincerely thank you.”
Unhwi stared silently at Mugyeong.
“...Is there something on my face?”
As Mugyeong asked the question, Unhwi stepped closer.
Then he quietly whispered:
“Mugyeong.”
“...Yes?”
“What matters begins now.”
Mugyeong turned his head toward Unhwi at the abrupt remark.
Then he froze.
Emotionless eyes.
And an icy atmosphere.
The form was different, but the feeling was painfully familiar.
It was the same presence he had sensed from the Heavenly Wayfarer.
Like standing before an absolute being.
As though he were gazing upon the Martial Supreme himself.
Unhwi placed a hand on Mugyeong’s shoulder.
Thunk.
The sound rang like thunder in Mugyeong’s ears.
“You had better perform well. Do you understand?”
“...I-I’m not quite certain what you mean...”
“Mugyeong.”
“...Yes.”
“Do I look like someone who stands at a level where he needs to play games of strategy against mediocrities like you?”
Mugyeong swallowed hard.
“Remain in the position you’ve been given and do your job. Do not cross the line.”
“......”
“Answer me.”
“Ah... understood.”
Unhwi removed his hand from Mugyeong’s shoulder.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he walked away and approached the waiting Chief Seong, Namgung Wonyang, and Ju Soa.
Was he all right?
Why was he pushing himself again?
Worried voices flew toward him one after another, and Unhwi answered briefly.
That he was fine.
But the atmosphere was utterly different from when he had faced Jeong Docheon and Mugyeong earlier.
His expression remained equally unreadable, yet there was an undeniable warmth to it.
***
Inside a guest chamber within the Thunder Demon Cult headquarters, Unhwi sat quietly in a chair.
Chief Seong poured tea and handed it to him.
“Please drink, Young Master.”
Unhwi nodded and took a sip.
One mouthful.
The taste was decent.
As he slowly lowered the cup, Chief Seong cautiously spoke.
“Young Master.”
“Do you have something to say?”
“Yes. About Jeong Docheon.”
“Mm.”
“How do you think he’ll move from now on?”
Namgung Wonyang and Ju Soa were curious as well.
After a moment of thought, Unhwi answered.
“He’ll be afraid.”
“Afraid?”
Unhwi nodded and took another sip of tea.
It was obvious whom Jeong Docheon would fear.
“Me. Mugyeong. And himself.”
Chief Seong frowned.
“Not Yu Cheong, but Mugyeong?”
“Yes.”
“...Why?”
Unhwi let out a faint laugh.
“Because Mugyeong is also one of Yu Cheong’s people.”
Chief Seong’s eyes widened.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said.”
Unhwi looked directly at Chief Seong.
“Mugyeong was never maintaining neutrality. He maintained neutrality under Yu Cheong’s orders.”
The more he thought about it, the more reasonable that conclusion became.
“How convenient that he appeared in the grand hall late at night carrying evidence of corruption as though he had been waiting for me.”
“...Couldn’t he simply care that much about the Thunder Demon Cult?”
“That possibility is high. But where exactly do you think this place is?”
A sharp light flickered through Unhwi’s eyes.
“This is One-Origin Plateau, the heartland of the Blood Heaven Sect. Yu Cheong has lived here for decades. No matter how overwhelming the Heavenly Wayfarer’s influence may be, do you truly think the Vice Leader—a master at the pinnacle—would have no influence of his own?”
“That’s impossible.”
“Exactly. One-Origin Plateau is filled with Yu Cheong’s people. And he knows how to hide them so thoroughly that none can be identified.”
Because of his previous life, Unhwi understood Yu Cheong’s nature.
The man was secretive.
Secretive to an absurd degree.
You could even call him cautious.
That caution bordered on the divine.
In his previous life, Unhwi had never even realized that Yu Cheong intended to rebuild the Thousand-Year Demonic Cult, nor that he had manipulated Yang Seoljin from the shadows and destroyed the Snow Palace through schemes.
Had he known, Unhwi would never have died.
He would have gone straight to the Hundred-Thousand Great Mountains, where Yu Cheong resided.
“The evidence Mugyeong brought me concerned Blood Stones.”
“......”
“From Yu Cheong’s perspective, he must have wanted to confirm whether I truly understood the existence of Blood Stones—and exactly how much I knew.”
Only Unhwi continued speaking while the others listened in silence.
“He must have already heard from Jeong Docheon what sort of conversation took place between us. But even so, he wanted certainty. So he revealed the hidden card called Mugyeong. At the same time, he warned Jeong Docheon... and conveyed his intentions to me as well.”
“His intentions?”
“Isn’t it obvious? This is his territory. He’s telling me not to cross the line while participating in the game board created by the Heavenly Wayfarer.”
“...All of that... from something so small?”
“It’s precisely that significant. And while killing Cheol Jinseok and Han Hojang, I used the theft of Blood Stones as justification. That means I ‘definitively’ know about Blood Stones. By revealing a single card, Yu Cheong confirmed his suspicions while also showing me the leashes fastened around Jeong Docheon and Mugyeong’s necks.”
“That means...”
“That changing the leash changes nothing if the owner remains the same. Or perhaps...”
“Perhaps?”
“Perhaps he means the leash belongs neither to him nor to me, so there’s no need to touch it.”
Judging by Jeong Docheon’s reaction, he truly had not known Mugyeong was one of Yu Cheong’s people.
Which meant—
This move from Yu Cheong was not merely pressure directed at Unhwi.
It was also a warning to Jeong Docheon.
Unhwi had been shaking Jeong Docheon relentlessly. His abilities were unquestionably valuable, valuable enough that Yu Cheong needed him. Perhaps even the Heavenly Wayfarer needed him.
And yet Unhwi kept provoking him, trying to turn him into a hunting hound obedient to his commands.
Threatening him constantly.
At that point, even Yu Cheong had no choice.
He did not want to lose Jeong Docheon.
But neither did he want to surrender control.
At the same time, he was reminding Unhwi that both men were also useful to the Heavenly Wayfarer.
Yu Cheong never moved for only a single purpose.
He only acted when at least two benefits could be gained at once.
Every move he made carried hidden intentions.
To face him, one first had to uncover those intentions.
Chief Seong glanced at Ju Soa and Namgung Wonyang before letting out a sigh.
Seriously...
What kind of battle was this man even fighting?
“In short, Yu Cheong was controlling the two of them separately.”
“......”
“Jeong Docheon believed he alone was Yu Cheong’s trusted subordinate, but Mugyeong was one as well.”
“They didn’t know about each other?”
“Correct.”
Unhwi looked out the window.
“Yu Cheong is meticulous.”
“......”
“He never relies on only one person. He always prepares another path behind the scenes.”
Chief Seong slowly clenched his fist.
“...Then right now, Jeong Docheon and Mugyeong...”
“They’re probably confused. They’ve realized each other’s existence and understood the nature of the board they stand upon. From now on, they’ll remain silent.”
“So you revealed it to them deliberately.”
“If I hadn’t, they would never have realized it themselves. They were too deeply buried.”
“Buried?”
“In the situation. In the incidents. In the effort they had invested all this time. And in their faith.”
“Good heavens...”
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