The sect leaders of the One Gate, Three Clans, and Two Manors—including Lee Jagyeom—were to each use a Three Breaths move. If Commander Seong could withstand them all, they would withdraw.

Under normal circumstances, there’d have been no reason for them to accept such a wager.

Even for martial artists, promises had their time and place.

But they had no choice.

Because beside Commander Seong stood Jang Mujin—the Hidden Hermit Swordsman.

And though faint, the patriarch of the Shin family, Shin Janghu, had also raised his sword toward Lee Jagyeom of Jeogan, prepared to stake his life.

But the crucial one was Jang Mujin.

The very same Jang Mujin who had played a final Go match with Unwi before his departure to Frozen Sea Province—and who had wished to repay that kindness.

He belonged neither to the Martial Alliance nor to the Sacheon Alliance, but even so, he declared:

“If you do not accept Commander Seong Yangho’s proposal here, then I, Jang Mujin, will declare myself an enemy of the Sacheon Alliance and kill you all.”

In the end, Lee Jagyeom of Jeogan had no choice but to accept Commander Seong’s proposal.

He had come all the way to Yangryeong and couldn’t afford to return empty-handed. And if Commander Seong were to die during the Three Breaths, they’d at least have taken out a martial artist in the Ascension Realm—so there was no loss.

But Commander Seong endured the Three Breaths.

That was five days ago.

The sects of Jeogan withdrew, and Commander Seong collapsed. And it was then that the Iron Name Division martial artists from the main Sacheon Alliance arrived.

They claimed justification and said they would wait until the branch lord, Seol Unwi, returned to hear his explanation directly.

Naturally, there was no way they’d simply wait.

For the five days—long or short depending on how one saw it—they carried out inspections and enforced control in Yangryeong.

All under the guise of “justification.”

They claimed: “Branch Lord Unwi may be hiding here. Therefore, we must search.” That was the excuse.

This was the truth behind it all.

Unwi gave a short remark.

“...You overdid it.”

“...Had to overdo it. But... what happened to those Iron Name Division martial artists? Don’t tell me...”

“I killed them.”

“...”

“Every single one. Not one left.”

“...What are you going to do now?”

Unwi stared silently at Commander Seong, then returned the question.

“There’s something a group must always do if it wishes to survive. Do you know what that is?”

“...What?”

“Retaliation.”

Commander Seong swallowed hard.

Where was Unwi aiming now?

Whom was he going to retaliate against?

“Jeogan? Or the Sacheon Alliance?”

“Do I need to separate the two?”

“...Normally, yes.”

“Then I must not be normal.”

Commander Seong understood. The smell of blood would soon rise from many places.

“I have a question. Will you answer?”

“Anything.”

“Commander Seong, are you a martial artist—or a killer?”

That question made him pause.

He understood what Unwi meant.

And so, he answered firmly.

“I am a martial artist.”

“Then as a martial artist, there’s something you must do. Do you know what it is?”

Commander Seong’s eyes began to blaze.

“...I do. Of course I do.”

Unwi fell silent for a moment. Then, channeling his Hollow Profound Qi into Commander Seong’s body, he spoke again.

“I’ll prepare the stage. Recover within three days.”

Commander Seong gave no reply.

Because his body was already falling asleep.

The Hollow Profound Qi flowing into him had merged with his own, exponentially enhancing his body’s healing ability.

Three days would be enough.

Unwi rose to his feet.

From the moment he’d begun speaking with Commander Seong, someone else had been standing nearby.

The distance was just far enough not to intrude—and the conversation serious enough to make interruption feel inappropriate.

Unwi turned to Jang Mujin, who had been smiling awkwardly, and offered him a martial salute.

“I’ve received your kindness, Senior.”

“Haha... Kindness, you say? It’s nothing.”

“If not for you, the sects of Jeogan would not have retreated.”

At that, Jang Mujin chuckled softly.

“Do you truly think so?”

A faint smile formed on Unwi’s lips as well.

“I don’t truly think so—but isn’t it better to say it anyway?”

“Ahahaha... Well, now that you’ve made me laugh, how could I deny it?”

Jang Mujin’s eyes curved gently.

The man before him... was truly difficult to describe.

No matter how peerlessly talented one might be, there are things that only come with experience.

He was certainly gifted at Go—and even more adept at imparting insight through it.

He was undoubtedly a genius—but his perspective on the world was broader still.

He saw not only what ordinary people see—but what they fail to see.

This conversation alone was proof.

“Master Seol.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“I’d like to hear your opinion. Why do you think the sects of Jeogan brought so many forces with them?”

Unwi answered without hesitation.

“They didn’t come targeting the Yangryeong branch. They came to target the sects within Yangryeong.”

“Oh...?”

“And they’ve likely ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) already made contact with the sects of Saryang.”

At Unwi’s words, Jang Mujin fell silent.

Impressive.

Truly impressive.

He wanted to hear more.

“...Please continue.”

“Yes. Then I’ll share the rest of my thoughts. Ultimately, Lee Jagyeom of Jeogan covets the rights to Shinsam Valley.”

A map unfolded in Unwi’s mind—laying out the positions of Jeogan, Bongnae, and Saryang.

Shinsam Valley lay at the center of those three cities, and the Shinsam flowers that grew there were among the most precious medicinal herbs in the martial world.

“Then why do you think the Sacheon Alliance is responding so passively?”

“It’s obvious. Someone in the Sacheon Alliance has struck a deal.”

The Sacheon Alliance was composed of four divisions: Iron Name Division, Upper Iron Division, Two-Iron Division, and Black Iron Division.

The martial artists Unwi had killed—what were they?

From the Iron Name Division.

If the Sacheon Alliance had truly been angry—if the main sect had truly intended to act—they would never have sent just the Third Company of the Iron Name Division.

“Judging from the current situation, I’d wager Lee Jagyeom made his deal with Iron Name Division’s lord, Myeong Sohwan. It could be no one else.”

From the incident where Unwi killed two martial artists before departing for Frozen Sea Province—how it had spiraled into this—and what it all meant now...

Unwi could see the entire board like a Go master surveying the game.

“The only reason the rights to Shinsam Valley were given to Yangryeong in the first place was because of interference from Cheonrim. They tried to block it using the name of Everlasting Snow Palace—but now, we’ve been handed an even better excuse.”

Cheonrim was one of the most influential powers in the Central Plains.

When they showed interest in Shinsam Valley, the three cities excluding Yangryeong redistributed the rights under the banner of Everlasting Snow Palace to keep Cheonrim out.

Whether or not that had been Cheonrim’s intention didn’t matter. They believed it was.

“Now, with a just cause to act, the Sacheon Alliance can move—and it would have been easy for Lee Jagyeom to propose a deal. Namely: if the Sacheon Alliance absorbs all cities surrounding Shinsam Valley, they can monopolize the vast yield of Shinsam flowers.”

It is people who move the world.

Those two martial artists who provoked Unwi before his departure had been brainwashed—but those who stood to benefit were others entirely.

That is the nature of the world. The ignorant will always suffer. They will always be used.

After a long silence, Jang Mujin asked in a trembling voice,

“...You weren’t already in Yangryeong several days ago, were you?”

“No. I arrived today.”

“...I'm at a loss for words. I cannot begin to describe what I’m feeling. Astonishing. Truly astonishing.”

Every phenomenon in this world has a reason. Always.

Nothing happens without cause.

This case was no exception.

Jang Mujin looked at Unwi with complicated eyes.

“Master Seol.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“I may have lost to you in Go and owe you a debt—so this might sound awkward—but as someone who has lived over sixty years, may I offer you a piece of advice?”

Unwi smiled gently.

“You are a man worthy of respect, Senior. Whether you lost at Go or I owe you a favor is irrelevant. If you have advice for me, I will listen with open ears.”

“...You are exceptional, Master Seol. Perhaps even beyond the prodigies of the ages. But know this—”

Jang Mujin’s gaze deepened.

“Not everyone in this world is like you.”

Unwi’s eyes grew solemn.

“Your people may be excellent—but they cannot see what you see.”

“Are you saying I became angry because I expected them to see as I do?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s true—I was disappointed in my people. But not because they failed to see what I see.”

“Then why?”

“Because they abandoned their duty—and their right.”

“...Duty and right, you say... Ah... I see...”

Having said that much, Jang Mujin looked at Unwi with eyes as soft as spring snow.

He understood everything. And so, he could accept everything Unwi would do going forward.

He’d heard they’d hung the Sacheon Alliance martial artists’ heads outside. That, too, he could understand.

He could understand it all.

And so could the division members, kneeling like criminals in the corner.

Neither man had erected a silencing barrier.

Every word they’d spoken had reached the ears of those kneeling subordinates.

Unwi had no intention of hiding it—and Jang Mujin had no reason to.

“You’re leaving now?”

Jang Mujin nodded at Unwi’s question.

“I’ve lingered longer than expected—but now that Yangryeong’s master has returned, it’s time for me to take my leave.”

Unwi bowed in salute.

“I’m deeply grateful for your assistance, Senior.”

“Haha...”

This time, Jang Mujin did not wave it off.

He wanted those division members to know what was in Unwi’s heart.

That was why he’d prolonged the conversation.

This much was enough.

“I’ll come again sometime.”

“I heard there’s a fine Go board in the black market. I’ll prepare it for your next visit.”

“Ahahaha... That would be wonderful. Truly.”

After laughing heartily for a while, Jang Mujin left.

Unwi turned his head.

He looked at the kneeling division members and spoke quietly.

“You’ve heard the story. I won’t bother with lengthy explanations.”

“...”

“But one thing must be said. You abandoned your duty—and your right.”