Seven days after the martial sects of Jeogan had flooded into Yangryeong, Chief Steward Seong finally rose from his bed.

His whole body felt heavy and sluggish.

He widened his eyes at the man sitting beside him.

“...Young master...?”

Unwi asked,

“Did you have a good dream?”

“...I can’t remember, so I suppose I didn’t dream at all.”

“How’s your body?”

Seong clenched and opened his fists a few times, then suddenly shot up from the bed in disbelief.

“...It’s fine... I feel perfectly fine.”

“That’s a relief.”

“...What exactly did you feed me?”

“Five drops of Gongcheong Seokyu, a porridge made with two hundred-year ginsengs, one three-hundred-year ginseng, and a whole five-hundred-year ginseng.”

His jaw dropped open.

“...That’s worth—how much even...?”

“Not sure. At least a few thousand nyang in silver, I’d imagine. But it wasn’t a waste.”

Unwi smiled faintly.

“Do you need anything else?”

“...I’ve got some shame, young master. If I said yes to that, I’d barely count as human.”

Unwi stood up as well.

“Your body may be fine, but your inner energy probably hasn’t fully recovered. Stay and replenish it before coming out.”

As he turned to leave, Chief Seong called out to him.

“Young master.”

Unwi turned his head.

Chief Seong clasped his hands in a respectful fist salute.

“...Thank you. Truly, for taking such care of me.”

“It’s only natural.”

It really was.

“After all, Chief Seong is one of mine.”

“...Young master...”

“Rest well.”

Unwi stepped fully out of the room and headed straight for the main hall.

There, he saw a man seated in perfect posture with his eyes closed.

It was Song Euigyeong, Lord of the Thunderblade Sword Sect—whom he had last seen at the Oksu gold mine.

Unwi gave Ju Soa and Wonyang a small look that silently said you did well, then quietly sat down across from Song Euigyeong.

At that, Song Euigyeong opened his eyes.

They were eyes deep in contemplation.

Facing that gaze, Unwi asked,

“Have you decided, senior?”

“...My heart is leaning, but there is something I must ask.”

“Please, ask anything.”

“You wrote: the river finds its own path but always flows to the sea.”

“Yes.”

“And you said you found a fine scabbard but had not yet found a sword to put in it.”

“That’s correct.”

Song Euigyeong’s gaze turned sharp.

“Were you asking me to abandon the Martial Alliance and join the Everlasting Snow Palace?”

Unwi shook his head.

“Neither.”

“...Neither?”

“Yes. Neither.”

Song Euigyeong looked genuinely confused.

If it wasn’t that, then why had the letter said what it said? And beyond that, what was he even doing here?

But then Unwi’s next words made him swallow hard.

“You’ve misunderstood the sequence of events. Senior, you would not be abandoning the Martial Alliance—the Martial Alliance has already abandoned you.”

“...”

“And I’m not asking you to enter the Everlasting Snow Palace. I’m asking you to come under me.”

“Under... you...”

Song Euigyeong slowly pulled out two letters from his robe.

“Then tell me—what do these two letters say?”

Unwi gave a dry chuckle.

“One is from the Martial Alliance headquarters, and the other from the Sacheon Alliance main sect, isn’t it?”

“...You even know the content?”

“I don’t have to read them to know. It’s obvious.”

Song Euigyeong’s eyes started to tremble.

“...Then say it aloud. I want to hear it.”

“Of course. The Martial Alliance letter likely has long, wordy phrases telling you to hold on. To strengthen Bongnae’s internal defenses, to avoid conflict if possible... that kind of thing.”

“...And the Sacheon Alliance?”

“It probably says they’re prepared to provide you a safe haven. More precisely—it asks you to join the Sacheon Alliance.”

That was the truth.

Wordlessly, Song Euigyeong handed both letters to Unwi.

Unwi first opened the letter from the Martial Alliance.

We express our deep concern over the recent developments. With tensions escalating between the Sacheon Alliance and the Everlasting Snow Palace, we fear for Bongnae’s safety.

At this time, the Martial Alliance has decided to refrain from direct intervention. Please understand this is a cautious decision to prevent further escalation. ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) For now, strengthen Bongnae’s internal defenses and avoid direct confrontation.

If that is not possible, at least send your children to the headquarters.

Once the situation stabilizes, the Martial Alliance promises to take appropriate measures. We ask for your patience.

Vice Lord of the Martial Alliance,

Jegal Yeonghyeon

Then he opened the Sacheon Alliance letter.

I’ve heard the news. Looks like you kicked a hornet’s nest.

You must already know the Martial Alliance has turned its back on you.

They’re hiding behind empty ideals and trying to make you a sacrificial lamb.

They’ll only raise their banners once your blood has been spilled.

I’m a straightforward man. The Sacheon Alliance is ready to provide you refuge. Your honor and status as Lord of the Thunderblade Sword Sect will be guaranteed.

The choice is simple: cling to Bongnae and die, or come to the Sacheon Alliance and live. In times like this, loyalty and ideals mean nothing. Survival makes the victor.

That young brat from Everlasting Snow Palace won’t be able to handle this anyway. Make a wise decision before it’s too late.

Lord of the Sacheon Alliance,

Gang Cheonwoo

They were short but clear messages.

Unwi silently set the two letters down.

“If you’re not a fool, Senior Song, then I’m sure you’ve already understood what these two letters mean.”

“...”

“Shall I explain anyway?”

“...I want to hear it. From you.”

“Very well. First, the Martial Alliance has abandoned both you and Bongnae. The letter says so plainly. ‘We will not intervene—handle it yourself.’ That’s the real message. And you know why they’re doing this.”

“...I do.”

“The Martial Alliance has pulled out. And while the letter is signed by Jegal Yeonghyeon, the true hand behind it is Gun Mugyeol.”

“...”

“Gun Mugyeol is calculating. He intends to sacrifice Bongnae and Saryang’s martial powers to gain greater advantage later. That letter is simply asking you to become a martyr for their cause.”

Song Euigyeong closed his eyes tightly.

“And that part about saving your children—it's not kindness. It’s so they’ll have a justification to claim revenge after you die. They’ve already factored in your death. That much, you understand.”

“...Of course.”

“The Sacheon Alliance’s letter isn’t much different. Gang Cheonwoo has already seen through Gun Mugyeol’s ploy. That’s why he’s trying to bring Bongnae under the Sacheon Alliance umbrella.”

An ordinary person—

“—would think it’s right to accept. That if Bongnae and Saryang joined the Sacheon Alliance, the Martial Alliance would lose its cause. But unfortunately, Gang Cheonwoo is not that soft.”

“...He’s not?”

“No. Whatever you think of Gang Cheonwoo—he’s already contacted Hondo Mayeomgung. You know what that means.”

“...No... you don’t mean—?”

“Yes. He’s planning to hand Bongnae over to them. Gang Cheonwoo wasn’t lying. He will pull Bongnae into his sphere. But I’m here to talk about what comes after that.”

Song Euigyeong brushed his trembling hand through his hair.

“...Go on.”

“If Hondo Mayeomgung also enters Bongnae, all current powers here—including you—will be pushed out. Most likely, annihilated.”

“...”

“And the Sacheon Alliance will look away. This is the martial world. A place where the strong rule. They’ll just say you lost in a power struggle and move on.”

“...That’s...”

“That’s Gang Cheonwoo’s way. He needs Bongnae inside the Sacheon Alliance first—to block the Martial Alliance from stepping in. That’s why the Martial Alliance offered to save your children. To save face.”

Song Euigyeong looked stunned—as if he hadn’t thought that far.

He couldn’t believe it.

This young man had predicted the contents of both letters without reading them.

And not just that—he had grasped the entire situation.

Was this really the mind of a seventeen-year-old?

It was unbelievable.

“Now, I’ll get to the point. From the perspective of both great factions, you are an obstacle. Not just you—the Four Great Sects of Bongnae are all in the way. The Martial Alliance needs them gone to justify its moves. The Sacheon Alliance must remove them to bring in Hondo Mayeomgung. One way or another, you will die.”

“...”

“They’re all building their cause on your sacrifice. But I offer another path.”

“Another path...?”

“Yes. Become my sword. Not a martyr for the Martial Alliance. Not a pawn for Gang Cheonwoo. Be the master of Bongnae itself.”

He trembled.

This youth—he couldn’t even estimate his limits.

How could someone this young go head-to-head with Gun Mugyeol and Gang Cheonwoo?

Even if it wasn’t in brute force but in strategy alone.

At this level—if power followed—he would make both factions kneel.

“First, I’ll promise you support.”

“...Support?”

“I have a plan in motion. You’ll receive a large portion of the spoils from it. Later, I’ll even give you a supply of Shinsamhwa from Shinsam Valley.”

He blinked in surprise.

“The amount you previously sent to the Sacheon Alliance was considerable. What I offer may not be as much in volume, but it will far exceed the value of what you gained from them.”

“...Just how far ahead are you seeing?”

“I see as far as I can.”

“...”

“Senior. Once a Go stone is placed, it cannot move. But a sword can be drawn at any time to prove its worth. You are standing before a path—not to be a sacrificed stone on someone else’s board, but to become a sword that finds its own way.”

There was a flicker of emotion in Song Euigyeong’s eyes.

“As the river flows to the sea—so must a true sword seek the broader world. Stand with me, and rule Bongnae. That is the path where your blade will shine the brightest.”

As Unwi’s words ended, silence fell.

Only the sound of the two men’s breathing filled the hall.

Unwi stared calmly at Song Euigyeong—but in that gaze was a dignity no martial master in all the world could emit.

As if he had lived not decades—but centuries.

Song Euigyeong slowly stood.