Determination surged in his gaze.

He thought to himself.

What is a sword?

Is it merely a tool to be stained with blood for its master, or is it a being that finds its own path?

And what is this being before him?

Merely the illegitimate child of Everlasting Snow Palace? Or... a giant who will one day move all of Murim?

Song Euigyeong knelt down with resolute will.

And he pressed his forehead to the ground.

Assuming the posture of full-body prostration, he spoke:

“I will serve you.”

When those words rang through the main hall, Unwi silently nodded.

It was the light of one who accepted the weight of responsibility.

Two witnesses—Ju Soa and Wonyang—quietly observed the scene.

Today, the master of Bongrae, Thunderblade Sword, Song Euigyeong, became Unwi’s sword.

***

A gloomy dawn with black clouds covering the sky.

Among the One Gate Three Families Two Manors, the warriors of the Three Families were hiding in the forest near Baekmajiro.

Numbering several dozen.

The highest cultivation among them was Ogijo Level.

The lowest was Jucheon Stage.

The main road connecting Yangryeong, Jeokan, and Bongrae was called Guryongsangno.

To reach Yangryeong via this Guryongsangno, one had to pass through two side roads.

Those were Baekmajiro and Yangmajiro.

Lee Jagyeom had given the order.

That today, the caravan of the Cheonha Merchant Guild and about four other caravans would pass through Baekmajiro. They were to be annihilated completely.

The world of martial artists is cold and cruel.

A debt must be repaid without fail.

There is a reason why the sects of Jeokan are introduced with the title: One Gate, Three Families, Two Manors.

The “One Gate” is the Hwar yeong Sword Sect.

Lee Jagyeom, as the sect master of Hwar yeong Sword Sect, holds command over the remaining Three Families and Two Manors.

The reason is simple.

First, he has reached the realm of Ipshin.

Second, all of One Gate, Three Families, Two Manors are part of the Sichuan Alliance.

If they all belong to the Sichuan Alliance, it is only natural that the strongest among them should wield command.

That is why the warriors of the Three Families—Yeom Clan, Heuk Clan, and Hyeong Clan—were gathered here.

Shin Ji-hyeok of the Yeom Clan spoke.

“Everyone, remain on standby. They’ll be here soon.”

At those words, the warriors hidden in the forest nodded.

Shin Ji-hyeok held command over this operation.

The clan head of the Yeom Clan was at Ogijo Level. Shin Ji-hyeok stood on equal footing with him.

That meant the Yeom Clan had mobilized their core martial strength.

Shin Ji-hyeok himself was forty-five this year and had lived in Jeokan for over thirty years.

He was a member of the Sichuan Alliance, had long experience, and maintained many connections—people naturally followed him.

It made sense that he held command.

Just then, the ground trembled.

Shin Ji-hyeok smiled.

They were coming.

“Prepare yourselves.”

No sooner had he spoken than the merchant caravan appeared.

Ten carriages. About twenty armed escorts. Including ordinary guards and porters, nearly eighty people in total.

He checked the banner affixed to the carriage.

The insignia of the Cheonha Merchant Guild.

It made sense.

For the Cheonha Merchant Guild, such a massive caravan was appropriate. It was a faction so powerful it practically ruled Yangryeong behind the scenes.

The caravan drew near.

Shin Ji-hyeok threw the sword he had been holding.

The target: the coachman pulling the lead carriage.

Shin Ji-hyeok was certain.

The sword would pierce the coachman's skull.

It would be the signal to launch the ambush.

And before even a hundred breaths could pass, the Cheonha caravan would be completely wiped out, and all goods carried in their wagons would become theirs.

That’s truly what he believed.

But everything went wrong from the very first move.

The coachman swung his hand—

BOOM—!

With a thunderous crash, the sword was swatted aside and embedded in the ground beside the carriage.

Warning bells rang in Shin Ji-hyeok’s head.

Something was wrong.

But he couldn’t stop now.

He drew the dagger from his waist and dashed forward.

There was only one target.

That coachman.

And at the same time, dozens of martial artists burst from the forest.

Over eighty in number.

“Kill them all!”

With that cry, Shin Ji-hyeok hurled his dagger.

It flew straight for the coachman's head, and in that brief moment—

The coachman's eyes gleamed.

He took a step back and tilted his head to the side.

CRACK—!!

The dagger pierced through empty air. That was fine. It was still within range.

The suspended dagger flew again, aiming for the man’s throat.

He was about to slash—

But the coachman was faster.

THUMP—!

The coachman's right fist slammed into Shin Ji-hyeok’s abdomen.

Shin Ji-hyeok slid back. He lifted his head. The strength behind the blow was great, but manageable.

He saw it then.

The coachman drew a dagger from his left hip and slashed.

Seomheo Ilchim Technique.

That needle-like strike darted toward him, and Shin Ji-hyeok reacted.

He swung his own dagger sideways, deflecting the blow. Instantly, he kicked forward.

His foot struck the coachman’s abdomen.

But the coachman had the same idea—his foot also struck Shin Ji-hyeok’s abdomen.

BOOM—!!

The coachman stumbled back two steps. Shin Ji-hyeok was pushed back three.

His face hardened.

Something was definitely... off.

Shin Ji-hyeok raised his head.

“...Who are you?”

The coachman brushed his abdomen and tilted the black hat he had been wearing.

At the face revealed, all color drained from Shin Ji-hyeok’s face.

“...Seol... Unwi?”

That was as far as it went.

“Kill them all.”

At that command, twenty of the porters rushed to a carriage and drew swords.

From five of the wagons, about twenty men and women sprang out.

The twenty men and women who had appeared to be escorts joined them.

In total, nearly sixty martial artists. And the energy they gave off was anything but ordinary.

One in particular stood out.

A middle-aged man with long hair braided down his back. Shin Ji-hyeok had seen him before.

When Lee Jagyeom entered Yangryeong with hundreds of warriors, this man had endured all the attacks from the leaders of the One Gate Three Families Two Manors—including Lee Jagyeom himself.

“...Seong... Yangho...”

His expression turned icy cold.

“How dare you kick our young master in the stomach? You’ve gone utterly mad.”

He {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} charged.

Shin Ji-hyeok didn’t even have time to react.

SLASH—!

His right arm was severed.

SLASH—!

Then his left arm.

SLASH—! SLASH—!

The tendons in both legs were cut.

He collapsed where he stood, staring at Seol Unwi in disbelief.

He couldn’t turn his head.

Chief Seong had grabbed his hair and was holding a dagger to his neck.

Chief Seong was furious.

As the earlier exchange showed, Unwi wasn’t in perfect condition.

Normally, he would’ve crushed an Ogijo-level master easily, but this time, the fight had been almost even.

That alone was still impressive, but far below what Unwi had displayed before.

The wounds he suffered while burying Woorin had not yet fully healed.

And they wouldn’t for a long time.

“How dare a bastard like you touch our young master... I should tear you apart right here—”

“Chief Seong.”

“...Yes, young master.”

“Leave him. Clean up the rest.”

When recovering the body, there’s nothing more effective than motion.

Chief Seong withdrew the dagger from Shin Ji-hyeok’s neck and charged at the other Jeokan warriors.

Coughing blood, Shin Ji-hyeok could only think of one word.

Failure.

A complete failure.

STEP. STEP.

Someone walked toward him.

Unwi.

He raised his head.

Their eyes met.

Shin Ji-hyeok couldn’t comprehend this situation.

No—there was only one possibility.

“...Who... are you?”

Unwi tilted his head.

“What are you asking?”

“Don’t play dumb, you bastard! I asked who you are!”

“As I said, what are you asking?”

“There must be an informant. Someone filthy who betrayed us and joined you!”

At that, Unwi shook his head.

“You’re terribly mistaken.”

“...What?”

“Your reaction comes from a single question—how could we possibly have predicted your ambush, correct?”

“...”

“I’m sure Lee Jagyeom said something like this: ‘Among the sects of Yangryeong, some might suspect an ambush will occur. But no one will know which caravan will be targeted.’”

Shin Ji-hyeok’s eyes trembled.

It was true. That was exactly what Lee Jagyeom had said.

“The caravans you aimed for were two.”

“...What?”

“The Cheonha Merchant Guild’s caravan—and the caravan of the Shin Clan.”

“...”

“Today, at Baekmajiro and Yangmajiro, both caravans pass. Five others also do, but they’re irrelevant. What matters is that you were targeting exactly two.”

“...Then there is an informant. Someone told you.”

Unwi shook his head again.

“Unfortunately for you, the unity of your One Gate Three Families Two Manors is solid. Not a single defector among you.”

“...Then it makes no sense. How could you be certain which we would strike?”

Unwi, kindly and audibly for those nearby, answered:

“You asked the wrong question. You shouldn’t ask how I was certain—but rather, what made me think so.”

“...”

“In a game of Go, reading the opponent is fundamental. If you know what they want, what they aim for—you can predict their next move.”

“...That’s ridiculous...”

“What Lee Jagyeom wants is the division of Yangryeong. And he must also demonstrate the power of Jeokan. Meaning, an example must be made. So then, who should that example be?”

“...”

“Two conditions must be met. First, a sect that has grown its influence in Yangryeong. Second, a sect that has benefited from me and thus draws the ire of others. The Cheonha Merchant Guild ruled Yangryeong even before I became Regional Lord and flourished further after. The Shin Clan—received the greatest benefits from the recent bloodbath.”

“...”

“All human actions have reasons. Whether I want to see it or not, Lee Jagyeom’s thoughts are transparent to me.”

“...Then... at Yangmajiro...”

“Many of our people are already in place.”

Shin Ji-hyeok’s eyes turned to despair.

Unwi slowly raised his sword, and without hesitation, thrust it forward.

SQUELCH—!

It pierced through Shin Ji-hyeok’s throat and emerged from the back of his neck.

“Guh...!”

“I’ve never seen Lee Jagyeom’s face. But I’ll send him to you soon.”

He drew the sword back out.

“You can talk it out with him in the afterlife. If you feel wronged, blame him.”

With Shin Ji-hyeok still wearing an expression of disbelief—

SWISH—!

His head flew into the sky.