I was closely tied to Seo Hyo. There was no way that information hadn’t spread within Cheonrim. For the Sword Heaven of Ten Transformations—who styled themselves the de facto masters of Cheonrim—to fail to keep me, whose existence now directly intersected with Yu Cheong’s designs, under control—this could pass beyond a matter of face into a matter of competence.

Then what did the Sword Heaven of Ten Transformations ultimately want?

It had to be one of two things.

Either they intended to fix a collar around my neck,

or they intended to kill me in an “accident.”

What mattered was the present.

For now, I planned to settle accounts with Jang Icheong.

“Try not to worry too much.”

“I don’t. You do perfectly fine on your own, after all.”

“I’m thinking of heading to Gangbuk Province to take a look at Jang Icheong’s face. Will you come with me?”

“...And if I said no?”

“Then things would get harder for me.”

Commander Seong let out a long sigh.

“I’ll go. I should. If not me, who else will guard your side, Young Master?”

I nodded, then quietly drew a letter from my breast.

In any case, friction with Jang Icheong was inevitable.

And I had no intention of avoiding that friction—but now I’d even received a letter like this.

Its contents were as follows:

—I am Heukmyeong of Heukcheon Masu Palace.

As we discussed at the Heavenly Alliance branch house, our interests align.

Something interesting is occurring now.

The Green Forest bandits are hiding in the Amsu County yamen, playing at being government troops, but it’s awkward for us to act directly.

I’d like to move together with you this time.

What do you think?

This missive arrived about one si-jin after Ham Jangshik of the Beggar’s Sect had finished telling me everything.

The true intent of the letter was simple.

You drove the Green Forest bandits into Amsu County, and we won’t press you on that—

but since we’ve agreed to work together, we need this part handled cleanly.

Do you have a plan? Something to that effect.

I sent a short reply:

—I will come in person. When I arrive, stand behind me. I will give you a gift.

It wouldn’t hurt to chalk up a debt at Heukcheon Masu Palace while I was at it.

“Summon the Cheonrak Unit.”

At my words, Commander Seong nodded.

***

Pung Muhwi sat in his quarters, turning over the riddle Unhwi had tossed him.

The Wind-God Canon.

It was without question the seed of enlightenment that would let him step up into the Heaven-Human Apex.

Whether eating, circulating qi, or training—

even when he slept—the only words that circled Pung Muhwi’s mind were Wind-God Canon.

It felt like he could grasp it if he only reached out—yet at the same time, that it {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} would not be seized so easily. A subtle, elusive sensation.

That alone made it clear.

He had to dig.

He had to snatch it.

He had to discover it and lay it bare.

“Great Pung, are you all right?”

When Jang Cheonun of the Gangcheon Wave Sect, seated opposite him, asked in a worried tone, Pung Muhwi lifted his head.

“Ah... my apologies. My thoughts wandered.”

“...It seems something sits ill with you.”

Pung Muhwi shook his head.

“Don’t worry about me. You said you had something to say?”

To speak bluntly, Jang Cheonun disliked everything happening in Seongjak Province right now.

Who was master of Seongjak Province?

The Seongjak Union. Whatever authority a Heavenly Envoy had, wasn’t he carrying on far too freely?

His thoughts showed plainly on his face.

“Something displeases you.”

“...You see truly. To be frank, I don’t think this is normal.”

Pung Muhwi sighed.

“Then let’s set the context straight first.”

“...Understood. Is it truly fine to leave Heavenly Envoy Seol Unhwi as he is?”

“What wouldn’t be fine?”

“Do you trust him?”

“Before trust—he defeated me as a martial man. What more is needed?”

“...Great Pung, he’s no different from a colt with the bridle cast off. Look even now: among those dispatched by the Heavenly Alliance, both the Five Great Sword Sects’ people and the Sama Outer Sects’ people have each occupied their own regions. Yet none of them have touched the Green Forest strongholds. Because, in truth, there’s no reason to.”

“No reason?”

“Yes. To be blunt, whatever tolls they collect or whatnot, in the end it’s never dealt us great harm. When commoners need strength, they ask us for help; we accept their offerings and protect them... It was a kind of virtuous cycle, and now it’s all been broken. And that’s not the end. Everyone knows the Green King, Im Cheongsan, is in a towering rage. The Green Forest may have lost four strongholds, but fourteen remain—and if those fourteen and Im Cheongsan aim at our Seongjak Province...”

“All will die?”

“Yes.”

“So your conclusion?”

“...Please stop the Heavenly Envoy.”

Pung Muhwi’s brow twitched.

“At least within Seongjak Province, only you can stop him.”

Though Pung Muhwi had lost to Unhwi, to Unhwi now Pung Muhwi was an indispensable blade.

There was a reason Unhwi had granted him command of the Cheonrak Unit. Which meant—only Pung Muhwi could check him.

Even their names were similar.

“Heh... You’d have a warrior draw his blade, then tell him to stop after lopping off a twig?”

“...”

“If I persuade the Heavenly Envoy as you ask, what then?”

“...Pardon?”

“We’ve smashed four Green Forest strongholds, and the Green King is enraged. Are we to go to them now and bow our heads?”

“...Great Pung...”

“Friend, since when were you such a coward?”

Jang Cheonun hung his head.

“We’re already on the tiger’s back. The only choice is to ride it to the end. So don’t make foolish choices. I say this not as the head of the Seongjak Union, but as your close friend. Understood?”

Jang Cheonun said nothing.

Just then—

“Are you busy?”

Pung Muhwi turned his head. Commander Seong had approached silently and was standing there.

“What brings you?”

“The Heavenly Envoy has called the entire Cheonrak Unit.”

“Oh...? I’ve heard the remaining Green Forest strongholds have all gone to ground. Have you found where?”

“Yes. They’re hiding in the yamen.”

“The yamen...”

Officials colluding with Green Forest within Heavenly Alliance territory was nothing new.

But this time, they’d used their heads.

Bandits hiding in the yamen? Their intent had to be questioned.

Was it simply to lie low, or was it preparation for the next move?

In such times, there are two methods. One—wait.

The other—go first and cut their throats before they can do anything.

Unhwi chose the latter.

“...It seems the blood-storm this time will blow a shade darker.”

Muttering thus, Pung Muhwi rose to his feet.

“Shall we go at once?”

“Yes.”

“The destination?”

“Amsu County. And he said we will move without stopping all the way up to Gangbuk Province.”

Amsu County was under the dominion of Heukcheon Masu Palace; Gangbuk Province under that of the Sword Heaven of Ten Transformations.

In that moment, Pung Muhwi and Jang Cheonun reacted in utterly opposite ways.

Pung Muhwi found it amusing.

It would be a stage on which he could glean at least part of the answer to how far Seol Unhwi would go—so of course he did.

But Jang Cheonun sighed inwardly again and again.

There were madmen—and then there was this madman.

How had the Everlasting Snow Palace produced someone this crazed?

There are limits to a land-grab. If he devastated both those regions, it would be nothing less than war.

Seongjak Province, Gangbuk Province, and Amsu County.

With three entangled, escape would not be easy.

...Surely he won’t go so far as to strike the yamen itself.

He could only hope not.

Pung Muhwi glanced at Jang Cheonun.

“Just in case—don’t act rashly.”

“...Yes.”

“Then when we return, let’s share a drink. With the Heavenly Envoy.”

“...Understood.”

Thus Pung Muhwi assembled the Cheonrak Unit and headed to Unhwi, while Jang Cheonun made for the Gangcheon Wave Sect.

His expression was very cold.

***

The yamen of Amsu County.

County Magistrate Bae Jinhu wore a complicated expression, sunk in thought.

He couldn’t stop replaying what had happened a few days earlier, when Im Hwabaek of Silver Moon Stronghold and Jeong Gwangseok of White Tiger Stronghold had come calling.

—Time to earn your keep.

So began Im Hwabaek, and he produced an offer that could not be refused.

—First, you’re going to hide us.

Hide them?

Nowhere in this world did bandits hide in a yamen. But officials in Heavenly Alliance territory were a different story.

—Magistrate Bae, you’ve taken women, taken money—you’ve taken so much from us. Surely you won’t refuse. If you do, we’ll report to the court. We’ve got ledgers—clear evidence. We can just throw them to the court and run. And then what happens to you? You just die.

A string of curses nearly burst out.

—It won’t take long, so show us a little decent treatment. Hah! Bandits playing at government troops—what a world, eh? Isn’t that right?

Laughing raucously, the two martial men left Bae Jinhu without words.

That day, dozens of bandits had flooded into the Amsu County yamen, dug in inside, and done nothing but gorge themselves.

Look at them even now.

Drinking themselves stupid, bringing in several of Amsu County’s women to toy with—just looking at those bastards made his blood boil backward.

But he couldn’t say a thing.

Because he was guilty.

Because his life-line was at stake—he had to keep silent and endure.

Then—

KRASH—!

The yamen’s main gate exploded into shreds.

Startled, Bae Jinhu turned his head. A man was walking in, slowly.

“Wh-who are you! How dare you, in a yamen—”

“Are you Magistrate Bae Jinhu of Amsu County?”

“Wh... who...?”

Unhwi spoke in a cold voice.

“I am Seol Unhwi, Heavenly Envoy of Seongjak Province.”

“S-Seol... Unhwi?”

Bae Jinhu’s face turned chalk white.

And the bandits who’d been drinking, wearing oh-good, a show expressions, sprang to their feet the instant they heard Unhwi’s name.

Ignoring them, Unhwi walked forward and stopped before Bae Jinhu.

“Wait... If you’re the Heavenly Envoy of Seongjak Province—this is Amsu County! How can the Envoy of Seongjak Province come here? This flatly violates the accords between the Heavenly Alliance and Un Nation—”

“Silver Moon and White Tiger threatened you, didn’t they? Am I right?”

He’d been cut off, but he wasn’t offended.

Rather, he was puzzled.

How does he know that?

“Sometimes a corrupt official repents. If you resolve to be one of those cases, I’ll remove every last one of those bastards for you.”

“...Truly...?”

“Yes. If you wish, I’ll recover the ledgers for you, too.”