Wi Jungdal, Prefect of Seongjak Province, had been enjoying the most peaceful days of his career in recent memory.

No—safe might’ve been a more accurate word than peaceful.

Just five days ago—no, even just a month ago—he had spent every night tossing and turning, terrified that his collusion with Noklimchae would be exposed.

He had accepted bribes. Built relationships. Turned a blind eye. Though he eventually realized it was a mistake and tried to distance himself, the lingering anxiety never left him.

Even when Cheonsusa of Cheonimeng was newly appointed, Wi Jungdal had welcomed the news. Distance was what he wanted.

Even if that Cheonsusa turned out to be the infamous prodigy from Everlasting Snow Palace, Wi Jungdal—riddled with weak points—never sought him out. What he truly wished for was a quiet, unspoken understanding. One where they simply ignored each other, pretended not to see, and gave each other the room to operate.

But now... things were different.

Thanks to that terrifying man—who swept through both the Dark Army and Gangbuk Province—all the blame had been dumped on the dead, and Wi Jungdal had been reborn as a clean, upright official.

In fact, he was soon to be summoned to the capital... to receive a commendation.

Terrifying though the man was, it was undeniable—he was useful.

The leash around Wi Jungdal’s neck may have tightened, but in exchange, he now wore the uniform of integrity.

In that sense, it was a net gain.

And so, when he was summoned—he couldn’t refuse.

When he arrived at the former Gaebang Seongjak Branch headquarters, Wi Jungdal was horrified.

“...What on earth is this...?”

The carnage began at the gate.

Corpses of Gaebang operatives were strewn across the entrance, and the stench of blood filled the air.

It was nothing short of a slaughterhouse.

In over twenty years as an official, Wi Jungdal had never witnessed such a scene. Even in his most jaded moments, he had never stood in the aftermath of a one-sided massacre like this.

At the center of it all, seated casually in a chair placed dead in the middle of the Gaebang branch, was Seol Unhwi.

Scrolls and letters were stacked before him in a massive pile—documents, no doubt, from the branch’s intelligence storage. Unhwi read them in leisurely comfort, as if he were in his own study.

Then he set the scroll down and spoke.

“Ah, the honorable Jasa has arrived.”

His smile looked warm as ever—but in the midst of this carnage, it only made him more terrifying.

“...I was told... Cheonsusa requested me...”

Wi Jungdal’s voice trembled. Anyone could see he was petrified.

“If someone saw this, they’d think I was keeping you as one of my retainers, Jasa-nim. Forgive the surroundings—please, take a seat.”

As if he’d been waiting for the cue, Commander Seong brought over a chair and set it down across from Unhwi.

“Hrmm...”

Wi Jungdal gave a dry cough as he sat. Unhwi began speaking with a smile.

“There’s a matter I’d like to discuss—regarding Seongjak Province and your role in it. I trust this setting doesn’t make you uncomfortable.”

“N-no... not at all.”

“Before we begin, though... I must ask. Are you at peace these days?”

“Thanks to you... I’ve been quite well.”

Unhwi smiled in satisfaction.

“You’ll be summoned by the royal court soon, so I imagine peace is the appropriate word. That’s good to hear.”

“...How did you...?”

Unhwi raised the scroll in his hand.

“The Gaebang’s intelligence network is more extensive than I expected. It says here your achievements have been reported to the court, and preparations are underway to bestow official honors.”

“...”

“Congratulations. You've earned a reputation as a man of integrity.”

Wi Jungdal was conflicted.

He should feel pleased—but the fact that this turn of fortune had come from the man sitting across from him filled him with unease.

Naturally, from Wi Jungdal’s perspective, it was only logical to search for a way to remove the leash around his neck.

He couldn’t live the rest of his life being dragged around at someone else’s whim.

But somehow... he had the feeling that even attempting to loosen the leash would result in losing his head.

Ahem.

He cleared his throat and asked:

“What did you summon me for?”

“It’s simple. I’d like you to handle all the beggars around Seongjak Province.”

“...The beggars, you say?”

“Yes. Every last one. I want them all dead.”

Wi Jungdal’s face went stiff. “Beggars” clearly referred to the Gaebang operatives. What Unhwi was demanding was, essentially, to rip the Gaebang’s roots out of Seongjak Province.

“That... may be difficult. Beggars are so transient, and... well, Gaebang members are martial artists. It’s not easy to tell them apart from common vagrants...”

“Doesn’t sound like you’re on board.”

Gulp.

“The Gaebang’s been getting too bold. Tell me, Jasa-nim—who rules Seongjak Province?”

He’d been about to say, You do, now.

But Unhwi cut in:

“Clearly, you are the ruler of Seongjak Province, Jasa-nim.”

“M-me...?”

“Martial artists are citizens too, in the eyes of the state. That’s why the state exists in the first place.”

“...Hrmm.”

“Seongjak has a lot of potential. But beggars are defiling this land. They stink, they beg, they cause trouble—don’t they?”

“Y-yes... that’s true.”

“And you have the authority of the government at your disposal. You’re already being noticed by the court. If you launch a public order campaign to root out vagrants—no one will question it. And if those vagrants happen to be tied to the Gaebang, well... all the better.”

“But... won’t the Gaebang retaliate?”

“The Gaebang...”

Unhwi gave a slight chuckle.

“I think I understand your worry. So let’s do it this way. I, as Cheonsusa, have made a formal request to you. To eliminate the ‘beggars.’ And you, convinced by my words, have acted accordingly. In the end, I’ll be the shadow behind everything. If the Gaebang has a problem, they’ll come for me first—not you. And if they try to invoke the sanctity of martial sovereignty, just use my name.”

“...Huh...”

“What do you say?”

It wasn’t a bad deal.

But—

“...You’re asking me to become your blade, are you not?”

“Wouldn’t that be better?”

“...Hmm...”

“You get the credit for restoring public order, I get rid of the eyesores, and if anything goes wrong, I take the blame. Isn’t that the very definition of mutual benefit?”

Wi Jungdal was speechless.

Unhwi wasn’t wrong.

With the Seongjak Branch of the Gaebang already in ruins, what could they possibly do?

And if Unhwi was openly taking responsibility, all Wi Jungdal had to do was use his name.

They were already joined at the hip.

There was no way around it.

“...Fine. I’ll do it.”

“Excellent. Just to be clear, your task is simple: conduct a vagrant-clearing campaign in the name of restoring public order. Eliminate all persons tied to the Gaebang. But the most important condition: if I tell you to stop, you must cease everything immediately.”

“...Understood.”

Unhwi smiled gently.

“As expected of you, Jasa-nim. Your brilliance reaffirms the glorious future of our proud nation.”

Wi Jungdal bowed his head.

“...When shall I begin?”

“Immediately. This very moment.”

A chill ran down his spine.

“...It shall be done.”

“Very good. You may go.”

Wi Jungdal could no longer remain. He gave a hurried bow and left the scene.

Unhwi had said that Wi Jungdal was the ruler of Seongjak Province.

But Wi Jungdal knew the truth.

The real ruler of Seongjak... was Unhwi.

Anyone on the street would say the same.

***

The emergency report reached the Gaebang’s headquarters—the Branch Leader’s office—just before dawn.

“Seongjak Province Branch: Annihilated.”

Reading that single line, Hyejeongsan’s expression froze.

In over thirty years of leading the Gaebang, this was the first time an entire branch had been wiped out.

“Master.”

The one who entered was none other than Vice Branch Leader Jin Muhyeok. It was nothing new—he had long since made his ambitions for the Branch Leader position known. He was openly obsessed with claiming it for himself.

Hyejeongsan was well aware of Jin Muhyeok’s actions—and had been dealing with them accordingly.

Their conflict was no secret.

It had gone on for nearly a decade. The Gaebang was effectively split in two.

Despite their opposition, Jin Muhyeok now wore a face full of rage. Because whatever else he might be, he was still Gaebang. That much, at least, was undeniable.

He spoke.

“Have you heard what happened in Seongjak?”

“I have.”

“They say over 120 Gaebang operatives were slaughtered. Do you know who did it?”

When Hyejeongsan didn’t answer, Jin Muhyeok spoke again—his voice bitter with sarcasm.

“It was a punk named Seol Unhwi. Youngest son of Everlasting Snow Palace. Don’t tell me you hadn’t heard.”

“...Everlasting Snow Palace...?”

“Yes. The brat was appointed Cheonsusa and went on a rampage. Apparently he was furious about being cast out of the Palace, so now he’s taking it out on us.”

When Hyejeongsan didn’t react, Jin Muhyeok scoffed.

“Don’t inject your bias into the facts. You haven’t even conducted a proper investigation.”

“Ha... Master. Isn’t it obvious? An investigation is underway, yes, but drawing conclusions from known facts is part of understanding the truth.”

“We call that arrogance.”

“And if it is? The Gaebang has the power to make it truth.”

“...”

“And more to the point—a snot-nosed kid, barely seventeen, is mocking us.”

Even as Vice Branch Leader, Jin Muhyeok’s tone had crossed a line. Hyejeongsan wasn’t just his master—he was the Branch Leader of the Gaebang.

The disrespect was staggering.

Hyejeongsan furrowed his brow.

“Muhyeok.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I’ll say this again. Don’t jump to conclusions. If he truly is blood of Everlasting Snow Palace, he’s not someone to take lightly. And no amount of dressing up conjecture will make it truth.”

“Then I’ll become the kind of man who can make it truth. I will make my suspicions reality. Master, I believe you’re overestimating this child. He’s no different than the rest ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) of the Central Plains martial world.”

“...Muhyeok...”

Jin Muhyeok shook his head.

“He’s just some boy—not even of age. And on top of that, disgraced by his own sect. Why don’t we just go kill him?”