“Once inside the Secret Realm, only one person will walk out alive. That single survivor will claim all the treasures within. Which means... this whole gathering is pointless.”

Unhwi’s calm remark seemed abrupt, even strange.

In Hwarang took a step forward.

“I’ve heard much of the famed prodigy of the Snow Palace, but you do have an amusing tongue. Only one will survive, you say? That means you plan to kill inside, does it not? And you speak of it so openly—do you think we’ll simply stand by and—”

He stopped mid-sentence.

Something was off. The so-called prodigy did not look foolish at all. No—he wasn’t being careless.

He had seen through them.

In Hwarang let out a cold laugh.

“Impressive. You already know of our secret arrangement... was that a guess?”

“Yes. And now that guess has become certainty.”

Both In Hwarang and Jeok Yeonik began to laugh.

Why had they been waiting here for Unhwi so intently?

The answer was simple.

They had already joined hands with Jang Icheong.

Normally, a Secret Realm contained more than one treasure.

The greatest prize at the final gate would go to Jang Icheong; the treasures from the lesser gates would belong to Jeok Yeonik and In Hwarang.

In that way, there would be no losers—only winners.

The sole condition of their pact was this:

Kill Seol Unhwi before he enters the Secret Realm.

Unhwi gave a faint, dismissive smile.

“Whatever promise Senior Jang made to you, consider yourselves unlucky today. I suggest you turn back.”

“...What did you say?”

Jang Icheong had originally planned to settle matters inside the Secret Realm to avoid public attention.

In his view, Mount Seongrim was ideal—isolated, with witnesses who could be silenced if needed. If it came to it, he could simply slaughter everyone here.

A master at the Celestial Being Stage could do exactly that.

“Small rewards often trip a man by the ankle,” Unhwi said, his gaze fixed on Jang Icheong.

Jang Icheong chuckled.

“Well, you truly live up to your reputation as a genius. Trying to sow discord among us—using words, no less.”

Unhwi’s eyes narrowed. Jang Icheong’s grin deepened.

Jang Icheong’s goal was simple: Seol Unhwi’s failure—and to take every shred of Unhwi’s merit for himself.

For that, Jang Icheong would do anything.

“How tiresome,” Unhwi murmured.

Jang Icheong only smiled in silence.

Unhwi turned to glance at Jeok Yeonik and In Hwarang.

“Still not leaving?”

“What nonsense. No matter how talented you may be, you cannot face both Master Jang of the Celestial Being Stage and two Divine Transformation masters like us at once. Clearly you’re trying to divide us with words, as he said.”

That was Jeok Yeonik’s retort.

“Master Jang is a righteous martial artist, unlike you. The Ihwa Sword Heaven Sect he represents would never speak falsehoods. Besides, our presence here is already known in many quarters,” added In Hwarang.

Tch.

Unhwi clicked his tongue softly and looked back at Jang Icheong.

“You do make everything troublesome.”

Jang Icheong gave no reply, only a slight shrug.

“I never thought you worthy of respect, but I didn’t realize it was this bad.”

“......”

“Very well. Before the gate closes, I’ll entertain you briefly.”

The sheer confidence in his voice was staggering.

Anyone could see that his body was in dreadful condition, and Seong Yangho—his trusted aide—wasn’t even by his side.

So where did that unflinching composure come from?

The others hesitated, unsettled but not ignorant of what had to be done.

They all drew their weapons—everyone except Unhwi.

Then—

“What are you all doing?”

The deep voice cut through the air, freezing everyone in place.

All heads tilted upward.

Hovering effortlessly in the sky stood an old man—white-haired, thin, yet radiating a pressure that crushed them to their knees. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth itself bowed before him.

Flame King Hwa Munyeom.

His voice carried irritation.

“You understand the importance of this task, yet you insist on fighting outside? Do you all wish for death?”

Jang Icheong flinched. Unhwi simply watched him in silence.

“The purpose here is to retrieve the treasures within the Secret Realm, and yet you degrade yourselves with a ridiculous contest of pride.”

It was clear these words were not aimed at Unhwi. Hwa Munyeom’s gaze was fixed solely on Jang Icheong.

“Did you think I sanctioned this mission so you could indulge in petty risks?”

“Vice Lord... this is merely a martial—”

“Silence.”

The tone was absolute.

There was none of the calm from their private meeting before—Hwa Munyeom was truly angry this time.

Sensing the shift, In Hwarang and Jeok Yeonik exchanged uneasy looks.

“Who in the world is this old master...?” one muttered.

They never got an answer.

With a casual wave of Hwa Munyeom’s hand, both men—and all their subordinates—erupted in flames.

“Kkk—Aaaahhh!!”

They were reduced to ash in an instant.

“Jang Icheong.”

“...Yes, Vice Lord.”

“You may have left the Mukse Society and entered Cheonrim, but our purpose remains the same.”

“......”

“Even if our methods differ, your actions now place personal greed above that purpose. That is something I cannot permit.”

“......”

“Do not degrade yourself further. You started this as a martial man—see it through as one. Understood?”

Jang Icheong clenched his teeth, saying nothing. His trembling fists spoke his frustration. But he had brought this upon himself.

After a long glare at Hwa Munyeom, Jang Icheong turned and strode into the Secret Realm.

Only two men remained.

Hwa Munyeom looked at Unhwi.

“You expected this?”

“For a man who reached the Celestial Being Stage, he’s rather shallow. I considered the chance of some underhanded trick to be high.”

“Sounds like you were certain.”

“Yes.”

“You also expected that someone from the Mukse Society would be present?”

Unhwi nodded.

“...And that’s why you came alone?”

If one has reliable people to watch one’s back, then coming alone makes sense—it’s a way to draw out hidden threats.

But that was merely camouflage if the man himself lacked confidence.

Had Unhwi intended to use the Mukse Society, Hwa Munyeom would have been disappointed. But Unhwi was not that kind of man.

“The reason I came alone,” Unhwi said, “is because it didn’t matter what Jang Icheong had prepared.”

Hwa Munyeom’s eyes narrowed.

“Even if his pawns were waiting, it made no difference. I had exactly five ways to eliminate them before the Mukse Society could interfere. I regret not being able to demonstrate them.”

To his ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) senses, Unhwi’s body was strange—like one who had stepped into the Heaven-Earth Apex, yet not quite. Something about his energy ran on an entirely different path.

“Jang Icheong isn’t a simple man. However talented you are, he earned the title Sword Emperor of Myriad Transformations through blood and fire. He plans every battle from start to finish with precision.”

“......”

“Even if he fails, he always leaves behind results. Are you prepared for that?”

Unhwi smiled faintly.

“You sound concerned.”

“I am,” Hwa Munyeom said quietly. “I’m watching you with concern.”

“May I ask why?”

He didn’t answer.

“The gate will close soon. Out of old habit, I’ll say this: let Jang Icheong have the treasure if it comes to that.”

“You mean to settle the friction between us.”

“Exactly.”

Unhwi chuckled softly.

“You seem to take this friction too seriously. No matter how great a Celestial Being master may be, a blade to the throat kills just the same, Senior.”

Not wrong.

“I’ll accept your concern, nothing more.”

Unhwi began walking toward the entrance of the Secret Realm. Just as he was about to step inside—

Hwa Munyeom spoke again.

“You’ve bound my daughter and Yuseong’s youngest son together, it seems... just how far are you looking ahead?”

Unhwi turned his head slightly.

“You want an honest answer?”

“I do.”

“I’m looking to the end.”

“......”

“My person seeks the destruction of a certain power. To fulfill that dream, I need to hold as many cards as possible.”

Hwa Munyeom’s eyes widened.

That meant—

“Yes. Both the Flame King himself and your only daughter, Hwa Muryeong, are cards in my hand.”

“...You have the audacity to claim you’ll use me, the Flame King, a Vice Lord of the Mukse Society, as one of your cards?”

“Before being Vice Lord, you’re Hwa Muryeong’s father. Surely you won’t ignore your daughter’s wish.”

“......”

“If you intend to, tell me now. I’ll simply exclude her from my plans.”

A dry laugh escaped him.

“Excluding my daughter would be doing me a favor—so either way, you’ll make use of me.”

Unhwi smiled faintly.

“I like people who understand quickly. Saves me from having to repeat myself.”

“......”

“If you’d prefer a deeper discussion, I can arrange it—after I return from the Secret Realm.”

“...You’re planning something dangerous. If you die, there’ll be nothing to clean up. Are you confident you’ll survive?”

Unhwi glanced toward the swirling light of the gate.

“It’s closing soon. You’ll see soon enough whether I have confidence or not.”

“......”

“May I go?”

“...Go.”

Without a shred of hesitation, Seol Unhwi stepped into the Secret Realm.

Before Hwa Munyeom could count to three, the gate sealed shut.

Inside were only two men—Jang Icheong and Seol Unhwi.

Only one would come out alive.

Hwa Munyeom folded his arms.

A man approached and spoke softly.

“...It has begun.”

“So it has.”

What had begun was clear.

The battle that would decide who held the hegemony of the Heavenly Alliance.

The Ihwa Union, led by Jang Icheong, and the Cheonrak Division, led by Seol Unhwi, were clashing in Seongjak Province.

“Will you not go to watch?”

“I will. You, however, take two operatives and wait here—for whichever one comes out.”