“For example?”

“For the head of the Baekryeong Guard to want me as a disciple—it's a strategic move to pull me out of the upcoming Young Palace Lord succession battle. Hyeonshim knows you well, Father.”

“Then tell me—what would you have me do?”

Unwi smiled faintly.

“You are the sovereign of Everlasting Snow Palace. Do as you please, my Lord.”

At that, Seol Jungcheon shook his head.

“I’m not asking as the Palace Lord right now. I’m asking as your father.”

“......”

“I had originally considered Seol Muryeon to be the one to lead the next generation of Everlasting Snow.”

Unwi’s brow twitched.

That was truly unexpected.

Seol Muryeon—the second son.

Not Seol Horyeong, the eldest, but Muryeon?

Unwi didn’t know much about Muryeon, but he was well aware of Horyeong’s genius.

He had felt it clearly during the recent internal council.

There was no way his father could have missed it either...

But he left the thought there.

“But you, who have turned back time—no matter how much you try to conceal it, it still shows.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your value.”

“......”

“There is one destined to climb closest to the heavens. As Palace Lord, how could I not consider you for that role?”

“And what about as a father?”

“As your father... I do not wish to burden your shoulders.”

Unwi said nothing.

“Even with my eyes closed, I can see the path you’ll walk.”

Seol Jungcheon’s voice softened.

“If you're a man who can touch the heavens, then you must bear a weight that reaches just as high. As Palace Lord, that is what I must say. I should name you Young Palace Lord and support you fully.”

He paused for a moment. Silence settled between them.

“But I cannot.”

Seol Jungcheon turned to gaze out the window.

“If I were to tell you now, ‘Become the Palace Lord,’ you would do so. Because of your guilt toward me. Even though it’s not truly your will.”

Unwi’s eyes trembled.

“As your father, I can’t stand to see that. I cannot shackle your life with my own desires.”

A deep affection shimmered in Seol Jungcheon’s eyes.

“In this life, walk the path you truly wish to walk. You need not bear the weight of Everlasting Snow. Just go where your heart leads you.”

“Father...”

“If becoming Palace Lord is truly your destiny, then you’ll make that choice when the time comes. For now, walk your own path. After all, that path will no doubt lead back to Everlasting Snow.”

His smile held both pride and sorrow.

Unwi, silent until now, slowly opened his mouth.

“You’re right. Whatever path I walk, I’ve already told you—I intend to protect Everlasting Snow.”

“Mmm.”

“Whether I become Young Palace Lord or Palace Lord doesn’t matter. There are many ways to protect this place without sitting on that throne.”

“Good.”

“There’s no need to worry. Father.”

Seol Jungcheon’s smile showed how deeply satisfied he was with this moment.

He was not unaware of Hyeonshim’s concerns. And after hearing Unwi directly and looking into his eyes—he suddenly began to understand the enigmatic Heavenly Master of Central Blood Sect, whom he had never once met.

Blood Heaven’s True Restoration, was it?

A title from a bygone era, long since erased from existence. It must’ve been created for good reason.

Seol Jungcheon had a strong hunch—no, something close to conviction.

That man had surely intended to pass the position of Central Blood Sect Leader to Unwi.

Likely the title of Vice Leader, too.

It couldn’t be helped.

Unwi was someone who, no matter who looked at him, belonged above all others.

His qualities had merely been hidden—he had been born with the talent to lead.

Seol Jungcheon began to ponder.

A new title—one made solely for Unwi.

“But for now, I’d like to consume that.”

Seol Jungcheon nodded.

At his gesture, the Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Pearl in the fishbowl rose into the air and floated gently into Unwi’s hand.

Without a second of hesitation, Unwi tossed the pearl into his mouth.

***

He silently watched as Unwi sank into a state of perfect absorption.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Pearl.

Its value was extraordinary.

Typically, martial artists undergo a physical rebirth—once upon entering the Harmonization Stage, the first tier of the Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Realm, and again upon reaching the first stage of the Five Divine Realms, known as Union of Heaven and Man.

This progression was considered the natural order.

The rebirth at the Harmonization Stage did not guarantee youth, but the one at Union of Heaven and Man did.

Unlike Harmonization, which evolves the body to handle the energies of nature, Union of Heaven and Man integrates the qi of the heavens and the earth, renewing the body entirely and restoring youth.

Further rebirths are possible beyond that, but those depend on the individual and are not worth detailing here.

However, one thing must be noted—

There exists a single elixir capable of forcibly inducing such a rebirth:

The Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Pearl.

It does not grant youth, but regardless of cultivation, it refines and evolves the body to its peak state.

Right now, Unwi’s body was riddled with impurities and far from optimal condition.

By consuming the Flame Pearl, his meridians would be cleansed as though a muddy road had been paved over—clearing, purifying, and eliminating all toxic qi.

Seol Jungcheon propped his chin thoughtfully.

Another benefit came to mind.

“...It’ll also help him break through his bottleneck.”

Unwi had once already touched the heavens.

His experience lived there.

But his body couldn’t support it. Worse yet, he suffered from the condition known as Madblood Meridians.

If he forcibly underwent physical rebirth now, he would undoubtedly reach Three Flowers Gathering Purity.

There would still be an adjustment period afterward, of course—but even that period would be exponentially shortened.

By Seol Jungcheon’s estimation, at his current rate, Unwi would reach Three Flowers in about two months and Five Banners Form within a year.

But now that he had consumed the Flame Pearl—

That entire timeline had become meaningless.

He’d reach Five Banners within six months.

That thought in mind, Seol Jungcheon rose and waved his hand.

A wall of ice formed inside Unseoljeon, wrapping itself around Unwi.

No one would be able to disturb him now. That was the purpose of the barrier.

Without a word, Seol Jungcheon left the chamber. Outside the door, he faced a long-haired man waiting quietly.

“How did it go?”

Yang Seoljin answered in his characteristic calm voice.

“Doksa Valley is adamantly denying any involvement.”

“A denial...”

“All those found at the site committed suicide. And we got nothing substantial from the captured spies either... The situation has grown... strange.”

It was understandable.

“There were spies from Murim Alliance and Sacheon Alliance within the Baekryeong Guard, correct? What about them?”

“...They weren’t spies—just individuals with close ties to those factions. Letters have arrived ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) questioning their deaths, even threatening reprisal.”

“From the Murim and Sacheon Alliances themselves?”

“Yes.”

Despite hearing all this, Seol Jungcheon’s expression did not change.

He wore a perfectly neutral face.

This was the true Seol Jungcheon.

The version seen by Unwi was the exception. Everyone else—everyone in Everlasting Snow Palace aside from Unwi—was far more familiar with this version.

“I’ve been focused on something else for years now... Perhaps it’s been my own actions that have undermined the Palace’s authority.”

“...Pardon?”

“Seems I’ve been lowering the prestige of Everlasting Snow myself.”

Yang Seoljin swallowed hard.

He was visibly rattled.

The Palace Lord had changed. No—everything had changed.

The more Seoljin panicked, the more furious Seol Jungcheon became.

Had it not been for Unwi’s return—had it not been for what he’d heard—he likely wouldn’t have noticed any of this.

He didn’t deny it.

He had been trapped in secrets.

“The Eternal Snow Mountain conceals Heaven’s will.

Mankind seeks Heaven but knows not where to find it.

The true meaning lies within the pure white snow.”

The poem he once recited to Unwi—Seol Jungcheon had spent more than a dozen years pursuing its meaning.

In that time, he’d failed to designate a Young Palace Lord.

Failed to monitor the standing of Everlasting Snow.

Too much had slipped through his grasp.

Now, finally, he intended to turn around and look.

“Vice Lord.”

“...Yes, my Lord.”

“I hear the air in Sacheon and Gongneung is especially refreshing. Is that true?”

Yang Seoljin swallowed again.

Sacheon was home to the Sacheon Alliance’s main base. Gongneung housed the Murim Alliance headquarters. Mount Taehwa, in Gongneung, was among the most renowned sacred sites in the martial world.

“...Are you planning to visit?”

In response, Seol Jungcheon glanced back at the closed door of Unseoljeon, then answered:

“Not immediately.”

Under normal circumstances, he would have discussed this with Seoljin.

But now, Seol Jungcheon was curious.

What will Yang Seoljin do in the future?

This man had never shown a single opening in over a decade.

Unwi had said it—he left home in his past life roughly one year and three months from now.

Which meant that timeframe was the “moment.”

If Seol Jungcheon left the Palace now—what would Yang Seoljin do?

Would he show a crack?

Or remain silent, as always?

Just as Unwi had his way, Seol Jungcheon had his own.

It was then that Yang Seoljin cautiously asked:

“Then... what of the Young Palace Lord seat?”

“It is not time yet.”

Had he stopped there, even Yang Seoljin would have accepted it without question.

But Seol Jungcheon’s next words made the man’s eyes tremble.

And for good reason.

“There are things I must wait for.”

Wait? For what?

The deeper he thought about it, the more meaning the words seemed to carry.

Seol Jungcheon was a man easy to read.

When he focused on something, he only focused on that thing.

“Go and rest. I’ll summon you when the time is right.”

“Yes, understood. I’ll return to my quarters.”

Just as he turned to leave, Yang Seoljin seemed to remember something and turned back.

“...If I may ask, my Lord—are you considering Hyeon Seollin for the Young Palace Lord seat?”

“Does it seem that way?”

“...I cannot presume to know. But lately, it feels as though her talent is awakening. I may be unworthy to gauge how far she might go—but you, my Lord, would know. That’s why I thought—”

“Because I gave her the Flame Pearl?”

“Yes. Even if it was a promise, granting her something of that magnitude must mean you hold her in high regard.”

At that, Seol Jungcheon shook his head.

“You’ve misunderstood.”

“...Pardon?”

“A promise retains its meaning only when it holds, no matter the circumstance. I gave her the Flame Pearl because I promised to. It had nothing to do with her talent or her value.”

Yang Seoljin swallowed dryly.

“And yes—her talent is indeed beginning to bloom. For now, only a few of us may be surprised by it. But soon—all of the Central Martial World will be.”