Episode 9
It was now.
Past memories surged through Seol Woon-hwi’s body like a tide.
That sensation—unmistakably familiar.
A strange trembling, just as the moment of the breakthrough began.
He remembered it well.
A road he had once walked.
Now, he was simply retracing his steps.
When reality and illusion meet, true emptiness is born.
When the false and the real converge, a vacuum is created.
This is the path to harmony between right and wrong.
When mind and body unite, the ultimate state is attained.
Innate, pure-blood demonic energy.
Pristine by nature, yet tinged with the fierce momentum of a blood steed.
The fusion of those two forces became something mysterious.
A single entity, yet ever-changing—unveiling a hidden, profound foundation.
Though faint, the Hyeonjigi—his refined inner energy—began to stir once more in Seol Woon-hwi’s body.
Energy he had once wielded countless times in a past life.
But his current vessel was far too weak.
The energy was barely more than a sliver—less than the size of a fingernail.
Yet within it was the depth and strength of a great river.
Still—
It was fine.
Truly, it was fine.
Seol Woon-hwi silently recalled the method of Taeheo Seonhyeolsim, a cultivation art etched deeply into his soul.
The great and mysterious blood flows through all things.
The mysterious blood of Taeheo connects to all principles.
As a bell seemed to echo in his mind, understanding seeped in.
Even a small vessel was enough.
The Tao had its order. The path had its steps.
For now, it was enough to open the first gate.
Innate blood and energy are truly void.
Innate energy turns into a vacuum.
With a low, dull resonance, the stillness of the truce shattered.
Two lights rose.
Just as it had been in his memories of a past life.
In that fleeting moment—where purity and sharpness intertwined—a faint light bathed Seol Woon-hwi’s spirit.
All laws return to the Great Way.
The myriad laws converge into one—revealing the Great Way.
The two lights blended into one, harmonizing perfectly.
A small shift.
But the beginning of something monumental.
Hyeonjigi began to circulate along his meridians.
Though his blood vessels remained turbid and his danjeon cramped, it was fine.
He who walks the Way does not rush.
Moonlight cast a pale glow over his form.
The fragments of a past life, the weakness of a present body.
It was now his task to reconcile them.
A long road lay ahead.
But—
Seol Woon-hwi opened his eyes.
He had reached the first stage of the Four Realms of Practice.
He had attained Yanggwangihyeon.
As he stepped outside, a sharp breeze met him.
He smiled.
For the first time in a long while, he felt refreshed.
Compared to the heights of power he had once achieved, this was barely the beginning.
Rock bottom.
Yet even so—
He had reached a turning point.
With this, the “middle gate” was open.
He could now use Heo Hyeon Ji Ki—even if faintly.
That was enough for now.
He draped the white tiger robe over his shoulders. It wasn’t just for warmth.
It was also proof.
Proof that he carried the bloodline of Mannyeonseol Palace.
Seating himself at the entrance of the residence, he looked to the sky.
The full moon hung there, radiant.
This wasn’t merely night.
It was dawn.
A time when the world slept, and the stillness deepened.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been inside.
At least a full day, maybe more.
He simply sat there, feeling the cold wind on his skin.
Time passed—
Half an hour.
Then an hour.
Two hours.
Then—
Footsteps.
Someone was approaching, their gait slow and heavy.
It was Bloody Storm.
Without a word, he laid three severed heads before Seol Woon-hwi and placed a small bundle beside them.
Then, he knelt in silence.
Clumsy in appearance, perhaps, but efficient in execution.
He had done his job.
Seol Woon-hwi didn’t speak.
And neither did Cheonpungdo.
Another hour passed.
Finally, the remaining four returned—each carrying two heads.
All five of his subordinates had completed the mission.
They were bloodied, injured.
But alive.
Each of them carrying the heads of traitors—and the stolen goods recovered.
Seol Woon-hwi studied them in silence.
Even in the bitter cold, their eyes were clear.
And for the first time in a while, he felt a flicker of satisfaction.
These were people he could trust—to act as his hands and feet.
Still, the current state of affairs left much to be desired.
He broke the silence.
“Excellent.”
The five men raised their eyes.
“Frankly, I didn’t expect you to kill them all. But you returned alive—and accomplished your mission perfectly. It’s time I kept my promise.”
Their eyes sparkled at his words.
“I will transcribe the Cheon-sal-nang-seong-gyeol (천살낭성결) for each of you later. But first, I will teach you the true key to unlocking it. The technique is simple. The method, straightforward. So listen carefully and commit it to memory.”
There was no one around but him and the five men.
He didn’t know how sharp their memories were, but they would remember this—because they must.
“What I’m about to teach you is the Heavenly Heart Law.”
A ripple of tension spread among the men.
“The secret of this law lies in observing the universe and understanding its flow. Watch the skies. Feel the wind. Comprehend the water’s course.”
He closed his eyes, then opened them slowly.
“The first step of cultivation is silence. Observe everything around you. At first, you’ll sense nothing. But eventually, you’ll perceive the subtle shifts between heaven and earth.”
He raised his hand, pointing toward the sky.
“A gust of wind. A drifting cloud. A falling snowflake. Each contains the principles of the world. The moment you understand that—you will ascend.”
He began to recite:
Observe heaven and earth—see all things.
From heaven and earth, the form of all things emerges.
心合自然 永不滅 — When the mind becomes one with nature, it is eternal.
Return your heart to all things, and the Way shall become clear.
Let the sound of all life return to your heart, and the Tao shall shine.
A single thought surpasses heaven—becomes formless.
As his voice faded, the air around them shimmered faintly.
“The true power of this method lies not in increasing quantity—but in refining quality. Most focus only on growing their energy. But true power lies in purifying it.”
The sect members’ eyes gleamed.
They understood.
They felt it.
If they hadn’t—they weren’t worth keeping.
This was no ordinary technique.
This was a Heaven-and-Earth level secret method.
Perhaps even more.
“Look to the sky. Look to the earth. Look to everything in between. That is the beginning—and the end—of this Dharma.”
He then explained the blood circulation sequence in detail, repeating it twice.
Then he sent them back inside.
Turning his head toward the pillar beside the residence, he spoke casually.
“Chief of the Castle.”
From behind the pillar, the general appeared.
“Eavesdropping is a poor habit. I didn’t know you had such tastes.”
“I didn’t mean to,” he replied with a guilty smile. “I was just worried. You’ve been out here a long time.”
Seol Woon-hwi laughed.
“What about the Cheongun group and the Open Faction?”
“They came by yesterday.”
“No issues?”
“None. The insurance was standard. As for the Open Faction—just as you guessed—Bingseolgeomheon Lee Ji-chang has learned of Yaunsang’s death.”
“I see.”
“Doesn’t that scare you?”
“Scare me?”
“It’s the Ice and Snow Sword. Master of Samhwachwijeong.”
Seol Woon-hwi chuckled.
“Someone once called him ‘the strongest of the strong.’”
“…That would be the two Buntawon members who died.”
“True, Samhwachwijeong’s skills are great. But not enough to earn that title.”
“…Your cultivation and wisdom are truly exceptional, but even so… you’re not ready to face someone of Samhwachwijeong’s level yet.”
“Why do you think that?”
“…”
“You have experience, General Seong. But don’t let experience blind you. That’s arrogance.”
“…Master…”
“Oh, and bring some food to the men. Tell them they can rest tomorrow.”
The general hesitated.
Perhaps because Seol Woon-hwi was unusually relaxed.
But he nodded.
“…Understood. But… why aren’t you angry?”
“Angry? About what?”
“…You taught them the Heavenly Heart Law. That technique… it’s not just elite—it’s almost sacred. Only the top members of the Hanryung Guards from Eternal Snow Palace were allowed to learn it…”
Seol Woon-hwi looked up at
the still-chilled sky.
He could feel it.
The snow had made it colder than usual.
“So many questions. Must I answer them all at once?”
“…You don’t have to.”
“But I will. Because you asked.”
He smiled.
“How many years has it been, General?”
“…Sixteen years.”
“Long time.”
“Indeed.”
“You were once the butler of the main palace, weren’t you?”
“Yes. When you were sent to Seol-ap, I followed. My role changed—to general.”
“Well, if it were anyone else eavesdropping, I’d have ripped their head off. But you… I can forgive.”
“…”
“Why not trust you?”
“…Why?”
“Because you’re the one closest to me.”
The general scratched his head.
“And one more thing. I didn’t receive the Heavenly Heart Law.”
“I created it.”
His eyes widened.
“I broke down the methods I once knew. Reconstructed them. This was the technique I used to teach my disciples at Bonwonhyeolgyo.”
It was this method that strengthened the Blood Sect.
This technique that led them to stand atop the Central Plains.
“…You really…”
Seol Woon-hwi met his gaze calmly.
“I’ve never lied to you. Never exaggerated, never downplayed. Only the truth. Whether you believe it or not—that’s up to you.”
“…Understood.”
“So… when do you think the Ice and Snow Sword will arrive?”
“…Soon. Maybe today. Definitely by tomorrow.”
He nodded.
It was going to be a long day.
