CRUNCH. CRUNCH.

The man climbing the mountain path looked up at the sky.

“Snow.”

When one stood in the mountain wind, even summer could feel chilly.

Winter needed no explanation. The wind curling through the slopes could make even a master of the highest level tremble.

But today, even that harsh mountain wind had gone still.

Instead, snow was falling.

Flake by flake, the snow drifting down looked like scattering petals. Thick snowflakes were dyeing the entire mountain white.

“There’s a certain elegance to it.”

He had seen this view last year too, but today Mount Daebyeol looked especially beautiful.

Detail by detail, there was nothing different about it. And yet it felt strangely new. The mountain had probably not changed. He had.

The man closed his eyes.

CRACK!

A streak of lightning flashed through the quiet mountain.

HOOOOOOOONG.

The snow blanketing the ground burst outward in every direction.

FLAP-FLAP-FLAP!

The hem of his stylishly tailored robe snapped in the wind. It was an unusually calm day, but the sheer speed of the man’s movement was whipping the air into turmoil.

And a short while later—

Srrrk.

Landing lightly, Mo Yonggun looked up at the enormous fortress.

Even from close by, its scale was staggering. Seen from high in the sky, it would be broad enough to call to mind the walls of a small state.

Mo Yonggun suddenly felt dazzled.

Yes. The Alliance of the Martial World is no different from a nation now.

Since when had it become like this?

Because of the Pact of Mutual Non-Interference Between the Government and the Martial World, the government and the martial world did not trespass into one another’s spheres.

It was difficult to understand how two groups could share the same world and yet not intrude into each other’s territory. In fact, he had heard that for more than a decade after that pact was signed, all manner of turmoil had never ceased.

But as time passed, the government and the martial world had somehow reached a point where they no longer paid attention to one another. The two groups that had seemed absolutely incapable of existing side by side had finally achieved coexistence.

The martial world may look respectable on the surface, but it has no clear organ of control.

Mo Yonggun’s eyes turned cold.

And into that martial world, the Alliance of the Martial World was founded. The Alliance will go beyond merely the Orthodox Path and become the holy land of the entire martial world. Which means the Alliance Leader can become the emperor of the martial world, the ruler of that free-roaming world.

Mo Yonggun imagined himself as Alliance Leader.

He imagined himself ascending a vast grand seat beneath the blessings of countless people. He imagined himself holding power that could shift the very ground of the world with a single gesture.

...Good.

He could see it. That version of himself.

And the countless steps it would take to rise there.

“Huh? Y-You wouldn’t happen to be—”

Mo Yonggun opened his eyes.

The face of the Gate Guard standing watch at the gate had turned pale.

“Service Lord Mo Yong?”

“For the moment, yes.”

Mo Yonggun smiled.

“Open the gate.”

“Ah! My apologies, but... could you show me your token?”

He already knew who he was, but meant that procedures could not be ignored.

Mo Yonggun handed over the token without protest.

“Verification complete! Congratulations on your return!”

“Thank you.”

KUGUGUGUGUNG!

The enormous fortress gate, the White Tiger Great Gate, opened.

Before stepping through the opened gate, Mo Yonggun looked at the Gate Guard.

The thoroughly tense guard carefully opened his mouth.

“Is there perhaps some separate order you wish to give?”

Mo Yonggun shook his head.

“What is your name?”

“I am Jeon Gang.”

The clan lord of the Mo Yong Clan was asking his name. He did not show it outwardly, but Jeon Gang was at a complete loss.

Mo Yonggun smiled.

“You are the very face of the Alliance. Your work may be hard, but continue as you have been—observe principles and procedure, and do your utmost so the dignity of the Alliance is not damaged.”

“Th-Thank you!”

There was no way to tell whether it was praise or mockery. Jeon Gang’s face had gone red.

Mo Yonggun pulled out a small money pouch from his robe.

“Take it.”

“W-What is this?”

“You’ve all been working hard in this bitter [N O V E L I G H T] winter. When your shift ends, have a good drink with your comrades.”

“Gah! N-No, that’s quite all right!”

Mo Yonggun burst into booming laughter.

“My good man, I may look like this, but I am still the clan lord of the Mo Yong Clan. Do you think I’d hand out money as a bribe?”

“Ghk! Th-That’s not what I meant...”

“Don’t worry and take it. As it happens, upper command is already discussing welfare for the security force and the Gate Guards. We should have paid attention to it much sooner. I can only apologize that it took this long.”

Emotion welled across Jeon Gang’s face.

And not only his. The warriors standing inside the gate, and even those posted to the left and right, all felt something surge up inside them.

Jeon Gang bowed deeply.

“In that case... I will accept it with gratitude.”

“There’s nothing for you to be grateful for. If anything, we should be thanking you. Isn’t it thanks to men like you that we can discuss the Alliance’s major affairs in peace?”

Mo Yonggun’s eyes turned serious.

“Do not forget this. The world may distinguish between high and low status, and between noble and base professions, but at the very least, the work you do is just as difficult and demanding as the work we do.”

“...”

“Keep it up.”

Not only Jeon Gang, but every Gate Guard bowed his head.

“All of us are ready to lay down our lives for the Alliance at any time.”

“Hahaha, good.”

Only after patting Jeon Gang on the shoulder did Mo Yonggun finally step into the Alliance.

His gait was elegant, yet his retreating figure brimmed with a commanding force that stood in stark contrast to that lofty refinement.

Envy rose in Jeon Gang’s face.

“What kind of chivalry must fill the warriors of the Mo Yong Clan, to serve under a leader like that? With a lord like him, one truly could devote his life.”

“Service Lord Mo Yong has returned to the Alliance!”

“Service Lord Mo Yong is back!”

“I heard that fucker’s back?”

“Hm. He returned sooner than I expected.”

News of Mo Yonggun’s return spread through the Alliance in an instant.

Entering with majestic confidence, Mo Yonggun did not go to his quarters. He headed straight for the meeting hall to report what had happened.

Half a shichen later, the Service Lords had gathered in the meeting hall.

“Well now, you’ve truly worked hard.”

At Venerable Gonggong’s plainspoken commendation, Mo Yonggun smiled.

“Worked hard? I did nothing worth mentioning. The ones who truly suffered were the members of the operational team.”

“Hahaha.”

“And with the operational-team leader being so exceptionally capable, by the time I arrived in Hunan, there was scarcely anything left for me to do. Aside from a few adjustments, that is.”

“I see.”

“The mission was important, yes, but isn’t the most important fact that everyone returned safely without a single injury? It is a blessing beyond measure.”

Venerable Gonggong smiled faintly.

“Hearing you say that, Service Lord Mo Yong, puts me in excellent spirits. Yes, that is right. Human life is more precious than any mission. It is fortunate that there were no casualties.”

“Hahaha.”

Mo Yonggun looked around at the Service Lords as he spoke.

“In any case, I’m sure all of you are busy, so I will give a brief report of what happened.”

He explained the chain of events in Hunan in a concise and orderly fashion.

Naturally, every detail concerning the schemes he himself had set in motion had been cleanly omitted. So too had the clash of nerves with Yeon Hojeong, and even the meeting with Yangcheon.

“Hoh.”

Daoist Yonghwa let out a sigh of admiration. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

“He truly is remarkable. To be frank, I had thought that at such a young age, the reputation of Green Mountain’s Tiger Commander might be somewhat exaggerated. But he is an extraordinary talent indeed.”

Mo Yonggun smiled.

“Is he not one of the younger generation spoken of when the question of the best under heaven arises? His martial art is one thing, but his improvisational wit and the boldness with which he handled Yangcheon are truly worthy of praise.”

“Hahaha, quite so.”

“A genius who can wield martial skill and strategy freely in actual combat. Honestly, who would ever have imagined that such an absurd genius could exist in this world?”

Je Gal Munho’s eyes deepened.

What is this?

Mo Yonggun went on and on, praising Yeon Hojeong as if he were genuinely impressed.

Though he may be an enemy, Service Lord Mo Yong acknowledges the Commander of the Evil-Smiting Corps more than anyone. But the praise feels somewhat excessive.

Of course, Yeon Hojeong was the kind of talent for whom even praise piled upon praise would not be enough.

But because the man speaking those words was Mo Yonggun, it felt suspicious. Others might not sense anything strange, but to Je Gal Munho, who knew the relationship between Mo Yonggun and Yeon Hojeong, it was difficult to believe his intent was pure.

Je Gal Munho looked at Yeon Wi.

Yeon Wi’s face was expressionless, but Je Gal Munho, who had built a close friendship with him, could read the faint confusion and unease shadowing his eyes.

Clan Lord Yeon senses something off as well. What is it?

A little more time passed.

...?

Je Gal Munho noticed that the expressions of several Service Lords were slowly becoming subtle.

Surely...

Je Gal Munho’s expression stiffened without showing it.

So that’s it.

To a man parched with thirst, a single cup of water could be indescribably moving. But if his thirst had already been quenched and one kept forcing water on him, from that point onward it became painful.

The handful of Service Lords unaffiliated with any faction are becoming uncomfortable.

A hollow laugh almost escaped him.

Backbiting is not the only form of attack. Create unease through excessive praise and provoke internal conflict...

Yeon Hojeong’s reputation had already spread throughout the entire Orthodox Path.

And with good reason. Not content with breaking through the Wall of Martial Arts in his early twenties, he had also been appointed the first commander of an Independent Field Force unit in Alliance history. Before that, he had even stood at the forefront in bringing down the Ming Clan of the Nine Provinces.

There was nothing lacking in him—age, martial ability, strategy, family background, even his bold temperament.

Anyone would be capable of envying that sort of talent and background.

Service Lord Mo Yong. How long has it even been since your return, and you’re already playing this kind of game?

Just as Je Gal Munho was about to step in—

“The Commander of the Demon-Sweeping Corps is remarkable as well.”

Everyone’s attention turned to Yeon Wi.

After wetting his throat with a sip of tea, Yeon Wi continued.

“Did not Mo Yong-woo, the Commander of the Demon-Sweeping Corps, also break through the Wall of Martial Arts not long ago? At an age not yet thirty, reaching such a realm makes him a genius truly not beneath the Commander of the Evil-Smiting Corps.”

Surprise spread across Mo Yonggun’s face. Even Mo Yonggun, of all people, could not hide his emotions this time.

“Woo—no, the Commander of the Demon-Sweeping Corps broke through the Wall of Martial Arts?”

“That is correct.”

“Huh!”

The Service Lords who had been uncomfortable finally relaxed their expressions.

“Congratulations, Service Lord Mo Yong.”

“The Commander of the Demon-Sweeping Corps’ talent is also a great blessing to the martial world.”

“They truly are the twin pillars of the Alliance’s combat corps. Just like the name Demon-Sweeping & Evil-Smiting, they are talents fit to become the twin suns that will one day shine brightly over the Orthodox Path.”

The Service Lords each added their own remarks, praising Mo Yong-woo.

Mo Yonggun’s face, which had frozen in surprise and delight, relaxed in an instant.

He looked at Yeon Wi.

Yeon Wi was quietly sipping his tea.

...Indeed.

Mo Yonggun smiled.

A tiger begets a tiger. Is this your way of saying you are no less than your son?

Yeon Wi looked at Mo Yonggun.

“Is there something on this man’s face?”

“How could there be? I was only thinking that Service Lord Yeon’s complexion seems especially bright today.”

“Thank you.”

At that moment, Je Gal Munho stepped in.

“We have received all of the top-secret intelligence from Ink Dragon Manor. Many of the writings among them are difficult to decipher, but I believe we should be able to interpret all of it within fifteen days.”

“Oh!”

“It would be best to convene the Service Council again at that time. Service Lord Mo Yong must also be tired, so how about ending the meeting here for today?”

“Agreed.”

Mo Yonggun’s sudden return.

Winter—the time of the Frozen Wind had arrived.