Chapter 30: The Left Minister of Sunghwa Palace 1

After returning to the Northern Heaven Sect, Baek Moo-jin often recalled the middle-aged man from Seonghwa Palace.

It was partly because the man’s tone and demeanor exuded the composure of a powerful figure, and partly because, even in their brief exchange, he had subtly spoken to Baek Moo-jin as if he were a child.

‘I should have stuck around… I regret it in so many ways.’

Baek Moo-jin had another reason for regret. It was because of the middle-aged man’s question, which lingered unpleasantly in his ears.

[What should we do with these men?]

It was a question asking whether to kill or spare them.

It was an arrogant attitude and tone that showed he didn’t care about Baek Moo-jin at all.

Those words had lingered in Baek Moo-jin’s chest for days.

Was it a desire to win?

Or was it pride surging in belatedly?

Of course, the numbers of the Sunghwa Palace were considerable. And the middle-aged man’s martial prowess must have been formidable.

Had the North Heaven Alliance comrades clashed with that many Sunghwa Palace warriors, the casualties would have been immense.

A top-tier martial artist like Lee Jeong-nam might have escaped alive, but Seo Mun-geuk and Dam Ji-un would surely have struggled to survive.

Baek Moo-jin snorted in disdain as he thought.

‘Soon, I must find a way to go there alone.’

Feeling restless, Baek Moo-jin walked to the sparring ground set up in the annex and drew his sword.

He stood there silently for a long time, not even swinging the sword. But before he knew it, he found himself imagining the martial artists of the Sunghwa Palace charging at him.

Then, extremely brutal visions forced their way into Baek Moo-jin’s mind.

Slicing through the warriors of Seonghwagung.

Forcing the middle-aged man to his knees.

Before he knew it, he was imagining smashing the carriage where the woman had been staying. Of course, what would be revealed next would be the woman inside the carriage.

“Hmm…”

Suddenly, a small sigh escaped Baek Moo-jin’s lips.

He had thought his cruel imaginings stemmed from resentment toward the middle-aged man and Seonghwa Palace, but now his thoughts had drifted to the woman inside the carriage.

‘How ridiculous.’

Shaking his head several times, Baek Moo-jin raised his sword to his waist and scanned his surroundings. Fortunately, no one was nearby.

Suddenly, Baek Moo-jin channeled his inner energy into the White Swallow Sword he held. As he then pushed the White Flower Divine Art to its peak, his white robe immediately fluttered.

Then, the sword’s name flowed out.

Baek Moo-jin gripped the sword as if squeezing it, suppressing the sword’s name. As he pushed the White Flower Divine Art to the third level, a white chill now enveloped the sword’s blade.

At that moment, Bai Wuzhen suddenly recalled the large flame engraved on the middle-aged man’s back.

‘That flame… strangely, it’s bothering me.’

He used ice techniques, yet the name ‘Sacred Flame Palace’ felt like it was in perfect harmony with the martial arts he had mastered.

But whatever that flame meant…

Baek Moo-jin wanted to extinguish that flame with his own martial arts.

At that moment, sensing someone’s presence, Baek Moo-jin swiftly sheathed his sword and turned around. His movements were unnatural, as if caught in the act of a bad thought. Yet, the chill he had already generated settled around him.

As if she had become his personal attendant, the young girl who frequently came and went was now cautiously approaching, rubbing her shoulders with both hands.

“Master Baek, a guest has arrived.”

“A guest? I don’t have any guests coming.”

“That… what was it? Someone from the Seolsan Baek Clan, I believe?”

“What?!”

Baek Moo-jin’s voice suddenly rose, and So-a, looking utterly intimidated, stared at him wide-eyed.

Baek Moo-jin tilted his head and said.

“That can’t be. Where are they?”

“He came all the way to the main hall. I tried to stop him from coming here.”

“I see. Ah, I’m sorry. I wasn’t angry, just flustered.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Baek Moo-jin said as he passed by the child.

“The night air feels especially cold tonight.”

“Exactly. It was still a bit warm just a moment ago, but once the sun set, it turned cold quickly.”

Baek Moo-jin vanished with an enigmatic smile, leaving So-ah to tilt her head, feeling the chill lingering around the annex.

“Or is it just me? Is it only cold here?”

So-ah stood there for a while, looking around. The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight, yet she felt as if she alone stood there, facing the snow.

2.

Baek Moo-jin had returned to the Baekgeomdae building from the Myeongju Hall and was staying there. Therefore, the guest was waiting at the place where he and Seo Mun-geuk had met.

“There’s no way the family would have sent someone. Could it be bad news?”

By the time Baek Moo-jin arrived at the main hall, his mind racing with every possible thought, a man dressed in shabby clothes was grinning.

The moment Baek Moo-jin saw the man, the veins on his forehead bulged.

“How dare you impersonate my family and enter this place?”

Having spent days thinking about this man, harsh words flowed out naturally. The man standing alone in the main hall was none other than the Left Minister of the Seonghwagung.

Such audacity was truly remarkable.

Of course, Baek Moo-jin had investigated Sunghwa Palace through the Bukcheon Alliance, but no traces had surfaced, and there had been no significant conflicts or points of contact with the Bukcheon Alliance either. But one thing was clear: the Bukcheon Alliance was not a place where a man from Sunghwa Palace could enter alone.

If there was one way, it would be when disguised as the Snow Mountain White Family, unknown even to the North Heaven Alliance, just as he was now.

That he hadn’t erupted in rage, beyond mere indignation, was proof Baek Moo-jin had restrained himself remarkably well.

The left-hand man immediately apologized.

“My apologies. This was the only way to meet you. I even checked the inns where North Heaven Alliance warriors were said to come and go for days, but I couldn’t find you anywhere. Discovering your name and lineage was also an incredibly difficult task.”

Baek Moo-jin was furious.

On one hand, he was impressed.

After all, impersonating the Snow Mountain Hundred Families was likely the only way to infiltrate the North River Alliance.

Seeing Baek Moo-jin silent, Jwa Sa smiled and said.

“Well, now that someone from the Sunghwa Palace has arrived, do you intend to alert the others? To have them arrest me, I mean?”

“No need for that. Get to the point.”

“Heh heh.”

Only then did Josa introduce himself.

“I suppose I should introduce myself to apologize for my rudeness.”

“Huh, that seems a bit backwards, doesn’t it?”

“Master Baek, understand. I’ve rarely revealed my identity to martial artists.”

Baek Moo-jin sighed.

‘Lord Baek… How unfamiliar that title has become.’

The left-hand man spoke.

“I am Lee Gon, the Left Minister of the Seonghwa Palace.”

“Left Minister?”

Baek Moo-jin couldn’t help but be startled by the title of Left Minister.

‘Isn’t that a position from the old Demon Sect?’

Lee Gon continued.

“Truthfully, coming here was not my own will. Rather, I could not disobey the will of the one I serve, so I came.”

The one he served was undoubtedly the woman inside the carriage.

Baek Moo-jin decided to listen quietly for now.

“The one I serve is currently engaged in martial arts training. Recently, she defeated renowned masters of the Sammao sect, including the Lord of the Mak Clan Sword House, Jin Xuesan, the Sword Saint of the Splitting Light, Gao Hubin, and the Old Demon of the Cutting Wind. Well, the Lord of the Mak Clan Sword House was an exception. Anyway, the important thing is that she single-handedly defeated Lim Gaso, the leader of the Assassination Sect who attacked you not long ago. Of course, she had no help from others.”

Baek Mujin didn’t know any of these names. Feeling little emotion, he replied curtly. The main point hadn’t been brought up yet.

“So?”

“I was about to return to the palace when he asked me.”

Lee Gon gave Baek Moo-jin a sly grin before continuing.

“I’m sorry about that. At the time, I didn’t know you were the head of the clan. He asked what would happen if we fought. I replied that while I didn’t care much about the outcome, the North Heaven Alliance and the Sunghwa Palace had no connection and weren’t troublesome factions, so it would be difficult. Hearing that, he shook his head again and asked. He said that wasn’t what he meant—he was asking who would win.”

After a moment of silence, Lee Gon’s gaze sharpened. Instantly sensing the killing intent emanating from him, Baek Moo-jin unconsciously tensed and met his eyes.

Lee Gon spoke.

“I replied that I didn’t know either. I said I’d go ask the doctor first.”

This was why Lee Gon, the Left Minister of the Seonghwagung, had risked danger to seek out the Bukcheon Alliance. Baek Moo-jin knew Lee Gon was deliberately prolonging the conversation, constantly sizing him up.

Baek Moo-jin scoffed and asked.

“So, seeing it like this in person, what do you think? Can you tell who will win?”

Lee Gon answered Baek Moo-jin’s question.

“I don’t know. You may not be able to tell, but the one I serve is strong. Stronger than you could possibly imagine.”

Baek Moo-jin replied indifferently.

“Is that so?”

“That’s precisely why I’ve never once answered ‘I don’t know’ while arranging a martial contest. My mistake. So you’re stubborn after all.”

Baek Moo-jin’s response was clear.

“Interesting.”

“Interesting?”

“Also, thank you for coming all this way. I sincerely hope there will never be another instance of you impersonating the Snow Mountain Hundred Families.”

“I apologize again. But what is your answer?”

Lee Gon looked at Baek Moo-jin, who replied after a moment.

“Where is it?”

Lee Gon shook his head and corrected Baek Moo-jin’s phrasing.

“Where are you, sir? That’s the correct way to say it.”

At that ridiculous remark, Baek Moo-jin corrected Lee Gon again.

“That may be true if speaking as a member of the North Heaven Alliance, but I am speaking now as the head of the Snow Mountain Baek Clan. Where are you?”

Baek Moo-jin deliberately reduced the Left Minister of the Sunghwa Palace to an errand boy and inquired about the whereabouts of a woman who was likely the daughter of the Sunghwa Palace Lord.

It was only natural that Left Minister Yi Gon’s expression stiffened. Yet no matter how fiercely he glared, Baek Moo-jin’s expression remained utterly unshaken.