A few days into the new year came Sohan (Minor Cold).

Xinjiang has always been a land cold in winter and hot in summer, but today was particularly cold, making it difficult to even take a step. It’s hard to believe it’s not yet Daehan (Major Cold).

In contrast, the vast inner palace was so warm that the outside weather was forgotten.

However, the man prostrated before his master was too tense to even notice the internal temperature.

The one before him was worthy of such tension.

He was like a father and teacher to countless followers in the Central Plains. His body, which had long ago undergone the process of reversing old age and returning to youth, even evaded the passage of time, and his martial arts were so powerful they seemed godlike.

Perhaps because of this, he had lost interest in worldly affairs and lowered himself to live quietly, but a new interest he recently discovered seemed to bring vitality back into his life.

‘This is a good thing.’

Even if that object of interest was a young woman not yet twenty, that thought remained unchanged. Because it didn’t matter what it was.

Even if he had taken interest in a pebble lying on the roadside, though surprised, he would have accepted it all the same.

How could he not? After all, he was the one who would surely become the master of the world someday…

The master of the Sun Moon Holy Cult.

There was no need to question anything he did.

The ignorant people of the Central Plains dared to call the Sun Moon Holy Cult an evil cult, but that was rudeness born from their failure to realize his master’s greatness. If they gained enlightenment, they would regret their past behavior.

The man lowered himself even further. At the same time, breaking the ongoing silence, the cult leader finally spoke.

“So, that child has turned eighteen now.”

It was a low voice.

“By this point, we should have been able to completely control and manipulate that child.”

“I apologize.”

There was no reply, but the man clearly felt his master’s gaze piercing down on his back. Cold sweat formed on the nape of his neck.

Knowing that speaking up unnecessarily at times like this would only further disturb his mood, he just kept his mouth shut, hoping for mercy.

But in fact…

The cult leader looking down at the man like this wasn’t in such a bad mood.

Of course, there was displeasure and regret about things not going as planned. But he couldn’t deny that there was also a bit of pleasure, or perhaps satisfaction, mixed in between.

It was a complex, human-like emotion that he had forgotten for a long time and only started to regain a little since six years ago.

“If no one helped and that child managed it alone, there’s nothing to be done.”

Perhaps it was even admirable that the child had the ability to do so.

Not many people can break ‘that’ on their own. Even in the cult leader’s long memory, there weren’t many. Not just here, but also in the land where he originated.

But of course Huashan, and other stubborn Taoist and Buddhist sects, define all the power he uses as evil. Despite the fact that they’ve been borrowing and modifying parts of it for use themselves for some time now.

So they probably didn’t even teach properly what this power exactly is.

‘They probably don’t even have the ability to teach it in the first place.’

The fact that the child noticed ‘that’ on their own and even managed to break free of it in such an environment clearly showed talent in this area.

The man finally caught his breath in the lightened atmosphere. Silence descended again.

In that silence, the cult leader was lost in thought for a moment.

‘If only…’

If only he hadn’t been prevented from bringing that child here back then.

Then there would have been no need for the troublesome act of planting a spy in that distant place, nor would there have been attempts that likely put considerable strain on that child.

It would have been easy to mold a single child who was mistreated even within their own family as he wished, without even using force.

‘I wonder what it would have been like if I had taught directly.’

He couldn’t help but be curious about various things.

As his thoughts reached that point, the cult leader let out a light sigh, having become displeased again.

“Is it still unchanged that they remain cooped up in Huashan?”

“Yes, that’s what I’ve heard.”

“They seem to be raising them quite preciously.”

There was almost no inflection, but a faint hint of sarcasm was carried in his words.

But the man knew. Despite speaking like that, if things had gone as his master wished and ‘that person’ had been brought to the cult early on, it would have been even more so. They wouldn’t have even been able to go outside the palace, truly becoming a bird in a cage.

And in that state, they would have inherited everything.

But he had no intention of saying anything about it. If that was what he wished, he would only follow.

“Even so, I should check at least once. It’s been quite a while since we left them in their care, hasn’t it?”

“Then…”

“It’s inconvenient that they’re a righteous sect. As a poor substitute, contact the one we’re currently using and create a suitable situation. Something that will force that child to come out.”

“Actually, I was about to report this, but I just heard something from that person.”

The man recalled his memory, selected his words, and continued carefully.

“He said that since that person will also be celebrating their eighteenth birthday this year, the leader of Huashan plans to send them out of Huashan soon to gain experience. It’s around the age when disciples from such places usually set out on their first journey in the martial world.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, so while meeting them might not be difficult in itself… if you wish to have a longer conversation in a more favorable situation, I will do my best to guide it. We could create chaos by interfering with a merchant guild or secular sect related to that place and lure them separately.”

The cult leader leaned back further in the chair he was sitting in.

“Hmm.”

He had thought about seeing them at least once, but hearing this, he suddenly felt capricious.

It’s not that he simply wanted to have a long conversation or anything. Even if he did, he couldn’t bring them here right away anyway. At a time like this, all he could gain from a conversation would be temporary satisfaction. Other than that… it might only increase their aversion.

He didn’t want to admit it, but that was the truth.

Even the news that they had broken the power binding their mind was only heard now, years after it actually happened.

It must have happened because the leader of Huashan thoroughly hid that fact. Even the spy currently being used seemed to have only found out after eavesdropping on a conversation between the sect leader and an elder.

That means Huashan didn’t try to shun or abandon that child.

Having stayed perfectly fine in a place that didn’t try to abandon them, they must have become quite attached to that place by now. They probably have built somewhat decent relationships with the people there too.

Even the plan to bind their mind has been twisted. At this point, it’s difficult to lead Huashan to ruin through that child’s hands.

Then, wouldn’t it be better to be patient a little longer and prepare for one proper meeting?

‘I’m the only one who can tell them what kind of being they are, what kind of fate they’ve been entangled in.’

The cult leader slowly exhaled a long breath.

However, it would be a shame to miss such a convenient opportunity…

“This time, it might be good to send my son.”

“…You’re going to send the young master?”

“It seems about time to let him check directly.”

The man was surprised for a moment but soon nodded in agreement.

“I understand. Then I will inform the young master right away.”

“Yes, you may go.”

The man slowly rose. Although he tried his best not to raise his gaze, he caught a glimpse of his master’s figure at the edge of his vision.

Strangely blue-tinged black hair.

A different color from the people of the Central Plains. Even different from the people of the distant foreign lands. He had seen brown or bright colors close to gold a few times, but that blue-tinged color was unique to his master.

He couldn’t properly see what the face above it looked like. The same goes for the color of the eyes. Because no one dares to raise their head in his presence.

After bowing deeply, the man carefully left his master’s presence, watching each step.

The door closed. Silence fell again all around.

In a desolate room, a boy leaning back in a lone chair tilted his head and asked.

“Shangluo?”

“Yes, it’s in the south of Shaanxi Province.”

“That’s quite far.”

The muttering boy had a face too beautiful to match the dry scenery of the room. While his hair was black, his eyes had a hint of blue, which might be why his features gave a slightly different impression from the people of the Central Plains.

The man didn’t respond to the boy’s muttering and continued his explanation.

“From what I’ve heard, it seems they won’t send that person far away from the beginning, so it can’t be helped. Considering the tendencies of Huashan’s sect leader and the Sword King, there’s a high possibility they’ll send them there if a problem arises within Shaanxi. Furthermore, since it’s still cold, they’ll likely choose a time after Gyeongchip at least.”

“Ah.”

“So, when we selected a few places related to Huashan within Shaanxi, this merchant guild in Shangluo was recommended. They say the eldest son has a violent and stupid temperament, so it should be easy for you, young master, to use him to create a suitable problem that would make the guild leader seek help from Huashan.”

“Hmm.”

Throughout the explanation, the boy blinked with an indifferent expression. The man standing before him had to constantly remind himself inwardly that this boy was the only child ‘left behind’ by the cult’s master himself.

The boy held no authority or position within the cult, but his bloodline was the master’s only direct lineage.

He is definitely someone who will be used in the future.

The man calmed his mind and reproached himself for even a moment of disrespect as he lowered his eyes. At the same time, the boy opened his mouth with a sigh.

“Do we really have to go that far?”

“It’s the cult leader’s order.”

“Ah, right.”

The boy sighed again.