Chapter 587: The Young Princess of the North Sea Ice Palace.

“Uicheon has died.”

In an underground space in Hanam, filled with a damp smell.

There, a man was kneeling and reporting to someone.

In front of the figure whose head was bowed.

On top of a broken rock, an old man was sitting.

The old man, having heard the report, turned his gaze and looked at the man.

“The body.”

“We could not find it, but based on the circumstances, we judge it to be certain.”

“I see.”

The child has died.

Hearing that, a bitterness was felt around the old man’s eyes.

That was not the only problem.

“Also.”

The man continued, adding words.

“…It seems the formation we deployed has been deactivated.”

At the words heard, the old man’s brow finally furrowed.

“A formation deactivated?”

It was an interesting development.

“The time?”

“It was not even an hour after the formation was deployed.”

“…Ho…”

It was the most surprising fact the old man had heard in several years.

Truly, whose doing was this?

He wondered if it was the Murimmaeng, but the old man knew that was impossible.

The Murimmaeng still doesn’t have the ability to deactivate their formation.

It was only natural.

It was the Murimmaeng who severed the growth of formations and magic by their own hands.

Since they abandoned them, there would be no growth.

Therefore, the old man rested his chin on his hand and thought.

‘An hour.’

Merely an hour.

If the time it took to deactivate their formation was that short, they must have had considerable skill.

That’s why it was puzzling.

Because under these vast Central Plains, there wouldn’t be anyone as skilled in formations as they were.

The old man turned his gaze.

“Perhaps, is it you?”

At the question filled with doubt, the person by the wall lifted his head.

If there were such a person, it would only be him.

Someone outstanding in formations, as much as in medical skill.

“Sinui.”

The old man called him, and Sinui’s wrinkles deepened.

“…It couldn’t be, could it?”

“That’s right. You couldn’t have done it.”

At Sinui’s answer, the old man chuckled.

“At least, if you have a conscience, you shouldn’t have done that.”

“…”

“That’s right. You couldn’t have done it.”

“If it wasn’t you… then who could it be… I don’t know.”

Doubt appeared around the old man’s eyes.

“Since I’m curious, go find out.”

“…Yes. Daeju.”

As the order was given, the man who was kneeling disappeared.

With that, the situation left only the two of them in the space.

Only then did Sinui speak to the old man.

“Now, please tell me.”

The old man, having heard the words, looked at Sinui.

“What do you mean?”

“The reason you called me to this place. Tell me that.”

“Ummm.”

At Sinui’s words, the old man raised the corners of his mouth.

The reason for calling…

“Because I wanted to see the kin wandering outside. How about saying that?”

“…”

At the old man’s words, Sinui responded expressionlessly.

Because he knew it was nonsensical talk.

Seeing that, the old man let out a snickering laugh.

“You are still so bleak.”

“Get to the point.”

“Yes… I suppose I must.”

Thump.

The old man descended from the rock he was sitting on and moved his steps towards Sinui.

“How is it? Is life outside somewhat bearable?”

“As I said again, the main point…”

“I’m asking how it is, living as a dog of the righteous factions after betraying the clan.”

“…!”

At the old man’s words, Sinui’s face contorted in an instant.

“Clan Head…!”

“Do you have any excuses to spit out, Sinui?”

Many.

There were too many words, excuses, and pretexts he could spit out, but Sinui couldn’t continue speaking.

Because, just as he said, it was no different from an excuse.

“Whatever life you lived after leaving us, the reason I didn’t deliberately care was simply because you were kin. You know that, don’t you?”

At the old man’s words, Sinui’s eyes became sharp.

“So, what is it you wish for from me now?”

“If you’ve seen so many long years, I thought you would know by now that the righteous factions have no future.”

He did not refute the words.

Sinui also knew this fact.

The righteous factions have no future now.

As the Sword Saint stepped down, countless reforms were being repeated, but…

there was nothing that could be called proper growth.

They merely repeated the facade, as if the world were peaceful.

But inside, it was already rotting and rotting away.

“So…”

Recalling this, Sinui said to the old man.

“Are you perhaps asking me to participate in the Clan Head’s wretched plan?”

“A wretched plan…”

Hearing Sinui’s words, the old man’s eyes grew cold.

“If it’s not a wretched plan, then what is it?”

Ignoring this, Sinui continued speaking.

“Blinded by revenge, you can’t see even an inch ahead. Because of that, aren’t the few remaining kin being sacrificed…”

Grip!

The old man grabbed Sinui’s neck as he was speaking.

“Gasp…!”

“Zhuge Uicheon.”

Sinui gritted his teeth.

It was a name he hadn’t heard in decades.

“Even if all the kin curse me, at least you shouldn’t do that.”

“Ghh…”

“At least. Truly, at least. You, who forgot the family’s wrath and ran away as if escaping, have no right to say that.”

As his breath was gradually getting choked, the old man threw Sinui aside.

Thud!

Sinui’s frail body rolled onto the ground.

“Ugh…”

“Yes, you were always like that, from ancient times.”

Looking at Sinui, who was gasping for breath, the old man said.

“Among the kin who lived in hiding, suppressing their anger because they couldn’t forget the humiliation suffered from the Alliance. I remember you were particularly calm.”

It was a story from the distant past.

A tale from long, long ago, of which only a few who remember remain now.

“You shouldn’t live lost in revenge? You must find a different way to live, even now? You even advised the Clan Head of that time as such.”

He did have that memory.

Recalling that time, the old man laughed.

“How ridiculous and selfish those words were.”

“…”

“What on earth must be forgotten, and what must be seen differently?”

Chuckles.

His laughter deepened.

It echoed through the space.

“Did you wish to live forgetting your sins, Zhuge Uicheon? That’s right. Oblivion is truly convenient.”

“…Clan Head…”

“Don’t call me that.”

He was no longer the Clan Head.

Since the family was gone, what made him Clan Head?

He had been called that once, but not anymore.

He had stepped down from the position a long time ago, moreover.

He was Daeju.

For now, that was enough.

“Were those days comfortable, living while forgetting the family’s resentment?”

“I… never once forgot the family.”

“How amusing. Don’t you realize how pathetic those words of yours are now?”

How could the one who ran out of the family, saying he would live as a physician, speak like that?

The old man found that truly amusing.

The one who possessed the greatest talent regarding formations in the history of the Zhuge family.

The existence who was called the hope to raise the Zhuge family.

“No one knew he would abandon everything and run out.”

The old man was facing such an existence.

“…Are you saying you resent me?”

“Hmm, well. Perhaps I did in the past, though not now… However.”

Sinui raised his tired body.

Looking at that, the old man said.

“Even if I resent you, don’t you have nothing to say?”

“…”

The one who ran to save the lives of the dirty righteous faction scum, escaping from the kin filled with anger.

What words could he possibly have for them?

“Hundreds of years have passed since the Alliance framed the family and cruelly abandoned them.”

The Zhuge family worshipped the Blood Demon.

Receiving such a false accusation, the Zhuge family, who sat among the Five Great Families, instantly fell into ruin.

An extermination order was issued, and countless kin died.

The kin who barely survived lived hiding their names.

It was such a life.

“But you say we shouldn’t live lost in revenge… How could you say such things? Back then too. And even to me now. You shouldn’t be like that, should you?”

“…”

It was true.

At least, Sinui shouldn’t have uttered such words, but…

“Clan Head.”

“Speak.”

There was one problem.

“How… how can you be sure?”

A slight tremor appeared in Sinui’s voice.

Hearing this, doubt appeared in the old man’s eyes too.

“What do you mean?”

“…That their decision was truly a false accusation. How can you be sure?”

Shhh.

The moment Sinui spoke the words.

Emotion disappeared from the old man’s face.

Seeing that, Sinui could be sure.

“Clan Head… perhaps, you already, already knew…?”

“…”

Silence flowed.

Although it was brief, Sinui had to feel all sorts of emotions in that short silence.

“Sinui.”

The way the old man addressed Sinui changed.

“I have recognized that your intentions and ours differ.”

Expression reappeared on his face too.

Seeing that, Sinui felt a chill.

“It’s just a shame. Even though there are only a few kin left…”

The old man spoke as if truly regretful, but…

Sinui had to feel various meanings from those words.

“Since our intentions differ, it can’t be helped. Go back now.”

“…Clan Head.”

“Don’t worry, even though our intentions differ, I don’t intend to do anything to you. After all, we are kin, aren’t we?”

Chuckles.

“It must be for that reason that you appeared in person upon receiving my letter.”

“…”

“Let’s end the conversation here. You must be very busy too.”

The old man’s reaction was as if he had no lingering attachment.

Was it truly so? Sinui could not guess.

Then.

Scrape!

The door on the wall opened, revealing a space.

It was the entrance Sinui had used when he entered.

This was clearly an order to leave.

“…”

Seeing that, Sinui turned his body without saying anything else.

There was no further conversation.

Right after Sinui disappeared, bidding farewell with silence.

The old man returned to his seat and bowed his body.

Then.

“Will you be alright?”

A voice was heard from within the pitch-darkness.

The old man did not react to this.

Because he knew from the beginning.

To the words filled with concern, the old man replied.

“What do you mean?”

“…I don’t know if it’s okay to let him go like that.”

A traitor to the clan.

The shame of the clan, who sought peace alone while everyone else lived sharpening their swords.

The man could not understand.

“If you judged that their intentions differed, perhaps killing him would be better…”

“Vice Leader.”

“…Yes. Dae-“

The old man turned his head and looked at the man.

“…!”

Upon meeting his gaze, the man flinched and trembled.

Because the old man’s eyes looking at the man were too fierce.

“Did you forget our oath? You wouldn’t have done that.”

“…I… am sorry.”

At the words, the man bowed his head.

“We do not kill fellow kin. Wasn’t that the rule we set?”

“…”

“Even if we have lost everything and are slowly crumbling, at least that must be protected.”

“…But.”

“Also, this is something that friend knows too.”

The reason Sinui deliberately moved his steps to find him regarding this matter.

The reason Sinui had lived until now, even after betraying them.

It was all the same story.

“Perhaps, if Sinui goes outside and spreads our story…”

Chuckles.

The old man laughed at the man’s worry.

Faint insignificance was mixed into the laughter.

“Even if he did, it’s already too late.”

Even if Sinui went outside and spread word about this matter.

It was quite a late point in time.

Because he knew that, the old man had sent Sinui away peacefully.

The old man shifted his gaze from the man and looked at the empty air.

The ceiling, where nothing was visible.

Beyond that, the old man was seeing something.

“The gears have already moved.”

Once they have moved, they cannot be stopped now.

The resentment and anger towards the Alliance, never forgotten for a single moment.

Now it was time to repay.

The problem was.

“Vice Leader.”

“Yes. Daeju-nim.”

“For the time being, we will need to lie low a bit.”

“I will relay the message to the personnel.”

Because the formation was deactivated, a need to act a bit differently arose.

‘The fact that they deactivated it…’

Could cause problems for the matter that began to be scattered in Hanam little by little.

It wasn’t a part that greatly concerned him, but…

there was still a need to be careful.

Of course…

‘No matter what happens, it’s already too late.’

Because he knew that, the old man had sent Sinui away peacefully.

The old man shifted his gaze from the man and looked at the empty air.

The ceiling, where nothing was visible.

Beyond that, the old man was seeing something.

“The gears have already moved.”

Once they have moved, they cannot be stopped now.

The resentment and anger towards the Alliance, never forgotten for a single moment.

Now it was time to repay.

The problem was.

“Vice Leader.”

“Yes. Daeju-nim.”

“For the time being, we will need to lie low a bit.”

“I will relay the message to the personnel.”

Because the formation was deactivated, a need to act a bit differently arose.

‘The fact that they deactivated it…’

Could cause problems for the matter that began to be scattered in Hanam little by little.

It wasn’t a part that greatly concerned him, but…

there was still a need to be careful.

Of course…

‘No matter what happens, it’s already too late.’

Having thought that far, the old man slowly closed his eyes.

‘Truly… it hasn’t been long.’

How long-awaited this event was.

The old man had to try hard to calm his excited heart.

What’s left now is just to watch the Alliance fall into ruin.

No one can stop it anymore.

Enough to overturn this.

Unless a great change happens.