Chapter 021 : Worsening
“It's been a long time since we've tilted our glasses together like this, just the two of us.”
I sent everyone else back.
At the proposal of the Ice Palace Head—no, my Father-in-law—to drink as man to man, even Seol Ye-rin returned with a pouting lip.
Trickle.
I received the drink my Father-in-law poured into my cup.
I thought he might test me by infusing the drink with Inner Qi, but there was nothing like that.
After receiving it promptly, I took the White Liquor and poured it into my Father-in-law’s cup.
“Can you handle your liquor?”
“I think I drink a moderate amount.”
While living through the past three lives.
In the first life, I did not even touch alcohol.
Since I was an athlete, I stayed away from alcohol.
In the second life, because I lived as a scoundrel doing everything I hadn't done in the first life, I think I was always drunk.
In the third life, because I lived a life like a graduate student, I couldn't enjoy drinking and dancing at all.
In other words, this drink was the first I was having since gaining another opportunity.
“By nature, a man should know the way of drinking.”
Father-in-law gallantly gulped down the White Liquor.
I also knocked back the White Liquor in one go.
A burning energy passed through my throat.
I nodded as the sensation of it passing down the esophagus and into my stomach hit.
“Kaaa—as expected, this is the taste.”
“It seems decent.”
“Hoo, your face doesn't even change color.”
After deciding to drink together, I reached an agreement with my Father-in-law to drink without utilizing Inner Qi.
It was a matter of determining who had the stronger tolerance.
‘You'll regret it.’
In truth, I could drink alcohol like water.
Because the Extreme Yang Qi flowing through my body did not even consider this mere White Liquor as alcohol.
It seemed Father-in-law was completely unaware of this situation.
“Take it.”
Trickle—
My cup was filled again, and I also poured it for my Father-in-law.
While contemplating what story to bring up while drinking plain White Liquor without a single snack.
“Thank you.”
My father-in-law broke the ice first.
What was he thankful for?
Preventing the Extreme Yin Qi from spreading through Seol Ye-rin?
Wiping out the Horse Bandits?
Or... finding the legacy of the Martial Gods?
Whatever it was.
“It was naturally something I had to do.”
It was a reasonable answer.
“Nothing in this world is natural. We were the ones who called you to the Ice Palace, and although the Heavenly Demon would have had no choice but to send you. If you hadn't intended to come, you could have chosen not to.”
That was true.
If I hadn't lived through my previous life, I would have thought about running away.
“I have brought the snacks.”
Just as I was about to answer, Tae Un-seo entered carrying food.
At that sight, my eyebrows twitched.
“...Who made this?”
“I prepared it together with Young Mistress Wi.”
“That is a relief.”
Only then did it seem I could eat with peace of mind.
The snacks Tae Un-seo brought were raw ice fish and soup.
“Do you even know how to slice raw fish?”
“I am confident in everything involving a knife.”
“I will eat well.”
“Yes, Palace Head.”
Even though a person who was once a member of the Snow Tiger Squad was working like a chef, Father-in-law did not even blink an eye.
“Since the snacks are out, have another drink.”
Trickle—
The drinking speed became very fast.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
I continuously received the alcohol Father-in-law gave.
Sizzle—
The alcohol that passed into the esophagus could not withstand the Extreme Yang Qi.
“It's more delicious than I thought?”
The taste of the raw ice fish sliced by Tae Un-seo was superb in itself.
As expected, Wi Ji-yeong's skill was extraordinary.
Thus, I tilted my glass with my Father-in-law in a perfectly sober state.
Incessantly.
***
‘This fellow, why isn't he getting drunk?’
He had clearly promised not to utilize Inner Qi.
The number of liquor bottles the two had drunk already exceeded twenty.
Usually, Seol Baek-ho drank a lot, but this was the first time he had drunk more than ten bottles at once.
The problem was that he began to feel like he might lose the drinking contest he was certain he wouldn't lose.
“Now that it seems we've drunk a fair amount, speak frankly.”
“What kind of talk do you mean?”
“What is it that you want?”
He asked point-blank.
Seol Baek-ho was no fool.
As soon as he arrived at the Ice Palace, he treated the Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin.
He became a Captain of the Ice Palace’s military force and even gained the recognition of the North Sea people through the annihilation of the Horse Bandits.
Furthermore, he even brought back the legacy of the North Sea Martial Gods that no one had been able to find.
If he just married the Young Palace Head like this, he might truly be recognized as the live-in son-in-law of the North Sea Ice Palace.
‘If that happens, I would become the first Ice Palace Head to take someone from the Demonic Cult as a live-in son-in-law.’
Since the past, the relationship between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the North Sea Ice Palace was close to that of enemies.
Although the moment it went sour had been forgotten by the public, the mere fact that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the North Sea Ice Palace entered into a political marriage held great significance for the Murim.
Therefore, the North Sea Ice Palace Head was curious about Hyeokryeon Yeom’s intentions.
If this was his strategy, it was as if he had been completely outplayed.
So he was curious.
What the fellow wanted.
“There is exactly one thing I want.”
“What is it?”
“Your daughter.”
Pause.
Seol Baek-ho’s movement to swallow his drink stopped at Hyeokryeon Yeom’s answer.
“...You say you want my daughter?”
A smoldering gaze stared directly at Hyeokryeon Yeom.
“Yes, that is correct.”
“I'd like to ask the reason.”
It was a political marriage using a blood alliance as an excuse.
He naturally thought their hearts could not possibly be connected.
However, it seemed this fellow’s thoughts were a bit different.
“You are asking something strange. I also possess a constitution where I cannot find a normal partner for the rest of my life. But I thought that if I am with Lady Seol, I could lead a happy honeymoon.”
The Extreme Yang Body and the Extreme Yin Body met.
Where else could there be a better match than this?
“So, that means you also like Ye-rin.”
“Yes. If I follow my heart, I'd want to take responsibility for her right now.”
“......And yet?”
“I am still very lacking.”
Seeing Hyeokryeon Yeom humble himself, Seol Baek-ho’s expression changed strangely.
“Who dares to say that you are lacking?”
Along with the address, Seol Baek-ho’s momentum changed.
Hyeokryeon Yeom grinned as he watched Seol Baek-ho’s eyes smolder.
“Father-in-law, it seems you just utilized Inner Qi.”
Seol Baek-ho was startled.
He realized he had utilized Inner Qi without even knowing it.
“No!”
“I think I won today’s drinking contest.”
“No, there is still so much alcohol left like that......”
Having his pride as the Ice Palace Head, Seol Baek-ho was about to say they should drink more, thinking he couldn't back down like this, when.
Bang!
“Father! Just how long are you going to keep drinking!”
Seol Ye-rin entered with a cold expression.
“Ye, Ye-rin.”
“Just how much alcohol are you trying to feed someone who just returned today after finishing the annihilation of the Horse Bandits......”
How long had it been since his daughter shouted like this?
“Gaga, stand up.”
“Hmm? Oh, I see.”
Seol Ye-rin made Hyeokryeon Yeom stand up with a cold tone that was different from usual.
“We are going to go to sleep now. Father, you should rest too.”
“S-sleep, do you mean you're going to share a room......”
“Palace Head.”
Crackle, crackle—
When a woman harbors a grudge, it went beyond bringing frost; she was even freezing her Father-in-law.
Thinking it would be disastrous if Hyeokryeon Yeom stayed any longer, he got up from his seat as if he couldn't help it and took a clasped hands greeting.
“Let’s settle the match next time, Father-in-law.”
At those words, the Ice Palace Head, Seol Baek-ho, could not answer.
It was because he had frozen over.
After Seol Ye-rin and Hyeokryeon Yeom went outside.
Crackle—
The ice that had frozen Seol Baek-ho fell away.
“Her ice arts have become very fierce.”
In any case.
“What a spiteful fellow.”
Until the very end, with every word, Father-in-law, Father-in-law.
At this rate, Seol Baek-ho really didn't like the feeling that he might have to treat Hyeokryeon Yeom like a son-in-law.
***
“What were you doing still awake?”
“Ahem, I was so worried about what the Palace Head would say that I couldn't sleep.”
Seol Ye-rin let out a sigh and peeked at my reaction.
“He didn't say anything strange, did he?”
“There wasn't anything particularly strange.”
“Then what kind of talk...?”
At Seol Ye-rin’s gaze, which seemed truly curious, I grinned and spoke.
“A secret just between men.”
“H-mph. I'm not even curious!”
You look very curious, though.
I laughed and headed toward the lodging.
In any case, it was true that I was able to escape from my father-in-law's hands thanks to Seol Ye-rin.
“Let's go and sleep quickly. From tomorrow, we'll have to move around again.”
“...Are you really planning to find all the legacies of the Martial Gods?”
“Of course.”
I looked to the side.
-Chuckles, what are you looking at?
-They are such cute children.
As long as I possessed the Snow Wind Sword and the Cold Snow Secret Realm, the Sword Venerable and the Demon Queen were always with me.
The commonality between the two was the fact that all Martial Gods possessed the Extreme Yin Qi that Seol Ye-rin had.
“Then, see you tomorrow.”
“Wait a moment.”
“Why?”
“...I've come to want to see the Cold Snow Secret Realm.”
At Seol Ye-rin’s words, I looked back at the Demon Queen.
-I wondered when we would be able to talk. Would you introduce us?
The Cold Snow Demon Queen showed a gentle smile.
Thus, the two of them met.
Holding the Cold Snow Secret Realm in her hands, Seol Ye-rin gazed at the Cold Snow Demon Queen before her with eyes full of tension.
-Nice to meet you. I am called Jang So-ryeong.
“Nice... to meet you.”
At the sight of Seol Ye-rin being tense, Jang So-ryeong smiled brightly.
-There is no need to be so tense. It would be good if you just thought of me as a grandmother and talked comfortably.
“G-grandmother?”
-Even though I look like this, there's quite a large age gap with the Young Palace Head, you know?
The face of Jang So-ryeong, who usually maintained her beauty, began to be filled with wrinkles.
At the sight of Jang So-ryeong, who looked full of benevolence to anyone who saw her, Seol Ye-rin showed a look of being more relaxed than before.
“I look forward to your kind guidance!”
Watching that scene, I tried to stand up from my seat.
Since full-scale training to handle the Extreme Yin Qi would proceed, I intended to step out now.
At that moment.
-Where are you planning to go?
The Demon Queen's voice struck my ears.
“Excuse me?”
-One can only practice if there is a person to be the opponent.
“Did you need an opponent?”
-That's right, especially since there is only one person who can be an opponent for the Young Palace Head.
“I wouldn't say only one......”
-Young Palace Head, you want to handle the rampaging Extreme Yin Qi well, right?
“Yes... that's right!”
-Then pour all of your Extreme Yin Qi into Hyeokryeon Yeom right now.
“What?”
-Just as you froze the others, I'm saying blast your Extreme Yin Qi with the momentum to turn Hyeokryeon Yeom into an ice statue.
Wait a minute.
“Lady Demon Queen?”
-You don't need to worry. Hyeokryeon Yeom is a mass of Extreme Yang Qi who possesses the Extreme Yang Body! Even if you discharge Extreme Yin Qi to your heart's content, he will not freeze.
“Yes, I understand!”
At the Demon Queen's instructions, Seol Ye-rin’s eyes sparkled as she turned back to me.
“Third Young Master, I look forward to your kind guidance.”
“W-wait a second......!”
Flash! Crackle!
Before I could say anything, the Extreme Yin Qi Seol Ye-rin shot out and froze the space next to me.
“As expected... Control is difficult. This time, I will definitely hit.”
-At maximum power!
“Yes!”
Wrummmm—
At the sight of Seol Ye-rin pulling up her Extreme Yin Qi, I also pulled up my Extreme Yang Qi.
Because it seemed like I would freeze over if I just stayed still like this.
“Stay right there!”
“No, it's training, so why are you really thinking of freezing me?!”
“Because Lady Demon Queen told me to do so!”
Watching the two of them bickering, the Sword Venerable muttered.
-Chuckles, it's a good time.
-It's the prime of youth.
The Demon Queen, who had instructed Seol Ye-rin to discharge her Extreme Yin Qi, sat down next to the Sword Venerable.
-In any case, looking at you like this, you have aged quite beautifully.
-Come to think of it, this must be the first time the Master sees this appearance.
-That's right.
-Hoho, it will be troublesome if you fall for this humble one.
-Chuckles, you are as mischievous as ever.
-Who do you think taught me like this?
The night, where the full moon rose dimly, began to deepen.
***
At that time.
“Bring more alcohol.”
The Ice King, Seol Baek-ho, gave instructions to General Manager Seol Su-hyeok who visited the Palace Lord’s Hall.
Looking at Seol Baek-ho, Seol Su-hyeok spoke with a heavily stiffened expression.
“Palace Head, I am sorry, but I do not think I can bring any more.”
“...Why is that?”
“There is no more alcohol in the warehouse.”
Seol Baek-ho’s eyebrows twitched.
“Then can't you just buy some.”
“There are no... funds, Palace Head. As you know.”
At Seol Su-hyeok’s words, Seol Baek-ho’s expression stiffened.
Seol Su-hyeok continued speaking.
“We are in a situation where there is nothing left to sell. Due to the amounts used to save the Young Palace Head, we no longer have the capacity.”
Just as Seol Su-hyeok said, Seol Baek-ho had mobilized all sorts of means to save Seol Ye-rin.
Because he was so desperate to the point of selling off the inner cores or treasures that the Ice Palace once boasted of.
Leaving the Horse Bandits to run wild was also due to these inner circumstances.
Because of this, even the trade with the Central Plains was blocked, truly a repetition of a vicious cycle.
When money becomes scarce, problems erupt from all sides of an organization.
The reality of the current North Sea Ice Palace was that such problems were piling up.
Thinking like that, Hyeokryeon Yeom’s active performance was extremely welcome in Seol Baek-ho’s inner thoughts.
“...I must find a way out now.”
Seol Baek-ho fell into thought while fumbling with the liquor cup he was holding.
The Martial God-level live-in son-in-law of the North Sea Ice Palace.