Chapter 032 : Blood Tears
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
“It is certainly cold.”
The border of Liaoning Province.
Although they hadn't even entered the North Sea yet, the cold wave seemed to make the body chilly.
Moyong Geum, the son of the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild Leader who dominates Liaoning Province, muttered while driving his horse.
“Father is too much, really.”
When he mentioned there was a place to visit secretly, Moyong Geum wondered where it was and it turned out to be the North Sea.
‘Aren't all the roads leading to the North Sea blocked due to horse bandits?’
‘I heard a message came saying it opened up a while ago.’
‘Is that really true?’
The road to the Ice Palace has opened.
What that statement implies is only one thing.
It means they can trade Cold Iron again.
Martial artists who value swords wanted well-forged blades.
The gemstone absolutely necessary to make such blades was Cold Iron.
If Cold Iron starts circulating in the Central Plains again, the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild can monopolize that trade.
‘Sitting on a pile of money wouldn't be a dream.’
That is why his Father entrusted this task to Moyong Geum.
Although it is a task accompanied by danger, a trustworthy person had to close the deal with the Ice Palace.
“I think they said they would come out to the border of Liaoning Province to pick us up.”
“Over there, someone is approaching.”
Moyong Geum looked back at the place his escort Jang Baek-rim pointed to.
“Six people……?”
He thought they would at least bring a carriage, but he saw a group of only a measly six people approaching.
Whether to not stand out or not, they were all wearing black clothes.
“Gasp.”
It was, in a way, natural that Moyong Geum’s gaze headed towards the veiled woman wearing a bamboo hat.
Although she covered her face with a veil, there was an overwhelming beauty that could not be concealed in her clothes' fit and every revealed appearance.
“Did you come from the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild?”
At that moment when he couldn't take his eyes off the woman, he felt a gaze dizzying enough to bring him to his senses.
“This is Young Master Moyong Geum of the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild. Show respect.”
An energy that seemed like it would strike with a lethal technique if Jang Baek-rim hadn't blocked it.
‘…Bald head?’
Only then did the sun-dazzling head at the end of his shifted gaze catch his eye.
The head was completely shaved, but a man with incredibly small slit eyes was glaring at Moyong Geum.
With a gaze full of dissatisfaction somewhere, the man soon took a clasped hands greeting and spoke.
“We came from the Ice Palace. I am Eun Bin, the Vice Captain of the Small Snow Squad.”
“Small Snow Squad?”
“We are the Small Snow Squad of the Ice Palace who will be escorting the Young Master from now on. I am Wi Ji-yeong, a member of the Small Snow Squad.”
A cheerful woman with a small frame appeared in front.
“I am Tae Un-seo, the chef of the Small Snow Squad.”
A chef holding a kitchen knife, and,
“…Introduce yourself properly. I am Baek Mu-yong, the Squad Leader of the Small Snow Squad.”
Up to a large-built man.
‘What in the world are these people…….’
Now he was curious about the remaining two people.
“I am Hyeokryeon Yeom, the Captain of the Small Snow Squad.”
Flinch-
With a single word, chills ran down the spines of Moyong Geum and Jang Baek-rim.
“G-glad to meet you. I am Moyong Geum of the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild.”
“…I am the escort Jang Baek-rim.”
Glance,
When Moyong Geum turned his head wondering if he could subtly hear the veiled woman’s name,
“First of all, since the situation is urgent, I would like to talk while moving.”
Sizzle-
Heat was felt behind his back.
Since it seemed like a silent urge to move quickly, Moyong Geum started to perform his movement technique for now.
Because Moyong Geum, who is from the Moyong Clan, was also a martial artist who learned martial arts.
***
Peeping, peeping-
The road heading to the Ice Palace.
The son of the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild Leader, Moyong Geum, was chattering away while being very mindful of Seol Ye-rin.
“I didn't know the Young Palace Head would come out personally.”
“It was the Palace Lord’s instruction. Since it is a process to solidify the connection with the Central Plains, you do not need to mind it too much.”
Seol Ye-rin speaking in a very cold tone.
It was a different appearance from when she usually treated me.
“Haha, if the Palace Lord thinks so, I am just grateful. By the way, how long does it take from here to the Ice Palace?”
“Two days, I expect.”
“Pardon?”
At the appearance of Moyong Geum, surprised by the words expecting two days given the distance, I spoke.
“Young Master Moyong. From now on, we will perform movement arts. Since you are from the Moyong Clan, surely you can perform movement arts, right? Can you follow us?”
“That is true, but the reason we necessarily have to run to the Ice Palace is…….”
“Then we will depart.”
I had no intention of taking questions from the beginning.
Pa-at-
First of all, the Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin, dashed out.
The members of the Small Snow Squad started running with expressions saying they were used to it.
“What will you do?”
At Jang Baek-rim’s question,
“Ahem, l-let’s go together!”
Moyong Geum also started to follow hurriedly.
The problem was,
‘J-just until when in the world are we running?!’
The martial artists of the Ice Palace didn't seem to have any intention of slowing down until one hour passed.
Even more,
“What dish should I prepare for dinner tonight?”
“I will definitely try to show off my skills today!”
“Since it gets cold again if we go near the North Sea, how about something with hot broth for the sake of Young Master Moyong too?”
“Broth dish, confirmed!”
“Please, I beg you for something a human can eat.”
“Squad Leader Baek!”
They looked peaceful enough to share conversations even while running.
‘M-monsters.’
I approached Moyong Geum, who was thinking a reevaluation of the level of the Ice Palace’s martial artists was needed.
“Is it hard?”
“T-that is not so!”
He couldn't show himself slacking off in front of the Young Palace Head.
“That is a relief. Since Young Master Moyong says he can still run more, everyone increases speed!”
“Yes, Captain!”
N-no…….
Just as the running torture was about to begin like that,
-Be careful.
The Sword Venerable’s voice was heard by me.
At that moment,
Boom!
Dust rose along with an explosion.
At the same time, men in black clothes who soared from the ground thrust their swords.
“Young Palace Head!”
Eun Bin moved quickly to protect Seol Ye-rin.
“Young Master!”
Moyong Geum’s escort Jang Baek-rim moved to protect Moyong Geum.
Watching that scene, I looked down at the ground.
‘Slow.’
Even at the sudden ambush of the men in black, I didn't panic.
Although it was also due to knowing the fact of the ambush in advance thanks to the Sword Venerable’s brief warning.
The swords of the assassins, who appeared as if they were waiting for us under the soil, looked slow.
‘Is this the effect of training?’
I continued to practice the aesthetics of emptying and filling together with Seol Ye-rin.
We continued to exchange Yang energy and Yin energy.
By injecting Extreme Yang Qi, I could prevent the Extreme Yin Qi from freezing Seol Ye-rin’s body.
By accepting Seol Ye-rin’s Extreme Yin Qi, I began to feel the balance of my body gradually being adjusted.
‘Appropriate harmony of Yin and Yang certainly helped my body.’
Fwoosh.
Red flames burst up from all directions.
As heat fire covered the air, the thrusting swords melted down.
The men in black were flustered and tried to retreat quickly, but,
“That won’t do.”
It’s not just me.
The men in black were extending their swords aiming for the necks of the Small Snow Squad, the Young Palace Head, and even further, Moyong Geum of the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild.
“How dare you… where do you think this is!”
Crack crackle!
The assassins who rushed at Seol Ye-rin couldn't even try anything and just froze.
“Huff, huff.”
Glance, looking back at Moyong Geum and his escort, it seemed the escort blocked the attack of the assassin who rushed at them.
“S-suddenly what is going on!”
“They are attackers. I don't know well yet who they came aiming for, but.”
Boom!
Seeing an explosion occur from the ground once again, I frowned.
If I didn't see it wrong, the object causing this explosion is clearly,
“It’s a Thunderbolt Sphere!”
Is it the guys from the Thunderbolt Demon Clan again?
If so, this ambush could have targeted me and no one else.
Swish-!
But soon I corrected that thought.
If they had targeted me.
‘There’s no need to attack Moyong Geum too, right?’
Assassins specialized in ambush, using Thunderbolt Spheres.
There was a group that came to mind.
Swoosh!
“These things.”
Those who gave me confusion for a moment began to move in perfect order with a clear target.
The target was the son of the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild Leader, Moyong Geum.
***
“Everyone protect Young Master Moyong!”
“Yes, Captain!”
“The Vice Captain protects the Young Palace Head, and Squad Leader Baek blocks the assassins approaching Young Master Moyong. Wi Ji-yeong, Tae Un-seo match movements with me and execute the assassins.”
“Yes! Young Master, no, Captain!!”
With me at the lead, the Small Snow Squad began to move in perfect order.
“I also want to be of help.”
“Young Palace Head. It is dangerous.”
As Seol Ye-rin tried to move, Eun Bin dissuaded Seol Ye-rin.
“Isn't the Vice Captain even resentful?”
Slash-
Every time I moved, one assassin fell to the floor.
It was a bonus that the surrounding air turned hot every time an assassin fell to the floor.
“What point are you talking about?”
Even while watching all that spectacle, Eun Bin was sharpening his senses to protect Seol Ye-rin.
“I am asking if the person the Vice Captain should protect here isn't me but Young Master Moyong.”
It is a correct statement.
The Small Snow Squad currently had to protect Young Master Moyong Geum who came to visit the Ice Palace.
However,
“I apologize, but Young Palace Head. The order the Captain gave me was the order to protect the Young Palace Head.”
Eun Bin drew the line clearly.
He made it clear that he isn't protecting Seol Ye-rin by his own will.
He said he is following the order according to the Captain’s judgment and order.
“Ah.”
At Eun Bin’s words, Seol Ye-rin realized only then that she was misunderstanding many parts.
‘Most people perceived me as an existence they had to protect.’
-The Vice Captain protects the Young Palace Head.
It seems Seol Ye-rin noticed the meaning contained in that one phrase too late.
Whatever Seol Ye-rin does, Vice Captain Eun Bin will follow her around to protect Seol Ye-rin.
In other words, Seol Ye-rin’s movements were not restricted.
It means it doesn't matter even if she moves freely.
As soon as she recognized that fact,
“Young Master, please stay back. This Jang Baek-rim will definitely try to protect Young Master!”
I could see more assassins being deployed towards Moyong Geum.
‘With this number of personnel, it seems they moved almost one unit?’
It seemed we were far enough from the North Sea for them to openly commit such a killing act.
Seol Ye-rin gazed at me moving to protect Moyong Geum while cutting down assassins.
The reason she followed me out was partly because she wanted to go on an outing, but the biggest reason is that she wanted to be of help to me.
‘I received a lot of help from the Third Young Master.’
So she thought she wanted to make it so that sometimes I can rely on Seol Ye-rin with a relaxed mind.
Then what would be the direction that helps me?
-Bring the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild safely to the Ice Palace.
Perfectly executing the task Father, the Ice Palace Lord, ordered.
If it’s that task, it seems Seol Ye-rin could also be of help.
Seol Ye-rin, who judged so.
“S-save m……!”
Descended in front of Moyong Geum and Jang Baek-rim who faced a desperate crisis.
Craaaack-
Everything in the surroundings except the two people froze.
Twinkle-
Watching the figures of the assassins who became ice statues and froze, Seol Ye-rin muttered towards Moyong Geum.
“Hold onto your lifeline tight. Since it seems there are quite many who aim for your neck.”
“Young Palace Head……!”
Moyong Geum gazed at Seol Ye-rin’s back with a moved expression.
“Sigh.”
There was another person sighing while looking at Seol Ye-rin.
“…You should have left some opportunity for me to be active, Young Palace Head.”
-Grrr.
It seemed clear he would hear nagging from Wi Ji-yeong that he only caught a few assassins when the battle ended.
Baek Mu-yong stroked the innocent White Night’s head and looked at the faces of the assassins who became ice statues.
A red dot clearly stamped on the mask.
It is a mask a specific assassin group wears.
“This is…….”
“It’s Blood Tears.”
At my voice approached after organizing the assassins before anyone knew, Baek Mu-yong looked back at me.
“Why would Blood Tears……?”
“That, we will have to look into from now on.”
The affiliation of the assassins was.
Along with Deathshroud , one of the two great assassin groups of the Central Plains, Blood Tears.