Chapter 033 : Collapse.
North Sea Ice Palace, Council of Elders.
“They must have taken care of them by now, right?”
“Most likely.”
“Tsk, if they took care of them, they should send a message quickly saying so. It's getting late.”
A man in black robes answered Chairman Seol Un-gang’s question.
“Do you not trust Blood Tears right now?”
Blood Tears (Hyeol-ru).
Along with Deathshroud, it is one of the renowned assassin organizations in the Central Plains.
As the man in black grumbled as if he were slightly offended,
“It is not that I do not trust Blood Tears. It is because neither that guy nor the Young Palace Head are ordinary wenches and bastards.”
“Extreme Yang Body and Extreme Yin Body. They certainly possess bodies rare even in the Central Plains. However, even so, they are merely children barely of age.”
The man in black wore an expression showing he couldn't understand Seol Un-gang.
“It is shameful enough to dispatch a squad of Blood Tears against kids, yet you worry about the failure of the assassination. It is unlike you, Elder.”
“Having confidence is good, but Sa-wol. If it fails, your neck will not remain intact.”
Chairman Seol Un-gang thought.
‘If only that guy hadn't come.’
Everything would have proceeded according to Seol Un-gang’s plan.
If only that guy disappeared, the North Sea would return to how it was before.
So he had been constantly looking for an opportunity to assassinate him.
‘To think they would let him out of the Ice Palace just in time.’
He felt he should be grateful to the Palace Lord.
The sight of trying to open trade with the Central Plains again looked very good.
However,
‘Palace Lord, you trust the live-in son-in-law too much.’
Merchant guilds are entities that pursue loyalty and trust.
The guys in the Central Plains are ones who really like justification.
If a person from the merchant guild is harmed before the trade even begins, it was clear they would break the deal before even arriving at the Ice Palace.
It doesn't matter if the assassins of Blood Tears fail to take care of Seol Ye-rin and Hyeokryeon Yeom.
If he could just block the Ice Palace’s flow of funds from circulating, the Ice Palace would gradually fall into ruin even more.
A crisis requires a hero.
‘Using this as an excuse, I will drag down the Palace Lord.’
And become the new Palace Lord of the Ice Palace.
“You promised instead? If successful, you agreed to give double the payment.”
“Of course.”
If only they succeed, he could give any amount of money.
Since the money to be paid to Blood Tears wouldn't be his personal private property anyway.
***
“Are you alright, Young Master?”
“I am fine.”
Moyong Geum watched the Small Snow Squad facing the assassins.
Not just any guys, but assassins of Blood Tears.
‘I thought it was just a dying minor sect of the Outer Regions.’
It was not at all.
Only six.
No, to speak precisely, it is four.
Because the Small Snow Squad members protecting Moyong Geum, including Young Palace Head Seol Ye-rin, are doing nothing.
‘Then… what is that?’
Slash- slash-
A chef holding a kitchen knife slicing off the arms and legs of assassins indiscriminately, and,
“To do things like killing people, you are all too much.”
Pew-
Every time the maid threw a flying dagger, it was embedded into the necks of the assassins.
Furthermore,
Fwoosh.
“Aaaargh!”
Even well-trained assassins had no choice but to scream in pain,
A man cremating the assassins alive with flames blooming from his whole body.
“For a martial artist of the Ice Palace to use Fire Arts, it is peculiar.”
No one brought up the point that he isn't from the Ice Palace.
It was because most people of the Central Plains have an aversion to the Demonic Cult.
“They seem to be targeting Young Master Moyong persistently; does anyone come to mind?”
At Baek Mu-yong’s question, Moyong Geum’s escort Jang Baek-rim shook his head.
“This is the first time receiving an attack from assassins like this.”
“Hmm, that is strange.”
Unless it is a personal grudge against Moyong Geum, it means someone commissioned to kill Moyong Geum.
“There might be those who dislike restarting trade with the Ice Palace.”
Moyong Geum spoke calmly.
Since the Moyong Clan also moved carefully, information wouldn't have leaked out.
Naturally, the Ice Palace was suspected, but he didn't voice it out.
“We will ensure there are no problems until we get to the Ice Palace.”
At the Young Palace Head Seol Ye-rin’s voice, Moyong Geum nodded.
Since he clearly confirmed with his own two eyes that their skill is certain, there was nothing much to worry about.
“Wouldn't it be better to catch at least one guy and interrogate him?”
At Eun Bin’s question, Moyong Geum shook his head.
“The assassins of Blood Tears would rather commit suicide than ever talk. Seeing as the Small Snow Squad Captain also noticed that, he seems to be disposing of the assassins without hesitation.”
Whoosh!
The heat wind begins to subside.
“You are correct.”
I gazed at the assassins of Blood Tears collapsed around.
With this number of personnel, it is almost a squad level.
‘Whoever it is, they are a guy who likes certain handling of matters.’
As Moyong Geum said, if it is clear someone commissioned it.
“Let’s run.”
“Pardon?”
“There is no time. We must arrive at the Ice Palace first before the news that the assassins were all defeated is conveyed.”
The purpose of this mission is to restart the trade between the Ice Palace and the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild.
If only that is achieved, the North Sea will begin to develop again.
“Are there any injuries?”
“Thanks to the Captain, I was safe, thank you.”
“That is a relief. Then let’s perform movement arts again.”
“Pardon?”
Looking at the flustered Moyong Geum, I smiled.
“You can run, right?”
Moyong Geum couldn't bear to say he couldn't run in front of Seol Ye-rin.
***
“They say the Small Snow Squad is returning together with the son of the Moyong Clan Merchant Guild Leader.”
The Ice Palace’s General Manager, Seol Su-hyeok, read the message tied to the carrier pigeon and reported to Seol Baek-ho.
“When did they say they would arrive?”
“They say they expect about two days.”
“That fast?”
“They say they are performing movement arts like crazy.”
“Why? They could come slowly.”
“They say assassins of Blood Tears targeted the Merchant Guild Leader’s son.”
“There was an attack?”
“Yes. So the Small Snow Squad Captain’s proposal is that it would be good if we prepared the Cold Iron in advance. So that someone does not interfere with the trade.”
The General Manager, who finished reading the message containing my thoughts, looked back at Seol Baek-ho.
“It seems the Small Snow Squad Captain anticipates a certain force will interfere with the trade.”
“It seems so.”
“What does the General Manager think?”
“The movements of the Council of Elders are unusual.”
“Do you think there is a traitor within the Palace?”
“It is because while the Palace Lord was paying attention to the Young Palace Head all this while, you couldn't grasp the movements of the Council of Elders.”
Seol Su-hyeok began to tell the story he had been harboring until now.
“If it is to bring back the glory of the Ice Palace again, I think you need to make a decision.”
In Seol Su-hyeok’s story, Seol Baek-ho pondered for a moment and then spoke as if he had made a decision.
“Summon the heads of the Five Families.”
“Palace Lord?”
“Shouldn't the Ice Palace that Ye-rin will inherit be intact.”
Seol Baek-ho’s blue eyes began to shine.
***
“Huff, huff. Captain, l-let’s rest a little before going.”
Baek Mu-yong declared surrender.
“Right. Let’s rest for a moment before going.”
Actually, I was thinking we should rest around this point.
Although everyone wasn't saying it, Tae Un-seo and Wi Ji-yeong also looked exhausted.
Seol Ye-rin and Eun Bin also looked slightly tired.
And the most important Moyong Geum and Jang Baek-rim were, Flop.
“Whew, whew.”
At the talk of resting, they quickly sat down on the ground and started Qi Circulation.
It seemed they thought we would stand guard on our own.
-Tsk tsk, it seems they were quite tired.
-Certainly, if they do Qi Circulation, stamina will recover quickly, so. It is a good choice.
‘Does the Young Palace Head look okay?’
-It seems she consumed quite a lot of Extreme Yin Qi through movement arts and battle.
Then it seemed I should tell her to pass the remaining Extreme Yin Qi to me.
Approaching Seol Ye-rin, I extended my hand.
“What is it?”
“Please pass a little Extreme Yin Qi to me.”
“Here?”
“Yes. I think I need to fill up on Extreme Yin Qi.”
There are still many things I want to experiment with on this body.
Until now, side effects of the Extreme Yang Body haven't appeared.
That is probably because I am using the Extreme Yang Qi so much.
And because the Extreme Yin Qi received through the Young Palace Head achieved harmony with the Extreme Yin Qi.
“…We still have to run more, so. Just a little.”
Seol Ye-rin held my hand.
Then,
Flinch-
Moyong Geum who is doing Qi Circulation.
Except for Jang Baek-rim who is standing guard for him, the Small Snow Squad was surprised.
“Right now… you held hands with the Young Palace Head, right?”
“It is just truly fascinating that you didn't freeze.”
Wi Ji-yeong whispered quietly, and Baek Mu-yong spoke as if it was really fascinating.
“The rumor that the Captain is a live-in son-in-law was widespread, I guess it was true.”
“…….”
At the muttering of Tae Un-seo, who was making simple food with the ingredients he brought to soothe hunger, Eun Bin clenched his fist.
Vroom-
The Extreme Yang Qi in the qi center reacted to the Extreme Yin Qi crossing over through the joined hands.
A situation where it feels like all acupoints will freeze as the Extreme Yin Qi crosses over.
The Extreme Yin Qi began to pierce through the acupoints again.
Soon the two energies that met,
Rumble.
Began to harmonize without colliding.
‘It is fascinating, really.’
They are clearly conflicting energies.
But the two energies began to welcome each other intensely as if they had wanted each other from the beginning.
Vroom!
As if telling it to follow, the Extreme Yang Qi guided the Extreme Yin Qi.
The Extreme Yin Qi settled in the qi center where the Extreme Yang Qi was coiling.
I wasn't the only one experiencing a process like this.
“Mmm.”
Seol Ye-rin also let out a small groan while looking at this process with fascination.
Since the movement of unfamiliar true qi is bound to accompany pain.
Rather, she was looking at me, who didn't let out a groan, with fascination.
Because it meant I was enduring all of that immense pain rushing in.
Anyway, by sharing each other's energy, the two people felt their exhausted look recover a little.
“…Until when are you going to hold it?”
“Ah, sorry. A little more…….”
As I tried to continue the story,
“Tw-two people! What is your relationship!”
I looked back at the shout of Moyong Geum who woke up after finishing the Qi Circulation.
Because Moyong Geum, not knowing when he woke up, stood up and was pointing his finger at the joined hands of me and Seol Ye-rin.
“What relationship…….”
I looked at Seol Ye-rin’s face.
It’s not like formal marriage talks have been exchanged yet either.
Although the Palace Lord called me over to the North Sea and I spent a night together with Seol Ye-rin.
A situation where I am not in a lover relationship with Seol Ye-rin either.
Right now, it should be seen as a relationship between a Captain and a Young Palace Head.
Just as I thought there was even less need to inform an outsider who isn't even an Ice Palace person of these details and was about to open my mouth.
“It is a relationship where we will soon hold an engagement ceremony with the Small Snow Squad Captain. Is there perhaps any problem?”
Seol Ye-rin opened her mouth first.
Wide-eyed-
Everyone was looking at Seol Ye-rin with an expression that they heard shocking words.
“Ah……”
The one most shocked seemed to be Moyong Geum.
At Seol Ye-rin’s one word, Moyong Geum’s head dropped down.
Although I cannot know what turbulent future he painted with Seol Ye-rin who was still wearing a bamboo hat and even a veil.
It seemed Moyong Geum’s world had collapsed right now.