Chapter 005: Ice Palace Rules
When I came out of the Ice Palace Leader's room, Baek Mu-yong and Wi Ji-yeong were waiting.
“Young Master! Are you alright?”
“I am fine, nothing happened.”
Receiving an unexpected thank you was about all that happened.
Baek Mu-yong still had a face full of suspicion.
His reaction was one of disbelief that I came back alive from the Palace Leader.
Certainly, this reaction seemed like a normal one.
‘It won’t be as easy as I thought.’
Somehow, by saving the Young Palace Head, I seem to have received recognition from the Palace Leader.
But for my life in the Ice Palace to be smooth in the future, I must receive similar recognition from other martial artists as well.
Just like how the strong in the Demonic Cult received treatment by producing results.
Producing results will be important in the Ice Palace too.
Well, even if I say results.
‘Is it about the level of sweeping away bandits targeting the Ice Palace?’
“Baek Mu-yong, if you don’t mind, help me out for a while.”
“Pardon?”
“I heard there is a squad directly under the Young Palace Head.”
“…That is correct.”
The squad that hasn’t been managed at all since the Young Palace Head became like that, the Small snow squad.
“I would like you to guide me to that squad.”
“Why the Small snow squad all of a sudden…….”
“Ah, I guess that squad is called the Small snow squad? I just received an order to manage it instead of the Young Palace Head.”
I never received such an order.
Since I received permission to act as I please, I can just sell the Ice Palace Leader’s name freely now.
“What in the world does that mean for a person who just arrived in the North Sea…….”
“Does it seem like a lie?”
Baek Mu-yong, realizing the fact that the person Hyeokryeon Yeom met a moment ago was the Palace Leader of the North Sea Ice Palace, let out a sigh.
“If it is the Palace Leader’s order, I will follow.”
“Do not be too disappointed. Despite appearances, I am someone trusted by the Palace Leader.”
At my words, Baek Mu-yong frowned and answered.
“I am sure that is very true.”
“Hmm, I guess you don’t believe me. Yeong, am I that untrustworthy?”
“I am always worried!”
……It seems I brought the wrong subordinate.
“I am grateful that you saved the Young Palace Head, but that is all. It is a big miscalculation if you think the martial artists of the Ice Palace will like an outsider.”
Baek Mu-yong is right about that.
No matter how much I run wild, in the end, if the martial artists of the North Sea do not acknowledge me, that’s it.
‘Is the first mountain I have to cross the Small snow squad?’
Actually, taking control of the martial artists of the Small snow squad, the direct squad of the Young Palace Head called the Young Palace Head’s Royal Guards, is simpler than thought.
‘I just have to be liked by the Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin.’
Leaving aside other things, they were all guys who couldn’t budge if it was Seol Ye-rin’s order.
Especially if it is a person of the Small snow squad worth remaining here at a time like this, there is one person who comes to mind.
“This is the Small snow squad’s quarters.”
“There is no one.”
“Yes, since quite some time has passed since the Young Palace Head locked herself in her quarters, I know there are not many people left.”
“How many were there originally?”
“There were five, but now I know only one remains.”
“Hmm, not bad.”
“Pardon?”
“Bring that one remaining person, because as of today, he is fired.”
Baek Mu-yong looked at me with eyes asking what kind of reckless person this is.
“Fired?”
“Do you have a complaint?”
“I do not have one. I will bring him for now.”
Baek Mu-yong went into the Small snow squad’s quarters and brought out a man with narrow eyes who had a very listless expression.
“Is it this person?”
“It is the Small snow squad Captain, Eun Bin.”
Hearing the name Eun Bin, my eyes flashed.
“As expected, he was here.”
I spat out a brief impression upon seeing the narrow-eyed man.
If one were to pick the masters of the North Sea Ice Palace known in the Murim, one cannot leave out the escort warrior who protected the Ice Palace’s Young Palace Head, Small snow squad Captain, Ice Clean Killing Star Eun Bin.
According to the memories of my past life, those known as the Five Stars of the Outer Regions were all masters of the Transformation Realm.
If I recruit him and make him make only the right choices at the crossroads of choice, at least the event of the Ice Palace’s Young Palace Head being assassinated and dying won’t happen.
A sword hidden in listlessness and a shield to protect the master.
The gazes of the narrow-eyed man, Eun Bin, and I entangled.
***
There was a child cooling down coldly on the cold snowfield.
The child was not from the fierce North Sea.
The place reached at the end of escape was the North Sea.
A situation where he had no choice but to wait for life to end like this, having lost everything and being wounded.
There was no emotion in the child’s eyes.
“Dad! A person collapsed here!!”
The child could not yet forget the face of the girl that filled his vision before he knew it while watching the falling snow and thinking of death.
Crackle.
“It will be okay. Endure just a little!”
Stopping bleeding? No, it froze.
As the child’s hand touched the chest, it was entirely covered in ice.
‘A master of Ice Arts…….’
Although still a young age, the child who recognized Ice Arts was saved in the North Sea like that.
Slither.
The narrow-eyed man who opened his eyes, Small snow squad Captain Eun Bin, muttered quietly.
“Is it that dream again?”
Childhood.
The one who saved Eun Bin was the Young Palace Head of the North Sea Ice Palace, Seol Ye-rin.
After that, Eun Bin was raised as Seol Ye-rin’s escort.
It was just right for a life to forget the past.
The Eun Bin of the past ended his life in the North Sea.
If it weren’t for Seol Ye-rin, he wouldn’t have been able to continue living.
Eun Bin, who thought so, chose a life of protecting Seol Ye-rin instead of revenge for the rest of his life.
However.
“At most three months from now…….”
Eun Bin, who secretly heard the diagnosis the Divine Physician gave, became a helpless wretch who could do nothing.
The Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin, heard the sentence that only three months of life remained due to the constitutional chronic illness called Extreme Yin Body.
The Ice Palace Leader was trying to save Seol Ye-rin in various ways, but it wasn’t easy.
He must move to save the Young Palace Head.
Eun Bin, who was trying to leave for the Central Plains with such thoughts to obtain even a spiritual medicine that could save Seol Ye-rin,
-Eun Bin, do not leave the Small snow squad either, and do nothing. It is an order given as the Young Palace Head. If you refuse, I will never see your face again.
Because of the Young Palace Head’s order, he became a body that could not leave the Small snow squad’s quarters.
Grind.
He was annoyed.
He resented himself for being unable to do anything to save the Young Palace Head.
In the midst of that,
-Captain, did you hear that news? They say the Palace Leader plans to bring in the Demonic Cult Leader’s third son as a live-in son-in-law.
He heard the story about the live-in son-in-law.
“They say the Heavenly Demon’s third son is an Extreme Yang Body.”
The Yin-Yang Unification between Extreme Yin Body and Extreme Yang Body.
If it’s that, it might be possible to save the Young Palace Head.
Along with the thought that it was fortunate, a thought of regret came.
If only the one possessing the Extreme Yang Body was Eun Bin.
Eun Bin could have saved the Young Palace Head personally.
It is regrettable, but unavoidable.
The moment he was relieved by the fact that hope arose to save the Young Palace Head,
“However, there is a rumor that the guy is a lecher.”
At the subordinate’s report, Eun Bin’s narrow eyes opened completely.
It was a complete opening of eyes after ten years.
***
“Nice to meet you, I am Hyeokryeon Yeom.”
The first impression of the Young Palace Head’s escort warrior, Eun Bin, was chilliness.
It was a known fact that North Sea people usually gave off a cold feeling, but the feeling Eun Bin was sending to me was a chilliness that went beyond coldness.
“What is the matter?”
A gaze that is thoroughly provocative.
Since he had narrow eyes, I couldn’t confirm with what kind of eyes he was looking at me, but I know well that it’s dislike.
As if to figure out my capacity, Eun Bin’s gaze scans up and down.
‘They said he became a crazy murderous demon after the Young Palace Head died.’
I can understand that loyalty.
I made an understanding expression.
This is why information is important.
I instinctively knew that to obtain the best shield, I should be able to easily endure this level of provocation.
“Small snow squad Captain, Eun Bin. As of this time, I will strip you of your position.”
“……With what right do you?”
“It is the Palace Leader’s instruction.”
Eun Bin’s eyebrows bent.
“I refuse. If it is not the Young Palace Head’s order, I will not follow.”
I knew he would be like that.
In the talk with the Ice Palace Leader, the Ice Palace Leader told me to receive the recognition of the North Sea martial artists.
He said arms bend inward.
Seol Ye-rin won’t be able to ignore me, who melted her ice crystals.
In this situation, if I can win over the escort warrior, Eun Bin, who is no different from a childhood friend, I will be able to score points.
Therefore, the priority right now is,
‘Making Eun Bin acknowledge the person called me.’
Looking at it, he seems to be showing even hostility.
“You probably knew that the Young Palace Head was in critical condition, right?”
Flinch.
When I mentioned the Young Palace Head, Eun Bin opened his narrow eyes slightly.
“I saved that.”
“Saved?”
“Would you believe it if I say the ice crystals melted from the Young Palace Head’s face and she recovered her original beauty?”
The narrow eyes opened half-way.
The eyes are getting bigger and bigger.
‘It’s dangerous if he opens those fully.’
I knew that the moment Eun Bin opens his narrow eyes is when his killing intent becomes the greatest.
That was the moment when those in front of him had to repeat that they were dead.
“I heard the Small snow squad is the Young Palace Head’s direct squad.”
“So?”
“Because I decided to take charge of that position from now on.”
“…A guy like you who just set foot in the North Sea will assist the Young Palace Head well indeed.”
Sarcasm is heard.
I cheered inwardly.
The bait was slowly coming.
“It is fine. Because I have Squad Leader Baek, who is from the former Ice Wolf Squad.”
“From the former Ice Wolf Squad? What does that mean…….”
“I finished talking with the Palace Leader. You will now be assigned to the Small snow squad.”
“Ha.”
At my words, Baek Mu-yong made an incredulous expression.
“Ji-yeong-ah, you too are now becoming a Small snow squad member.”
“Yes, understood!”
Whether she saw the North Sea martial artists taking a military salute while entering the North Sea, Wi Ji-yeong copied that appearance.
“…Are you saying you are assigning the maid to the Small snow squad too?”
“Are you dissatisfied?”
“…I am not dissatisfied but. What is my position?”
“Still a squad leader. I plan to take the captain role.”
“If the Vice Captain position is vacant, please promote me too.”
Baek Mu-yong, who looked at Wi Ji-yeong disapprovingly for a moment, spoke brazenly.
Since the Palace Leader’s order fell, recognizing that the life and death power over himself fell into my hands, it seemed he planned to secure even a position.
“I am sorry, but I have someone in mind for the Vice Captain position.”
Naturally, Baek Mu-yong’s gaze headed toward Eun Bin.
“That… Captain Eun. I understand your feelings but usually, it would be better for you to listen to the Captain’s words.”
Still, because he lived with me for the past few days, Baek Mu-yong was taking my side.
Seeing the appearance of Baek Mu-yong, Eun Bin placed his hand on the sword hilt tied to his waist.
“Whoa whoa! Calm down, you must not forget that the person in front of your eyes is the only person who can treat the Young Palace Head!”
Baek Mu-yong even knew how to dig into the opponent’s weakness.
“Were you the type who had some quick wits?”
As I looked at Baek Mu-yong with a surprised expression,
“Are you cursing at my face, Captain?”
“It was not a curse.”
“Are you ignoring me right now?”
The spirit of the Small snow squad Captain, Eun Bin, began to change unusually.
‘Can I do it?’
I must accomplish it.
Only then could I continue to stay in the North Sea.
For this, I deliberately provoked Eun Bin.
I already knew the fact that he cares for the Young Palace Head, Seol Ye-rin, terribly.
There was only one way to receive recognition from such a man.
‘I must let him know that I am also a person worthy of protecting the Young Palace Head.’
And that method eventually comes down to one.
“Looking at it, it seems you want to disobey the Palace Leader’s order and maintain the Small snow squad Captain position even if you have to cut me. What is the reason you are obsessed with that position to that extent? Aren’t you not even from the North Sea?”
At the words that Eun Bin is not from the North Sea, Baek Mu-yong’s expression stiffened.
An expression asking how I know that.
“The Young Palace Head, I protect.”
“You who are not even an Extreme Yang Body?”
At my provocation, Eun Bin raised his energy.
I also placed my hand on the sword hilt tied to my waist.
A touch-and-go situation.
“So, you mean you will decide who becomes the captain through a duel, right?”
The one who stepped up for mediation was Baek Mu-yong.
“Duel?”
“Former Small snow squad Captain, Captain Eun. Current Small snow squad Captain, Young Master Hyeokryeon Yeom. Let’s go out and decide who is stronger, and the loser decides to follow the winner. That is the North Sea’s rule.”
What? Is there such a rule?
“That is a good rule.”
To think there is a rule where I can burn a person legally.
It was a truly good rule.