Chapter 316 |
316. Guests (4)
Not long after, Namgung Dowi and Namgung Jong returned to the Namgung Clan.
Their original tasks in the Tang Clan had already been completed long ago, and they had been staying only to spare time for a spar with me.
Satisfied enough, they left as soon as Namgung Jong, who had sustained minor internal injuries, regained stability.
After that, I began handling one by one the tasks I had only thought about but had been postponing.
“Refreshing.”
“This is the training place of none other than the Young Palace Lord… no, in the Central Plains, she is known by the title Pure Sound–Frostflower. I naturally did my utmost to construct it.”
The craftsman of the North Sea Ice Palace spoke with a proudly puffed chest.
Since he had created a training field where cold energy gathered and did not leak outward, he must have been highly skilled.
Normally, learning many fields prevented one from excelling in any and was therefore avoided…
But the North Sea Ice Palace was an external Murim isolated from the Central Plains. Everyone there learned at least basic martial arts.
Manpower was lacking, and even that often died off, so multi-skilled individuals were far more valued.
He was, in fact, serving as both the supervisor and something like the representative of the group dispatched from the North Sea Ice Palace.
However—
“You still have not given up……???”
“Pure Sound–Frostflower is firm in her refusal, so I only stepped back. If she ever wishes it, she is welcome at any time.”
“I’m quite sure that when you first arrived at the Tang Clan, you said remaining good friends with the North Sea Ice Palace was enough.”
“That is how it began. But after spending the past several months in the Tang Clan, I came to a realization.”
“And what would that be?”
“That the seed of royalty and nobility truly is different.”
(…Suddenly praising an imperial line?)
“Oh, I do not mean the imperial family of the Central Plains—I speak of the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“That could just as easily sound like treason.”
This land was still under the rule of the Central Plains imperial court.
As I showed discomfort, the craftsman scratched his head awkwardly.
“It seems I still am not familiar with Central Plains speech or culture. So perhaps…?”
He pondered deeply, then clapped as if recalling something.
“Ah! What you call Nangjungjichu. A truly outstanding person stands out anywhere.”
“Heoh. That, I am curious about. What made you think so?”
I shifted my gaze toward Seol Lihyang, who was excitedly inspecting every corner of the training field.
She must have liked it—touching everything, even lying down on the floor to feel the cold energy throughout her body.
Outside it was summer, yet inside it felt like midwinter, so it must have suited her very well.
The craftsman followed my gaze and continued proudly.
“The Central Plains is hot. Especially Sichuan.”
“Compared to the North Sea Ice Palace, yes.”
Even the coldest winter of the Central Plains would feel like the warmest summer to them.
“Yet even in such a place, Pure Sound–Frostflower reached her realm. At her current stage… even if the Ice Palace Lord personally stepped forth, it would be an even match at best.”
“Mm. I understand what you mean.”
The North Sea Ice Palace was in decline with no one stepping into the Flowering Stage. Their strongest present-generation martial artist was only Sub-Perfection.
Meanwhile, Seol Lihyang was stepping beyond early Sub-Perfection into the stage of nearing completion.
It would certainly be a good match, though she would likely lose due to experience.
“She lived her entire life in the Central Plains and stayed only a few months in the North Sea Ice Palace. Yet her growth has been explosive.”
“We cannot ignore the great martial arts she learned and the medicines she absorbed to the point of stomachache.”
“Haha! If that alone were enough, our North Sea Ice Palace would not be struggling like this.”
That was true.
Her talent stemmed partly from her Pure Yin Physique, but much of it was her innate ability.
The craftsman, eyes distant as if gazing far away, spoke softly.
“That is why we look forward to it—how much stronger Pure Sound–Frostflower will become using this training ground.”
“No matter how strong she becomes, I will not send Seol Lihyang to the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“That is fine. Actually, during the last trade journey, I received this.”
He pulled out a stiff letter.
Reading it, I found content I had not anticipated.
It was not another attempt to make Seol Lihyang the Young Palace Lord.
Nor was it coaxing me by saying she could at least be an adopted daughter.
It merely stated that the North Sea Ice Palace wished to become Seol Lihyang’s guardian.
What they wanted was solely her growth. No compensation. At most, goodwill.
I never imagined the North Sea Ice Palace would come forward like this. This was practically volunteering to be a pushover.
But after rereading it several times in disbelief, I understood.
“Ah. So that’s what this is. A kind of publicity—to display through Seol Lihyang that the North Sea Ice Palace is still alive and well.”
“I do not know such complicated matters. I am but a laborer.”
He shrugged, pretending ignorance, though it was obvious he knew.
Well. There was no harm.
The North Sea Ice Palace, instead of the Ice Essence–dependent Bingbaek Divine Art that required absorbing all cold energy in the region, was developing a new martial art based on Glacial True Qi created by their founder and now learned by Seol Lihyang.
Until the new martial art was completed, they would inevitably be vulnerable.
Using Seol Lihyang to project strength was their attempt to endure.
And Seol Lihyang would receive support for yin-based cultivation she could never obtain in the Central Plains.
Yes. It benefited both sides.
“Hm.”
It was such a stark contrast.
The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace had torn itself apart in a bloody succession struggle, while the North Sea Ice Palace was begging Seol Lihyang to be their Young Palace Lord, spoon-feeding opportunities only to be rejected.
Meng Yubaek might faint if she learned of this.
I let out a dry laugh and put the letter away.
“All right. I’ll speak to Seol Lihyang about this later.”
“Understood. Ah, since we’re at it—one last thing before I leave.”
“What is it?”
“Now that construction of the training room is complete, we will soon return to the North Sea.”
“Ah, I see.”
They had come to transport the Azure Cold Serpent’s spoils and build Seol Lihyang’s training room.
Now that both were completed, returning was natural.
“It was enjoyable. Sichuan—especially the Tang Clan—is a very pleasant place to live… but it still cannot match one’s homeland.”
“Your homeland. I understand. Shall I arrange escorts?”
“No need. I am not leaving immediately. I plan to travel with the next caravan.”
“Then I wish you safe travels.”
“Thank you for your hospitality, White Moon Sword Lord.”
After exchanging a light farewell, he left.
Dragging Seol Lihyang—who still rubbed her cheek on the icy floor—out of the training hall, the air abruptly grew heavy.
Perhaps because we had come from a place cold enough to be winter straight into the blazing summer outside, my breath caught.
Carrying the limp Seol Lihyang over my shoulder and intending to take her back to her room—
Despite being in her own home, Tang Sowol appeared before me fully dressed and immaculate.
“Ah! Here you are, Brother Cheon!”
“Hm? Is something going on? You’re dressed so neatly… Ah, is it that?”
“Yees. It is that.”
“Taking a walk around the estate after a long time? Not bad. Let me drop off Seol Lihyang and change first.”
It would be good to inspect potential estates for the Seo Mun Clan along the way as well.
I nodded to myself—before Tang Sowol shook her head as if exasperated.
“What are you talking about? You aren’t sweating from training, so you’re fine as you are. Hand Lihyang to me and let us go to Father’s room.”
“What? Why Father-in-law’s room…?”
Did I do something wrong? I tried thinking carefully but nothing came to mind.
Seeing my confusion, Tang Sowol sighed.
“That’s not it. The military strategist Father mentioned, along with Venerable Gakjeong and Venerable Jeonghyeon, have already arrived.”
“What. I wasn’t told anything???”
“That is why I dressed in such a hurry and went looking for Brother Cheon.”
I had heard they were coming, but they arrived within days—and without even informing me, the person involved.
I knew they had no ill intentions, yet even they normally had better manners than this.
Tilting my head, I headed toward the clan head’s chamber.
***
Perhaps realizing it was not the time to be limp, Seol Lihyang returned to her usual self.
No, she seemed even more composed than usual—almost annoyingly so.
With Seol Lihyang and Tang Sowol beside me, I entered the clan head’s chamber.
There sat Tang Jincheon, of course, and the already-arrived Seo Mun-Hwarin.
And several familiar faces.
Zhuge Bu, Venerable Gakjeong, and Venerable Jeonghyeon—those who had previously assisted me with the grand art.
But among them was someone unexpected—no, someone I knew, but whom I never expected to see here.
“Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal, sir?”
“Haha. It has been long. Back then you already amazed me, and now you have grown enough to stand at the same height.”
The sect leader of the Wudang Sect and Tang Jincheon’s old friend had naturally joined them.
Sharing the memories from before my regression with my women via the Demon Bell was a sensitive issue.
So seeing an unfamiliar face startled me… but Tang Jincheon, noticing my reaction, spoke.
“When we first learned of your mental restriction, you said you would seek help from a trustworthy Daoist, did you not?”
“Ah.”
Now that I thought about it, although he had not been directly involved when the Blood Buddha and Demon Bell caused trouble, he had known about my mental restriction.
Zhuge Bu, noticing I had finally realized, chuckled.
“No need to be wary. Among those who know of your mental restriction and have profound Daoist cultivation, the only one was the Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal.”
“At that scoundrel Jincheon’s request, I dug through dusty books in my library for the first time in ages—only to find the situation already changed drastically. But the strategist assured me the past months of work would not be wasted, so I came late to offer my strength.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed deeply to the Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal, then turned to Zhuge Bu.
He began enthusiastically explaining the changes, as if he had been waiting.
“The Demon Bell is originally a Buddhist artifact. With the help of Shaolin’s abbot and previous abbot, we may draw power from it and circumvent your mental restriction. That much you understand, yes?”
“Yes.”
“But your mental restriction is not purely Buddhist. It contains Daoist force nearly equal in weight—an extremely complex matter.”
“Yes, well.”
He had said before it was a restriction made by Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva and a Great Luo Immortal.
Hard-to-believe names—but it would take that level to reverse time.
“Last time we focused on using the Demon Bell more stably for a longer duration. This time, we focused on harmonizing its power through Daoist principles.”
“And what changes as a result?”
“You will be able to see more.”
“I am not quite sure what you mean…”
“Previously, you said no one except you—the White Moon Sword Lord—could see others’ faces or hear their voices, correct?”
“Yes.”
“We still cannot show direct features like faces. But voices—those you will hear. Of course, excluding crucial details that could directly reveal identity.”
“…Oh.”
Previously, the scenes displayed by the Demon Bell had been extremely limited.
Only Seol Lihyang—being the self shown—could vaguely interpret who was speaking and what was happening.
But if conversation became audible, even missing key details, far more information could be deduced.
Seo Mun-Hwarin and Tang Sowol, too, would likely reach the conclusion of my regression.
I clasped my fists and bowed deeply to all gathered.
“Thank you, everyone.”
“Think nothing of it. This is also for the future of the orthodox Murim. Preparations are nearly done—lie down.”
“So suddenly?”
“The Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal purposely selected an auspicious day and hour. We can’t waste that.”
“That was the reason…”
“In Daoism, such things matter.”
The Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal shrugged.
So that was why they had rushed in—there had been a time constraint.
“I understand. Then I leave myself in your care again.”
I lay on the formation Zhuge Bu had drawn, and the other women lay down beside me. And then—
Wooong—
Immense energy enveloped the surroundings, and as if falling asleep, my consciousness blurred.
I intentionally did not resist and accepted the amplified power of the Demon Bell.
Beyond my slowly closing eyes, I saw… the qi of heaven and earth converging on me, distorting, arranging itself rhythmically as if creating a new world.
Seeing it with my eyes, I understood.
This was a grand art of unimaginable refinement.
Tang Sowol, Seol Lihyang, and Seo Mun-Hwarin opened their eyes.
There stood a young Cheon Hwi-da, steeped in poison and arrogance.
And before him was a petite woman who took him lightly.
“This One is ——, thus This One shall be called. Blood Wolf, thou shalt address This One as Ironblood Hall Master.”
Despite her small stature, she radiated the aura of a firm and upright master, and the three women nodded.
“She seems to be the one who taught Brother Cheon letters and martial arts back then??”
“Probably? Judging by her manner of speech, she must be an incredible master…”
Perhaps because she seemed so utterly unlike the current Seo Mun-Hwarin, not a single one recognized her.
“Ahem. Meeting a good superior is fortune. This One values your heart that shares what you have more highly than your martial skill.”
Even she herself did not recognize her own past self.