Chapter 606: Curse of Ice Crystals (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 606: Curse of Ice Crystals (2)
Just as I had suspected, it was a cave.
And a considerably long and deep one at that.
Even after several minutes of following the White Ripple Sword, the path stretched on endlessly.
‘As I thought, walking isn’t an issue.’
I continued to assess my condition as I walked. There seemed to be no major problems with my muscles or bones. From the tips of my toes to the crown of my head, I meticulously examined every inch of myself while listening to what the White Ripple Sword had to say.
“Your companions are resting up above. The girl from the Tang Clan was looking after you until just a moment ago. You woke up right as she switched shifts with me.”
The White Ripple Sword was as talkative as ever.
“She must be so disappointed. She was worried sick, wondering what she’d do if you didn’t wake up. And then, the moment she steps away, you open your eyes? Talk about bad timing.”
It seemed Tang Soyeol had been deeply concerned.
‘I’ll have to apologize when I see her later.’
I added that to my mental to-do list. I momentarily tuned out the White Ripple Sword’s idle gossip and organized the information I’d gathered so far.
First, the matter of how we arrived here.
‘She said that right after I lost consciousness, a reconnaissance team appeared while they were assessing the situation.’
Apparently, a soldier from the Palace Lord’s faction, who had been patrolling the area, discovered them. No, to be precise…
‘She said the Dishonored Venerable caught a scout who was about to patrol the area and brought him over.’
Before the soldier could even reach his destination, the Dishonored Venerable had intercepted him, captured him, and confirmed the situation. Deciding the scout wasn't an enemy, he had the group follow the man here.
At first, I wondered if it was wise to just barge into a secret hideout, but seeing the White Ripple Sword here meant it was likely the right move. Unless, of course, the White Ripple Sword herself was an enemy.
‘Well, in that case…’
Things would get complicated. Not that I actually thought she would betray us. For the record, she mentioned the enemy soldier they captured had been thrown into the torture chamber.
“Oh, right. That kid from the Bi Clan. He was incredible, you know?”
“…Pardon?”
A kid from the Bi Clan? The White Ripple Sword’s sudden remark made me pause.
‘Ah.’
After a moment’s thought, I understood. Come to think of it, the Dishonored Venerable’s clan was the Bi Clan. But to call him a "child"...
‘That’s a title I’ll never get used to.’
It made sense, since the White Ripple Sword wouldn’t know the Dishonored Venerable’s true identity. But for me, knowing the truth, it was a bit jarring to hear.
“His energy, too. The Dragon Warrior, was it? I didn’t know much about him, but seeing him in person, I get it now. You’re surrounded by some truly amazing kids.”
Had something happened during the few days I was unconscious? The way the White Ripple Sword spoke of the Dishonored Venerable was strange.
“Yes… well…”
He was certainly amazing. He was a man who had undergone eternal youth just to perfect his martial arts. Beyond his prowess, he was a remarkable human being in many ways.
“…So, you’re saying this is the Palace Lord’s hideout.”
I cut her off before she could ramble further and got straight to the point.
“That’s right.”
I gave a slight nod, but my insides were churning.
‘What a mess.’
Just from those words, I could tell how dire the situation was. The Ice Lord’s hideout. What else could that mean?
‘It means the Ice Lord has already been driven out of the palace.’
The North Sea Ice Palace, which should have been her home. For her to be driven out and holed up in a cave like this… it meant the enemy had seized the main palace long ago.
‘If what the White Ripple Sword said is true, had we gone straight to the Ice Palace, we would’ve been completely screwed.’
My premonition had been right. The Ice Palace wasn't safe. It was fortunate that the Ice Lord was here and that I was meeting her sooner than planned, but the fact that the situation was this bad was hardly good news.
‘This is far worse than I anticipated.’
I wanted to bolt. Honestly, this was a situation I should have run from long ago. But even knowing that, I couldn't leave now. If for no other reason than Namgung Bi-ah.
“Senior.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you here, doing all this?”
There was still so much I hadn't heard.
“...”
The White Ripple Sword, the Monster of Wudang… not to mention Namgung Bi-ah and even Woo Hyuk. I didn’t know how deeply they were involved, but none of them needed to be caught up in this disaster. If the Blood Disaster had broken out, they could have just fled. So why the hell were they here?
“...”
Again. Just like before, the White Ripple Sword didn’t answer. Irritation began to rise. I was about to snap at her when she finally spoke.
“I owe her a debt of gratitude.”
“A debt?”
“It’s a debt from a long, long time ago. I still haven’t been able to repay it all. That’s why I'm here.”
“...”
If it was a personal debt to the Palace Lord, I had nothing to say. But…
‘What does that have to do with Namgung Bi-ah?’
It wasn't a reason for that girl to be involved. I wanted to press the White Ripple Sword on this, but I held back. It might not be her fault, and besides, if Namgung Bi-ah had gotten involved, she must have had her own reasons.
I endured the frustration. Now was the time to grasp the full scope of the situation. I walked on, suppressing my exhaustion. Soon, we arrived before a massive gate. How could such a gargantuan gate exist deep inside a cave?
As I stared at the gate, filled with questions…
Srrk.
A figure standing guard before the gate moved toward us.
“Aeryeong.”
“Hello.”
The White Ripple Sword greeted the man.
‘Aeryeong?’
Was that her real name?
‘Why does everyone here have such strange names?’
White Fox, Red Wolf… every title was bizarre. It must be a cultural quirk of the North.
“Is the Palace Lord awake?” the White Ripple Sword asked.
“Yes.”
The man nodded. Looking at him, I swallowed a small gasp of surprise.
‘He’s strong.’
At the very least, he was in the Fusion Realm. The fact that I couldn’t get a clear read on him told me his level was nothing to scoff at. As I stared, his gaze turned toward me. He was a man with a stern impression, his neat beard catching the light.
“I see.”
“Hm?”
“So you are the famous Red Feather?”
It had been a while since I’d heard that damn nickname.
“...”
“You’re somewhat different from the rumors.”
He even seemed slightly disappointed. What the hell? Just what kind of rumors were spreading for everyone to know that embarrassing name? I wanted to grab him and demand an explanation, but…
“I am Muk Cheongeun, the Black Lion, General of the Palace.”
The man grabbed the doorknob, cutting off any chance for questions.
“By order of the Palace Lord, I grant you entry.”
Krrrrgggk—!
The heavy iron gate began to slowly swing open.
Fwoooosh—!
“…!”
An immense wave of cold air blasted out from the opening. It was incomparable to the chill I had felt when I first arrived in the North.
‘What is this?’
It was biting. It was so cold that I felt like I would freeze just by sensing the energy.
Woooong—!
My own internal energy reacted instinctively. As if in defiance of the intense cold, heat enveloped my body. I peered inside the gate, my mind racing.
‘The Palace Lord is in there?’
Was she trying to freeze herself to death? How could a person possibly survive in a place like this? As I hesitated, a voice echoed.
[Enter.]
“…!”
The voice pierced directly into my mind. It came from beyond the gate. Someone was definitely there. I stepped forward as if possessed.
“Hey, wait a moment…!”
The White Ripple Sword started to say something, but I was already inside. I didn’t know why, but it felt as if my feet were moving on command.
Fwaaah—!
The cold air brushed against my cheek. Even with my barrier of heat, it was freezing. The moment I stepped fully into the room…
Thud—!
The gate slammed shut, sealing the room completely.
“This place is…”
My eyes widened as I scanned the surroundings. The spacious interior of the cave was frozen solid. The swirling cold air was as sharp as a blade. It was palpable—a presence so sharp it felt like it could cut me. I almost let out a dry laugh.
‘Why is it so harsh?’
I was in the Fusion Realm, and I had mastered flame arts, yet this level of cold was difficult to endure. What in the world was this place?
[I bid you welcome.]
I heard the same voice as before. I instinctively turned toward the source. And then…
“…!”
My eyes widened in shock.
[First, I must offer my apologies.]
I couldn’t help it.
[To think I would meet a valued guest in such a shabby state, instead of seeking you out myself.]
In the center of the room, someone was sitting. The reason I hadn’t noticed them until now was…
‘…What is that?’
The state of the seated person was identical to the surrounding cave. With pure white hair, half of their body was indistinguishable from ice. Only then did I realize. The cold filling this cave wasn't natural.
‘All of this…’
The cold wasn’t coming from the cave; it was radiating from that person. An immense amount of frigid energy was filling the entire space. And on top of that…
‘Something’s wrong.’
The cold filling the room and the strange presence I felt from that person were deeply unsettling. It didn't take long to realize what it was. This discomfort—it was similar to the subtle unease I had felt ever since I first arrived in the North. That suffocating sensation that made me feel irritated even while standing still. I could feel it emanating from her.
As I frowned at the sensation…
[By all rights, I had intended to speak with you from outside the gate.]
The person continued.
[But upon seeing you, an unbearable curiosity arose, and I have committed this rudeness.]
Woooong—!
The feeling was getting stronger. The longer I looked at her, the more a distinct emotion boiled within me. Hostility. I was feeling pure hostility toward this person. Why was this happening?
Thump-thump—!
I placed a hand on my wildly beating chest, trying to calm myself.
[Therefore, before we speak, I must ask you something first.]
The person slowly raised her head and looked at me.
“Heh.”
The moment our eyes met, I felt my body freeze.
[You.]
The person had scales on her cheeks. From beneath her skin, tiny shards of ice were flaking off. Her pupils were vertically slit, resembling the eyes of a reptile.
Yes… this was just like…
[What is your relationship with the Supreme of the Central Plains?]
It was a sight nearly identical to when the Dark King had revealed his curse before me.