Chapter 338
Chapter 338
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 338
Chapter Title: A Calculated Injury
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In truth, Bing Han-pung's authority as the Palace Lord had been tenuous at best.
The assassination attempt on Han Ja-uk had caused Han U-sang, who should have pledged his loyalty, to turn his back on him. The other families, as if waiting for this moment, also refused to acknowledge the Palace Lord's authority.
In this situation, Bing Han-pung entrusted most of the palace's affairs to Baek Jin-yu, the head of the Baek Family, who had broad connections with all five families.
However, when Bu Eun-seol revealed that the assassination attempt on Han Ja-uk, the young master of the Han Family, was not the Palace Lord's doing, the situation changed completely.
"It seems the Palace Lord knew everything but didn't even offer an excuse for the sake of the Han Family Head."
Bing Han-pung had silently endured misunderstanding and criticism out of loyalty to his friend and a sense of responsibility as the Palace Lord.
His magnanimity and loyalty had earned him the admiration and respect of all the disciples.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the one who attacked Han Ja-uk was a high-ranking figure within the North Sea Ice Palace.
It was even said that this person had mastered an internal energy technique that didn't exist in the North Sea Ice Palace.
"Surprisingly, they said it was a power that could use both yin and yang energy."
"And they say there's a high chance it's someone from the leadership, right? Since they could predict the secrets of the Frigid Ice Five Thunder Palm."
Normally, when such facts came to light, wild speculation about the culprit should have run rampant.
But the disciples of the North Sea Ice Palace, faced with this shocking truth, were preoccupied with another thought.
"Haven't we been too reclusive all this time?"
The North Sea Ice Palace possessed numerous martial arts texts and exceptional masters.
However, they had only focused on mastering the secret manuals passed down through generations.
As a result, the divine arts within the Ice Palace had not developed significantly, remaining stagnant.
But when they heard that the traitor within the North Sea Ice Palace had used a Frigid Ice Five Thunder Palm created from yin-yang energy, they were greatly shocked.
"I hear the clans in the Central Plains frequently interact and study martial arts together. Shouldn't we do the same?"
"Speaking of which, the Lord from the Demonic Sanctum proposed a truce and also suggested an exchange of martial arts."
Public opinion in the North Sea Ice Palace, which had long maintained its isolationist stance, was beginning to change.
This was something that could not be achieved through martial arts or force.
Bu Eun-seol had not only solved the assassination case in one fell swoop but had also changed the perspective of the reclusive martial artists of the North Sea Ice Palace.
East Ice Pavilion, meeting room.
There, Yu Un-ryong and So Ok-rim were engaged in a serious conversation.
With public opinion in the North Sea Ice Palace having turned favorable toward the truce.
All that remained was to coordinate with the descendant of the Eight Desolations Three Sages and find the traitor who had divided the palace.
*Rumble, rumble.*
Just then, a commotion and the sound of numerous footsteps came from outside.
*Clank.*
Suddenly, the door burst open, and heavily armed warriors of the North Sea Ice Palace stormed in.
They were the master and warriors of the Hall of Justice.
"What is the meaning of this?"
As Yu Un-ryong shouted, the Hall of Justice Master standing at the forefront glared and said.
"The Palace Lord has been attacked."
"What?"
Yu Un-ryong shot up from his seat.
Everything was proceeding smoothly. How could the Palace Lord suddenly be attacked?
"Then why have you come storming in here?"
The Hall of Justice Master replied to Yu Un-ryong.
"Because the martial art used by the assailant is not one of our palace's."
For a moment, Yu Un-ryong's body flinched.
*Damn. I didn't think of this.*
On second thought, it was a natural progression.
The culprit wouldn't just sit back and watch the five families unite.
The traitor lurking in the shadows had used the fact that Bu Eun-seol's group were outsiders to create an inescapable trap.
"We came here as the Palace Lord's guests. Why would we harm him?"
"We need to investigate, so come with us."
Yu Un-ryong looked at So Ok-rim.
What if they had set a trap from which there was no escape?
They must have created a foolproof trap during the investigation process.
In the worst-case scenario, Bu Eun-seol might be fine, but the other two might not be able to get out.
*I must deal with them at once and secure an escape route.*
Yu Un-ryong gathered his internal energy and gripped the ten-section staff hidden inside his sleeve.
But just then, So Ok-rim nodded nonchalantly.
"Let's go."
"Go? Where?"
"We didn't do it, did we?"
So Ok-rim's expression was so calm that it even soothed the flustered Yu Un-ryong's heart.
*If she doesn't cooperate, I can't escape alone.*
Having missed his chance to flee, Yu Un-ryong sighed and slowly loosened his grip on the ten-section staff.
The place the Hall of Justice Master led them to was a prison deep underground, used for interrogating criminals.
*Don't tell me they plan to torture us.*
Yu Un-ryong's eyes widened.
Underground prisons were generally places for torture, as the sound wouldn't carry outside.
But So Ok-rim's demeanor was as carefree as if she were out for a stroll.
*She can't be completely thoughtless, can she?*
Yu Un-ryong shook his head.
So Ok-rim might act simple and aggressive on the surface, but she was likely quite intelligent in reality.
Because one needed a sharp mind to master advanced martial arts.
A woman who had mastered martial arts to the level of single-handedly crushing Won Se-mun must surely possess great intellect as well.
*Kooong.*
Just then, the Hall of Justice Master, who had opened the large iron door, spoke to Yu Un-ryong.
"Place your weapons on that table and enter."
"Hmph."
Yu Un-ryong had no choice but to place his ten-section staff on the iron table.
"I don't have any weapons."
As she held out her large hands, the Hall of Justice Master pointed to the cell with a look of resignation.
"Get in."
"Together?"
Yu Un-ryong said with a bewildered expression.
"Men and women should be separate. You're going to lock us in the same cell?"
The Hall of Justice Master scowled.
"This is the only prison cell in the palace."
"Even so..."
"This is just a temporary detention before the investigation. Endure it."
Then he looked at So Ok-rim and spoke again.
"Nothing has been proven yet, so we won't suppress your internal energy. Now get in quietly."
"Hmph."
So Ok-rim snorted and strode into the cell.
Seeing this, Yu Un-ryong had no choice but to follow her inside.
*Clang.*
As the iron door slammed shut, So Ok-rim flopped down as if the prison cell were her own bedroom.
*Strange.*
Yu Un-ryong stroked his chin.
If they were truly detaining them, they should have not only confiscated their weapons but also sealed their Sea of Qi acupoints to prevent them from using their internal energy.
Furthermore, it was standard procedure for the warden to personally search them thoroughly for any hidden weapons or projectiles.
But for the North Sea Ice Palace, not some local martial arts hall, to detain someone so carelessly?
*I see.*
A smile crept onto Yu Un-ryong's lips.
He finally understood why they had brought him here instead of Myo Cheon-u.
*If it had been Myo Cheon-u or one of the other Division Heads, they would have immediately used force to escape.*
Being imprisoned without reason would have made them fly into a rage.
Yu Un-ryong was the only one who would see through this lax security and remain calm.
*They must want me to control her.*
If So Ok-rim lost her temper and went on a rampage, the entire plan would be ruined.
Having finished his thoughts, Yu Un-ryong looked at the reclining So Ok-rim with an exceptionally gentle gaze.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Ah, no. I was just wondering if you were uncomfortable."
Knowing her foul temper, Yu Un-ryong asked softly.
He worried she might pretend to be asleep while planning to smash the cell and escape.
"It's a prison cell. Of course it's uncomfortable."
Seeing So Ok-rim's relaxed attitude, Yu Un-ryong tilted his head.
*She's mastered advanced martial arts, so she can't be stupid. Does she have some other plan in mind?*
Clearing his throat, Yu Un-ryong discreetly tried to sound her out.
"Do you happen to have a plan?"
"A plan?"
"I mean, any countermeasures or plans for what's to come."
"Nope."
"So you just let them capture you obediently?"
As Yu Un-ryong's eyes went wide, So Ok-rim scratched her cheek and said.
"I'm innocent, so they'll let me go soon enough."
Yu Un-ryong's jaw dropped.
It seemed So Ok-rim wasn't smart after all; she must have mastered her martial arts through sheer brute force.
*Snore.*
She must have been tired, as she soon began to snore.
Looking closely, she seemed to be in a deep sleep, her face completely slack.
As So Ok-rim slept peacefully without throwing a fit, Yu Un-ryong let out a sigh of relief.
*I'll have to coax her carefully so she doesn't have an outburst from now on.*
The meticulously laid plan was now approaching its final stages.
Shaking his head, he sat cross-legged and entered a deep meditation, contemplating the events to come.
***
Inside the Glacial Stream Hall.
*Slosh, slosh.*
The pond of Frigid Spirit Water inside the ice cave was constantly churning.
As Bu Eun-seol stored cold energy in his dantian for four days using the Glacial Stream Art, the Frigid Spirit Water rippled ceaselessly in response to his energy circulation.
*Ughhh.*
The cold energy stored in his dantian was like a ferocious evil dragon, repeatedly surging up the Du Mai meridian to the Baihui acupoint before descending again.
If he couldn't stabilize the cold energy, his meridians would eventually freeze or tear apart.
*Is it not working?*
A thin layer of ice began to form around Bu Eun-seol's dantian.
His blood vessels were freezing because he couldn't control the cold energy.
*I won't give up.*
*Throb, throb, throb.*
Thick veins popped out on Bu Eun-seol's forehead.
He felt a pain like every vein in his body was being ripped apart, but Bu Eun-seol did not give up and continued to circulate the Glacial Stream Art.
"Reverse Polarity True Energy contains all the power of nature. Mother Nature is like the four seasons—constantly changing, circulating, and infinite."
Suddenly, the words of the Blood Diamond who had taught him the Reverse Polarity Divine Art flashed through his mind.
"Spring gives birth, summer nurtures, autumn harvests, and winter rests to bring forth life anew. Reverse Polarity True Energy also creates all things and transforms them into ki."
*Seasons... Circulation.*
Bu Eun-seol had been trying only to store cold energy in his dantian using the Glacial Stream Art.
But the fundamental technique stored in his body was the Reverse Polarity Divine Art, which embraced all the energies of nature.
He just needed to accept the cold energy into his body as naturally as the seasons circulate.
*The Glacial Stream Art is also just a part of the Reverse Polarity Divine Art.*
*Crack.*
As he gained enlightenment, a cracking sound came from within his body.
Simultaneously, the powerful Frigid Ice True Energy drained from Bu Eun-seol's dantian and pooled in the Du Mai meridian along his spine.
Then, it naturally passed the Yuzhen Pass and flowed down the Ren Mai meridian on his front like a waterfall.
*Hissssss.*
In the meantime, the churning water in the pond gradually cooled, becoming ordinary water devoid of any cold energy and slowly starting to evaporate.
All the cold energy of the Frigid Spirit Water had been stored in Bu Eun-seol's dantian.
*Woong, woong, woong!*
A white aura flowed from Bu Eun-seol's entire body, and his hair began to turn the color of white snowflakes.
The Glacial Great Emperor.
Bu Eun-seol had transformed, looking as if the founding ancestor of the North Sea Ice Palace, the Glacial Great Emperor, had descended once more.
"Hoo."
Finally finishing his energy circulation, Bu Eun-seol opened his eyes.
A color bluer than the sea lingered for a moment, then his hair, which had turned white as snow from the cold energy, returned to its original color.
At the same time, a blue light appeared in his left hand.
"Did it work?"
Looking down at his left hand, Bu Eun-seol used the Glacial Stream Art to blast Frigid Ice True Energy at the pond.
*Crack, crackle.*
In an instant, the entire pond froze solid. It was frozen so hard that its surface had turned a deep blue.
"It worked."
Bu Eun-seol looked down at his left hand with a satisfied expression.
Having mastered the Reverse Polarity Divine Art, Bu Eun-seol could already freely unleash both yin and yang energy.
But after mastering the Glacial Stream Art, he could now emit not just simple Yin-Cold energy, but an Extreme Yin energy capable of freezing the seas.
"H-how did this happen?"
Bing Han-pung, who had just entered the ice cave, stood with his mouth agape.
After four days, he had come to check on Bu Eun-seol's training.
If Bu Eun-seol couldn't properly master the ice art, he had intended to share a bit of his own Frigid Ice True Energy.
But now, a cold energy equivalent to dozens of Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystals emanated from Bu Eun-seol's entire body.
And the Frigid Spirit Water, a treasure of the North Sea Ice Palace, had completely dried up?
"My apologies."
Bu Eun-seol pointed to the pond with an embarrassed expression.
"It seems that after I absorbed the Extreme Yin energy from there, it turned into ordinary water."
"You absorbed... all the Extreme Yin energy from the pond made of Frigid Spirit Water?"
Bing Han-pung's jaw dropped.
If he hadn't seen the Frigid Spirit Water turned into solid ice, he would have thought Bu Eun-seol was bluffing.
*If that's true, it's like absorbing an Extreme Yin energy dozens of times more powerful than a Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal.*
In that short time, Bu Eun-seol had dried himself off in an instant and gotten dressed.
"Has it already been four days?"
"It has."
Bing Han-pung, finally coming to his senses, said.
"I have detained your companions as you asked. However, I don't think I can refuse the family heads' requests to visit me any longer."
"Of course."
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol's eyes flashed.
*Woong.*
As he gathered his internal energy, a faint light shimmered on his right hand.
Looking down at his right fist, Bu Eun-seol spoke with an utmost serious expression.
"Palace Lord, are you prepared?"
"Of course."
"Understood."
*Kwarreung!*
In that instant, with a sound like thunder, Bu Eun-seol's fist cut through the air and ruthlessly slammed into Bing Han-pung's body without hesitation.
***
*Rumble...*
The tightly shut prison door opened.
Inside, Yu Un-ryong was circulating his energy, while So Ok-rim, just waking up, was yawning.
"You may come out."
At the Hall of Justice Master's words, Yu Un-ryong's eyes snapped open.
They had been locked in the cell, but not once had they been interrogated.
Furthermore, they were served good food and wine at every meal, and the Hall of Justice Master had visited several times to ask if they needed anything.
The surprising part was So Ok-rim.
Not once did she have an outburst; instead, she had slept like a sick puppy for three days straight.
*He must have told her.*
Yu Un-ryong smiled wryly.
There was no way someone with So Ok-rim's personality would remain quietly locked in a cell for three days. Bu Eun-seol must have given her a heads-up.
*Wait a minute. Then why didn't he tell me?*
A strange thought occurred to Yu Un-ryong.
If all of this was planned by Bu Eun-seol in advance, why wouldn't he have told him?
*This must have been an impromptu plan.*
Yu Un-ryong glanced down at the still-sleeping So Ok-rim.
*Could it be that he thought she, like me, would figure out the whole situation?*
But that couldn't be right; So Ok-rim had done nothing but sleep without a care in the world.
No matter how much she trusted him, shouldn't she at least have been circulating her energy like him, preparing for any unexpected situations?
"You may come out."
When the Hall of Justice Master called out again,
"Ughh."
So Ok-rim stretched and got up with drowsy eyes.
"Please follow me."
But instead of leading them back the way they came, the Hall of Justice Master repeatedly pressed his hand against a wall at the very back of the underground prison.
*Grrrnd.*
With a mechanical sound, a hidden secret passage was revealed.
*What's this now?*
Yu Un-ryong's eyes widened, but So Ok-rim nonchalantly stepped right inside.
After walking through a long, winding path, they finally arrived at none other than the pavilion where Bing Han-pung was staying.
"Well then."
The Hall of Justice Master clasped his hands in a bow toward Yu Un-ryong and So Ok-rim, then turned and left.
"What? What in the world is going on?"
Entering, they found themselves in a secret room where Bu Eun-seol was sitting perfectly fine.
"What have you been doing for the past four days?"
To Yu Un-ryong's question, Bu Eun-seol answered calmly.
"I just made the first move."
"Huh?"
"If we truly manage to unite the five families, it would be troublesome for them. They would most likely resort to a trick like this."
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
"I made a prior arrangement with the Palace Lord to pretend to interrogate everyone under the pretext of searching for the culprit."
"Then you should have told me beforehand."
When Yu Un-ryong made an aggrieved face, Bu Eun-seol said.
"There were circumstances. I didn't know it would take this long... I only just got out myself after four days."
Bu Eun-seol explained that he had been secretly learning the ice art from Bing Han-pung.
"I see. But why did you only keep it a secret from me?"
Yu Un-ryong discreetly pointed at So Ok-rim and whispered.
"You told her."
"I didn't."
"Huh? What?"
"I never told her."
"That can't be."
As Yu Un-ryong's eyes widened, So Ok-rim, sharp as a knife, caught on and snorted.
"What, did you think I was a complete idiot?"
"That wasn't it."
"What do you mean, 'that wasn't it'? It's obvious just by looking."
*So she was deliberately pretending to be aggressive.*
Yu Un-ryong had felt a sense of dissonance in So Ok-rim's attitude all along.
Yu Un-ryong had been able to wait patiently because he knew being locked in the cell was part of Bu Eun-seol's plan and trusted him completely.
But for her, known to be simple-minded and aggressive, to see through Bu Eun-seol's plan and wait so leisurely?
*So she was also putting on an act.*
If Bu Eun-seol hid his brilliant mind behind a cold demeanor on Hell Island, So Ok-rim was hiding her intellect behind simple and aggressive behavior.
*I need to get better at reading people.*
Yu Un-ryong sighed inwardly and said.
"But will those guys fall for such a shallow trick?"
Just then, So Ok-rim frowned and said.
"What if he's not really hurt? Forget the five families who are watching with wide eyes, there's no way the descendant of the Eight Desolations Three Sages who infiltrated the Ice Palace will be fooled."
"I attacked him for real."
"What?"
Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
"And that traitor bastard will want to confirm it himself. To see if the Palace Lord is really injured."
"Will only the traitor come?"
So Ok-rim frowned.
"The Palace Lord is injured, so obviously they'll all come at once, won't they?"
Bu Eun-seol smiled at her sharp point.
"That's why we're here."
He then pointed to the wall of the secret room.
"On the other side of this is where the Palace Lord is recuperating. We need to watch their conversations and attitudes to find out which one of them is the traitor."
"You can tell from their conversation and attitude? How?"
"I'll handle that part."
Even So Ok-rim looked blank at Bu Eun-seol's explanation.
Although she herself possessed a sharp mind, she couldn't fathom what plan Bu Eun-seol had, or what he was thinking.
"But forget us, why is the Palace Lord going this far?"
Yu Un-ryong asked, unable to understand.
For a figure like the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace to concoct a plan that involved harming his own body?
There must have been plenty of other ways.
"Because this method is faster than any other plan."
"Faster..."
"If the five families of the North Sea Ice Palace had joined forces, the current state of the martial world would have been vastly different."
Bu Eun-seol's gaze deepened.
"The Palace Lord wants to unite the North Sea Ice Palace as quickly as possible. So that it can reclaim its past glory."
Bing Han-pung needed to mend the rift between the five families as soon as possible. Only then could the North Sea Ice Palace quickly regain its stability.
That was why he willingly risked injury to participate in this plan.
Furthermore, it was based on his underlying trust in the man named Bu Eun-seol.
And now, Bu Eun-seol had to live up to that trust.
Just by listening to the conversations between the Palace Lord and the family heads from this secret room...
He had to identify the culprit who had divided the North Sea Ice Palace.