Chapter 166
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 166.
Before his eyes stretched an endless snowy plain.
The harsh blizzard made it difficult to even secure a clear line of sight in this treacherous terrain.
Yet, this situation felt oddly familiar.
‘This feels like Seoraksan Mountain.’
Well, there were differences from Seoraksan.
For one, this wasn’t a mountain but a sea.
The ground beneath Yoo Baek-jun’s feet wasn’t soil but ice formed from frozen seawater.
‘The North Sea… a place as deadly as it gets.’
This place was called the North Sea.
A region far north of the Central Plains.
It was a sea dotted with countless islands, known for its extreme cold that kept it frozen year-round.
Because the seawater was completely frozen, one could travel between islands on foot without a boat, making it effectively no different from a vast continent.
Whoooosh!
“Ugh, this brat. Working too hard, aren’t you?”
Yoo Baek-jun grimaced as the blizzard whipped against his face.
Even with his trait as the Master of the Extreme Cold, he could feel the biting chill.
This blizzard was the work of Seol-yeong.
He had ordered it to create a blizzard to hinder their pursuers.
—This way?
—No, the presence is over there… Ugh! The blizzard!
Thanks to this, the pursuers were effectively immobilized.
Ideally, dealing with them here would be best, but that was too risky.
Not for him, but for the woman.
Every moment spent fighting the pursuers increased the likelihood of her death.
“Still, my condition keeps improving.”
The Master of the Extreme Cold trait activated his body more the colder it got.
So, despite the cold, Yoo Baek-jun’s physical condition was nearly at its peak.
“Hah, this should be enough.”
Yoo Baek-jun passed through the endless snowy plain and arrived at a densely wooded area.
Likely one of the North Sea’s islands.
He carefully surveyed the geography to find the least conspicuous spot.
“Now, let’s set up here…”
He unfolded the tent he had brought with him.
Normally miniature-sized, it transformed into a large tent when infused with magical energy.
Yoo Baek-jun prepared a resting area inside the tent and laid the woman down.
“Ugh, uhh…”
A groan escaped the woman’s lips.
Not bad. Just moments ago, she had been limp, silent as a corpse.
At least now her body had recovered enough to make sounds.
Still, her condition remained poor.
“What a mess.”
Yoo Baek-jun pulled out various medicinal herbs from his pouch and began swiftly combining them.
He knew how to make a potent medicine for those on the brink of death.
Grind, Grind.
The sound of ingredients being crushed.
Yoo Baek-jun fed her the medicine and applied the rest as an ointment to her wounds.
‘The bones… Hmm. They’ll heal on their own.’
He sometimes forgot, but this was the world of Heroes Road—a game where healing potions could mend broken bones naturally.
Yoo Baek-jun simply stabilized her arms and legs to ensure the bones set correctly.
“Tsk tsk, how did someone so noble end up like this? What kind of rebellion was this?”
This was the North Sea.
In this region, the only ‘noble’ people would be the Ice Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace or their family.
‘The North Sea Ice Palace.’
The absolute ruler of the North Sea.
This woman was Seol Hwa-ryeon, one of the Ice Palace’s Young Lords and the daughter of the Ice Palace Lord.
True to her lineage, she had trained in ice-based martial arts since childhood and was exceptionally skilled.
‘The Flower of the North Sea, wasn’t it?’
In the martial world, those renowned for their beauty were often given titles like ‘Martial Beauty‘ or ‘Martial Phoenix.‘
She was a woman so beautiful that similar titles followed her.
With the sharp, cold features typical of the North Sea Ice Palace, she was closer to an ice beauty.
‘And now, even that’s shattered…’
Yoo Baek-jun clicked his tongue.
Now, not a trace of that beauty remained. Her face and body were swollen beyond recognition.
‘From now on, I’ll just need to monitor her condition and keep feeding her medicine. And…’
Her internal energy—magical power—needed replenishing too.
Especially Elemental ice magical power.
People of the North Sea Ice Palace fared worse in heat and better in cold.
Replenishing her Elemental ice energy would greatly aid her recovery.
‘Why am I even doing this?’
He had no choice—there were things he needed from her.
Though not his preference, Yoo Baek-jun devoted himself to nursing Seol Hwa-ryeon for a while.
* * *
Seol Hwa-ryeon wandered in darkness.
A place with no known location or end.
—Kuaaaah!
A scream pierced her ears as she aimlessly drifted. Her eyes turned toward the sound.
—You all, run ahead! I’ve been poisoned by their toxins. I won’t be able to escape.
A man drenched in blood held off enemies while urging others to flee.
Another scream echoed elsewhere.
—They’ve caught up. Running further is…
—…….
The enemies she had seen earlier had caught up and attacked those fleeing.
An elderly woman, after much deliberation, nodded resolutely.
—What they seek is the position of the Ice Palace Lord and the martial arts only the Lord can master.
—Hwa-ryeon is the fastest among us. Hwa-ryeon, take this Eternal Ice Crystal and go.
She handed Seol Hwa-ryeon a crystal emitting a mysterious light.
Ignoring Seol Hwa-ryeon’s protests, she pressed on.
—This sacred relic must never fall into their hands. Protect it at all costs.
—Don’t worry. I’ll deal with these wretches and catch up soon…
—Go now!
Seol Hwa-ryeon was pushed away as if flung.
Then, a scream followed her.
—Aaaah!
“Hahk!”
Seol Hwa-ryeon’s eyes snapped open.
Her vision swayed violently.
She saw nothing, and nausea overwhelmed her.
A terrible headache and pain wracked her entire body. Gritting her teeth, she looked up.
“Where… am i?”
An unfamiliar ceiling greeted her.
Seol Hwa-ryeon raised her head to survey her surroundings.
She was inside an unknown tent.
“…I’m alive?”
She examined her body.
She had fallen from a high cliff.
She remembered the unbearable pain and the sensation of her body breaking.
With no one to help her, she had assumed death was inevitable.
“How…?”
How was she still alive?
She tried to sit up but couldn’t.
Her arms and legs were immobilized.
“Kuh, ugh!”
As she struggled against the restraints—
Rustling sounds came from the tent flap opening. A biting cold swept in.
Along with a man.
“Huh! Who are you?!”
“Oh, you’re awake?”
“Who the hell are you?! Why am I tied up? Are you one of the rebels’ lackeys? You scum… Just kill me already!”
Yoo Baek-jun stared at her in surprise.
She was firing off questions without giving him a chance to answer.
He could have answered calmly, but—
“Is this how you talk to someone who saved your life?”
“Agh!”
Annoyed, Yoo Baek-jun didn’t hesitate to smack her head.
After days of sleepless care, this was the first thing she said to him?
“Y-you hit me… It hurts… Wait! you saved me?”
“Yeah. I found you half-dead after you fell off a cliff, and this is the thanks I get? ‘Scum’?”
“…….”
Seol Hwa-ryeon’s eyes widened.
He saved her?
She studied Yoo Baek-jun.
His attire definitely wasn’t from the North Sea.
And his features—
‘Is he from the Central Plains?’
People of the North Sea had features closer to Westerners than Easterners.
Or more accurately, mixed heritage.
His appearance was rare in the North Sea.
‘The Eternal Ice Crystal… It’s safe.’
If he were a pursuer, he would have taken it already. And he wouldn’t waste time like this.
Thinking calmly, the situation became clear.
“…Did you really save me?”
“Why would I lie? Stop saying nonsense and drink this.”
Yoo Baek-jun handed her medicine.
She eyed it suspiciously.
Exasperated, he forced it into her mouth.
“Ghk! Ughhk!”
“So annoying. Hey, it’s spilling! Do you know how much this costs? Millions per drop! Don’t waste it!”
Seol Hwa-ryeon flailed but eventually swallowed the medicine.
Soon, she felt her condition improving.
“This is…”
The pain throughout her body, the terrible headache and dizziness—all were fading.
Startled, she looked at Yoo Baek-jun. He was organizing herbs he’d gathered outside.
“…….”
Her expression softened with guilt.
“I… I’m sorry. I thought you were one of the pursuers… I disrespected my savior…”
“Forget it. It’s understandable.”
Yoo Baek-jun checked her condition.
“You’ve improved a lot. Earlier, you looked like a lump of flesh.”
“A lump of flesh? What do you mean?”
“Your face and body were so battered you looked like minced meat.”
“Th-that’s…”
What a horrifying description.
Seol Hwa-ryeon shuddered involuntarily.
She had expected severe injuries from falling off such a high cliff without her internal energy.
But to be that badly hurt…
“You… treated me?”
“Yeah, I used a lot of expensive herbs. But you’re not fully healed yet, so don’t push yourself.”
“Th-thank you… Huh? Wait…”
She looked down at herself.
Under her clothes, traces of treated wounds covered her body. This meant a stranger had seen her naked.
“…….”
Embarrassment flared but quickly faded. Now wasn’t the time for such concerns.
Seol Hwa-ryeon bowed her head.
“I sincerely thank you. Without you, I would have died on that cliff.”
“Glad to hear it. So, how did you fall from the cliff?”
“That…”
She gritted her teeth.
“…It was the pursuers.”
“Pursuers? They don’t sound like ordinary people.”
Seol Hwa-ryeon hesitated briefly.
Should she confide in a stranger? Despite her doubts, the words spilled out.
“A rebellion broke out in the North Sea Ice Palace. A man named Bing Cheon-ak led his followers in revolt, and my father, the Ice Palace Lord, was killed.”
“If the Ice Palace Lord was your father, then you…”
“I am one of the Ice Palace’s Young Lords.”
Yoo Baek-jun already knew but nodded as if hearing it for the first time.
“You managed to escape alive.”
“…Many sacrificed themselves for me.”
“Hmm. So, what’s your plan now?”
Seol Hwa-ryeon’s head snapped up.
Her eyes burned coldly.
“Revenge! I will have bloody vengeance on those who killed my father and family.”
“In your current state, that’ll be tough.”
“I know. First, I need allies.”
“Allies? Where?”
“There’s someone who left the North Sea Ice Palace long ago to build their own power. My elder sister… I plan to seek her help.”
Could she trust this sister? Though uneasy, she had no other options.
And it wasn’t necessarily a bad choice.
‘That sister would gladly help Seol Hwa-ryeon.’
Yoo Baek-jun pointed outside the tent.
“Then we’ll need to leave here. Problem is, while you were unconscious, time passed, and the pursuers have formed a perimeter.”
“That…”
Seol Hwa-ryeon fell silent.
Her body wasn’t fully recovered. Breaking through the pursuers’ encirclement wouldn’t be easy.
Knowing this, Yoo Baek-jun made an offer.
“I’ll help you.”
“You? But that’s…”
Wouldn’t she be too indebted?
Before she could say it, Yoo Baek-jun raised a finger.
“If you accept my request.”
“Request? What do you want?”
“I want to learn one of the North Sea Ice Palace’s martial arts.”
“Martial arts? Which one…?”
Yoo Baek-jun spoke slowly.
“The Frozen Soul Palm.”
Seol Hwa-ryeon’s eyes widened.