Chapter 276: Sometimes, Think Simply.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 276: Sometimes, Think Simply.
"Did something happen during the night?"
Neung So-hwa asked, looking at Sun-woo with a puzzled expression.
"Why?"
"You feel different."
"Different?"
"Yes. Until yesterday, you felt like a sword forged from scrap iron, but today, you’ve changed into a blade made of high-quality steel."
"..............."
Sun-woo remained silent at her biting remark.
He was someone who had reached the Mid-Transcendent Realm; how could her metaphors be so harsh?
Scrap iron!?
"Thanks. For calling me high-quality steel, at least."
"I am being serious. Did you break through a wall?" she asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"I had an epiphany," Sun-woo replied briefly.
"Congratulations! Now you won't get beaten up wherever you go!"
Hearing his confirmation, Neung So-hwa gave him a bright, congratulatory smile.
Sun-woo, however, wore a complicated expression. He began to wonder if his own standards were the ones that were skewed. Since when did the benchmark for 'not getting beaten up' become the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm?
She doesn't mean any harm, right? Surely.
Though a flicker of annoyance rose within him, Sun-woo knew well that Neung So-hwa lacked any malice. She was undoubtedly saying this out of genuine happiness for him.
"To be honest, even as of yesterday, I was worried you were so weak you’d get thrashed. But at your current level, it seems you won't die in some roadside ditch!"
Neung So-hwa spoke with a pure, innocent smile, looking truly delighted.
"Neung So-hwa."
Sun-woo looked at her and called her name.
"What is it?"
She tilted her head, looking at him inquisitively.
"You’re really obnoxious."
"Wh... What!?"
Neung So-hwa asked back, looking utterly shocked. Had she not just praised him? And yet, he called her obnoxious? What on earth did that mean all of a sudden?
"How can you say I am obnoxious!?"
"No, I take it back," Sun-woo added.
"Right? There is no way I could be obnoxious," Neung So-hwa said, looking relieved.
"You’re completely insufferable."
But she couldn't help but be shocked again by his follow-up.
Thump.
Neung So-hwa felt as if something heavy had dropped inside her head. A sense of injustice welled up. She had gone out of her way to praise his advancement in realm, so how could this be happening?
"......Why!"
"The fact that you don't even know why is exactly why you're so insufferable!"
"Tell me! What is the reason!"
Neung So-hwa raised her voice, demanding an explanation. If he didn't tell her the reason, how was she supposed to fix it?
"Think for yourself."
Sun-woo replied indifferently. Even if he explained it, she probably wouldn't understand. How could an unprecedented genius like her ever understand the heart of an ordinary man like him?
"......Uuu.... You are mean."
At Sun-woo’s nonchalant answer, Neung So-hwa looked like she was about to cry. If he didn't tell her what she did wrong, she would just make the same mistake again, wouldn't she? Why was he being so stubborn about the reason?
"You're meaner."
"Hmph! Fine! I shall not speak to you either!"
Hearing Sun-woo’s short retort, Neung So-hwa turned her head away petulantly. Her entire body seemed to radiate how upset she was.
Sun-woo let out a small chuckle at the sight. He felt that her emotional expression had become much richer lately, likely from spending time with Seol-hyang. When he first called her obnoxious, she had looked like she didn't know what to do with herself out of apology, but now she was pouting and turning away.
It was actually quite cute.
"Are you sulking?" Sun-woo asked with a mischievous grin.
"I am not sulking!" she denied, her voice rising.
"You look like you're sulking."
"I am not sulking; my mood has simply plummeted!"
"That’s what sulking is."
"Enough! I cannot communicate with you!"
"Stop being mad."
"Do not talk to me!"
Neung So-hwa stuck her lip out, clearly having taken great offense. That sight made Sun-woo’s heart flutter slightly. He never imagined he would see this side of her. She had always been so stiff, emphasizing etiquette and maintaining a refined, classical aura.
However, after hanging out with Seol-hyang, that archaic stiffness seemed to have vanished significantly. Aside from her slightly unique way of speaking, wasn't this the reaction of a typical woman found anywhere?
Sun-woo smiled faintly. It seemed he wasn't the only one who had changed through this journey.
Just as Sun-woo was about to offer an apology to the pouting Neung So-hwa—
Bang!
The carriage door suddenly swung open, and a familiar figure appeared.
"Hello!"
It was Seol-hyang, a beauty whose mischievous eyes sparkled like starlight.
"Why are you here again!?"
As soon as she appeared, Neung So-hwa, who was already in a foul mood, snapped at her.
"I came to ride with you."
Despite the harsh reaction, Seol-hyang sat down with a sly smile.
"Do you have no friends in Emei? Why do you keep hopping into this carriage?"
"Because this carriage is more fun," Seol-hyang replied with a bright beam.
"I am not fun!"
"I find being with Lady Neung fun."
"..........."
Neung So-hwa was momentarily speechless at Seol-hyang’s unexpected answer. This wasn't the reaction she had anticipated. How was she supposed to respond when the girl said something like that?
Suddenly, Neung So-hwa felt a wave of guilt. She wondered if she had been too harsh when the other woman thought so highly of her.
"I... I also... actually find it fun—"
Neung So-hwa began to speak slowly, looking at Seol-hyang.
"—because teasing you is just so much fun."
Seol-hyang cut her off and finished her sentence. Her words made Neung So-hwa’s fine eyebrows knit together.
"I am not your plaything!"
"You weren't!?"
Seol-hyang asked back with exaggerated surprise. It was an act clearly intended to tease.
"Stop treating me like a fool!"
"A fool? There’s no way I’d think of Lady Neung like that."
"Then why are your words and actions so completely different!?"
"Isn't life all about things not going the way you thought they would?"
"That is sophistry! You are simply choosing not to act on your thoughts!"
"Hehe, you caught me."
As soon as she boarded the carriage, Seol-hyang began her war of words with Neung So-hwa once again.
Sun-woo watched their bickering quietly and shook his head from side to side. It seemed a quiet journey was out of the question. Soon, the interior of the carriage was filled with the sound of their raised voices.
*
Rumble, rumble.
The sound of the carriage swaying reached his ears.
Neigh!
Then came the sound of a horse’s cry.
"So, Lady Neung..."
"No, I did nothing wrong!"
And then, the bickering between Seol-hyang and Neung So-hwa followed.
Sun-woo slowly opened his eyes. Looking ahead, he saw the two of them still arguing. He wore an exhausted expression. Judging by the darkness inside the carriage, a significant amount of time had passed since he fell asleep, yet they had been fighting the entire time.
Sun-woo thought to himself: They might be fighting, but maybe they’re actually enjoying it more than anyone else. How else could they keep up an argument all day long?
Waking up fully, Sun-woo looked around. Beside him, he saw Guard Ma with hollow, sunken eyes. It seemed he hadn't been able to sleep either since Neung So-hwa was awake. Sun-woo felt a pang of pity. Not being able to sleep meant he had to listen to their conversation all day. It was impossible not to feel sorry for him.
Streeeetch.
Sun-woo stretched his limbs to fully wake himself up.
Thud!
Suddenly, the carriage jolted, and his extended arm hit the ceiling.
"What happened?" Sun-woo asked the coachman, startled.
"It seems we have arrived."
"Arrived? You mean..."
"At the North Sea Ice Palace."
A thick smile spread across Sun-woo’s lips. Finally, they had reached the long-awaited North Sea Ice Palace.
He wasn't the only one. Neung So-hwa and Seol-hyang’s eyes sparkled, and Guard Ma wore a look of profound relief. They had finally arrived at the distant North Sea Ice Palace.
"Wow, Brother! We’re finally here!" Seol-hyang cried out in excitement.
"We have finally arrived. It was a grueling journey," Neung So-hwa added.
Though no one had voiced it, the journey to the North Sea had clearly been taxing. Everyone’s face was bright with anticipation.
"But why have we stopped here?" Chief Ma asked with a puzzled look.
"Huh?"
Hearing his words, Sun-woo realized something was off. Come to think of it, if the North Sea Ice Palace was in sight, the coachman should have just given them a heads-up; why stop the carriage entirely?
"Why did we stop?" Sun-woo asked the coachman.
"That... it seems they aren't opening the walls."
"The walls!?"
Sun-woo looked bewildered. It seemed the process of entering wouldn't be smooth.
*
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Sun-woo slowly made his way to the front of the caravan, trudging through the deep, sinking snow.
After walking for a while, he saw the lead carriage of the search party. A large group, including Un-jeok-ja and Bulheo Satae, had already gathered and were deep in discussion.
"Oh, welcome, Hero Jang."
"You're here, Hero Jang."
As Sun-woo appeared, the gathered martial artists greeted him one by one. Sun-woo bowed his head slightly in return and then looked forward.
Before him, a wall of staggering proportions revealed itself.
"Ha..."
Seeing the sight, Sun-woo let out a hollow laugh despite himself. He had expected there to be walls, but he never imagined they would be this massive. The walls of the North Sea Ice Palace were on a scale incomparable to any he had seen before.
They were colossal—larger than those of the Heavenly Moon Palace, and even more imposing than the walls surrounding the Tang Clan’s Godok Hall. Sun-woo felt a sense of awe. How could such a massive structure be built in this freezing North Sea? It felt like witnessing a marvel of human engineering.
"What is the situation?" Sun-woo asked, still staring blankly at the walls.
"The Ice Palace side is refusing to open the gates," Cheongsong replied from beside him.
"What’s their reason?"
"They say an internal issue has arisen, and they aren't accepting outsiders for the time being."
"Could they be asking for a bribe?"
"It doesn't seem so. We offered extra, but they adamantly refused. They said they wouldn't open the gates no matter how much we paid."
"Hmm."
Sun-woo fell into thought. The North Sea Ice Palace was located in the center of the vast North Sea, serving as a vital hub for transportation. The roads were so well-maintained that any merchant involved in trade had to pass through at least once, and it was famous as a resort because it was the most affluent place in the North Sea.
Furthermore, it was a free city where anyone was allowed entry as long as they paid, leading to a bustling population of tourists, merchants, and even criminals. He never imagined the North Sea Ice Palace would refuse entry.
"Is there no way to persuade them?"
"It seems unlikely. When we tried to continue the persuasion, they simply stopped listening."
"Hmm."
Sun-woo grew worried. If they were refusing so adamantly, persuasion would indeed be difficult. However, he couldn't just give up on entering. The disciples had disappeared near the North Sea Ice Palace. They had to use the Palace as a base to continue the search.
If they tried to search while camping out in this weather, their bodies wouldn't hold up. Moreover, their food supplies were running low, so they couldn't just turn back.
"What should we do?" Cheongsong asked, looking at Sun-woo.
"Please give us an order," Bulheo Satae requested.
"I will follow whatever command you give," Un-jeok-ja added, looking at Sun-woo with eyes full of trust.
Sun-woo felt a headache coming on. Forcing their way through the gates would cause problems of its own. At worst, it could be seen as a declaration of war against the North Sea Ice Palace.
Sun-woo lowered his head, agonizing over the best way to gain entry.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps sinking into the snow reached his ears. Sun-woo slowly raised his head and looked forward.
There, he saw the back of a man walking forward, his feet sinking deep into the snow with every step. He was a man with a broad back and hair tied back haphazardly.
It was the Sword Man.
"Senior, where are you going!?" Sun-woo shouted, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Hahahaha! You, my friend, think too much."
In response to Sun-woo’s question, the Sword Man let out a boisterous laugh.
"Sometimes, think simply."
Having said that, he quickened his pace. Soon, he reached the front of the North Sea Ice Palace’s gates.
Standing before the gates, the Sword Man wore a thick, knowing smile.