Chapter 146 Appointment Ceremony (4)
In most murim worlds, beyond the outer walls—outside the realm of the central plains—strange and bizarre factions form their own powers.
In Murim Returner as well, there were the four great outer powers: the North Sea Ice Palace in the frozen north, the Podalrab Palace in the western deserts, the Great Thunderclap Temple in Tianzhu, and finally Dongyeong, commonly referring to the lands of Japan.
The Divine Cult and the East aren't treated as outer regions.
Of course, the reasons differed.
The Divine Cult was something to be exterminated, so it wasn't even acknowledged as a faction. The East, being the hidden realm of immortals, wasn't demeaned by being called "outer."
Anyway.
The North Sea Ice Palace was a staple faction not just in Murim Returner, but in wuxia tales everywhere.
Its fame was immense, yet in Murim Returner, it barely appeared before being utterly destroyed.
That shocking moment was etched vividly in my memory.
Because.
The winter the woman summoned silenced even the north wind's howl. All creation froze solid, time itself halted, and those souls could never reach the other shore.
The woman exhaled a long breath, condemning the ghost of her past—the one who had thrust her into hell's abyss and now stolen her last ray of salvation—to eternal oblivion.
And the executor of that judgment was called—
the Heavenly Demon.
That was Yi Se-ryeong's dramatic debut as the Heavenly Demon in Murim Returner.
Yi Se-ryeong destroys the North Sea Ice Palace.
Single-handedly.
In less than an hour.
No wonder the reader reactions were legendary at her first appearance.
The Heavenly Demon always signified the worst and strongest figure in wuxia, and this episode nailed it perfectly.
People even started saying that lasting an hour against the Heavenly Demon was "one North Sea Ice Palace."
Anyway.
[The Liege... is the rightful heir of the North Sea Ice Palace?]
"Yeah. Yi Se-ryeong, Yi Seong-ryeong. Don't they give off similar vibes?"
[The world is vast, and its people countless.]
"And she's from the North Sea, of all places."
[Does that matter?]
"Did you even listen to Tak Horak earlier? Twenty years ago, there was a rebellion in the North Sea Ice Palace, and the lord changed."
[This One hath no earlobes to hear with.]
"Agh."
['Tis a jest. This One comprehends thy words.]
This was another tired cliché.
The ambitious little brother stabbing the peaceful big brother in the back.
And the sole survivor of that clan, tumbling through life with their nanny, settling in a distant land, growing strong, and finally exacting revenge.
[Yet given the Liege's disposition, it poses no issue, does it?]
"You wouldn't get it."
[And what dost thou know?]
"Obsessive yandere nutjobs always seem like pacifists—until the switch flips."
[Obsessive yan-what? Hah. Enough.]
Nothing shut Pa Cheon's mouth like modern slang.
He couldn't even respond if he wanted to.
I couldn't tell him that in Murim Returner, Mu Jin—possessing Sado Hwan's body—got dragged to the Ice Palace and suffered right up to the brink of death.
Explaining why Mu Jin, who'd been slumming it as a Murim Alliance spy, ended up at the Ice Palace was a long, tragic tale not worth recounting.
But in the original story, right after the North Sea Ice Palace fell, the Nangong family suddenly rose up, declared war on the Divine Cult, and lit the fuse—
Huh?
It hit me: maybe the connection between the Nangong family and the Ice Palace was Namgung Jin and Yi Seong-ryeong.
Oh, the injustice.
One side has a switch-flipping obsessive yandere lurking, ready to pounce at the slightest mistake, while the other gets to frolic happily with their rich kids' romance.
Not that I was certain—it was just a hunch.
Guess I'll have to meet her and confirm.
That narrowed my to-do list.
1. Check the attendees at the young lord and Wind Lord appointment ceremony, see if they match what I know.
2. Figure out Namgung Jin's true motives for pushing the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
3. Catch Muyoung Sintu, who definitely took my bait.
Truth be told, number three was the most urgent.
Capture Muyoung Sintu and down the ten elixir set left by Yakseon.
According to Yakseon—the First Heavenly Demon—the Heavenly Demon Divine Art devours innate essence.
No issues so far, but.
In the original, Mu Jin was always coughing up a lung.
I thought it was just from all the incidents wearing him down, but it might've been essence depletion.
In Murim Returner's world, where one slip meant plummeting off a thousand-ri cliff, health was priority one, safety priority two.
If things go well, I could wrap all three in one go.
[That scheming look again.]
I snorted.
Scheming? Nah.
Possessor's strategy.
The appointment ceremony was even grander than I'd imagined.
Fitting for one of the Five Great Families, the Tang Clan grounds in Sichuan were vast. The Demonic Six Families had their grandeur too, but compared to Sichuan's open lands, they were like huddled villages in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
Anyway, the sprawling Tang grounds felt like a bustling marketplace.
Even the inner hall for VIPs only was abuzz.
Word was about three thousand guests had arrived, plus retainers and supplies. Continental scale, indeed.
"It's because in Tang Clan history, there's only ever been one Wind Lord."
Dang Si Hyeok said, face tense with nerves.
"Other families might be used to it, but honestly, we're pretty insular, right? Bringing in an outsider is rare."
"True enough."
"Oh, and that Wind Lord? He created the young lord tournament. Though he didn't have a ceremony like this—just enshrined his plaque."
A chill ran down my spine.
This had to be fate.
First Heavenly Demon = Yakseon = Gong Jeong-ja.
I'd mastered half the Heavenly Demon Divine Art in this body.
I claimed Yakseon's legacy and had a moderner's mindset.
In a way, wasn't I the true heir to the First Heavenly Demon?
"Phew, aren't you nervous at all, brother?"
"Of course I am."
"Doesn't show. You look like you're enjoying it."
I grinned and clapped his shoulder.
"Just think about drinks after."
"You drink too, brother?"
Dang Si Hyeok's eyes widened. Fair—he'd only seen me teetotaling when we met.
Still didn't touch the stuff much. Soju wasn't my constitution.
"Bet you'd pass out first."
"Heh, challenging a Tang Clan man to a drinking contest?"
"I'm Yakseon's heir."
"Ah."
"Anyway, you handled what I asked?"
"Yes, of course. But is it true? That thief can nullify formations and treasures?"
I nodded.
"Yep."
At Yakseon's ruins, the moment something felt off, Pa Cheon tried using the Time Wheel Jade.
But it didn't activate.
"How is that possible..."
"Told you before—this world has all sorts of freaks."
Muyoung Sintu didn't infiltrate the Divine Cult for kicks.
Not only blindingly fast—even the Poison King couldn't catch him—but he had a special treasure artifact.
One that halted all qi between heaven and earth for a moment.
The white mist at the ruins? That artifact's doing.
It twisted natural energies, stopping formations or mystical devices. Artificially mimicking that power naturally halted too.
Pa Cheon could still move.
Couldn't pinpoint why—Heavenly Grade? Cloud Demon Iron? The sword's soul? Or all of it.
[Even so, if all else is sealed but This One, art thou not too complacent?]
You'll get it when you see. And as long as you work, no big issues.
["Work"—'tis an odd word.]
Just phrasing. You're the key anyway.
At Pa Cheon's tip dangled the Avoid Poison Jade.
Cheol Mu Geuk would rage at the sight, but it was bait.
I told Dang Si Hyeok,
"Thanks, Si Hyeok."
"No biggie, brother. We're family now."
He beamed. I smiled back—acting, not genuine.
I'd leave someday, after all.
"The ceremony begins soon! Wind Lord, please step out first!"
At the Tang warrior's call, I nodded and exited.
A massive platform loomed, below it throngs with shining eyes lined along the aisles.
Left of my path: the Nine Great Sects. Right: Five Great Families and other notables.
I feigned a humble smile, walking slowly through them.
Not some romance fantasy debutante, but my first strong impression on the murim world—had to plant a good one.
Bonus: scout the faces.
Five Great Families.
Next to Paeng So So, clapping wildly, sat an intellectual-looking woman I'd never seen.
Obvious Je Gal family—she had to be Je Gal Hye, the All-Seeing Beauty.
Frequent exchanges made them friends, but tomboy Paeng So So and scholarly Je Gal Hye together? Comical.
Beside them: Mo Yong and Nangong families. Mo Yong Hak looked half-grumpy, half-fine; Namgung Jin just grinned brightly.
Next, Nine Great Sects.
Beggars' Clan? Probably rolling in the dirt somewhere.
Prestigious Huashan and Wudang sent gifts, no reps—heavyweights gonna heavyweight.
Among passing faces, a welcome one: Un Yeop Ja in deep blue robes with a white dragon emblem.
He nodded with a soft smile, clapping.
Next, a black-clad man with thick brows and a white sun-sword emblem on his chest.
[His aura stands out. On the cusp of Super Peak.]
Jeomchang Sword Dragon Jang Yeong-o.
Weighty presence, for sure.
Now all but Yi Bong of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes were gathered.
Then.
Passing the bellicose Kunlun Taoists, the neighboring Emei Sect of nuns, famed Qingcheng Daoists.
And finally.
A group of monks bowing with pressed palms.
I turned grandly before them, raising a fist salute so Pa Cheon was visible. The Avoid Poison Jade swung at its tip.
Shaolin.
Origin of the world's martial arts, recipient of all respect—
Found you.
The faction hiding Muyoung Sintu.
