Chapter 109: A Guest from the Ice Palace (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 109: A Guest from the Ice Palace (1)
Recalling my days as an inn waiter, I began to ramble about what that Taoist Tiger Malko had once told me.
"Martial studies are ultimately artificial. I believe there is no true naturalness to be found in them. No matter how much the Wudang Sect’s arts claim to mimic nature or the Shaolin’s arts claim to contain the principles of the world, they are all merely artificial movements created by humans. Nature does not pursue power. It is the nature of things to flow from high places to low. However, martial arts are only completed by ascending from low to high; thus, they are essentially a force of regression. In that sense, the essence of martial arts is destruction. That is why I see the Wudang’s Taiji Wisdom Sword and the Three Calamities Sword—which isn't even taught in Taoist temples anymore—as ultimately the same. I suspect that practical martial arts, which maximize this essence of destruction, might actually be the strongest of all."
Most of the people present wore expressions of disagreement.
So, I provided a fitting example. These weren't words I had heard from anyone else; they came to me naturally from my own thoughts while practicing martial arts.
"Have you ever heard of a master from the Nine Great Sects defeating the masters of practical martial arts like Hyodo Ru, Guro Gap, Saemi Sulchu, or Silvia? People dismiss them as having no foundation, but aren't they actually the strongest warriors? They don't learn martial arts for fun or to become immortals. To them, martial arts are survival itself. They have no need for flashiness, elegance, or bizarre cruelty. To survive, any form of embellishment is meaningless."
In truth, the names of these individuals were better known to the children in the marketplace than the masters of the Nine Great Sects.
This was because their martial arts were deeply rooted in reality.
Many fell into deep thought, their faces turning serious at my words.
Though they rarely said it aloud, the Orthodox Murim tended to look down on practical martial arts, claiming they lacked a proper foundation.
The funny thing was that the Black Path was the same. In fact, the Black Path might have been even more inclined to keep them at a distance.
Regardless, since the Black Path shared the same history as the Orthodox Murim, their pride was just as immense.
"Young Hero Eo’s opinion is truly unique. I believe it is worth savoring at least once."
Yuk Cheong-woo spoke up, bringing the discussion to a close.
I felt relieved that he didn't press the matter further and simply nodded.
"By the way, shouldn't we see what kind of progress our Young Hero Jeok has made during his closed-door training?"
At Yuk Cheong-woo’s suggestion, the people in the room cheered, sensing the right moment.
Like me, Jeok Yeong held quite a reputation within the Nine Demons Chamber.
As a master who had fought to a draw with Mu Gyeol, everyone was paying close attention to him.
Warriors never refuse an opportunity to show off their skills.
It was a chance to make a name for oneself.
Jeok Yeong was also a warrior, and he wanted to demonstrate the strength he had gained through his closed-door training.
"Very well! The alcohol is kicking in and I’m in a good mood, so I shall show you my humble skills."
Jeok Yeong stepped forward readily. He seemed to be in high spirits after sharing several rounds of drinks with Yuk Cheong-woo.
"Whoo!"
As everyone clapped in support, Jeok Yeong stood up abruptly.
"Let us all have a toast."
I emptied my glass along with the others. Seeing Jeok Yeong’s gallant demeanor for the first time in a while, I began to feel the excitement.
I watched with anticipation, wondering what kind of miraculous feat he would perform.
Jeok Yeong picked up a bottle of wine from the table.
It was Nu’er Hong. Judging by its fragrance and amber hue, it was a precious Shaoxing wine that had been aged for at least twenty years.
Nu’er Hong is a type of yellow wine produced in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. It is called Shaoxing wine because it originates from that region, and Nu’er Hong is the finest among them.
Ham Bi-hye had brought it out specifically for this special occasion, and everyone looked pained at the thought of such precious alcohol being wasted.
"I shall pour the wine with my sword."
At those words, everyone’s expression turned to one of relief.
Suddenly, Jeok Yeong drew his sword and, with his left hand, flipped the bottle upside down to pour the wine.
The liquid cascaded down onto the blade.
"Ah! No!"
Galwi and Hong Ming let out cries of regret as they saw the wine pouring out.
However, just as the wine seemed about to spill off the blade, it somehow formed into perfect, dew-like spheres on the surface of the sword.
When a water droplet the size of an adult’s fist formed on the blade, the entire audience gasped in admiration.
"Oh! Ohhh!"
It might have looked simple, but the martial principles hidden within were extraordinary.
He was using internal energy to operate the Breath Absorption Formula and the Condensation Formula to keep the wine from falling.
It was easy to say, but manipulating the Condensation and Absorption formulas with such mastery was impossible without immense training and talent.
If you consider that the technique of Moving Objects through the Air is essentially composed of three methods, it becomes easier to understand.
Moving Objects through the Air utilizes the Absorption Formula, the Leading Formula, and the Condensation Formula. These three techniques can usually only be attempted by someone with at least ninety years' worth of internal energy.
This was why people were so shocked when I moved the Ghost Sword using the Soul-Soothing Three Spirit Bell.
This scene was a direct testament to the level of Jeok Yeong’s internal energy and the exquisite nature of his energy manipulation.
Then, Jeok Yeong raised his sword and slashed down at the amber droplet floating in the air.
With a sound like an apple being split, the fist-sized droplet was divided into two.
The two halves of the droplet did not collapse like a liquid; they maintained their shape as if they were solid.
"Oh! Oh! How is that possible!"
The audience could only shout in amazement.
But he didn't stop there. With a horizontal sweep of his sword, the droplet was split into four.
Jeok Yeong swung his sword twice more.
Swish!
He executed a fast sword technique so quickly that only a single sound could be heard.
"Huh? What?!"
Amazingly, nine pieces of the split droplet were now lined up along Jeok Yeong’s blade.
With a flick of his sword, the nine pieces of wine fell accurately into the cups of nine people.
Splash!
Watching the droplets land perfectly in the cups without a single splash, my jaw dropped.
Then, I began to clap enthusiastically.
This guy is my sworn brother!
I clapped until my hands burned, suppressing the urge to shout it out loud.
"Incredible! As expected of the Yellow Dragon Secret Sword! You could easily compete for the title of the First Dragon of Murim!"
Everyone cheered and applauded.
"Young Hero Eo must be very happy to have such a sworn brother," Yuk Cheong-woo said, sounding a bit envious. I replied:
"I am proud to be able to call Brother Jeok my brother, and it is an honor that he is my sworn brother!"
"Hahaha, you are too modest."
Yuk Cheong-woo laughed heartily.
"Now, shouldn't Young Hero Eo respond to Young Hero Jeok’s secret technique? That would be the proper way between sworn brothers, wouldn't it?"
Yuk Cheong-woo subtly egged me on.
You brat, do you think I’ll fall for that? Who do you think you’re playing with?
I wasn't some naive fool who did whatever he was told. I might be younger than him, but I probably had twice the life experience.
"I have no talents worth showing off."
"Hahaha, why are you being like this? If the great New Dragon of Sichuan says he has no talent, then everyone else here might as well just die."
This Yuk fellow, who was clearly in high spirits, started acting up.
He must have had too much to drink.
"Brother, please show these people your true self. I also wish to see your skills. Whenever I look at you, I feel that the path I must travel is still very long. Please show me a move that will ignite my fighting spirit."
Since even Jeok Yeong had made such a polite request, I couldn't heartlessly refuse.
He wasn't just anyone; he was someone more skilled than me. If I wanted to keep someone like him by my side, I had no choice but to show him something.
"Then, don't you dare call it boring after you've seen it."
The only trick I could show was the one using the Ghost Sword.
I drew the Ghost Sword and spoke.
"Everyone, throw your empty cups into the air."
At my command, the guests tossed their cups into the air.
At the same time, I threw the Ghost Sword.
The nine cups rose about two zhang above the table.
While everyone’s eyes were fixed on the cups and the Ghost Sword in the air, I busily shook my wrist under the table to control the sword.
The Ghost Sword caught the nine cups floating in the air on its blade.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
As the nine cups were lined up one by one on the blade of the Ghost Sword, gasps of admiration erupted.
"Oh! Wow!"
Catching nine cups on a blade using Telekinetic Sword Control without dropping a single one was a feat that even a peak master wouldn't dare attempt.
I lowered the sword onto the table and said,
"Take your cups and let us all have a toast."
Everyone took their cups and began to pour wine.
But as they poured, didn't the wine start leaking out from the sides of every single cup?
"What? What is the meaning of this?"
All nine cups had holes in them, and the wine was leaking out.
"Did you pierce holes in the cups without us even noticing? I didn't feel any hidden weapons being thrown."
The people here were all self-proclaimed masters. If I had thrown a hidden weapon, there was no way they wouldn't have noticed.
I had used the Snow Pellet Art to pierce the holes while the nine cups were resting on the blade.
Because no one had detected the Snow Pellet Art, they were even more shocked and impressed.
"With this one move, you've shown that defeating Yu Hong, Do Geon, and Cho Maeryeong was no fluke."
Yuk Cheong-woo shouted, clearly moved by my performance.
"I truly regret being so lazy in my martial training. I lament what I have been doing while Young Hero Eo reached such a realm."
"Not at all. This is the only trick I know. When it comes to actual martial studies, Young Hero Yuk is far ahead of me."
Yuk Cheong-woo laughed boisterously at my humility.
"Hahaha, I have learned much today."
Just as the banquet was reaching its peak, a sudden typhoon struck. It was a typhoon that carried a fragrance but was incredibly chilling.
"Forgive the interruption during your banquet!"
The atmosphere of the banquet hall turned cold at the sudden shout of a woman.
As a woman appeared, everyone stared at her with wide eyes.
The woman, dressed in white, looked as if she had just stepped out of ice, yet her aura was as hot as if she were standing next to a furnace.
Furthermore, she was escorted by ten warriors dressed in red—five women and five men.
The words "Ice Soul Divine Martial Team" were written in large characters on the chests of their martial robes.
"Who are you?"
When Ham Bi-hye asked, the woman approached her.
"Which one of you is Ham Bi-hye?"
The woman looked at Seo Rin and Ham Bi-hye as she asked.
"I am Ham Bi-hye."
The woman glared at Ham Bi-hye before walking toward Attendant Woo, who was keeping his head bowed low.
Ham Bi-hye asked the arrogant woman again.
"Where are you from?"
The woman replied with an insolent face.
"I am Igaryeo, the Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace."
Her speech was sharp and clipped, overflowing with arrogance.
However, she had the right to be. I had only heard of the Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace; I never imagined I would actually see the legendary "Ice Flower."
In the Murim, people called Igaryeo the "Ice Flower" because of her beauty, but her nickname was much fiercer.
She was better known as Jeom Binghwa.
It meant "The Blazing Ice Flower," and the Fire Dragon Sword Technique performed by this member of the Ice Palace was one of the wonders of the martial world.