Chapter 110: A Guest from the Ice Palace (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 110: A Guest from the Ice Palace (2)
It was a common misconception that everyone in the Ice Palace only practiced martial arts rooted in extreme Yin energy.
In reality, the Ice Palace divided its training into two major branches: those based on extreme Yin and those based on extreme Fire. To overcome the bitter cold, one had to either become the ice itself or choose a heat so intense it overwhelmed the chill.
Lee Ga-ryeo, the Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace, had chosen the latter—the Fire Spirit Heart Art. This had earned her the title "Blazing Ice Flower."
"How did you even get in here?" Ham Bi-hye asked, looking dazed.
"I already received permission from Chamber Leader Gu. Is there a problem? I may not have been invited to the banquet, but I have someone to meet, so there’s no reason I shouldn't be here."
Since both Wu Isa and Ham Bi-hye were attending the banquet, it seemed Lee Ga-ryeo’s arrival had been reported directly to the Chamber Leader. While the Nine Demons Chamber wasn't a place the Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace was forbidden from visiting, her sudden appearance and blatant hostility left even the formidable Ham Bi-hye flustered.
Sensing that things were about to take a turn for the worse, Wu Isa stood up.
"What are you doing here? You can't just show up like this," Wu Isa said, his expression grim.
Lee Ga-ryeo replied, "I was out on business and happened to be passing by the Nine Demons Chamber, so I stopped in. While I was in closed-door training, I heard that my brother had been bewitched by some fox, abandoned the Ice Palace, and run away. I couldn't believe my ears. Father said he would forgive you if you returned now. So, stop this nonsense and come back."
The people gathered at the tables were stunned. The Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace was calling Wu Isa her brother?
What kind of family tree is this? If they were biological siblings, that meant Wu Isa was also a Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace. The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned chilly.
"It’s honestly pathetic," Ga-ryeo continued. "I heard on my way here that you even changed your name. Wu Isa? I suppose you at least know how stupid you are, choosing the surname 'Wu' [meaning 'foolish' in Hanja]."
Ham Bi-hye, clearly losing her patience, snapped at her. "I understand you're the Young Palace Lord and Wu Isa's sister, but it's unacceptable to barge in and cause such a scene. The two of you should take this conversation outside."
Lee Ga-ryeo flared up at Ham Bi-hye’s words. "What did you say? Who do you think is responsible for my brother ending up like this?"
"Are you saying it's because of me? And what exactly is 'wrong' with his current state?"
"My brother was the successor to the Ice Palace! Didn't you lure him away to the Nine Demons Chamber when you visited us under the pretext of seeking medicine?"
"Who lured whom? I thought Wu Isa was just an ordinary martial artist of the Ice Palace. I only found out he was the Young Palace Lord just now!"
"Does that even make sense? Why would your father use an 'ordinary martial artist' as a strategist? Based on what trust?"
"The Ice Palace and my father have a special relationship. My father said it was fine to use him as a strategist, so I did. That was my father's decision, not mine."
Listening to their heated exchange, which sounded more like bickering, the pieces began to fall into place.
It seemed Ham Bi-hye had traveled all the way to the Ice Palace to find a cure for her father’s Qi Deviation. While she was there, Wu Isa must have fallen for her, abandoned the Ice Palace, and joined the Nine Demons Chamber just to follow her.
But does that really make sense?
Suddenly, a memory flickered in my mind. Wu Isa had definitely used the Ice Soul Asura Sword of the Ice Palace during the fight against the Iron Blood Demon Group. I had thought it was strange at the time, but I never imagined there was a story like this behind it.
Still, I couldn't wrap my head around it. Why would a successor to the Ice Palace—a place treated with the same respect as the Nine Great Sects—be content playing the role of a mere strategist for a Chamber Leader? Moreover, Ham Bi-hye didn't seem to return his feelings. Was it just a one-sided crush?
Wu Isa suddenly barked out in anger. "I'm not going back! So stop this useless meddling and leave!"
I had never seen Wu Isa lose his temper like that.
"Why are you always trying to escape the Palace, Brother? Is it because you're a concubine's son?"
Hearing that, I realized that this girl, Lee Ga-ryeo, was still quite immature. If Wu Isa was a successor born to a concubine, I could imagine what his life must have been like at the Ice Palace. He probably felt it was better to follow Ham Bi-hye and exercise his talents elsewhere rather than live in a place where he was looked down upon.
Discrimination based on birth exists everywhere, and those who haven't experienced it can never truly understand it.
"Shut up!" Wu Isa roared. "Go back to the Palace this instant. I have no intention of returning."
"No! I absolutely won't! Father told me I must bring you back. I'm not going home alone even if it kills me!"
Looking at her, it was clear she was incredibly stubborn. The guests, instead of trying to avoid the drama, were watching the siblings' spat as if it were a piece of entertainment.
Wu Isa looked around at them, his face flushing with embarrassment. Then, as if an idea had struck him, he looked up and spoke.
"Fine. If you're going to be like this, let's settle it the way you like."
Lee Ga-ryeo smirked. "Good. Let's decide it with a duel, just like we always do."
"No, I'm not the one you'll be dueling. Pick anyone here you want to fight. If you beat them, I'll do whatever you want."
Lee Ga-ryeo practically jumped with joy. "Really? You'll keep your word? If I pick someone from this group and win the duel, you're coming back to the Palace."
Wu Isa gave a thin smile. "Have you ever seen me break a promise? I'll keep it."
"This bet is too easy. Letting me choose..."
Wu Isa turned toward us and bowed politely, making a request. "I am truly sorry. I have promised a duel between my sister and one of you without your consent."
Galwi spoke up, sounding amused. "What does it matter? No matter who it is, we get to see a good show. I'm actually looking forward to it."
Yuk Cheong-woo added, "Let's see who gets stuck dueling the Blazing Ice Flower."
And so, it was settled that one of us would duel Lee Ga-ryeo. She slowly scanned the room, searching for the best opponent.
"You!"
I was startled when she pointed directly at me while I was trying to look indifferent.
"Me?"
"Yes. You."
Seeing Wu Isa's faint smirk, I realized this was exactly what he had intended from the start.
"Why me?" I asked, caught off guard.
"Because you look like the biggest weakling here. My eyes never deceive me."
She then turned back to Wu Isa. "Brother, no taking back the promise!"
Wu Isa forced a grimace toward her.
This is definitely Wu Isa's doing.
It was obvious that I looked the weakest among the group, and Wu Isa must have known she would pick me. He probably thought I could easily trample someone like Lee Ga-ryeo, but as I always say, you never know how a fight will go until it starts.
And frankly, I lacked confidence when it came to fighting. Even if my luck had pulled me through so far, there was no guarantee it would last forever.
"You, duel me," Lee Ga-ryeo demanded.
I let out a short laugh. Dealing with a woman like her was child's play for me.
"Why should I duel you?"
"Didn't you hear my brother? He said if I beat one person here, I can take him back. So, duel me."
"Right, but that was an agreement between you and your brother. What does that have to do with me?"
Lee Ga-ryeo glared at me. Since I wasn't wrong, she was momentarily speechless.
"So... are you saying you won't duel?"
"Why me? Go pick someone else over there."
"You're a coward. When a lady requests a duel, shouldn't you accept?"
"Is there a law that says I have to?"
When I replied with a bored expression, Lee Ga-ryeo’s pale face began to turn red as she hit an unexpected wall.
"You really are a coward. You're clearly terrified of a duel."
"That's right. I am a coward. I'm afraid of swords. I fear a blade that has no eyes and no heart."
"Hohoho! Don't worry. I'll go easy on you." Lee Ga-ryeo laughed as if she had already won.
This girl is either a bit slow or she's lived such a sheltered life that she doesn't even know what's embarrassing.
"Regardless, I won't do it. Settle it with your brother."
"No! I absolutely must duel you!"
Her stubbornness had been triggered. It turns out girls like Mok Seon-hwa aren't that rare. There are plenty of people who can't rest until they get exactly what they want. You never know how people like that will react later, so it's best to either coax them or find another way to settle things.
"Then let's do this. I don't want to duel, so let's compete in a different way."
"How?"
She took the bait. Now, it was all up to me.
I brought over a liquor jar about the size of a small crock. I emptied the remaining alcohol into other cups, placed the empty jar on the table, and dropped an apple inside. I stepped back about ten large strides from the jar.
"The goal is to split the apple without damaging the jar."
Lee Ga-ryeo scowled, her temper rising. "That's impossible!"
"Are you going to do it or not? If you split the apple without breaking the jar, you win."
As I continued to provoke her, her face flushed again. Perhaps because she practiced the Fire Spirit Heart Art, her temperament was like fire.
"I guess you can't do it after all."
I kept prodding her ego. The reaction was immediate.
"What are you talking about?! Fine! We'll settle the duel with this!"
I replied calmly, "Very well."
"Fine. I'll go first."
Driven by her fiery nature, she insisted on taking the first turn.
But how could one split an apple inside a small jar? I had proposed this task because I could do it using the Ghost Sword through telekinesis. Unless she could manipulate a sword with Qi, she wouldn't be able to split it.
Lee Ga-ryeo stared at the jar, deep in thought, before untying the silk belt from her waist. It was long enough to reach the jar. But what could she do with a silk belt?
As she infused her internal energy into the belt, it became as stiff as a starched collar. She swung the belt, wrapping it around the small jar. Then, she lifted it into the air.
To lift a jar with a silk belt required at least ninety years' worth of internal energy. In terms of energy manipulation, she was on a similar level to Jeok Yeong. Then again, as the Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace, she would have had access to an environment and education far beyond that of an ordinary martial artist.
I'm glad I didn't duel her. I might have actually been thrashed by a kid like that.
Holding the jar with her belt, Lee Ga-ryeo hesitated for a moment before flipping the jar upside down in mid-air. The apple inside began to fall toward the floor.
At that exact moment, she threw something with her left hand. A flying dagger streaked toward the apple.
"What a clever move!" the crowd exclaimed.
Everyone was impressed by the unexpected way she tried to solve the problem. But I couldn't let her succeed.
Secretly, I unleashed the Snow Pellet Art toward the flying dagger just as it was about to pierce the apple.
Pfft!
The Snow Pellet Art lightly clipped the tip of the dagger. The dagger veered off course, missing the apple and embedding itself in the floor.
"Ah, so close!"
The onlookers, who had expected the apple to be split, let out a collective groan of disappointment.
These bastards.
They looked genuinely disappointed that the show was ending so quickly. Only Wu Isa looked at me with a knowing smirk. He clearly suspected I had pulled some kind of trick.
"Now it's my turn. If I split the apple, you must follow Wu Isa's words without another word."
Lee Ga-ryeo couldn't answer. She just bit her lip, huffing in frustration.
I drew the Ghost Sword, tossed it into the air, and then shook the Soul-Soothing Three Spirit Bell. When the Ghost Sword remained suspended in the air instead of falling, Lee Ga-ryeo gasped.
"W-what kind of sorcery is this?"
Ignoring her, I moved the Ghost Sword toward the jar. The sword approached the jar, turned at a sharp angle, and slowly entered the opening.
With a flick of my wrist, the Ghost Sword slowly emerged from the jar. The apple was skewered on the tip of the blade. I flicked my wrist again.
The Ghost Sword rotated 180 degrees, causing the apple to slide off and fly into the air. To make it look more impressive, I waved my hand through the air as the Ghost Sword sliced the falling apple.
As the two halves of the apple hit the floor, Lee Ga-ryeo stood there, jaw dropped, staring blankly.
With another flick of my wrist, the Ghost Sword returned to my hand. Even after I sheathed the sword, she continued to stare dumbfoundedly at the split apple.
"That's cheating!" she suddenly screamed.
"How is it cheating? You chose me, Young Lady. I refused, but you insisted on dueling me until the end. Is that not so?"
Lee Ga-ryeo couldn't find a retort and simply trembled with rage.
I slipped out of the chaotic banquet hall. Judging by the high-pitched shouting match still going on between Wu Isa and Lee Ga-ryeo, it didn't seem like things would be settled easily.
Seeing Lee Ga-ryeo made me think of Mok Seon-hwa.
It's time to leave.
I suddenly realized I had stayed in this place for far too long.