Chapter 10
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Five Peaks Conference
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Having finished his dawn training, Seol Hwa-un was focusing on circulating his energy in his own room for the first time in a while.
“Hoo!”
He let out a deep sigh and rose from his seat.
‘I’ve recovered over seventy percent of my Nine Yin Primordial True Qi.’
It was the reward for diligently practicing the Ice White Divine Art for more than one hour every day.
‘Now, my inner energy won’t fall short against most masters.’
Moreover, it was far purer and more powerful than ordinary inner energy, so he could overwhelm even experts with the same amount.
“Half a day of just meditating has me itching to move.”
He stepped outside and headed to the Palace Lord’s private training hall. He had already received permission from Seol Wi-myeong to use it anytime, so there was no issue.
As Seol Hwa-un walked, he fell deep into thought.
‘This place is definitely different from ordinary martial clans.’
He hadn’t seen much, but by frequently visiting the Ice Family Head’s residence, he had gauged the overall atmosphere.
‘There’s hardly any factional strife or backstabbing. Healthy, I suppose?’
Of course, compared to massive martial powers like the Five Great Families, its scale was small, but the near absence of even common discord was certainly special.
At the very least, the Ice Family gave off the impression that all its members were united without anyone defecting, steadily advancing in the direction desired by the family head.
‘Are the other families similar?’
He couldn’t tell yet.
‘Come to think of it, quite some time has passed since I learned the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist.’
In that time, Seol Hwa-un, now sixteen, had grown rapidly.
He had shot up in height, and his slender build had transformed into broad shoulders and a balanced physique.
He still retained some youthful features, but in one or two years, he would become a strikingly handsome young man.
As he trained in the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist, Seol Hwa-un felt a newfound enlightenment in fist techniques.
It was in no way inferior to the Blazing Flower Fist, which had been his signature absolute art in his previous life.
However, while he had mastered the Broad Cold Fist and Full Snow Flow Fist in just two months, he still hadn’t perfected the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist.
Part of it was due to its higher realm, but crucially, the fifth and final stance remained incomplete.
‘Even just from the outline, it’s clearly an extraordinary stance. It might even surpass the combined power of the previous four.’
The fifth stance had been steadily researched by successive Ice Family Heads, only taking rough shape in the current generation.
Though the Ice Family Head was working tirelessly on it, in Seol Hwa-un’s view, the chances of him completing it were slim.
‘In the end, I’ll have to do it. If the fifth stance is perfected…’
It might give birth to an absolute art surpassing even the Blazing Flower Fist.
Lost in these thoughts as he walked, Seol Hwa-un sensed something amiss.
An odd tension permeated the palace grounds, and members of one of the Five Great Families’ martial units had entered.
‘That’s right, today’s the Five Peaks Conference. The Ice Family Head mentioned it, but I forgot.’
The Five Peaks Conference was a deliberative meeting of the heads of the five families forming the backbone of the North Sea Ice Palace, chaired by the Palace Lord.
Held every two months on schedule, it could also convene urgently for pressing matters.
Decisions from the Five Peaks Conference carried such weight that even the Palace Lord found it hard to oppose them.
As Seol Hwa-un headed back to his quarters without much thought, a angry shout reached his ears.
“――――!”
He halted involuntarily. He couldn’t catch every word, but one term rang crystal clear amid the uproar.
‘Little Palace Lord?’
* * *
In the North Sea Ice Palace’s grand conference hall.
The Palace Lord and all the Ice Palace’s powerholders had gathered, seated around a large table.
Yan Family Head Eom Seong-han.
Winter Family Head Dong Tae-cheon.
Snow Family Head Seol Jin-myeong.
Cold Family Head Han Wi-jin.
Ice Family Head Bing Jin-won.
Palace Lord Seol Wi-myeong and his consort Han Su-yeon occupied the head seats, with their daughter Seol Eun-ji standing behind them.
“…Then, the matter of the furs shall be entrusted to Cold Family Head for handling.”
As Seol Wi-myeong declared, most of the family heads nodded.
“With that, discussion on the prepared agenda seems concluded.”
Seol Wi-myeong scanned the room as he spoke.
“Any other matters to propose?”
“…….”
Past Five Peaks Conferences typically ended here. But not today.
The stern-faced Winter Family Head raised his hand to speak.
“Winter Family Head?”
“My apologies to the Palace Lord, but I can no longer stand by without speaking out.”
The others, save Yan Family Head, stiffened. They sensed something off.
Cold Family Head flashed a sharp gaze.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’ll be direct. About the Little Palace Lord.”
“……!”
The atmosphere in the hall shifted abruptly.
“How long do you intend to leave the Little Palace Lord in place? We’ve all held our tongues so far, but everyone knows he’s unfit to be the next Palace Lord, don’t they?”
Seol Jin-myeong, Snow Family Head and Seol Wi-myeong’s younger brother, scowled uncomfortably.
“What’s this sudden nonsense? Are you daring to suggest changing the Palace Lord’s chosen Little Palace Lord?”
“The Little Palace Lord who’s been frail since birth. At first, I didn’t object when you named him. He was young then, and who knew what the future held.”
“…….”
“But surely even you, Snow Family Head, were worried back then? Whether such a weakling could handle the position.”
“That’s……”
“I’m not saying your thoughts were wrong. The other family heads thought similarly.”
Winter Family Head’s tone grew firmer.
“But years have passed since. What has the Little Palace Lord accomplished in that time? Hasn’t Ice Martial Brigade Leader Seol Eun-ji handled most of it for him?”
Seol Eun-ji’s presence at the conference was as the Little Palace Lord’s proxy.
She couldn’t interject freely, but observing the Five Peaks Conference was the Little Palace Lord’s duty.
“…….”
Unable to bear it, Cold Family Head spoke up.
“Even if that was true before, the current Little Palace Lord is different. He’s diligently training in martial arts, and I hear results are showing.”
The silent Yan Family Head finally spoke.
“I know he overcame his heavenly punishment after the accident a year ago. And that he’s been training fist techniques under Ice Family Head since.”
Ice Family Head nodded readily at the glance.
“That’s right.”
‘He’s achieved more than you could imagine.’
“But it’s only been a little over a year. Of course, I acknowledge the Little Palace Lord’s efforts to prove himself now. But can one become next Palace Lord through effort alone?”
“He’s still young! If we just watch a bit longer……”
“In two months, next year, the Little Palace Lord turns seventeen. How long must we wait? There are numerous absolute arts a Palace Lord must master—when will he learn them and qualify?”
Yan Family Head’s words were principled; without knowing Seol Hwa-un’s true prowess, the others found little to counter.
Only Ice Family Head, privy to the truth, smiled to himself.
‘Interesting.’
Winter Family Head continued.
“My apologies to the family head, but I believe it’s right to reconsider the Little Palace Lord position now.”
Seol Wi-myeong’s gaze sharpened, but Winter Family Head pressed on undeterred.
“Every past Palace Lord without exception was the supreme master of this palace. Could the current Little Palace Lord become that if he ascends?”
Cold Family Head said stiffly.
“Even so, raising this abruptly is improper! It should be formally objected to and thoroughly deliberated……”
At that moment, Yan Family Head produced a letter and offered it to Seol Wi-myeong.
“What’s this?”
“An official missive from the Elder Council to the Palace Lord.”
“……!”
The Elder Council comprised former family heads of the Five Great Families and retired martial unit leaders.
By principle, it never interfered in Ice Palace affairs.
Yet for grave matters, it could advise the Palace Lord in the form of recommendations.
Seol Wi-myeong took the letter with a rigid expression and unfolded it.
“……!”
He glanced alternately at Winter and Yan Family Heads.
‘Clever. When did they reach into the Elder Council?’
Snow Family Head asked anxiously.
“Palace Lord, what does it say?”
“The Elder Council urges reconsideration of the Little Palace Lord position.”
It was penned directly by former Snow Family Head Seol Mun-gyeong.
“……!”
Winter Family Head smirked triumphantly.
“The Elder Council unanimously expresses concern over the next Palace Lord. Surely no issue with discussion?”
In truth, neither Winter nor Yan Family Head had planned to raise the Little Palace Lord issue so suddenly.
They figured if they waited patiently, Seol Wi-myeong would inevitably depose him and adopt or marry in Eom Mu-hwi or Dong Ho-won as the new Little Palace Lord.
But watching Seol Hwa-un train diligently for a year sparked faint unease.
At first, they thought he’d quit soon.
Yet seeing him endure the notoriously grueling training under Ice Family Head without a single day off made them wonder.
Late as it was, the adage “no inferior child from a tiger father” rang true—if Seol Wi-myeong’s talent bloomed in him, their chance might slip away.
Meanwhile, unable to contain himself, Snow Family Head slammed the table as he stood.
Thud!
“How dare you! Consulting other family heads without a word and reaching into the Elder Council?”
“You call us ‘you’? Mind your words, Snow Family Head!”
“Enough!”
A voice laced with profound inner energy reverberated through the hall.
The family heads flinched and quietly resumed their seats, expressions varied.
‘The Palace Lord’s inner energy has deepened further!’
‘As expected of the Palace Lord. What if he opposes outright?’
‘But we even have the Elder Council’s backing……’
Seol Wi-myeong spoke lowly, exuding immense pressure.
“So…… what would the two family heads have us do about this?”
Yan and Winter Family Heads hesitated to reply.
‘Can’t back down here!’
‘Think I’ll yield so easily, Palace Lord?’
Then, the quietly seated Ice Family Head raised his hand.
“May this old man say a word?”
“……!”
All eyes turned to him.
Ice Family Head was over a decade older than the others. Thus, despite equal standing among the Five Great Families’ heads, they subtly respected him.
“Why complicate it? We can simply check if the Little Palace Lord is qualified directly.”
“How so?”
“A spar.”
“……!”
“To be frank, each family must have prodigies eyeing the Little Palace Lord seat.”
Yan and Winter Family Heads flinched unwittingly.
“That’s……”
“Have them spar with the Little Palace Lord. If he wins, affirm him as is. If someone shines, make that one Little Palace Lord.”
Joy lit Yan and Winter Family Heads’ faces.
“Oh!”
“Excellent idea!”
Snow Family Head immediately objected.
“That’s too unfair to the Little Palace Lord, isn’t it? He’s only trained properly for a little over a year……”
“Quite right!”
As debate heated, Ice Family Head spoke again.
“Shouldn’t we hear the Little Palace Lord’s opinion on this?”
“The Little Palace Lord isn’t a fool; he won’t accept such an absurd proposal……”
It was then.
“I accept that spar.”
As those present turned, Seol Hwa-un strode confidently into the conference hall.