Chapter 108
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Fulfilling the Promise
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Seol Hwa-un walked along at a leisurely pace.
Every Ice Family warrior he passed lit up with joy and bowed their head in greeting.
It was certainly a far cry from the atmosphere six years ago.
‘Still, not much has really changed.’
A faint smile played on his lips. Perhaps because it had been so long since his last visit, everything felt welcoming and familiar.
Before long, Seol Hwa-un arrived at the Family Head’s residence. The Ice Family Head stood waiting there, a broad smile on his face.
He suddenly recalled their first meeting.
‘You made me wait an entire hour in your office.’
The difference in treatment now was like night and day. Of course, Seol Hwa-un’s presence had grown immensely since then as well.
“Welcome, Young Palace Lord.”
Seol Hwa-un bowed his head at the Ice Family Head’s greeting.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Ha ha ha, I heard you’ve been training at the Elder Council.”
“Yes, I’ve been broadening my horizons under the guidance of the elders there.”
“Even in the palace, there are few who could match you as an opponent, yet you never cease your pursuit of greater heights. Truly, you are the Young Palace Lord.”
The cold, stern impression of old was nowhere to be seen. Now he gave off the vibe of a kindly grandfather.
‘Is it because my status has changed? Or has the Ice Family Head simply aged?’
The sharp glint in his eyes, visible now and then, suggested it wasn’t the latter.
“Come inside, Young Palace Lord.”
“Yes.”
The two entered the Family Head’s office and sat facing each other. Tea was soon brought out.
After taking a sip, Seol Hwa-un spoke first.
“Do you know of the Five Great Protectors?”
“Of course. They’re the legends of the Elder Council, aren’t they?”
“One of them turned out to be a former Ice Family Head.”
The Ice Family Head nodded, then suddenly widened his eyes as realization dawned.
“Is that so? I didn’t know... Wait, why bring it up now...? Don’t tell me they’re still alive?”
Seol Hwa-un smiled.
“Yes. All of them are hale and hearty.”
“Heavens! I grew up hearing tales of them... Truly remarkable.”
“I was shocked myself. In any case, one of them, a man called ‘Jeok-ro,’ was once your predecessor as Family Head. He passed on a new fist technique to me.”
At the words “new fist technique,” the Ice Family Head’s eyes sparkled.
“Oh! Is that true?”
“Yes. I’m in the midst of learning it now, but with his permission, I’ll pass it on to the Ice Family once I’ve mastered it all.”
“Ha ha ha, that’s wonderful news. Thank you, Young Palace Lord. Even if he was once of our house, there was no obligation for him to share his techniques after all this time.”
“I owe the Ice Family a great debt as well. It’s only right.”
“I’m grateful you see it that way.”
The Ice Family Head gazed at Seol Hwa-un with renewed appreciation.
‘I never could have imagined this when we first met... Passing those fist techniques to the Young Palace Lord was truly a stroke of genius.’
The more Seol Hwa-un rose in prominence, the higher the Ice Family’s standing naturally climbed. From the Family Head’s perspective, it was cause for celebration.
‘Now, if only the union and marriage could proceed...’
The Ice Family’s status might even come to rival that of the Palace Lord’s own Snow Family.
“......”
But soon, the Ice Family Head’s expression darkened slightly.
‘The problem is, there’s no set timeline.’
Seol Hwa-un was incredibly busy, but more than that, he showed little interest in Bing Su-hye.
‘I know he’s devoted every waking hour to the palace’s affairs...’
It was a happy turn of events, yet bittersweet in a way.
“Ice Family Head?”
The Ice Family Head snapped out of his thoughts at Seol Hwa-un’s call.
“Ah, forgive me. I was lost in thought for a moment.”
“It’s fine. I was worried you might be unwell.”
“Ha ha, I’m still in my prime. ...So, did you visit the family manor to tell me about this new fist technique?”
“No, something that could be conveyed by letter wouldn’t warrant a personal visit. More importantly, I came to keep a promise.”
The Ice Family Head tilted his head.
“A promise?”
‘Could it be the marriage with Su-hye...?’
But Seol Hwa-un’s next words left him greatly astonished.
“I’ve completed the five forms of the Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist.”
“......!”
The Ice Family Head’s pupils trembled faintly.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. I finished it during my journey to the Central Plains. Didn’t you ask me to let you know as soon as I did?”
The Ice Family Head struggled to calm his surging emotions.
“Ahh!”
He had poured countless days into completing those five forms, the key to mastering Nine Splits Heaven and Earth.
“Even as I taught it to you, I had my doubts. And yet, so quickly...”
Regaining some composure, the Ice Family Head gave a wry smile.
“You’re not one for empty words, Young Palace Lord, so it must be true... I’m overjoyed, but it makes all my past efforts feel rather futile.”
Seol Hwa-un shook his head.
“Not at all. Your foundation is what allowed me to complete it by sheer luck.”
“Ha ha, as if I don’t know your talent, Young Palace Lord. Luck, indeed.”
Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
“I’ll tell you one more thing. The first victim of Nine Splits Heaven and Earth was the Blood Sound Four Armies.”
“Is that so? Ha ha ha! This will be a tale to pass down through the generations!”
The Ice Family Head burst into laughter, delighted beyond measure.
* * *
In the training hall, after demonstrating the incantations and forms of Nine Splits Heaven and Earth, the Ice Family Head was both amazed and utterly absorbed.
Having devoted decades to it, he grasped its intricacies almost immediately.
Seol Hwa-un left the Family Head’s residence, leaving the engrossed man behind with only a cursory farewell.
‘He’ll grow even stronger now.’
This might even elevate his realm to the next level.
‘He was already a cut above the other family heads, and once he masters this... the gap will be truly vast.’
In a pleased frame of mind, he was about to leave the Ice Family manor when he came face-to-face with a young woman.
“......!”
Discomfiture flashed across Seol Hwa-un’s face. It was Bing Su-hye.
“......Miss Bing.”
Bing Su-hye, now a fully blossoming beauty, was dazzling to behold. In just a few months, she had grown even more stunning.
“......”
Coincidentally, no one else was around. The vast space held only the two of them.
Seol Hwa-un gave a wry smile.
‘Well now. Someone arranged this encounter.’
It wasn’t easy to avoid the situation.
Unbeknownst to him, it was the handiwork of Chief Steward Bing Cho-pung. He had orchestrated it in hopes of advancing the pair’s relationship this time.
Bing Su-hye bowed her head slightly.
“It’s been a long time, Young Palace Lord.”
“......Indeed it has.”
Silence fell.
“......”
Bing Su-hye gazed at him with eyes full of reproach.
“Are you uncomfortable running into me?”
Seol Hwa-un quickly shook his head.
“Not at all.”
“Or... are you perhaps thinking of calling off our engagement?”
Her voice quivered faintly, conveying her inner turmoil.
‘This is tricky.’
Bing Su-hye’s eyes softened tenderly as she saw his troubled expression.
“......”
She had never paid much attention to men before. Countless suitors had pursued her, but she ignored them all.
Many fled at the fierce glare of her father, the Ice Martial Brigade Leader.
She wasn’t sure exactly when it started. One day, Seol Hwa-un, who frequented the Ice Family manor steadily, caught her eye.
At first, she took no notice. But then the family elders began speaking of him one by one, and soon their words reached her ears as well.
Most were full of admiration and praise.
‘Just what makes the Young Palace Lord so special?’
From then on, she observed him closely. The fact that he showed no interest in her, even when they crossed paths occasionally, came as a fresh shock.
‘It stings my pride a little...?’
Before she knew it, she caught herself stealing glances at Seol Hwa-un with care.
‘Me, of all people?’
And at last, talks of marriage with Seol Hwa-un arose, thanks to the Ice Family Head’s initiative.
Her heart had raced wildly when she first heard the news.
‘The Young Palace Lord, my husband?’
But there had been little progress since. In fact, even after becoming his fiancée in all but name, Seol Hwa-un never sought her out, which felt frustrating.
Yet when he left for the Central Plains and months passed without seeing him, the frustration gave way to longing.
Upon hearing of his return, Bing Su-hye resolved herself.
‘I’ll push for the wedding as soon as possible!’
She wanted to confront him right away, but lacked the courage.
Then her uncle, Bing Cho-pung, created this opportunity.
Gathering her resolve, she thought that if she didn’t seize it now, there might never be another chance.
Of course, Seol Hwa-un was no stranger to such matters.
In his previous life, he had been with a few women, some developing deep bonds.
‘The outcomes weren’t good...’
Being a woman of the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor meant exposure to endless dangers.
‘Miss Bing.’
Thus, he understood full well what her gaze signified.
“Young Palace Lord, I...”
He cut off Bing Su-hye as she began to speak in a trembling voice.
“I’m sorry, Miss Bing.”
“......!”
“I’ve been neglectful all this time. But it was never out of disregard for you. Simply... I’ve had no room in my heart for such things.”
Her face, which had been clouded with worry, brightened a little.
“I have no intention of backing out of our marriage. But as you know, Miss Bing, the palace is at a more critical juncture than ever.”
“......”
“Moreover, as a warrior, I currently have no spare attention for anything else.”
“......I see.”
At his words, her expression darkened noticeably, making her brief brightening seem all the more poignant.
“Instead, I promise you this. Once the palace’s advance into the Central Plains stabilizes and my martial arts reach a satisfactory level, we shall marry then.”
Her eyes widened round at the unexpected declaration.
“......!”
“Of course, it may take years. Perhaps even decades. If you find it unacceptable, Miss Bing...”
But Bing Su-hye interrupted him with a resolute expression.
“Very well. In fact, it’s for the best.”
“......?”
“You already command a presence in the palace rivaling the Palace Lord’s.”
Her eyes sparkled with unusual fervor.
“Compared to that, I’m still far too insignificant. I’m not yet worthy to stand as your match.”
“That’s not...”
“I’ll do my utmost to become a woman worthy of you, Young Palace Lord. And then I’ll claim my place at your side with pride.”
Seol Hwa-un couldn’t hide his surprise at Bing Su-hye’s bold ambition.
‘Was she always this strong-willed?’
“But in return, you mustn’t waver until I’m ready, Young Palace Lord. Understood?”
Seol Hwa-un gazed steadily at her beautiful face, then nodded.
“Of course.”
And so, the two stared into each other’s eyes for a long while.