Chapter 13
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Blizzard Sparring
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Heavy snowflakes blanketed the serene North Sea lands. On days like this when the snow poured down, the temperature actually rose a bit, making the cold less biting.
But with such an enormous amount of snow falling at once, anyone who moved carelessly risked getting trapped, so few people ventured out.
However.
At the training ground on one side of the North Sea Ice Palace.
Even amid the raging blizzard, three figures moved with fierce intensity.
All three were young men. A youth in a blue martial robe wielding a spear, along with two youths unleashing hand strikes, were ganging up on one opponent.
The two attackers' assaults were brutally fierce, as if determined to bring their foe down at any cost.
In stark contrast, the handsome youth in a light blue martial robe—one hand tucked behind his back—moved with effortless poise.
Shwaaak!
He lightly dodged the spear thrusting at him with terrifying speed and shouted.
"Ho-won, your spear tip's still dull!"
"Tch!"
Shushuuk!
The youth called Ho-won, bristling with anger, thrust his spear again, but it only sliced through empty air every time.
"What's the point if your spear tip's loaded with emotion?"
As the handsome youth evaded the spear strikes, a hand infused with qi shot toward his side in that split-second opening, like it had been lying in wait.
It was a sharp ambush, but the handsome youth seemed to have anticipated it. Without even turning his head, he extended his left hand.
Kwaang!
"Kuh!"
The youth who had unleashed the hand strike couldn't withstand the impact and staggered back.
"Mu-hwi, you're still hesitating to commit your full power. If you attack while keeping defense in mind like that, you'll never beat anyone stronger than you."
The handsome youth, relentlessly pointing out their flaws, was none other than Seol Hwa-un.
He had shot up to over six feet tall, with a perfectly balanced muscular build and sharp, striking features. He was the picture of a dashing hero.
Among the young female warriors, more than a few blushed at the sight of him.
The two youths sparring against him were Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won, both once mentioned as candidates for Little Palace Lord of the Ice Palace.
Though time had passed and they were now twenty-five, Eom Mu-hwi's appearance hadn't changed much. Instead, the qi radiating from his hands had grown far sharper and heavier.
Dong Ho-won, his contemporary, was a bit shorter with an ordinary look, but his spear mastery was exceptional enough to emit spear qi.
He swung his spear once more and yelled.
"Mu-hwi, you gonna lose again? Put everything into it!"
"You first."
He snapped back coldly, but even he could barely contain his frustration. Seol Hwa-un's hand tucked behind his back kept grating on his nerves.
'Damn it!'
"Eyaap!"
Shushushushu!
As Dong Ho-won dazzled with his flashy spearwork to draw attention, Eom Mu-hwi finally succeeded in circling behind Seol Hwa-un.
'Now!'
"Nine Heavens Nine Tribulations!"
Papapapapapa!
With a sharp whoosh of air, Eom Mu-hwi's hand split into nine illusions.
It was incomparably more varied and powerful than the version he had unleashed against Seol Hwa-un in the past, infused with vastly refined soul-hooking hand techniques.
"......!"
Even Seol Hwa-un couldn't disregard it lightly and turned his head toward him.
In that instant, Dong Ho-won unleashed the ultimate technique of the Winter Family Soul-Falling Spear, as if he had been waiting.
"Fall Soul Piercing One!"
Thoong!
From one side came a spear wrapped in vivid spear qi, while from the other, nine hand shadows flew in. It was a perfect pincer attack.
A glint flashed in Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
'They've definitely improved. But......'
At last, the hand that had been tucked behind his back moved.
Thud!
His right hand seized Eom Mu-hwi's wrist.
Crack!
His left hand snatched the spear shaft.
Paaaaaaa!
The qi that Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi had been emitting scattered like a lie, shooting out in all directions.
In an instant, the snow piled on the training ground flew everywhere, exposing the bare ground beneath.
"......!"
"Damn it."
Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won couldn't hide their disappointment.
Seol Hwa-un smiled.
"Making me use both hands. Not bad at all."
Dong Ho-won grumbled.
"Little Palace Lord, isn't that too much? We really trained hard this time. How's the gap only getting wider?"
"Guess I trained harder."
"Urgh!"
"Keep at it, Ho-won."
If Eom Mu-hwi was a hardworking genius, Dong Ho-won was a lazy one.
Four years ago, after his spar with Eom Mu-hwi, Seol Hwa-un had taken an interest in Dong Ho-won as well.
He had tested him out, but there was little reaction. Dong Ho-won simply trained just enough and aimed for a life of peace and plenty.
But he was too talented to leave be.
The shrewd Seol Hwa-un provoked him into a spar several times, overwhelming the patient Dong Ho-won until he finally snapped in anger.
From there, it was smooth sailing. Believing he had been humiliated by the younger Little Palace Lord, Dong Ho-won threw himself into serious training, burning with the resolve to one day defeat that arrogant Little Palace Lord.
Thanks to that, his skills had risen to threaten even Eom Mu-hwi. But as he said, the gap with Seol Hwa-un had only widened further.
Eom Mu-hwi couldn't hide his own bitter feelings.
'I didn't expect to win. Still, I thought we'd narrowed the gap a bit this time......'
Seol Hwa-un's growth rate was truly incomprehensible.
'But I won't give up, Little Palace Lord. Never.'
He had long abandoned any greed for the Little Palace Lord position. What drove him now was purely the fighting spirit of a martial artist.
Unlike their dejected moods, Seol Hwa-un wore a pleased smile.
'Nothing beats rivalry for making warriors grow.'
The two burned not just with competitive fire toward Seol Hwa-un, but subtly toward each other as well.
'It's fun to watch.'
At that moment, a warrior pushed through the snowfield.
"Greetings, Little Palace Lord!"
"What is it?"
"The Palace Lord seeks you."
"I see."
Seol Hwa-un turned to Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won.
"Then that's it for today."
Dong Ho-won shook his head as he watched Seol Hwa-un walk away.
"What a monster. Don't you think?"
"......"
"Feels empty, like the distance is just growing."
Eom Mu-hwi looked at him.
"You giving up?"
Dong Ho-won's face twisted.
"As if! Just watch. I'll make that Little Palace Lord kneel one day!"
"When?"
"......Damn it."
* * *
Paa.
Paa.
With each step Seol Hwa-un took, the piled snow parted to either side.
It was just a light vibrating foot technique, yet its effect was tremendous.
Thanks to that, a snow-free path naturally formed in his wake.
'Must be the snow. Barely any internal energy drain.'
The Ice White Divine Art and other yin-cold arts of the North Sea Ice Palace weakened in the Central Plains but grew stronger here in the North Sea—especially on days like this, brimming with yin qi.
'If a fight breaks out here in the North Sea, even the greatest masters would have to yield a step.'
That went double for Seol Wi-myeong, renowned as the Ice Emperor among the Three Venerables of the Outer Realm.
'Or maybe he's counted among the Three Venerables precisely because he's in the North Sea.'
Of course, that didn't mean undervaluing Seol Wi-myeong's prowess. He was more than capable of dominating a region even in the Central Plains.
'Father......'
He found it amusing how he now thought of Seol Wi-myeong as father without realizing it.
When he had first awakened in Seol Hwa-un's body, he had been too busy assessing the situation and adapting.
And now, over five years had passed living as the Ice Palace's Little Palace Lord, Seol Hwa-un.
'So it's come to this, huh.'
He no longer felt much urge to return to the Central Plains. He wasn't entirely free of lingering attachments, but he was thoroughly content with life as Little Palace Lord.
Seol Wi-myeong, Han Su-yeon, Seol Eun-ji—they all felt like true family now, not strangers.
'Yeah, sticking around as Little Palace Lord and eventually becoming Palace Lord doesn't sound bad at all.'
Lost in thought, Seol Hwa-un arrived at the Palace Lord's quarters before he knew it.
"......!"
He ran into the heads of the Five Great Families emerging from the Palace Lord's quarters.
"Greetings, Family Heads."
"Ah, Little Palace Lord."
They all greeted him warmly with clasped fists, their faces bright. Even the Winter Family Head and Yan Family Head, who had once vied for the position above him, smiled genuinely.
Seol Hwa-un asked.
"What brings you all here? It's not a Five Peaks Assembly day."
The Ice Family Head spoke for them.
"We had some matters to discuss. An impromptu meeting."
"Discuss......?"
"You'll see for yourself once you're inside the Palace Lord's quarters."
"......?"
Curiosity piqued, Seol Hwa-un wanted to press for details, but the Family Heads seemed reluctant to say more.
'Their expressions don't look too bad, though.'
As the Ice Family Head said, he'd learn naturally from Seol Wi-myeong.
As Seol Hwa-un entered the Palace Lord's quarters, the Family Heads watched his retreating figure with smiles.
The Yan Family Head spoke first.
"Isn't that aura astonishing? Even the former Palace Lord wasn't this impressive at his age."
"Indeed. Probably the greatest Little Palace Lord in history. We nearly chased out such a fine one."
The other Family Heads burst into laughter at the Winter Family Head's words.
"Hahaha, hearing you say that feels oddly amusing."
The Winter Family Head's face flushed a bit.
"D-don't embarrass me like that. You all worried about the Little Palace Lord position once too, didn't you?"
"Hahaha!"
It was true that the Yan Family Head and Winter Family Head had pushed Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won for Little Palace Lord.
Personal ambition played a part, but at the root was a desire to benefit the North Sea Ice Palace.
Yet Seol Hwa-un's astonishing prowess and his conduct over the past four years as Little Palace Lord were beyond reproach.
Thus, the Yan and Winter Family Heads had cleanly given up and now supported Seol Hwa-un alongside the others.
'If the Little Palace Lord grows like this and becomes Palace Lord, the North Sea Ice Palace's future will shine even brighter!'
"Greetings, Palace Lord."
"You've come."
At Seol Hwa-un's salute, Seol Wi-myeong gestured to a seat.
"Sit."
"Yes."
"From the training ground?"
"Yes."
Seol Wi-myeong nodded with satisfaction.
"Still diligent as ever. And your aura's sharpened further. Another breakthrough, I take it."
Seol Hwa-un didn't deny it.
"Just minor attainment."
"Modest as always. At your level, isn't minor attainment something greater?"
Even geniuses found progress slowing at higher realms.
'He's already reached peak mastery long ago......'
Seol Wi-myeong, gauging his level, was understandably impressed.
Feeling his father's gaze a touch burdensome, Seol Hwa-un changed the subject.
"I saw the Family Heads on the way. They mentioned an impromptu meeting."
"Indeed. Sudden guests arrived at my palace."
"Guests?"
Seol Wi-myeong's expression grew grave.
"People from the Central Plains."
"......?"
"The Eight Great Families sent an invitation."
The Eight Great Families.
It was the collective term for the eight most powerful martial clans scattered across the Central Plains.
Their influence rivaled the Nine Great Sects, especially the foremost Namgung Family, which wielded power comparable to Shaolin or Wudang.
Of course, Seol Hwa-un knew this well.
"Why would they send someone to our palace?"
"Seems the Families aim to break away from the Martial Alliance."
"......!"
To Seol Hwa-un, once leader of the Martial Alliance, it was thunder from a clear sky.
'Those bastards?'
"To that end, they're holding a grand assembly in Anhui Province, seat of the Namgung Family. They've invited our palace."
"They've had no ties with us before—why now?"
"They want to use us to flaunt their power to the world."
Seol Hwa-un sneered.
"Guess they think our palace is a pushover."
But then Seol Wi-myeong said something unexpected.
"The impromptu meeting decided we'll accept. Since they want to use our palace, we'll use them in turn. We'll seize this chance to show the Central Plains our palace stands as firm as ever."
"Ah!"
"Thus, we're sending you as our representative."