Chapter 14
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Return to the Central Plains
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After the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor conquered the Southern Barbarians, the Western Regions, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and even the North Sea Ice Palace, sweeping away all external forces as the Martial Alliance Leader, the Central Plains martial world enjoyed peace.
Though the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor had gone missing, the Martial Alliance persisted afterward.
Then, about ten years later, the unorthodox factions formed their own alliance, the Evil Path Union, and broke away.
It was because the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor, who had mediated between the orthodox and unorthodox factions, had vanished.
Afterward, the Martial Alliance was well-run, centered on the Nine Great Sects, Eight Great Families, and the martial clans. They had the Evil Path Union as a counterforce, after all.
Yet now, two hundred years later, the Martial Alliance was on the verge of splitting in two.
Thus, the North Sea Ice Palace was currently investing substantial funds and manpower to gauge the situation in the Central Plains martial world.
It was to prepare for any potential future attacks.
As he carried out his duties as Little Palace Lord, Seol Hwa-un had learned of this information as well.
‘The Martial Alliance I helped build... Now it’s completely fractured.’
He was none other than the founding Alliance Leader who had achieved the grand unification of orthodox and unorthodox factions.
‘I never expected it to last forever anyway.’
Still, the orthodox factions splitting apart came as a surprise even to Seol Hwa-un.
‘They bickered internally but never fully turned their backs on each other...’
He let out a wry chuckle.
‘Haha, I never imagined I’d be heading back to the Central Plains like this.’
With that, Seol Hwa-un accepted the journey to the Central Plains.
The venue for the ‘Grand Assembly’ was Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province. With still about two months left, but considering the great distance and it being an unfamiliar path, preparations were completed as swiftly as possible.
The group would consist of Little Palace Lord Seol Hwa-un, along with the North Wind Brigade Leader and thirty elite members of the North Wind Brigade as his escort force.
The North Wind Brigade was the unit among the Ice Palace’s military organizations where individual capabilities were the most outstanding, and they frequently handled external operations.
Additionally, at Seol Hwa-un’s suggestion, Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won were joining as well.
On the day of departure.
A massive crowd gathered in the Ice Palace’s grand training grounds.
Seol Hwa-un, along with Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi, and the North Wind Brigade stood in formation, while ahead of them stood the heads of the Five Great Families, Palace Lord Seol Wi-myeong, and the leaders of each organization.
Around them, countless palace servants who had come to watch gathered, observing the scene. They knew what this departure ceremony signified, as Seol Wi-myeong had publicly announced it far and wide.
“Today, the Little Palace Lord looks even more dashing than usual.”
“Exactly, right? I’m amazed every time I see him. His aura changes every time, you know.”
“It really gives that sense of the changes of the times. Just five years ago, weren’t the rumors about the Little Palace Lord rather poor?”
“That’s all in the past. I don’t even remember.”
“Hahaha, that’s just talk. With the Little Palace Lord heading to the Central Plains... He’ll make those Central Plains bastards truly remember our palace.”
“Of course he will.”
Seol Hwa-un already enjoyed tremendous support both inside and outside the North Sea Ice Palace.
Dong Ho-won, standing side by side with Eom Mu-hwi behind Seol Hwa-un, muttered in a dazed expression.
“...Why am I going to the Central Plains too?”
“Quiet.”
“Why the hell am I...”
Eom Mu-hwi furrowed his brow.
“Don’t make a fuss. Think of it as a good chance to see the wider world.”
“I don’t need that crap...”
“Pathetic guy.”
At that moment, Seol Wi-myeong stepped forward. They flinched and hurriedly shut their mouths.
“......”
He approached a middle-aged man standing a short distance from Seol Hwa-un.
“North Wind Brigade Leader.”
“Yes, Palace Lord.”
The middle-aged man who bowed his head was none other than the North Wind Brigade Leader Han Jong-il, Seol Hwa-un’s maternal uncle.
“I leave it to you.”
“Of course, Palace Lord.”
The North Wind Brigade Leader was publicly acknowledged as the North Sea’s Greatest Blade Wielder, a supreme expert even a step above the Cold Family Head.
Seol Wi-myeong moved in front of Seol Hwa-un.
“This is your first time leaving the Ice Palace, so there may be unexpected difficulties. The North Wind Brigade Leader has plenty of experience, so seek his counsel.”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, Seol Wi-myeong’s transmission reached him.
[Have you said goodbye to your fiancée?]
“......!”
Seol Hwa-un’s body jolted.
[You heartless rascal. How can you be so cold? The journey to the Central Plains isn’t just a day or two...]
He gave an awkward smile.
[...You’re teasing me.]
The North Sea Ice Palace often arranged marriages between families based on tradition, regardless of the individuals’ own wishes.
Seol Hwa-un was no exception. As Little Palace Lord, he should have taken a wife long ago.
The Ice Family Head and Seol Wi-myeong had already discussed the match. His partner was Bing Su-hye, who had become the North Sea’s Greatest Beauty upon reaching adulthood.
Bing Su-hye hadn’t particularly objected either, but Seol Hwa-un had delayed the wedding by citing martial arts training as an excuse.
It wasn’t entirely wrong, and since he was still young, those around him had respected his opinion up to that point. However, now that he had passed twenty, the pressure for the marriage was gradually mounting.
Of course, if the parties involved disliked each other, they wouldn’t force the wedding. But once the family heads made a promise, the couple would meet often, build affection, and in most cases, proceed to marriage.
The problem was that Seol Hwa-un was consciously avoiding Bing Su-hye.
‘It’s not that I dislike her or anything...’
Few men would turn down a peerless beauty like Bing Su-hye. But for now, his desire for martial arts far outweighed any interest in women.
Seol Hwa-un simply didn’t want to be distracted by other things.
“Go well.”
“Yes, Father.”
* * *
Emperor’s Pavilion.
This tower, boasting the grandest scale in Hefei, was owned by the Namgung Family, renowned as the world’s foremost clan, and drew countless visitors.
The five-story Emperor’s Pavilion grew exponentially more expensive and luxurious the higher the floor.
The fifth floor was reserved for the Pavilion Master to host VIPs, so ordinary people couldn’t use it—making the fourth floor effectively the top level.
Yet, strangely, the fourth floor was nearly empty. More precisely, every table was vacant except for one.
The reason was simple. They had rented out the entire fourth floor.
At the table sat three young men and one young woman—all of them youths, surprisingly.
All carried weapons, suggesting they were scions of martial families. Moreover, each possessed outstanding looks.
A young man in brown martial robes, with a spear propped beside him, looked around and spoke.
“The view from the Emperor’s Pavilion is truly superb. Thanks to you, Brother Namgung, I get to enjoy such luxury.”
The young man called Brother Namgung replied.
“No need for such words. I couldn’t possibly neglect Brother Ak, who came all this way.”
The young man in sky-blue martial robes was Namgung Seo-ok, the second young master of the Namgung Family.
“Brother Jegal, it’s been a while, and your bearing seems even more refined.”
A slender young man in blue martial robes responded.
“Brother Namgung, your aura has grown even stronger in the meantime.”
“Hahaha, I had a minor breakthrough from my recent closed-door training.”
Contrary to his humble words, his face brimmed with pride. The beauty sitting silently beside him spoke up.
“That’s how he talks, but Father even praised him.”
Smiling softly, she was none other than Namgung Seo-ok’s younger sister, Namgung Hye-yeon.
At eighteen this year, Namgung Hye-yeon possessed a small face and voluptuous figure, overflowing with charm.
Already, countless people hailed her as Anhui Province’s Foremost Beauty.
It was no wonder the two young men kept stealing glances at her. They were Ak Su-jeon, young master of the Shandong Ak Family, and Jegal Hyeon, young master of the Jegal Family.
All of them had come to Anhui Province to attend the Grand Assembly.
“Your father... You mean the Namgung Family Head?”
“Yes.”
The current Namgung Family Head was Namgung Sung, one of Anhui’s top experts, the Emperor’s Divine Sword.
Though he didn’t match his brother the Heavenly Outer Sword Venerable, he was an exceptional swordsman more than qualified to lead the family.
“As expected of Brother Namgung.”
Excluding Namgung Hye-yeon, they were all geniuses who had reached the top eight in last year’s Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.
Jegal Hyeon asked Namgung Seo-ok.
“Brother Namgung, is the Heavenly Outer Sword Venerable attending this Grand Assembly too?”
Namgung Seo-ok shrugged.
“He’s such an elusive divine dragon... I haven’t seen him in ages either.”
Jegal Hyeon’s eyes gleamed.
‘The Heavenly Outer Sword Venerable’s attendance is crucial. The Namgung Family wouldn’t be unaware of that...’
Still, he couldn’t press the matter. Though bound together as one of the Eight Great Families—and the Jegal Family ranked highly among them—there was still a gap compared to the great Namgung Family.
“Then, Young Master Namgung...?”
Namgung Seo-ok said with a stiff expression.
“My brother is still in closed-door training. He’ll probably... appear only on the day of the Grand Assembly.”
“As expected of a born martial prodigy.”
Heavenly Dragon Namgung Hyo.
The Namgung Family’s young master and winner of the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament five years ago, he was expected to become the world’s greatest swordsman after the Heavenly Outer Sword Venerable.
“......”
Though there was a significant age gap between brothers, Namgung Seo-ok harbored strong competitive feelings toward Namgung Hyo.
Seeing his hardened expression, Jegal Hyeon quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, when are the other families arriving?”
Reading the mood, Ak Su-jeon chimed in.
“With the distances involved, it’ll take time, won’t it? We left early and it’s close for us.”
“That makes sense.”
“Come to think of it, I heard the North Sea Ice Palace was invited this time—is that true?”
Namgung Seo-ok, back to his usual expression, answered.
“It’s true. No matter the ‘other purpose’ of the Grand Assembly, we can’t just gather the Eight Great Families alone. I hear invitations went out to some prominent mid- and small sects as well.”
“No, even so, inviting those Northern Barbarians... It could muddy the waters if not careful...”
“Watch your words.”
Ak Su-jeon flinched at Jegal Hyeon’s icy tone.
“The Grand Assembly isn’t just about forming a new alliance. Ultimately, the goal is to surpass the Martial Alliance and later absorb even them. Showing that we embrace even Outer Realm forces is strategically vital.”
“Y-Yes, I see. My thinking was shortsighted.”
Namgung Seo-ok added.
“Inviting them is fine. But we must make them aware of their place.”
The dejected Ak Su-jeon nodded vigorously.
“Exactly! That might be even better. We crush those Northern Barbarians at the Grand Assembly!”
“Isn’t subjugating them better than embracing them?”
At Namgung Seo-ok’s question, Jegal Hyeon let out a faint sigh.
“Whew. True, but...”
“With my Ak Family Spear Technique, I’ll make them kneel!”
“We look forward to Brother Ak’s skills.”
“Hahaha, watch me. This time, I won’t lose to you, Brother Namgung.”
Jegal Hyeon watched them, unable to hide his discomfort.
‘...They’re underestimating the Three Venerables of the Outer Realm too much. They mustn’t cause any incidents.’
At the same time, Seol Hwa-un’s group was entering Shanxi Province.