Chapter 152
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Evening Spar
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After finishing dinner, Sa In-gyeol stood tall in the training ground behind the guest hall.
“…….”
He seemed to have come out for his habitual martial arts training, but after drawing his sword, he simply stared blankly at the sky.
‘Martial arts training…… what’s the point now?’
No thoughts came to mind. His enemy was already dead, and the family members who had been brutally murdered could never return.
‘What…… should I do with my life now?’
It wasn’t unreasonable for him to feel this way, having devoted his entire life to revenge only for his goal to vanish in an instant.
At that moment, a strange chuckle reached his ears.
“Kekeke, you’ve got a pensive look on your face.”
Turning his head, he saw Hong Seong-chil, cloaked once more in his blood-red coat.
“Shattered Bone Ghost Blade.”
Wariness filled Sa In-gyeol’s eyes.
“Kekeke, so you still don’t trust me, huh.”
“I’m not the type to change my mind based on a few sweet words like the North Heaven Fortress Lord.”
“Is that so?”
“But I’m not completely distrustful either. There was sincerity in your shout back then. Let’s call it half-believing, half-doubting.”
“Hoo. As expected of a righteous sect member—soft-hearted.”
“Did you come here just to say that?”
“Nah.”
Hong Seong-chil bared his white teeth.
“When your head’s all cluttered, it’s best to work up a sweat. How about it? Care for a round?”
“What’s your angle?”
“What angle? I was already itching for a fight after watching you spar with the Fortress Lord.”
“…….”
Sa In-gyeol looked reluctant, but Hong Seong-chil launched the first strike without waiting.
“Watch out.”
In an instant, his figure vanished like a shadow.
Pa-at!
Sa In-gyeol’s eyes widened.
“……!”
He had completely lost track of Hong Seong-chil’s form in that split second.
‘Even if I was off guard…….’
Sa In-gyeol quickly spread his qi in all directions.
‘Where? Above?’
Confirming the air above was empty, he immediately lowered his gaze to the ground.
‘Below!’
Sure enough, there was Hong Seong-chil.
He was charging forward in an extremely low stance at terrifying speed, which had allowed him to slip from sight momentarily.
By then, Hong Seong-chil had closed in right under Sa In-gyeol’s nose. His speed was unbelievable for a man with a limp.
Suddenly, a silver gleam flashed.
Bbang!
Shuaaaak!
It was a sharp upward draw-slice from below. Any ordinary expert would have been bisected without knowing what hit them.
Sa In-gyeol gritted his teeth and swiftly raised his longsword.
Creeeeang!
He barely blocked it, but unable to withstand the immense force, Sa In-gyeol staggered back two steps.
‘Kuh, as expected of the Shattered Bone Ghost Blade?’
A short朴刀 about three feet long was now in Hong Seong-chil’s hand.
“Not bad. Blocking my From-Below弹起 Blade.”
Hiding his inner thoughts, Sa In-gyeol replied calmly.
“That much won’t take me down.”
“Kekeke, now let’s play for real.”
Hong Seong-chil charged at him again.
Pa-at!
Sa In-gyeol thrust out his sword without backing down.
Chaeng-chaeng!
Sword and blade clashed fiercely. Hong Seong-chil pressed his attack, weaving into blind spots with unpredictable footwork, but he couldn’t pierce Sa In-gyeol’s defense.
‘A duck-step-like low stance, yet moving that fast!’
‘His swordsmanship is rock-solid. Not easy to break through.’
Chaeng-chaeng-chaeng!!
The evenly matched bout continued for a while.
Hong Seong-chil relentlessly targeted low strikes, and Sa In-gyeol struggled to defend even knowing they were coming.
Of course, Sa In-gyeol wasn’t just on the defensive. He occasionally lunged with his sword, putting Hong Seong-chil in peril.
Then, at one point, Sa In-gyeol seized an opening.
‘Now!’
Shuaak!
The Circular Wheel Sword Qi finally revealed itself.
“Damn it!”
Hong Seong-chil couldn’t hide his dismay. He had already witnessed it during the spar with Seol Hwa-un.
‘It’s still too much for me to block with my current skill.’
That’s why he had pressed aggressively from the start. The Circular Wheel Sword Qi’s power was that formidable.
But it was too late to dodge. Hong Seong-chil swung his朴刀 with all his might.
“Yaaap!”
Kwaaaang!
He barely managed to block, but his figure was pushed back steadily.
Sa In-gyeol swiftly closed the distance, not letting up.
Hong Seong-chil quickly shouted.
“Hold! I yield!”
“……!”
As Sa In-gyeol halted, Hong Seong-chil grumbled.
“Tch! I felt it during your match with the Fortress Lord, but your skills outshine your reputation.”
Sa In-gyeol smiled faintly.
“What do you think kept me out of the martial world for ten years?”
“Hmph, impressive.”
Looking at Sa In-gyeol’s face, Hong Seong-chil said.
“Now you’re smiling.”
“……!”
“How’s that? Head feel clearer?”
Sa In-gyeol slowly nodded.
“I won’t deny it. Thanks to you.”
“Then let’s get to the point.”
“Hm?”
Hong Seong-chil’s eyes sparkled.
“You don’t seem to have anywhere to go. How about becoming a guest warrior for the North Heaven Fortress with me?”
“……What?”
“Looks like you took a liking to the Fortress Lord too. Not a bad deal, right?”
“…….”
“Being a lone guest warrior gets boring. You seem like someone I can talk to.”
Sa In-gyeol replied curtly.
“Forgot you’re unorthodox? As you know, I’m righteous sect.”
“Don’t make me laugh. I’ve never once thought of myself as unorthodox. Others just labeled me that way.”
“…….”
“Ah, of course, that doesn’t make me righteous either. Just think about it.”
In truth, Sa In-gyeol had briefly considered it upon seeing Hong Seong-chil become a guest warrior. But there was a catch.
‘Either way, the North Heaven Fortress is an Outer Realm force.’
He could be welcomed anywhere with his level of skill.
‘But…….’
Nothing else appealed to him.
In contrast, the North Heaven Fortress had exceptional talents like Seol Hwa-un and a vibrant atmosphere.
And.
‘Hate to admit it, but you’re not bad either.’
Sa In-gyeol, who had been staring silently at Hong Seong-chil, slowly nodded.
“Got it. I’ll think it over.”
* * *
The North Sea Ice Palace stood tall upon the vast white expanse.
Lately, the North Sea buzzed with more energy than ever.
Thanks to the West Gate Family opening the floodgates, exchanges with the Central Plains had flourished, and countless people came and went to the North Heaven Fortress.
As a result, a meeting was now underway in the Ice Palace’s grand conference hall.
“……The West Gate Family has made an earnest request to increase the shipment of millennial cold iron by one part.”
“That won’t do. The mines are already deepening, slowing extraction, and yields have dropped sharply. Without new veins, more is impossible.”
“Indeed. Even setting aside other matters, considering the inherent value of millennial cold iron, further exports are out of the question.”
Over twenty high-ranking members of the North Sea Ice Palace gathered, discussing various agenda items.
It wasn’t the Five Peaks Council, but all five family heads were present.
With the scale growing, the Five Great Families’ involvement had become essential.
For instance, Bing Cho-pung dispatched to the North Heaven Fortress.
“What of the North Heaven Fortress household matter?”
North Sea residents relocating to the Central Plains.
Mass migration was physically impossible and would alarm the Central Plains. Many residents didn’t want to move anyway.
Thus, they prioritized volunteers to relocate first as North Heaven Fortress households.
“Preparations are nearly complete, but escort duties are giving some pause.”
“The Ice White Cavalry Brigade will handle it within the North Sea, but beyond that is the issue. The North Wind Brigade would be ideal, and conveniently, they’re dispatched to the North Heaven Fortress.”
At that moment, the Ice Family Head raised his hand.
“How about my Ice Martial Brigade takes it?”
The attendants brightened at his words.
“Oh!”
“That settles it neatly.”
“Hahaha, then it’s decided.”
Seol Wi-myeong silently observed the meeting’s flow.
‘So this day has come.’
It was a dream he’d harbored since coming of age.
‘All thanks to Hwa-un, that kid.’
Thinking of Seol Hwa-un brought a smile to his lips.
‘North Heaven Fortress Lord, keep it up.’
Speak of the tiger, and he appears, as they say.
Just then, a letter arrived from the North Heaven Fortress. Naturally, all eyes turned to Seol Wi-myeong, who held it.
“Good thing we asked the Ice Chief Steward. Regular updates like this.”
“Hahaha.”
“We were shocked hearing he took down the Bloodlight Sword Lord not long ago. The Little Palace Lord truly knows no bounds.”
“Indeed.”
As Seol Wi-myeong read, a glint appeared in his eyes.
‘Invited by the Yangtze Dragon King?’
The young face of the Yangtze Dragon King came to mind.
‘Interesting. The Sword Demon too…… connections from my Central Plains days are linking to Hwa-un.’
He read on contentedly, but suddenly his eyes widened.
“……!”
Seeing his unusual expression, the attendants asked.
“What’s wrong, Palace Lord?”
“Something happen to the Little Palace Lord……?”
“He’s formed…… an alliance with the Righteous Heaven Alliance.”
“What?”
“What nonsense is this……!”
The shock was brief as they realized the magnitude.
“No one in the Central Plains can touch the North Heaven Fortress recklessly now!”
“Exactly! Haha, as expected of the Little Palace Lord. Another feat in so short a time…….”
Seol Wi-myeong said calmly.
“The proposal came from the Righteous Heaven Alliance first.”
“What? Why would they……?”
Another attendant chimed in.
“They want to borrow the Little Palace Lord’s prestige. He felled two Evil Path generals, after all.”
“True.”
“To the Central Plains righteous sects, the Little Palace Lord is already a hero.”
Seol Wi-myeong continued.
“That’s not all. His first order as Fortress Lord was to subjugate the Ghost King寨. And he didn’t stop there—swept all the Shanxi Province bandits too.”
The Yan Family Head burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha! I can almost hear the praises for the North Heaven Fortress reaching here, Palace Lord.”
Amid the joy and praise for Seol Hwa-un, Seol Wi-myeong harbored a private concern.
‘Hmm. All good, but the Green Forest matter worries me.’
From what he knew, the Green Forest Tyrant, leader of the bandits, was no pushover.
‘The alliance with the Righteous Heaven Alliance makes it unavoidable for now, but he’s not one to sit idle.’
Seol Hwa-un had already crushed the main forces of three bandit strongholds. The Green Forest Tyrant must be gnashing his teeth.
“…….”
He worried briefly, but not overly so. Seol Wi-myeong didn’t fret much.
‘He’s already a giant. With Chief Strategist Yu assisting, he’ll handle it.’
Meanwhile, as the meeting ended and the Ice Family Head headed back to his residence, he received a secret missive.
“…….”
Back in his office, he unfolded it.
“Finally, some news.”
The sender was Dong Ho-won.
[To the Ice Family Head.
Apologies for the delay. Must have kept you waiting, but here it is at last.]
“It’s been ages since I asked…… lazybones.”
The Ice Family Head had sent Seol Hwa-un to the Central Plains with inner anxiety. The expedition itself didn’t matter.
‘What if Su-hye gets overshadowed by some other woman?’
A grandfather’s worry for his granddaughter. His anxiety grew because his prospective grandson-in-law was so outstanding.
[You may have heard, but I took down one of the Heavenly Remnant Twin Evils. Haha.]
The irritated Ice Family Head muttered.
“I read the Shanxi skirmish report ages ago, you fool! Skip the bragging and get to the point!”
[……The Little Palace Lord remains as ever. Several women watched from afar, but fortunately, he shows so little interest in them they couldn’t approach rashly. Of course, among them, one who eyed me intently…….]
“Spare me the nonsense.”
He skimmed the rest quickly. Fortunately, nothing major.
The Ice Family Head nodded with a pleased expression.
“As expected of the Little Palace Lord. Reliable.”
But then his eye caught a short postscript by Dong Ho-won.
“Hm?”
[P.S. — Come to think of it, the Bright King Sect Leader’s daughter did approach. The famed Supreme Beauty of the Evil Path.]
The Ice Family Head’s eyes bulged.
‘Supreme Beauty of the Evil Path?’
[But no worries. They just shared one dinner and he returned. Nothing like spending the night together.]
“……Shared dinner?!”
An earthquake shook the Ice Family Head’s pupils.