Chapter 95
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: The Ice White Cavalry Arrives
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Dudududu!
The sound of hoofbeats grew louder and louder. Yet the riders were still nowhere to be seen. The Mingwang Brigade grew flustered.
“W-what’s that? The sound is so huge, but we still can’t see them?”
Dududu!
The noise was so immense it filled the entire valley. And finally, a group of cavalry came into view.
“Gasp!”
“What kind of horses…!”
They were over a foot taller than ordinary horses, so it was no wonder they were shocked.
The steeds ridden by this cavalry were the North Sea Ice Palace’s specialty: Ice Blood Horses.
In an instant, five hundred riders arrived at the Ip-hae Valley.
Both horses and men were clad in inky black full-body armor, giving off an overwhelming presence just from the sight.
If they knew that every suit of that plate armor was alloyed with millennium cold iron, they would have been even more stunned.
Yi Jeong-myeong’s face stiffened as he faced the cavalry.
“So those are the North Sea Ice Palace’s pride and joy: the Ice White Cavalry.”
They weren’t well-known in the Central Plains, but in these parts, the Ice White Cavalry had quite the reputation.
The northern borders of the Central Plains were home to countless nomadic tribes who pillaged without regard for time or place, making headaches not just for the Central Plains but for the North Sea as well.
To counter them, the North Sea Ice Palace had formed the Ice White Cavalry.
Deployed to the battlefield, the Ice White Cavalry racked up countless feats and became a terror to the northern tribes.
“…….”
A warrior astride an especially massive Ice Blood Horse dismounted.
Crack!
He turned to his men and shouted.
“Dismount!”
“At your command!”
The Ice White Cavalry’s roar echoed thunderously through the valley. Soon, all five hundred riders were on the ground.
The lead warrior turned back around. Slowly, he removed his helmet.
A middle-aged man’s handsome face was revealed. His stern expression flicked toward Yi Jeong-myeong and the others.
“……!”
They had already been cowed by the cavalry’s aura the moment they appeared, frozen in place.
They simply had no confidence in facing five hundred cavalrymen.
Yi Jeong-myeong’s face twisted viciously.
‘Damn it all!’
Now, he couldn’t even think about dealing with Seol Hwa-un’s group—he had to worry about his own survival.
“Hmph.”
The middle-aged man snorted and stepped forward.
“…….”
He headed straight for Seol Hwa-un, paying no mind to the Mingwang Sect disciples.
Dong Ho-won, recognizing him, started to speak.
“Ah, Un…….”
But Eom Mu-hwi swiftly covered his mouth.
“Stay quiet for now.”
“Mmph, mmph!”
Before Seol Hwa-un, the middle-aged man dropped to one knee.
Thud!
“Ice White Cavalry Leader Dong Tae-hyeon pays respects to the Young Palace Lord!”
Kuu—woong!
As if they had been waiting, the Ice White Cavalrymen simultaneously dropped to one knee.
“By the Palace Lord’s command, we have come to escort the Young Palace Lord!”
Dong Tae-hyeon, leader of the Ice White Cavalry, was the younger brother of the Winter Family head Dong Tae-cheon and Dong Ho-won’s uncle.
He was the master known as the North Sea’s Foremost Spear.
Seol Hwa-un slowly nodded.
“Rise.”
“As you command.”
The Ice White Cavalry Leader stood. The other cavalrymen rose as well.
“You must have had a hard journey coming all this way.”
“It was merely our duty.”
The Cavalry Leader’s gaze shifted to the Mingwang Sect disciples.
“……What shall we do with them? Command it, and we shall erase them from the North Sea.”
Their expressions changed at the fearsome killing intent radiating from him.
Seol Hwa-un spoke calmly.
“I will handle their disposition myself, Cavalry Leader.”
“Understood.”
Seol Hwa-un approached Yi Jeong-myeong.
“Looks like the tables have turned, Iron Masked Fiend.”
“…….”
“Smart move. You could have charged in recklessly, but staying put like this……”
Yi Jeong-myeong spoke with a hardened expression.
“……What do you want?”
A smile tugged at Seol Hwa-un’s lips.
“As expected, quick on the uptake. Not for nothing the Mingwang Sect’s strategist.”
Yi Jeong-myeong’s eyebrow twitched.
“You dare insult me?”
“Of course not. Though enemies, I acknowledge the schemes that pushed me this far.”
Seol Hwa-un continued.
“Make one promise, and I’ll let you all go free.”
“Promise? You don’t mean covering up what you did to the Four Evil Heavenly Gates, do you? Even I can’t…….”
“A truce.”
The unexpected word caught Yi Jeong-myeong off guard.
“A truce?”
“Indeed. A truce between the Demonic Alliance and our palace. Let’s say five years.”
“……!”
“I figure that’s within the capabilities of the Mingwang Sect’s strategist. What say you?”
On the face of it, it wasn’t a bad deal for the Demonic Alliance.
Even without a truce here, the Eight Demonic Gates attacking the North Sea Ice Palace seemed unlikely given the circumstances.
No, it was a welcome option since Yi Jeong-myeong and the Mingwang Brigade would survive.
‘If they planned to make an enemy of our alliance, wiping us out here would be the better choice. Why…….’
A thought flashed through Yi Jeong-myeong’s mind.
‘No way…….’
He looked at Seol Hwa-un with renewed surprise.
‘He saw that far ahead?’
Yi Jeong-myeong couldn’t help a bitter feeling. He regretted not eliminating Seol Hwa-un sooner.
‘No choice. Survival comes first…….’
He spoke.
“I accept the truce. But the term is three years. That much, I can promise.”
Interest gleamed in Seol Hwa-un’s eyes.
‘As expected of the Iron Masked Fiend. No pushover.’
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
“Very well.”
A provisional truce document was drawn up on the spot. They signed and each took a copy.
Seol Hwa-un smiled.
“Then honor the agreement.”
“No worries. I’ll send formal documents the moment I return to the sect.”
Fearing Seol Hwa-un might change his mind, Yi Jeong-myeong led the Mingwang Brigade out of the Ip-hae Valley at once.
“…….”
As Seol Hwa-un watched them go impassively, the North Wind Brigade Leader approached.
“Young Palace Lord, is this truly fine? We should have eliminated the Iron Masked Fiend here…….”
“I considered it. But removing them yields little gain. Just a handful from the Mingwang Brigade and one strategist, right?”
“……!”
The Brigade Leader’s eyes widened.
To call fifty Mingwang Brigade members and the Iron Masked Fiend “just a handful.”
‘He truly means it.’
The Brigade Leader nearly let out a hollow laugh.
“Then why propose the truce……?”
“We’ll be advancing into the Central Plains soon. But it’s their home turf, so who knows what they might pull. I’d rather not deal with interference from the start.”
He could have avenged the fallen North Wind Brigade members against them. But the dead wouldn’t return. Instead, he chose the North Sea Ice Palace’s future.
“You saw that far ahead. But if they break the agreement…….”
“Then the Iron Masked Fiend is a worthless strategist. From what I know, though, he’s not that lacking in integrity. He knows at least the bare minimum of face.”
“…….”
“Well, they are unorthodox, so they might break it. In that case, we’ll shame them.”
If it came to that, he’d spread the provisional document across the Central Plains. It would at least sow doubt among the orthodox sects.
Since it was true they had come to the North Sea and left.
“……I see.”
The Brigade Leader’s expression was peculiar. Guessing his feelings, Seol Hwa-un spoke.
“Worry not, Brigade Leader. This doesn’t mean abandoning vengeance for the North Wind Brigade members.”
“……!”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“But settling for mere rabble like them won’t do. Truth be told, I had three years in mind from the start and said five to test. Three years from now. Then we’ll have proper revenge.”
“……!”
“I’ll urge the Palace Lord to hasten our advance into the Central Plains. Secure a foothold quickly…… and make them pay dearly for touching our palace.”
His resolve to wage war on the Demonic Alliance if need be came through clearly.
“…….”
The Brigade Leader nodded silently. He couldn’t bring himself to agree too strongly.
‘The Young Palace Lord will surely see it done.’
It was then.
“If you’re back in the North Sea, you should hurry home instead of dawdling.”
The familiar voice made Seol Hwa-un flinch involuntarily. He turned to see a woman staring at him.
“Ah.”
Clad in a dazzling white coat, she was a beauty so striking it made his eyes widen.
“What have you been up to that you’re only returning now!”
Seol Hwa-un looked troubled.
“Sister…….”
She was none other than his sister, Seol Eun-ji.
“You get this grand title like North Heaven Dragon, so why not just live in the Central Plains?”
She wasn’t truly unaware of what Seol Hwa-un had been doing.
“I told you to send a letter at least every ten days, but it’s been over four months without a single one?”
“There were circumstances.”
Seol Eun-ji’s gaze sharpened further.
“Circumstances? You mean wandering the Central Plains’ famous clans left no time to think of family waiting in the North Sea?”
Seol Hwa-un gave a wry smile. He had plenty to say about her words, but decided against it.
She wasn’t truly ignorant, and above all, he felt her deep worry for him.
“I’m sorry.”
Before he knew it, Seol Eun-ji was right in front of him. Despite her angry expression, her eyes brimmed with tears.
“…….”
Suddenly, Seol Eun-ji threw her arms around Seol Hwa-un.
“Uh…….”
Caught completely off guard, Seol Hwa-un froze. Held like that, her scolding continued.
“Didn’t you think of Mother waiting back at the palace? Do you know how anxiously your fiancée Su-hye has been waiting?”
“I’m truly sorry, Sister.”
“Are you hurt anywhere? Nothing wrong with you?”
In truth, the spot where he’d taken an external injury ached from her embrace, but he couldn’t bring himself to say so.
“……No.”
“I’m so relieved you’re safe. Really…….”
Seol Eun-ji’s voice cracked bit by bit. Soon, Seol Hwa-un’s shoulder grew damp.
‘Sister…….’
Unable to push her away, Seol Hwa-un had to remain in his sister’s embrace for quite some time.