A Proposal
With that, I kept sparring in a lighthearted mood.
Now that I had a rough idea of how strong I was, the matches were even more fun.
At the very least, I was in the Peak realm.
Of course, from the moment I could pour inner energy into an iron fan and shape it into sword-like force, my level had basically been set in stone.
If this had been the old me, it would’ve taken ages to get here. But the effect of the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal had been enormous.
Who would’ve guessed one good hit like that could push me this far?
Before long, Jegal Seyeong joined us too, and the three of us took turns sparring.
Then, while we were at it, I noticed a certain person approaching from over there.
"Greetings, Senior Disciple Jiseon."
"Greetings, Senior Disciple Jiseon."
Paeng Jeon-ho and Moyong Jua greeted her with utmost respect.
So I bowed too, and Jiseon stared at me intently.
"Child. You are Baek Harin, are you not?"
"Yes, Senior Disciple."
"Come with me for a moment."
I had no idea what this was about, but she was clearly someone formidable.
No wonder even Byeokunja had been wary of her.
"Yes, Senior Disciple."
At my reply, Jiseon turned and walked away.
But something in Paeng Jeon-ho and Moyong Jua’s faces looked almost regretful.
What? Why were they making that face? I couldn’t exactly ask, either. That was unsettling.
Jiseon and I walked for a while and came to a quiet spot.
The garden of the Jegal Clan Manor was beautifully kept no matter where you looked, and with the weather this nice, being outside like this was actually rather pleasant.
Besides, Jiseon was, I wasn’t sure how old, but definitely a striking woman.
How should I put it? A sharp beauty?
Ah. So that’s why she’s called Jiseon—was the first character the one for thorny bramble? That tracks.
"Child."
"Yes. Please speak."
"This one does not care for beating around the bush. So I shall speak plainly. Will you become my disciple?"
"Pardon?"
"I do not mean that you must enter Jongnam. Though that would be better, it would not be easy. So what about an anonymous disciple? If so, you would have little cause to lose out."
"Uh… I’m a bit taken aback by how suddenly you’re saying this…."
"This one prides herself on having an eye for talent. That is why I have spent all this time growing old alone without taking a single disciple. But now, at last, I have found a child who pleases my eye. You."
Anyone who knew Jiseon and saw this scene would probably faint from shock.
Jiseon’s standards were notoriously high. Not just high—absurdly so.
She was one of the top five women in all Murim, and her martial arts were equally exceptional.
Which was exactly why she still hadn’t found a man who met her standards.
Of course, Harin had no idea of any of that, so all she felt was bewilderment.
"Become my disciple. With my standing, if you become my disciple, you will not have to suffer in the future. And Elder-Uncle Byeokunja has taken a liking to you as well, so you would gain much from him too. Do you know this? Elder-Uncle has no disciple either. So if you agree, it means you could inherit everything from both him and me."
It was so astonishing that I had no idea how to answer.
Of course, this was the sort of offer I should accept.
Byeokunja and Jiseon both looked like the difficult type, but that was nothing compared to becoming their disciple.
This was basically like getting offered a trainee contract at an audition you’d only just walked into.
And Jongnam Sect was the equivalent of a top-tier corporation.
On top of that, the main producer had personally handed me a card and said, “We’re debuting you no matter what.”
An offer with my future guaranteed. Refusing it would be stupid.
And yet I hesitated. I didn’t even know why.
So it was hard to answer recklessly.
I didn’t think brooding over it would reveal the reason, but I still wanted a little time.
"Must I answer right now? Could you give me some time, please?"
Jiseon’s expression hardened slightly, as if her pride had been bruised.
"Was my offer lacking?"
"No, not at all. It is certainly more than I deserve. But this is not the kind of thing I can accept on a whim."
If this had been the usual Jiseon, she would probably have exploded and shouted at me.
"You dare refuse my offer!? Have you lost your mind? Know your place!" Something like that.
But Jiseon swallowed it down. My talent was simply too tempting to give up over pride.
What sort of child could hear only the oral formula for the Seven Stars Step and then reproduce it? How was that even reasonable?
And on top of that, this child was young. Beautiful. And she even knew the Ice Soul Divine Art.
So even Jiseon, who had never been known for patience, forced herself to hold back.
"This one will be leaving this place in two shichen. Think it over until then."
"Thank you, Senior Disciple Jiseon."
With that reply, Jiseon spun on her heel and strode off.
Wow. That’s terrifying. I said I’d think about it for a bit, and she still radiated that much murderous pressure?
It really was a good offer, but even so, I doubted this would be easy to accept.
Maybe I’d be in for a mountain of trouble.
And if I suddenly became the disciple of Byeokunja and Jiseon, I had a feeling Jongnam wouldn’t look on me kindly.
So I’d said I’d think about it, but my heart was already leaning toward refusing.
The real problem was how to turn it down without causing offense.
When I returned to the training ground, Moyong Jua, Paeng Jeon-ho, and Jegal Seyeong hurried over and asked me all at once, "Miss Baek! Miss Baek! Miss Baek! What happened?"
"Did Senior Disciple Jiseon say something? Could you tell us?"
"Sorry. I have something to think about… I’ll step inside for a moment."
At my words, Moyong Jua and Jegal Seyeong nodded and told me to go on in.
Paeng Jeon-ho simply watched me silently.
Back in my room, I sat on the bed and then flopped flat onto it.
Haa. This is hard. To think I’d have to kick away a chance like this.
But it was necessary. Jongnam, the Jegal Clan, and the Ice Palace were practically competing to win me over.
That meant this probably wouldn’t be the last time something like this happened. Or would it?
I was lying there, lost in thought, when I heard movement outside and then a voice.
"Miss Baek. It’s Baek Jin-ah."
"Ah! Please come in!"
I shot upright, and after the door opened, Baek Jin-ah stepped inside.
White hair, white skin, white martial robes. And blue eyes like jewels.
If I wore white robes too, would I look like that?
"Please, have a seat. What brings you here?"
"...I’ll be honest with you. I saw you walking through the garden with Senior Disciple Jiseon earlier."
"Ah."
"I wasn’t watching on purpose. I came looking for you, and it just happened by chance…."
"It’s all right. I don’t think that."
At that, Baek Jin-ah’s expression softened with obvious relief, and she smiled.
She really was a strange one. She had learned ice-based martial arts, and her usual expression was so cool it seemed almost cold, yet her smile was warmer than anything else.
"So. What brought you here?"
"Nothing major… Miss Baek. Would you like to come with me to the Ice Palace?"
"The Ice Palace."
The Ice Palace, huh.
It was something I’d expected. Not because I was clever or anything. It was just obvious.
Baek Jin-ah had come to find the manual for the Ice Soul Divine Art. Now that she’d found it, it was only natural she’d go back.
Besides, if Jiseon was making that kind of offer, the Ice Palace could certainly do the same.
But the Ice Palace was far away. Really far away.
I didn’t know how this world had mapped out the Ice Palace, but it was probably based on something like Lake Baikal or Povarzino.
In other words, it was nearly three thousand kilometers away. Come to think of it, that was about the same distance as Mount Cheon, the Heavenly Demon Sect’s stronghold.
Even if I traveled a hundred kilometers a day, it would still take a month.
Well, okay, even traveling a hundred kilometers a day wouldn’t be easy, but the point was: it was ridiculously far.
"You don’t seem very… eager, do you?"
Perhaps because of that, Baek Jin-ah’s expression lacked confidence when she asked me.
She’d made the invitation, but it was clear even she thought it was too much to hope for.
"Miss Baek."
When I called her gently, a sliver of hope appeared in her eyes.
It made me feel a little guilty.
"You do have to go back, don’t you?"
"Yes. I’ve recovered the manual. So I should return as quickly as possible."
"That is very unfortunate."
At my answer, her expression fell again.
Because “that is unfortunate” also meant “it will be hard for us to go together.”
"Miss Baek. I don’t know if you’re aware, but my father is the Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace. So if you come to the Ice Palace, I can treat you so well you’ll forget all about Central Plains. And your appearance… no matter how I look at it, you’re one of our people. Besides, you said you have no memory, didn’t you? Who knows? Maybe your memories would return if you went to the Ice Palace."
Baek Jin-ah’s words grew a little scattered.
Why did she want to drag me there so badly?
This felt a little different from Jiseon’s case.
"I’m sorry, Miss Baek. I have something I need to do here in Central Plains."
"You mean recovering your memory? If that’s all, you could do that in the Ice Palace too…."
"No. There’s something else. Something I absolutely have to do."
"But you said you lost your memory…."
"I still remember a few things."
Once I said that much, Baek Jin-ah looked thoroughly crestfallen.
A tactful refusal. Ah. I should be able to do that with Jiseon too.
"Is it something that will take a long time?"
"Yes. It might be something I can’t finish even in my whole lifetime."
"If you’re only saying that to refuse my request, you don’t have to go that far."
"No, that’s not a lie. I can’t tell you everything, but I really do have something I need to do. Truly."
"Then…."
"Yes? Go ahead."
"Would it be all right if I visited you once?"
"I can’t promise when it’ll be. But if I get the chance, I’ll definitely come."
Baek Jin-ah fell silent for a moment after hearing that.
What was it? Why did this woman want to bring me to the Ice Palace so badly?
"All right. Please don’t forget that promise. Don’t you dare."
"I won’t. By the way, when are you heading back?"
"I’m leaving right now."
"Ah!? Already?"
"I told you. Now that I’ve found the manual, I have to return as quickly as possible. I was supposed to leave immediately in the first place."
"Ah… because of me…."
"No. Don’t think like that. Standing guard was something I truly wanted to do."
"Thank you. For everything, including guarding me and giving me the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal."
"That should be my line. You found this manual for me, after all. If not for you, I’d still be wandering around Central Plains for who knows how long."
With that, Baek Jin-ah smiled again.
But while her expression was warm, it also looked sad.
Why did this woman show me so much feeling?
"I’m sorry. For not being able to accept your invitation to go together."
"No. Please don’t feel burdened. You did say you’d come visit once. I’m satisfied with that."
"All right. I’ll definitely come once. When I’m capable of making the trip there on my own."
At that, Baek Jin-ah stood up.
"Oh. You’re leaving already?"
"Yes. I should. Haa. It was nice meeting you, Miss Baek."
"Same here."
As I rose too, Baek Jin-ah hesitated for a moment, then looked at me and said, "Miss Baek. Excuse me, but… may I hug you just once?"
I was a little flustered, but her expression was so earnest that I couldn’t really refuse.
So Baek Jin-ah held me tightly in her arms. Then she bowed to me and turned around.
"Take care on your way back."
As I said that, Baek Jin-ah turned, smiled once more, and left the room.
A smile carrying both cold and warmth at once.
Somehow, I had a feeling I wouldn’t be forgetting that expression anytime soon.
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