Chapter 150
Chapter 150
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: The Demon Sword of the North Sea
-----------------------------------------------------------------
That was the decisive reason she hadn't kept in close contact with Jegal Jung-cheon lately. Marry the Victory Dragon Unit Leader or the Jeong Cheon Alliance Leader? It was far too bewildering.
Moreover, didn't she already have a man in her heart?
"Still, there's no helping it this time. If Grandfather truly steps in later, we'll have no choice but to borrow Young Master Dan's strength."
Jegal Lin said this with a bright smile. Just imagining Dan Hyeong-u doing something for her filled her with inexplicable joy. Whether he'd actually do it was another matter, of course.
Jegal Lin opened the wardrobe and pulled out a large birdcage from inside. It held several messenger pigeons. Some were trained to fly to the Jegal family estate, others to the Martial Alliance.
A messenger pigeon bound for the Martial Alliance hopped into Jegal Lin's hand from the cage. Moments later, it soared into the sky.
North Sea Ice Palace.
Known as a massive ice fortress in the remote depths of the North Sea. But in truth, it was a place where people lived. No one could inhabit a palace made purely of ice.
In any case, the North Sea Ice Palace wielded a power that everyone in the North Sea yearned for. It was also a place that believed one day it would cross into the Central Plains and dominate even their warmth.
The strongest figure in the North Sea Ice Palace was, naturally, the North Sea Ice King. And that Ice King always harbored the greatest desire—and ambition—to become the mightiest in the Central Plains.
The current great king of the North Sea was also called the North Sea's Demon Sword. He was a man steeped in demonic fervor, having drowned all who opposed him in blood with a single blade.
And so, people firmly believed he would set his sights on the Central Plains this time.
The North Sea Ice Palace had last invaded the Central Plains centuries ago. They hadn't dared since, having been utterly crushed by the Thunder Emperor Tang Ak of the Central Plains, leaving their power severely weakened.
It had taken over three hundred years to fully recover from that debilitation.
A man knelt respectfully before the North Sea's Demon Sword.
"So, you're the one who sought me out?"
Unlike the rumors, the North Sea's Demon Sword spoke softly and mildly. His tone and every gesture exuded refinement. His appearance was extraordinary too—impossibly youthful for a man past sixty. A stranger might mistake him for someone in his late twenties.
"First, please accept this gift for the King of the North Sea."
Courteous words flowed from the lips of the man bowed low. From his bosom emerged an orb the size of an adult fist, gleaming with iridescent light.
"Ho. That's a decently useful orb."
With a slight flick of his hand, Bing Cheon-hu drew the orb from the man's grasp into his own in an instant.
Bing Cheon-hu examined the orb briefly before tossing it aside.
Thud!
The orb smashed into the floor right before the man's forehead. Yet he didn't so much as flinch.
"But it's of little use to us."
At Bing Cheon-hu's words, the man smiled faintly and spoke again.
"May I raise my head?"
Bing Cheon-hu chuckled softly and nodded.
"Your spirit appeals to me. Go ahead."
With that, the man lifted his head. He glanced back and beckoned with a hand.
At his gesture, several burly men entered the grand hall, each carrying a large chest. They set the chests neatly before Bing Cheon-hu and swiftly withdrew.
"This gift should please you."
Bing Cheon-hu nodded to the warriors at his side. They leaped forward in an instant and flung open the chests' lids.
Inside each chest were iron spheres the size of human heads, packed full. Three chests held five each—fifteen in total.
"What are those?"
Bing Cheon-hu asked with a peculiar expression.
The man's smile deepened.
"They're called True Heavenly Thunder."
"True Heavenly Thunder?"
"Mere trifles compared to the Ice King. Think of them as a modest token of my sincerity."
True Heavenly Thunder could hardly be dismissed as trifles. Even secluded as the North Sea Ice Palace was, the legends surrounding it were well-known.
"Fifteen legendary True Heavenly Thunders... It feels like I've received an ominous gift."
By saying this, he had already accepted it. The man's smile grew thicker. He glanced back again and gestured. Once more, the burly men hauled in chests—this time ten of them, similar in size but containing different items.
"These are for when True Heavenly Thunder would be a waste. They're called Thunderclap Bombs."
No further explanation was needed for the infamous Thunderclap Bombs. With this many True Heavenly Thunders and Thunderclap Bombs, there was nothing to fear. They could march on the Central Plains now and burn it all to ashes.
Bing Cheon-hu could almost see the Central Plains martial world kneeling before him.
"With such magnificent gifts, you must want something in return. What is it?"
The man bowed his head at Bing Cheon-hu's question.
"Merely two small requests."
"Whether they're small or not, I suppose I must hear them first."
He called them small, but Bing Cheon-hu didn't buy it. Fifteen True Heavenly Thunders alone would cost a fortune beyond measure. Add ten chests of Thunderclap Bombs.
A flicker of tension crossed Bing Cheon-hu's face.
"First, when the Ice King conquers the Central Plains, please recognize our merchant guild."
"Ah, yes—the Golden Prosperity Merchant Guild?"
"Yes. We're insignificant now, but when you rule the Central Plains martial world, the power of merchants will be essential. It would be our greatest honor to serve the Golden Prosperity Merchant Guild then."
Bing Cheon-hu nodded. He knew little of merchant affairs anyway. He needed allies—for war and its aftermath. Building such ties now wasn't a bad idea. Especially with gifts of this magnitude.
"That's no trouble. And the next?"
"Kill one man and take his sword for me."
Bing Cheon-hu's face twisted slightly.
"That's your request? Are you mocking me?"
"How could I? It's just that he's extraordinarily strong... A mere trifle for us."
Bing Cheon-hu nodded readily.
"Not bad for some amusement. I'll show you why they call me the Demon Sword."
With that, Bing Cheon-hu rose and strode out. His North Sea warriors followed suit.
In the chill-seeping hall remained only the man who had bowed so humbly moments ago—and his entourage.
Jegal Jung-cheon rushed to the Alliance Leader's office with hurried steps. He needed to reply to Jegal Lin's letter, but there was no time.
"Alliance Leader! This is grave!"
Dugun Un looked up at Jegal Jung-cheon's urgency.
"It's been ages since I've seen the Strategist so flustered. What on earth has happened?"
Jegal Jung-cheon spoke gravely.
"The North Sea is stirring ominously."
"North Sea?"
Dugun Un frowned. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was headache enough—now the North Sea?
"Yes. It seems they're preparing for war."
"Ugh. What a pain."
The North Sea Ice Palace's power was at its peak in centuries. The Martial Alliance usually ignored the North Sea, but recent rumors of their growing strength had prompted hasty infiltration by spies.
Yet the North Sea's harsh environment crippled spy operations, forcing piecemeal intelligence from fragments.
This time, however, signs of war were unmistakable.
"The North Sea Ice Palace got smashed invading our Central Plains martial world centuries ago, and they still haven't learned."
"We can't take them lightly. North Sea warriors are fierce, with tenacity and cruelty Central Plains fighters lack."
"True enough."
The North Sea was a barren frontier. Its warriors were innately enduring and ruthless.
"This is a real headache. If only the Thunder Emperor appeared now, I'd welcome him with open arms."
Jegal Jung-cheon gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"Such a legendary expert won't appear so easily."
"What should we do? We're stretched thin just checking the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and now it's the North Sea Ice Palace. Think of ways to block or counter them."
Jegal Jung-cheon paused before speaking cautiously.
"How about contacting the Jeong Cheon Alliance?"
Dugun Un didn't answer easily. The Jeong Cheon Alliance rivaled the Martial Alliance—he hated bowing to them. They might even be awaiting the Martial Alliance's overture upon hearing of the North Sea.
"Tricky."
Dugun Un fell silent after that. Jegal Jung-cheon understood his reluctance.
"Any other options?"
Jegal Jung-cheon bowed deeply.
"I'll think harder."
With that, Jegal Jung-cheon withdrew. The Alliance Leader needed time alone to think—leaving him was proper etiquette.
Back in his room, Jegal Jung-cheon recalled Jegal Lin's letter.
"Right, I need to reply."
He realized he hadn't even read it properly amid the rush.
"I was in quite the hurry."
Chuckling, Jegal Jung-cheon unfolded the letter and read it carefully.
His expression shifted moment by moment. Reading Jegal Lin's words surfaced details he'd overlooked amid managing the vast Martial Alliance. Small oversights accumulated into great crises.
Jegal Lin was piecing together those small clues to see the big picture. With her leads, Jegal Jung-cheon, holding all the intel, could connect the dots easily.
"Such a grave plot unfolding in the shadows? Then this North Sea Ice Palace business too...?"
He could scarcely believe it. What colossal force could manipulate even the North Sea Ice Palace? Yet tracing events revealed the shadow sought something specific.
Jegal Jung-cheon hurriedly penned a reply and dispatched it via messenger pigeon. The martial world's fate hung in the balance.
In mere days, pigeons flew back and forth between Jegal Lin and Jegal Jung-cheon. Soon, they were nearly certain: the group called "Assembly" plotted the martial world's annihilation.
"The Martial Alliance Leader or Jegal Jung-cheon still hasn't come seeking me? It'd make wrapping things up far easier if they did."
Wol Yeong lounged leisurely in his room, the Heavenly Mechanism Chart in hand as always.
Escaping the chart's endless spring of secrets was no easy feat. He'd gained so much, yet infinities remained.
Wol Yeong glanced at the Lake Moon Palace on his lap. It was his alone, straining to mend his broken body.
"What a colossal wall. The Heavenly Qi Master."
Muttering this, Wol Yeong looked up. Something approached the Paeng family. The formation's range had expanded lately, detecting movements even from afar.
"Hm? That's odd."
The approaching presence vanished abruptly. It never reappeared. Its trajectory and speed pointed straight for the Paeng family—yet it was gone without a trace.
A chill swept over Wol Yeong. An ill omen. His mood soured rapidly.
Wol Yeong waved his hand. A faint resonance triggered the formation. Every array over the Paeng family activated, hunting the intruder. But no trace remained.
Anxiety flooded Wol Yeong. There had definitely been something. Definitely.