Chapter 19: The Secret Realm of Cold Snow
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19: The Secret Realm of Cold Snow
North Sea Ice Palace, Palace Lord’s Hall.
“Palace Lord. Word has reached us that flames have erupted across the Great Plains.”
“Does that mean…?”
“It appears the Young Master has succeeded.”
The expression of the Ice Palace Lord, Seol Baek-ho, shifted strangely.
Hearing that the bandits who had always been a thorn in his side were wiped out felt like a long-standing congestion finally clearing. However…
—Father-in-law, I’ll leave it in your hands.
The mere thought of that brat smiling made irritation surge within him.
“How many men did he take with him?”
“Six in total, including the Young Lady.”
“To think they suppressed the bandits with only six people.”
It seemed he would have to re-evaluate Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult.
“It seems we made an excellent choice in bringing him in as a matrilocal son-in-law.”
The Chief Officer, Seol Su-hyeok, seemed to have taken a great liking to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
“It seems you’ve grown quite fond of him, Chief Officer?”
“I have.”
“What exactly do you find so appealing about him?”
“The biggest reason is that he is resolving the issues I considered most troublesome.”
As the Chief Officer of the Ice Palace, Seol Su-hyeok was a man who knew almost everything that happened within its walls, both great and small.
Originally, the greatest problem facing the Ice Palace was the matter of succession.
The Ice Palace Lord, Seol Baek-ho, who had only one daughter, was famous for being a doting father. The problem was that his daughter possessed the Extreme Yin Body, a condition that effectively made her a terminally ill patient destined for a short life.
Because of this, Seol Baek-ho’s attention was entirely focused on his daughter, leaving him unable to pay heed to the internal affairs of the Palace.
Taking advantage of the weakened authority of the Palace Lord, the elders of the Council of Elders had been moving under the surface to seize control. They had taken over the Snow Tiger Unit and disbanded the Little Snow Unit. By the time Seol Su-hyeok noticed, the situation had become nearly irreversible.
But then…
‘Everything changed after Hyeok Ryeon-yeom arrived at the Ice Palace.’
Seol Yerin had recovered her health. The leader of the Snow Tiger Unit had been severely humbled by Hyeok Ryeon-yeom. Eun-bin, who had been lost in despair, became the Deputy Squad Leader of the Little Snow Unit. Even Tae Un-seo, the troublemaker of the Snow Tiger Unit, had been taken under Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s wing.
There were even rumors that he had managed to win over Elder Gwak Tae-san of the Council of Elders. And now, if he had truly wiped out the bandits that plagued the Ice Palace…
‘What a lucky charm he is!’
Where had he been all this time? Seol Su-hyeok’s impression of the young man had improved immensely.
“It’s good to see you looking so relieved, Chief Officer… but I still find him disagreeable. What did the Demonic Cult have to say?”
“They said that once the wedding date is set, the Cult Leader himself will personally visit the Ice Palace.”
“Ugh, it seems they intend to use this opportunity to fully integrate him into the Ice Palace.”
“We were the ones who made the request first, after all.”
Truly, humans are fickle creatures. As soon as Seol Yerin recovered her health, the Ice Palace was forced to re-evaluate the Third Young Master.
“For now, let us wait and see what he has to say when he returns.”
Since he passed the test, he would surely demand something in return. Furthermore…
‘I wonder if the Council of Elders will truly acknowledge Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.’
The Ice Palace Lord, Seol Baek-ho, was not deaf to the world. Until now, he had stepped back from the Palace’s affairs because of Seol Yerin, but from now on, he intended to change.
—Do you intend to go in?
“Of course.”
If this was indeed where a Martial God’s trial was located, then by conquering this place, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom would obtain the legacies of two of the four Martial Gods of the North Sea.
‘They say one can become a Martial God just by obtaining the legacy of one.’
With two, three, or four, he felt he could be certain of his ability to kill Hyeok Ryeon-geuk.
—Shall I help?
“Thank you.”
He grew curious whether the Martial God he was about to meet would be from an era before or after the Sword Venerable from three hundred years ago.
“Entering now.”
The gap where the Extreme Yin Qi leaked out was buried in the ground. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom bent down and began to inject Extreme Yang Qi into the earth.
When a material in an extremely cold state is suddenly heated, stress occurs due to the difference in expansion rates between the surface and the interior. As this stress increases…
Cr-crack—
Fractures began to appear at the entrance leading to the Martial God’s trial.
“It’s opening.”
Boom!
With a loud crash…
“Wait, what?”
The ground collapsed beneath him.
Whoosh!
As he fell, he felt as if he were passing through a formation.
Flash!
The space began to transform.
Whirrr!
A light dusting of snow began to flutter through the air.
“I didn't expect such a space to be hidden beneath the Great Plains.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, who had landed safely by utilizing his lightness technique to its fullest, was startled by the sight before him. It was a vast snowfield.
—Whoever they are, they have quite the eccentric taste.
“I think yours is similar, though.”
—What did you say?
For now, he began to walk across the snow. Once inside a formation, one cannot leave unless they find the Gate of Life. Fortunately, he had a rough idea of which direction to take.
Twitch— twitch—
The Extreme Yin Qi he had received from Seol Yerin was pulling him forward. As he moved in the direction indicated by the energy, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom began to wonder whose legacy was left here.
‘Ice Emperor Seol Cheon-woo, Han Seol the Demon Empress Jang So-ryeong, or the Ice Soul Spear Saint Seol Yeong-jin.’
If possible, he wanted to meet the founder of the Ice Palace, the Ice Emperor, rather than the Demon Empress or the Spear Saint.
—I did not expect two noble guests to arrive.
Just then, a woman’s voice echoed in Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s ear.
“What…?”
Unlike Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, who was startled by the sudden voice…
—Heh heh, so it is you, So-ryeong.
The Sword Venerable seemed to have already guessed the speaker’s identity.
—Who dares call me by my name…? Master?
Master?
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had not expected the Martial Gods of the North Sea, separated by a gap of a hundred years, to know each other. Furthermore…
“The number of ghosts just increased by one.”
The owner who had set up this formation appeared before Hyeok Ryeon-yeom in the form of a spirit.
Han Seol the Demon Empress, Jang So-ryeong.
A ghostly woman with shimmering, flowing white hair with a bluish tint revealed herself.
“I greet the Martial God of the North Sea from two hundred years ago.”
—Hmph, how dare you use the title of Martial God when this Sword Venerable is right here.
—There you go again. Master, that was always your problem. But who is this child?
—He is the successor of the Snow Wind Sword.
—Pardon? He doesn't seem to be a child of the North Sea.
Han Seol the Demon Empress, Jang So-ryeong, also seemed to see through Hyeok Ryeon-yeom at a glance.
“I am Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, the matrilocal son-in-law of the Ice Palace.”
—You possess far more Extreme Yang Qi than Extreme Yin Qi. You have the Extreme Yang Body?
“You have seen correctly.”
—Oh my.
The Demon Empress sighed upon hearing that someone with the Extreme Yang Body had ended up living as a son-in-law in the North Sea. After a moment of thought, she murmured.
—Perhaps it is for the better?
Since the North Sea was cold, she seemed to think it would be a good place for someone like Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, who was filled with Extreme Yang Qi, to live.
—Yes, I see it now.
—Master, why are you here?
—Why do you think?
—Don't tell me…
—Indeed. He has inherited my legacy.
—…You mean he came to meet me while already having inherited Master’s legacy?
—I didn't know you had left a legacy behind as well.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, who had been listening to the conversation between the two Martial Gods, felt his eyes brighten at the mention that the Demon Empress had also left a legacy.
—However, to pass it on to an outsider…
“My future wife possesses the Extreme Yin Body.”
Flash!
At the mention of the Extreme Yin Body, the Demon Empress’s interest was piqued.
—Really? Master, is that true?
—Heh heh, yes, I have seen her myself.
—Ah, then she will definitely need this Secret Realm of Cold Snow.
The Demon Empress pointed behind her. In the spot she indicated, a book was placed neatly.
“That is…”
—It is my legacy, containing the secrets and experiences of how I, who also possessed the Extreme Yin Body, was able to become a Martial God.
In other words, with that, Seol Yerin would be able to survive even without Hyeok Ryeon-yeom constantly transferring his Yang Qi to her.
“I wish to deliver it to my future wife. I would like to ask what I must do for you to grant me that secret manual.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom asked the Demon Empress with utmost courtesy. To which she replied:
—I cannot give it for free. You must pass the trial.
At the word ‘trial,’ Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s eyes gleamed.
Han Seol the Demon Empress, Jang So-ryeong, gazed at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, the first person to visit her hideout in hundreds of years.
Since leaving her legacy as a Martial God, not a single person had discovered this place. In truth, she was incredibly glad to see him. Especially after confirming that her master, the Snow Wind Sword Venerable, was with him.
As soon as she realized that, Jang So-ryeong changed her mind.
‘To think I’d finally get to leave this place after hundreds of years!’
Though she was a ghost, if she contained herself within the Secret Realm of Cold Snow, she could accompany the one who held it. The reason the Sword Venerable could wander the outside world so freely was likely because this boy had inherited the Snow Wind Sword.
‘And to think there is a girl with the Extreme Yin Body.’
Though it was a memory from a very long time ago, the pain of that time seemed to resurface. Thinking of the harsh suffering a person with the Extreme Yin Body must have endured, Jang So-ryeong wanted to meet the girl and comfort her as soon as possible.
‘A meeting between the Extreme Yang Body and the Extreme Yin Body.’
Memories like a past life drifted back to her. Looking closely, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom seemed to resemble the man in her memories.
—By any chance, is the boy from the Demonic Cult?
“How… did you know?”
Ah.
Upon hearing Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s answer, the Demon Empress’s gaze grew remarkably warm.
—Heh heh, looking at your eyes, I can tell what you’re thinking.
—I don't particularly want to travel with Master, but I am curious about the outside world.
—Still, a trial is a trial. It would be best to decide what kind of trial you will give him.
At the Sword Venerable’s mention that he too had given a trial, the Demon Empress began to contemplate as she looked at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
The Demon Empress’s legacy was the Secret Realm of Cold Snow, which contained her martial arts. To obtain this legacy…
—I shall begin the trial to determine if you are worthy of my legacy.
As soon as the Demon Empress finished speaking…
Sssss—
A cold blizzard swirled, forming a mirror. As Hyeok Ryeon-yeom looked into that mirror…
Flash!
He was instantly sucked into it.
“What the…?”
When he regained his senses…
“Youngest, do you have any idea how many people suffer because of your actions?”
Hyeok Ryeon-geuk was standing before him.
‘A memory of the past?’
The memories of his previous life appeared like an illusion.
“So, have you come to kill me?”
“Oh? How did you know I was going to kill you?”
Grin.
Hyeok Ryeon-geuk smiled. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom could never forget this moment. He had always carried this memory with him.
“You know it well. Now, die.”
Whoosh!
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was cut by the sword swung by Hyeok Ryeon-geuk, but he did not die. He transformed into flames, vanished, and then reappeared, swinging his sword toward Hyeok Ryeon-geuk’s neck.
Slash—
‘I failed.’
He had clearly cut him, but there was no sensation of resistance in his hand.
“Asura—”
The scent of the Heavenly Demon wafted from Hyeok Ryeon-geuk’s sword. It seemed he still needed to become much stronger to defeat Hyeok Ryeon-geuk.
“Flame Connection—”
The moment the fluttering of the butterfly wings, entwined with flames, touched the Asura!
Crash!
Hyeok Ryeon-geuk and the Asura began to crumble away.
“Is it over?”
The moment he muttered those words…
Flutter—
Blue butterflies made of ice crystals began to fly around.
“This is…”
It was the Ice Butterfly.
The Ice Butterfly, the opposite of the butterfly entwined with flames created by his fire sword, surrounded Hyeok Ryeon-yeom. Looking at it, he realized what the legacy of Han Seol the Demon Empress truly was.
The Secret Realm of Cold Snow.
A martial art that seemed more suited for the Young Lady, Seol Yerin, than for Hyeok Ryeon-yeom himself. The Demon Empress’s martial arts began to shimmer before his eyes.