Chapter 26: The Ice Crystal
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 26: The Ice Crystal
“This is…”
It was Ice Jade.
Seol Yerin flinched as she looked at the brilliant, snow-white gemstone.
“It carries an energy similar to the Ice Crystal, doesn't it?”
“I was actually going to ask you about that. You said you used to live near the Ice Crystal, right?”
“That’s right. The Ice Crystal is essentially the sacred relic of the Ice Palace. It’s designated as a treasure that every generation of Palace Lords must protect, so my father should be the one keeping it.”
“How did you end up living so close to it?”
“Well, I used it as an excuse to practice my ice arts. I went to see the Ice Crystal frequently.”
Thinking it would be fine because she possessed the Extreme Yin Body had been her fatal mistake.
While Seol Yerin grew stronger the closer she was to the Ice Crystal, she eventually lost control over her Extreme Yin Qi.
As a result, her energy began to run wild, causing numerous casualties and forcing her into seclusion within the Young Palace Lord’s Hall.
‘According to what I heard from the Martial Gods… the North Sea’s Ice Crystal goes berserk every hundred years.’
If that rampage actually occurred, not only the Palace Lord but the entire Ice Palace would be in grave danger.
‘If I want to make the Ice Palace my foundation, the first thing I need to do is prevent its destruction.’
Now that he had wiped out the bandits and resolved the financial crisis, the issue of the Ice Crystal remained.
‘If possible, I should find the legacies of the other two Martial Gods quickly.’
Even with his Extreme Yang Body, it was still unknown whether Hyeok Ryeon-yeom could control the sheer magnitude of the Extreme Yin Qi contained within the Ice Crystal itself.
‘I need to meet with the Palace Lord.’
He had previously been granted permission to visit anywhere in the Ice Palace, but he needed to confirm if that included the location of the Ice Crystal.
“But what do you plan to do with this Ice Jade?”
The Ice Jade that the Demon Empress had stashed away was a gem imbued with Extreme Yin Qi. There were infinite ways to utilize it.
“I could sell it, use it myself… I’m planning to use it in various ways.”
“Could I… have just one?”
“What for?”
“To use as a vessel for my Extreme Yin Qi.”
At Seol Yerin’s words, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom looked at her.
Come to think of it, her Extreme Yin Qi seemed to have stabilized slightly after experiencing that initial "emptying" process.
—It certainly seems more stable than before.
Han Seol the Demon Empress, Jang So-ryeong, wore a satisfied expression.
—Indeed, if she needs to go through the process of consuming her Extreme Yin Qi every day, pushing as much of it as possible into a piece of Ice Jade like this could be a viable method.
Since the Demon Empress also favored the idea, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom nodded.
“I didn't expect to be giving a gift like this.”
As he held out the brilliant Ice Jade contained in a jade box, Seol Yerin’s expression stiffened.
“Calling something you just happened to find a ‘gift’… you really are shameless.”
“Where I come from, we usually say we just ‘picked it up on the way’ when giving things like this.”
“…Is that how they give gifts in the Demonic Cult?”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom thought about it for a moment. Recalling the words the men of the Demonic Cult used when giving gifts to women, he replied, “Ahem, you could say that.”
He realized that most men were pretty much the same.
“Thank you. I’ll put it to good use.”
Seol Yerin looked incredibly beautiful as she smiled, clutching the Ice Jade as if it were precious.
“I should go see my father-in-law.”
“Pardon?”
“I need to ask him when would be a good time for the wedding.”
“Third Young Master!”
He was at least half-serious.
*
“You’ve come at the right time.”
Pant, pant.
While the Ice Palace Lord, Seol Baek-ho, spoke with a heavy, dignified air, the Yin Wolf was busy wagging its tail in Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s arms.
Since he had come straight after sending Seol Yerin back to her quarters, the wolf seemed to be hungrily eyeing the Extreme Yin Qi radiating from Seol Baek-ho.
“And that creature?”
“I received it from the Ice Wolf Unit.”
Seol Baek-ho looked at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom with a questioning gaze. It was surprising that the leader of the Ice Wolf Unit had allowed someone who wasn't even a member of the unit to carry a Snow Wolf around.
“Raising one won’t be easy.”
“I’ll do my best. After all, I’m a man of the Ice Palace now, am I not?”
“Not quite yet.”
Zzzzt—
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom smiled in response to Seol Baek-ho’s wary gaze.
“So, what brings you here?”
“I came to ask about a place I’d like to visit… but by the looks of it, it seems you have another favor to ask of me?”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom asked this while looking at the Chief Officer, Seol Su-hyeok, who was standing beside Seol Baek-ho.
“You’re quick on the uptake. Chief Officer.”
“Yes, Palace Lord.”
At Seol Baek-ho’s command, Seol Su-hyeok stepped forward.
“Squad Leader Hyeok.”
“……?”
The form of address had changed.
Seol Su-hyeok, the Chief Officer of the Ice Palace, gave a fist salute to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
“We are truly grateful to you for resolving our financial crisis. Thanks to you, we are now able to trade with the Central Plains. That being said… this might sound shameless, but could you perhaps take charge of escorting a merchant group that will be visiting the North Sea from the Central Plains?”
At the mention of the Central Plains, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom began to search his memories.
‘Did the Ice Palace ever expand into the Central Plains?’
The powers of the Outlands only began their activities in the Central Plains when the Demonic Cult started its invasion.
‘Did they not have any presence there before that?’
He didn't know for sure. However, one thing was certain.
‘Hyeok Ryeon-geuk would have tried to control the Outlands first.’
In other words, in the past—whether due to bandits or other Outland powers—the Ice Palace’s entry into the Central Plains happened much later.
“You’re saying a merchant group from the Central Plains is visiting the North Sea?”
“That’s right. We have been trading with the Moyong Merchant Group. They must have heard the news that the bandits have been wiped out, so they will be arriving soon.”
“Where should I begin the escort?”
“From the entrance of the North Sea to the Ice Palace.”
He was being told to go out and greet them.
“Understood. I will take responsibility for bringing them safely to the Ice Palace. In exchange, I have a condition.”
“A condition?”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom thought of the Snow Tiger Unit and the Ice Wolf Unit, the primary military forces of the Ice Palace. He needed to address what the Ice Wolf Unit Leader had done.
‘Trying to kill a fellow member of the Ice Palace for a personal vendetta…’
It was highly likely that Seol Baek-ho was unaware of the incident with the Ice Wolf Unit.
‘Is the rumor that he’s a Palace Lord who abandoned his duties to save his daughter really true?’
Probably not.
What did Seol Baek-ho—known only to care for his daughter, Seol Yerin—really think of the warriors of the Ice Palace?
As a member of the Seol family, Chief Officer Seol Su-hyeok would have naturally taken the Palace Lord’s side. That was likely why they had drained the Palace’s coffers until the financial crisis hit.
‘Naturally, there would be factions that aren't happy about this…’
In other words, now was the perfect time for a rebellion.
‘If the Young Lady died young and the Palace Lord was struck down, usurping the throne would have been child’s play.’
They had to be out there. Those who wished for the downfall of Seol Baek-ho and the Seol family.
The problem was Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
Many things had changed since he arrived at the Ice Palace as a matrilocal son-in-law candidate. The Young Lady had recovered, the crumbling Ice Palace was stirring back to life, and the Palace Lord had begun to focus on governing again.
To those who wanted the Palace to ruin itself, this would be incredibly irritating.
‘While I’m handling the merchant group, I should use the opportunity to root out the traitors.’
Once trade with the Central Plains resumed, the Palace Lord’s position would become unshakable again. Those people wouldn't want that.
Since he hadn't sensed anything from the Snow Tiger or Ice Wolf Units yet, there was only one place left.
‘The Council of Elders.’
Operating on the assumption that there was a traitor among the elders, the condition Hyeok Ryeon-yeom put forward was:
“I want to see the Ice Crystal.”
“You… the Ice Crystal?”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom brought up the possibility of the Ice Crystal going berserk to Seol Baek-ho. Even without the Martial Gods, there must be records regarding the Ice Crystal passed down to the Palace Lord.
Seol Baek-ho clearly knew that the Ice Crystal could go out of control.
“I cannot show the Ice Crystal to just anyone.”
“I am aware of that. But as the one who obtained the Martial God’s legacy and the future son-in-law, I’m not exactly ‘just anyone,’ am I?”
“You certainly have a silver tongue for someone I haven't even agreed to give my daughter to yet.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
So, are you going to show me or not?
The father-in-law pondered for a moment before standing up.
“Let’s go.”
“Palace Lord!”
Chief Officer Seol Su-hyeok looked shocked.
“If he sees the Ice Crystal, he might be able to find a way to cure Yerin even faster.”
At those words, Seol Su-hyeok fell silent. He knew all too well that once Seol Yerin was involved, Seol Baek-ho wouldn't listen to any objections.
“I didn't know there was a space like this underground.”
The father-in-law led Hyeok Ryeon-yeom toward the basement of the Palace Lord’s Hall.
“From here on, only the two of us will go.”
“Chief Officer, please look after this fellow.”
Drag, drag.
Seeing the Yin Wolf dripping saliva, it was certain that the Ice Crystal was inside. It would be troublesome if the wolf tried to eat the Ice Crystal’s Extreme Yin Qi, so he handed it over to Seol Su-hyeok.
“Yes, understood. Please, go ahead.”
Rumble.
As Seol Su-hyeok led the Yin Wolf away, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom began to follow Seol Baek-ho deeper into the depths.
“I suppose you can withstand this chill because of your Extreme Yang Body.”
The cold grew significantly more intense the further they went.
“Well, having experienced the Extreme Yin Qi the Young Lady possessed, this isn't much of a problem.”
“This is the first time I’ve ever shown the Ice Crystal to an outsider.”
“Is that so?”
—Heh heh, it’s not something to be dismissed so lightly. The Ice Crystal is the sacred relic of the Ice Palace. It seems the Palace Lord has opened his heart to you quite a bit, despite how he acts.
The Sword Venerable spoke up.
—He’s the one who pulled us out after we were stuck for hundreds of years. Master, you should just acknowledge him already. You have to admit he has talent, being able to handle the Snow Wind style to this extent.
The Demon Empress added to the Sword Venerable’s words.
At the sudden praise from the two Martial Gods, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom stared at the Palace Lord’s back.
Subconsciously, he was comparing Seol Baek-ho—the strongest man in the Ice Palace and its supreme ruler—to his own father, Hyeok Ryeon-hwi.
Relatively speaking, his father-in-law’s back seemed smaller than his father’s.
“Father-in-law.”
“Who’s your father-in-law?”
“If there were someone aiming for your position, what would you do?”
Seol Baek-ho paused. He stopped walking toward the Ice Crystal.
“I’ve heard that you’ve been poking around the Snow Tiger and Ice Wolf Units. Did you sense something?”
“It’s not exactly like that.”
“Even if you did sense something, that is my problem to deal with.”
Lately, Seol Baek-ho had been feeling it too—that he hadn't been managing the Ice Palace properly. He only now realized that all his attention had been consumed by his daughter, Seol Yerin.
“So, you don't need to worry about it.”
How can I not worry?
To Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, the Ice Palace was now like a second home. To stand against Hyeok Ryeon-geuk, the Ice Palace could not be allowed to fall.
“If you ever need help, please let me know. I’d like to hear people say that you benefited from having a son-in-law.”
“I’ve already sent a gift to the Heavenly Demon to thank him.”
“……Pardon?”
The great Ice Palace Lord had sent a gift to the Leader of the Demonic Cult? And a thank-you gift at that? This was quite bewildering.
“You probably don't realize how much your actions since arriving at the Ice Palace have helped me and Yerin. That is why I am showing you the Ice Crystal, our sacred relic.”
—See? I told you he thinks highly of you, didn't I?
—So this is the bond between a father-in-law and a son-in-law.
—He’s still just a prospective son-in-law.
“I have already received much. I do not know what you hope to gain by helping me and Yerin, but if there is something you need, speak up. This is a family with that much power.”
They passed through the underground tunnel and arrived before a stone gate. While they were talking, they had reached the location of the Ice Crystal.
Rumble.
The stone gate began to open.
“…Thank you.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom hadn't expected his father-in-law to think of him this much. It felt as though he had finally been recognized as a son-in-law.
“Now, take a look. And see if you can find a way to stop this Ice Crystal from going berserk.”
Fwoosh!
As the stone gate opened, a surge of Extreme Yin Qi erupted, and Extreme Yang Qi began to flare up from Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s entire body to meet it.