Chapter 3: Northern Sea Ice Palace
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 3: Northern Sea Ice Palace
Rumble.
I woke up to the sound of a heavy door sliding open.
"Have we arrived?"
"Yes, we have."
The journey from Xinjiang to the North Sea had been incredibly long.
There were two main routes to the North Sea. The first was going through Qinghai from Xinjiang. However, that path required passing through the Central Plains. Since the Kunlun Sect would be watching with hawk-like eyes, it presented too many difficulties.
Thus, we chose the second option: traveling north through Inner Mongolia.
Leaving the edge of Xinjiang, we entered Inner Mongolia through a desolate desert. As we moved toward the vast plains, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had imagined wide-open, lush green fields, but he was disappointed by the bleak reality of the Inner Mongolian landscape.
Furthermore, Baek Mu-yong insisted on traveling only through the most secluded areas to avoid any encounters with the Inner Mongolian mounted bandits on the way to the North Sea.
During the long and grueling journey, we rested briefly by the occasional river as we continued our trek northward.
And then...
Whoosh.
As I opened the carriage door, a flurry of pure white snow greeted my eyes.
"Ugh, so cold..."
I saw Weizhi Young, who was sitting on the driver's seat, shivering from the chill. She seemed to be wearing Baek Mu-yong’s outer coat, but she still looked freezing.
"Come inside the carriage."
"I-I’m fine."
"It’s alright, just get in. It’ll be much warmer than outside."
Thinking it would be rude to refuse twice, Weizhi Young scurried inside. Immediately, she gasped.
"Wow, Young Master! It’s so warm in here?!"
"It’s just my constitution. It can’t be helped."
"Ah... I see."
She marveled at the cozy interior of the carriage. Seeing her satisfied, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom climbed up onto the driver's seat.
"It is troublesome if you come outside as you please like this," Baek Mu-yong remarked.
"Why is that?"
I glanced ahead.
Beyond a glacier-covered mountain of eternal snow, I saw an ice wall radiating a brilliant light. Past that wall, which looked like a massive fortress, buildings made of ice captured my attention.
'It looks like a crystal palace.'
An exclamation of wonder escaped me naturally.
However, as soon as we entered the Ice Palace, the gazes of countless people pierced the carriage.
"It is unprecedented for an outsider to enter the Ice Palace."
Especially if that outsider was the man destined to be the Young Palace Lord’s husband, the people's attention was bound to be intense.
"Who is that handsome man?"
"Isn't that Squad Leader Baek of the Ice Wolf Unit on the driver's seat?"
"Wait, if he’s an outsider brought in by Squad Leader Baek..."
"Is he the matrilocal son-in-law for the Young Palace Lord?"
"Tsk tsk, looks like another ice statue is about to be made."
On the way to the Palace Lord’s Hall, I turned to Baek Mu-yong after hearing the whispers from all directions.
"What do they mean by 'ice statue'?"
"Do not pay it any mind."
Despite his words, the frozen ice statues visible along the path to the Palace Lord’s Hall looked far too realistic. They were all frozen solid, many with one hand raised.
Wait.
This was the Ice Palace, and the masters here used ice arts.
'Don't tell me... all of them...'
Were they originally human?
Frowning, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom reached out his hand toward Baek Mu-yong.
"Are you asking for the reins?"
"Yes."
"I cannot do that."
"Then run."
"Pardon?"
"Hurry!"
"Yah!"
As Baek Mu-yong urged the horses forward, the carriage began to pick up speed.
"Kyaaa!"
I felt a surge of killing intent.
'It seems there are those who find my arrival in the North Sea quite bothersome.'
I had heard that the warriors of the North Sea were incredibly blunt and simple-minded. Becoming the Young Palace Lord’s husband was essentially the same as becoming the future master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
The powers of the Outlands generally shared a similar disposition.
'They don't look at a person's character; they prioritize strength above all else.'
That meant not just anyone could become the son-in-law. This was the North Sea, a place where fools existed who thought they could steal the position of the Young Palace Lord’s husband by defeating Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
"Over there."
Baek Mu-yong drove the carriage according to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s gesture.
Rumble!
We arrived at a spacious training hall with no obstacles nearby.
Neigh!
As the carriage came to a halt, the horses snorted roughly.
"Did you know this was the training hall?"
"No, not really. I just felt like there were some unwelcome guests who wanted to greet me."
A crowd of North Sea warriors dressed in pure white martial robes revealed themselves.
"Do you know who they are?"
"...It seems to be an initiation rite."
"An initiation?"
"They are followers of the Young Palace Lord."
Hmm. Is that so?
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom toyed with his sword. If he was to be the Ice Palace’s son-in-law, he would have to operate here from now on. In that case, before any annoying issues could arise...
"It looks like you came to see me."
Whoosh!
As he infused internal energy into his blade, flames began to erupt from the sword. The fire, blooming in the middle of the freezing North Sea, brightly illuminated the surroundings.
"The name is Hyeok Ryeon-yeom."
"A man who conjures flames this time? I wonder what the Palace Lord is thinking."
Burly, muscular warriors lined up in front of the training hall.
"I am Dan Mok-ho, Leader of the Snow Tiger Unit. Before you meet the Young Palace Lord, we shall first judge whether you are a man worthy of being her husband."
"Leader Dan. If the Palace Lord finds out about this..."
"Hasn't this always been the way? Step aside, Squad Leader Baek."
Baek Mu-yong’s expression hardened at the warriors' words. He had brought Hyeok Ryeon-yeom here on the Palace Lord’s orders, yet the subordinates were not welcoming him?
"What a mess."
Well, that was why he was told to survive in the North Sea.
"Oh my, what on earth is happening right now?"
Weizhi Young, who stepped out of the carriage late, made a fuss when she saw Hyeok Ryeon-yeom confronting the warriors of the Ice Palace.
"Just stay back and watch quietly."
"As your maid, I can't just leave those who are bullying you alone, can I?"
Weizhi Young stood beside Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
"Lady Weizhi?"
Baek Mu-yong looked at her with a bewildered expression. The North Sea warriors glared at her. It was a volatile situation, right on the verge of a battle breaking out the moment they drew their swords.
"Stop."
A grave voice overwhelmed the people gathered in the training hall.
"Chief Officer."
A middle-aged man with a dignified impression appeared on the scene.
"Chief Officer?"
"I am Seol Su-hyeok, the Chief Officer of the Northern Sea Ice Palace. I have been expecting you."
"Elder, we haven't finished the initiation yet!"
When Dan Mok-ho protested despite the Chief Officer's appearance, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom casually approached him.
"Is this what you call an initiation?"
Tap.
The moment he touched Dan Mok-ho’s shoulder...
Fwoosh!
"Aaaargh!"
Dan Mok-ho’s body caught fire. Watching him roll around on the snow-covered ground to extinguish the flames, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom muttered with a smirk.
"My, I thought North Sea warriors wouldn't burn. You catch fire quite nicely."
*
Seol Su-hyeok, the Chief Officer of the Ice Palace, looked at the Snow Tiger Unit Leader rolling on the ground and made a request to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
"Though the Snow Tiger Unit Leader was rude, there was no need to set him on fire. That is enough."
"Understood."
"Let us go see the Palace Lord first."
"You mean I should go see my father-in-law first. Very well."
Seol Su-hyeok frowned at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s words.
"It would be best if you didn't act so boldly in front of the Palace Lord."
"I'll keep that in mind."
As Seol Su-hyeok stepped closer to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, he felt a strangely warm sensation.
"I heard you possess a great deal of Yang energy, and it seems to be true."
"Yes. Since I have this kind of body, I wonder if the Young Palace Lord will like me. Ah, you said she was in critical condition, right?"
At those words, Seol Su-hyeok looked back at Baek Mu-yong, who was following behind. It seemed Baek Mu-yong had relayed the contents of the message to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom. That meant Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had already brought Baek Mu-yong under his thumb.
Furthermore...
This heat felt from right beside him.
"Perhaps there is a chance."
"...?"
When Hyeok Ryeon-yeom looked at him after hearing the murmur, Seol Su-hyeok made a request with a serious face.
"I ask this of you. Please save the Young Palace Lord."
*
Even the man called the Chief Officer of the Ice Palace was asking Hyeok Ryeon-yeom to save the Young Palace Lord. Knowing that she was fated to die young made him feel a bit concerned.
Well, he would have to meet her in person to know for sure.
"I will do my best."
In this serious atmosphere, that was all Hyeok Ryeon-yeom could say.
As they moved while talking with the Chief Officer, they soon arrived at the Ice Palace Lord’s office. The doors were massive. Sentries stood guard in front of them.
"Wow, it's huge."
"The Palace Lord is inside. Since it's your first meeting, watch your words."
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom nodded at Seol Su-hyeok’s advice. The Chief Officer seemed to think he would be nervous about meeting his father-in-law for the first time.
But he wasn't particularly nervous.
'It's probably because I faced the Master of the Demon Tower hundreds of times.'
While Hyeok Ryeon-yeom wasn't nervous at all...
"Young Master, just think of him as the Cult Leader. You talk to the Cult Leader just fine, don't you?"
Weizhi Young sent him a look full of worry. Since he had been like that in the past, she wouldn't believe him even if he told her not to worry.
"Chief Officer?"
The sentries blocking the door recognized Seol Su-hyeok.
"Open the doors."
"Yes, sir."
At Seol Su-hyeok’s command, the sentries began to open the doors.
"Chief Officer Seol Su-hyeok is entering with the guests from the Heavenly Demon Cult!"
Rumble!
The massive doors opened, and Seol Su-hyeok entered first. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom followed inside with Baek Mu-yong and Weizhi Young.
"You've arrived."
Upon entering, I saw a man of immense stature sitting on a throne of pure white ice. Behind him, the troops of the Ice Palace stood in formation, guarding their lord.
Perhaps because of the surrounding soldiers, an overwhelming chill seemed to radiate from the man in the center—the Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, the Ice Emperor Seol Baek-ho.
Of course, it didn't harm Hyeok Ryeon-yeom in the slightest.
By the way...
Though it was their first meeting, he felt strangely familiar.
'He resembles the Master of the Demon Tower.'
That gaze, looking at him as if he were a treasure, was strangely bothersome. His eyes met those of the middle-aged man who looked as cold as ice.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom greeted the Palace Lord first.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Hyeok Ryeon-yeom."
The Ice Emperor, Seol Baek-ho, stared at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom with cold eyes. It was a bit pressuring.
"You are warm."
As he approached, the heat flared up.
"It is due to my constitutional characteristics."
"An enviable constitution. If it is you, you might be able to cure my daughter."
"Since my future wife is unwell, I must naturally strive to cure her."
Curing the Extreme Yin Body? He wasn't actually sure if it was possible. But one thing was certain: it was well worth the attempt.
"Effort alone will not suffice. Cure her. That is why I have formed a blood alliance with the Demonic Cult."
"Yes, Father-in-law."
Twitch.
Seol Baek-ho’s eyebrow twitched at the word 'Father-in-law.' Although he had agreed to take him in as a son-in-law, this was the Ice Palace Lord’s first time meeting him as well.
Presumably, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was the first person to ever treat Seol Baek-ho this way.
'Normally, my head would have rolled by now.'
But since he was the only hope left, brought here with great difficulty, the Palace Lord wouldn't be able to kill him. Having established the first impression that he was the type to say whatever was on his mind, he figured the Palace Lord would understand even if he acted a bit cheeky in the future.
Perhaps because of the 'Father-in-law' comment, the Palace Lord remained silent for a moment before calling for Seol Su-hyeok.
"Chief Officer. Escort him to the Young Palace Lord’s hall immediately."
"Yes. We shall move at once."
After that short and intense meeting with the Ice Palace Lord, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom began moving toward the Young Palace Lord’s hall with the Chief Officer.
"There are ice statues here too..."
Several ice statues, like the ones he saw on the way to the palace, stood here as well. Back then, he couldn't guess what they were, but now he thought he knew. They were the frozen remains of those who had come to meet the Young Palace Lord, Seol Yerin.
The Young Palace Lord’s hall was quite close to the Palace Lord’s Hall.
'Is it placed nearby because the Palace Lord is the only one who can withstand the cold radiating from her?'
As he continued to think...
"Yerin."
They arrived in front of the massive doors leading into the Young Palace Lord’s hall.
"I have brought the Third Young Master."
At the Ice Emperor Seol Baek-ho’s nod, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom stepped forward.
"Are you inside? It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Seol. I am Hyeok Ryeon-yeom."
"...If you do not wish to die, please go back."
Even before they had seen each other's faces, the Young Palace Lord seemed certain that he would die if they met.
"I'm scheduled to become a man of the Ice Palace starting today, so that might be a bit difficult."
As he spoke, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom signaled the Palace Lord to open the door. The Palace Lord gave him a look asking if he was truly okay with this.
Since the Palace Lord didn't seem inclined to open it himself, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom reached out his own hand.
Sizzle—
As his hand touched the door, steam began to rise.
"...I clearly warned you. You might freeze solid."
"It's fine. Let's talk face-to-face first. I'll show you just how hot I am."
"That is..."
"Yerin, I am letting the Third Young Master in."
"Palace Lord."
"It is the choice he made. Who knows? This might be the one."
"..."
There was no reply. Silence meant consent.
Realizing he had obtained the Young Palace Lord’s permission, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom opened the door to her hall.