Chapter 39: Misunderstanding
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 39: Misunderstanding
Let’s check the identity of the return gift Hyeok Ryeon-mu delivered.
-…The current Heavenly Demon is quite generous.
-I think even the Palace Lord would be satisfied with this.
The Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress were also impressed.
“Is this a gift for the Palace Lord?”
“It’s food. Wouldn’t he have sent it for everyone to share?”
The return gift Hyeok Ryeon-mu delivered was indeed food. Moreover, it was a high-quality item containing energy that would be particularly beneficial for the people of the Ice Palace.
“A Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp.”
The Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp is a fish that harbors Extreme Yang Qi. Since the Young Palace Lord had been suffering from an excess of Extreme Yin Qi, this fish, rich in Extreme Yang Qi, was essentially a miracle medicine.
“I’d like you to tell me exactly who sent this.”
“Hmm?”
“Hyeok Ryeon-geuk? Or the Cult Leader? It’s important to know who the actual sender is.”
Hyeok Ryeon-mu’s expression hardened.
“What’s certain is that I came because Hyeok Ryeon-geuk sent me. As for the gift, you’ll have to check with the Strategist.”
Hyeok Ryeon-mu wasn’t the type of person to go somewhere just because Hyeok Ryeon-geuk told him to. It was possible he really had come simply to see how Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was doing.
‘I won’t be able to make many memories with Hyeok Ryeon-mu in this life.’
In his previous life, instead of leaving for the Ice Palace, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had chosen to stay in the Demonic Cult and learned martial arts from the elders of the Five Great Demon Families. Naturally, his rivals became Hyeok Ryeon-mu and Hyeok Ryeon-geuk.
Since only one person could become the Young Cult Leader.
The three of them had vowed to fight fairly for the position.
‘The problem was that I realized too late that it was all a smokescreen.’
Fair fight, my foot.
Hyeok Ryeon-geuk had used his influence to the fullest to try and kill them. Perhaps because of that, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had to struggle alongside Hyeok Ryeon-mu just to survive.
“Hmm, then there is a need for suspicion.”
“Are you worried he might have injected poison into the Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp?”
“If it’s Hyeok Ryeon-geuk, it’s entirely possible.”
Hyeok Ryeon-mu couldn’t refute that. Instead, he changed the subject.
“When are you going to introduce us?”
Hyeok Ryeon-mu gestured with his eyes toward the back. Seol Yerin was standing there, watching them with a piercing, icy gaze.
It was his own fault. Even though she was someone who had frozen him solid before they could even have a proper conversation, Hyeok Ryeon-mu didn’t seem to mind.
‘Well, he was always like this.’
He had a violent streak, but he was the only person Hyeok Ryeon-yeom could truly open up to while living in the Demonic Cult.
“Your elder brother has traveled all this way to the distant Ice Palace, and you’re going to ignore him?”
That was how it had been in the past.
“Are you really saying that after you just tried to rip the arm off the Young Palace Lord’s acquaintance?”
“That’s because your reaction was so lukewarm…”
“Apologize.”
Twitch—
Hyeok Ryeon-mu’s eyebrow twitched.
“Who do you think you’re telling what to do…”
“If you get frozen one more time, I won’t be able to thaw you out easily.”
At Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s words, Hyeok Ryeon-mu hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching Seol Yerin.
“I am Hyeok Ryeon-mu. My apologies. I wouldn’t have touched her if I’d known she was an acquaintance of the Young Palace Lord.”
If you could even call that an apology.
“…If you weren’t an envoy from the Demonic Cult, and if you weren’t the Captain’s brother, I really would have frozen you solid.”
She was saying she had shown him mercy. If this had been the Demonic Cult, he would have gone wild, demanding they fight to see who was superior.
But even Hyeok Ryeon-mu had some sense. If he had to face both Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, who was completely different from his time in the Cult, and the Young Palace Lord, who manipulated Extreme Yin Qi at will…
‘Interesting.’
The legends saying the Ice Palace was the Demonic Cult’s arch-nemesis weren’t lies.
“Since we’ve met like this, how about a meal together…”
“No, thank you. I’ll be heading back with Seol-bi first.”
A chill was radiating from Seol Yerin.
“Then I’ll be going as well.”
“Wait, at least a meal…”
“Enjoy it yourself.”
Seeing the two of them leave while exuding coldness, Hyeok Ryeon-mu picked up another dumpling.
Crunch, crunch.
“Cough!”
This one tasted absolutely terrible.
The next day.
On the way to the Palace Lord’s Hall.
“Captain, are you still upset?”
“……It’s not like that.”
Weizhi Young began to chatter incessantly by his side. It was because the unit members, who had followed the Young Palace Lord’s orders without Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s permission, were walking on eggshells.
‘I really don’t care.’
Thanks to them, he had been able to gain the upper hand in his meeting with Hyeok Ryeon-mu. If Tae Un-seo hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have been able to put Han Seol-bi and Moyong Geum to sleep either. And if Seol Yerin hadn’t appeared, he might have actually ended up in a brawl with Hyeok Ryeon-mu.
“Taking action before reporting—once again, we are very sorry.”
Perhaps because obedience was so ingrained in him, Eun-bin also seemed to feel he had done something very wrong this time.
“I’ve told you several times it’s fine. If the Young Palace Lord gives an order next time, you can follow it.”
“Yes, sir! I will do so!”
Baek Mu-yong answered loudly.
“Squad Leader Baek…”
Seeing that, Weizhi Young shook her head.
“What? Is this not it?”
“It’s Junshan Yinzhen tea.”
Tae Un-seo handed him a cup of tea.
“Thanks.”
Since tea only required pouring hot water, he drank it without suspicion. He felt his mind begin to stabilize.
“So, everyone is gathered inside again?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“What about Moyong Geum?”
“After the envoy is sent back, we’ve decided to escort him back to Heilongjiang Province.”
An opportunity to leave the palace had arisen.
‘I’ll have to expand the search range this time.’
With no way of knowing how long the Ice Crystal would hold out, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom needed to find the Ice Emperor quickly.
“We have arrived.”
For now, though.
‘I need to deal with the headache that is Hyeok Ryeon-mu first.’
“I will announce your arrival.”
“Yes.”
At the guard’s words, he nodded.
“The Captain of the Little Snow Unit and the Little Snow Unit are entering!”
Rumble.
The doors to the Palace Lord’s Hall opened.
“You’ve come.”
As he stepped inside, he saw the Lord of the Ice Palace, Seol Baek-ho, the Family Heads of the Five Great Families, and the Young Palace Lord, Seol Yerin, seated in the grand hall.
“We meet again.”
And beside them.
He saw Hyeok Ryeon-mu grinning.
“I never expected the Cult Leader to send his second son as an envoy.”
The atmosphere didn’t seem too heavy. He could easily guess it was because of the Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp placed prominently in front of them.
“I called you so that you brothers could have a reunion, Captain.”
Seol Baek-ho explicitly used Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s title. The meaning behind those words was singular: he was reminding Hyeok Ryeon-mu that here, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was not the youngest son of the Demonic Cult Leader, but the Captain of the Little Snow Unit, the unit tasked with protecting the Young Palace Lord.
“I am grateful for your grace, Palace Lord. However, since I already had a reunion with my brother yesterday, I didn’t think further conversation was necessary.”
He quickly cut ties. More importantly, he needed to check if there was anything wrong with that Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp.
“Is this the return gift brought from the Heavenly Demon Cult?”
“Yes, it is a gift signifying reconciliation between the Demonic Cult and the Ice Palace.”
At Seol Baek-ho’s words, the Family Heads frowned.
‘I don’t think that’s it, Father-in-law.’
Seol Baek-ho seemed desperate to resolve the grievances with the Demonic Cult during his reign, but the resentment built up through history would not be easily dissolved. Not unless there was some major catalyst.
“Yesterday? Are you saying the two of you had a secret meeting?”
Han Myeong-gwang, the Family Head of the Cold Blood Han Family, made a pointed remark. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom glanced around, wondering if Han Seol-bi had reported yesterday’s events, but Han Myeong-gwang didn’t specifically mention her.
“A secret meeting? We met when I visited an inn to treat Young Master Moyong Geum to a meal.”
“If that isn’t a meeting, then what is!”
As Han Myeong-gwang raised his voice, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom sent a secret voice transmission to Seol Yerin.
-Is it okay to mention that we met my brother at the inn?
-Of course.
Since he had permission.
“The Young Palace Lord was also with us.”
“Urgh.”
If he continued to insist it was a secret meeting, it would be the same as claiming the Young Palace Lord was also in league with the Demonic Cult, so Han Myeong-gwang was forced to stop talking.
“That is enough. Tell the Heavenly Demon that I will enjoy the Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp.”
“Yes, Palace Lord. I am truly glad to see that my youngest brother is doing well.”
“Ah, and since we plan to hold the engagement ceremony soon, please ask the Heavenly Demon when he would be available and reply via carrier pigeon.”
Flinch—
The engagement ceremony was mentioned.
“Are you requesting the Cult Leader to visit the Ice Palace?”
“I am.”
“Palace Lord!”
“Do you not know what kind of disasters have occurred every time the Demonic Cult Leader set foot in the Northern Sea Ice Palace? How can you say such a thing!”
Slam!
Seol Baek-ho slammed his hand onto the table.
“Stop living as prisoners of the past!”
Wooooong—
The chill emanating from Seol Baek-ho began to blanket the Palace Lord’s Hall. Hyeok Ryeon-mu watched with an intrigued expression at that overwhelming pressure.
“I will deliver the message.”
If it ended like this, the envoy’s visit would conclude without any incident. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was welcoming the fact that things were ending better than expected, but then—
Bang!
“P-Palace Lord! We have a crisis!”
“What is it!”
“How dare you rush in here so recklessly!”
As the Family Heads vented their misplaced irritation on the guard, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom shook his head.
“It’s an attack by the Demonic Cult!!”
Words that should never have come out of the guard’s mouth were spoken.
“What do you mean…”
“I knew this would happen!”
“Those Demonic Cult bastards are exactly as expected!”
“Palace Lord, I knew it from the moment the Cult Leader sent his second son as an envoy. That man is clearly here to lead an attack on the Ice Palace!”
That couldn’t be right. No matter how crazy Hyeok Ryeon-mu was, he wouldn’t attack the Ice Palace alone.
‘Someone has made a move.’
Since the Demonic Cult envoy had just arrived, this was clearly a staged incident intended to drive a wedge between the Demonic Cult and the Ice Palace. The problem was…
‘Who is leading this?’
Someone who knew the situation well must be involved. If so, there was a high probability that there was a traitor among them.
“Young Palace Lord.”
“Go and check immediately.”
“Thank you.”
“Little Snow Unit.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Let’s move.”
Just as Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was about to move.
“Where do you think you’re going! Captain, aren’t you also a member of the Demonic Cult!”
Seol Un-gang, the Chairman of the Ice Council and an Elder, who had been watching silently, tried to stop him.
“Palace Lord, please give the order immediately! Those loathsome Demonic Cultists…”
Thwack—!
“Gah!”
Crash, bang!
“You really are incredibly noisy.”
Tap, tap.
Hyeok Ryeon-mu was seen dusting off his hands. In an instant, he had flown toward Chairman Seol Un-gang and sent him flying with a punch to the face.
“That crazy…”
He was truly screwed now. If Hyeok Ryeon-mu had just stayed still, they might have been able to clear up the misunderstanding about the Demonic Cult attack. But now that he had thrown the first punch…
“If you really think I’m a demon who came to attack the Ice Palace, then why don’t you just come at me?”
He grinned. Even in this situation, Hyeok Ryeon-mu was laughing.
“You bastard!”
Wooooong!
As the Family Heads of the Five Great Families began to draw their internal energy, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom bit his lip. This situation was irreversible. If he took Hyeok Ryeon-mu’s side here, it would only invite further misunderstanding.
“Captain.”
Weizhi Young, Eun-bin, Baek Mu-yong, and Tae Un-seo were waiting for Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s orders. Now, it didn’t matter whether the force attacking the Ice Palace was actually from the Demonic Cult or not.
“Go.”
At that moment.
It was as if a celestial maiden had descended from the heavens. A woman passed by Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, her blue martial robes—the symbol of the Ice Palace—fluttering behind her.
“I’ll take care of this lunatic.”
The celestial maiden, Seol Yerin, had lowered a lifeline to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.