Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 4: Father-in-law

Seol Yerin, the Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace, stared at the door as it began to open.

A frigid chill was constantly radiating from her body.

She expected ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this time to be no different. She knew better than anyone that she shouldn't harbor any more hope.

And yet...

"Hmm, it is a bit chilly."

Step, step.

As if this level of cold meant nothing to him, the man from the Demonic Cult approached her, steam billowing from his entire body.

Suddenly, she remembered her own hideous appearance.

Clang!

With a wave of Seol Yerin’s hand, a wall of ice rose before her.

"Hmm? I can't see your face if you do that."

"If you come any closer, you'll freeze solid."

"I'll be the judge of that."

The man fearlessly reached out toward the wall.

Then—

Whoosh!

Flames erupted against the ice wall.

Seol Yerin’s expression turned to one of bewilderment as she watched the ice melt away. Never before had a man shown her such a sight.

"...Do you practice fire arts?"

"No, it's a constitutional trait, just like yours."

"Ah."

She had heard he possessed the Extreme Yang Body. This was Seol Yerin’s first time seeing the man who held a constitution diametrically opposed to her own.

His frame looked slender. He didn't seem to have trained his martial arts properly; his temples weren't bulging, and he appeared to lack muscle.

However...

Those eyes.

His eyes alone shone with a piercing clarity.

The eyes of someone who has overcome countless hardships.

The man possessed a gaze unlike any she had ever seen.

"...I look hideous, don't I?"

She had ended up showing him the ice crystals covering her face. No, it wasn't just her face. These chunks of ice enveloping her entire body were what kept Seol Yerin imprisoned within the Young Palace Lord’s Hall.

"Hmm, no. You're a beauty. So much so that I want to melt all this ice just to get a better look."

"...Pardon?"

There had been those who used their internal energy to endure the cold and approach her. But no one had ever uttered such words first. Most men had simply frowned upon seeing her condition.

But this man was different.

"Let's melt it."

"You might die."

"Then let's make a bet."

"A bet?"

"If I freeze, you win. If I melt your ice, I win. How about the loser grants the winner a wish?"

He was a pleasant man. Even so, the Young Palace Lord could not bring herself to smile. Every man who had approached her with such confidence had met the same end.

In the end, they had all entered the Ice Statue State.

"Fine."

Seol Yerin knew better than anyone that this man was approaching her while putting his life on the line.

"Let's start by introducing ourselves. Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Hyeok Ryeon-yeom from the Heavenly Demon Cult."

"...Seol Yerin."

Step, step.

Slowly, carefully.

Hyeok Ryeon-yeom approached Seol Yerin so as not to startle her.

"You're even more dazzling up close."

"...I heard you were a smooth talker. It seems the rumors were true."

"Do you think I'm lying?"

Hyeok Ryeon-yeom looked serious.

But...

"There's no way you could think a woman in this state is beautiful."

"Your self-esteem is quite low."

"...Your speech is rather informal."

"I'm likely older than you."

Seol Yerin didn't know Hyeok Ryeon-yeom's age. However, seeing how naturally he spoke down to her, he did seem older. Had there ever been a man who treated her, the Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace, this way?

Seol Yerin shook her head. He was a man who would soon become an ice statue anyway.

"If you can melt this ice... I will tolerate your informal speech."

"You really think I might freeze, don't you?"

Hyeok Ryeon-yeom maintained a relaxed expression throughout.

"Because every man who has tried to meet me so far has."

"Hmm, well, I can see why you'd think that... but I'm a bit different. Here."

Hyeok Ryeon-yeom gently extended his hand.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Is holding hands on the first meeting a bit much? I have no other intentions; I just thought I could warm your hands."

"...It's fine. This might be the first and last time anyway."

Seol Yerin reached out toward Hyeok Ryeon-yeom's extended hand.

"We'll be holding hands often from now on."

Sizzle—!

Their hands met.

*

To be honest, I was simply in awe.

The Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace was beautiful. Though her face was hidden by ice crystals, I knew. I knew just how beautiful Seol Yerin would be when those crystals finally melted away.

I've heard that beautiful flowers have thorns.

Even if those thorns drew blood, a flower is something one still wishes to possess.

Can I melt it?

It should be possible. Because I have the Extreme Yang Body.

Burn.

The moment I grasped Seol Yerin’s hand, I stirred my Extreme Yang Qi. The Extreme Yin Qi radiating from her began to mingle with my Extreme Yang Qi.

At the same time...

Melt.

Crackle.

The freezing energy surged through my hand, which had begun to freeze instantly, and penetrated my body. I felt an excruciating pain.

But...

This level of pain... is nothing.

I was used to enduring pain. Amidst the immense agony, the Yang energy of the Extreme Yang Body began to resist Seol Yerin’s Yin energy.

Sizzle—

Then, my hand began to burn. It wasn't hot to me. It likely wasn't hot for Seol Yerin either. In fact, this might be the first time she was feeling warmth itself.

What a cold hand.

As the ice crystals began to melt, my hand touched Seol Yerin’s skin.

She flinched. As she felt the warmth transferring from hand to hand, I saw the look in her eyes change.

Increase the heat.

Whoosh.

The flames beginning to burn in my dantian were transmitted to my hand through my acupoints. As the Yang energy moved from my fingertips to hers...

"Ngh."

"Endure it. Once the Extreme Yin and Extreme Yang reach a balance, you'll be able to maintain your normal appearance."

Extreme Yang and Extreme Yin. The harmony between the two is the source of all energy. This was the core of the theory of magical harmony I had heard from the Master of the Demon Tower in my past life.

And the same applied to martial arts.

—It is a pity, my disciple. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠To have such talent, yet a body with energy skewed to the extreme. If only you could obtain the opposing energy.

The Master of the Demon Tower had always lamented it. The absence of Extreme Yin to balance my Extreme Yang. Back then, my body couldn't handle it, but...

Now is different.

To melt the Yin energy filling Seol Yerin’s body, I continuously injected Yang energy.

"Melt."

Soon—

Sizzzzzzzle!

The ice crystals covering the entire body of Seol Yerin, the Young Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, began to melt. Steam rose, and her bare face was revealed.

Her shimmering, sky-blue hair fluttered. Her skin was so pale it felt as though a celestial fairy had descended from the heavens.

No, now wasn't the time to be intoxicated by her beauty.

"It seems I've won the bet."

I hadn't frozen, and Seol Yerin’s ice had melted.

However, it's not complete yet.

Just then—

Vrooooom.

Huh?

The Yin energy transmitted through our joined hands began to envelop my dantian.

*

The Yin energy has surrounded my dantian.

Then, I felt the Yang energy spreading out in perfect balance. Setting aside the fact that I had almost frozen, to think that Yin and Yang could achieve harmony like this?

The pain was severe, but if harmony could be achieved simply by holding hands, I wanted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to keep holding her hand a little longer.

As I stood there with a dazed expression...

"How long do you intend to keep holding it?"

"My apologies."

I let go of Seol Yerin’s hand.

Then—

Slide.

The balance is breaking?

It meant I hadn't fully absorbed her Yin energy. I stared at Seol Yerin with a look of lingering regret.

"...I hope you never do something like this again."

"Something like this?"

"If something had gone wrong, you could have frozen solid!"

Seol Yerin snapped at me with a cold gaze before turning her back.

"Go back to the Palace Lord’s Hall. I need to rest now."

It was a clear dismissal.

"Wait."

At my words, Seol Yerin looked back.

"I didn't freeze even after holding your hand, and thanks to me, the ice crystals melted. Shouldn't you be thanking me instead?"

"That's..."

"I don't need a thank you. However, since I won the bet, you'll have to give me your hand whenever I want from now on."

The promise could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not be taken back.

"...Understood."

"Right, then get some rest."

Thud.

I closed the door to the Young Palace Lord’s Hall and stepped outside.

Immediately—

"Gasp!"

"He didn't become an ice statue... and walked out?"

"Young Master! Are you alright?! You didn't accidentally burn the Young Palace Lord, did you?!"

After calming down the rushing Weizhi Young, I approached the Ice Emperor, Seol Baek-ho, who was watching me with a stern expression.

"What happened to... Yerin?"

"I've melted the immediate ice for now. She's likely resting comfortably by now."

"Is that true?"

The Chief Officer, Seol Su-hyeok, asked as if he couldn't believe it.

"If you're curious, go in and see for yourself. The Young Palace Lord was quite a beauty."

"The Young Palace Lord is indeed a beauty, but..."

Baek Mu-yong glanced sideways with an uneasy expression.

"Our Yerin is indeed a beauty."

"Palace Lord?"

"Chief Officer, go check on Yerin. You, follow me for a moment."

"Yes, understood, Palace Lord."

Leaving Weizhi Young and Baek Mu-yong in the reception room, I began to follow the Ice Palace Lord, Seol Baek-ho.

I've made my first contribution.

The fact that everyone who touched the Young Palace Lord had become an ice statue, yet I hadn't. The fact that I had melted the ice crystals covering her body. And so on.

I had done a lot to help the Young Palace Lord as soon as I arrived at the Ice Palace. This should be enough to keep me from being kicked out.

Upon arriving at the Palace Lord’s Hall, the Ice Palace Lord sat on his throne and began to examine me with wolf-like eyes.

"What happened inside?"

As if there was no more need for pleasantries, the Ice Palace Lord got straight to the point.

"We held hands."

Snap—

The father-in-law's eyebrow twitched.

"Hands?"

"To melt the ice crystals, I felt that unavoidable contact with the Young Palace Lord was necessary."

"And?"

"We held hands, and for a moment, I almost froze."

It was painful. But it was a level of pain I could endure.

"You held hands..."

At the Ice Palace Lord’s murmur, I felt I needed to answer more carefully.

"Her hands were full of calluses. It seemed she practices the sword diligently."

"Yerin's swordsmanship is indeed noteworthy. No, more importantly, how were you able to avoid freezing?"

"It seems the Yang energy of my Extreme Yang Body neutralized Lady Seol’s Yin energy."

That was my honest thought. Even though I hadn't made a conscious effort to control the movement of the Yang energy, it had blocked her Yin energy. Not only that...

The Yin energy that entered my body achieved balance with my Yang energy.

Albeit for a fleeting moment. If I had held on just a little longer, I might have gained some kind of enlightenment. Then, I might have been able to reach an even higher realm than I am in now. It was a peerless opportunity for me.

"Hmm. I shall praise you for coming out without becoming an ice statue after meeting Yerin."

"Thank you."

"Then, is Yerin completely cured now?"

"No, that's not the case. Since she possesses so much Yin energy, I believe I'll need to perform the melting process periodically."

This was the truth. The constantly generated Yin energy even affected her life.

"I could grant permission, but I don't know if Yerin will allow it."

"Don't worry about that. We've already agreed that I will visit periodically."

"Hmm."

The Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Seol Baek-ho, fell silent and began to scrutinize me. Once again, the hair on my neck stood up. It was a completely different feeling from when I faced the Cult Leader.

Hyeok Ryeon-hwi, the Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult and my father, was a man one could somewhat talk to. But I still didn't know what kind of personality Seol Baek-ho had.

The moment my eyes met the Ice Palace Lord’s solemn gaze—

Swish!

An alarm went off in my head.

Clang—!

My Yang energy reacted to the sword strike unleashed by the Ice Palace Lord. The Yang Hard Qi Gong surrounding me was shattered. Before I knew it, a sword had reached the side of my face, its pure white blade revealed.

"...You were hiding your skills."

I frowned at the sight of the Ice Palace Lord pointing his sword at me. My Yang Hard Qi Gong hadn't been able to protect me.

"Doesn't everyone have a hidden trump card?"

It was a good thing I had surrounded my body with Yang energy just in case. Though it had been utterly crushed, of course.

"Keep this one last thing in mind."

I listened intently to the Palace Lord’s words.

"The moment a tear falls from my daughter's eye, your life will vanish from this world."

"I will keep that in mind, father-in-law."

Twitch—

At the title 'father-in-law,' the Ice Palace Lord, Seol Baek-ho, frowned.

"You can still say such things even after knowing your current situation?"

"Yes, Palace Lord. I will make this political marriage happen no matter what."

"What a bold fellow. I brought you here under the pretext of the blood alliance and making you a matrilocal son-in-law, but you haven't even gained Yerin's recognition yet. If you want to have a formal wedding, start by capturing Yerin's heart."

The Ice Palace Lord was entirely correct. The Heavenly Demon intended to invade the Central Plains through the blood alliance with the Ice Palace. This was a transaction. But a marriage is not a relationship built on transactions.

"Understood."

"One more thing. If you want to be my son-in-law, you must be recognized in the North Sea."

"I was planning on doing so anyway."

At my answer, the Ice Palace Lord, Seol Baek-ho, smirked.

"You look confident."

"Of course. Instead, could you grant me permission to move as I please?"

From my position, where I had to stay attached to the North Sea Ice Palace no matter what, I had to gain the recognition of the North Sea people by any means necessary.

"Fine, I grant it. And..."

The Ice Palace Lord hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Thank you."

At this moment, not as the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace but as the father of a child, the Ice Palace Lord was expressing his gratitude to me.