Chapter 44: Preparation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: Preparation
“Maybe I shouldn't have said I’d go.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom muttered with a troubled expression as he walked back from the Palace Lord’s Hall.
His father-in-law had told him to make a quick trip, but the distance was truly daunting. It had been hard enough traveling from the Demonic Cult to the Northern Sea Ice Palace; he couldn't imagine how long it would take to reach Potala Palace in the Western Region.
‘Will it take about a month?’
If he traveled at a steady pace, that seemed like a reasonable estimate.
Suddenly, a question popped into his mind: would it be alright to be away from Seol Yerin for an entire month?
‘It’s going to be a problem.’
It wasn't just the issue of her Extreme Yin Qi reaching a saturation point and freezing her again.
Twitch—
As soon as he thought about being apart from Seol Yerin, his Extreme Yang Qi began to stir.
—Meow.
Peek.
Tam Ya also poked its head out from his robes for the first time in a while.
“Are you craving it again?”
Thump—
It seemed Tam Ya had also felt the Extreme Yang Qi stirring. Watching the creature absorb the heat, a realization struck him.
“Ah.”
With this little guy around, he could be certain that Lady Seol wouldn't freeze. Tam Ya was a Snow Wolf capable of absorbing even Extreme Yin Qi.
‘I should go talk to her first, right?’
It was late, but it was better to have the conversation sooner rather than later. He felt he needed to move by tomorrow to reach Potala Palace as quickly as possible.
‘Someone with the same constitution as me...’
Regardless, he hadn't expected the news of the Young Lady’s recovery to have reached as far as Potala Palace. While it was good for the Ice Palace’s reputation to grow, it was troublesome for rumors about Hyeok Ryeon-yeom himself to spread. He couldn't afford to let Hyeok Ryeon-geuk take notice of him just yet.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Startle—
While lost in thought, he suddenly sensed a presence. It was Seol Yerin.
“I was actually on my way to the Young Lady’s Palace. What brings you here?”
“Ahem, I just happened to be out for a walk.”
“A walk?”
“I just wanted some fresh air.”
Whoosh!
Tam Ya leaped from Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s arms and into Seol Yerin’s.
“Tam Ya!”
“It’s alright.”
“I guess Tam Ya wants to go for a walk too.”
This time, it didn't seem like the creature was after her Extreme Yin Qi.
Hop.
“It really does seem like it wants to walk with us.”
“Shall we walk for a bit?”
“I’d like that.”
It was a perfect opportunity. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom decided he should bring up the matter of Potala Palace while they walked.
Step, step.
“What did you talk about with my father?”
Seol Yerin spoke first. Thanks to her, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was able to carefully broach the subject.
“He asked me to go to Potala Palace.”
“...Potala Palace?”
Seol Yerin stopped in her tracks.
“Yes.”
“For what reason would you go all the way to the Western Region?”
“I heard the Young Palace Lord of Potala has a constitution similar to mine.”
“Pardon? He must be very ill, just like I was. The Palace Lord told me to bring him back to the Ice Palace.”
“...Is the Young Palace Lord of Potala a woman?”
“He’s a man.”
“Oh?”
Seol Yerin’s expression brightened slightly at the news that it was a man, but then she tilted her head in confusion.
“But... you’re bringing him to the Ice Palace?”
To bring him here... to meet whom?
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom hadn't thought that far ahead.
*
—Well, at least you got permission.
—It’s the Palace Lord’s command, so there’s no helping it.
Listening to the murmurs of the Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom left Seol Yerin behind and headed toward the quarters of the Little Snow Unit.
He had decided to take the Little Snow Unit with him on the journey to Potala Palace. However, he planned to leave Eun-bin behind. There was no one he could trust more than his deputy, Eun-bin, to look after Seol Yerin.
“Hm? Captain?”
As he entered the quarters, Tae Un-seo looked at him in surprise. His hair was still damp, as if he had just finished washing up.
“Where are the others?”
“Most of them are probably resting.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom looked around. Come to think of it, he hadn't visited the Little Snow Unit’s quarters until now. The problem was...
‘Why is it so shabby?’
The Little Snow Unit seemed to be using the same place Eun-bin had been using before. It certainly wasn't a proper residence for an elite unit.
“Are you all living here?”
“Eh? Yes, that’s right.”
At the very least, the Ice Wolf Unit’s quarters weren't like this. This meant only the Little Snow Unit was being treated this way.
“Since when?”
“Since the beginning.”
“Ugh.”
“It’s not particularly uncomfortable. Most people live in places like this.”
No, they didn't. The Young Lady’s Palace and the Palace Lord’s Hall certainly weren't like this.
“Go call Baek Mu-yong and Weizhi Young. I have something to discuss.”
“Yes, Captain.”
He watched Tae Un-seo head inside.
“The Captain is here?”
Weizhi Young came running out. She looked like she had been ready for bed after returning from duty.
“What is it?”
Baek Mu-yong also stepped outside, rubbing his eyes.
“I came to talk about something, but before that, I think we need to talk about these barracks.”
“What’s wrong with the barracks?”
Eun-bin also stepped out. He looked as if he saw no problem at all.
“I feel like they’re far too humble compared to the other units.”
“I believe you are well aware that the Ice Palace’s current situation is quite dire, Captain.”
He knew that. That was why he had provided funds to resolve it. Furthermore, the money they received from selling Cold Iron to the Moyong Merchant Group was quite substantial. The question was whether that money would be used to renovate the Little Snow Unit’s quarters.
“I know that, but...”
He felt this treatment was somewhat unfair. He thought it would be best to have a word with the Chief Officer before leaving.
“More importantly, why did you call for us?”
“Ah, everyone, prepare for a long-distance journey tomorrow.”
“A long-distance journey...?”
“We are leaving for Potala Palace.”
The expressions of the unit members stiffened at the mention of Potala Palace.
“Are you referring to the Potala Palace in the Western Region?”
“That’s right. What business do we have there...?”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom began to repeat the explanation he had given Seol Yerin.
“...The Young Palace Lord of Potala.”
“I didn't realize the relationship between the Ice Palace and Potala Palace was so good.”
“Aren't all the Outland martial arts factions on friendly terms?”
At Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s question, Baek Mu-yong shook his head.
“Not necessarily. They tend to move according to who holds hegemony over the Outlands. The fact that they are asking the Ice Palace for a favor is a bit questionable.”
“Is that so?”
“If you were to treat the Young Palace Lord, Captain, Potala Palace would owe the Ice Palace an immense debt of gratitude.”
From Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s perspective, this meant they could potentially become a force to stand against the Demonic Cult one day.
“If that’s the case, I’ll have to make sure I bring him back safely.”
“So... the fact that we have to go remains unchanged.”
“I’ll go gather some ingredients.”
As Tae Un-seo spoke while drying his hair, Weizhi Young followed him.
“I’ll go with you!”
“If we all leave, who will protect the Young Lady?”
“That’s why I plan to leave the Deputy Squad Leader behind.”
“That’s...”
“It will likely take about a month, so please look after the Young Lady during that time.”
“Then the Young Lady’s Extreme Yin Qi...”
Hop.
Tam Ya leaped toward Eun-bin.
“...A Snow Wolf?”
“As long as that little guy is with her, the Young Lady will no longer be at the mercy of the Extreme Yin Qi.”
Tam Ya was a spiritual creature.
“I wish you a safe journey.”
Eun-bin’s narrow eyes opened slightly. It was highly unlikely that anything significant enough to make those eyes open fully would happen in a month.
“Right. I’m counting on you, Deputy.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom left the Little Snow Unit and headed off to find the Chief Officer.
*
Knock, knock, knock—
Seol Su-hyeok, who had been managing the affairs of the Ice Palace in the Chief Officer’s room and had fallen asleep at his desk, opened his eyes at the sound of knocking.
“Ahem, who is it?”
“It is the Captain of the Little Snow Unit.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom? What was he doing here at this hour?
Chief Officer Seol Su-hyeok stood up and opened the door.
“What brings you here at such a late hour?”
“I have something to discuss.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, with a firm expression, offered a fist salute from outside the door. There had to be a reason for him to visit at this time. He already knew the Palace Lord had ordered the Captain to go to Potala Palace.
From the Palace Lord’s perspective, he wasn't sending Hyeok Ryeon-yeom out of pity for the Lord of Potala.
‘If he treats the Young Palace Lord of Potala, the Ice Palace will have Potala Palace in its debt.’
Even if he couldn't cure him and merely brought him back to the Ice Palace, the Young Palace Lord could be held as a hostage. After Seol Yerin’s recovery, the Palace Lord, who was reclaiming his power within the palace, seemed intent on expanding his influence outward. And as the person who could lead the way in exerting that influence...
‘He chose Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.’
Lately, there were almost no palace affairs that the Captain of the Little Snow Unit wasn't involved in. Therefore, the Palace Lord might be planning to completely reorganize the internal structure of the palace while the Little Snow Unit was dispatched elsewhere. If not that...
‘He might be trying to give him some breathing room from the pressure of the Five Great Families.’
It was a long road to Potala Palace. By the time Hyeok Ryeon-yeom returned, the Palace Lord would have likely secured his grip on the Ice Palace.
—Chief Officer, I apologize for not paying enough attention to the Ice Palace lately.
The words he had heard from the Palace Lord today carried the intent to make the North Sea great once again. Seol Su-hyeok had been unable to focus on his work because of these thoughts, and then Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had arrived.
“What is it you wish to discuss?”
“I have a suggestion.”
A suggestion?
“Go ahead.”
“I believe you are aware that I will soon be leaving for Potala Palace.”
“And?”
“Since coming to the Ice Palace, I have treated the Young Lady, suppressed bandits, resolved the palace’s financial difficulties, and demonstrated my resourcefulness by selling Cold Iron through a deal with the Moyong Merchant Group.”
Twitch—
As Hyeok Ryeon-yeom listed his achievements, Seol Su-hyeok’s expression turned bewildered. When someone spoke like that, they clearly wanted something.
“Yes, I am well aware of your contributions. So, what is it you want?”
A reward for his performance? An engagement gift, since the ceremony with the Young Lady was approaching? He wouldn't ask for the Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp he received from the Demonic Cult. Was he going to ask for one of the Ice Palace’s elixirs?
Seol Su-hyeok looked at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom with curiosity, wondering what he would demand.
“The Little Snow Unit’s quarters are far too shabby.”
Freeze—
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s answer was completely unexpected to Seol Su-hyeok, who had been agonizing over what to give him.
“...So, you’re asking me to change the Little Snow Unit’s quarters?”
“It would be nice if you could. Since we’ve made a lot of money, couldn't you just build a new one?”
He was asking for an entirely new building. Not for himself, but for his subordinates.
‘Look at this fellow.’
He knew the boy was a blessing, but Seol Su-hyeok still wondered if Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was truly acting for the sake of the Ice Palace.
“Let me ask you one thing. Why did you so readily agree to come to the Ice Palace?”
Even if he was the third son of the Cult Leader, if he had stayed in the Demonic Cult and built his power, his future could have been different. Seol Su-hyeok was even more certain of this after meeting the Cult Leader’s second son. If Hyeok Ryeon-yeom hadn't become the Ice Palace’s matrilocal son-in-law, he might have been able to surpass the second son, if not the first.
“In the Cult, the Ice Palace was always regarded as a rival. If I can be of help in securing a blood alliance with such a rival, wouldn't both the Ice Palace and the Cult be able to move toward a warmer place?”
At the mention of a "warmer place," Seol Su-hyeok’s eyes widened.
“So, I ask this of you, Chief Officer. I am fine, but please ensure my unit members can live in a good environment.”
“...I will have a new one built by the time you return from Potala Palace. And I will also see to it that your salaries are increased.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s eyes widened at the mention of a salary.
“...We were supposed to be getting paid?”
Realizing that he had never once given Hyeok Ryeon-yeom a salary, Seol Su-hyeok spoke with a smile.
“It will be a satisfying amount.”
*
The next day, just before leaving for Potala Palace, the Little Snow Unit received their first monthly stipend.