Chapter 5: Ice Palace Rules
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 5: Ice Palace Rules
When he stepped out of the Palace Lord’s Hall, Baek Mu-yong and Weizhi Young were waiting for him.
“Young Master! Are you alright? The Ice Palace Lord didn’t… hit you or anything, did he?!”
“He swung a sword at me, but I’m fine.”
“What?!”
“Are you saying the Palace Lord actually drew his blade on you?”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom nodded at Baek Mu-yong’s question.
“Perhaps because I’m his son-in-law, he didn’t come at me with intent to kill.”
“…Does that mean you’ve been recognized by the Palace Lord?”
“Well, it seems that way.”
Baek Mu-yong still wore a look of deep suspicion.
To be fair, that was the normal reaction.
It won’t be as easy as I thought.
To be recognized by the warriors of the Ice Palace, he would need to produce results. And as for the kind of results one could achieve here…
I suppose it would be something like wiping out the bandits targeting the Ice Palace.
From what he had heard from the Ice Palace Lord, it seemed the bandits were more of a headache than expected.
“Baek Mu-yong, you said you were a Squad Leader in the Ice Wolf Unit, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I’d like you to help me for a while.”
“Pardon?”
“I heard there’s a unit directly under the Young Palace Lord.”
“…That’s right.”
The Little Snow Unit. It was a unit that had been completely neglected since the Young Palace Lord fell into her current state.
“I’d like you to guide me to that unit.”
“Why the Little Snow Unit all of a sudden…?”
“Ah, so that’s what it’s called? I just received orders to manage it in the Young Palace Lord’s stead.”
He hadn’t actually received such an order. However, since he had been given permission to move as he pleased, he could now simply use the Ice Palace Lord’s name as he saw fit.
“To give such a task to someone who just arrived in the North Sea… what on earth…?”
“Do you think I’m lying?”
Realizing that the person Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had just met was indeed the Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, Baek Mu-yong let out a sigh.
“If it is the Palace Lord’s command, I shall follow.”
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t look so disappointed. Despite how I look, I’m someone who enjoys the Palace Lord’s absolute trust.”
At Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s words, Baek Mu-yong frowned and replied.
“Yeah, right.”
“Hmm, you seem skeptical. Young-ah, do I look that untrustworthy to you?”
“I’m always worried about you!”
…It seemed he had brought the wrong subordinates with him.
“We are grateful that you saved the Young Palace Lord, but that is all. If you think the warriors of the Ice Palace will take kindly to an outsider, you are gravely mistaken.”
Baek Mu-yong was right about that. No matter how much Hyeok Ryeon-yeom exerted himself, it would mean nothing if the warriors of the North Sea didn’t accept him.
Is the Little Snow Unit the first mountain I have to climb?
In truth, winning over the warriors of the Little Snow Unit—the Young Palace Lord’s personal guard—was simpler than it seemed.
I just need to win over the Young Palace Lord, Seol Yerin.
If there was one thing he knew, it was that those people wouldn’t budge unless it was an order from Seol Yerin. Especially at a time like this, there was one person likely to still be at the Little Snow Unit’s quarters who came to mind.
“This is the residence of the Little Snow Unit.”
“It’s empty.”
“Yes. Since it’s been quite some time since the Young Palace Lord shut herself away, I believe very few people remain.”
“How many were there originally?”
“There were five, but I understand only one remains now.”
“Hmm, not bad.”
“Pardon?”
“Go call that remaining person out. I need to fire them as of today.”
Baek Mu-yong stared at him with a look that asked how someone could be so reckless.
“Fire them?”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“I don’t. I’ll go bring him out.”
Baek Mu-yong entered the Little Snow Unit’s quarters and returned with a man whose eyes were narrowed to slits and who possessed a very lethargic expression.
“Is it this man?”
“The Captain of the Little Snow Unit, Eun-bin.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s eyes flashed when he heard the name Eun-bin.
I knew he’d be here.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom offered a brief internal observation upon seeing the slit-eyed man. If one were to pick the top experts of the Northern Sea Ice Palace known to the Martial World, one could not omit the guard who protected the Young Palace Lord: the Captain of the Little Snow Unit, the “Ice-Cold Killing Star” Eun-bin.
According to his memories of his past life, those known as the Five Stars of the Outlands were all masters of the Transcendent Realm.
If he could recruit him and ensure he made the right choices at critical crossroads, at the very least, the assassination of the Young Palace Lord would never happen.
A sword hidden behind lethargy, and a shield meant to protect his master.
The gazes of the slit-eyed man, Eun-bin, and Hyeok Ryeon-yeom locked.
*
Once, there was a child growing cold on a frozen snowfield.
The child was not a native of the bitter North Sea. The North Sea was simply the place he had reached at the end of his flight. Having lost everything and being wounded, he had no choice but to wait for his life to end. There was no emotion in the child’s eyes.
“Father! Someone is collapsed here!!”
As he watched the falling snow and thought of death, the child could still not forget the face of the girl that suddenly filled his vision.
Crackle.
“It’ll be okay. Just hang on a little longer!”
Hemostasis? No, it was frozen. When the girl’s hand touched his chest, he was covered in ice.
A master of Ice Arts…
Though he was still young, the child recognized the martial art, and thus, he was saved in the North Sea.
Slowly.
Opening his eyes, the slit-eyed man, Captain Eun-bin of the Little Snow Unit, muttered softly.
“That dream again.”
In his childhood, the one who saved Eun-bin was the Young Palace Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, Seol Yerin. Afterward, Eun-bin was raised to be her guard. It was a perfect life for someone who wanted to forget the past. The Eun-bin of the past had died in the North Sea. Without Seol Yerin, he would never have lived again.
Thinking so, Eun-bin chose a life of protecting Seol Yerin instead of seeking revenge.
However.
“Three months at most…”
Having secretly overheard the diagnosis given by the Divine Physician, Eun-bin found himself in a position where he could do nothing. The Young Palace Lord, Seol Yerin, had been sentenced to only three months of life due to a chronic constitutional illness known as the Extreme Yin Body.
The Ice Palace Lord was making efforts in various ways to save her, but it was not easy. He had to move to save the Young Palace Lord. With that thought, Eun-bin had intended to leave for the Central Plains to find a spiritual herb that could save her, but—
—Eun-bin, do not leave the Little Snow Unit, and do not do anything. This is an order from me as the Young Palace Lord. If you refuse, I will never look at your face again.
By the Young Palace Lord’s command, he had become unable to leave the Little Snow Unit’s quarters.
Grit.
He was frustrated. He resented himself for being unable to do anything to save her.
In the midst of that—
—Captain, have you heard the news? It seems the Palace Lord intends to take the third son of the Demonic Cult’s leader as a matrilocal son-in-law.
He had heard the story of the son-in-law.
“They say the Heavenly Demon’s third son possesses the Extreme Yang Body.”
The Yin-Yang Unity between the Extreme Yin Body and the Extreme Yang Body. If that were the case, it might be possible to save the Young Palace Lord.
He felt a sense of relief mixed with regret. If only it had been Eun-bin who possessed the Extreme Yang Body. Then Eun-bin could have saved the Young Palace Lord himself. It was regrettable, but there was nothing to be done.
Just as he felt relieved that there was finally hope to save her—
“However, there are rumors that the fellow is a lecher.”
At his subordinate’s report, Eun-bin’s slit eyes snapped wide open. It was the first time he had fully opened his eyes in ten years.
*
“Nice to meet you. I’m Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.”
His first impression of Eun-bin, the Young Palace Lord’s guard, was one of frigidity. He knew that people of the North Sea generally gave off a cold feeling, but the sensation Eun-bin projected toward Hyeok Ryeon-yeom went beyond cold—it was chilling.
“What is it?”
A blatantly provocative gaze. Because his eyes were narrowed, it was impossible to tell exactly how he was looking at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, but his dislike was clear. Eun-bin’s gaze swept up and down as if assessing Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s caliber.
I heard he became a crazed murderer after the Young Palace Lord died.
His loyalty was evident. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom wore an understanding expression. This was why information was important. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom knew instinctively that to obtain the ultimate shield, he had to be able to endure this level of provocation with ease.
“Captain Eun-bin of the Little Snow Unit. As of this moment, I am stripping you of your rank.”
“…By what authority?”
“The Palace Lord’s instructions.”
Eun-bin’s eyebrows twitched.
“I refuse. Unless it is an order from the Young Palace Lord, I will not follow it.”
I figured as much.
In his conversation with the Ice Palace Lord, the Lord had told him to earn the recognition of the North Sea warriors. They say blood is thicker than water. Seol Yerin wouldn’t be able to ignore Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, who had melted her ice crystals. In this situation, if he could win over Eun-bin—who was practically a childhood friend and her guard—he would score major points.
Therefore, the top priority right now was—
Making Eun-bin recognize me.
From the looks of it, he was even radiating hostility.
“You must have known the Young Palace Lord was in critical condition, right?”
Flinch.
At the mention of the Young Palace Lord, Eun-bin’s eyes opened slightly.
“I saved her.”
“Saved her?”
“Would you believe me if I told you the ice crystals on her face melted and she regained her original beauty?”
The slit eyes opened halfway. They were growing wider and wider.
It’ll be dangerous if he opens them all the way.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom knew that the moment Eun-bin fully opened his eyes was when his killing intent was at its peak. At that point, anyone in front of him might as well start praying for their soul.
“Is that true?”
“If you don’t believe me, go check for yourself. I heard the Little Snow Unit is the Young Palace Lord’s direct unit.”
“And?”
“I’ve decided to take over that position from now on.”
“…A fellow who just set foot in the North Sea thinks he can serve the Young Palace Lord?”
Sarcasm dripped from his voice. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom cheered inwardly. He was finally getting a bite.
“It’s fine. I have Squad Leader Baek, formerly of the Ice Wolf Unit, with me.”
“Formerly of the Ice Wolf Unit? What do you mean…?”
“I’ve finished talking with the Palace Lord. You will be reassigned to the Little Snow Unit now.”
“Hah.”
At Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s words, Baek Mu-yong wore a look of disbelief.
“Young-ah, you’re a member of the Little Snow Unit now, too.”
“Yes, I understand!”
Having seen the North Sea warriors saluting as they entered the region, Weizhi Young mimicked the gesture.
“…Are you saying you’re even assigning a maid to the Little Snow Unit?”
“Do you have a complaint?”
“…I have no complaint. But what is my rank?”
“You’re still a Squad Leader. I intend to take the position of Captain.”
“If the position of Deputy Squad Leader is vacant, you should promote me as well.”
After glancing at Weizhi Young with brief disapproval, Baek Mu-yong spoke with a thick skin. It seemed that once he realized the Palace Lord’s order had been given and his fate was in Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s hands, he decided he might as well secure a better position.
“Sorry, but I already have someone in mind for the Deputy Squad Leader position.”
Naturally, Baek Mu-yong’s gaze turned toward Eun-bin.
“Now… Captain Eun. I understand how you feel, but it would be best for you to listen to the Captain for the most part.”
Having lived with Hyeok Ryeon-yeom for the past few days, Baek Mu-yong was actually taking his side. Seeing Baek Mu-yong like that, Eun-bin placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
“Whoa, whoa! Calm down! You mustn’t forget that the person in front of you is the only one who can treat the Young Palace Lord!”
Baek Mu-yong even knew how to strike at the opponent’s weakness.
“So you do have some wits about you?”
When Hyeok Ryeon-yeom looked at Baek Mu-yong with a surprised expression, the latter replied.
“Are you insulting me to my face, Captain?”
“‘Captain,’ eh? I like the sound of that.”
“Are you ignoring me right now?”
The aura of Eun-bin, the Captain of the Little Snow Unit, began to change ominously.
Can I do it?
He had to. Only then could he remain in the North Sea. To that end, he had deliberately provoked Eun-bin. He already knew that Eun-bin cherished the Young Palace Lord, Seol Yerin, above all else. There was only one way to earn the recognition of such a man.
I have to show him that I am also someone capable of protecting the Young Palace Lord.
And that method, in the end, boiled down to one thing.
“It seems you want to maintain your position as Captain of the Little Snow Unit even if it means defying the Palace Lord’s orders and cutting me down. Why are you so obsessed with that position? You aren’t even from the North Sea, are you?”
At the mention of Eun-bin not being from the North Sea, Baek Mu-yong’s expression stiffened. It was a look that asked how Hyeok Ryeon-yeom could possibly know that.
“I will be the one to protect the Young Palace Lord.”
“You? When you don’t even have the Extreme Yang Body?”
At Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s provocation, Eun-bin surged with energy. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom also placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist. It was a touch-and-go situation.
“So, what you’re saying is that you want to settle who becomes the Captain through a duel, right?”
It was Baek Mu-yong who stepped in to mediate.
“A duel?”
“Former Captain Eun, and current Captain, Young Master Hyeok Ryeon-yeom. Let’s go outside, settle who is stronger, and the loser will follow the winner. That is the rule of the North Sea.”
What? There was a rule like that?
“That’s a great rule.”
A rule that allowed him to legally burn someone to a crisp. It was a truly wonderful rule.