Chapter 63: The Duel
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 63: The Duel
The engagement ceremony was over.
It felt like it had ended a bit too abruptly.
The moment the wine was poured for the Unity Wine ceremony, Seol Yerin had gagged at the mere scent of it.
The Ice Palace was thrown into an absolute uproar.
“The Divine Physician! Get the Divine Physician! Divine Physiciaaaan!”
Fortunately, the Divine Physician happened to be staying at the Ice Palace.
Seol Baek-ho, the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, summoned him immediately, and Seong Yi-han, the Divine Physician, wasted no time in responding.
“I shall check her pulse.”
As he quickly took Seol Yerin’s pulse, Seong Yi-han’s expression stiffened.
“What is it? What’s wrong?!”
“Her pulse is incredibly rapid! She needs to rest and stabilize her condition immediately!”
Seol Yerin’s heart rate was so high that even the Divine Physician was making a fuss.
“Are you alright?”
As Hyeok Ryeon-yeom approached her with a worried expression, Seol Yerin’s face turned as red as a beet, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
“Aah—”
“Yerin! What are you all doing?!”
The Ice Palace maids rushed forward, supporting Seol Yerin as they hurried her inside.
“I—I am terribly sorry. With this, we shall conclude the engagement ceremony!”
Seol Su-hyeok also ended the proceedings in a hurry and followed Seol Baek-ho inside to check on Seol Yerin’s condition.
“What happened?”
“Maybe she wasn't feeling well but pushed through with the ceremony anyway.”
“But that gagging just now…”
“Could it be…?”
The eyes of everyone gathered in the hall turned toward Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
“…?”
“Impressive.”
“It’s usually hard to succeed on the first try.”
“If it’s ‘that,’ well, she was poisoned recently, so…”
It was then.
Yayul Cheon-woong, the Soft Jade Poison Demon, slowly rose from his seat and approached.
“Family Head.”
“I… I’m not quite sure what to say to you.”
Yayul Cheon-woong approached Hyeok Ryeon-yeom with a complicated expression.
“What is the matter?”
“When I return to the Cult, I will ensure my son is properly punished.”
“Pardon?”
“Congratulations on your engagement. I shall see you again at the wedding.”
“Ah, wait a moment, Family Head.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom sent a secret voice transmission to the Soft Jade Poison Demon, who was about to turn away after saying his piece.
—I would appreciate it if you kept this a secret from the Cult Leader and Hyeok Ryeon-geuk.
The man paused.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright with that?”
—Yes, I’m asking this as a favor.
“…Understood. Let’s go.”
“Yes… well… it wasn’t intentional, but I am sorry. And congratulations on the engagement.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom nodded as even Yayul Jin apologized with a deeply somber expression. It seemed they felt incredibly guilty about Seol Yerin being poisoned.
“Young Master Hyeok Ryeon, I am sorry!”
Following them, even Moyong Geum offered an apology to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
“Why… why are you apologizing?”
“If I had known Lady Seol was pregnant, I wouldn't have prepared something like the Unity Wine!”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s expression froze at the word ‘pregnant.’
The Unity Wine Moyong Geum had provided.
Seol Yerin’s gagging just moments ago.
The Soft Jade Poison Demon’s apology.
The moment everything began to intertwine into one realization—
“I apologize, especially since you’ve traveled so far.”
Swish—
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom also began to follow after Seol Yerin.
The Young Palace Lord’s Hall.
Seol Yerin was lying down, and Seong Yi-han, the Divine Physician, was checking her pulse once more.
“How does it look?”
“She seems to have calmed down a bit.”
“No, not that!”
“What are you asking, then?”
“You quack! You saw Yerin gagging too! I’m asking if she’s pregnant!”
The Divine Physician tilted his head at the mention of pregnancy.
“Even if she were pregnant, if she’s already at the stage of morning sickness, it’s not something that can be confirmed through medical examination yet. Above all, children are a gift from the heavens. If there is something to celebrate, we will know soon enough.”
“You… you!”
“Palace Lord, please calm down! You are in front of the Young Palace Lord!”
He stopped.
He saw Seol Yerin with her eyes peacefully closed.
“What is certain is that she only recently recovered from poisoning and needs a period of absolute stability.”
“…I understand.”
Knock, knock, knock.
Just then, a knock was heard at the door.
“Who is it?”
“It is the Captain of the Little Snow Unit, Palace Lord.”
“Come in.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom stepped inside.
“What about the guests?”
“I have sent them on their way.”
“Then you and I should have a little chat.”
“Would it be alright if I spoke with Lady Seol for a moment before I go?”
“…Come to the Palace Lord’s Hall afterward.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom gave a fist salute.
As Seol Baek-ho walked out, the Chief Officer, Seol Su-hyeok, led the Divine Physician out while speaking.
“Did you not know either?”
“…Yes.”
“Ugh, alright for now. I’ll see you later.”
Thud.
Everyone left the room.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom approached Seol Yerin.
“I know you’re awake.”
“…Please leave.”
“I can’t. I need to hear the truth.”
“I haven't sorted things out myself yet, so please give me some time to organize my thoughts.”
“…….”
After a moment of deliberation, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom nodded and stepped outside.
He looked up at the night sky and thought to himself.
‘…Was the martial world a place where one could get pregnant just by kissing?’
…There was no way.
‘Aaaah.’
Lying in her room and staring at the ceiling, Seol Yerin felt like kicking her blankets into the air.
“What do I do now, seriously?”
She felt like she could die of embarrassment.
Ever since she had practically fled from the hot spring, her heart had been thumping wildly.
Perhaps because she had just finished a session of breathing exercises, her blood was circulating exceptionally well. The blood rushing to her head dyed her face a deep crimson, and the fact that her face was red made her even more embarrassed.
Having to face Hyeok Ryeon-yeom in such a state was pure torture for Seol Yerin.
Nevertheless, she had wanted to get the engagement ceremony over with quickly, if only for the sake of the people who had traveled from afar.
But her uncle just wouldn't stop talking.
By the time her father gave his congratulatory speech and was about to pour the Unity Wine, she felt like she was going to faint. She felt genuinely nauseous.
In that state, the moment she smelled the Unity Wine, she couldn't help but gag.
The problem was…
‘They definitely misunderstood.’
She had heard the word ‘pregnant’ earlier.
Since they were getting engaged, people seemed to think it was something that could naturally happen between a grown man and woman.
‘Pregnant, of all things.’
That was a terrifying thought.
Above all…
‘We haven't even gone that far yet.’
She had been shocked when they kissed earlier.
It was the first kiss of her entire life. It had provoked so many thoughts, making her realize, ‘So this is what it’s like to kiss someone.’
On the other hand…
‘He seemed very experienced.’
Somehow, she felt indignant.
The moment she realized that, the blood rushed to her head again, and she had fled. She felt that if she let the mood carry them any further, she didn't know what might happen.
“Mmm.”
What should she do now?
If she talked to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, she’d have to bring up what happened earlier. But if she tried to explain it to her father, she’d have to explain the current state of her relationship with Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
‘I don’t know anymore…’
Perhaps because she had been soaking in the hot spring for so long, her body felt incredibly lethargic. Drowsiness began to wash over her.
“…….”
Zzz.
The quiet Young Palace Lord’s Hall began to fill with the sound of Seol Yerin’s soft, rhythmic breathing.
At that same time, in the Palace Lord’s Hall.
Specifically, the private training hall.
Boom!
“I’d like an explanation of what exactly happened, Captain of the Little Snow Unit.”
Seol Baek-ho, the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, stood before Hyeok Ryeon-yeom with a sword in hand.
“…I’m not quite sure where to start or how to explain it, to be honest.”
He really didn't know.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom stood before Seol Baek-ho with a troubled expression.
“So, you intend to play dumb…”
There were only the two of them in the training hall. Seol Baek-ho had sent everyone else away, saying he had urgent business to discuss with Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
Though they had been sent out…
Twitch!
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom could clearly sense the presence of everyone gathered outside the training hall doors—the Little Snow Unit, Chief Officer Seol Su-hyeok, and even the Chief Officer’s wife, Han So-young.
“Draw your sword.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re engaged now. Haven't you announced to everyone that you are officially to become the son-in-law of the Ice Palace?”
The wedding hadn't happened yet. In the modern world, many people said you never know until you actually walk down the aisle, so Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s view on marriage was also ‘nothing is certain yet.’
‘Of course, it’s not like I have no intention of marrying her.’
“Therefore, I must verify if my son-in-law is capable of properly protecting my daughter.”
Zing—
A terrifying killing intent began to swallow Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
“If you ever let Yerin suffer like she did this time again…”
Whoosh!
The great sword in Seol Baek-ho’s hand grazed past Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s side.
“You’re serious.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom gripped the Snow Extreme Sword.
—Keke, a duel between the son-in-law and the father-in-law. I don’t care who wins.
—Master! You should be cheering for Yeom!
—But the Ice Palace Lord is my descendant.
Listening to the Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress bicker, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom channeled his Extreme Yang Qi.
“It was definitely my mistake that Lady Seol was poisoned.”
It had happened in an instant. Nevertheless, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom agreed that it was something that must never happen again.
“I will not repeat the same mistake.”
“More smooth talk!”
Swish!
This time, it wasn't to the side. A sword strike fell accurately toward the top of his head.
Fwoosh!
Fire Control Sword energy enveloped the Snow Extreme Sword.
Clang!
Sparks flew.
“You block well!”
Flutter—
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had no intention of just taking hits.
“Ice Butterfly.”
Butterflies wreathed in flames flew toward Seol Baek-ho.
“Slow.”
Whoosh!
With every swing of the great sword, the butterflies fell. Furthermore…
Crackle!
The path the great sword traveled began to freeze over.
‘So this is the Ice King’s Ice White Divine Art.’
It was freezing everything before the flames could even touch it. He realized that the Fire Control Sword alone wouldn't be enough.
“Is this really all you have?”
Seol Baek-ho’s eyes began to fill with disappointment.
“How could that be?”
Fwoosh—
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s sword began to burn once more.
“I haven't used this in the Ice Palace because I wanted to shed the label of being from the Demonic Cult.”
But after facing the Seven Severing Old Man at Potala Palace, his thoughts had changed.
“Oh?”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom drew demonic qi through his entire body. The demonic arts he had learned began to activate once more.
The Heaven Breaking Demon Art.
And from within it, the Seven Severing Demon Sword he had learned from the Seven Severing Old Man unfolded from his hand.
Seven Severing Demon Sword, First Form: Truth and Illusion.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom, a mixture of demonic and fire energy, multiplied into dozens of images.
“Yes, now you finally look like the son of the Heavenly Demon!”
Ice White Divine Sword Secret Technique: Extreme Ice Crouching Dragon.
K-boom!
‘What?’
A crouching dragon made of ice erupted from the floor of the training hall, lunging at Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.
—Gwahahaha! You really took a hit there! As expected, for a man, the first strike is everything!
—Oh dear, this looks like it will be difficult.
The voices of the Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress clicking their tongues echoed in his mind.