Chapter 67: Shaanxi
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 67: Shaanxi
The next day.
-Heh heh, you’re up early.
-Where are you headed?
The Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress asked as they watched Hyeok Ryeon-yeom move busily from the break of dawn.
“There’s something I need to confirm before we leave.”
Once they set off on this journey, it would be a long time before they returned to the Ice Palace. If he didn't do this now, his curiosity might remain unsatisfied indefinitely.
Northern Sea Ice Palace. The Palace Lord’s private training hall.
“May I enter?”
“Come in.”
As he stepped inside, his mother-in-law, the Ice Queen Hong Ye-hwa, welcomed him.
The previous evening, after the dinner where the journey to Nanman was decided, Hong Ye-hwa had sent him a secret voice transmission, asking him to meet her at the training hall early the next morning.
“I have come as requested.”
“Ah, you didn't forget.”
In the center of the training hall, the Ice Queen was enveloped in a swirling aura of frost and snow.
“Are you… practicing?”
“No, not exactly. I was just reminiscing about the old days.”
“If it’s the old days… may I ask if it concerns the Palace Lord and the Cult Leader?”
“As expected, my future son-in-law is quick-witted.”
She was confirming it. Hong Ye-hwa had indeed spent her childhood with both Hyeok Ryeon-hwi and Seol Baek-ho.
“Did you call me here to tell me that story?”
“No, not just for that. I felt that my future son-in-law is the only one who can clear up a certain misunderstanding.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom tilted his head at the mention of a misunderstanding.
“It’s about Yerin.”
Ah.
Come to think of it, Seol Yerin had barely spoken to Hong Ye-hwa during dinner the previous night.
“As you might have gathered from my conversation with the Divine Physician yesterday, I am a mother burdened with many sins.”
The Ice Emperor, Seol Baek-ho, had stayed by Seol Yerin’s side, doing everything in his power to treat her. On the other hand, Hong Ye-hwa had left the Ice Palace to wander the Central Plains and the Outlands, searching for a cure for her daughter.
However, she had failed to achieve the results she wanted. From Seol Yerin’s perspective, her mother was someone who hadn't been there when she needed her most.
“Do you think she resents you?”
“I don’t know. She seems to be avoiding conversation with me.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom pondered for a moment before speaking.
“The Young Palace Lord likely understands you, Mother-in-law.”
“Hmm?”
The Seol Yerin that Hyeok Ryeon-yeom knew was not a woman so lacking in consideration that she wouldn't understand Hong Ye-hwa’s situation. It was more likely that she simply didn't know how to bridge the distance.
“I never knew my own mother. But I know one thing for certain: mothers are great.”
“…….”
In this life and his previous one in the Murim, he had never met his biological mother. However, through his various life experiences, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was well aware of how significant a presence parents were.
“Mother-in-law, do you believe Seol 소저’s recovery is solely thanks to me?”
“Well, isn't it?”
Not at all. Of course, it was because of Hyeok Ryeon-yeom that Extreme Yang Qi could be injected into her Extreme Yin Body, and it was true that he had revived Seol Yerin as she was slowly freezing to death.
However…
“It was the Palace Lord’s efforts to improve relations between the Cult and the Palace—despite them being enemies—along with the countless spiritual herbs and the information gathered through physicians that ultimately brought me to the Ice Palace.”
And was Hong Ye-hwa’s role in that process truly non-existent? Hyeok Ryeon-yeom didn't think so. She was a mother who had rushed out of the palace to find a way to save her daughter. She was a mother who had raced back the moment she heard the news of her recovery.
There was no way Seol Yerin didn't know these facts. It was just that…
“So, you don’t need to worry too much, Mother-in-law.”
She simply needed to hear it from someone—that the life she spent in constant anxiety was a life lived for the sake of today.
‘Even if you achieve something, if no one acknowledges it, it feels worthless.’
In his first life, during his high school baseball days, even when he was called a "super rookie," Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was never satisfied. He had never made it to the major leagues in his team. Naturally, he became impatient and pushed himself too hard, leading to an injury.
If only someone had been by his side back then to say, "You're doing well." Or if he had even a single family member to lean on. In that life, he might not have been injured, and he certainly wouldn't have died from being hit by a ball.
‘The Scoundrel, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.’
In his second life, perhaps it was only natural that he lived as a scoundrel.
And in his third life, as he endured each day as a Great Mage’s servant, he had thought:
‘If there is a next life, then….’
He would try to live a complete, proper life.
“You have the eyes of someone who has experienced much. Your gaze is far too mature for your age.”
He grinned.
“I consider that part of my charm.”
“And sly, too. You really do take after Hwi.”
There it was again.
“What exactly was your relationship with the Cult Leader?”
If Hyeok Ryeon-yeom and Seol Yerin married, Hong Ye-hwa and Hyeok Ryeon-hwi would become in-laws. He wasn't sure if his father-in-law had coordinated this with his mother-in-law before bringing him in as a matrilocal son-in-law.
“I suppose we’re about to become in-laws now.”
“Is it really okay? No issues?”
“Why? Are you worried?”
“To be honest, yes.”
“It’s all in the past. My husband must have been fine with it, which is why he decided to take you in as a son-in-law.”
“Will you be staying at the Ice Palace from now on, Mother-in-law?”
“I’m not sure. I feel I’ve committed many sins.”
“Who dares say my wife has committed sins?”
Step, step.
Another person entered the training hall.
“Father-in-law.”
It was Seol Baek-ho, the Lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
“Husband, what brings you here…?”
Hong Ye-hwa’s gaze shifted to Hyeok Ryeon-yeom. He simply shrugged his shoulders.
“Please stay at the Ice Palace.”
“Pardon?”
“Ahem. Since this brat is taking our only daughter on a trip, I have no choice but to let them go. But there are many things he’s stirred up that need settling, and I need a talented person to help me manage them.”
“Are you calling me a 'talented person' now?”
“I am. My side has felt quite cold without you all this time.”
Hong Ye-hwa looked at Seol Baek-ho with an incredulous expression.
“What has gotten into you…? You sound like the husband I knew long ago.”
“It must be because I have such a hot-blooded fellow by my side.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom smiled. It seemed he had resolved everything he needed to before leaving.
“Father-in-law, Mother-in-law. The North Sea is now my home. I will return safely with Seol 소저, so I hope the two of you will keep the North Sea safe until I return.”
One never knew. Hyeok Ryeon-geuk, upon receiving the report from the head of the Yayul Demon Family, might try some scheme against the North Sea.
Seol Baek-ho and Hong Ye-hwa looked at each other before speaking in unison.
“Just make sure our daughter doesn't get hurt and bring her back safely!”
They were truly a well-matched couple.
“Well then, we’re off.”
“We’ll be back.”
At the main gate of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, a long line of people stood to see off the Young Lady’s party.
“Yerin.”
“……Yes?”
Hong Ye-hwa stepped forward first and hugged Seol Yerin.
“Ah?”
“Have a safe trip. Your mother will be waiting for you here at the palace. I’m so glad you’ve recovered.”
Hong Ye-hwa was the first to reach out.
“Mother…….”
“I don’t mind at all if the two of you return as three.”
“Pardon?”
After a moment of processing Hong Ye-hwa’s words, Seol Yerin’s face turned bright red.
“Mother!”
“Hehe.”
With a playful smile, Hong Ye-hwa stepped back.
“Have a safe journey, then.”
“I wish you a safe trip.”
“Did you pack everything? Nothing left behind?”
The Ice Emperor Seol Baek-ho, the Chief Officer Seol Su-hyeok, and even the Chief Officer’s wife, Han So-young—Seol Yerin’s family—began to fuss over them.
“We have everything. We’ll be back soon, so don’t worry too much. Right?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you for everything.”
Cheon Deung-jin, the Young Palace Lord of Potala, also offered his greetings.
“Give my regards to the Palace Lord of Potala.”
“I will. If you ever need the help of Potala Palace, please let us know. I’ll do my best to persuade my father.”
“I appreciate that.”
“See you again soon.”
“Yes, Elder… no, Ice Queen!”
The farewells took longer than expected. Now, it was truly time to depart.
“Let’s go.”
To Dongting Lake in Hunan Province!
Northern Hunan Province. Yueyang City.
Two men sat in Yueyang Tower, with Dongting Lake stretching out before them.
“Chief Officer, what happened with the matter of the Iron Venerable’s tomb map?”
Yong Il-gang, the current Leader of the League of Four Tyrants, stared at the ripples on Dongting Lake and asked in a calm but overwhelmingly pressured voice.
“My apologies. We confirmed that the retainers and other martial artists who seized the map ascended Kunlun Mountain, but……”
“……But?”
“They have all vanished.”
“Vanished?”
Yong Il-gang’s eyebrows twitched.
“And the Iron Venerable’s martial arts?”
“We failed to secure them.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
“I am sorry.”
Trickle.
Yong Il-gang quietly poured himself some tea.
“What about the matter with the Ice Palace and the Demonic Cult?”
“My apologies. We broke into the engagement ceremony as planned, but it appears everyone was annihilated due to the intervention of the Soft Jade Poison Demon, Yayul Cheon-woong. The group dispatched by the Martial Alliance also seems to have been wiped out.”
Failure to seize the tomb map, failure to drive a wedge between the Ice Palace and the Demonic Cult.
“Is there anything you did succeed at?”
“I am sorry.”
“Well, since the Martial Alliance failed as well, I shall let this pass for now. However, we cannot simply overlook the fact that the Demonic Cult and the Ice Palace have joined hands.”
“Yes. What shall we do about the former Leader’s martial arts?”
“It’s fine.”
Yong Il-gang, the Leader of the League of Four Tyrants, raised his hand.
Vroom—
The energy of Iron Blood swirled around his right arm. And then…
Vroom!
This time, the bracelet on his left wrist began to resonate.
“That is……”
“The Twin Venerables’ bracelet.”
“Did the Twin Venerables leave their bracelet with you?”
“They said that if anything were to happen to them, the bracelet would react.”
“…I wonder how many people in this world could possibly stand against the Twin Venerables.”
“The world is surprisingly small. They said that while searching for the Divine Physician, they might encounter another of the Ten Great Masters who is also after him.”
Sima Yun, the Chief Officer of the League of Four Tyrants, asked with a look of utter confusion.
“Why are the Ten Great Masters chasing the Divine Physician so relentlessly?”
“The Divine Physician’s Command Plaques. With that bundle of plaques, one can shake the very foundations of the Jianghu.”
How many people in the Central Plains could move the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions all at once?
Yong Il-gang took a long sip of his tea while gazing at Dongting Lake.
“I hope the Twin Venerables succeed.”
The hegemon of Hunan Province, the Leader of the League of Four Tyrants, wished to expand his domain beyond Hunan and into Hubei Province.
Shaanxi Province, Yulin City.
Yulin Inn.
The waiter, Yu So-dong, began to diligently wipe down the tables of his empty inn.
Located in the northernmost part of Shaanxi, this place was a gateway leading out of the Murim toward the Outlands. To the northwest lay the desert, and to the north were the barren highlands. Because of this, very few people visited, and Yulin Inn was situated on the outskirts of even this remote town.
Yu So-dong had his reasons for running an inn in such a desolate place. But for business to be this bad…
“I hope I can at least make my first sale today……”
Normally, with such a deficit, one would close shop and move elsewhere, but Yu So-dong couldn't do that. The only silver lining was that those who did taste his food were amazed and became regulars, slowly increasing his clientele. But even that had its limits, and he worried about his livelihood every day.
Just as Yu So-dong was lost in thought…
Creeeeak—
The inn door, which had been stiff from disuse, swung open, and a group of people walked in. Thinking they were customers, Yu So-dong moved quickly.
“Welcome!”
He rushed to greet them.
“Phew—”
“We’re saved.”
“I’m starving to death.”
“There are eight of us. Please prepare whatever can be served the fastest.”
It was a large group. The problem was…
‘……Martial artists.’
For a split second, Yu So-dong’s eyes changed before returning to normal.
“Eldest Senior Brother! Senior Sister! I’ve secured a table! Come in quickly!”
At the woman’s call, two people and an old man entered the inn.
‘Hmm?’
Setting aside the incredibly handsome man and beautiful woman…
‘The Divine Physician?’
He never expected to encounter the Divine Physician here. In the past, Yu So-dong had a small connection with him. The old man likely wouldn't remember him, but Yu So-dong certainly remembered the Divine Physician.
To be precise, Yu So-dong was someone who couldn't forget the Divine Physician.
Yu So-dong quickly lowered his head and began to deduce the identities of the group. A stunningly beautiful couple traveling with the Divine Physician… He was intensely curious about who they were.
And there was one man who was watching him very closely.
It was Hyeok Ryeon-yeom.