Chapter 86
Time flew by swiftly during their stay in the North Sea. Those who had come to aid recovered the bodies of their fallen comrades with the help of the North Sea Ice Palace. Special ice blocks prepared by the palace were provided for the carts meant to transport the corpses. Most of the soldiers led by Go No held their funerals near the Ice Palace. Since many were orphans, they were cremated except for those with families or hometowns to return to. Even if dressed in finery, bodies didn't rot easily in such frigid climes, nor did they readily become food for beasts—that was one major reason. Burying them would have required tremendous labor to break the frozen ground besides.
In contrast, the Moyong squad prepared to take all their dead back to the clan. Most were family members of the Moyong clan anyway, and even those who weren't hailed from nearby regions.
The lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Seol Eom, showered all who had come to their aid with gratitude in the form of precious North Sea furs and treasures. Of course, Tian Ailang gladly accepted the Bingbaekdan pills.
"I hope you can save your sworn brother."
"Thank you."
Tian Ailang expressed his thanks to the Ice Palace lord.
"By the way, the village outside the inner walls is completely in ruins. It'll take time to rebuild."
At Tian Ailang's concern, Seol Eom smiled lightly.
"Well, true enough, but it's fine. We're alive, aren't we? We can take it slow."
"Why not ask the soldiers here for help?" Tian Ailang pointed toward Ju Wonjang's troops.
Seol Eom shook his head.
"I've considered it, but it's impossible. For one, we lack the food to sustain them all for long. More importantly, they have their own pressing schedules."
Tian Ailang nodded in easy agreement. According to Go No and Hwaun, they planned to detour widely around the imperial army and head south to Jiangnan. With such a long road ahead, they couldn't afford to linger here.
Just then, an Ice Palace warrior approached and reported to Seol Eom.
"My lord, guests have arrived."
"Guests?"
"Yes. From Haomen. I don't know the details, but they've come with an enormous caravan of carts and people. They seem harmless, so I've had them wait outside the outer walls."
"Let's go."
Seol Eom led the way out of the inner citadel. Tian Ailang followed behind.
At the crumbled outer gate, a man stood shivering. He resembled a weasel. To brace against the North Sea chill, he had wrapped himself head to toe in thick furs. He seemed fascinated by the Ice Palace walls, craning his neck this way and that to gawk.
"Who are you?"
At the sound of the Ice Palace lord's voice, the man jumped and whipped around.
"Ah! Are you the radiant sun of the North, the lord of the North Sea Ice Palace?"
Seol Eom blinked at the man's unabashed flattery but nodded, not entirely displeased.
"That's me. And you?"
"What an honor! I'm Gwak Chan, newly appointed as Haomen's trade liaison to the North Sea Ice Palace."
"Trade liaison?"
"Yes. Our gate lord personally decreed a trade agreement with the Ice Palace."
"What... do you mean?"
Gwak Chan quickly read the puzzlement on Seol Eom's face and gestured behind him. An immense line of carts and people stretched out.
"Three hundred carts of grain, two hundred laborers for rebuilding the ruined palace, and materials for construction."
Seol Eom's eyes widened at the sheer volume. Gwak Chan continued.
"Our lord anticipated that the calamity that struck the Ice Palace would leave scars not easily healed, no matter how it resolved."
"So... he prepared all this?"
"Yes. I handled the preparations with full authority, but the order came straight from the gate lord."
"Heavens..."
Tian Ailang stared in astonishment at the over a thousand carts arrayed behind Gwak Chan.
Impressive as always.
Tian Ailang marveled at the Haomen lord's meticulous foresight.
"He already sent more aid than the Bingbaekdan we requested, and now this level of care..."
Seol Eom murmured in quiet awe and gratitude. Rebuilding the village had weighed heavily on him, and with reserves dwindling, food shortages loomed as well.
While Seol Eom lingered in emotion, Gwak Chan swiftly glanced at Tian Ailang.
"You're Clan Lord Tian, right?"
"I am."
"A letter from our lord."
Tian Ailang took the sealed missive from Gwak Chan, who immediately shifted his gaze back to Seol Eom and pressed on without pause—a man skilled at never keeping his counterparts waiting.
"Our lord has pledged ongoing support like this."
Seol Eom's eyes bulged like saucers. The food alone could sustain the entire palace for a month—longer if rationed. In the food-scarce Ice Palace, such aid outvalued most gems.
"What's the intent? The Ice Palace has nothing to pay with right now."
"It's fine. Our lord specified terms the Ice Palace can manage."
Gwak Chan shivered intermittently from the cold but kept a relaxed gaze. Seol Eom tilted his head.
"Speak."
Gwak Chan nodded crisply.
"Rights to process and distribute North Sea's special ice. And a pact of sworn brotherhood."
Seol Eom frowned, parsing the words.
"Somewhere to use North Sea ice? It holds that much value?"
"Yes. In a coming great war, it'll preserve corpses from decay. I see you've already used it that way."
"Hmm... Is that all?"
Gwak Chan shook his head forthrightly.
"It's distant talk, but if peace returns, we plan to sell North Sea ice to inland magnates."
Seol Eom furrowed his brow in thought.
"Hmm... Expecting tycoons to buy ice is odd enough, but planning so far ahead? Haomen would bear pure losses in the meantime."
Gwak Chan nodded vigorously.
"Quite right. Yet our lord deems it a worthy investment."
"Does this tie to the sworn brotherhood?"
"I can't fully fathom our lord's ocean-deep intentions. But he clearly values the pact more than the trade terms."
"A pact with whom, exactly?"
Gwak Chan's gaze turned to Tian Ailang. Seol Eom followed it.
"Clan Lord Tian?"
Gwak Chan shifted back to Seol Eom with a nod.
"Yes. Our lord hopes the North Sea Ice Palace forms a sworn brotherhood with Clan Lord Tian's Qi Gong clan."
"Not with Haomen? Why?"
Seol Eom cocked his head sideways. Gwak Chan merely smiled leisurely.
"Hard for me to grasp our lord's profound will, but those were his words."
Seol Eom glanced between Gwak Chan and Tian Ailang, baffled. Trade with Haomen, all costs on them, yet the immediate boon of brotherhood with the Qi Gong clan? It didn't add up.
"Doesn't matter to me."
Seol Eom twitched an eyebrow, then smiled at Tian Ailang.
"The North Sea Ice Palace wishes to swear brotherhood with the Qi Gong clan. What say you, Clan Lord Tian?"
Tian Ailang, who had listened quietly, smirked.
"No reason to refuse. I'm honored."
"There you have it."
Seol Eom looked to Gwak Chan, who bowed with a smile.
"I'll relay that to our lord."
"We've kept our shivering guest outside too long. Shall we discuss future plans inside?"
"I'd be delighted."
Gwak Chan brightened. "And you, Clan Lord Tian?"
"Go on ahead."
Tian Ailang lightly raised the letter. Seol Eom nodded.
"As you wish."
Seol Eom and Gwak Chan led the way, followed by laborers and carts filing through the outer gate.
Once they were gone, Tian Ailang unfolded the sealed letter from the Haomen lord.
[If you've received this, Clan Lord Tian, things in the North Sea wrapped up smoothly. You have my thanks for your hard work.]
Tian Ailang chuckled. "Hard work"—such a brief phrase, but from one who knew the journey from the start, it stirred deep feelings.
[You'll probably rush straight to the Yi Gakwon to save our little Sohee.]
Tian Ailang nodded.
[I'm sleepless myself, thinking I can finally save my daughter. It's all thanks to you.]
Haomen lord, your role was immense.
[Thank you. Much to say, but we'll find time later.]
As Tian Ailang finished and moved to refold it, he spotted a postscript on the back.
[Yunnan matters concluded well. And the King of Southern Forest Beasts praises you endlessly every time we meet—my ears ring.]
Tian Ailang burst out laughing. The beast king's boisterous face and ways came to mind; he missed him already.
I wonder how the beast folk are faring.
Tian Ailang tucked the letter securely into his bosom. Having read it, he burned to head to the Yi Gakwon without delay. So he strode through the outer gate in search of the Ice Palace lord.
But he didn't need to seek Seol Eom out—the lord was already returning to the outer gate with the departing guests, clearly for final farewells. Tian Ailang naturally joined them.
"I'll miss you all."
Seol Eom saw them off all the way outside, regret in his voice, flanked by Ice Palace warriors.
"Come to Moyong next time. I'll show you our fine liquors."
"May we meet again as dear allies."
Seol Eom nodded to the Moyong squad and Go No. Then Hwaun and Tian Ailang spoke.
"No promises on the future, but it'd be good to share a drink with Commander Ju someday."
"No need for long words. Until next time."
Last in line, Tian Ailang glanced around after his greeting.
Where's Lady Seolhwa?
She'd been scarce since that first banquet.
Probably nothing to worry about.
Dismissing it, Tian Ailang bid final farewells to the departing group.
Moyong Dan smiled at him.
"Clan Lord Tian, you must visit Moyong clan. Soon, no one in Yoneung or Shenyang will be ignorant of your name—we'll throw a grand festival."
"Haha, understood. If time allows next, I will."
Tian Ailang replied with bright laughter. Then Hwaun spoke to him, his usual icy demeanor softened by a hint of warmth in his smile.
"Clan Lord Tian, I pray you save your sworn brother. Once you do, visit the squad. The commander worries greatly."
"I will. Convey my thanks."
Go No, waiting patiently, then said,
"Next we meet, I'll show training results that meet expectations. Safe travels, Clan Lord Tian."
"You too, Go No—achieve your aims."
With simple partings exchanged, everyone went their separate ways—no shared paths ahead.
Tian Ailang left the North Sea sun behind, urging his horse across the snowy plains with steady clops. It was a mount Moyong Dan had thoughtfully provided for the long journey—one of the fallen squad members', treated as a prized steed even among them. A massive Mongolian horse, wild-tempered and picky with riders. Yet it had yielded readily to Tian Ailang's qi.
He gently stroked its mane. Pleased, the horse snorted contentedly.
Tian Ailang smiled faintly.
"Let's go. To the Yi Gakwon."