Jilin (4)

70. Jilin (4)

The Northern Sea Ice Palace lay far north of Jilin, beyond Heilongjiang, near what would become Russia. The Northern Sea was not the territory governed by Kong Rong, who appeared in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It was the frozen sea at the legendary northern edge of the world. Most people believed that if one simply continued north, the Northern Sea Ice Palace would appear, but beyond lay the Russian tundra, not a sea. The legend was technically correct—crossing the tundra would eventually bring one to the Arctic Ocean—but no one in this era could possibly travel that far.

In truth, the Northern Sea Ice Palace lay along Primorsky Krai. As the northernmost coastal region in East Asia that still retained a harbor's function, the Ice Palace was positioned roughly around Vladivostok. Central Plains people imagined it as a frozen world of ice palaces, but in an era without fossil fuels, such a place was uninhabitable for humans. In reality, it bordered the Korean Peninsula and was not so distant a land; Goguryeo and Balhae had long governed that territory. Of course, unlike twenty-first-century Russia, it was not a strategic military-economic center—in this era, it was practically barren.

Well, regardless, it was a place where summers were reasonably warm and winters were foully cold, but at least it was livable land. They called themselves Beyond the Wall and pretended to be an independent cultural sphere, yet they spoke Chinese and used Chinese characters. Like Jilin, for now it was not Ming territory, but once the Qing dynasty began, this and that alike would become Chinese land within the Sinic cultural sphere. Though they would get crushed in the Second Opium War and eventually become Russian territory.

In any case, even in this age of miserable transportation, no one from the Central Plains could fail to recognize the Northern Sea Ice Palace as one of the Four Outer Palaces. It remained outside every factional dispute because its people were not of the Central Plains, yet its strength was said to rival the Nine Great Sects and the Beggars' Sect or the Five Great Clans. How had my mother, a daughter of the Northern Sea Ice Palace Lord, been married into a second- or third-rate estate like the Baek Clan Estate? The answer was simple. Even then, the Ice Palace Lord already had twenty-two sons and thirty-three daughters. Mother was certainly his daughter, but not a particularly precious one.

Decades ago, when King Sejong ascended the throne and Joseon shone at its brightest, Joseon general Kim Jong-seo incorporated the Four Fortresses and Six Posts into Joseon territory. In the end, the Ice Palace had no choice but to pass through Jilin to reach the Central Plains, raising the Baek Clan Estate's importance. Mutual interests aligned, my mother was sent in marriage to the estate, and I, the wretch, was born. I had not once set eyes on the Ice Palace Lord since my birth. Even at my mother's funeral, the Ice Palace Lord had merely dispatched a few women I assumed to be aunts.

I had long abandoned any hope of help from my maternal family, which was why today's Young Clan Head appointment ceremony was taking place. Then this deranged aunt appeared out of nowhere.

"What do you think you're doing right now! Do you not know how to treat a guest?"

Tang Min, who had been caught in the backlash of Extreme Yin Energy and Extreme Yang Energy colliding in that confined space, shot to her feet and shouted.

"I am no outsider. I am kin to the Baek Clan Head's wife."

"That goes for me as well. You called yourself the Young Master Baek's aunt, did you not? How could you commit such a beastly act..."

Tang Min's face flushed bright red and she could not finish her words. Unlike Murong Rin, she seemed to be an innocent maiden in these matters.

"Do not judge us by the laws of the Central Plains. The Ice Palace is a harsh land. So long as they are not parent and child or brother and sister, anyone may bear children together. My nephew also carries the blood of the Ice Palace, so an outsider from the Central Plains need not interfere."

"D-don't make me laugh! Half of the Young Master Baek is a Central Plains person! He grew up in the Central Plains and learned Central Plains common sense!!"

Ah... no. Jilin was not exactly the Central Plains. But was the land so barren that marriage between relatives of the third degree or more distant was permitted? What was this, the North Pole? The Ice Palace might be cold, but I knew perfectly well that people could still live there!

"I traveled all this way to bear my nephew's child. He is old enough to have fathered three children already. The Ice Palace's bloodline is precious. If I do not please you, will you bear my nephew's child instead?"

"Wh-what!!!"

Her face now apple-red, Tang Min at last gathered a pitch-black energy into both hands.

Dangerous. The martial arts of the three people unleashing qi in this very spot right now were no ordinary Sword Qi or Fist Qi.

Extreme Yin Qi. Extreme Yang Qi. Extreme Poison Qi. Qi carrying such attributes affected the surrounding area whether one liked it or not. Lady Tang and Baek Dan-yeong, Song Ok and Huangfu Gun all retreated a step from the tense clash of auras, their bodies rigid.

"How beautiful. A flower of the Central Plains, steeped in warm sunlight, is truly beautiful."

Amid the taut tension, Eun Seol-hye abruptly addressed Tang Min.

"Wh-what?"

"Fresh and refined. Unlike the cold ice of the Ice Palace, your bearing carries a living warmth of overflowing beauty. Surely the Sichuan where you grew up is a place rich with the sun's benevolence?"

"Uh... yeah. It is warm."

"Indeed. Now I understand. My nephew, who grew up in the Central Plains, prefers a Central Plains woman over a woman like me."

"N-no... you are far prettier."

As if embarrassed, Tang Min released her energy. She seemed to be weak against praise.

"You, too, set aside your anger now. I will travel the Central Plains and receive its sunlight myself, so wait just a little."

"Are you still speaking that nonsense?"

"I understand your concern. I may be speaking down to you as your aunt, nephew, but in truth I am younger than you. There will be no difficulty bearing a child, so do not worry."

As I thought. If she was a master capable of suppressing aging, my sort of Flame Qi could never have stopped her had she tried to kill me. Apparently, the Ice Palace possessed some peculiar Bedchamber Art that even allowed an eighty-year-old crone to bear children.

"No. Why does my aunt suddenly wish to bear my child?"

"It was my older sister's request. Of all our countless sisters, your mother and I were closest. She asked me to care for you. In place of my departed sister, I will become your wife and look after you for the rest of your life."

"Don't make me laugh! You said you're younger than me? My mother died when I was three!"

"Oh dear. That was a lie."

A mad aunt who spouted bullshit without batting an eye.

"H-huh? Am I that drunk? Why are my first wife and eldest son here?"

Just then, my father stumbled into the guest room like a drunkard. He had been drinking with guests of higher rank than anyone present here, and it seemed he had sensed the sudden eruption of qi and made his way over.

"I am not my older sister, brother-in-law. I am her younger sister, called Eun Seol-hye."

"Huh? Is that so? Puhahaha. I thought my senior wife had come back from the underworld. You resemble her so, so very much."

"Father said the same. And all my older sisters as well."

"Then who is that person over there who resembles our eldest son?"

"I really am your son, Father."

"Eh? Why is my son clad in Extreme Yang Energy?"

Even dead drunk, Father recognized my internal energy.

"I tumbled off a mountain and obtained a fortuitous encounter."

Too troublesome to explain, so I brushed it off vaguely as a fortuitous encounter. My father broke into a broad grin, wrapped his huge arms around me, and clapped my back.

"Wonderful. Truly wonderful. My younger son becomes Young Clan Head, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my elder son gains a fortuitous encounter. Your father is heading back now. Reverend Hwa-il is waiting. Let's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠meet again at the appointment ceremony."

"Brother-in-law, I merely stopped by on my way to the Central Plains, so I'll take my leave. Here, a gift for the Young Clan Head: Silver Essence Pills."

"Thank you."

Baek Dan-yeong accepted the wooden case she offered. Silver Essence Pills—what grade of elixir were they? I knew almost nothing about spirit pills from beyond the border.

"And this is for my nephew. I heard you were driven out because your martial arts were weak, so I packed it in haste. It seems useless to you now, but I don't want to carry it all the way back to the Ice Palace. Take it anyway."

This time she handed me a book wrapped in a cloth bundle.

"Now. I shall be on my way."

"Eh? You're leaving already?"

"The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is opening in Henan, they say. The Ice Palace does not belong to the Alliance, so attending may prove difficult, but I intend to grab a suitable person and at least have a sparring match."

With those words, she stepped out of the VIP room. What on earth?

—Do not be disappointed that the gift is useless. The next time we meet, I will give you my maidenhood.—

—That is not necessary. On your journey to the Central Plains, learn some common sense.—

I was grateful to have learned Voice Transmission from the Flame Emperor. In the past, I would have been forced to listen silently to that nonsense. She disappeared as suddenly as she had come, her expression never changing once. Father wove his way back to the drinking party, Dan-yeong returned to the main gate, Lady Tang went back to the kitchen, and peace finally returned to the guest room.

"What a strange woman. Young Master Baek. You haven't been bewitched again, have you?"

Tang Min fixed me with a dubious stare.

"I told you. She's my aunt who looks exactly like my mother. The northern sea really must be freezing if it froze her wits. Well, maybe a little sun in the Central Plains will set her straight."

At that, Tang Min giggled. I could not say whether she possessed the freshness and living beauty Eun Seol-hye spoke of, but she did have a slightly cute face. Because the mad aunt's impact had been so immense, the four of us who had suffered the indignity began to grow close with remarkable speed. They were young people of similar age, from great sects and prestigious clans, while I hailed from the Baek Clan Estate, but my martial prowess had been recognized in the clash just moments ago, so I must have earned the right to keep company with them.

"Brother, you were incredible. You're nothing like the last time I saw you."

Huangfu Gun, who seemed even more delighted than I was at my own growth.

"I told you I gained a fortuitous encounter. On my way back from the Murong Clan, I obtained the Flame Emperor's martial arts at Dong-o Peak."

"Flame Emperor? I don't know who that is, but I'm envious. Should I go roam some mountains myself?"

I didn't particularly care about that, but brother, please avoid Yeongsan Mountain. If you go there, everyone will mistake you for a White Tiger Sect bandit.

"So fortuitous encounters really do exist? I ought to poke around Mount Qingcheng myself."

"Any fortuitous encounter around Mount Qingcheng would just be Qingcheng martial studies anyway, wouldn't it?"

"Ah. Is that so? The voice of experience is different indeed!"

Song Ok burst into hearty laughter.

"Still, I'm a little disappointed. You received a fortuitous encounter and reached only that level? I expected you to be around my father's or the Clan Head's level."

"Is a fortuitous encounter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠not simply martial studies left behind by a past master? The Tang Clan has existed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for a thousand years, so in a sense, its predecessors' legacy still remains intact."

Even as I said it, I felt a little bitter. Come to think of it, prestigious clans and sects had inheritances from peerless experts reaching back far earlier than the Flame Emperor's era, didn't they? If so, had they not essentially started with a fortuitous encounter already?

We grew close faster than expected. In a way, that was natural. Every talented disciple of the prestigious houses had gathered in Henan. The men before me were castoffs who could not even participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. Tang Min might have been able to compete, but achieving any notable result would have been difficult.

As the wine gradually hit bottom and the food slowly dwindled, servants brought in fresh wine and dishes to the guest room.

"It has been a long while, Young Master Baek."

I turned, surprised by a voice younger than I expected, and the person I had assumed was a servant turned out to be Gyeong Su-yeon.

"Young Lady Gyeong?"

"You have become a Taoist, just as you said."

Her expression became complicated. Though she was a sect's eldest daughter, she had been summoned like a servant to carry food. Over the years, I had naturally exploited her sexually and abused my authority over her, but seeing her again after so long stirred an unfamiliar guilt. Why? Now that I had women I loved and had watched them suffer, was I finally feeling the weight of what I had done? Or had enduring Murong Rin's power trips until we reached a comfortable relationship—even enjoying sex together—made me want to become friends with Gyeong Su-yeon as I had with Murong Rin?

"You don't need to help with another household's work. Sit. It's been a long time. Let's at least share a drink."

"Yes, Young Master."

But contrary to my intent, she settled carefully beside me like a maid obeying an order—no, like a courtesan here to pour wine.

"Huh? Who is she? A younger sister?"

"The eldest daughter of Gyeongse Sect in Jilin. Young Lady Gyeong Su-yeon. She is... an old friend."

A phrase I had heard countless times from Murong Rin. I never imagined I would be the one to say it. At those words, she flinched in surprise. She must have found it disagreeable, given all that I had done. But even now, I truly wished to become her friend.

"Reverend Yeongmok, I am terribly envious. Your rites are exceptional, you gained a fortuitous encounter, and you even have such a beautiful friend. Qingcheng Sect forbids marriage—how am I supposed to endure this envy?"

Song Ok grinned and chattered away. Even among common Daoist sects, their rules truly varied. Ours was a completely debauched Daoist sect.

"An old friend? Did you not call Sister Rin—no, Murong Rin—your old friend as well?"

Huangfu Gun gave a wry smile, as if recalling a drinking session with Murong Rin.

"Yes. Both of them are precious friends."

"You jest too far, Young Master. How could I ever be your friend?"

Gyeong Su-yeon asked in flustered tones. It was the same expression I had once worn toward Murong Rin.

"Then what should we call our relationship? As children of Jilin martial houses, we've known each other since we were truly little and spent a long time together. We aren't siblings, we aren't lovers. What should we call a relationship like this?"

At those words, Gyeong Su-yeon fell silent. I too had been genuinely furious when Murong Rin called me an old friend. But words possessed frightening power. After repeatedly calling each other friends, we had become real friends before we knew it. In the end, without lording her status over me and with nothing to gain, she had sent me a letter and a horse to help me. Believing I might die, she'd even sent that precious thousand-ri horse without expecting it back.

For the Baek Clan Estate to become Jilin's foremost sect and for Gyeongse Sect to survive there, our relationship had no choice but to be one of master and servant. But I was no longer Baek Eun-hyeok of the Baek Clan Estate. I was Yeongmok of Yeongsan Sect. Now that I possessed strength and room to breathe, I wanted to rebuild my relationship with her from the beginning.