Ice and Fire (3)
Master had told me.
If I became the young palace lord of the Snow Wind Palace, I could carve paths even through snowstorms.
And that was exactly the sight unfolding before my eyes.
Stopping the snowstorm entirely would make travel easier.
But the spirit beasts living in the North Sea faced the same issue.
So, by leaving the surrounding snowstorm intact and creating only a passage through it, we could move back and forth safely and swiftly without spirit beast attacks.
In truth, using the main road would ensure safety.
But it didn't guarantee speed, which was the problem.
I said to the group,
"Then, let's go."
"Yes."
With that, we moved at a rapid pace and soon arrived at the Binggung Guest House at the entrance to the North Sea Ice Palace.
"We greet the young palace lord and honored guests."
"Welcome."
"Please leave the horses with us."
"Will you be staying the night?"
The twin innkeepers still spoke in perfect alternation.
It might feel a bit dizzying, but it had become something of a symbol for this Binggung Guest House.
I said to them,
"The others will rest here, while only I, Vice Officer Gwak, and the young palace lord will head in now."
The others couldn't enter the North Sea Ice Palace.
"Understood."
"We'll prepare places for you to rest."
They would stay here and join us when we headed to the Zhu Rong Palace.
"So, rest well at this inn. You never know what might happen ahead."
I continued,
"And don't overdo your training and strain yourselves needlessly."
"We'll keep that in mind."
After entrusting the group with those words, I took only Bing Hae-rin, the young palace lord, and Seo-hyang Sojeo through the gate of mist toward the North Sea Ice Palace.
Emerging from the gate of mist, we saw a building with elegantly upturned white-tiled roofs.
The North Sea Ice Palace.
As we approached, the disciples guarding the gate hurriedly bowed in salute.
"We greet the young palace lord."
"I've brought guests."
At this, they offered salute to me and Seo-hyang Sojeo as well.
"Please, come in."
"Welcome to the North Sea Ice Palace."
Bing Hae-rin, the young palace lord, said to us,
"Then, let's head inside."
With that, we all entered the North Sea Ice Palace together.
I visited so often now that the layout felt quite familiar.
To the point where I could wander alone without getting lost.
We headed straight for the palace lord's chambers.
"Come in."
The palace lord, who had been lounging languidly on her side, straightened up to greet us.
"Merchant Eun Seo-ho greets the palace lord."
"Gwak Seo-hyang greets the palace lord."
Accepting our greetings, the palace lord said,
"Thank you for honoring our request."
"Master was also pleased that I'm attending the Ice-Fire Summit."
"Is that so?"
In truth, this Ice-Fire Summit had a purpose.
They were suspected of annihilating the Snow Wind Palace. And the whetstone given by the former deputy leader of the Gwangjun Merchant Group pointed to them as well.
In other words, we aimed to confirm if they truly were the culprits behind the Snow Wind Palace's destruction.
"We'll depart in about three days. There's some training needed beforehand."
"Training?"
"You'll need to know what not to do at the Ice-Fire Summit, its history, and such. The young palace lord will handle that education."
"Understood."
I nodded and continued,
"Is security here secure?"
At my question, the palace lord asked in return,
"Why do you ask?"
"I have something to discuss confidentially."
With that, the palace lord spoke into the air,
"Withdraw for now."
Whoosh!
Immediately, the presences around us vanished.
"So, what do you wish to say?"
I took the whetstone from the former deputy leader out of my bosom and offered it to her.
"Would you take a look at this?"
"Isn't this a whetstone?"
"It's evidence revealing the secret behind the Snow Wind Palace's annihilation."
"...!"
Her eyes widened at my words.
"This is...?"
"Yes."
After examining the whetstone briefly, the palace lord nodded.
"Indeed, neither the Snow Wind Palace nor our Ice Palace uses whetstones. Even if we did, none would be worn down and spread open like this."
The palace lord asked me,
"How did you obtain this?"
I explained the full story to her.
At that, Bing Hae-rin, the young palace lord, sighed.
"I've visited the Gwangjun Merchant Group several times! Why didn't he tell me?"
As the sole survivor of the Snow Wind Palace, she seemed inevitably hurt.
"Perhaps... he couldn't trust anyone."
"..."
I myself had once suspected the North Sea Ice Palace when I failed to hear why they hadn't helped during the Snow Wind Palace's annihilation.
"That could be."
Bing Hae-rin, the young palace lord, nodded as if convinced.
"But when you brought the young palace lord here, you didn't see this whetstone?"
"At the time, saving the young palace lord was more urgent; I had no chance to look around."
"I see."
So, the palace lord had arrived right after the incident at the Snow Wind Palace, and the former deputy leader came shortly after.
I explained what I'd learned about the whetstone—precisely, what the Seo-u Warrior had told me.
"I can definitely sense the energy of the Flame Flower Technique from this whetstone."
"You can sense that?"
"I can. As the master of this North Sea Ice Palace."
Ah...
I think I understand.
The North Sea Ice Palace and Zhu Rong Palace had been mortal enemies for so long that they were sensitive to each other's energies.
"You plan to confirm at this summit if they are the beasts who annihilated the Snow Wind Palace."
"That's right."
I asked her,
"If the Zhu Rong Palace turns out to be the culprits who destroyed the Snow Wind Palace, what will you do?"
At my question, the palace lord smiled and replied,
"The truce will naturally fall through."
"Pardon?"
"The Snow Wind Palace guards our North Sea Ice Palace. Destroying it means they ultimately target us. We're not so weak as to let that slide."
.
.
.
After withdrawing from the palace lord, we were escorted to our chambers.
Seo-hyang Sojeo's room was prepared right next to mine, at her request.
As I finished washing and came out, I heard Seo-hyang Sojeo's voice from outside.
"Young leader, may I come in?"
"Ah, of course."
The door opened, and Seo-hyang Sojeo entered.
"But what brings you? Why not rest before dinner?"
"Well... it's a bit overwhelming."
"Pardon?"
"They keep calling me 'Saintess' and fussing over me... it's excessively kind, I suppose?"
She let out a sigh.
"I'm sorry. Even their good intentions feel burdensome."
"No."
I shook my head.
"It's understandable."
Just hearing the young palace lord call her 'Saintess' showed how extravagantly they treated her.
But excessive kindness and consideration could become a form of violence.
"Even more than my brothers."
"Hahaha."
I couldn't help but laugh at that.
Her brothers were the sort who didn't care about propriety.
"Sometimes, seeing the palace lord and young palace lord makes me feel like they'll devour me."
In other words, like they'd keep her trapped here.
"Is that why you requested the room next to mine?"
"Yes."
I chuckled at that.
"No need to worry."
The palace lord and young palace lord desired Seo-hyang Sojeo so much yet refrained from reaching out because of me.
They knew full well I wouldn't stand idly by if they did.
.
.
.
The next day.
Seo-hyang Sojeo and I began studying for the Ice-Fire Summit.
Bing Hae-rin, the young palace lord, taught the class herself, and she made a decent instructor.
"We call it the Ice-Fire Summit, but they call it the Fire-Ice Summit."
"Even the name of the summit feels like a power struggle."
"Exactly. There's an official name, Truce Summit, but it's not as cool. And Ice-Fire Summit is more straightforward."
"True enough."
Bing Hae-rin, the young palace lord, explained the summit's history, attendees, procedures, and more.
"The Zhu Rong Palace has a young palace lord who's an absolute pain."
"Is that so?"
Half of it was trash-talking the Zhu Rong Palace, but still.
"The Ice-Fire Summit alternates venues each time. This round, it's our turn to go to the Zhu Rong Palace."
"Which makes the Snow Wind Palace's role crucial."
"Yes, exactly."
She nodded.
"To be honest, it's also a show of strength. Like saying, 'I'm with my guardian, so no matter what dirty tricks you pull, I can break through and escape.'"
She continued,
"So, I'm a bit sorry about it."
"No need."
I waved it off.
"Isn't that the Snow Wind Palace's role? I'm the young palace lord of Snow Wind Palace, and I must fulfill it."
"Thank you for saying that."
Preparations proceeded steadily, and finally, departure day arrived.
One hundred members for the summit procession.
Their auras were sharp and keen, as if they could pierce through any foe ahead.
These were handpicked elites—clearly, the North Sea Ice Palace took this summit seriously.
"Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin, we'll be off."
"Have a safe trip, young palace lord."
"Yes."
"I'll be going as well, Palace Lord."
"Young Palace Lord Eun Seo-ho and the saintess, please return safely. We entrust you to them."
With that, we departed the North Sea Ice Palace.
Moments later, we reached the Binggung Guest House, where the rest of the group waited, preparations complete.
I'd sent word via the golden decree to ready themselves in advance.
"Young master!"
"Let's depart!"
"Yes!"
They mounted immediately and joined the group.
The Zhu Rong Palace was in Yun'nan.
More precisely, on the border between Yun'nan and Xijiang.
Yun'nan, huh...
The Chunggyeong Castle incident was last autumn...
So, almost half a year since then?
I wonder if Castle Lord Chunggyeong and Young Master Yeon Yu-mun are well.
It might be good to visit them when time allows.
I'm a merchant, and for merchants, connections are invisible wealth—the more, the better.
Since I was their benefactor in Chunggyeong Castle, they wouldn't ignore me.
The North Sea Ice Palace's gates opening held two meanings.
Either accepting people in or letting people out.
Of course, for large groups.
No one says 'the gates open' for one or two travelers.
In the martial world, even fifty from the North Sea Ice Palace emerging caused tension. Let alone a hundred elites.
Thus, to avoid needless clashes, the North Sea Ice Palace chose paths with few people.
Deliberately through the northern grasslands, skirting the base of Giyeon Mountain, then veering slightly to board ships at the upper Yangtze in Qinghai for Yun'nan.
For ordinary folk, crossing the grasslands alone meant significant losses.
But for the North Sea Ice Palace folk, it was different.
The grassland tribes steered clear on their own.
"Isn't Giyeon Mountain in Gansu Province?"
Palgap asked me en route.
"Right."
And that's where I found Monk Hyeolgon's true body in the sword mound of Yeonji Mountain in Gansu.
Thinking about it, I've pretty much traveled everywhere in the empire.
.
.
.
After days of hard riding, we arrived at Giyeon Mountain.
Impressive, really.
They'd galloped so swiftly, yet showed no signs of fatigue.
"Why are you staring like that?"
"Ah, young palace lord."
I shared my thoughts with Bing Hae-rin, the young palace lord, and she smiled.
"Probably easier to breathe here than in the North Sea. The cold there makes breathing tough."
"Ah, I see."
"And most North Sea Ice Palace members spent their childhoods outside, so the world feels exciting after so long."
"Makes sense."
From there, we turned downward and reached the upper Yangtze in Qinghai.
We boarded ships.
Now, time to entrust travel to the boats and rest.
"My butt nearly died from the pain."
I chuckled at Palgap's words.
"Good thing you can rest now. Want me to cool your sore butt?"
I gathered cold energy in my hand and asked.
"Eek!"
Palgap recoiled in horror.
"What kind of perverted talk is that?"
"Why?"
"Tch! Not with that face saying that!"
Wait, why am I getting scolded?
Enjoying such leisurely time, we soon reached the Yun'nan region.
"Then, let's find a nearby clearing."
"Understood."
Finding an inn for over a hundred at once was tough.
Then, someone approached us.
Huh? That person?
"Long time no see! Isn't this the Swordsman Beauty?"
"Young Master Yeon Yu-mun?"
The eldest son of Chunggyeong Castle's lord, Yeon Yu-mun.
"Yes! You remember me!"
He seemed thrilled and asked,
"What brings you here?"
Instead of answering right away, I sent a sound transmission to Bing Hae-rin, the young palace lord, who nodded.
With her permission, I briefly explained to Yeon Yu-mun.
He nodded with a smile.
"I see the situation. Follow me, then. I'll guide you to a place to stay tonight."
Truly, one should live kindly.
We'll sleep comfortably today.