Facing Each Other Again (4)
The Lord of Chukyung Palace furrowed his brow, clearly having noticed the same thing I had.
"Excuse me for a moment."
The moment he rose from his seat, a voice rang out from outside.
"Father! From this moment on, I will no longer live as a member of Chukyung Palace!"
The Lord of Chukyung Palace flung open the door and strode out, and we followed right behind him.
In the courtyard stood Sub-Palace Lord Maeng Hyeon, shouting toward the conference hall.
"Even though you've stripped me of my position as sub-palace lord, don't get the wrong idea! I'm leaving of my own accord!"
Ha...
When Seo Hyang had told me about this, I'd accepted it calmly enough, but hearing it straight from him was just ridiculous.
To the very end, he can't let go of his pride...
I glanced at the Lord of Chukyung Palace. He was pressing a hand to his forehead, letting out a deep sigh.
I could feel his profound frustration.
More importantly, I sensed the aura of the unorthodox paths emanating from Young Master Maeng Hyeon.
That meant he'd already made contact with them.
Which explained his brazen attitude.
A sub-palace lord of Chukyung Palace consorting with the unorthodox paths...
This is going to be a sight to behold.
Chukyung Palace was as sensitive to unorthodox auras as North Sea Ice Palace was.
The fact that he hadn't felt any repulsion meant he was no longer normal.
Anyway, first things first—we had to deal with this fool.
I was worried about Chukyung Palace, but this was also a matter directly tied to my own safety.
I'd come to this conference as the sub-palace lord of Seolpung Palace precisely because it was so isolated and closed off.
It seemed he'd made contact with the unorthodox paths while I was in the library yesterday.
Time-wise, he probably hadn't been able to reveal much.
He clearly had no idea I was Seonhyeopmirang or affiliated with the Eunhae Merchant Group.
That was a relief.
I asked him directly.
"So, what did they offer you?"
"...!"
"Did they promise to let you take Sub-Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin as your bride? Or maybe hand over the position of palace lord?"
"..."
His eyes bulged wide.
"Just a shot in the dark, but it looks like I hit the mark."
At that, the Lord of Chukyung Palace exploded in rage.
"You insolent wretch! Have you lost your mind? How dare you seek refuge with the unorthodox paths because you have nowhere else to go?"
Yet Young Master Maeng Hyeon scoffed defiantly.
"Ha! I'm the child you discarded! What does it matter to you where I go?"
Wow...
The guy's completely lost any sense of manners.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted around the Lord of Chukyung Palace's body. That was how furious he was.
Sigh, that idiot...
He's in for a beating that'll leave him half-dead.
But did he really not know that?
The fact that he was acting this way meant he had something to rely on.
"And Father—I'm not just seeking refuge. I've already thrown in my lot with them."
That was when it happened.
"Aaaagh!"
"Block them! It's the enemy!"
The Lord of Chukyung Palace ground his teeth at the shouts echoing from afar.
"You bastard!"
As expected... the unorthodox attackers had begun their assault.
That must have been Young Master Maeng Hyeon's ace in the hole.
Truth be told, when Seo Hyang had mentioned this, I'd wanted to prevent it.
But she'd said it was the better choice for the future.
And that everything would resolve itself well, so not to worry.
Still, I couldn't relax completely.
The future could change at any moment, after all.
That's why I'd had Sub-Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin prepare North Sea Ice Palace's elites for battle.
But... doubts lingered even so.
Sub-Palace Lord Maeng Hyeon knew North Sea Ice Palace's elites were here for the Bingyeol Conference.
And he'd surely passed that information to the unorthodox group.
Yet they were still launching this attack?
There had to be more to it.
At that moment, a tremendous aura began pouring from Young Master Maeng Hyeon.
The Lord of Chukyung Palace couldn't possibly miss it.
"You! What the hell have you done?"
"Oh, this? The ones who allied with me gave me a wonderful gift. An elixir that elevates one to the Transcendent Realm in a single bound."
An elixir that turns a peak expert into a Transcendent Realm master instantly?
Such things existed, sure.
If one encountered a stroke of fortune.
But elixirs gained through such fortunes produced pure, clear auras when advancing realms.
Not something this repulsive!
In other words, he'd consumed an elixir made through forbidden unorthodox methods.
And I knew about those elixirs.
The most potent one among them...
It was appearing already?
In my previous life, it hadn't shown up until a few years later.
Back then, an unorthodox sect had gained infamy centered around Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi provinces, thanks to the elixir they produced. Its name was Geukmu Gakhwan.
"Aaaagh!"
"W-We’re being pushed back!"
"Hold them off! Hold the line!"
From the sounds, our side wasn't faring well.
They must have fed Geukmu Gakhwan to some of their forces too.
It wasn't easy to produce, so only a few, it seemed.
Just then, one of Chukyung Palace's disciples came running.
"Palace Lord! The battle isn't going well. There are several Super First-rate experts or higher among the attackers!"
I could see the Lord of Chukyung Palace torn between his palace and his son...
Neither was something he could easily abandon.
Even if that son was a wastrel who'd gone astray.
So...
"Palace Lord, leave this wastrel to me."
"What do you mean?"
"They need you out there right now. Are you going to let Chukyung Palace fall?"
"..."
"I'll beat some sense into this fool if I have to. So hurry and go."
"Urgh!"
The Lord of Chukyung Palace clenched his fist tight and said,
"It's shameless of me, but I leave him to you."
"Don't worry. I'll give him the thrashing of his life."
I turned to Sub-Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin.
"Sub-Palace Lord, you join the Ice Palace warriors too."
"Are you sure it's safe to leave you here alone?"
"Yes."
I nodded confidently.
"..."
Sub-Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin stared at me for a moment, sighed, and nodded.
"Understood. Please take care."
"Don't worry about me—both of you, go now."
"I leave it to you."
"Don't die."
With those parting words of concern, the two rushed off.
I turned to my escort warriors and Palgap, who had hurried over.
"Seo-u Warrior, protect Lady Seo Hyang. Everyone else, fall back a bit."
"My lord!"
"That's an order. No arguments."
I had my reasons for issuing the command.
First, a Transcendent Realm master was harder to handle in a group fight.
My allies would just get in the way.
Better for me to fight alone.
Second, I had a way to smash this guy.
The problem was the massive fallout it'd cause to the surroundings.
"Well, you'd be the first to run if you had no plan anyway."
Palgap moved first, as expected.
That's Palgap for you. He knows me too well.
Only then did the other escorts follow his lead.
I turned to Young Master Maeng Hyeon and said,
"Just the two of us now."
"Hah! Doesn't matter! I'll kill you first, then finish up."
Shing.
I drew my sword and said,
"But shouldn't you worry about whether you can beat me first?"
"True enough."
He sneered at me.
"I never liked you from the start. Meddling between Sub-Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin and me."
Whoosh!
In that instant, his figure shot toward me like an arrow.
Slash—!
Blood seeped from my arm, and I bit my lip.
A cheap trick, but he'd definitely gotten stronger.
I took a deep breath and gripped Eunmu Sword tightly.
I cast aside any underestimation of my foe.
He was an incomplete Transcendent Realm, but a Transcendent Realm nonetheless.
Weaker than Master, but far more dangerous.
Master swung his sword for my growth; this guy swung only to kill me.
Clang—!
His figure lunged again, and I desperately blocked.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang—!
The clash of blades echoed everywhere.
I took wounds all over, but none fatal.
After dozens of exchanges, my hunch proved right.
He was much weaker than Master, for sure.
The power in his strikes was feeble, his speed far slower. His swordsmanship and inner energy weren't in harmony.
Of course, sheer inner energy didn't make a true Transcendent Realm.
True transcendence required matching insight and training, achieving unity of sword and energy.
Thanks to that, I could handle him more easily than expected.
Not that it was easy—far from it.
Roar! Whoosh!
His flame-wreathed sword was devastating.
My clothes were scorched and tattered everywhere.
Even I, who trained in ice arts and never sweated no matter the heat, was dripping now.
That meant it was time for Geukbing Sword.
After facing the arrangement Elder Jwa had prepared, I'd thought,
Please, let nothing happen this time.
Fat chance.
See? The very next day, here I was needing it.
Aigoo... my luck.
But no time for lamenting—had to thrash and subdue this punk first.
Hoo...
I raised my sword.
Geukbing Sword required sweat even from me, who almost never did. It used the water from my body's sweat to chill my inner energy to the absolute limit.
"Hoo..."
I inhaled deeply and eyed Young Master Maeng Hyeon.
Whoosh!
He charged again.
His eyes were glazing over—reason fading, moving on instinct.
Inferiority toward me and ingrained instincts now controlled his body.
Slash!
I calmly assumed my stance, heightening my focus.
At peak concentration, his movements seemed to slow.
And Eunmu Sword began to glow blue.
Just as the tip of his sword neared my chest.
Now.
I unleashed Geukbing Sword's energy.
Boom!
Clashing opposing forces exploded outward in shockwaves.
Geukbing Sword's ferocity countered his flame arts like a backfire, sharply diminishing their momentum.
At the same time, its frigid chill enveloped everything, freezing the surroundings.
Swish.
Amid rising white frost, I lowered Eunmu Sword.
Crackle.
Ice from my body fell to the frozen-hard ground and shattered.
I looked down ahead.
There stood Young Master Maeng Hyeon, expression incredulous, body half-frozen and propped up by his sword, staring at me.
"H-How? How could you... against a Transcendent Realm like me...? Are you Transcendent too?"
"No."
If I were already Transcendent, I'd have crushed him in one blow.
"Th-Then? How?"
"Because your realm isn't a perfect Transcendent one."
"What? I am undoubtedly Transcendent... Ack!"
He suddenly clutched his mouth and vomited blood.
"As expected. The side effects are kicking in now that you've hit your limit."
"Side effects?"
"Yes. Only natural."
I nodded.
"You said they gave you a single pill to reach Transcendent, right? But could an unprepared body and mind withstand it?"
I continued impassively.
"Looks like they didn't tell you about its limits or side effects."
"Wh-What do you... Th-Then what happens to me?"
"If I'm right, your meridians will rupture, muscles tear, dantian shatter, inner energy scatter... You'll never cultivate or even use energy again."
"...!"
"Lucky if you can walk."
His eyes widened at my words.
"N-No! That can't be! To reach this realm, how much I..."
Unfortunately, it wasn't just a guess.
It was exactly what happened in my previous life.
The stronger the arts used, and the more, the quicker the limit came, the worse the backlash.
That's why that unorthodox sect hit a wall despite having Geukmu Gakhwan.
Early victories and growth faded fast—who'd take it knowing the side effects?
Rush anything, and it backfires.
The Murim Alliance had stepped in to handle them, boosting their influence in Yunnan.
If I wrapped this up quickly, I could prevent that growth too.
Things would resolve well, just as Seo Hyang said.
Crunch, crackle.
Young Master Maeng Hyeon's muscles began twisting, and he screamed in agony.
"Aaaagh! Aaaaagh! Sp-Spare me! Aaaaagh!"
I clicked my tongue and sealed his pressure points.
His shrieks were hurting my ears.
"Tsk tsk. Why'd you gobble up just anything?"
In his case, overusing energy against Geukbing Sword accelerated the backlash.
What the hell had driven this guy so far astray?
Left a bitter taste in my mouth.
As soon as the attackers were dealt with, the Lord of Chukyung Palace rushed back.
I pointed to Maeng Hyeon collapsed on the ground.
"Fortunately, his life isn't in danger."
"Side effects?"
"Yes. You knew?"
"I suspected."
He sighed and rubbed his dry face.
"I removed him as sub-palace lord for the palace's future. But that decision nearly doomed us."
"No. You did right. He invited the unorthodox paths here after being stripped of his title. What do you think would've happened if he'd become palace lord?"
"Er... true."
I couldn't say it, but he'd royally screwed over Chukyung Palace before.
But that future wouldn't come now.
And there was no time to mope.
"Palace Lord, this isn't the time."
"Hm?"
"You need to crush the ones who leaked Chukyung Palace's intel to the unorthodox paths."