Chapter 516
Chapter 516
Chapter 516. Ice and Fire (4)
The place Mister Yeon Yumun took us to was, unexpectedly, an academy.
The signboard hanging there read Namgwang Academy.
“Is this not an academy?” (Eun Seoho)
At my question, he nodded.
“It is indeed an academy. But we have not yet begun accepting students, and it is fairly large, so all of you should be able to rest here sufficiently.” (Yeon Yumun)
“I see. But why an academy? And it is quite large.” (Eun Seoho)
“Hoo...” (Yeon Yumun)
Mister Yeon Yumun let out a sigh.
“Do you remember the great difficulty our Chunjing City went through before?” (Yeon Yumun)
“Of course.” (Eun Seoho)
“The greatest reason we suffered difficulty then was because we were isolated.” (Yeon Yumun)
Still, he had looked at reality objectively.
“So we built an academy in order to prevent such a thing from happening in the future. If children from this place enter the imperial court, they should be able to prevent unjust matters.” (Yeon Yumun)
“That is a good idea. For the time being, His Majesty the Emperor will also pay attention, and I am here as well, but no one knows what will happen decades later.” (Eun Seoho)
“And so we are planning to open the academy at the beginning of next month. We have already furnished it with household goods, and the cleaning has also been completed, so staying here should be all right.” (Yeon Yumun)
At those words, Young Palace Head Bing Haerin replied.
“That much is more than enough. We would be grateful even if we could only avoid the dew.” (Bing Haerin)
And so we entered the academy.
The academy had been built quite splendidly.
While everyone was unpacking there, Mister Yeon Yumun said to me,
“Since this academy is a boarding academy, there are plenty of places to wash, and a dining hall has also been prepared.” (Yeon Yumun)
“Then we can procure food and cook for ourselves.” (Eun Seoho)
“I will provide the ingredients.” (Yeon Yumun)
At those words, I waved my hand.
“It is all right. You have already provided us with a place where we can avoid the night dew. We cannot impose on you for food as well.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued speaking.
“Moreover, since our party is large, the cost will not be small.” (Eun Seoho)
“That much is all right. If it had not been for you, Master...” (Yeon Yumun)
As though recalling what had happened then, he could not bring himself to continue.
“So please accept my sincerity.” (Yeon Yumun)
When he came this far, I could not refuse.
“Understood. I will gratefully accept.” (Eun Seoho)
I told Young Palace Head Bing Haerin the circumstances, and at that, she looked at me and smiled.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” (Eun Seoho)
“I felt this from the first time I saw Young Palace Head Eun, but the name Immortal Knight Beauty really suits you.” (Bing Haerin)
At her praise, which I had not expected, I unconsciously scratched the back of my neck.
“We are also receiving repayment for the kindness Young Palace Head Eun has shown in ordinary times. Thank you.” (Bing Haerin)
“Not at all. Are there any foods you cannot eat?” (Eun Seoho)
“There are not. Our disciples eat anything well.” (Bing Haerin)
A short while later, Mister Yeon Yumun brought various ingredients loaded on a cart.
We were about to cook with them, but there was a problem.
“Uh, how do we handle this fish?” (Disciple)
“Do we just roast it over the fire?” (Disciple)
The martial artists of the Northern Sea Ice Palace were all floundering about because they did not know how to cook.
I let out a sigh and asked Young Palace Head Bing Haerin.
“Is there not a single person who knows how to cook?” (Eun Seoho)
“Since we formed the group with only elites, we did not bring a separate cook. And because we do not often have occasion to travel far, we do not have many cooks either.” (Bing Haerin)
Then again, the Northern Sea Ice Palace was rather closed off, so they did not often leave the Ice Palace.
“I see. But since they are all women, I thought they would at least have experience cooking.” (Eun Seoho)
“They would have needed to have the chance to learn cooking.” (Bing Haerin)
“Ah...” (Eun Seoho)
I understood what she meant.
The age at which one entered the Northern Sea Ice Palace was very young.
It was not exactly an age when one would learn to cook.
And once they entered the Northern Sea Ice Palace, they would only train in martial arts afterward...
“That was a foolish question.” (Eun Seoho)
So this was how frightening prejudice could be.
At that moment, Palgap spoke.
“Young Master, may I step forward?” (Palgap)
Ah! That’s right!
We had Palgap!
I looked at Palgap, clasped both hands, and said,
“Palgap, I’m counting on you. I don’t want to eat those good ingredients after they’ve all been burned.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Palgap rolled up both sleeves and said with a grave face,
“You do not need to worry.” (Palgap)
From that moment on, Palgap’s performance began.
Dadadadadada!
He handled the kitchen knife with godlike skill,
Fwoooosh!
and moved in all directions, skillfully handling the cooking pot over the fire and more.
And yet he moved like flowing water without colliding with anyone assisting him.
He even gave appropriate instructions.
Watching that, I was once again impressed.
He had the talent of the Killing King, and as he received martial arts training from Warrior Jinyu, his skills were gradually improving.
But for some reason, I did not feel any aspect of an assassin from Palgap and simply felt he was like a bear.
Palgap was just a bear.
But were bears originally that nimble and flexible?
A short while later.
The table was filled abundantly.
“Today’s meal was prepared by Little Brother Palgap. Everyone, show your gratitude.” (Bing Haerin)
At Young Palace Head Bing Haerin’s words, everyone applauded.
Clap clap clap clap!
Palgap was extremely embarrassed by it.
“Thank you. I will enjoy it too.” (Eun Seoho)
I also expressed my gratitude to Palgap and moved my spoon.
The beginning was a refreshing and spicy soybean paste soup boiled with fish.
Oh! Ooooh!
Before my eyes, fish was flapping about in the sea of soybean paste soup.
“This is really delicious! But this... tastes similar to the seafood soup at Chunmong Pavilion in Beijing?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is right. You seemed to like the seafood soup, Young Master, so I learned it from the cook.” (Palgap)
“Ah, so that was why you were often away.” (Eun Seoho)
Like that, I enjoyed a delicious and abundant meal for the first time in a long while.
The next day.
Mister Yeon Yumun came to see us.
“I do not know whether you slept comfortably last night.” (Yeon Yumun)
“Thanks to your consideration, Mister, we spent a comfortable time. Thank you very much.” (Eun Seoho)
“Our Northern Sea Ice Palace will also not forget Mister Yeon’s consideration.” (Bing Haerin)
Young Palace Head Bing Haerin and I gave him clasped hands greetings and expressed our gratitude.
“Then I hope we meet again on another good day, for a good matter.” (Yeon Yumun)
“I, too, look forward to our next meeting.” (Yeon Yumun)
And so we set off toward Zhurong Palace, and Mister Yeon Yumun saw us off.
Thanks to eating well and sleeping well, everyone’s complexions were bright.
Seeing this, Young Palace Head Bing Haerin said,
“Hoo, at least this time they will not mock us after seeing our appearance.” (Bing Haerin)
“Pardon?” (Eun Seoho)
“They sneered at the way we looked during the conference before last. Grit!” (Bing Haerin)
She ground her teeth, showing just how humiliating it had been at the time.
“Ah... I see.” (Eun Seoho)
“But if it was the conference before last, was that not ten years ago? The Young Palace Head’s age...” (Eun Seoho)
She was certainly the same age as me.
“At the time, I visited with Master. She said that since I was the next Young Palace Head, I had to gain experience, so she took me along.” (Bing Haerin)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
We quickly headed toward Zhurong Palace.
The weather was extremely hot and humid, and the surroundings were jungle, but since they were elites above first-rate, they did not seem to have much difficulty.
And all kinds of insects could not approach either.
If they had not been elite martial artists, the road there would have been extremely difficult.
By the way, Zhurong Palace was a first for me, both in my previous life and in this one.
Because they were an even more closed-off place than the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
If one approached wrongly, one could die pierced through by daggers or arrows that poured down without question.
As we went to Yunnan Province, I explained things about them to my companions.
Unlike the Northern Sea Ice Palace, which did not marry, they married freely.
However, the form was a little unusual.
They practiced something called duel marriage, where both men and women could marry the person they liked if they dueled them and won.
In a sense, one could say it was indeed fitting for a murim force.
And they considered themselves descendants of Zhurong, the god of fire and the god of the south.
That was why their name was Zhurong Palace.
Their main weapon was the longsword, but they were also quite skilled with flying daggers.
Warrior Myeongjong, who had been listening to the explanation, asked,
“But does Zhurong Palace not use poison arts? Since they are a sect of Yunnan, I would think they would also have deep knowledge of poison arts.” (Myeongjong)
The one who answered that question was Warrior Seowoo.
“Zhurong Palace does not use poison arts. Though it may be different for the poison sects of Yunnan.” (Seowoo)
He continued his explanation.
“The Southern Barbarian Beast Sect also uses poison, but the poison they use is to manipulate living poisonous creatures and have them use poison.” (Seowoo)
“I see.” (Myeongjong)
“I have heard that even if Zhurong Palace wants to use poison, it is difficult for them to do so. Because Zhurong Palace’s specialty is fire arts, the effects of poison become extremely weak. That is why poison sects that use poison arts and the Southern Barbarian Beast Sect absolutely do not touch Zhurong Palace.” (Seowoo)
“They are completely incompatible with them.” (Myeongjong)
Young Palace Head Bing Haerin, who had been listening to those words, nodded.
“You know quite a bit.” (Bing Haerin)
“When I worked as a Head Escort before, I was mainly in charge of this region.” (Seowoo)
“I see. Somehow, that feels reassuring.” (Bing Haerin)
“I am grateful to hear that I can be of help.” (Seowoo)
While we were conversing further like that, Young Palace Head Bing Haerin raised her hand and stopped the group.
“Yeo Jin.” (Bing Haerin)
At that call, a disciple called Yeo Jin came forward. She was also Young Palace Head Bing Haerin’s guard.
“Please shoot a whistling arrow.” (Bing Haerin)
“Understood.” (Yeo Jin)
The woman called Yeo Jin took an arrow from the quiver on her back and shot it toward the sky.
Piiiiiiik!
As the arrow flew, a sharp sound rang out.
And a short while later.
Dududududu!
The sound of horse hooves shaking the ground could be heard.
The ones who soon revealed themselves were people wearing red armor.
It was light armor suited to the hot and humid weather, covering only important areas such as the head and neck.
However, the helmet ornaments were extremely splendid.
One of them dismounted from his horse and approached us. Then he gave a clasped hands greeting and said,
“Haedalman, Chief External Administrator of Zhurong Palace, greets the Young Palace Head of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.” (Haedalman)
“Thank you for your welcome.” (Bing Haerin)
“You have had a hard journey coming here.” (Haedalman)
He was more courteous than I had expected.
Then he looked at me and tilted his head. That was only natural, since my party and I were men.
“Who is that gentleman?” (Haedalman)
At that question, Bing Haerin answered.
“He is the Young Palace Head of Snowstorm Palace, the guardian of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, and his party.” (Bing Haerin)
“Pardon?” (Haedalman)
He tilted his head with a startled expression.
“I heard that Snowstorm Palace suffered calamity long ago.” (Haedalman)
“No calamity is beyond Snowstorm Palace’s ability to overcome.” (Bing Haerin)
“...I see.” (Haedalman)
A bewildered expression.
Was it because the descendant of Snowstorm Palace, which he had thought annihilated, had survived and appeared here?
Or was it because they themselves had failed to annihilate Snowstorm Palace?
We would know soon.
If they were the culprits, I had to inform Master of this as quickly as possible.
That was not for the sake of hiding.
It was for the sake of preparing countermeasures to face them.
It was frightening when one did not know the enemy’s identity, but once the enemy’s identity was known, it was not so frightening.
Rather, one’s range of activity became wider and freer.
Because one only had to be careful of them.
I took a deep breath inwardly.
Because it was time to judge whether they were the culprits who annihilated Snowstorm Palace.
Guided by them, we entered Zhurong Palace’s territory.
I could see traps installed here and there.
Some traps even held dried-up corpses.
Seeing that, Miss Seohyang’s face turned pale.
“Do not be frightened.” (Eun Seoho)
I whispered in a small voice.
“There is no need to be afraid. They deliberately have not cleared those away so that people will be afraid.” (Eun Seoho)
“Pardon?” (Gwak Seohyang)
“It is to show what end befalls those who invade their territory. We are their guests. So there is no need to fear those things.” (Eun Seoho)
“I see.” (Gwak Seohyang)
I comforted Miss Seohyang like that, and soon we arrived at the heart of Zhurong Palace.
“The Palace Head and the Great Lady are waiting.” (Haedalman)
“Let us go at once.” (Bing Haerin)
At Young Palace Head Bing Haerin’s words, Chief External Administrator Haedalman immediately guided us.
Soon, we arrived at a huge stone gate.
“Palace Head, the Young Palace Head of the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the Young Palace Head of Snowstorm Palace have arrived.” (Haedalman)
“Let them enter.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“Yes.” (Haedalman)
Drrrrrrrr.
The rather large gate opened.
The giants on the left and right had turned the handles and opened the stone gate.
We entered.
A man and woman wearing crowns decorated with splendid feathers could be seen sitting on the central chairs.
As befitted people of the southern region, they had healthy sun-tanned bronze skin and boasted firm muscles.
We greeted them respectfully.
“Bing Haerin, Young Palace Head of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, greets the Ruler of Fire and the Great Lady.” (Bing Haerin)
“Eun Seoho, Young Palace Head of Snowstorm Palace, greets the Ruler of Fire and the Great Lady.” (Eun Seoho)
When we showed courtesy, the Palace Head of Zhurong Palace said,
“It is good to meet you like this. Everyone, raise your heads.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“Thank you for welcoming us.” (Bing Haerin)
“However...” (Zhurong Palace Head)
The Palace Head of Zhurong Palace looked at me.
“You say you are the Young Palace Head of Snowstorm Palace.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“Yes. That is correct.” (Eun Seoho)
“As I know it, did Snowstorm Palace not suffer calamity at the hands of a mysterious group?” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“That is so, but that does not mean Snowstorm Palace was annihilated.” (Eun Seoho)
“How surprising.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
He nodded.
“To think the Young Trading Company Head of Eunha Merchant Guild, called Immortal Knight Beauty, is the Young Palace Head of Snowstorm Palace.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
“...!” (Eun Seoho)
I was surprised.
I had heard this was a closed-off place, so how had he recognized me the moment he saw my face?
“I did not think you would know of me.” (Eun Seoho)
“You have been active far too much in this Yunnan Province. Last time you were with the Royal Guards, and today you are with the Young Palace Head of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
I glanced slightly at Young Palace Head Bing Haerin.
Didn’t you say Zhurong Palace had no interest in external affairs?
She, too, seemed not to have expected this situation, and her gaze was trembling a little.
I laughed slightly inwardly and answered calmly.
“As I lived diligently, I came to form various connections.” (Eun Seoho)
“I see.” (Zhurong Palace Head)
The Palace Head nodded calmly.
It was then.
Drrrrrrrr.
The stone gate opened, and someone entered from behind and shouted.
“Young Palace Head Bing Haerin! This time, please marry me!” (Unknown Man)
At the same time, he thrust a sword toward her.
I quickly drew my sword and blocked that sword.
Clang!
What is this lunatic?