After arriving at the North Sea Ice Palace, the gazes we received were filled with curiosity—and expectation.
At that, Bing Yerin opened her mouth with an awkward smile.
"Ahaha. Please don't mind it too much. They must not have expected us to return this early."
"That's not something I mind. I understand it well enough. …It's just a little surprising."
I swallowed the admiration that threatened to burst out on its own and looked around.
The buildings were of a style completely different from those of the Central Plains. Snow piled atop every single one of them, making it feel as though I had stepped into a midwinter forest.
Of course, this was still a place where people lived. Though the buildings stood somewhat close together, it was hardly a real forest, and people could be seen here and there between them.
The clothes were made of materials and styles I had never seen before. Every single piece was fashioned from thick animal fur and leather, and they all looked exceptionally warm.
And their appearances were so different from the people of the Central Plains. Pale, almost white skin, and eyes and hair with faint, washed-out colors.
Watching Bing Yerin and her group, I had thought I was used to the looks of the North Sea Ice Palace people, but seeing this many of them all at once felt different from before.
No, to be precise, it was strange that this was their land and I was the peculiar outsider.
Even in the vast Central Plains, there were merchants from the Western Regions and monks from Tianzhu.
It wasn't that outsiders didn't exist, but the people of the Central Plains had always been the overwhelming majority.
But now that the tables were turned and I was the one in the minority, I understood it clearly.
"Indeed, I've arrived at the North Sea Ice Palace… at the Outer Murim."
"Truth be told, I'd already set foot on the lands of the North Sea long ago."
Tang So-wol added that one remark, as if she'd caught the note of admiration in my words. Indeed, in the end, it wasn't the land that mattered, but the people who lived upon it.
In that sense, it was hardly strange that it wasn't the cold weather or the drifting snowflakes, but the faces of those who lived here, that made me truly realize I had arrived at the North Sea Ice Palace.
Children stared at us from a distance, their eyes brimming with curiosity.
Tang So-wol, who had been watching those children with an affectionate gaze, opened her mouth.
"Come to think of it, truly everyone here has mastered a martial art. At this rate, there's no distinction between Martial Artists and common folk—only the distinction of one's level remains, isn't that so?"
"Well then, that distinction of level becomes the very difference between a Martial Artist and a commoner."
"Indeed. If everyone cultivates martial arts together, then that's how it would be."
Watching Tang So-wol nod, one thing suddenly came to mind.
"Come to think of it, even if we're both in the Outer Murim, the people of Yunnan looked similar to the Central Plains at a glance… but the people of the North Sea are quite different in appearance from the start."
"Yes. I suppose it's because of the surrounding environment and the martial arts they've learned."
"That may be so, but isn't it fascinating that so many reasons come together to make such a difference?"
"Hm?"
"Think about it. Farmers who work under the sun tend to have darker skin, and for the same reason, people from hotter regions also tend to be darker."
"Well, the Martial Artists from Yunnan I saw while I was held captive in Cheondok Fortress were indeed like that."
"Conversely, those who live in the cold North Sea have pale skin, and even their hair colors are all unusual, aren't they?"
Some martial arts reveal their achievements through changes to the body.
Take Tang So-wol's hair, for instance—the green tint it carries is surely a sign of how far her poison art has advanced.
The martial arts of the North Sea Ice Palace seem to possess a similar property: those who have trained to a certain level find their body hair changing color.
That said, even those whose achievements are not so high appear to be born with distinctly different colors.
Most of the people stealing glances at us from afar have blonde hair and blue or green eyes, after all.
A place where people are, on the whole, pale of complexion—that was the first impression I received upon arriving at the North Sea Ice Palace.
"I imagine it's much the same wherever you go. The people of the Western Regions adapted to their environment, and the people of the Central Plains adapted to theirs."
"I suppose so."
"Then wouldn't you be curious?"
"About what, exactly?"
"People's appearances differ depending on where they live, and they differ again depending on the martial arts they've mastered. In special cases like the Hebei Peng Clan, these traits can even be passed down with certainty. So then—"
He paused to choose his words before speaking again.
"Unaffected by the environment they live in, unaffected by any martial art… what would the most pure form of a person look like?"
"Young hero Cheon."
"Hm?"
"Forgive me for asking, but could it be that all the attention you're receiving has made you a bit tense?"
"…A little?"
To be precise, it wasn't because of the sheer number of gazes, but because of the expectations those gazes carried.
Being simply noticed was something I'd experienced many times even before my regression. But receiving gazes so full of hope and expectation like this—that was a first.
I'd grown somewhat accustomed to it while staying with the Tang Clan, but the current level was beyond comparison with back then.
Every person we passed on the street would murmur, asking if we were the Young Palace Mistress candidates, asking if they could finally rest easy now… Honestly, I didn't think I could ever get used to it.
For the record, Seomun Hwa-rin was enjoying every bit of it.
With her chin raised, her shoulders bobbing up and down, and little puffs of air escaping her nose, the sight of her was enough to make anyone watching feel warm inside.
She was living the life of an Orthodox Sect martial artist she'd longed for so desperately—a life where she was welcomed rather than feared. It was only natural she'd be overjoyed.
Though somehow, the embarrassment seems to be my share.
I let out a dry cough to cover my awkwardness and continued speaking.
"Ahem. The North Sea Ice Palace is bigger than I expected."
"Hehe. That's only natural, since everyone living in these parts eventually gathers here. Of course, it's nothing compared to the Central Plains…"
Bing Yerin nodded confidently, only to let her voice trail off at the end.
Well, the North Sea Ice Palace was indeed a magnificent place—so much so that it was hard to believe it had been built on this land of snow and ice. But having seen the Murim Alliance's buildings, her confidence must have been shaken.
Seol Ri-hyang, noticing this, naturally changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, we've walked this far into a place where people live. Shouldn't something be showing up by now? They wouldn't have named it a 'palace' for nothing."
"Ah, we're almost there. We just need to cross that lake."
"…Lake?"
Seol Ri-hyang tilted her head as if she had heard something incomprehensible. All that lay before them was a frozen expanse covered in snow—how could that be a lake?
Bing Yerin, noticing our gaze, smirked and swept the ground with her foot.
Beneath the white snow lay transparent ice, free of any impurities.
"What is this…?"
"It's frozen solid like this now, but in summer it melts and becomes water. It's as wide as the sea, but it's not a real sea—just a lake."
"…Ah, I see? So that's where the name North Sea comes from? Then do the people living there live on top of the ice?"
"No. As I said a moment ago, it melts when summer comes. That area is just land."
"Hmm? Then where exactly is the North Sea Ice Palace?"
"Everywhere. The place our ancestors first settled was indeed that small piece of land in the middle of the lake. But as the North Sea Ice Palace grew in power and its name spread, people from all around began to flock here…"
"And as a result, people started gathering to live on the land beyond the lake like that, right?"
"Exactly."
"I'm guessing the ones living inside the palace—where we're headed now—receive better treatment."
"…That is also true. Those with outstanding martial arts, sharp minds, or superior bloodlines live within the palace, while the rest all live outside."
"Now I'm starting to understand. So when you first said the North Sea Ice Palace had opened up its martial arts, you meant they taught the arts that were once only passed down inside the palace to those people out there, right?"
"Indeed, it's no wonder you're the one destined to become Young Palace Mistress. Originally, those people could only learn the martial arts necessary for survival, but now they can learn advanced martial arts whenever they wish, should they desire it. …Though there is the problem of wanting to learn but being unable to do so."
Bing Yerin said this while gazing at Seol Ri-hyang with fervent eyes.
It seemed that even though she entertained the thought of sending us away and consuming the Ice Crystal herself to challenge for the position of Palace Lord, she still considered making Seol Ri-hyang the Palace Lord to be the best course of action.
Avoiding Bing Yerin's gaze, Seol Ri-hyang sidled over to me.
"Hey, Cheon Hwi."
"What is it?"
"There's something I want to ask you."
"I'm all ears."
"???"
Seol Ri-hyang blinked as I held out my arm. Chuckling at her expression, I continued.
"Didn't you say you wanted to ask me something?"
"…Ugh!"
Only then did Seol Ri-hyang understand what I meant, and she bit my forearm in annoyance. Of course, it wasn't enough to hurt—just a gentle nibble that tickled slightly.
After gnawing on it for a good while, she finally let go of my arm. Wiping the faint teeth marks and the long strand of drool that had stretched and fallen away with her sleeve, she spoke again.
"So, there's something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead."
"You're keeping secrets from me and scheming something with Sister Tang, aren't you?"
"Oh?"
"I don't know what it is, but I've caught on, so tell me the truth. What exactly are you trying to do?"
"First of all, let me say this—it's not just you I've kept it a secret from. Senior Seomun Hwa-rin doesn't know, and Bing Yerin doesn't know either."
"…What is it, really?"
"That is…"
Seol Ri-hyang swallowed her saliva, her eyes fixed on the shape of my mouth. I grinned at her and said,
"That's obviously a secret."
"Hey!"
"If I could have told you in the first place, I wouldn't have kept it a secret."
"Then why tell me now and make me curious!"
"Well, obviously…"
I savored the sight of Seol Ri-hyang's face scrunching up in irritation as she huffed, then answered.
"To tease you."
"Gah!"
Slap!
Unable to hold back, Seol Ri-hyang pounded on my back.
I had trained the External Arts steadily, and now my body had even undergone Bone-Exchange Rebirth. A palm strike without internal energy didn't hurt much.
Seol Ri-hyang knew this well, which was why she was hitting me with pure physical strength, no internal energy behind it.
After she had thrown her little fit and finally calmed down a bit, I shrugged my shoulders at her.
"There's no need to get so worked up. You'll find out soon enough anyway. That's why I didn't say anything."
"…This isn't something weird, is it?"
"Have I ever done anything that would harm you?"
"When you put it that way, I've got nothing to say."
Seol Ri-hyang let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
"Hoo. Why am I so restless."
***
Inside the palace, reached after crossing the frozen lake.
Unlike before, Seol Ri-hyang was welcomed among those who could truly be called martial artists.
She looked back and forth between them and the Palace Lord, who was letting out a sigh of relief with a thoroughly carefree expression, then opened her mouth.
"Palace Lord."
"What is it?"
"I heard you've been troubled by snakes lately."
"How did you…!"
The Lord of the Northern Ice Palace stared at Bing Yerin with wide eyes.
Bing Yerin, too, seemed not to have expected me to reveal what she'd told me so abruptly, and wore an expression full of betrayal.
But I'd never asked her to keep it a secret, and I'd said I'd think about it—I'd never agreed to join her plan in the first place.
First, I grabbed Seol Ri-hyang by both shoulders from behind and pulled her toward me.
Then, in a bold tone without the slightest hesitation, I continued.
"I can't solve it completely, but I'll buy you time. So hand over all the spiritual medicines and martial arts you have."
"Hey! Cheon Hwi! That sounds way too much like a threat!"
"…Ah."
I had been so bold that my words had come out a bit too strong.