Not long after, Namgung Dowi and Namgung Jong returned to the Namgung Clan.
The tasks the Tang Clan had originally needed to handle were already finished long ago—hadn't they merely been stalling for time to spar with me?
Having been fully satisfied, Namgung Jong, who had suffered a slight internal injury, likely left as soon as he had recovered his condition.
Afterward, I began handling the matters I had only thought about and put off, one by one.
"How refreshing."
"Who else but the Young Palace Mistress… Ah, but in the Central Plains, you had the alias of Clear Ice Frost Flower. At any rate, since this is the place where the young lady will train, of course I made it with the utmost care."
The craftsman of the North Sea Ice Palace said this with a deliberately proud demeanor.
A formation that concentrated cold energy, and a training hall structured so that the gathered cold energy wouldn't leak out to the surroundings—someone capable of building that would surely be highly skilled.
In terms of the Central Plains, they would need to be a skilled formation master, a formidable martial artist, and deeply knowledgeable in mechanism traps and architecture itself.
Ordinarily, spreading oneself across so many fields was discouraged, since it meant one could never achieve mastery in any single one…
But the North Sea Ice Palace was part of the Outer Murim, living apart from the Central Plains, far removed from it. It was also a place where even the simplest martial arts were taught to everyone.
Manpower was scarce, and what little there was often died off quickly, so someone who could do the work of several people alone was all the more valued.
In fact, this man held a position akin to the representative of the dispatched North Sea Ice Palace personnel, as well as their supervisor. However.
"You still haven't given up…?"
"I merely stepped back because the Clear Ice Frost Flower was so stubborn. Should you ever change your mind, you are welcome at any time."
"It seems that when you first arrived at the Tang Clan, you were satisfied with simply remaining on good terms with the North Sea Ice Palace."
"That was true at first. But over the past few months of staying with the Tang Clan, I've come to realize something."
"And what might that be?"
"It turns out that the seeds of kings and ministers truly are set apart."
"…Are you suddenly praising the Imperial Court here?"
"Ah, I'm not talking about the Imperial Court of the Central Plains. I'm talking about the North Sea Ice Palace."
"That, in itself, sounds plenty like plotting a rebellion."
After all, this was the land of the Central Plains, ruled by the Imperial Court.
My father-in-law scratched his head awkwardly at my troubled expression.
"It seems I'm still not quite familiar with the language and customs of the Central Plains. So, well…"
After pondering for a long while, he clapped his hands as if something had just occurred to him.
"Ah! That's what they call a bagged awl, isn't it? A truly outstanding person stands out no matter where they are."
"Heh. Now I'm curious. What exactly made you think that way?"
I casually turned my gaze toward Seol Ri-hyang, who was looking around the training hall with a thoroughly delighted expression.
She seemed quite taken with the place—touching things here and there, even lying flat on the ground to feel the chill spread through her entire body.
It was summer outside, but this place was as cold as the dead of winter, so it appeared she was thoroughly pleased.
My father-in-law followed my gaze and looked at me with a proud expression as he continued speaking.
"The Central Plains are hot. Sichuan Province especially so."
"That's true when compared to the North Sea Ice Palace."
Even the coldest winter in the Central Plains would feel like the hottest summer in the North Sea Ice Palace.
"But even in a place like this, the Cheong-eum Binghwa reached her current realm. At this point… I think even if the Ice Palace Lord personally stepped forward, all she could manage would be a draw."
"Hmm. I understood exactly what you meant by that."
The North Sea Ice Palace, which was in decline because no absolute master of the Harmony Realm had emerged. Even the strongest martial artist of the current generation was only at the Transcendent Peak.
And Seol Ri-hyang was gradually passing the mid-stage of the Transcendent Peak and approaching full maturity.
It would certainly be a good match. Though I suspect I'd be at a disadvantage in experience and would struggle to win.
"You've lived your entire life in the Central Plains, and you've only spent a few months at the North Sea Ice Palace. And yet you've grown this explosively."
"The credit also goes to the outstanding martial arts and the Spiritual Medicine I've absorbed to the point of an upset stomach."
"Haha! If that were the case, our North Sea Ice Palace wouldn't be so anxious right now."
That was also true.
Seol Ri-hyang's Martial Talent was partly due to her Pure Yin Constitution, but she was also naturally gifted in her own right.
My father-in-law, having finished speaking, looked into the distance with a wistful gaze and opened his mouth.
"…And that's why I have high expectations. I wonder how much stronger the Young Palace Mistress will become by using this training ground."
"No matter how strong she becomes, I will not send her to the North Sea Ice Palace."
"It doesn't matter if you don't. Actually, I received something like this on my last business trip."
Saying this, my father-in-law pulled a stiff letter from his bosom. When I read its contents, I found something unexpected written within.
It wasn't a proposal to make Seol Ri-hyang the Young Palace Mistress again, nor was it even a gentle persuasion asking if she might consider becoming an adopted daughter.
It simply stated that the North Sea Ice Palace wished to become Seol Ri-hyang's guardian.
Their only desire was Seol Ri-hyang's growth. There was no price. If one had to put a name to it, it was a favor.
No matter how I looked at it, I hadn't expected the North Sea Ice Palace to act this way. This was practically volunteering to be taken advantage of.
However, as I read it over and over in disbelief, I began to understand.
"Ah, I see. This is a form of propaganda—using Seol Ri-hyang to show that the North Sea Ice Palace is still standing strong."
"I wouldn't know anything about such complicated matters. I'm just a simple worker."
The father-in-law shrugged his shoulders, pretending not to understand. It was blatantly obvious that he knew everything but was deliberately stepping back.
Well. There was no harm in it for either side.
After all, wasn't the North Sea Ice Palace developing a new martial art based on the Glacier True Energy—the technique created by their founder and mastered by Seol Ri-hyang—instead of the Ice White Divine Skill, which could only achieve even a fraction of its power by absorbing all the cold energy from the surrounding area?
It was only natural that they would be vulnerable until the new martial art was completed. Their plan was to bluff their way through this period by using Seol Ri-hyang to project an image of strength.
And Seol Ri-hyang, for her part, could receive support from the North Sea Ice Palace for her Yin-Cold Energy Cultivation—something difficult to obtain in the Central Plains.
Yes. Clearly, this was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
"Hmph."
Even within the same Outer Murim, the contrast was stark—the South Man Beast Palace had fought tooth and nail over the succession, while the North Sea Ice Palace practically had to force the position of Young Palace Mistress on someone who kept refusing it.
The thought that Maeng Yubaek might faint if he ever learned of Seol Ri-hyang's circumstances drew a wry chuckle from me as I tucked the letter into my robe.
"Understood for now. I'll speak to Seol Ri-hyang about this matter separately later."
"Understood. Ah, but since we're on the subject, there's one thing I'd like to settle before I go."
"And what would that be?"
"The training hall construction is complete, so we'll be returning to the North Sea shortly."
"Ah, I see. That makes sense."
They had come here in the first place to move the spoils of the Azure-White Flood Dragon and to build a training room for Seol Ri-hyang.
Both tasks were complete, so it was only natural that they would be returning.
"It has been a pleasure. Sichuan Province—especially the Tang Clan here—is a wonderful place to live… but even so, it can't compare to one's hometown."
"Hometown. I understand. Would you like an escort?"
"That won't be necessary. I'm not saying I'm leaving this very moment. I plan to travel with the next merchant caravan."
"In that case, I wish you a safe journey."
"Thank you for your hospitality during our stay, White Moon Sword Lord."
With that light exchange of pleasantries, he parted ways with his father-in-law.
Seol Ri-hyang was still rubbing her cheek against the floor, and I had to drag her out by force. The moment we stepped outside, the air grew heavy.
Perhaps it was because we had been in a place so cold it was beyond refreshing, and now we were suddenly exposed to the sweltering summer heat. My breath caught in my throat.
And so, as I was carrying the limp Seol Ri-hyang over my shoulder to take her back to her room—
I ran into Tang So-wol, who was dressed impeccably, even though we were in her own home.
"Ah! There you are, young hero Cheon!"
"Hm? Did something happen? All dressed up like that… Ah, is it that?"
"Yes. It's that."
"You want to take a stroll around the area for the first time in a while. Not bad. Let me just drop Seol Ri-hyang off and change first."
It would be even better to check along the way whether there are any places suitable for the Seomun Clan's estate.
I nodded inwardly for a moment. Tang So-wol shook her head as if she found it absurd.
"What are you saying, young hero? It's not as if you've been training and worked up a sweat, so you're fine as you are. Hurry and hand Hyang-i over, and let's go to Father's room together."
"What? Why on earth would we go to your father-in-law's room…"
I wondered if I had done something wrong and thought it over carefully, but nothing came to mind.
Seeing me like that, Tang So-wol let out a light sigh and spoke.
"It's not that. It's that the military officer, Great Master Gakjeong, and Great Master Jeonghyeon, whom Father mentioned the other day, have already arrived."
"What? I haven't heard a word about that."
"That's exactly why I dressed in such a hurry and was looking for you, young hero Cheon."
I had heard they were coming, but to arrive this soon—not even a few days had passed. And on top of that, they'd slipped in quietly without even informing me, the one directly concerned.
I knew they weren't people with malicious intentions, but still, they didn't seem the type to act so rudely either.
Tilting my head in puzzlement, I headed for the clan head's quarters.
***
As if she knew this wasn't the time to be lounging around, Seol Ri-hyang had returned to her usual demeanor.
No, she looked even more at ease than usual. For some reason, she carried an air of leisure that was almost irritating. Leading Seol Ri-hyang and Tang So-wol, I arrived at the clan head's quarters.
There, aside from the room's owner, Tang Jincheon, Seomun Hwa-rin was already seated, and I spotted several familiar faces as well.
Jegal Bu, Great Master Gakjeong, Great Master Jeonghyeon. All of them were people who had helped me with my Grand Ritual last time.
However, there was one more person in this place whom I hadn't seen before—or rather, whom I knew but had never expected to see here.
"Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal?"
"Heh heh. It's been a while. I thought you were remarkable back then, but now you've grown to the point where I can look at you eye to eye."
The Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal, the Sect Leader of the Zhongnan Sect and a close friend of Tang Jincheon, had naturally joined the gathering.
Sharing my memories from before the regression with my women through the secret vault was a rather sensitive matter.
That was why I was taken aback by the sudden appearance of an unfamiliar face… but Tang Jincheon, noticing my demeanor, spoke up.
"Back when I first learned of my son-in-law's seal, didn't I say I would seek help from a trustworthy Taoist?"
"Ah."
Come to think of it, the Blood Buddha and the bell were not directly related to the trouble they had caused, but he was someone who knew about my seal.
The Murim Alliance's strategist, realizing that I had only just caught on, chuckled and spoke.
"Don't be too wary. Among those who knew about the White Moon Sword Lord's seal and possessed deep Taoist cultivation, there was only the Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal."
"When Jincheon asked for my help, I spent a long time in the library breathing in accumulated dust while sorting through the necessary texts, only to find that the situation had already changed drastically. Still, the strategist assured me that the past few months of effort would not go to waste, so I came here to lend my strength, albeit late."
"…Thank you."
I bowed my head to the Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal, then turned my gaze to Je Gal-bu. As if he had been waiting for this moment, he eagerly began explaining what had changed.
"The bell is a Buddhist artifact. With the help of the Shaolin abbot and the previous abbot, we will draw out its power to bypass your seal. You understand up to this point, right?"
"Yes."
"However, your seal is not purely Buddhist. Taoist energy is mixed in just as heavily, making it a truly troublesome thing."
"Yes, well."
It was said to be a seal created with the power of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and a Great Luo Immortal of comparable standing.
Those names felt far removed from reality, but I supposed it took that much to turn back time.
"Last time, I focused on using the bell's power stably for a longer duration. This time, I've focused on borrowing Taoist principles to harmonize the power even further."
"And what difference will that make?"
"You'll be able to see more."
"I'm afraid I can't quite grasp it yet…"
"Last time, you said that apart from yourself, the White Moon Sword Lord, you couldn't hear or see anyone else's face or voice, correct?"
"That's right."
"It will still be difficult to touch upon direct aspects like faces… but you should at least be able to hear voices. Of course, excluding the key details that could reveal someone's identity."
"Oh."
Previously, the scenes shown by the bell had been far too limited. That was why only Seol Ri-hyang herself, as the one at the center of it all, could roughly piece together whose story it was and what was going on.
But if she could hear the conversations, even with the crucial parts excluded, it would allow her to infer far more.
It also meant that the likelihood of Seomun Hwa-rin or Tang So-wol reaching the same conclusion—my regression—had grown considerably.
He took a fist-and-palm salute and bowed deeply to those gathered.
"Thank you all."
"It's nothing. Isn't this also for the future of the Orthodox Sects of the martial world? Anyway, the preparations are just about done, so hurry up and lie down."
"So soon?"
"The Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal went out of his way to pick an auspicious day and hour. We can't let that go to waste."
"So that's the reason…"
"These things matter in the Daoist path."
The Flowing Cloud Sword Immortal shrugged his shoulders.
So that was why they had hurried inside—there was some kind of time limit at play.
"Understood. Then I'll leave it to you again this time."
As Jegal Bu lay down on the formation she had drawn, the other women began to lie down beside me one by one. And then—
Whoom—
An immense surge of energy enveloped the surroundings, and like falling into sleep, my consciousness began to blur.
I didn't resist deliberately. I accepted the amplified energy of the technique.
What I saw through my closing eyes was… the energy of heaven and earth converging on me, distorting, and arranging itself in orderly patterns as if creating a new world.
…Now that I saw it with my own eyes, I understood.
That this was a Grand Ritual far more noble and austere than I had ever imagined.
***
Tang So-wol, Seol Ri-hyang, and Seomun Hwa-rin opened their eyes. There stood a young Cheon Hwi, steeped in poison energy and arrogance.
And beside him was a woman of petite build, looking upon him with pity.
"I am ————," she declared. "Blood Wolf, you shall call me the Iron Blood Faction Leader."
Though she was short, she carried the bearing of a steadfast master, and the three women nodded in acknowledgment.
"She must be the one who taught the young hero Cheon his letters and martial arts back then, don't you think?"
"Perhaps? Judging by her manner of speech, she seems to be a formidable master…"
Was it because her aura was so different from the Seomun Hwa-rin of now? Truly, no one noticed a thing.
"Hm. Meeting a good superior is also a blessing. I value the heart that gives of what one has more than the martial skill of the author."
Even she herself, no less.