The snow wind had passed, and we stepped out of the hut.
“…”
Now I understood why people said the snow wind was terrifying. The terrain was completely different from the day before.
The fourth form, Snow Wind, of the True Snow Twelve Form Sword, was a swift sword, but I had come to realize it wasn’t simply about speed.
Yesterday confirmed it — the forms of the sword were built upon the natural phenomena of this land.
Something about it felt within reach, yet not quite graspable. But since clarity didn’t come, I let it go for now.
Thankfully, the horses were unharmed.
“Thank you for your help.”
We cupped our fists and bowed to the hunters.
“I don’t know what business you have in the North Sea, but go safely and return safely.”
“Yes.”
I briefly considered offering monetary thanks, but decided against it.
If money changed hands, this bond we formed might become nothing more than a transaction.
There are better ways to show gratitude. I’ll think of something once we return.
“Ah, and lately, harmful spirit beasts have been running wild. Be careful.”
“Yes. Thank you for the warning.”
With their words in mind, we bundled up in fur hats and coats, and headed into the North Sea.
The white snow caught the sunlight and reflected it into a dazzling brilliance.
So this was what they called Snow Light.
I urged my horse forward, recalling the ninth form of the True Snow Twelve Form Sword — Snow Light.
If Master was correct, it should take two more days from here.
“Wow, it’s freezing out here…”
Palgap muttered, sniffling.
“If it’s like this in summer, I don’t even want to imagine winter.”
At that, Escort Guard Jin Yu said,
“Still, winter has its own charm. Snow falls endlessly.”
Was that supposed to be a charm?
“Honestly, it’s not an easy place for people to live.”
“But Young Master, are you alright?”
At Palgap’s concerned question, I nodded.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
The cold didn’t bother me at all. In fact, I felt invigorated.
It was likely due to my Black Dragon Star Body constitution, and the fact that I cultivated ice-based martial arts.
This must be the reason Master sent me here.
I glanced over at Escort Guard Jin Yu. I hadn’t noticed before, but his internal Qi also leaned toward yin.
Either way, it was a relief not to be cold.
Thinking that, I pulled a box from my pocket.
It was a gift from the Emperor, passed to me through Warrior Jin Yeong of the Embroidered Guard. I remembered the Emperor’s words.
‘This will be useful to you. And whenever you use it, remember that you are my loyal subject.’
Well, it wasn’t something I had to use. And not using it didn’t mean I wasn’t loyal.
But since it was in my hands, I might as well make good use of it.
“Palgap. Come here.”
“Yes, Young Master?”
I called him over and took a necklace from the box, handing it to him.
“Wear this around your neck.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“Heshibi.”
“…What?”
Palgap flinched.
“Isn’t that the one insects avoid, and it’s warm in winter, cool in summer?”
“That’s the one. But this isn’t the real Heshibi. It’s an imitation.”
I sighed and continued.
“The Emperor gave it to me. Wishing me a safe journey.”
At that, Palgap nearly jumped.
“Is it really okay for me to wear something so precious?”
“I don’t need it. But I can’t exactly refuse a gift from the Emperor.”
That would only offend him. Besides, there was no reason to let the Emperor know the true extent of my martial arts.
“We’re peak and first-rate martial artists. We can bear this level of cold. But you can’t, Palgap.”
“S-Still… Even if it’s an imitation, a Heshibi at this level is a national treasure.”
“I know. But you’re more precious to me.”
Palgap looked at me with an expression full of emotion.
“Sniff… The best thing I ever did was becoming your attendant.”
“…”
Those words reminded me of what he had said before dying in my past life.
“Young Master, the best thing I’ve done in my life is becoming your attendant.”
Without realizing, I clenched my fist.
That won’t happen again. This time, you’ll live a long, peaceful life by my side.
Resolving myself, I replied.
“You only realized that now?”
“I’ve known it for a long time.”
Palgap put the necklace around his neck — well, let’s just call it Heshibi.
Thanks to it, a faint warmth spread about one jang (roughly 3.3 meters) around Palgap.
The Emperor had truly given me something useful.
After about two hours of travel, Escort Guard Lee Pil asked,
“Come to think of it, where is the North Sea Ice Palace?”
“From here, it’s about two more days. And it just happens to be in the same direction we’re heading.”
Escort Guard Jin Yu’s response made me pause.
That meant the place Master told me about wasn’t far from the North Sea Ice Palace.
The most well-known place in the North Sea was, indeed, the Ice Palace.
A sect of only women, but each one a martial artist.
Even in my previous life, the Heavenly Demon Cult failed to take the North Sea Ice Palace.
“So those girls you mentioned endure this cold just to reach the palace?”
“That’s right.”
Jin Yu nodded.
“It’s not a path one can walk without a truly determined heart.”
If my escort guards hadn’t been as skilled as they are, they couldn’t have come this far either.
Well, Palgap’s practically a bear. And I’d heard there were bears that lived even in snowy regions.
The North Sea was not a place to be approached with mediocre skills.
The very environment was the first trial set by the North Sea Ice Palace.
“Huh? There are people up ahead.”
We spotted people in the distance, but something was off.
They weren’t moving.
As we approached, I frowned.
“They’ve frozen to death.”
“Looks like they couldn’t endure yesterday’s snow wind.”
They must have been caught out here as the snow wind hit, trying to wait it out.
But the snow wind wasn’t something to underestimate. Even seasoned hunters feared it.
In the end, they must’ve held on until the cold finally overtook them.
If not for the hunter’s help yesterday, we might’ve pressed forward and ended up the same.
Given our martial levels, we likely wouldn’t have frozen to death like this… but we still would’ve suffered.
I felt gratitude all over again.
Judging from their fine clothing, they must have come from a fairly wealthy family. Yet, even they had succumbed to the cold.
“Looks like they were headed for the North Sea Ice Palace.”
Escort Guard Seo Wu pointed to one of them. A girl who looked around twelve.
I didn’t know what story had brought her to this place, but I felt a pang of sorrow.
I checked the chest of the one dressed in the finest clothes. If I could learn their identity, I could inform their family later.
Fortunately, there was a token. It read:
Gu-ak of the Hong Clan, Baekjin, Guizhou.
Guizhou? That was even farther south than Sichuan — a land known for its sweltering heat.
I couldn’t imagine how they’d crossed all the way from there to the North Sea.
Still, I returned the plaque to its place. Perhaps their family would come searching.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Sadness aside, the dead are the dead.
We still had our path ahead.
We walked all day, and when the light began to fade, we picked a spot to rest.
Escort Guard Jin Yu laid down prepared wooden boards and started a fire.
Lighting a fire in these conditions wasn’t easy, but he did it effortlessly.
“That’s impressive.”
Escort Guard Seo Wu, who’d once been an Escort Chief, clearly recognized the difficulty and praised him sincerely.
“I learned it from my seniors.”
Thanks to him, we were able to enjoy hot tea in the freezing cold.
Just then, a group approached.
Three people. Two men, one boy.
No… not a boy.
If they were traveling the North Sea like this, that child was likely a girl dressed as a boy.
The oldest-looking man, in his forties, cupped his fists politely.
“Excuse me, may we borrow the warmth of your fire?”
We exchanged glances, and I gave a slight nod.
Escort Guard Seo Wu answered.
“Please, go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
They settled down beside us.
“Would you like some hot tea?”
When I asked, they responded.
“If you’re offering, we’d gratefully accept.”
“Palgap.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Palgap poured tea for them.
“And one for me as well.”
“Yes.”
He handed me a cup, which I drank first — a silent assurance that it was safe.
Perhaps they understood, as they drank as well, and quietly ate their own rations.
“It’s really cold, isn’t it?”
The older man gave a wry smile.
“It is. Still, the weather’s unusually mild today, so we made good progress.”
That meant they’d been here before.
He then asked cautiously.
“May I ask where you’re from?”
“Hubei.”
“I see. We’re traveling from Zhejiang.”
“Zhejiang… Isn’t that where Lake Tai is? I’ve heard it’s beautiful.”
“I’m not saying it just because I’m from there, but yes. It truly is.”
We chatted idly for a while.
The girl — I was sure of it now — didn’t speak. But her silence didn’t seem like reluctance.
More likely, she was afraid her voice would give her away.
There’s an old saying in Murim: If you meet a woman, an old man, or a child, be careful.
Because for someone weak to survive in this world, they must actually be strong.
Feeling sorry for her, I spoke.
“Young lady, are you on your way to the North Sea Ice Palace?”
“Pardon?”
She flinched, startled.
That voice confirmed my guess.
Instantly, the two martial artists with her gave off dangerous auras.
I ignored it and continued.
“My escort told me the North Sea Ice Palace opens its gate once every ten years.”
“…”
A brief pause, then she asked in a cautious tone.
“How did you know?”
“Even dressed as a man, if I couldn’t see through that, I’d be a disgrace to the name of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups.”
I subtly hinted at my affiliation. Their wariness eased.
“And what other reason would bring someone from Zhejiang all the way here at this time?”
She nodded slightly.
“Yes. I’m headed to the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“I see.”
And then, she asked me a question in return.
“You’re not going to ask why I’m going?”
“Isn’t it to become a disciple of the North Sea Ice Palace?”
“It’s just… most people ask me why I’d want to become a disciple there.”
“There’s always a reason. And seeing as your father is escorting you all the way here, I think it’s only right not to pry.”
The older man’s eyes widened in surprise.
“How did I know? Even the way you look at her is different. It’s clear.”
“…I see.”
And so, the night passed.
.
.
.
The next morning.
We packed up and prepared to depart.
Then the middle-aged man from the night before approached and asked politely.
“Forgive me, but… may we accompany you?”
I wasn’t exactly sure how close our destination was to the North Sea Ice Palace, but I replied,
“Our destination isn’t the Ice Palace, so we may part ways before then. But if you’re fine with that, you’re welcome to travel with us.”
“Thank you. Then we’ll accompany you.”
And so, we continued onward.
“The wind is strangely calm today. This area usually isn’t like this.”
“Really?”
As I replied, a strange thought crossed my mind.
This… is calm?
Even with the wind blowing this hard?
“It feels like traveling with a disciple of the Snow Wind Palace.”
Snow Wind Palace?
I asked,
“You know of the Snow Wind Palace? I heard they were destroyed by the Demonic Cult.”
He nodded, face heavy with emotion.
“I do. A close friend of mine was a disciple there. When they were wiped out… he died with them.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s alright. So… forgive me for asking, but… do you have any connection to the Snow Wind Palace?”
–TL Notes–
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