At those words, I tensed without realizing it.
But if I looked too shaken, it would only raise suspicion. So I forced myself to appear calm and replied,
“May I ask why you think so?”
“It’s just… the wind. It’s strange for the North Sea’s wind to be this calm. The only other time I felt it like this was when I traveled with my friend from the Snow Wind Palace.”
“Perhaps Heaven looks kindly on me.”
I neither confirmed nor denied it, glossing over the question.
Master had told me to hide anything related to the Snow Wind Palace as much as possible. Still, I had learned the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art and the True Snow Twelve Form Sword from him. I couldn’t exactly say I had no connection at all.
Even so, outright denial would feel like disrespect to Master.
I’d have to be cautious.
Especially since this man had once walked alongside a disciple of the Snow Wind Palace. He might recognize Geumryeong.
We continued deeper into the North Sea.
Riding across a snow-covered plain in silence, the girl’s father spoke again.
“In truth, the snow wind is a major threat in the North Sea, but the spirit beasts are just as dangerous.”
“Now that you mention it, the hunters did warn us. They said harmful spirit beasts have been active.”
“That’s right. Their appearances began increasing about ten years ago. Back when the Snow Wind Palace was still standing, they were easier to control.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“Ah, I didn’t explain. The Snow Wind Palace and the North Sea Ice Palace used to work together to eliminate spirit beasts. Since the Snow Wind Palace could wield the northern wind and cold freely with their sword arts, the beasts feared them.”
He let out a heavy breath and went on.
“Now the North Sea Ice Palace handles them alone, but it’s clearly not enough.”
“I see.”
Just then—
From a distance, people came running toward us.
“Help us!”
They were covered in blood, and behind them—
A white leopard was chasing them.
The girl’s father immediately drew his sword.
“Red eyes… It’s a Red-Eyed Snow Leopard!”
The beast was white as snow, but its eyes were a deep, blood-like red.
I dismounted.
“A malignant spirit beasts?”
“Exactly. Snow leopards usually feed on the Qi of snow, but when they start craving blood, their eyes turn red. At that point, they’re no longer sacred beasts. They’re just monsters.”
Then Escort Guard Seo Wu called out,
“It’s coming this way.”
I drew my Silver Mist Sword.
Though it was the symbolic blade of the Snow Wind Palace, it changed form depending on the user. There was no issue using it openly here.
We moved toward the Red-Eyed Snow Leopard.
But then—
Screeeeech—!
Huh?
That sound just now—
It sounded like something slammed on the brakes.
Screeeech? Can a beast make a sound like that?
Just like that, smoke puffed up from the snow under the leopard’s paws. It skidded to a stop, tail tucked between its legs—
Then bolted in the opposite direction.
What was that?
For a moment we all stood stunned, then quickly gave chase.
Escort Guard Lee Pil hurled a hidden weapon.
It struck true. The leopard’s pace slowed, and then Escort Guard Seo Wu and Escort Guard Jin Yu released sword Qi.
Sssk—!
Shaaak—!
The Red-Eyed Snow Leopard collapsed.
You might ask if we really had to kill it after it ran.
But only someone unfamiliar with spirit beasts would say that.
Spirit beasts are ancient beings. Their obsession runs deep. Once they set eyes on prey, they’ll watch and wait for the right time to strike.
If we left it alive, it could hunt us—or others—at any moment.
We burned the leopard’s corpse.
I considered keeping its pelt, but decided against it. The hide of a demonic beast was said to bring calamity.
Then I approached the two people who’d been chased.
“Are you alright?”
“Y-yes.”
“Thank you. You saved our lives.”
A girl and a young man. Siblings, it seemed.
“You’re headed to the North Sea Ice Palace?”
“That’s right.”
The young man nodded. Then hesitantly added,
“May I ask where your group is going?”
The girl’s father replied.
“We’re going to the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“Ah!”
The young man bowed deeply.
“I’m sorry to ask, but… the martial artist escorting us fell while trying to protect us from the beast.”
“Oh no…”
“So… may we travel with your group?”
The girl’s father looked to me, and I nodded.
“Let’s go together.”
We continued on. Along the way, we found the remains of the escort guards.
Two corpses.
Their bodies were torn and soaked in blood.
Escort Guard Seo Wu frowned.
“They were from the Fengzhou Escort Bureau.”
The young man replied softly.
“Yes… They protected us until the end…”
I recognized their uniforms. The Fengzhou Escort Bureau was one I was familiar with.
“Could we take a moment? I’d like to at least cremate them.”
“Of course.”
Escort Guard Seo Wu, once an Escort Chief, clearly didn’t see this as someone else’s loss.
I, too, had strong ties to escort bureaus.
The people who’d died in the Snow Wind had simply frozen, so we’d left them untouched.
But these corpses would attract beasts.
We retrieved their identity plaques and any items worth saving, then cremated the bodies.
We gathered their ashes in a jar and handed it to the young man.
“When you return, take this to the Fengzhou Escort Bureau.”
“…Understood.”
He bit his lip as he accepted it.
He must have been close with the fallen guards.
I handed him several silver taels.
“For the escort fee on your way back.”
“We couldn’t possibly. You’ve already saved our lives—”
“You must return safely. So their remains can return to their families.”
Only then did he accept the money.
In the escort world, payment is split — half up front, half on arrival.
If the job is cut short, only the first half is paid.
And when an escort dies, only a small condolence is given. Some corrupt bureaus even ask the family to compensate for the loss.
We resumed our journey.
By chance, our group had grown by five.
As I took stock, Escort Guard Jin Yu sent a voice transmission.
— Are you worried this will interfere with your business, my lord?
— No.
I shook my head slightly.
If I thought this was too much, I wouldn’t have let them join us.
Besides, we weren’t traveling together for long.
There wasn’t any issue. It was just a small kindness.
— Don’t worry. We’re nearly at the entrance to the North Sea Ice Palace. Guides will be there.
— Guides?
— Yes. Reaching the entrance means you’re qualified. But to actually enter, you must have a guide.
As I listened, I glanced over.
The two girls—last night’s companion and the one we just saved—were chatting happily, already becoming fast friends.
Watching them made me feel oddly touched.
After a short lunch, we pressed on.
Eventually, a large building appeared in the distance.
An eight-story inn, towering amidst the snow.
Seeing it, I tilted my head.
An inn, here?
The others also looked puzzled, except for Escort Guard Jin Yu and the girl’s father.
They looked at ease.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Pardon?”
“That’s our destination.”
At his words, Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am asked,
“That’s the North Sea Ice Palace?”
“No. That’s the entrance.”
He smiled wryly.
“We’ll rest here. And tomorrow, a guide will lead us inside.”
Then he added,
“It’s the only place in the North Sea Ice Palace that men can stay.”
At those words, his daughter turned toward him.
Her expression was filled with the sorrow of parting.
So this was where they would say goodbye.
We reached the inn.
It was lavish, with a signboard reading: [Ice Palace Inn].
“Welcome!”
Two men—identical like twins—rushed out to greet us.
“You made it safely.”
“Leave your horses to me.”
I asked cautiously,
“We’re not entering the North Sea Ice Palace. Can we still stay here?”
“Of course!”
“Our inn accepts all guests.”
“Unless you’re not a guest.”
“…And what counts as not a guest?”
“Beasts in heat. Or those starved for blood.”
Their friendly faces briefly twisted into something sharp—then softened again.
“Please, come in.”
“If you’re a guest, this is the safest inn in the North Sea.”
I looked to Escort Guard Jin Yu. He gave a slight nod.
That was all I needed.
“Let’s rest here before we move on.”
Inside, we were stunned.
The inn was just as luxurious within.
Beautiful women in white robes moved briskly throughout. Their internal Qi was undeniable.
Disciples of the North Sea Ice Palace, no doubt.
“Welcome.”
A woman at the counter stood and bowed. She began the check-in process.
The fees were the same as inns in the Central Plains.
“And those entering the palace stay free of charge.”
“I see.”
“Tomorrow is the scheduled day. You can go together.”
As we handled the arrangements, a voice called out.
“Yeonrang?”
The girl’s father turned.
Our eyes followed—and saw a beautiful woman in her twenties.
He looked at her with trembling eyes.
“It’s been a while.”
“You kept your promise.”
“Yes.”
He looked at the girl.
“Pay your respects. She’s your mother.”
.
.
.
That night.
I went down to the first floor.
It was late. Most were asleep.
But the girl’s father sat alone, nursing a drink.
“Why aren’t you with your daughter?”
“Ah…”
Some might call it meddling, but merchants thrive on connections.
These small ties can grow into future bridges.
And chatting without pretense—that too, is a merchant’s skill.
He sighed.
“She’s with her mother now.”
“You said that woman earlier was her mother?”
I sat across from him, and he nodded.
“Yes. I first met Hyeon’s mother at the Snow Wind Palace.”
So the friend he mentioned earlier must’ve been from that time.
“The Snow Wind Palace and the Ice Palace had a close alliance. Their disciples often patrolled together.”
“I see.”
“That’s how we met. Fell in love. Hyeon was born from that bond.”
“…”
“But as you may know, no child under five is allowed in the Ice Palace. That’s the law.”
“So you raised her.”
“Yes. But… she must still become a disciple of the North Sea Ice Palace. That’s also the law. So I brought her here.”
So a girl born to a woman of the Ice Palace must enter the sect.
“Then today was the first time she’s seen her mother?”
“Practically, yes. She stayed with her mother for the first year of her life, but that’s an age they don’t remember.”
“And now they’ll part again.”
“That’s right.”
The cruelty of that rule left a bitter taste in my mouth.
To carry a child, give birth, and then part with her after one short year—what kind of law is that?
Still, one thing puzzled me.
“Usually, if you meet your mother for the first time, it’s awkward. But Young Lady Hyeon didn’t seem that way at all.”
“Ah…”
He smiled faintly.
“That’s probably because I always told her that her mother loves her very much. That though they’re apart, her mother always thinks of her. That she longs for the day they’ll meet again.”
A good father.
I couldn’t help but smile too.
But then—
A sudden question rose in my mind.
–TL Notes–
Tired of seeing Ads? Then please support me on Patreon! Any tier of subscription will make it so you won’t get any ads!
If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/InsanityTheGame
Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt