Chapter 415: It's Finally Time for a Drinking Party

TL: FoodieMonster007

Geom Mugeuk rose from his bed. "We meet often, these days."

Seo Nak stood blankly for a moment before speaking softly. "It seems there was some misunderstanding."

Unlike when he had aggressively pushed forward earlier, he was calm.

"It seems someone is trying to put Elder Seo in a difficult position with false information."

That's you!

Seo Nak felt his temper flare.

No, this isn't like me.

Getting entangled with the Young Cult Leader, he had been unable to control his emotions lately. It was the same when he burst in here. He should have checked under the covers more calmly and respectfully. Even if he had seen him in the bed, he shouldn't have been so surprised.

"I apologize for the discourtesy." Seo Nak composed himself by showing proper etiquette.

"This is not something that can end with a mere apology, so I will formally protest today's incident to the Empress."

"Do as you wish."

Seo Nak exited the room with the martial artists he had brought.

As they left, Lee Ahn exclaimed to Geom Mugeuk. "When on earth did you arrive?"

"A little while ago, when you opened the door for Elder Seo."

"Did you sneak in through the window?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

Lee Ahn glanced at the Drunken Demon.

Ugh, you knew he was here but pretended not to!

Still, she sighed in relief, sweeping a hand over her chest. "Ah! You startled me! I thought my heart was going to burst earlier."

The Drunken Demon mumbled, "He was probably clinging to the window to make your heart burst. I'm quite sure this man plotted to come in at just the right moment and surprise you."

Lee Ahn nodded, agreeing with the Drunken Demon's joke. "Of course, if he can just surprise someone, he'd hang there even in a blizzard. Alright, since you've startled people like this, you must have achieved something, right?"

Her words were meant to provoke Geom Mugeuk.

"I found the mastermind."

"Oh my!" Lee Ahn shrieked. She was even more surprised than when she had pulled back the covers earlier. "Really?"

"Yeah, I was lucky."

"You truly are the world number one at startling people!"

Geom Mugeuk had secretly infiltrated the Northern Blood Sect and witnessed Han Seol meeting Yang Seok. While everyone focused on that meeting, he had intended to investigate inside the Northern Blood Sect.

However, he saw the bodyguard who had accompanied Yang Seok leave his post. As it was no ordinary occurrence, he followed him and witnessed him casting the Blood Art using blood on a maid.

The man had acted as if he was caring for her, then instantly cast the Blood Art, making it impossible for him to save her even if he wanted to.

"Who was that man?"

"He is the head of the Northern Blood Sect heir's bodyguards."

The Drunken Demon and Lee Ahn nodded, their faces grim. Indeed, those scoundrels had been hiding in a completely unexpected place.

"Then did you intentionally reveal your identity to him?"

Earlier, Seo Nak had been dead certain that Geom Mugeuk was not here. He must have gotten the information from somewhere.

Geom Mugeuk nodded. "I wanted to gauge the level of his martial arts, and also confirm if the Northern Blood Sect and Elder Seo were connected."

"You confirmed both?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded. "And one more thing. The problem of us being held captive here will also be resolved. Since Seo Nak committed a great discourtesy to the Divine Cult's Young Cult Leader, the Ice Empress now has to release us."

Lee Ahn, with a blank expression, asked Geom Mugeuk. "Do you know what I'm thinking right now?"

"What are you thinking?"

"Ah! How fortunate it is that I'm on your side, Young Master! How fortunate that I'm not your enemy!"

Do you know what I'm thinking? How fortunate it is that you are by my side, looking so bright?

"I was so startled, my heart feels stronger now thanks to you."

Geom Mugeuk now looked at the Drunken Demon, who was silently gazing out the window.

What is he thinking? Alcohol? Or the deceased Brewmaster? Or Yeo Bin, whom he left behind?

However, he was wrong. The Drunken Demon was currently thinking of Geom Mugeuk.

How could he be so intelligent? How could he handle things without ever getting flustered?

If Geom Mugeuk hadn't been here, he would have had to handle everything himself, but could he have achieved such a result?

For the first time in a long while, he thought that though Geom Mugeuk was younger than him, he felt more like an elder brother.

"Hyung."

Don't call me Hyung, call me Dongsaeng instead.

With such a silly thought, the Drunken Demon turned back to Geom Mugeuk. From the lips of his junior, who felt like an elder brother, came the words he had so eagerly awaited.

"It's finally time for a drinking party."

Returning to the Ice Palace, Han Seol headed for the Empress's chambers.

"I've come for tea."

Although Han Seol had said she would drink tea upon her return, the Ice Empress was flustered, not expecting her to seek her out immediately after coming back.

"Come in."

Han Seol sat at the tea table set up in the Empress's chambers, and the Ice Empress personally brewed the tea.

"I'll brew it."

"It's fine, just sit."

The Ice Empress began to brew the tea herself.

During this time, Han Seol silently watched her mother's back. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.

Should I ask what kind of tea that is? Or should I bring up the Northern Blood Sect first? Or maybe, should I start by talking about the weather?

It had been too long since they started only speaking formally, so she didn't know what to say.

Suddenly, she realized that speaking was similar to martial arts. Just as a magnificent technique is useless if not ingrained in the body, no matter how earnest one's heart, the words won't come out if they don't stick to the tongue.

It was a moment when she keenly felt that words are spoken not with the head or heart, but with the mouth.

In the meantime, the Ice Empress brought the brewed tea.

"How does the tea taste?"

"It's good."

The conversation didn't continue, and only an awkward silence lingered.

The Ice Empress found the awkwardness no different.

What should I say to my daughter?

The Ice Empress was also pondering something she had never considered in her life, so the two of them simply drank their tea in silence.

They say you can tell how close a relationship truly is by how comfortable the silence is, but these two were still far from that. It was a suffocating silence, making one wonder what they would have done if the tea in front of them hadn't been there.

However, the Ice Empress did not want to break this silence with just any words. In a way, she preferred this awkwardness. It felt like a new relationship was beginning.

Finally, Han Seol broke the long silence. "Empress, between a ruthless person and a kind person, who do you think will survive longer?"

It was an abrupt question, but the Ice Empress answered it without hesitation. "The ruthless person."

Han Seol smiled faintly. "Your answer is the same as mine."

"Wouldn't all martial artists think the same?"

"Lee Ahn, who came with the Young Cult Leader, said that she thinks a kind person will survive longer."

Lee Ahn, she was a child who somehow caught my eye when I first met her.

"I was just curious. What do you think, Empress?"

Perhaps it was because of that question? For the first time, the Ice Empress spoke the words that were in her heart.

"I wanted to raise you strong. As a child who wouldn't waver even in the raging northern winds."

Han Seol's hand shook, creating ripples in the tea.

So? What about now? In your eyes, Mother, have I grown into such a child?

The Ice Empress was stunned. Only after conversing with her daughter did the she finally understand. Her efforts to create this meeting, and the words she had just spoken, were not due to a sudden change of heart or because of Geom Mugeuk.

Her instincts had known. That if things continued this way, she would lose her daughter. That she had already lost almost everything.

She had merely been ignoring it, using the excuse of being busy. She had always known that if things continued, she would just be an Empress passing on the Ice Palace, not a mother.

Perhaps she had been living with the thought that it might already be too late. Deliberately ignoring it, not wanting to confirm it.

It was then that Geom Mugeuk appeared. His words, 'Will she still be standing behind you?' struck her heart, ultimately leading her to this moment.

She desperately wanted to say these words. Though a little embarrassing, she truly wanted to say them to her daughter.

"You've grown up well, my child."

Silence fell.

It was just a single sentence, but Han Seol felt as if a part of the ice wall, frozen solid in her heart, had shattered and was pouring down.

The barrier was still immense, but its first crack held significant meaning.

Han Seol finished the tea she was holding, then set down the teacup. "Next time, I'll brew the tea for you."

To hold a drinking party in someone else's home, the owner's permission was required.

I observed, "You seem to be in good spirits."

The Ice Empress offered a faint smile. "My daughter visited."

The Ice Empress's expression revealed how that meeting had gone.

"Congratulations."

"It's thanks to you."

"I merely spoke the words. It was you, Empress, who chose to look back."

The Ice Empress felt immense gratitude towards Geom Mugeuk. Now she understood. The unbelievable shifts in her heart, as described in the reports about Geom Mugeuk.

"However, what should I do? I may have to spoil your good mood, Empress."

"What is it?"

Geom Mugeuk spoke seriously. "I intend to deal with Elder Seo. Please grant me permission."

At the shocking declaration, the Ice Empress remained silent. Perhaps she had anticipated that things would come to this.

"I saw a master using the Blood Art in the Northern Blood Sect."

At the mention of the Blood Art, the Ice Empress's eyes gleamed coldly. As far as she knew, there were no masters using blood qi in the North Sea. This meant that some conspiracy was underway within the Northern Blood Sect.

"He was connected to Elder Seo."

"Evidence?"

"There is none."

"So you intend to kill an Elder of the Ice Palace based solely on circumstantial evidence?"

"I believe this is sufficient. We must also consider the several mistakes and lies Elder Seo made previously."

In particular, his deception regarding asking the deceased Brewmaster to bottle the Fragrant Snow Ice Wine, which he hid from the Ice Empress until the very end, was decisive. During that process, the Ice Empress had also seen another side of Seo Nak.

"You won't find more explicit evidence from these individuals. They are all too cunning for that. Even if we took the time to find it, it would already be too late."

A brief silence fell.

I gave her ample time to think, then continued, "The opponent you should be concerned about right now, Empress, is not Elder Seo. Although he might be your primary concern due to your long acquaintance with him, he is merely an arm attached to the body. What you need to focus on are the head and the body."

He spoke the decisive words that would sway her.

"I am not the one making this decision."

"What do you mean?"

"Your bad premonition called us here, Empress. I am merely telling you that your intuition was correct."

Soon, the Ice Empress made her decision. It did not take long.

"I will deal with Elder Seo myself."

"Of course, you should. However, regarding the matter of Elder Seo, I hope you will first grant the Drunken Demon a chance."

Given the current circumstances, it was highly probable that Elder Seo was the one who killed the Brewmaster of the Hundred Wines Snow Cellar. There was one more moment of deliberation, and this time, the decision was also swift.

"I will permit the drinking party. However, you must invite me as well."

Seo Nak was arranging the ornaments in the great hall. Whenever his mind was troubled, he would take out all the ornaments and redecorate.

He meticulously aligned them again. There was a pleasure in the perfection of arranging them in a precise line, without a single error.

As he was engrossed in this for a long time, he heard the sound of the great hall door opening behind him, but it was different from usual.

Normally, a subordinate's report of a visitor would precede the door opening. The door opening by itself like that meant an uninvited guest had arrived, and the subordinates guarding outside subdued.

Seo Nak said without turning around. "Please wait a moment. I'm almost done."

Only after perfectly aligning the very last one did Seo Nak turn around.

The person staring at him in the great hall was none other than the Drunken Demon.

When his eyes met the Drunken Demon's, he knew instinctively.

He's here to kill me.

Seo Nak sat at the guest reception table. "Thank you for waiting. Now, please, sit."

The Drunken Demon sat in the seat opposite him. Seo Nak placed one of the cups from the table in front of himself, and the other in the seat opposite.

"Perhaps it's from working so hard, but I'm thirsty. Would you pour me a drink?"

The Drunken Demon lifted the blood gourd hanging from his waist and uncorked it. The fragrant scent of Ice Wine the Brewmaster had made before she died wafted out.

The Drunken Demon took a deep sniff of the wine's aroma, then poured the liquor into the cup placed before him. However, he did not pour any for Seo Nak.

He drank alone. It was the first time he had drunk in a very long while. As the alcohol spread through his body, he closed his eyes contentedly, a pleasant expression on his face.

Drinking the Ice Wine brought forth a surge of longing for the late Brewmaster.

Seo Nak froze. Even though the Drunken Demon closed his eyes right in front of him, he could not attack. The alcohol qi, shimmering like a haze around his body, pulsed as if alive.

Slowly opening his eyes, the Drunken Demon asked. "Why did you kill that person?"

The Drunken Demon poured the second cup of liquor into his own glass.

Seo Nak fiddled with the empty cup in front of him and said. "Pour me a drink first, then ask. You have no compassion."

Even in this situation, he showed no fear whatsoever.

"You're confident you can kill me, aren't you?"

The Drunken Demon neither affirmed nor denied, simply staring at him in silence.

"That's all due to complacency. I was like that too. In this North Sea, there was no opponent who could make me feel tense."

Seo Nak, who had always lived with a carefree, smiling demeanor, began to reveal his true self. He unleashed his inherent qi, cold and intense enough to freeze the entire world. He was a far greater master than his known abilities suggested.

"Complacency is truly terrifying. As a Demon Supreme, you must have achieved everything you desired, right? You would have defeated enemies you shouldn't have been able to, winning again and again. In reality, your opponents weren't consumed by fear of you, but of the Demonic Cult."

The Drunken Demon remained completely unperturbed by Seo Nak's imposing aura. He drank another cup of liquor. Before long, the Drunken Demon's alcohol energy had settled around them like a mist.

"I'm the one drinking, yet you're spouting nonsense."

At the Drunken Demon's composure, Seo Nak bared his teeth and laughed. He, who had always worn a benevolent smile, now laughed like a beast revealing its fangs.

"That woman was weak. It should have been over once she secretly made it, but she kept worrying about it. One day, she came to me and said she thought she should tell the Empress the truth. Is your curiosity satisfied now?"

The Drunken Demon then gave an unexpected answer. "I wasn't curious at all. Isn't the reason people like us kill good people obvious? It's for trivial and selfish reasons."

"Then why did you ask?"

It was precisely then, as Seo Nak wore an expression of incomprehension, that someone's voice came from behind him.

"I said I was curious."

Cutting through the thick mist, the person who walked over and sat down was the Ice Empress. She gazed at Seo Nak and asked calmly.

"Was that act also for the sake of the Ice Palace?"