Chapter 432: The Gates of the Ice Palace Are Open to You

TL: FoodieMonster007

The snow-covered courtyard was clean and peaceful. Snow on the trees looked like white blossoms, and icicles hanging from the eaves shone clear and transparent.

Stepping into this pure white space, Lee Ahn began to perform the Soaring Sky Sword Art on the untouched snow.

Geom Mugeuk and the Drunken Demon had returned safely.

Now, I just have to worry about my own life.

A good personality and a pretty face are often more of a hindrance than a help for survival in the murim if one's skills don't measure up.

She no longer trained for Geom Mugeuk with the mindset of a bodyguard. She trained for herself, believing this effort would ultimately be for his sake as well.

She moved back and forth across the snow, swinging her sword. The sight of the incomparably beautiful woman performing the Soaring Sky Sword Art on the pure white snow was like a painting.

After performing a round of the techniques, she looked down at the footprints left on the ground. She had never practiced on untouched snow before, so this was the first time she had seen her footprints so vividly.

"This is the First Technique, the Equal Sky Strike. And this is the Second Technique, the Erratic Sky Strike…"

Then, her gaze suddenly fixed on one spot.

"As I thought! This part is spread open again. What on earth is the problem? Please, someone tell me!"

Looking up at the sky, she was startled. Geom Mugeuk was floating above her head, though she hadn't noticed when he arrived.

"Young Cult Leader, what are you doing up there?"

"What do you think? I was looking to see where the problem was."

Geom Mugeuk, who had been looking down at her footprints from mid-air, descended.

She hadn't received Geom Mugeuk's instruction recently, so not wanting to miss this opportunity, she spoke quickly.

"When I perform the eighth form, the Sanzu River Strike, my back foot keeps splaying out to the right. I've been training constantly to fix it, but it just won't correct itself."

"Why won't it be corrected? Especially when you're aware of the problem?"

"It must be because my ability to interpret martial arts is lacking."

"Aren't you overestimating the Soaring Sky Sword Art?"

Lee Ahn turned to look at Geom Mugeuk.

He nodded with a serious expression, as if to say he wasn't joking.

Lee Ahn looked at the footprints again.

The Young Cult Leader's words mean that I might not be the one who's wrong, right? If that's the case, then what?

Staring down at the footprints, Lee Ahn became lost in thought.

How much time had passed?

"Could it have been something like this?"

Lifting her head, Lee Ahn flinched in surprise. The surroundings had grown dark without her realizing it.

Geom Mugeuk was watching her from the same spot he had been in before.

"Young Cult Leader? What just happened?"

"You fell into a state of selflessness."

She was even more surprised at the words 'state of selflessness'.

"But it felt like only a moment had passed?"

"That's what a state of selflessness is."

"And it wasn't even a problem profound enough to fall into a trance over."

"Then what kind of problem is profound?"

"I wouldn't know."

"It was a point worth contemplating deeply."

Then Lee Ahn asked in surprise.

"No way. You've been standing there this whole time?"

"I couldn't risk breaking you out of your trance."

Geom Mugeuk knew how important this moment was for her. After all, the vast majority of martial artists never experience it even once.

"You stood there until your legs hurt, all because of me."

"Considering the time you spent standing guard at my door, this is nothing."

"That was just my job."

She was grateful that Geom Mugeuk would say such a thing. Had she ever expected any reward for her work as his bodyguard?

Nevertheless, a single phrase like this made all her past hardships feel worthwhile.

Geom Mugeuk was someone who always practiced what he preached about expressing what needed to be said.

"So? What conclusion did you reach?"

"I think it's fine for it to be turned to the right. It's a stance that doesn't hinder me even if I'm attacked, and there's no problem linking it with other techniques. No matter how much I thought about it, there was no reason to keep it straight."

"Then why didn't you think of this until now?"

"Because there's no way the Soaring Sky Sword Art could be flawed."

In her mind, the Soaring Sky Sword Art was a perfect martial art. It was the art that the heirs of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult learned before mastering the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

Instead of answering with words, Geom Mugeuk showed her directly.

He began to perform the Soaring Sky Sword Art in the same spot where she had performed her techniques. His footprints began to appear in similar places.

Lee Ahn watched with wide eyes, not wanting to miss a single movement of Geom Mugeuk's Soaring Sky Sword Art.

It was the same technique, yet different. It was different yet the same, and the same yet different.

As they say, you see as much as you know. Watching it now felt completely different from when she had seen him demonstrate it before. It would probably look different again once she achieved complete mastery.

The footprints left behind.

What she focused on was the footprint she had been agonizing over earlier.

"Huh? Your foot is splayed to the right too, Young Cult Leader."

Geom Mugeuk said with a smile.

"It means the answer you found was correct."

Lee Ahn was happy, but at the same time, she found it unexpected. But then why did the technique's description say the foot had to be in a straight line?

Geom Mugeuk resolved her question.

"I don't know if the creator of the martial art intended it or if it happened by chance, but this part acts as the biggest wall on the path to complete mastery of the Soaring Sky Sword Art. It's also the point where the tightly structured techniques first begin to find freedom."

His words meant that she had taken another step closer to the complete mastery of the Soaring Sky Sword Art.

She had worked hard and received much guidance from Geom Mugeuk, but she also possessed a natural talent for martial arts.

"Thank you so much, Young Cult Leader."

How could she have found the answer without Geom Mugeuk? If he hadn't told her to trust herself and not the sword art, she would never have experienced that state of selflessness.

"Now, let's slowly head back to our Cult."

"Young Cult Leader. I think I'll stay and continue the mission I was assigned instead of returning."

The original purpose of her leaving the cult was to recruit Seo Jin, the Ghostly Sage's younger sister, as the Ghost Shadow Squad Division Leader. But a woman's plea to save her husband had brought her all the way here to the North Sea.

"Should I go with you?"

Lee Ahn shook her head.

"I want to accomplish this on my own."

Her journey in the murim had brought her all the way to the North Sea after accepting a cup of water.

Regardless of whether she succeeded in bringing Seo Jin back, she had a premonition that she would return greatly grown after completing this mission. It would be even better if she could achieve complete mastery of the Soaring Sky Sword Art as well.

"Be careful when you accept a drink of water."

Lee Ahn beamed at Geom Mugeuk's joke.

Just then, a martial artist from the Ice Palace came and relayed a message from the Ice Empress.

"The Empress requests an audience with you both."

Geom Mugeuk could sense it. The Ice Empress had summoned them because of Lee Ahn.

The Ice Empress was waiting alone in the Empress's chamber.

After they exchanged greetings, the Ice Empress asked about what she was curious about.

"Was the Drunken Demon satisfied?"

She was curious about the Drunken Demon's reaction to receiving the Ice Palace Chalice.

Geom Mugeuk wanted to vividly convey how happy and excited the Drunken Demon was, but he considered the Drunken Demon's dignity.

"He was very pleased."

"That's a relief. Here, have a seat."

As Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn sat down, the Ice Empress served them tea.

Lee Ahn looked at the pattern on the teacup again.

"You said before that you thought you'd seen that pattern somewhere, didn't you?"

"Seeing it again, I'm sure of it. I've definitely seen it sometime before."

Geom Mugeuk saw it was a picture of two birds in flight, and it had a very unique feel.

The Ice Empress silently gazed at Lee Ahn. From the moment she first saw her, her eyes had been drawn to her for some reason.

Staring quietly at Lee Ahn, the Ice Empress made an unexpected request.

"May I check your pulse just once? I'll tell you the reason after I've checked it."

Lee Ahn was flustered by the unforeseen proposal. For a martial artist, offering one's pulse was the same as offering one's life, so they would never let someone check it unless they were injured or in a special situation. Of course, she didn't think the Ice Empress would harm her, but her hesitation was natural.

She glanced furtively at Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk said nothing.

If he had judged it to be a situation where he needed to intervene, he would have. With this thought, Lee Ahn readily agreed.

"Yes, I understand."

As Lee Ahn obediently extended her arm, the Ice Empress took her pulse.

After examining her blood meridians for a moment, the Ice Empress's eyes widened. The emotion that flashed across her face was a passion she had held in her heart for a very long time.

Both Geom Mugeuk and Lee Ahn sensed her unusual emotion.

After calming her emotions by sipping her tea for a moment, the Ice Empress spoke calmly, her gaze still fixed on Lee Ahn.

"The pattern on this teacup was drawn by my Unnie, who left the Ice Palace long ago."

Lee Ahn still couldn't guess the identity of this unfamiliar passion the Ice Empress was revealing.

"Could it be that I saw the pattern your Unnie drew sometime?"

"Perhaps. One thing is certain, this pattern is unique in the world. No one else would draw such a pattern on a teacup."

The Ice Empress's voice was trembling. She, who had remained composed even when the Ice Palace was in danger, was now trembling.

"Before Elder Seo died, he mentioned my Unnie. At that moment, I felt it. That man had killed my Unnie."

At the time, Elder Seo had been completely loyal to her. He had displayed a twisted loyalty to prevent her Unnie from threatening her position as Empress.

"Before he died, Elder Seo told me. That my Unnie had a daughter. He said it ambiguously to torment me, but it was clear he meant she had a daughter."

Only now could Lee Ahn understand. Why she had checked her pulse, and why she was telling this story.

Lee Ahn's heart began to pound like crazy. She had never dreamed she would be having such a conversation in the Empress's chamber of the Ice Palace.

The decisive words flowed from the Ice Empress's lips.

"The women of our family are born with special blood meridians that are well-suited for learning ice arts."

From her trembling voice, the result was already clear.

"You are my niece."

Was she dazed from the shock? Despite the secret of her birth being revealed, Lee Ahn was composed.

She didn't know how to react or what to say.

She had lived her whole life thinking she had been abandoned by her parents as a child. But now, her mother was the Ice Empress's Unnie?

She looked at Geom Mugeuk. She truly wanted to ask him.

Young Cult Leader, they say I'm a blood relative of the Ice Empress. How am I supposed to react to this?

As if reading her mind, Geom Mugeuk asked.

"How do you feel?"

"I just…"

She was about to say she felt bewildered when a wave of emotion suddenly surged through her. The image of her mother, the Demonic Physician, who had lost her life to a villain, suddenly came to mind. All this time, she had thought her parents had abandoned her. She had resented them so much for it.

"I…"

Her throat choked with tears, and Lee Ahn couldn't continue.

Both Geom Mugeuk and the Ice Empress waited for her.

Only after a long while did Lee Ahn compose herself. She took a deep breath and then revealed her feelings.

"Even so, nothing will change."

She delivered the conclusion she had reached in a calm tone.

"In the future, I will continue to be the Fist Demon's daughter, the Young Cult Leader's former bodyguard, and a member of the Ghost Shadow Squad. I'm satisfied with my life. I don't want to change it."

It was an apologetic thing to say to the Ice Empress, who was her aunt, but this was her honest feeling. She felt she had to say this first, and no other words came to mind.

As if she had expected this reaction, the Ice Empress was also composed.

"Alright, do as you wish."

She felt sorry for Lee Ahn. Her Unnie's tragedy was, in the end, her fault.

Was it a twist of fate? Lee Ahn, who had become a victim of a succession battle, now trusted and followed the one person who had ended a succession battle without bloodshed.

"Thank you for growing up so well."

The Ice Empress was so proud of Lee Ahn. She was truly grateful that she had grown up so admirably.

"I heard the story that you came here to save the husband of a woman from whom you accepted a cup of water. I wouldn't have come, but my Unnie would have. You're just like your mother."

Perhaps an unavoidable fate had led her all the way here to the North Sea.

A fate imbued with her Unnie's earnest wish.

"From now on, the gates of the Ice Palace are open to you. Come whenever you wish."

"Thank you."

The Ice Empress wanted to hug Lee Ahn once. But she couldn't bring herself to ask for a hug.

Feeling flustered, awkward, and with a complicated heart, Lee Ahn was the first to offer a polite farewell.

"Then I will take my leave first."

"Alright, go and get some rest."

The words 'aunt' and 'niece' still did not come easily.

When Lee Ahn left the Empress's chamber, only Geom Mugeuk and the Ice Empress remained.

"She will need more time."

"I suppose so."

The Ice Empress was overjoyed at the thought of having found her Unnie's daughter. However, Geom Mugeuk put a brake on her soaring spirits.

"I think it would be best not to announce this fact officially."

"Why is that?"

"Didn't your Unnie leave because she hated the succession struggle? If it's revealed that Lee Ahn is your blood relative, someone like Elder Seo might appear one day, scheming to use that fact. In the end, your niece could end up sharing the same fate."

"!"

She hadn't thought of that. The desire to quickly reveal to everyone that she had found her Unnie's flesh and blood had been foremost in her mind.

The more I interact with him, the more amazing he is.

Since they had met, Geom Mugeuk had truly been flawless.

"We will be leaving at dawn tomorrow."

"Already?"

A sense of regret washed over her. To feel sad that the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult was leaving? Before Geom Mugeuk arrived, she would have thought it an absurd emotion.

But he had come, helped her restore her relationship with her daughter, found her niece, and saved the Ice Palace from crisis. Yes, with all that, it was perfectly fine to feel a little sad.

"Then, please take care of yourself until we meet again."

"May you achieve your great work."

As Geom Mugeuk turned to leave, the Ice Empress spoke from behind him.

"When there is a gathering of prodigies, please invite Seol as well."

She was showing her intention to send her daughter to the Central Plains. Yes, if Geom Mugeuk was waiting in the Central Plains, she could trust him and send her.

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and left her with an enigmatic joke.

"Of course. I'll have to invite her, if only because I'm curious about our Princess's dancing skills."

Before leaving, Geom Mugeuk stood side by side with the Drunken Demon on the peak of the snowy mountain.

"I was able to do it because you came with me."

It was the honest truth. If he had come alone, he wouldn't have been able to handle this grand conspiracy. He had killed the Blood King, but considering the process leading up to it, it wasn't an enemy he could have handled alone.

"If I were alone, I wouldn't have gotten this cup, and when I return from my excursions, I'd always be the last one you visit."

He was subtly pressuring Geom Mugeuk to visit him first from now on, but it didn't work.

"I'm still going to visit you last, Hyung."

"Why on earth?"

"Because it's comfortable."

"You mean because I'm easy!"

"I meet everyone else first so I can relax and have a drink with you at the end."

"A likely excuse."

Even if he didn't come at all, let alone last, how could he possibly feel upset with Geom Mugeuk?

Not only had he grown closer to Geom Mugeuk on this journey, but he also felt he had come to understand a little better what kind of person he was.

The two of them silently enjoyed the magnificent snowy landscape that could only be seen from the mountain's peak.

Before descending the mountain, the two shared a drink of alcohol.

They poured the last cup into the air from the top of the snowy mountain.

"Brewmaster, we drank our fill! We're heading out!"