Chapter 177
Chapter 177. Entry
Because of the falling snow, the surface of the water was covered in white.
It felt strange, as though they were walking atop the sea.
Then came the sound of approaching footsteps.
"It seems this is the first time I've seen your face in person."
Tang So-hwa turned her head toward the source of the voice.
But the words weren't directed at her.
The Black Tortoise Pavilion Leader, who had been walking ahead, approached Namgung Jin.
Namgung Jin smiled and answered the Pavilion Leader's greeting.
"It's an honor to meet you in person like this, Pavilion Leader."
The Pavilion Leader let out a quiet laugh, yet for some reason, his face looked sorrowful. After a pause, he spoke.
"Cheonghae always praised the Young Lord, so I thought he was just another fool obsessed with his family. But it seems he was simply speaking the truth."
Namgung Jin's expression hardened.
Namgung Cheonghae was his cousin — and the reason he had pursued the Blood Sect. Come to think of it, Cheonghae had belonged to the Black Tortoise Pavilion.
Tang So-hwa quietly turned her head forward, pretending not to hear.
But even as she tried to avert her attention, the voices of the two men continued to reach her ears.
"What kind of person was Brother Cheonghae?"
"Shouldn't you know him better than I?"
"I'm curious what kind of person he appeared to be... from your perspective."
"Cheonghae was... capable and diligent. Even someone like me, who doesn't easily trust others, could entrust him with work without hesitation."
The Pavilion Leader smiled faintly and added,
"He even had the nerve to ignore his superior's orders."
Namgung Jin asked in surprise,
"Brother Cheonghae disobeyed your orders, Pavilion Leader?"
He seemed unable to imagine Namgung Cheonghae defying his superior.
"It was something worth defying... or rather, I believe he had his reasons. If Cheonghae made that choice..."
"Pavilion Leader."
At the call of the Four Directions Hall Lord, the Pavilion Leader immediately returned to his place.
The sudden end to their conversation left an awkward silence in the air.
Then Namgung Jin suddenly spoke again.
"Brother Cheonghae was part of the Black Tortoise Pavilion under the Four Directions Hall."
"Yes, I'm aware."
After a brief pause, Namgung Jin asked in a quiet voice,
"Do you think his death might be related to the Four Directions Hall?"
Tang So-hwa answered honestly.
"I don't know."
"Would the Pavilion Leader tell us if we asked?"
Tang So-hwa looked toward the Hall Lord and Pavilion Leader walking ahead and replied,
"If you're going to ask anyway, it might be better to ask the Hall Lord directly."
The Four Directions Hall Lord called the Pavilion Leader over, yet said nothing.
Perhaps she was communicating through mental transmission—or maybe just warning him to keep quiet.
The Hall Lord was being cautious with her words.
Even now, she showed no reaction, though she must have heard Namgung Jin's voice.
Tang So-hwa did not suspect that the Hall Lord had killed Namgung Cheonghae. She simply thought that if the Hall Lord was hiding something, she had her reasons.
Still, if Cheonghae's death truly was connected to the Four Directions Hall, the truth had to be uncovered—not for Namgung Jin's sake, but because it was tied to the Blood Sect, and thus could not be ignored.
Crunch.
Before long, the group arrived at an island.
Seen up close, the black cliff was more peculiar than expected—like a flower bud encasing the island. But instead of soft curves, it was rugged and sharp.
"Where's the entrance?"
The Black Tortoise Pavilion Leader muttered unconsciously to himself.
He'd heard there was a gate in the cliff that led to the palace, yet the uneven rock face showed no visible crevice.
Just then, a thunderous sound echoed through the heavens and earth.
Ku-gu-gu-gung!
The middle of the cliff shifted sideways, revealing an entrance. From the open gate, figures dressed in yellow robes emerged in a neat line.
About twenty martial artists appeared, along with two carriages.
In one sat a middle-aged man; the other was empty.
The man looked to be in his fifties or sixties, but his light, easy smile made him seem younger.
No one in the group appeared particularly tense.
Soon, the carriages rolled to a stop right before them.
The man looked down from his carriage and asked,
"Have you come from the Central Plains?"
The Four Directions Hall Lord gave a brief reply.
"That's right. Are you from the North Sea Branch?"
She didn't bother with formalities, answering in the same casual tone as the yellow-robed man who had greeted them.
She didn't seem to regard him as someone of high standing.
The man didn't mind and simply laughed.
"No. I'm not from the North Sea Branch, but from one of the three noble clans of the North Sea—the Yan Clan. I am Yan Gyoga, head of the clan. I came personally to welcome our guests."
"So you're the Yan Clan Head. I am Peng Sihyeon, the Four Directions Hall Lord of the Murim Alliance."
Peng Sihyeon brought her hands together and gave a short bow.
"I've brought a carriage for the Hall Lord. Let's talk as we ride."
"You already knew we were coming?"
"There are those in the North Sea who bring us news from the Central Plains. Naturally, we keep track of matters concerning the Murim Alliance."
Yan Gyoga laughed heartily.
Peng Sihyeon smiled faintly as well, though her eyes remained shadowed.
Following his invitation, she boarded the carriage, and the group followed the Yan Clan entourage deeper into the island.
Tang So-hwa tried to listen to the conversation between the Clan Head and Hall Lord, but the clatter of wheels and footsteps drowned out their voices.
At that moment, Yan Gyoga turned his head to check the faces of the group behind. His face was still full of cheer.
"It's a more livable island than it looks, isn't it?"
Then he turned forward again and resumed his conversation with Peng Sihyeon.
When Tang So-hwa's view opened up, she understood what he meant.
A white mist enveloped the city below, catching the eye.
Through the fog rose tall pavilions.
That hazy, snow-white city was surrounded by snowcapped mountains.
A faint warmth lingered in the air of the island.
Tang So-hwa took in her surroundings, studying the city.
White steam rose from the river that ran through it—the mist was water vapor.
The pavilions were made of stone. In places where the paint had peeled, brickwork showed beneath—built from carefully stacked small stones.
It must have taken great effort to build this city.
Judging by the flow of hot spring water, it was a planned, man-made city.
They said the Ice Palace had brought in outsiders to settle here, but it seemed they hadn't accepted just anyone.
The hot spring water seemed to flow into the buildings. Through the open windows, Tang So-hwa glimpsed people wearing thin clothing. In a land like the North Sea, where trees were scarce, using thermal water was a far more efficient means of keeping warm than seeking firewood.
And there were many people on the streets—wagons laden with goods passed nonstop, and stalls displayed silks and crafts.
It was a sight completely unlike what they'd seen in the ravines.
The ice-covered mountain drew ever nearer. Soon, the low walls surrounding it came into view.
Tang So-hwa's eyes traced along the wall, trying to gauge its length. But the barrier stretched endlessly, like a fence with no end in sight.
"This is the North Sea Branch. You should meet with the Branch Leader first."
At the Yan Clan Head's words, Peng Sihyeon, the Four Directions Hall Lord, stepped down from the carriage. The Clan Head added as if something had just occurred to him.
"Ah, right. As for your lodging while you stay here, our Yan Clan has already prepared accommodations. As you can see, the palace isn't quite suited for esteemed guests, so we've cleared out one of the hot springs we manage. Please, take your time. I'll be waiting here."
"Thank you. Then we'll be in your care."
The Yan Clan Head smiled again.
"By the way, what's in that carriage? Belongings of the Four Directions Hall—or gifts for the Branch Leader?"
"There are both belongings and gifts."
"Hmm. I was thinking of having the carriage sent directly to the hot spring, but since you have gifts, you'd best bring them along. You'll have to cross two or three ridges to reach the palace—it'll be quite a trek."
The Yan Clan Head narrowed his eyes.
"The Ice Palace often sees beasts coming down from the mountains. It might be dangerous to bring the horses in. Still, if you're not planning to stay long, it should be fine. In any case, do be careful."
"Yes. I'll see you again shortly."
As soon as Peng Sihyeon finished speaking, she immediately headed toward the Ice Palace. The Black Tortoise Pavilion Leader quickly followed behind her.
Creak.
Though it was the gate of the North Sea's Ice Palace, its security was lax enough that one could push it open with a single hand.
As Tang So-hwa entered the Ice Palace, she quietly watched Peng Sihyeon's back.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but she could feel a quiet fury emanating from the Hall Lord.
Even though the Yan Clan had shown hospitality, her demeanor remained cold.
Beside her, Namgung Jin spoke softly.
"Something feels off."
Tang So-hwa thought he was referring to Peng Sihyeon's attitude, but his next words proved otherwise.
"They said mountain beasts come down here, yet the walls are far too low."
Tang So-hwa's gaze shifted toward the wall. Beyond the low stone barrier lay a peaceful city—but the words that reached her ears were cold.
"If wild beasts truly came down from the mountains, either the residences would be farther from the palace, or guards would be stationed along the walls. Yet neither is the case."
"Perhaps it doesn't happen often."
"I wonder."
Namgung Jin's voice dropped lower.
"Or perhaps... they just need an excuse to say that wild beasts come down."
Was it instinct? Some martial sense? Namgung Jin seemed to sense something amiss as his dark eyes fixed on the snow-covered peaks.
The higher they climbed, the quieter the city became.
Crunch.
After crossing two ridges, a stone structure came into view.
It wasn't made from stacked stones like the buildings below—it was a palace carved directly out of a single massive boulder.
Looking down at it from above, Peng Sihyeon said,
"You two stay here and guard the carriage. Our Four Directions Hall will handle the Ice Palace."
After surveying the area and confirming there was no one nearby, she added,
"If the Ice Palace already knew we were coming, they might have checked our numbers and appearances. It's best they see you as outsiders who joined us midway."
Tang So-hwa and Namgung Jin nodded at her instruction.
Giving them one last warning, Peng Sihyeon immediately descended the mountain.
After watching the Hall Lord delegation enter the palace, Namgung Jin turned toward the carriage. Leaning against its wooden wall, he murmured,
"They said there's a passage beneath the Ice Palace. Do you plan to find it today?"
At the sound of his voice, a shadow within the carriage stirred.
Though the sun hadn't completely set, the dense forest made the surroundings dim enough to hide their figures.
A voice came from above, from the trees. It was Bai Woon-Hyun.
"We'll have to go deep inside, so I can't be certain we'll find it today."
Namgung Jin looked up.
"Maybe it's just me, but I feel... an unsettling energy."
"What kind of energy?"
"I'm not sure."
Bai Woon-Hyun silently gazed toward the mountain range.
"Don't worry too much. We'll locate and seal the three passages within the Ice Palace as quickly as possible."
It was said there were six passages on the island—each positioned at the vertices of a hexagram, formed by overlapping a triangle and an inverted triangle. Thus, if they could find the locations of two, the rest could naturally be deduced.
Namgung Jin must have seen them depart, for he offered no further warning, merely concluding,
"Please, be careful."
As he waited for the Four Directions Hall members to return, Namgung Jin seemed increasingly uneasy. He alternated between gazing down at the palace below and staring up at the endless mountain of ice. When he sensed Tang So-hwa's eyes on him, he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Pay me no mind. Vigilance is simply a habit."
Tang So-hwa asked calmly,
"What is it that unsettles you?"
Namgung Jin hesitated before answering.
"Just as the Yan Clan Head mentioned, the Ice Palace carries the same air as a beast's habitat. It feels as if all the small creatures have fled—there's not even the faintest trace of insects. And yet... There are marks on the trees."
Following his gaze, Tang So-hwa looked toward the coniferous forest.
"There are trees with broken branches and severed trunks. Some look clawed, but others... look cleanly cut, as if by a sword."
Namgung Jin's eyes darkened.
"In any case... something feels wrong."
He was not his usual self. His energy was sharp, and his reactions to the surroundings were hypersensitive—completely different from how he'd been while searching for the North Sea's Ice Palace bloodline.
Tang So-hwa studied him and asked,
"Do you often feel this kind of wariness?"
"No. It's rare."
"What's the accuracy of your intuition, Young Lord?"
Namgung Jin fell silent for a moment before replying,
"So far... it's never been wrong."
A cold wind brushed past his ear.
The air grew heavy and chilling.
Crunch.
Just then, the sound of footsteps reached them. The members of the Four Directions Hall were ascending the mountain—when had they left the palace?
Tang So-hwa finally spoke.
"Then let's hope your intuition is wrong this time."
"Yes. I suppose it's about time it was."
Namgung Jin forced a small smile and straightened from where he'd been leaning against the carriage.
The returning Four Directions Hall Lord looked at the two of them and asked,
"Gone?"
"Yes."
Though the subject was omitted, Namgung Jin understood what she meant. At his reply, Peng Sihyeon gave a small nod.
"Then let's go do our part."
Both Tang So-hwa and Namgung Jin silently bowed their heads in acknowledgment.
While the Ice Palace bloodline members searched for the passages, the envoys from the Central Plains left the palace to draw attention away from them.