Chapter 70
Eventually, Jaseong sat face-to-face at the dining table with the Ice Palace Mistress of the North Sea, Lee Seol-hwa.
On the table, longjing tea, imbued with the fresh scent of spring, was steaming.
Meanwhile, Lee Rin sat anxiously between them, unable to say a word.
'Well, shall I begin soon?'
After taking a sip of tea, Jaseong slowly opened his mouth, preparing to make the first move in recruiting the North Sea Ice Palace.
But just as he was about to speak, a fierce energy suddenly swept through Clear Heart Pavilion.
Swoosh—
It was a ki as intense as that of the Ice Palace Mistress, Lee Seol-hwa.
The overwhelming pressure, like a great storm coming in, automatically made all the martial artists present in Clear Heart Pavilion hold their breath.
Step, step.
Heavy yet slow footsteps were heard. Next, a middle-aged man with cold eyes revealed himself.
Like Namgung Jin, whom Jaseong had just defeated, the man had thick eyebrows and bold features.
A deep scar that looked as if it were made by a blade ran above his left eyebrow.
Most importantly, his sword bore the Blue Dragon Seal, just like Namgung Jin's.
Seeing that, everyone around, including Jaseong, realized the man's identity.
He was Namgung Hui-yeon, the only son of the Murim Alliance Leader, Namgung Cheon-rui, and the current head of the Namgung family—hailed as one of the Three Greatest Sword Masters in the world.
"Are you the Hao Sect's branch leader who just had a duel with the youngest of our family?"
Namgung Hui-yeon asked, looking at Jaseong. A chilling anger filled his eyes.
He had heard that his youngest son, Namgung Jin, had been publicly humiliated and even wet himself.
Because the Namgung family's prestige had hit rock bottom, as the head of the household, he had no choice but to come personally to Clear Heart Pavilion.
"I heard from Siwi. They say you completely trampled someone who had already lost a duel."
"......."
"I am aware that the Hao Sect stands between the Righteous and Evil Factions, but wasn't your behavior too much like that of the Evil Faction?"
Namgung Hui-yeon's overwhelming ki filled Clear Heart Pavilion.
The pressure made even the righteous martial artists around them shiver unintentionally.
Indeed, it was the might befitting the head of the Central Plains' foremost sword family, one of the Three Greatest Sword Masters.
At that moment, Lee Seol-hwa frowned.
'For the father to come seeking revenge because his son lost a duel... So this is how righteous sects are—righteous in words only, but their actions are no different from those of the Evil Faction.'
Lee Seol-hwa watched intently to see how Jaseong would respond.
If the situation became something Jaseong couldn't handle, she intended to step in herself.
Even so, she secretly hoped.
'If this Jaseong can resolve this without me having to step in....'
While Lee Seol-hwa whispered this to herself, the tension in Clear Heart Pavilion grew nearly explosive.
"Martial arts without Dao are nothing but violence. You used a proper duel as an excuse to trample on our family's young master."
"......."
"How do you intend to atone for that crime?"
The righteous martial artists in Clear Heart Pavilion swallowed dryly in silence.
But at the eye of this storm, Jaseong remained calm.
"Martial arts without Dao... Why are you saying that to me?"
"What...?"
"It was your youngest son who picked a fight first, and it was your youngest son who first proposed the duel. Moreover, your youngest son even mocked the Hao Sect."
"......!"
"On top of that, he recklessly used killing techniques during the duel. Isn't that something not even members of the Evil Faction would stoop to?"
After finishing his words, Jaseong leisurely raised his teacup.
Slurp—
The sound of him drinking tea echoed through the silent banquet hall.
He didn't seem the least bit concerned by the fact that the man before him was the head of the foremost sword family in the Central Plains.
For that reason, Namgung Hui-yeon was dumbfounded.
'This brat, does he even understand who I am to speak so insolently...?!'
But as he looked around, he noticed the atmosphere among the martial artists in the hall was subtly changing. One martial artist murmured quietly.
"... The youngest of the Namgung family certainly did recklessly use killing moves."
Another martial artist added.
"He proposed the duel first, too... We just didn't expect things to turn out like this."
Namgung Hui-yeon's sharp hearing caught the whispers of the other righteous martial artists.
The majority seemed to be agreeing with Jaseong.
Because of this, Namgung Hui-yeon felt uneasy inside, despite keeping a stoic face on the outside.
In contrast, Lee Seol-hwa watched the situation with even more fascinated eyes.
'Ho... To remain so composed and confident before the head of the Namgung family... Truly bold talent. How many in the Central Plains could display such nerve....'
It was then that the crowd suddenly stirred and looked in one direction.
"It's the Seven Sages of the South Sea from the Hainan Sect!"
"Why would the Seven Sages come here...?"
At the crowd's commotion, Namgung Hui-yeon turned his head toward them. Cutting through the crowd, seven elders walked forward.
"Head of Namgung, please calm yourself."
First Elder Hae Cheoldo, among the Seven Sages of the South Sea, stepped in between Namgung Hui-yeon and Jaseong.
Standing firmly with hands behind his back, he looked like an ancient withered tree.
"We greet the elders of Hainan. What brings you to intervene here?"
"Head of Namgung. We have heard the circumstances from some passing guests as well."
"?"
"They said your third young master first insulted this leader, calling him lowborn, and then demanded a duel. Moreover, this young leader is the one who recently drove out the Demonic Cult's hall master in Guizhou City and saved our lives—a benefactor to us elders of the Hainan Sect."
"......!"
Then Third Elder Mu Gangpyeon, with his thin beard, stepped forward to add:
"The Hao Sect Ansun branch leader, simply proved his skills through a fair duel. Furthermore, I also heard that it was the third young master of the Namgung family who first resorted to deadly moves during the duel. Anyone can see the one at fault here is the third young master, no?"
With even the Seven Sages of the South Sea taking Jaseong's side, all the righteous martial artists in Clear Heart Pavilion nodded.
"That is true...."
"If even the Seven Sages are saying so...."
The Seven Sages had protected the Righteous Martial World for decades, surviving both the Righteous-Evil Great War and the Great Heavenly Demon War.
Their every word carried great weight. Even the Murim Alliance could not ignore their opinions recklessly.
Because of this, Namgung Hui-yeon's expression hardened further.
'... For the Seven Sages to interfere and defend that bastard... Some mere branch leader of the Hao Sect daring to provoke the Namgung family, someone with a temperament of the Evil Faction, and yet defiling the prestige of our family—'
Namgung Hui-yeon's eyes turned icy cold. However, it was hard to further press Jaseong.
With such public eyes on him, how could he continue?
Unlike Namgung Hui-yeon, Jaseong felt grateful for the unexpected assistance.
'To think the Seven Sages of the South Sea would suddenly show up here. Thanks to them, I got away without lifting a finger.'
At the moment Jaseong was musing to himself, he felt another intense gaze besides Namgung Hui-yeon's.
Turning his head toward the direction of the gaze—
'?'
Lee Seol-hwa, the Ice Palace Mistress, was staring intently at Jaseong with eyes full of interest.
* * *
Afterward, conscious of the crowd's gaze, Namgung Hui-yeon simply left.
Then, Jaseong moved with Lee Rin and the Ice Palace Mistress Lee Seol-hwa to the top floor of Clear Heart Pavilion.
Swish—
Through the window, the silver-scaled waves of the Zhang River shimmered in the light.
Above them, the crimson sunset spread brilliantly, like spilled paint.
"Rin, I heard news about you from the North Sea. At the Dark Path Duel Banquet, the Evil Path Association's duel tournament, you won a prize, didn't you?"
Taking a sip of the newly ordered Dragon Phoenix tea, Lee Seol-hwa asked.
"Yes. I placed second."
Lee Rin nodded, her expression tense.
She had been caught traveling the Central Plains on her own, so she was clearly worried she might be scolded.
But Lee Seol-hwa smiled gently rather than reprimanding her.
"Rin, why are you so nervous looking at your mother?"
"Huh...? Aren't you angry?"
"Would you like me to be angry?"
"... Of course not. When Mother gets angry, they say ice and snowstorms rage across the North Sea."
"Heh heh. You still know how to dig your own grave with words."
"... I was wrong."
"Well, if you made it back safely without any big trouble, that's all that matters."
"Huh...?"
Lee Rin was puzzled. Her mother was not the type to just let things slide so easily.
"But Mother, earlier there was mention of marriage from that young hero of the Namgung family... What was that about?"
At Lee Rin's question, Lee Seol-hwa just chuckled.
"That is no longer a concern."
"Huh?"
"It's all resolved now."
"???"
Lee Seol-hwa then turned her gaze to Jaseong, smiling.
"I heard from Rin's guardian. That you helped Lee Rin at the Dark Path Duel Banquet and even let her master the secret Speed Movement of Shadowless Divine Thief?"
"Lee Rin is also a colleague who greatly helped me."
"Heh, a colleague...."
"?"
"In any case, thanks to you, Rin seems to have had meaningful experiences in the Central Plains."
"... Mother?"
Lee Rin could not understand her mother's attitude at all. Very rarely did the Ice Palace Mistress show such warmth to an outsider.
The reason Lee Seol-hwa treated Jaseong so kindly was simple.
'That reckless Rin at least has an eye for people. I should keep an eye on such a talent.'
Even now, Lee Seol-hwa recalled how Jaseong stood his ground before Namgung Hui-yeon.
To not yield or back down an inch before the head of the Namgung family and one of the Three Greatest Sword Masters—even saying all he wished to say.
Anyone would have found the sight electrifying.
It was something none of the rising stars of the martial world could accomplish.
Not even the brash sons of the Southern Savageland Beasts Palace would dare emulate such spirit.
As a result, the mood among the martial artists had shifted to support Jaseong.
'So few across the whole Central Plains have such nerve. Maybe... I should invest before this bud matures fully.'
Jaseong, who had inadvertently earned her favor thanks to the sudden appearance of Namgung Hui-yeon.
That made the nursemaid Han Seol-hwa's warning to "bet your head" seem pointless now.
Moreover, at that moment, Lee Seol-hwa spoke words that perked up Jaseong's ears.
"By the way...."
Lee Seol-hwa set down her teacup and straightened her posture.
"Are you aware that some Hao Sect branches have close ties with our North Sea Ice Palace?"
To the question, Jaseong nodded.
"For our North Sea Ice Palace, which is remote from the Central Plains, they provide us with necessary information. In return, we provide them with things found only in the North Sea. In the case of especially close branches, we even send them our female swordmasters."
"......!"
The Swordmasters of the North Sea. Their renowned name was extraordinary even in the martial world.
Made up only of women, this sword troop's skills were said to equal those of the Plum Blossom Swordmasters of Mount Hua Sect among the Nine Great Sects.
"My thought is that you, too, wish for a close relationship with our North Sea Ice Palace. Am I right?"
Jaseong silently nodded.
In fact, that was exactly why he had sought out the Ice Palace Mistress. But to think she would bring it up first herself.
'... It feels like things are proceeding too smoothly?'
But even as Jaseong thought this, Lee Seol-hwa said something unexpected.
"To form a close bond with our North Sea Ice Palace, there is one test you must take."
"A test...?"
"It is a traditional test of the Ice Palace. In the past twenty years, only the Lord of Black Blood Hall, Do Unjang, has reached the final stage. Even he, however, did not clear the last hurdle."
... A test even Do Unjang could not pass?
Jaseong clearly recalled Do Unjang, Lord of Black Blood Hall.
When Jaseong single-handedly wiped out the Iron Ring Fortress bandits who descended on the Red Light District, Lord of Black Blood Hall Do Unjang appeared.
Recognizing Jaseong's martial prowess, he appointed Jaseong as the branch leader of Hao Sect's Ansun division.
Thanks to that, Jaseong was now building his own renown and faction in the martial world.
Do Unjang was certainly a formidable expert. Yet even he could not pass the test completely.
"How about it? If you pass the North Sea Ice Palace's test, your Hao Sect branch will henceforth enjoy the protection of the North Sea. And I'll let you keep my daughter by your side as well."
Lee Seol-hwa spoke again. No matter what, Jaseong nodded resolutely.
"I'll do it. But... What's the test about?"
At Jaseong's question, Lee Seol-hwa pulled out a small jade vial from her sleeve.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Well, that de-escalated quickly...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】