The snow-covered courtyard was clean and peaceful.
The snow that had settled on the trees looked just like white blossoms blooming, and the icicles hanging from the eaves shone clear and transparent.
Entering this pure white space, Ian began to unfold the Bicheon Sword Technique upon the untouched white snow.
Since Geom Mugeuk and Chwima had returned safely.
'Now the only thing I need to worry about is my own life.'
A good personality or a pretty face, if not backed by strength, often did more harm than good to one's survival in the martial world.
She had trained for Geom Mugeuk.
She no longer harbored the kind of heart she had in her days as a guard.
She trained for herself. Instead, she thought that this effort would ultimately become a path for Geom Mugeuk.
She moved back and forth across the snow, swinging her sword. Unbearably beautiful, she unfolded the Bicheon Sword Technique upon the pure white snow—it was truly like a painting.
After performing a bout of the Bicheon Sword Technique's forms, she looked at the footprints stamped into the ground.
She had never before practiced forms upon snow that no one had trodden, so this was the first time she saw footprints left so vividly.
"This is the First Form, Gyuncheon. This is the Second Form, Byuncheon...."
Then her gaze suddenly fixed upon one spot.
"As expected! This part spread apart again. Just what is the problem? Please tell me!"
She had been looking up at the sky when she jumped in surprise. Somehow, Geom Mugeuk was floating above her head.
"Young Master, what are you doing up there?"
"What else? I was watching to see where the problem lies."
Geom Mugeuk, who had been looking down at her footprints from mid-air, descended.
She hadn't been able to receive Geom Mugeuk's teachings recently. So, not wanting to miss this opportunity, she quickly spoke.
"When I perform the Eighth Form, Hwangcheon, my back foot keeps splaying to the right. I've kept training to fix it, but I simply can't."
"Why can't you fix it, when you know the problem so clearly?"
"It's because my ability to interpret martial arts is lacking, I suppose."
"Aren't you overestimating the Bicheon Sword Technique?"
Ian turned to look at Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk nodded with a serious expression, as if he hadn't spoken in jest.
Ian looked at the footprints again.
'The Young Master's words mean I might not be wrong, don't they? If that's the case...?'
Ian gazed down at the footprints, lost in thought.
How much time had passed?
"Could it be something like this?"
Ian, who had been raising her head, started in surprise. Before she knew it, the surroundings had grown dark.
Geom Mugeuk was looking at her from where he had originally been.
"Young Master? What happened?"
"You had fallen into a state of no-self."
At the words "state of no-self," she grew even more surprised.
"It felt like only a brief moment had passed?"
"That is the state of no-self."
"It wasn't a dilemma so great that I would fall into a state of no-self."
"Then what kind of dilemma is great?"
"How would I know?"
"It was something worth pondering sufficiently."
Then Ian asked in surprise.
"Surely not? You were standing there all this time?"
"Because your state of no-self must not be broken."
Geom Mugeuk knew well what an important moment it was for her. The vast majority of martial artists never experienced it even once.
"You stood there until your legs hurt for no reason because of me."
"Compared to the time you spent standing guard at my door, this hardly counts as standing."
"That was my duty."
She was grateful that Geom Mugeuk spoke this way. Had she ever expected any reward for guarding him? Yet even such a single word turned her past hardships into something worthwhile.
It was Geom Mugeuk, who always practiced the teaching to express what needed to be said.
"So? What conclusion did you reach?"
"I think it's fine even if it turns to the right. Even if I'm attacked, it's a foot stance that causes no hindrance, and it connects to other forms without any problem. No matter how much I think about it, there was no reason to keep it straight."
"Then why didn't you think so until now?"
"Because the Bicheon Sword Technique couldn't possibly be wrong."
To her, the Bicheon Sword Technique was a perfect martial art. It was the martial art learned by the successors of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult before they mastered the Nine Transformations Demonic Art.
Geom Mugeuk didn't answer with words but showed her directly.
Right where she had performed the forms, he began to unfold the Bicheon Sword Technique.
Footprints began to stamp in similar places.
Ian watched with wide eyes, determined not to miss even a single movement as Geom Mugeuk performed the Bicheon Sword Technique.
It was the same form, yet different. Different while being the same, and the same while being different.
As they say, you only see what you know; watching a demonstration now felt different from before. It would likely look different again upon achieving mastery.
The footprints left behind in that manner.
What she focused on was that footprint she had agonized over earlier.
"Huh? Your foot splays to the right too, Young Master."
Geom Mugeuk spoke with a smile.
"It means the answer you found is correct."
Ian felt joy, yet on the other hand, it was unexpected. But then why did the form say the feet should be in a straight line?
Geom Mugeuk resolved that doubt.
"Whether the founder of this martial art intended it or it happened by chance, this part serves as the greatest wall on the path to mastery of the Bicheon Sword Technique. It is also the point where tightly bound forms begin to gain freedom for the first time."
Those words also meant that she had taken one step closer to mastery of the Bicheon Sword Technique.
She had worked hard and Geom Mugeuk had given her many teachings, but she possessed an innate talent for martial arts.
"Thank you so much, Young Master."
How would she have found the answer if not for Geom Mugeuk? If he hadn't told her earlier to trust herself rather than the sword technique, she would never have experienced the state of no-self.
"Now let's return to the main cult soon, as well."
"Young Master. I was thinking of not returning and continuing the mission I took on instead."
She had left the cult originally to make Seojin, the younger sibling of the Gwiryeongja, a squad leader of the Gwiyeongdae.
But she had come all the way to the North Sea at a woman's request to save her husband.
"Shall I go with you?"
Ian shook her head.
"I want to handle this matter alone this time."
Her journey through the martial world had brought her all the way to the North Sea over a cup of water.
Whether she brought Seojin back or not, she had a feeling she would return having grown greatly after completing this mission. It would be even better if she achieved mastery of the Bicheon Sword Technique.
"Be careful when getting that cup of water."
Ian burst into a bright smile at Geom Mugeuk's joke.
Then a martial artist of the Ice Palace came and delivered the Ice Palace Lord's words.
"The Palace Lord requests an audience with you both."
Geom Mugeuk could sense it. That Binggungju had called them because of Ian.
* * *
Binggungju was waiting alone in the Palace Lord's hall.
After exchanging greetings, Binggungju asked what she was curious about first.
"Is Lady Chwima satisfied?"
She was curious about Chwima's reaction upon receiving the Ice Palace's sacred chalice.
Geom Mugeuk wanted to vividly convey how delighted and excited Chwima had been, but he considered her dignity.
"She liked it very much."
"That's a relief. Now, please sit."
After Geom Mugeuk and Ian sat, Binggungju brought out tea.
Ian looked at the pattern on the teacup again.
"You said before that you felt like you'd seen that pattern somewhere?"
"Looking again, I'm sure of it. I've definitely seen it before."
When Geom Mugeuk looked, it was a painting of two birds in flight, but it gave off an extremely unique feeling.
Binggungju watched Ian silently. For some reason, her gaze had kept drifting to her from the first time they met.
Binggungju, who had been quietly watching Ian, made an unexpected request.
"Might I check your pulse just once? I'll tell you the reason after I do."
Ian was bewildered by the unexpected proposal. For a martial artist to offer their pulse was tantamount to giving their life; unless one was injured or in a special situation, they would never allow their pulse to be checked. Of course, she didn't think Binggungju would harm her, but hesitation was only natural.
She stole a glance at Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk said nothing.
If he had judged it a situation to stop, he would have stepped in. With this in mind, Ian readily consented.
"Yes, very well."
When Ian obediently extended her arm, Binggungju took her pulse.
After examining her blood meridians for a moment, Binggungju's eyes opened wide. What flashed across her face was an intense emotion she had kept buried in her heart for a very long time.
Both Geom Mugeuk and Ian felt that her emotions were different from usual.
After quelling her surging emotions for a moment by drinking tea, Binggungju spoke calmly. Her gaze remained fixed on Ian.
"The pattern drawn on this teacup is one my older sister drew before she left the Ice Palace long ago."
Still, Ian couldn't guess the identity of this unfamiliar emotion that Binggungju was revealing.
"Might I have seen your older sister's pattern at some point?"
"Perhaps. One thing is certain: this pattern is unique in the world. There would be no one else who draws such a pattern on teacups."
Binggungju's voice was trembling. Even when the Ice Palace had been in danger, she had shown composure, but now she was trembling.
"Elder Seo mentioned my older sister before he died. At that time, I sensed it. That bastard had killed my sister."
Seonak had been utterly loyal to her at the time. He had exercised a misplaced loyalty to prevent her sister from threatening the position of Palace Lord.
"Before he died, Elder Seo told me. That my sister had a daughter. He spoke ambiguously to torment me, but it was definitely the word 'daughter.'"
Only now could Ian understand. Why she was checking her pulse, and why she was telling this story.
Ian's heart began to pound like mad. She had never dreamed that she would have such a conversation in the Palace Lord's hall of the Ice Palace.
The decisive words flowed from Binggungju's mouth.
"The women of our family are born with special blood meridians suited for learning the Ice Arts."
They could already tell the result from her trembling voice.
"You are my niece."
Had she grown dazed from too much shock? Even though the secret of her birth had been revealed, Ian was calm.
She didn't know how to react or what to say.
She had lived all this time thinking she was abandoned by her parents as a child. But her mother was Binggungju's older sister?
She looked at Geom Mugeuk. She had really wanted to ask like this.
Young Master, I'm of Binggungju's bloodline. How should I react at a time like this?
Geom Mugeuk, reading her heart, asked.
"How do you feel?"
"Just...."
She had been about to say she was bewildered when suddenly her heart surged with emotion. The image of her mother, who had lost her life to a villain, suddenly came to mind. All this time she had thought her parents abandoned her. She had resented them so much.
"I...."
Ian couldn't continue speaking, her throat choked with tears.
Both Geom Mugeuk and Binggungju waited for her.
Only after a long while did Ian compose herself. After taking a deep breath, she revealed her heart.
"Nothing will change, though."
She conveyed the conclusion she had reached in a calm tone.
"In the future too, I am the daughter of Lady Gwonma, a former guard of the Young Cult Lord, and the Commander of the Gwiyeongdae. I am satisfied with my life. I don't want to change this life moving forward."
They were sorry words to Binggungju, who was becoming her aunt, but they were her honest feelings. With the thought that she had to say this first, no other words came to mind.
As if she had expected this reaction, Binggungju was also calm.
"Yes, do as you wish."
She felt sorry for Ian. Her sister's tragedy had ultimately been because of her.
Was it the trick of fate? Ian, who had become a sacrifice in the succession struggle, trusted and followed the one who ended the succession struggle without bloodshed the most.
"Thank you for growing up so well."
Binggungju was so proud of Ian. She was truly grateful that she had grown up so excellently.
"I heard the story of how you came here to save the husband of a woman who gave you a cup of water. I might not have come, but your mother would have. You look exactly like your mother."
Perhaps it was an unavoidable fate that had led her all the way to the North Sea.
A fate imbued with her sister's earnestness.
"From now on, the gates of the Ice Palace are open to you. Come whenever you wish."
"Thank you."
Binggungju wanted to embrace Ian. But she couldn't bring herself to suggest it.
Confused, awkward, and with a complicated heart, Ian politely bowed first.
"Then I shall take my leave first."
"Yes, go and rest well."
The words aunt and niece still did not come easily.
Once Ian left the Palace Lord’s Hall, only Geom Mugeuk and the Ice Palace Lord remained there.
“She’ll need a little more time.”
“I suppose she will.”
The Ice Palace Lord was overjoyed at the thought that she had found her sister’s daughter. But Geom Mugeuk put a brake on her soaring spirits.
“I think it would be best not to announce this officially.”
“Why is that?”
“Was it not because she wished to avoid a succession struggle that your sister left? If it becomes known that Ian is of your blood, someday someone like Elder Seo may appear and try to use that fact to plot against you. In the end, your niece may be forced to bear the same fate.”
“!”
She had not thought of that. The thought of having found her sister’s blood had come first, making her want to reveal it to everyone as soon as possible.
‘Truly, the more I experience with him, the more astonishing he is.’
Since the moment they met, Geom Mugeuk had truly left no openings.
“We will leave at dawn tomorrow.”
“Already?”
She felt regret. To think she would feel saddened by the departure of the young cult leader of the Demon Cult? Before Geom Mugeuk came, she would have thought it an utterly absurd emotion.
But he had come and restored her relationship with her daughter, found her niece, and saved the Ice Palace from crisis. Yes, this much was enough reason to feel sad at his departure.
“Then please take care until we meet again.”
“May you achieve your great undertaking.”
Geom Mugeuk was about to turn and leave when the Ice Palace Lord spoke from behind him.
“When there is a gathering of the rising talents, please invite Seol as well.”
It was an expression of her willingness 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 behind a joke whose meaning was unclear.
“Of course. I’ll have to invite our young palace lord, if only because I’m curious about her dancing skills.”
* * *
Before leaving, Geom Mugeuk stood side by side with Chwima atop the snowy mountain.
“I was able to do it because you came with me.”
It was an honest statement. Had he come alone, he would not have been able to handle such a great conspiracy. He had killed the Blood King, but when he thought of the process that had led up to it, it had not been something he could have endured by himself.
“If you’d been alone, you wouldn’t have gotten this wine cup either, and whenever you returned after leaving the cult, you’d always have come to me last.”
He was subtly pressuring him to come to him first from now on, but it did not work on Geom Mugeuk.
“I’m still going to come to you last, hyung.”
“Why on earth?”
“Because it’s comfortable.”
“You mean because I’m easy!”
“I’m saying I’ll meet everyone else first, then come drink comfortably at the end.”
“What a fine excuse.”
Even if he did not come at all, let alone last, how could Chwima ever feel hurt by Geom Mugeuk?
Through this journey, not only had he grown closer to Geom Mugeuk, he felt he had come to understand a little more what kind of person he was.
The two silently enjoyed the majestic snowscape that could only be seen from the peak of the snowy mountain.
Before descending the mountain, they shared a cup of wine each.
And the final cup they scattered into the air from the mountain’s peak.
“Wonju, drink well before you go!”