〈 595 〉 Zhuge.
Craack.
A cracking sound came from somewhere.
Cracks formed in space, and one could see pressure flooding in.
Overwhelming aura.
Under a pressure completely different from when they first met, Yuri’s body began to tremble uncontrollably.
“Huff… huffff….”
She couldn’t even breathe properly.
It was a vicious killing intent she had never felt before.
“My Lady…!”
Useok tried to move at Yuri’s reaction, but.
“Stop.”
The other person in front spat out the words.
It was the man known as the Red Feather’s guard.
“If you move. I’ll cut you.”
The emotion in his voice was sincere.
Feeling this, Useok couldn’t move easily.
The threat to cut wasn’t aimed at him.
Useok could see.
That the other’s gaze was fixed on the Little Princess.
Could he stop it? Useok bit his lip as he assessed the opponent.
‘I can’t stop it.’
At least, he couldn’t stop it in his current state.
Every time he moved, he felt his arm go numb.
The opponent was far stronger than expected.
It meant he had no confidence in protecting the Little Princess under this pressure.
‘To think a warrior of the Central Plains would be this strong….’
Biting his lip, he grasped the miserable reality.
The opponent’s strength far exceeded his estimations.
The swordsman in front was like that.
And so was the woman blocking his younger brother.
‘I felt it last time too, but.’
The skill to close the distance in an instant and aim for the throat.
An expression that betrayed no killing intent, yet hand movements that told a different story.
It revealed an all-too-seasoned assassin.
No matter how badly he had sustained internal injuries….
No.
‘Even if I hadn’t been injured in the first place.’
Not to mention the martial artist in front.
Could he have protected the Little Princess from that woman’s fingertips?
He couldn’t be certain.
Recalling this, Useok had to swallow a groan.
‘…Does this mean it’s not just Baekyeo.’
He had heard that many in the Central Plains were not inferior to the Northern Sea.
But he hadn’t known that people of this caliber existed.
At such a young age.
How could they have reached such a realm?
‘Moreover.’
Useok’s gaze drifted to the far end of the table.
The owner of the baleful aura filling the room.
A young man was looking this way, the corners of his mouth raised in a hair-trigger situation.
Resting his chin on his hand with a smile.
Yet emanating such horrifying killing intent.
‘What the hell.’
Useok felt every hair on his body stand on end.
Putting aside the warrior in front, this one was on an entirely different level.
It wasn’t simply a matter of winning or losing.
It was the difference between life and death.
The Ice Palace Lord ruled the Northern Sea.
Beneath him, ten Great Generals protected the Ice Palace.
Useok could be certain.
That this one possessed an aura on the level of the Great Generals.
Otherwise, the current pressure was at a level he couldn’t comprehend.
‘The Central Plains’ Red Feather….’
The very existence Baekyeo and Fei Waijun had praised so highly.
Useok could now understand how those two went around singing the Red Feather’s praises.
A presence that made one’s knees go weak just by looking.
A pressure that seemed capable of bringing an opponent to their knees with a single gaze.
He was a person born with the qualities of a ruler and the talent to match them.
The master of this place seemed to be the Baekhwa Merchant Guild Leader.
But one could tell with a glance that it was not so.
The true master of this room was that young man.
‘Dangerous.’
It was truly dangerous.
More dangerous than the peril they had experienced when escaping the Northern Sea.
The current situation was several times more dangerous.
One could tell by looking at his eyes.
He.
‘Would not hesitate to kill the Little Princess.’
Whether she was from the martial world beyond the pass, or blood kin of the Ice Palace.
To him, it didn’t matter.
That sense could be distinctly felt.
“Huff….”
Yuri let out a pained groan.
From her contorted expression and the cold sweat flowing down her face, one could tell how much pain Yuri was in.
Seeing this, Useok bit his lip.
He shifted his gaze and surveyed the surroundings.
The ones suffering were himself, Ubeom, and Yuri alone.
The others’ expressions showed only slight bewilderment, but no pain.
Meaning.
‘Does this mean he is controlling his aura completely?’
He was controlling it so that those nearby would come to no harm.
Even while unleashing such rough, suffocating pressure.
How was that possible?
The gap was overwhelming.
“Hey.”
A cold voice pierced Yuri.
“Answer.”
“...”
Yuri’s pupils shook at the words.
For her, this was clearly an opportunity.
A moment when she could grasp what the opponent wanted.
She had clearly identified what the Red Feather was concerned about.
No, there was no need to identify it.
Because it was no different from what he had shown her.
If she used this, there was a possibility she could win the Red Feather over.
‘…Huff… h….’
The Red Feather was speaking with his aura and his eyes.
[Play games, and you die.]
This was a clear warning.
What should she do?
She had to choose.
Either take a step forward here and attempt to win him over.
Or retreat under that aura.
The Red Feather quietly looked at Yuri.
With eyes that seemed to force a choice.
Her deliberation wasn’t long.
Yuri was quick-witted.
“…Baekyeo was….”
If she went further here, she would die.
Her entire body’s instincts were screaming that.
“My… guard.”
The moment Yuri spoke those words.
Hwaak—!
The aura the Red Feather had been emanating subsided.
Only then could Yuri let out the breath she had been holding.
“Hurk… Haa… haa….”
“Baekyeo?”
The Red Feather tilted his head.
While catching her breath, Yuri closely observed that reaction.
“…That is what we called her.”
“It feels like it suits her, yet doesn’t at the same time.”
He laughed as he spoke.
It was a completely different laugh from the one he had shown them earlier.
Just a little bit innocent.
Seeing that, Yuri realized that Baekyeo and the Red Feather had quite a close relationship.
“A guard… You’re saying she served as your guard?”
“Yes.”
“How did that happen?”
“…I do not know the details, as it was decided by the Palace Lord.”
It simply happened that way.
Guards changed from time to time, after all.
At first, she had doubted an outsider being appointed as a guard.
But since it was someone brought by a close friend, and the Palace Lord had permitted it, she simply harbored no ill will.
“A guard… I wondered what she was up to….”
After hearing this, he fell into thought for a moment.
Then he looked at Yuri again and spoke.
“So, the answer to what I asked earlier?”
“...”
What he had asked earlier.
Was it because of the aura’s influence? Her head wasn’t working properly.
Her hazy mind rebelled.
Immediately, Yuri raised her hand.
Smaaack—!
“!!”
“My Lady—!!!”
Everyone except the Red Feather looked at Yuri in shock.
Because she had slapped her own cheek hard.
Trickling.
Blood flowed from the corner of her mouth from the force of the blow.
Yuri immediately wiped the blood away with her sleeve.
Only now did her head feel somewhat clearer.
“Apologies. I was a bit dizzy.”
“Hm.”
When everyone looked at Yuri with bewildered eyes.
Interest filled the Red Feather’s eyes.
“You asked if Baekyeo was involved in the incident at the Ice Palace, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“I am not sure.”
At Yuri’s answer, the Red Feather stroked his own lip with his hand.
He showed no other reaction.
Explain more.
Yuri interpreted the gesture as meaning that.
“Before I came to the Central Plains, Baekyeo remained in the palace.”
“You said she was a guard. The reason?”
“It was her choice.”
“She made that choice?”
“Yes. The letter I received was given to me then. She said if I met you in the Central Plains, to deliver it to you.”
“...”
The Red Feather’s brow furrowed upon hearing Yuri’s words.
There was no lie in her words.
Yuri had conveyed the truth as it was.
As he had said, she didn’t know what would happen if she played games.
However.
It was only that she hadn’t spoken falsehood.
She hadn’t told everything.
“I immediately fled to the Central Plains after that. I do not know what happened to Baekyeo afterward.”
“What is the current state of the Ice Palace? You said a rebellion had occurred. Explain more precisely.”
“...”
Taking a moment to catch her breath, Yuri quickly wracked her brain.
“…There are ten outstanding warriors who protect the Ice Palace. Immediately after the rebellion occurred, three of them met their deaths.”
“They may have died even more by now. It’s that bad a situation?”
“Yes.”
Craack.
As Yuri gave her answer.
The cup beside the Red Feather cracked in half.
Rumble—.
Furthermore, a vibration rang through the room.
It wasn’t the same killing intent or baleful aura as before.
But one could tell this energy was also being released by the Red Feather.
“A very. Fucked-up situation, huh.”
The Red Feather spoke with a smile.
To Yuri, that smile was more frightening than a blank expression.
“In such a dangerous situation. You were trying to take me with you.”
“That is….”
“Ah, it doesn’t matter. It’s not that important, so don’t mind it.”
Though it was absolutely not something to be dismissed.
As if it really didn’t matter, the Red Feather waved his hand.
And spat out.
“What was the request? Did you ask me to go to the Northern Sea with you?”
At the Red Feather’s single sentence, Yuri’s eyes widened.
‘No way.’
“Don’t get excited; I’m not saying I’ll go. It’s irritating.”
“...”
At the cold words, Yuri immediately nodded.
“Tch.”
Seeing that, the Red Feather clicked his tongue briefly.
“One day. I’ll give you an answer within one day, so wait quietly.”
“…!”
As if being dragged between heaven and hell, Yuri’s expression had to keep shifting rapidly at the Red Feather’s words.
Before Yuri could say anything, the Red Feather rose to his feet.
Then he looked at the Baekhwa Merchant Guild Leader and spoke.
“I shall take my leave first. There is something I need to look into.”
As soon as the Guild Leader nodded, the Red Feather immediately disappeared.
Seongyul and Dang Soyeol, who had been blocking Useok and Ubeom, also sheathed their swords and followed after him, vanishing.
In the room that had become quiet in an instant as the storm passed.
About ten seconds went by like that.
“…Urk…!”
Yuri covered her mouth with her hand and retched dryly.
Immediately, the guards rushed to attend to Yuri.
It was the aftermath of having suppressed the aura while pretending to be fine.
“I’m fine… I’m fine.”
Yuri stopped them and forced a smile.
Her hands were still trembling, but she could smile.
Somehow, it was because of a premonition that things would flow in a good direction.
******************
Leaving the merchant guild, I headed straight for my quarters.
My steps were quick. That was how urgent I was.
[My… guard.]
Yuri’s words swirled in my mind.
‘Guard.’
That Namgung Bia, who had left for the Northern Sea, had been serving as the Little Princess’s guard.
Why had things suddenly turned out that way?
‘She just said she was going to train.’
She went off to some random place despite being told not to. Why was she working as some clueless girl’s guard?
Irritation surged within me.
‘Perhaps.’
‘Perhaps, I wondered if I might see her.’
When I heard that someone had come from the Northern Sea.
I had harbored a faint hope.
It was about time she returned, and the timing of someone coming from the Northern Sea matched perfectly.
‘Could it be that she had returned?’
I had harbored such expectations.
But.
‘For things to turn out like this.’
A blood wind was blowing in the Northern Sea.
And it seemed Namgung Bia was entangled in that matter.
Grind.
It was infuriating just to think about.
I wanted to rush to the Northern Sea immediately and assess the situation.
‘The timing is bad too.’
The timing was exceedingly bad.
Having encountered the Heavenly Demon in Henan was one thing.
I couldn’t go to the Northern Sea right now.
Not only because of my laid plans, but because of the circumstances.
‘The Martial Tournament is in just two months.’
Two months, or perhaps a little more than that, remained.
After that, the Martial Tournament would be held in Henan.
I absolutely had to participate there.
Furthermore.
‘The timing to raid Henan overlaps too.’
Around the time the Martial Tournament ended, there was a harvest I needed to secure by raiding Henan.
This was to be the foundation of the plans I was preparing, so it was something I absolutely had to accomplish.
But leaving for the Northern Sea in this situation?
‘How far is it to the Northern Sea?’
I had never even considered going, so I hadn’t calculated the distance.
My mind was in chaos.
Or, what about the option of going after the martial arts tournament?
‘At least two months from now.’
Going to the Northern Sea after that point.
Would that be possible?
From what I had heard, it wasn’t just some ordinary rebellion.
It was on the level of driving out the Palace Lord and dreaming of reform.
If Namgung Bia was entangled in that situation, and I hesitated for two months before going to the Northern Sea.
‘What if something has happened to Namgung Bia?’
I couldn’t breathe just imagining it.
That was something that could not happen.
I had to find a way.
I had to think quickly.
One day. I would find a method within that time.
If there was no way.
‘I’ll ignore everything and go to the Northern Sea.’
Even if the plan was important right now.
If asked whether it was more precious than Namgung Bia’s life, my choice was only one.
Grinding my teeth fiercely, I returned to my quarters.
First, I would go to my room and contact the Dark King separately….
“You’re back.”
“…!”
The moment I tried to enter my room. I paused at the presence I felt.
I had been so lost in thought that I hadn’t even sensed the presence nearby.
Moreover, the person was an ordinary individual.
Looking at him, I spoke.
“…Elder?”
“You’re late.”
At the entrance to my room.
Sinui was standing there.
Why was he here?
I tried to voice my question, but Sinui spoke faster.
“Your expression is quite poor. What is the matter?”
“…It’s nothing. Just a small matter.”
This wasn’t a situation for a long conversation with Sinui.
Because I had to make plans immediately.
Hearing my answer, Sinui spoke.
“Then the situation was not good.”
The same weariness as mine lingered in his voice.
“…What brings you here?”
When I asked with doubt, Sinui broached the subject with a hesitant expression.
“I came because I have a favor to ask of you.”
“...”
Hearing Sinui’s words, I furrowed my brow without realizing it.
Why did it have to be now?
Forcing my expression under control, I spoke to Sinui.
“I apologize. Right now, such a….”
“…Before long, a great incident will occur in Henan.”
Startled.
My mouth, about to speak refusal, clamped shut at Sinui’s words.
A great incident in Henan?
“I know your situation is not good…. But I wish you would grant this request. Those harboring ill will toward Henan—.”
“Those words.”
Cutting off Sinui’s words, I grabbed his hand.
At that, Sinui made a surprised face.
Looking into those surprised eyes, I said.
“Please tell me in more detail.”