〈 Episode 620 〉 Choices and Decisions.
The hour that had been night had become day.
A full day had passed.
The journey back to the hideout did not take very long.
With the ailments in his body fully healed, his speed was far greater than before.
Which raised the question.
‘They call this a hideout, but it’s way too visible.’
Finding the cave entrance had been far too easy.
Yuri had said some kind of sorcery or spell was cast over it, making it difficult to locate.
It had been the same when he escaped last time.
And when he grasped the lingering effects of the formation.
It seemed certain that some change had occurred within him.
“Halt…!!”
The sentries standing guard ahead urgently took up defensive stances upon seeing him, but fortunately, since Yuri was with him, he was able to enter without issue.
“You…!”
Upon returning to the hideout, Baekryeongeom appeared urgently to check on him.
She had been about to say something, but upon seeing Namgung Bia in his arms, she stopped in apparent surprise.
“…Ah….”
Many emotions flickered in her eyes.
He had known.
He had known that Baekryeongeom’s heart would be ill at ease upon seeing Namgung Bia.
Baekryeongeom was not a thoroughly callous person, so she must have felt complicated emotions toward Namgung Bia, who had volunteered herself as bait, but—
“Please take her and check her condition. And.”
This was no time to examine such feelings one by one.
He abruptly handed the Namgung Bia he carried over to Baekryeongeom.
And spoke to the now-serious woman.
“I’ll go see the Palace Lord first.”
He had something to ask him.
****************
“Go back.”
At the iron door where the Palace Lord was expected to be.
Upon arriving before it, the one blocking the way spoke.
Had he been called Heuksaja?
One of the Great Generals of the Northern Sea.
Hoisting up that massive dao, the man spoke.
“You may not have an audience with the Palace Lord.”
The tip of his blade bristled with wariness.
He knew the reason.
‘Because I caused a damn mess before leaving.’
He had caused a commotion right in front of the Palace Lord, declaring he would beat him.
That must be why the man was so guarded.
In other words—
It meant this was his own mess to deal with.
He raised both hands and put on the most amiable expression he could.
“I think I was a bit out of line earlier.”
“…Judging by your face, you clearly intend to do something to the Palace Lord. You shall not pass.”
That fucking bastard…?
It seemed his carefully crafted, kind “Mr. Yangcheon” act wasn’t working.
“Hah….”
He lowered his raised hands and sighed.
It was only natural.
The Palace Lord’s condition was deteriorating.
He had taken refuge for that very reason.
Having threatened such a Palace Lord, it was only natural for this man to bar the way.
It seemed words wouldn’t get through anyway, so there was no helping it.
“Step aside.”
Letting his expression relax, he spoke to Heuksaja.
“I won’t do anything. I’ll just ask what I need to ask and leave.”
“Do you think that will happen?”
“It won’t. Obviously it won’t.”
He flicked his fingers, measuring the distance.
“But right now, we are at a point where I have to do it anyway.”
The situation was different from before.
There were things he absolutely needed to know.
And the one he judged would know them was the Palace Lord.
He had to meet him by any means necessary.
Heuksaja, seeing such eyes in him, gripped his dao and spoke.
“The reason you have been able to come this far is solely because we received you as a precious guest. However.”
Huwook—!
Energy coiled around the dao.
It was ganggi.
Huuuuu….
He felt the surrounding air being pressed down and crushed.
The fighting spirit exuded by a martial artist who had far surpassed Hwagyeong was enough to twist the air itself.
That was the caliber of man he faced.
“Not only can I not admit one who threatened the Palace Lord. The Palace Lord is currently taking a restful sleep.”
“Haha.”
He burst into laughter at those words.
“The situation is in this state, yet that gentleman is sleeping comfortably?”
“Watch your tongue!”
Kuuung—!
Vibrations ran through the dao.
That momentum was quite threatening.
“If you wag your tongue improperly about the Palace Lord even once more, I will cut you down where you stand.”
“My, that’s a frightening thing to say.”
To say he would cut him down—nothing could be more savage.
“Normally, I would say I’ll come back next time and let it go. But I’m truly in a hurry right now. Please tell him to sleep later and wake him up.”
“You truly… intend to see blood.”
“No, why would I want to see blood in pain—”
Shhhhk—!
Heuksaja’s dao moved violently.
Clicking his tongue inwardly at the sight.
“Gwijeong.”
Shriik—! Clack—!
“…!”
He moved the Gwijeong on his left arm to bind the dao and block its movement.
Screech—!!
A contest of strength began between Heuksaja trying to pull the dao free and him holding it in place.
Kuuuung—!!
His opponent was a martial artist of Hwagyeong. Moreover, one who had already reached a state of mastery.
Furthermore, since he wielded a dao, his external arts must be highly developed.
Trying to withstand such force, his muscles screamed in protest.
Yet he was not pushed back.
Seeing this, Heuksaja’s eyes widened.
Kuung—! Kung—!
Force clashed against force, erupting in vibrations.
The aftermath began to damage the surroundings.
Pitter-patter.
Dust fell from the ceiling of the trembling space.
“You…!”
“Do you really want me to break everything and go in? That won’t end well, will it?”
“I am the Palace Lord’s warrior. I cannot leave someone who poses a danger to him alone.”
“Hmm.”
It was a fitting mindset for a bodyguard.
He could feel a conviction that would absolutely not yield.
If that was the case, there was only one way.
“Then I’ll have to knock you down and go.”
Huwook—!
He raised his energy. Rotating the ring of the Guyeomhwaryun Gong, he added heat to his body.
Combined with his fighting spirit, he gathered flames in his grasp.
He clutched a Flame Prison in his hand that felt ready to explode at any moment.
Heuksaja, seeing his state, wrapped ganggi around his body with all his might.
On the verge of eruption.
At the very moment they were about to clash—
[Stop.]
“…!”
At the voice from behind the door, Heuksaja immediately withdrew his ganggi.
It was the Palace Lord’s voice.
[Heuksaja. Open the door.]
“But… Palace Lord…!”
[It is an order.]
“…”
For an instant, an unpleasant look flickered across his face, but Heuksaja spoke no further.
He simply sheathed his blade behind his back.
Clack—!
And grasped the door handle.
“…I shall obey the order.”
Creak—!
The door opened.
Confirming this, he withdrew his energy as well.
Whoosh—! The cold chill he had felt before swept past.
[Enter.]
The moment the Palace Lord’s words fell, he stepped forward.
“…This time, I do hope you will show courtesy to the Palace Lord.”
Paying little heed to Heuksaja’s fierce parting words, he entered the chamber.
It was still a cold and unpleasant space.
A place where the Palace Lord sat in the very same spot as before.
If there was anything different—
it would be the difference in his own gaze upon him.
[I am pleased to see you again so soon.]
“Indeed. I had not expected to see you again like this either.”
He spoke and came to a stop before him.
He was unchanged.
Half his body was wrapped in ice.
Frost spreading from him enveloped the surroundings.
And.
‘The same energy as that bastard.’
He sensed an energy quite similar to that fellow named Yuseon he had just met.
Though the disgust and hostility were far less pronounced.
[So, what business brings you to disturb my slumber?]
“Were you actually sleeping?”
[Very much so. Sleeping quite peacefully.]
The Palace Lord spoke with a smile.
Naturally, he did not believe him.
[Young Lord, what business could you have with me that you would put on such a performance?]
“Hmm.”
He couldn’t help but hold back a smile at the Palace Lord’s words.
It seemed he had been found out.
The confrontation with Heuksaja.
He had intended to act forcefully so that the Palace Lord would take notice and appear.
The Palace Lord seemed to have grasped it at once.
It didn’t matter.
He had achieved his goal anyway.
He immediately spoke, looking at the Palace Lord.
“I just met your… son or daughter.”
“His name was ‘Yuseon.’ I believe he is the culprit.”
The name could have been an alias. According to Yuri, it was her older sister’s name.
But what he had seen was clearly a man.
Of course.
There was also the possibility that the gender itself was fake.
At the abruptly brought-up topic, the Palace Lord looked at him.
His vertically split pupils were the same as ever.
[Yuseon, you say…]
Upon hearing the name, the Palace Lord let out a low utterance.
[I see.]
Even upon hearing the identity of the child who had committed treason.
The Palace Lord showed little change in reaction.
[So it was that child.]
“…Is that your entire reaction?”
[If you came all this way merely to inform me, my thanks. I have made you take a troublesome step.]
He had to furrow his brow at such a bizarre response, but he had his main purpose as well.
“No. I came because I have something to ask.”
[Speak, then. I shall lend an ear.]
“…Palace Lord.”
Taking a breath, he spoke.
“Do you know about… Dragons?”
[Hmm.]
The Palace Lord fell silent for a moment at the question.
[I do.]
Surprisingly, the answer was affirmative.
He had expected him to feign ignorance.
“…You… know?”
[I do. Even now…]
The Palace Lord’s split pupils turned toward him.
[One stands before my very eyes.]
“…!”
His eyes widened at those words.
This man.
‘Did he know?’
It seemed he had known his true identity from the very beginning.
How had he known?
He felt no such doubt.
Just as the Dark King had realized.
Just as the one called Yuseon had realized.
He thought the Palace Lord could do the same.
However.
“You let me in despite knowing?”
[Why would there be any reason not to? You are a precious guest who found this place.]
He racked his brain upon hearing the Palace Lord’s answer.
How far—just how far should he ask?
How much did that man know?
And how much could he ask him?
Such thoughts swirled in his head.
The deliberation was not long.
“Your child was also a Dragon.”
He was not surprised by this either.
[I see. So Bingjeong ultimately chose that child…]
He merely closed his eyes, as if realizing something.
Watching the Palace Lord, he continued.
“And he called me Sunhyeol upon seeing me.”
Upon saying that.
[What…?]
Strangely, this time the reaction was no small matter.
“That is why I have come. About your child. And about why I am called Sunhyeol.”
[…]
The Palace Lord’s eyes widened to the size of lanterns at what he heard.
When he had heard about the child earlier, he had seemed nonchalant, but this part seemed to shock him beyond measure.
What was the reason?
What difference was there?
[Sunhyeol? That child called you Sunhyeol?]
“Yes.”
He had even tried to tear his arm off and kill him.
He decided not to mention that.
“What exactly is it that makes it so?”
[…Ha…]
The Palace Lord let out a hollow laugh.
[…I see…]
He soon nodded, as if realizing something.
[Has the time finally come.]
After murmuring words he could not comprehend.
Crack-crack-crack—!
“…!”
Suddenly, the ice covering the Palace Lord’s body began to crack.
The ice cracked along lines and soon shattered into pieces.
Sweuk.
The Palace Lord shed it and slowly rose to his feet.
Watching this, he had to hide his surprise inwardly.
He was huge.
The Palace Lord was far taller than he had expected.
‘…He’s almost as big as my father?’
He hadn’t known because the man was always sitting, but standing up, he was quite large.
Pitter-patter.
The Palace Lord brushed off the ice fragments clinging to his body and spoke to him.
“Would you follow me for a moment?”
The voice that had echoed returned to a normal cadence.
It was a pleasant voice, at once heavy and light.
“Suddenly? Our conversation isn’t over yet.”
“I shall give you the answer, so I hope you will please follow me.”
“…”
“I ask this of you.”
He frowned and looked at the Palace Lord, but the man merely looked at him with a grave expression.
Where did he want him to follow when the talk wasn’t even finished?
Frustration welled up in the urgent situation, but since he said he would give an answer, he let out a sigh and replied.
“…Where should I go?”
“My thanks for understanding.”
Hearing the answer, the Palace Lord smiled faintly, then turned and walked.
He followed him.
They did not walk far.
They did not leave the space; they simply walked a bit further in the opposite direction from the entrance.
When they reached the wall.
He could see something on the wall opposite the entrance.
A door.
There was a door leading elsewhere in the wall.
It was not very large.
Given the Palace Lord’s size, it was a very small door.
In a way, it felt almost suited to someone of relatively short stature like him.
“What is this now….”
“Try opening the door.”
He was about to voice his question when the Palace Lord spoke.
Why was he asking him to open it instead of doing it himself?
‘Has he set some kind of trap?’
Such suspicion flashed through his mind.
“If you are suspicious, I shall place upon myself whatever binding seal you wish.”
“…”
Perhaps noticing his suspicion, the Palace Lord played a strong hand.
Normally, he would have said fine and placed the seal, but now, for some reason, his hand reached out first.
This too was a matter of intuition.
It had been that way from the moment he saw the door.
His instincts spoke.
Telling him to grab the door handle quickly.
Accordingly, he brought his hand to the frozen door handle.
At that moment.
Crack-crack-crack-crack—!!
Though only his fingertips had barely touched it.
A massive crack ran across the door.
As he harbored confusion at the sudden situation.
Whoosh—!
The pure white cold energy settled on the door stirred.
Creeeak….
Without even being opened, the door began to open on its own.
‘What is this?’
What kind of situation was this? He looked beyond the door with bewildered eyes.
“…So it was true.”
Seeing this, the Palace Lord spoke.
“Your words were true.”
“…What do you mean?”
“This is a place that only Sunhyeol can open.”
“Huh?”
“It was decided long ago. I simply did not know until now that it was truly real.”
He looked at the door upon hearing those words.
He had not yet seen the Palace Lord try to open it, so he could not tell if this was false or not.
They had set it so that only Sunhyeol could open it?
‘Just who did this?’
A question arose.
Who had placed such a thing in the Northern Sea?
The moment he tried to ask the Palace Lord this.
Thud.
The Palace Lord bowed his head first and stepped toward the entrance.
Meaning for him to follow?
He walked after the Palace Lord again.
It felt completely different from before.
The passage was not long. About ten steps—one could pass through in that much.
Passing through the passage like that.
“…Huh?”
He had to gasp at the sight spread out beyond.
A space covered in all kinds of cold energy.
Something circular filling that space was floating in the air.
It looked like ice.
Such an intricately circular ice?
It was a shape impossible to exist unless artificially carved.
Judging by its size, it was absolutely impossible for a human to have made it.
What was that?
‘Just what is that?’
Thump—! Thump—! Thump—!
Was his heart beating like mad just from looking at it?
Huuuk.
Huuuk.
He tried to calm his increasingly rough breathing, but his gaze had been stolen long ago.
What was that?
What was it that made him react so?
Thud.
His legs moved on their own.
On their own, as if he had to approach that place.
Then.
“This is what is called Bingjeong.”
He managed to forcibly stop his steps at the words from the Palace Lord.
“Bingjeong? Are you saying that is Bingjeong?”
“Half of it lies beneath the Ice Palace, but this too is Bingjeong.”
“…There’s one more of these?”
“That is an object the bloodline has guarded for generations. However.”
The Palace Lord’s gaze turned to the Bingjeong.
“Though I too am seeing it for the first time, I believe the Bingjeong before us is the original.”
The original.
Did that mean the real Bingjeong was before them?
If so.
“…Why are you showing this to me?”
Why would he show him such an object so suddenly?
It was clearly something outsiders should not see.
Could it be—
did he intend to kill him here? As such worry flickered through his mind.
“As I said before, this is a place only Sunhyeol can come to. It was a predetermined law.”
The Palace Lord said.
In other words.
“You brought me here because I am Sunhyeol?”
“Correct.”
“For such a simple reason…?”
“Do you see this as simple, Young Master? It is not.”
The Palace Lord continued, gazing at the Bingjeong with grave eyes.
“For hundreds of years. The bloodline of the Ice Palace has endured, rooted in the Northern Sea, bound by the task bestowed upon them. Today is the day to properly face that task.”
The Palace Lord, who had been staring intently at the Bingjeong, now shifted his gaze to him.
“After long ages pass, should a Sunhyeol appear in the Northern Sea, you must face them and bring them here.”
Hum.
A faint vibration was felt from the Bingjeong.
“To maintain and protect the Bingjeong until that time. That was the task of the bloodline.”
For several centuries, guarding the palace and this place, waiting for the promised one to arrive.
That was the task of the bloodline.
He had to furrow his brow at the Palace Lord’s words.
“…What, it’s not even a prophecy. You lived like that waiting for something with no knowing when it would come? Does that make sense?”
“That is why it is called a task, and a curse. Is it not truly cruel?”
The Palace Lord spoke with a smile, but something terrible was deeply wrapped within it.
“However, I never thought someone like you, Young Master Gu, would appear.”
“How can you be so sure I am the one? I might not be—”
“That is not important.”
The Palace Lord cut him off.
“Because if you were not, that door would not have opened.”
“…”
The words earlier asking him to try opening the door.
Had it been to confirm this?
“…For what? What do you want from me?”
What had they waited for a Sunhyeol to appear for?
Why had they wished for him to reach that Bingjeong?
He could not understand.
Asking the Palace Lord with such feelings.
“History has expressed that as an ‘egg.’”
He looked at the Bingjeong at those words.
An egg?
‘That massive thing is an egg?’
It was far too large and cold to be called an egg.
If that was an egg, what was inside that made it so enormous?
If something were to be born from such a place, it was horrifying even to imagine.
“Though it was expressed as such.”
The Palace Lord approached his side.
“Other words were also recorded.”
The Palace Lord, now beside him, spoke in a calm voice.
“The heart of the Dragon Emperor.”
“…!”
He whipped his head around to look at the Palace Lord upon hearing those words.
“Bingjeong is the heart of the Dragon Emperor.”