Chapter 123

The Absolute Prohibition (2)

Silence descended over the hall.

Amid the heavy silence created by those forbidden words, the first to react was the old woman standing beside Palace Master Seo Bingbing.

She radiated a frost-like aura. She was Shim Nahu, the Grand Elder of the Ice Palace.

"The Absolute Prohibition is our palace’s most sacred and supreme principle! How dare you spout such nonsense!"

Had her opponent not been Yeom Hwasin, she would have immediately charged forward and struck him with her palm.

"Is there really anything absolute in this world?"

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"How long do you intend to remain confined to the Northern Sea?"

"Throughout the ages, our palace has distinguished itself as the guardian of the Northern Sea. Why would you say such a thing?"

"The guardian of the Northern Sea? What exactly is there to protect here? Are you planning to guard the snowmen beside the road?"

"Silence!"

Shim Nahu openly unleashed her killing intent. Yeom Hwasin, however, remained perfectly relaxed.

"What I’m saying is simple. Stop limiting yourselves to the Northern Sea and become guardians of the Central Plains."

Just as Shim Nahu was about to shout at him, Seo Bingbing stepped in first. She spoke calmly to Yeom Hwasin.

"Alliance Leader Yeom, that is enough. Although you are the Grandmaster of the Unorthodox Factions, I can no longer tolerate your insane ramblings."

"I’ve been called a madman countless times, so perhaps I truly am insane. However, what I just said wasn’t the rambling of a madman."

"Mad people never believe they are mad."

Their exchange was tense, but Baek So-cheon noticed something.

Compared to Shim Nahu, Seo Bingbing was not particularly angry.

When Yeom Hwasin had said that he would lift the Absolute Prohibition, Baek So-cheon had seen the expression that appeared on Seo Bingbing’s face. It had contained surprise, excitement, and intense emotion—but not anger.

Everyone had been staring at Baek So-cheon and Yeom Hwasin, so no one else had noticed her expression.

Perhaps believing that he had adequately delivered his declaration of war, Yeom Hwasin changed the subject.

"Coming to such a cold place has left me chilled to the bone. I need a drink to warm myself. Let’s continue our discussion tomorrow."

Seo Bingbing addressed one of her subordinates.

"They are honored guests. Take good care of them."

Shim Nahu, on the other hand, continued glaring fiercely at the two men until they left the hall.

The gazes following them as they departed fell into two distinct categories: extreme hostility and hopeful anticipation.

Yeom Hwasin had been telling the truth.

There were undoubtedly people among them who wished to leave this place.

After leaving the Palace Master’s residence, Baek So-cheon said to Yeom Hwasin,

"We need to talk."

Yeom Hwasin grinned.

"Why do you think I had them prepare a drinking table?"

***

"What are you thinking about so deeply?"

Na Sarin’s voice snapped Cheon-geuk back to her senses.

"Ah, I’m sorry."

Cheon-geuk hurriedly reached for the wine bottle to fill Na Sarin’s cup, only to realize that it was already full.

The two women were drinking together for the first time in quite a while. Cheon-geuk had been the one to suggest it, yet she was the one distracted by other thoughts.

"Are you worried about Warrior Baek?"

Na Sarin understood her feelings better than anyone.

"Yes. His opponent is Yeom Hwasin, after all."

"That is certainly understandable."

"I think I may regret falling in love with him."

"Do you regret it?"

"To be honest, I thought I could walk away from my relationship with him at any time. I told myself that merely experiencing love with such a wonderful man was enough. Even when I first became intimate with him, I refused to attach too much meaning to it. I kept telling myself it was nothing significant and tried to control my feelings. But..."

"It isn’t that easy, is it?"

"I never knew I was this weak."

"You aren’t weak. You’re strong."

"Strong?"

"Of course. A weak person cannot truly love someone. Alliance Leader, keep loving him. That love will make you even stronger."

"Thank you, Elder."

The two women had just raised their cups for a toast when a voice interrupted them.

"May I join you?"

An unexpected guest had visited the teahouse.

Astonishingly, it was Ak So-gun, the Murim Alliance Leader.

"Alliance Leader."

Cheon-geuk and Na Sarin rose and greeted him respectfully.

Ak So-gun cupped his fists and returned their greeting. Although Cheon-geuk was young, she was still the leader of an organization, while the older Na Sarin was his senior in the martial world.

"I was passing by when you suddenly came to mind, so I decided to stop in. I hope I haven’t interrupted a private moment between the two of you."

Judging by the bamboo hat pulled low over his head, he appeared to have left with only the bare minimum of guards.

"What greater honor could there be than sharing a drink with the Murim Alliance Leader? Please, come and join us."

"Thank you for saying that."

Ak So-gun joined the two women at their table. He picked up the wine bottle and moved to fill Na Sarin’s cup first.

"Allow me to pour you a drink."

"Alliance Leader, I should be serving you first."

"This is a private gathering. As your junior in the martial world, allow me to pour you a cup."

Ak So-gun poured wine for Na Sarin.

If word spread that the Murim Alliance Leader had personally poured wine for an assassin, it would undoubtedly become the subject of all kinds of gossip.

However, Ak So-gun no longer cared.

Once the conflict with the Cheukcheon Alliance had been resolved, he intended to hand the position of Alliance Leader over to Baek So-cheon and retire from the martial world with On Byeokhwa.

After making that decision, he had finally freed himself from the opinions of others.

Looking back, he realized that he had spent his entire life bound by how the world perceived him.

"Once again, thank you for saving my life in the past."

When Ak So-gun mentioned the time she had retrieved the Heavenly Outer Primordial Salve for him, Na Sarin responded modestly.

"My insignificant talents merely happened to be useful for the right purpose. There is no need to think too much of it."

Na Sarin filled Ak So-gun’s cup in return.

The three of them drank together.

Although they were an unexpected combination, the atmosphere was pleasant. Na Sarin possessed extensive experience in the martial world and exceptional insight, allowing her to converse easily with Ak So-gun.

Cheon-geuk quietly drank while listening to their conversation.

After discussing various matters, Ak So-gun asked her,

"Alliance Leader Cheon, do you know where Warrior Baek went to train?"

In truth, Ak So-gun had not stopped by accidentally.

Zhuge Hyeon had reported that the Cheukcheon Alliance’s movements had changed after Baek So-cheon departed for training.

Ak So-gun was worried that Baek So-cheon might have become entangled with Yeom Hwasin. Knowing how close Baek So-cheon and Cheon-geuk were, he had come to ask her directly.

Cheon-geuk hesitated.

When Zhuge Hyeon had visited previously, she had lied and claimed that she did not know Baek So-cheon’s whereabouts. Now that the Alliance Leader had come personally to ask, she found herself in an uncomfortable position.

After a moment’s consideration, Cheon-geuk decided she could not lie twice.

"When the chief strategist visited me earlier, I was unable to tell him the truth. However, I will be honest with you, Alliance Leader. He is currently with Yeom Hwasin."

"As I suspected!"

Ak So-gun appeared to have expected it to some extent.

However, his expression soon darkened as worry overwhelmed him.

"This is all because I’m not capable enough."

Cheon-geuk drove the point home.

"That’s right."

Ak So-gun flinched and stared at her in surprise. Na Sarin, who sat beside her, also turned toward Cheon-geuk in shock.

’Alliance Leader, are you drunk?’

However, Cheon-geuk was not drunk at all. She emptied her cup before continuing.

"This happened because you and I are both weak. If we had been strong, would that bastard Yeom have been able to run rampant like this? Baek So-cheon was taken from us because we were weak. If not for him, war would already have broken out this spring. He is holding Yeom Hwasin back on our behalf—no, on behalf of the entire Murim. In that sense, Alliance Leader, this wine is a toast to our defeat."

Ak So-gun stared blankly for a moment before giving a hollow laugh.

"You are right."

Who else in the world could speak to him so bluntly in such a situation?

Moreover, he was the Murim Alliance Leader. No matter what happened, everyone politely assured him that it was not his fault.

But now that he thought about it, how much comfort had those words ever provided? They had been nothing more than empty formalities.

Cheon-geuk’s frank honesty, however, was strangely comforting.

"But let’s not worry too much."

Having already spoken so openly, Cheon-geuk continued.

"I once read in a book that forty percent of our worries concern things that will never happen. It said that less than ten percent of our worries are about matters that truly require concern, but because we spend our time worrying about the other ninety percent, we fail to address what actually matters."

She repeated the same lesson about worrying that she had once shared with Baek So-cheon.

After listening to her, Ak So-gun’s expression brightened.

"You are right, Alliance Leader Cheon. It seems that I, too, have been ignoring the things I should worry about while wasting my time on pointless concerns."

The three resumed drinking.

When they had emptied one bottle, Ak So-gun rose from his seat.

"I should leave now. Thank you for the drinks."

"Please take good care of yourself."

Just as Ak So-gun was about to leave, Cheon-geuk made an honest confession.

"Actually, I haven’t been able to follow the advice about worrying that I just gave you. I spend the entire day doing nothing but worrying about him."

Ak So-gun smiled.

"Isn’t that precisely why we continue reading books? Because the teachings written in them are not easy to follow, we read them repeatedly in an effort to discipline our hearts. Alliance Leader Cheon, may I visit you from time to time?"

"You’re welcome anytime."

They cupped their fists to one another before parting.

After leaving the teahouse, Ak So-gun walked along the road and gazed at the Alliance Leader’s residence in the distance.

"Geukan."

"Yes, Alliance Leader."

The voice of Chief Guard Pung Geukan answered from somewhere in the air.

"When I leave the alliance and look around, I see an entirely new world like this. It seems I spent far too much time trapped inside that place."

After a brief pause, Pung Geukan answered,

"Because you remained there, Alliance Leader, countless people were able to live freely in that new world."

A smile appeared on Ak So-gun’s lips.

"Thank you for saying that. Let’s return."

With his bamboo hat pulled low, Ak So-gun began walking toward the Alliance Leader’s residence.

Standing beside the teahouse window, Cheon-geuk and Na Sarin watched him depart.

Meeting Ak So-gun had made Cheon-geuk think about Baek So-cheon even more.

"What do you think he’s doing right now?"

Na Sarin answered calmly.

"Judging by everything we’ve seen from him until now...he is probably becoming stronger even at this very moment. And he is undoubtedly leaving an unforgettable impact on someone."

Cheon-geuk turned toward Na Sarin and forced a cheerful expression.

"Then I’ll work just as hard. I’ll train diligently and try to become a positive influence on others."

Na Sarin smiled with satisfaction and nodded.

"I believe you have already influenced someone."

***

Baek So-cheon and Yeom Hwasin were drinking together in their assigned quarters.

Baek So-cheon had many questions for him.

"What exactly is going on?"

"Where should I begin?"

"Let’s start with the Divine Physician of Life and Death. Why is he in the Northern Sea Ice Palace?"

Seo Bingbing had claimed that he was not there, but that could not possibly be true. If he were not here, Yeom Hwasin would never have traveled such a great distance.

That, at least, was something Baek So-cheon could trust him about.

"He has extremely deep ties to the Ice Palace. When the previous Palace Master was hovering between life and death, the Divine Physician of Life and Death saved her."

"So that is why he is staying here."

"That’s right. To be exact, he has lived here for the past four years."

Since Yeom Hwasin had even specified the length of time, it was clear that the Divine Physician of Life and Death was indeed here.

"What relationship do you have with him?"

"The wounds you inflicted upon me in our last battle were more severe than they appeared."

"Ah! So the Divine Physician of Life and Death was the one who treated you."

"That’s right."

"He disappeared from the martial world some time ago. Were you the one who kept him hidden?"

"Didn’t he disappear long before I was injured?"

"Then did you find him after he entered seclusion?"

"No. I don’t know how he learned about my condition, but he came to the Cheukcheon Alliance himself."

"Are you saying he treated you of his own free will?"

"That’s right. He treated me voluntarily."

"I can’t believe it."

"I understand. He originally belonged to the orthodox side, after all. However, once you hear why he came to me, you’ll understand why he saved me."

"Tell me."

"In exchange for treating me, he asked me to kill someone."

"...!"

The Divine Physician of Life and Death, who had devoted his entire life to saving others, had asked Yeom Hwasin to kill someone?

It was difficult to believe, but Baek So-cheon could sense that Yeom Hwasin was not lying.

"It was someone only I could kill."

"Who was it?"

An astonishing name emerged from Yeom Hwasin’s mouth.

"The Murim Alliance Leader, Ak So-gun."