Chapter 586: The Young Princess of the North Sea Ice Palace.

Crack-!

“……!”

One arm snaps.

And not just bent, but bent unnaturally.

There wasn’t a shred of hesitation in snapping the right arm.

He had screamed when his molar was pulled, caught off guard, but… this time, he didn’t.

Ignoring his trembling shoulders, he tried to move somehow, but he couldn’t.

“I figured you were left-handed, so I snapped your right arm.”

“…!”

The masked man flinched at the voice.

His opponent had figured out he was left-handed.

When? He hadn’t even drawn his sword.

He wanted to bite his lip against the pain, but he couldn’t. His opponent was preventing him from closing his mouth.

“Gguk… kkeok….”

“I have a few questions. You can take your time answering.”

There was a hint of laughter in the voice. That was even more chilling.

“First.”

Along with the sound, he felt a sensation on the index finger of his remaining left hand. His opponent had gripped his finger.

“What kind of guy are you?”

The pressure on his mouth eased slightly. It must have been loosened just enough for him to speak. The masked man replied.

“I… I won’t say…”

Crack.

“…Gguk!”

His index finger snapped.

“Second.”

There was no hesitation. His middle finger was grabbed next.

“Why were you watching?”

“Ggeu… euu…”

Crack-!

“Ggeueok!”

Since there was no answer, the pain came immediately. This time, it wasn’t snapped. It felt like it was being crushed. Bone shattered. He felt it distinctly. There wasn’t even time to register the pain. It was the ring finger this time.

“Third.”

To the same, indifferent voice.

“Guk… Khuk-khuk…. Khuk-khuk…”

The masked man chuckled. Hearing the chuckle, the movements paused for a moment. Silence fell.

“Why are you laughing?”

The voice asking the question was somehow filled with interest. The masked man continued to chuckle upon hearing this.

“…Khuk… Kkeureuk…. How can it not…. be funny….”

“Yeah, keep talking. What’s so funny?”

“For a guy from the righteous sects… who claims to uphold… justice… and loyalty… to act so… cruelly…”

“Oh.”

A sound of admiration could be heard.

“Do you know who I am?”

“I… know well.”

The masked man looked up and stared at the young man. Brilliantly shining blue eyes. Fierce eyes and deep black hair. Though his pupils were clear, they seemed devoid of any emotion. The masked man could tell. This person didn’t see him as human. Like an animal. He could tell that’s how he was being viewed.

Is he truly from a righteous sect? Such a question arose, but the man was indeed from a righteous sect.

“…Gu Yangcheon of the Sanxiu Family…”

A few years ago, he was the subject of rumors that briefly heated up the Central Plains. That was this young man. His appearance had changed significantly since then, but he was certain based on the information.

“Hmm.”

Gu Yangcheon made a short sound upon hearing this. Recognizing him was one thing, but the words contained another meaning.

“Then, you’re saying you’re not from a righteous sect?”

“Khuk… khuk-khuk…. Righteous or demonic…. The standards are all set by guys like you anyway…!”

Fshhhk-!

His fingernail was ripped from his broken index finger.

And then.

Screeeeech-!

“Ggeueueueuahhh!”

An immense heat was felt where the nail had been. His skin sizzled, emitting a foul smell.

“Just answer what I ask. Don’t add any unnecessary words.”

“Ggeueuk… gguk…”

The pain surged. He could feel saliva dripping from his inability to close his mouth. It was a pain that pierced through his internal energy. Having lived as an assassin, he was somewhat accustomed to torture, yet… The masked man struggled to maintain his sanity amidst the current pain. Still… Seeing that he hadn’t lost consciousness despite such pain, the masked man felt a profound sense of crisis.

‘This guy….’ As his body trembled from the pain, fear tightened its grip around his throat. He wouldn’t be this exhausted just from having his fingers broken and flesh burned. The pain he felt was far greater than that. Seeing that he hadn’t lost consciousness despite such pain, the masked man felt a profound sense of crisis.

‘He’s… controlling all of this….’ It meant Gu Yangcheon was doing something to maximize the pain while preventing him from losing consciousness. Cruel. If that were true, it was an incredibly cruel act. Anyone could kill another person; that’s what warriors do. But torturing someone and inflicting pain is different. Before one becomes accustomed to the act, nothing is more burdensome. He could tell just by looking at this guy.

‘He’s not just accustomed to it; he’s withered.’ His actions carried no guilt, nor any particular meaning. There was no hesitation in his methods, not even a trace of emotion. Could this truly be a warrior who had barely passed his youth? No, putting that aside.

‘Is he… really from a righteous sect?’ The question naturally arose. As the masked man swallowed his screams and rolled his eyes.

“This is annoying.” Gu Yangcheon, watching him, casually remarked. “If it weren’t for the internal injuries, I could have used corruption to make him vomit comfortably. Tsk.”

Corruption? It was an unfamiliar word.

“Let’s make this quick. Who knows? Maybe I’ll let you live.”

“Heeuuu…”

“From what I see, you weren’t targeting me, nor the Young Lady… So, what exactly were you up to?” He wasn’t targeting me. Nor the woman beside me. Gu Yangcheon said it with such certainty. Hearing this, the masked man inwardly gasped.

‘Where on earth?’ From what part did he gain such certainty? Normally, one would assume there’s someone among the personnel keeping watch.

“So let’s make it easy. Just talk…”

“Guk-guk…. Are you asking me to believe that?” Gu Yangcheon fell silent at the masked man’s laughter.

“Guys from the righteous sects always… just spout words. Words they can’t keep anyway.” It was true. Gu Yangcheon agreed with the statement. They just spout flowery words with no substance. It fit the current righteous sects perfectly. Moreover.

‘Right, I don’t really plan on letting him live anyway.’ Gu Yangcheon had no intention of letting this one live either. The righteous sects were just as untrustworthy, but there was no mercy for the demonic ones. It was a pointless stubbornness he’d held since long ago.

“Do you still believe… there’s such a thing as vain justice…?” His tongue is long, too.

‘Should I just kill him?’ It was getting bothersome. It was certain that some ‘guy’ or ‘guys’ were pulling strings, but judging by his condition, he wouldn’t talk easily.

‘Tsk.’ Moments like these made me hate my past life, yet also miss it slightly. ‘If it were back then, things might have been different.’ I really did die a lot. Getting guys like this to talk was easier than taking candy from a baby. Maybe it was because I’d been living more like a person after my regression, but I felt somewhat dulled.

‘I know they’re trying some trick, but….’ I don’t know what it is. Is it because the Martial Arts Tournament is approaching? So many weirdos are showing up.

‘If they aren’t targeting us anyway, it doesn’t really matter.’ If they were targeting the Alliance, I’d welcome it. It would make my plans go more smoothly.

“You blind fool of the righteous sects…. Just wait patiently for your end….”

Yeah, let’s kill him. I should get back to the merchant guild soon. Maybe it’s because I’m in a bad mood? I suddenly feel like eating dumplings.

‘Torture, my ass.’ I’m done getting involved in troublesome affairs. The situation was already annoying enough.

“As time flows… and the end arrives, this righteous sect, you… and.” I haven’t seen Moyong Hi-ah in a while either; I should take the kids out for a meal-

“Those lowly bitches next to you too…”

“Hey.”

Snap.

The masked man, mid-sentence, suddenly shut his mouth. Silence fell. Even though he’d spoken words prepared for death, he had to stop. The reason was simple.

“Kkeok…? Kkeok…!” An immense killing intent suddenly poured onto the masked man.

Whooosh-! It was suffocating. Just feeling it felt like his skin was tearing. He couldn’t breathe. Even the pain in his arms seemed to have stopped. The masked man turned his gaze. What was this killing intent? The killing intent was emanating from Gu Yangcheon, who was holding him. The air changed. It felt like the space itself was warping just from the killing intent.

“Who did you call lowly?”

“Eugeo… geogeo…”

His body trembled. The killing intent radiating from Gu Yangcheon was paralyzing all his senses.

‘Th-this… this is….’ How could he feel such killing intent? How could a human possibly exude such energy?

‘I… I’ve never felt anything like this… not even from the Great Master…!’

WHAM-!

“Ggeueok!”

In an instant, a fist slammed into the masked man’s mouth. It was Gu Yangcheon’s fist.

Crunch! His teeth scattered along with blood. He had shattered all his teeth to prevent him from biting his tongue. A scream erupted, unable to be contained. It didn’t matter. I had already set up the restraints.

Watching the man tremble violently while bleeding, Gu Yangcheon said.

“I was going to make it easy on you. Why the hell did you have to talk shit? You’re really pissing me off.”

His tone was completely different from before. Gu Yangcheon’s hand moved. It was instantaneous.

Thwack-!

A short sound came from the masked man’s abdomen. What was that sound? The masked man wondered, but he soon understood. That was the sound of his dantian shattering. The pain arrived after the sound. It was excruciating. But he couldn’t scream. Because Gu Yangcheon was already covering the masked man’s mouth.

“Eueugeueueueup!”

“Stop yelping. It’s irritating.”

The energy gathered in his dantian scattered in an instant. His life’s collected energy vanished, bringing a sense of emptiness.

“Ggeueok… heueuk…!”

In just a few seconds, his warrior’s body became that of an ordinary person…. No, even worse than that. The masked man’s pupils shook frantically. Only then did the hand covering his mouth loosen.

“You… you devil…!” He shouted, filled with rage. Though his pronunciation was slurred due to the lack of teeth, his emotions were clear. Gu Yangcheon, hearing this, showed no change in expression. He merely watched.

Seeing this, the masked man yelled again.

“Just… just kill me! Even if you do this…! I won’t say a word-“

“Stop.”

“…!”

“Don’t say anything else. I’m not curious anymore.”

What did he mean by that? The moment the masked man pondered this in confusion.

“From now on, whatever you say, I won’t listen.”

“What on earth….”

“So please, don’t say a single word. Understand?”

Snap-!

“Guk!”

His neck was grabbed.

“Whatever happens to you from now on, don’t say anything. I’m not curious. Remember that.”

“Ggeueuk.”

He felt like he was losing his mind from fear.

Fwoosh-!

Flames erupted from Gu Yangcheon’s back. Blue flames. They looked unusually beautiful, but the masked man could feel the killing intent within the flames.

‘Why.’ Why did the atmosphere change so suddenly? The trembling masked man suddenly recalled.

[Those lowly bitches next to you too….]

[Who did you call lowly?]

That was clearly the turning point. The moment Gu Yangcheon’s eyes, previously filled with annoyance and boredom, changed.

‘No way….’ Could it be that he was enraged not by anything else, but simply because he insulted a woman? He tried to convince himself otherwise, but there seemed to be no other reason. No. Even if there was another reason, it wouldn’t matter now.

The flames that erupted surrounded them, forming a wall, and…

“Nn…!” Soon, the dimly visible sky was engulfed and disappeared in the flames.

And so. When the flames vanished and reappeared. All that remained were scorched black marks on the ground. And Gu Yangcheon, wiping his hands on his clothes with an unpleasant expression.

---

Cleaning up the traces wasn’t difficult. After all, I hadn’t left any traces to begin with. Hiding my lingering unease, I returned to the alley. Tang Soyeol was still waiting for me in the alley.

“Ah, Gong-ja-nim.” As I carefully entered the alley, Tang Soyeol greeted me. Seeing her, I asked.

“Where’s she?” I asked about Moyong Hi-ah, who wasn’t nearby.

“Um, she said it seemed like a priority to take So-jeo to the merchant guild, so she went ahead.”

“Okay.” I had already told her to go ahead anyway. Fortunately, it seemed she listened well.

“How did it go?” This time, Tang Soyeol asked me. She meant, what happened with the pursuit…

I avoided Tang Soyeol’s eyes slightly and replied.

“He wasn’t saying much, so I dealt with him appropriately.” I mixed a little truth into my answer. I burned him to ashes without a trace. Saying I tried various things while killing him would be too much, and saying I didn’t kill him would be an unnecessary lie, so I told the truth about this much.

“Ah, I see.” Tang Soyeol, hearing this, seemed unfazed, thankfully.

“Mmm. I needed the information though…” She actually looked disappointed.

“Next time, I’ll go, Gong-ja-nim. I can do that sort of thing well now!”

“…Uh, yeah, sure.”

What sort of thing…? I wanted to ask Tang Soyeol, who exclaimed so brightly, but I couldn’t bring myself to. That guy, Amwang…. What exactly did he teach Tang Soyeol? What did he do to make her like this? It’s good that she’s stronger, but is this really a positive development? A question suddenly occurred to me.

“Anyway….” I shifted my gaze from Tang Soyeol to look elsewhere. Towards the direction where Seong-ryul stood with his sword.

“What’s that now?” Seeing the changed scene, I asked Seong-ryul. It was just a normal alleyway moments before, with nothing there. A person was lying sprawled over it.

‘Already dead?’ They were even dead. At first, I thought Seong-ryul might have killed them, but judging by the state, some time seemed to have passed. Moreover.

“That face looks familiar?” The body belonged to a middle-aged man. A face I felt I’d seen somewhere. Who was it?

“Hmm.” I couldn’t quite recall. Looking at the body, I asked Seong-ryul.

“What is this?”

“There was a formation.” Seong-ryul’s answer made me tilt my head.

“A formation?” There was a formation in this alley? Hearing that gave me a strange feeling.

‘Could what that guy was looking at have been a formation?’ I wondered what the guy staring here was looking at, but was he seeing the formation set up here? If so, it roughly makes sense.

‘If he wasn’t targeting me, nor the Young Lady… this must be it.’ Furthermore, it’s a formation that even I, at my level, couldn’t easily grasp. If it was that sophisticated, it was understandable. Though why they used such a formation to hide a body is another question.

“And how did you discover this?” Seong-ryul sensed a formation that I couldn’t. Moreover, I was curious how he dismantled such a sophisticated formation, so I asked. Seong-ryul replied nonchalantly.

“I felt something, so I cut it.”

“…”

“And it came undone.” Seong-ryul said it as if asking, ‘What’s the problem?’ Hearing this, I thought.

…It felt like… a familiar answer.

---

After that, I immediately returned to the merchant guild. For the record, I left the body behind. Reporting it there would obviously lead to me being apprehended by the Alliance for interrogation. Getting out would be possible, but I didn’t want to get involved in such matters, so I just erased the traces and left. Of course, I did instruct my personnel to keep an eye on it, so I’ll be contacted if any issues arise. I just hope this incident doesn’t cause any unnecessary trouble.

‘Something seems to be brewing.’ It’s certain that something is about to happen in Hannam. Incidents happen all the time, so it wasn’t particularly unusual, but… What’s important is… ‘How it affects me.’ Whatever happens, how the situation unfolds is what matters. If it seems likely to have a negative impact, I’ll crush it. If it’s helpful, I’ll leave it be. To do that, ultimately…

‘I need to find out what’s going on.’ I need to quickly grasp the unfolding situation. That way, it’ll be easier to respond. This means there’s more than just one or two things I need to look into. It means annoying and bothersome tasks are piling up all at once. Not to mention Shin Noy-a’s business, or Cheonma’s business. And the issues with the Murim Alliance. Is it because I’m trying to do big things beyond my station? Things were already piling up, layered with annoyances. Yeah, it’s a busy time as it is.

“Excuse me.” The Young Lady of the Ice Palace, sitting opposite me, spoke to me.

“Would it be alright if I married someone like you?”

Hearing that, I immediately blurted out.

“What the hell is this crazy bitch talking about?” I couldn’t stand it.