Chapter 620: Choice and Decision.

The time that had been night had become day.

This meant a day had passed.

The path back to the shelter didn’t take very long.

This was thanks to my much faster speed, as all the problems with my body had been healed.

The question here was.

‘You called this a shelter, but it’s way too visible.’

The fact that finding the cave entrance was too easy.

Yuri had said it was difficult to find because some kind of spell or something was cast over it.

Just like when I escaped last time.

And figuring out the aftermath of the formation.

It seemed certain that something had changed within me.

“Halt…!”

The guards standing watch ahead saw me and hastily took defensive positions, but.

Fortunately, Yuri was with me, so I could enter without major issues.

“You…!”

Upon returning to the shelter, Baekryeon-geom appeared urgently to check on me.

She tried to say something to me, but.

Seeing Namgung Bi-ah whom I was holding, she stopped as if surprised.

“…Ah….”

Many emotions could be seen in her eyes.

I knew it.

That Baekryeon-geom’s heart wouldn’t be at ease seeing Namgung Bi-ah.

Baekryeon-geom wasn’t entirely heartless, so she was likely feeling various emotions towards Namgung Bi-ah, who had volunteered to be bait.

“Take her for a moment and check her condition. And.”

It wasn’t the time to be figuring out all that.

I unceremoniously handed Namgung Bi-ah, whom I was holding, over to Baekryeon-geom.

And said to the serious woman.

“I’m going to meet the Palace Lord first.”

I had something to ask him.

---

“Go back.”

The iron gate where I expected the Palace Lord to be.

As I arrived before it, the person blocking the way said.

He was called the Black Lion, wasn’t he?

He was someone said to be one of the Great Generals of the Northern Sea.

Drawing his massive polearm, he said to me.

“You cannot meet the Palace Lord.”

His sword tip was filled with wariness.

I knew the reason.

‘Because I caused a huge mess when I left.’

Due to causing a ruckus and declaring I’d beat up the Palace Lord right in front of him.

That’s why that guy is so wary.

This means.

I’m the one who made this mess.

I raised my hands, putting on my friendliest expression.

“About earlier, I think I might have been a bit wrong…”

“…Looking at your expression, you clearly intend to do something to the Palace Lord. You absolutely cannot pass through here.”

That fucking bastard…?

It seemed my carefully cultivated friendly demeanor wasn’t working.

“Haaah…”

I lowered the hands I had raised and let out a sigh.

It was understandable, really.

The Palace Lord’s condition had worsened.

And they were in a situation where they had taken refuge for that reason.

So, him acting this way was natural, given I had threatened the Palace Lord right in front of him.

It seemed talking wouldn’t work, so there was no other choice.

“Move aside.”

I relaxed my expression and said to the Black Lion.

“I’m not going to do anything, just ask what I need to ask and leave.”

“Do you think that will work?”

“No, it won’t. Of course it won’t.”

I flicked my fingers, gauging the distance.

“It’s a point where I have to do it, even if I shouldn’t right now.”

The situation had changed from before.

There were things I absolutely needed to know.

And I judged that the Palace Lord was the one who would know them.

I had to meet him, no matter what.

Seeing the look in my eyes, the Black Lion gripped his polearm tighter and said.

“The reason you could come this far is purely because we treated you as a valued guest. However.”

Whoosh-!

Energy wrapped around his polearm.

It was Ki energy.

Whooosh….

I felt the surrounding air being pressed and crushed.

The battle intent emanating from a martial artist who had surpassed the Hwa-gyeong realm was enough to distort the air.

This meant that man was quite the individual.

“Not only can I not let you, who threatened the Palace Lord, in. But the Palace Lord is currently fast asleep.”

“Haha.”

Hearing that, I burst out laughing.

“With the situation like this, can that person really sleep soundly?”

“Don’t speak carelessly!”

Kuwung-!

His polearm vibrated.

The momentum was quite threatening.

“If you misuse your tongue one more time regarding the Palace Lord. I will cut you down right here.”

“My, you certainly speak menacingly.”

Saying he’d cut me down, it was chillingly severe.

“Normally, I’d just say I’ll come back later and leave it at that. But I’m really in a hurry right now. Tell him to sleep later and wake him up, please?”

“You truly…. intend to see blood.”

“No, why would I want to see blood painfully…”

Shweeeek-!

The Black Lion’s polearm moved roughly.

Seeing this, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

“Gwi-jeong.”

Swiriric-! Kwak-!

“…!”

Moving Gwi-jeong on my left arm, I bound his polearm, blocking its movement.

Kkigigig-!!

A power struggle began between the Black Lion trying to pull his polearm free and me holding onto it.

Kuwuwung–!!

My opponent was a Hwa-gyeong realm martial artist. Moreover, someone who had already reached the perfected stage.

Furthermore, given he used a polearm, his external martial arts would be well-developed.

Trying to withstand such strength, my muscles flared up uncontrollably.

However, I wasn’t being pushed back.

Seeing this, the Black Lion’s eyes widened.

Kuwung-! Kung-!

Strength met strength, causing vibrations to erupt.

The repercussions began to cause damage to the surroundings.

Thud-thud.

The space shook, and dust fell from the ceiling.

“You bastard…!”

“Do you really want me to break everything and go in? That wouldn’t end well, would it?”

“I am the Palace Lord’s warrior. I cannot stand by while someone poses a danger to him.”

“Hmm.”

It was a fitting sentiment for a guard.

I could even feel his conviction to never yield.

If that was the case, there was only one way.

“Then I’ll have to knock you down and go.”

Whoosh-!

I raised my energy. I rotated the rings of the Gu-yeom-hwa-ryun-gong, adding heat to my body.

Combining it with my battle intent, I gathered flames in my palm.

I clenched the fiery orb, which felt like it could explode at any moment, in my hand.

The Black Lion, seeing my state, also wrapped himself in Ki energy with all his might.

The situation was at a standstill.

Just as we were about to engage in battle.

[Halt.]

“…!”

At the voice that came from behind the door, the Black Lion immediately retracted his Ki energy.

It was the Palace Lord’s voice.

[Black Lion. Open the door.]

“But… Palace Lord…!”

[It is an order.]

“…”

For a moment, displeasure flashed across his face, but.

The Black Lion said no more.

He simply put his sword back into its sheath on his back, and then.

Kwak-!

He gripped the doorknob.

“…I will obey your command.”

Kkiiik-!

The door opened.

Seeing this, I also retracted my energy.

Hwaaak-! The cold chill I felt last time brushed past.

[Come in.]

No sooner had the Palace Lord spoken than I took a step forward.

“…This time, I hope you will show proper courtesy to the Palace Lord.”

Ignoring the Black Lion’s chilling farewell, I entered the space.

It was still a cold and unpleasant space.

The place where the Palace Lord simply sat in the same spot.

If there was one difference.

It would be the difference in how I viewed him.

[It’s nice to see you again so soon.]

“Indeed. I didn’t expect to see you again like this either.”

As I spoke, I arrived before him.

His appearance was unchanged.

Half of his body was wrapped in ice.

Frost spreading from him enveloped the surroundings.

And.

‘The same energy as that guy.’

I felt an energy quite similar to the fellow named Yu-seon whom I had met just before.

Although the unpleasantness or hostility felt much less than from him.

[Yes, for what business have you woken me from my deep slumber.]

“Were you really sleeping?”

[Very. I was sleeping very well.]

The Palace Lord said so with a smile.

Of course, I didn’t believe him.

[Young Master, what business did you have with me to put on such a play?]

“Hmm.”

Hearing the Palace Lord’s words, I couldn’t help but smile.

It seemed I had been found out.

The confrontation with the Black Lion.

My intention was to act tough deliberately to make the Palace Lord appear on his own.

The Palace Lord seemed to have grasped it instantly.

It didn’t matter.

Since the objective had been achieved anyway.

I immediately looked at the Palace Lord and said.

“Just now, I met your son or daughter, whichever it may be.”

[…]

“Their name is ‘Yu-seon’. I suspect that person is the culprit.”

The name could be an alias. Yuri said it was her older sister’s name, but.

What I saw was definitely a man.

Of course.

There was also the possibility that the gender itself was fake.

At my abrupt statement, the Palace Lord looked at me.

His pupils were still vertically slit.

[Yu-seon…]

Hearing this, the Palace Lord murmured lowly.

[I see.]

Even after hearing the identity of the child who caused the rebellion.

The Palace Lord’s reaction showed little change.

[Was it that child.]

“…Is that all the reaction you have?”

[If you came all the way here just to tell me, thank you. You’ve made me take a busy step.]

Although I had to frown at his strangely odd reaction.

I also had my main point.

“No. I came because there’s something I need to ask.”

[Speak. I will listen carefully.]

“…Palace Lord.”

I took a breath and said to him.

“Do you know about Dragons (龍)?”

[Hmm.]

Hearing the question, the Palace Lord remained silent for a moment.

[I do.]

Surprisingly, he gave an affirmative answer.

I thought he would pretend not to know, of course.

“…You… know?”

[Yes. Even now…]

The Palace Lord’s slit pupils turned towards me.

[Aren’t you right before my eyes.]

“…!”

Hearing that, my eyes widened.

This guy.

‘He knew?’

It seemed he had known my identity from the start.

How could he have known?

Such a question didn’t arise.

The Dark King had noticed.

Just as that person named Yu-seon had noticed me.

I figured the Palace Lord could do the same.

However.

“You let me in even though you knew?”

[What reason would there be not to let you in? You are a valued guest who found this place.]

Listening to the Palace Lord’s answer, I racked my brain.

How far, just how far should I ask?

How much does that person know?

And how much can I ask him?

Such thoughts swirled in my mind.

The deliberation wasn’t long.

“Your child was also a Dragon.”

He wasn’t surprised by this either.

[I see. Did Bing-jeong ultimately choose that child….]

Instead, he simply closed his eyes as if he had realized something.

Watching the Palace Lord like that, I continued speaking.

“And, looking at me, they called me Pureblood (順血).”

As I said that.

[What…?]

Strangely, this time his reaction was unusual.

“So I came to ask. About your child, and about why I was called Pureblood.”

[…]

At what he heard, the Palace Lord’s eyes widened like saucers.

He hadn’t seemed bothered when he heard about his child whom I met earlier, but this part, conversely, seemed to shock him immensely.

What could be the reason?

What difference made it so?

[Pureblood? You said that child called you Pureblood?]

“Yes.”

They even tried to rip my arm off and kill me.

I didn’t bother mentioning that.

“What exactly is it that makes you react like this?”

[…Hah….]

The Palace Lord let out a hollow laugh.

[…Is that so….]

Then, he nodded as if he had realized something.

[Has the time finally come.]

After muttering words I couldn’t understand.

Ppyeojjeojeok-!

“…!”

Suddenly, the ice covering the Palace Lord’s body began to crack.

The ice, starting to crack and form lines, soon shattered into pieces.

Swoosh.

The Palace Lord shed it and slowly stood up.

I had to hide my surprise inwardly as I watched.

He was tall.

The Palace Lord was much taller than I expected.

‘…He’s almost as tall as Father?’

I hadn’t realized it while he was sitting, but seeing him stand, he was quite imposing.

Thud-thud.

The Palace Lord brushed off the ice fragments from his body and looked at me, saying.

“Would you follow me for a moment?”

His voice, which had sounded echoing, returned to normal.

It was a pleasant voice, seeming both heavy and light.

“Suddenly? We haven’t finished talking yet.”

“I will give you the answer regarding that, so please follow me.”

“…”

I frowned and looked at the Palace Lord, but.

He was merely looking at me with a serious expression.

Where was he asking me to follow when we weren’t even done talking?

Annoyance welled up due to the urgent situation, but since he promised an answer, I replied with a sigh.

“…Where should I go.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

Hearing my answer, the Palace Lord smiled slightly, turned his back, and started walking.

I followed him.

We didn’t walk far.

We didn’t leave the space, just walked a little further in the opposite direction from the entrance.

Then, as we reached a wall.

I could see something on the wall opposite the entrance.

‘A door?’

It was a door.

There was a door on the wall leading elsewhere.

It wasn’t a very large door.

Considering the Palace Lord’s size, it was a considerably small door.

In a way, it felt suited for someone of my relatively smaller stature.

“What is this now…”

“Try opening the door.”

As I was about to question what kind of door it was.

The Palace Lord spoke.

Why wasn’t he opening it himself and asking me to?

‘Did he set some kind of trap?’

Such suspicion crossed my mind.

“If you are suspicious, I will place the desired restriction upon my body.”

“…”

Perhaps sensing my suspicion, the Palace Lord made a strong move.

Normally, I would have gladly accepted and placed the restriction, but.

Now, for some reason, my hand reached out first.

This too was based on intuition.

It had been that way since the moment I saw the door.

My instinct told me.

To grab the door quickly.

Accordingly, I placed my hand on the frozen doorknob.

At that moment.

Ppyeojjeojeok—!!

My fingertips had barely touched it.

A huge crack spread from the door.

As I was about to be taken aback by the sudden situation.

Hwaaak-!

The pure white coldness that had been on the door dissipated, and.

Kkiiiiik….

Without me opening it, the door began to open on its own.

‘What is this?’

What kind of situation was this? Staring at what was beyond the door with bewildered eyes.

“…It was true then.”

Seeing this, the Palace Lord said.

“Your words were indeed true.”

“…What do you mean?”

“This door is a place that only Purebloods can open.”

“Huh?”

“It was decided that way long ago. We just realized it was truly so now.”

Hearing that, I looked at the door.

Since I hadn’t seen the Palace Lord touch it yet, I couldn’t tell if this was true or not, but.

They made it so only Purebloods or whatever could open it?

‘Who on earth?’

A question arose.

Who on earth would have set something like this up in the Northern Sea?

Just as I was about to ask the Palace Lord.

Thump.

The Palace Lord bowed his head first and took a step towards the entrance.

Did he mean for me to follow?

I followed the Palace Lord again.

It felt completely different from before.

The passage wasn’t long. About ten steps, maybe, and we could pass through.

After passing through the passage.

“…Huh?”

At the sight that unfolded outside, I gasped.

A space covered in all sorts of cold air.

Something circular, filling that space, was floating in the air.

It looked like ice, but.

Such a precisely circular piece of ice.

It was a shape that couldn’t exist unless artificially carved.

Considering its size, there was no way a human could have done it.

What is that?

‘What on earth could that be.’

Kung-! Kung-! Kung-!

Just looking at it makes my heart pound like crazy?

Hooook. Hooook.

I tried to calm my increasingly ragged breathing, but my gaze had already been captivated for a long time.

What could that be?

What is it that makes me react like this?

Tuk-tuk.

My legs moved on their own.

As if compelled to approach it, they moved on their own.

Just then.

“This is called Bing-jeong (氷精).”

At the words from the Palace Lord, I was forced to stop my steps.

“Bing-jeong? You mean that’s Bing-jeong?”

“Half of it is beneath the Ice Palace, but this is also Bing-jeong.”

“…There’s another one of these?”

“That is an item protected by the bloodline generation after generation. However.”

The Palace Lord’s gaze turned towards the Bing-jeong.

“Although I am seeing it for the first time as well, I consider the Bing-jeong before me to be the Original (原本).”

The Original.

Does that mean this one before me is the real Bing-jeong?

If so.

“…Why are you showing this to me?”

Why would he suddenly show me something like this?

It was clearly something outsiders shouldn’t see.

Could it be?

Is he planning to kill me here? Such a worry flickered.

“As I said earlier, this is a place only Purebloods (順血) can enter. Such was the established rule.”

The Palace Lord said.

What that meant was.

“You brought me here because I am a Pureblood?”

“That’s right.”

“Just for that reason…?”

“Do you see this as simple, Young Master? It is not.”

The Palace Lord continued speaking, looking intently at the Bing-jeong with serious eyes.

“For the past few hundred years. The bloodline of the Ice Palace has been bound by its bestowed duty, taking root and enduring in the Northern Sea. And today is the day we properly face that duty.”

The Palace Lord, who had been staring intently at the Bing-jeong, shifted his gaze towards me this time.

“After many years have passed, if a Pureblood appears in the Northern Sea, you must surely find them and bring them here.”

Woong.

A faint vibration could be felt from the Bing-jeong.

“Until then, maintaining and protecting the Bing-jeong. That was the bloodline’s duty.”

For over several centuries, guarding the palace and this place, waiting for someone promised to arrive.

That was the bloodline’s duty.

Hearing what the Palace Lord was saying, I had to frown.

“…What is this, not a prophecy. You lived waiting for someone who might never come? Does that make any sense?”

“That is why it is called a duty and a curse. Is it not truly cruel?”

The Palace Lord said it with a smile, but his smile was laced with something terribly grim.

“However, I never expected someone like you, Young Master Gu, to appear.”

“How can you be so sure that I am the one this speaks of? It could be someone else-.”

“That does not matter.”

The Palace Lord cut me off.

“If it were not you, that door would not have opened.”

“…”

His words earlier, telling me to open the door.

Was it to confirm this?

“…For what? What do you want from me.”

For what purpose did they wait for the appearance of a Pureblood?

How did they hope to reach that Bing-jeong?

I couldn’t understand.

Asking the Palace Lord with such emotions.

“History often described that as an ‘egg’.”

At his words, I looked at the Bing-jeong.

An egg?

‘That huge thing is an egg?’

It was too large and cold to be called an egg.

If that was an egg, what could be inside to make it so massive?

If something were to hatch from a place like that, the mere thought was unsettling.

“While they did express it that way.”

The Palace Lord approached my side.

“There were other words written as well.”

The Palace Lord, coming beside me, said in a calm voice.

“The Heart of the Dragon Emperor (龍帝).”

“…!”

Hearing that, I quickly turned and looked at the Palace Lord.

“The Bing-jeong is the Heart of the Dragon Emperor.”