Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker/Notes : Saphartlantis
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Chapter 411: The Young Cult Leader was indeed skilled in schemes
"Let’s go up together!"[a]
Seo Nak knew how strange this suggestion must have sounded. However, after seeing the letter in Geom Mugeuk’s possession, he could not simply allow him to deliver it to Han Seogyeong.
At his words, Geom Mugeuk, who had been about to ascend to the Palace Master’s Hall, halted his steps.
"Didn’t you just say you were on your way back after meeting the Palace Master?"
"I did. But didn't you seem a bit regretful a moment ago? That you couldn’t meet the Palace Master together."
"I merely said so out of courtesy."
As the awkwardness deepened in Seo Nak’s smile, Geom Mugeuk lightly waved his hand, signaling it had been a joke.
"Come, let’s go up together."
As Seo Nak followed Geom Mugeuk up the stairs, the habitual smile faded from his face.
If that letter concerned the Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor, he had to make sure it did not reach the Palace Master’s hands. Why?
Because he had received the Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor from the Former Master Brewer.
He had denied it firmly in front of Geom Mugeuk and Han Seol. If Geom Mugeuk alone had been there, he could have blamed it on a conspiracy by the demonic cult. But Han Seol had been present as well.
If someone respected by all contradicted himself with his own mouth, how suspicious would that look?
‘Did he prepare that letter beforehand? Or did he just receive it by messenger bird? Would he have had enough time for that? Or maybe it’s an entirely different letter?’
Various thoughts tangled in Seo Nak’s mind. When Geom Mugeuk had first approached him and brought up liquor, he had thought it merely a probing attempt.
‘There really was a letter? And if the Palace Master sees that letter?’
How should he respond? If the handwriting was examined, it would undoubtedly be revealed as written by the Former Master Brewer. He would have to insist it was forged. Fortunately, since the opponent was from the demonic cult, it was plausible they could fabricate such a perfect forgery.
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
At the entrance to the Palace Master’s Hall, Geom Mugeuk turned back to look at him.
What was he thinking about? About smacking you in the back of the head, snatching that letter, and burning it.
Seo Nak smiled and replied.
"Nothing. Let’s hurry inside."
Geom Mugeuk and Seo Nak entered the Palace Master’s Hall.
As Seo Nak, who had just left after greeting her, returned again, Han Seogyeong gave him a puzzled look.
"Ah, I ran into the Young Cult Leader at the entrance and came up together."
"I see."
If they met at the entrance, wasn’t it more natural to exchange greetings and go their separate ways?
Such a thought crossed her mind, but she did not voice it. Instead, curiosity arose. It seemed the Young Cult Leader had somehow maneuvered things so Elder Seo had no choice but to follow him.[b]
‘Young Cult Leader, what kind of scheme did you pull?’
Geom Mugeuk began casually loosening up, preparing to land a decisive blow. Starting with a heartwarming story.
"Did you know? I told the Palace Master that I find Elder Seo suspicious."
Even so, Seo Nak wore a relaxed smile that only someone with a clear conscience could show.
"And then the Palace Master said this. That Elder Seo would never do such a thing. She sternly rebuked me."
Seo Nak beamed brightly and expressed his gratitude to the Ice Palace Master.
"Thank you for trusting me."
"You are the only one I trust."
Truly, until now, he had lived that way. All the martial artists of the Northern Sea Ice Palace acknowledged it. Yet now, Geom Mugeuk had begun to happily saw away at that long-standing tree.
"Let me say it again here. Elder Seo is the one I trust the most. He has lived solely for the Ice Palace."[c]
Then Geom Mugeuk asked Seo Nak.
"Elder Seo, do you cherish the Palace Master?"
"Of course. I cherish the Palace Master and the Ice Palace more than myself."
Geom Mugeuk stared at him intently and asked.
"Then why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Why did you kill the Former Master Brewer of the Hundred Liquors Snow Courtyard?"
Now, Geom Mugeuk went a step further and identified Seo Nak as the one who had killed her. The atmosphere, which had begun with laughter, instantly turned cold.
"What is the meaning of this insult?"
Both the accuser and the accused remained proud and unyielding.
At that moment, Han Seogyeong felt a slight sense of incongruity.
Seo Nak was someone she had observed for a very long time. Though he usually laughed heartily, he was by no means an easygoing person. Especially when it came to matters concerning his reputation, he was exceedingly sensitive.
If the accusation of killing the Former Master Brewer was false, the Seo Nak she knew would have reacted with far more anger. No matter if the accuser was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. Yet now, he seemed somehow... subdued.
Most critically, one thing was missing.
—Then show me the evidence.
That was a line Seo Nak could never say. Because if he did, Geom Mugeuk would pull out the letter from his chest and say, "The evidence is right here".
Not knowing these circumstances, the Ice Palace Master felt an odd sense of wrongness. It had already been strange that Seo Nak had followed Geom Mugeuk back up here in the first place.[d]
‘Elder Seo is being swayed by someone so much younger?’
It was truly a surprising and novel experience.
Then again, she wasn’t in much of a position to talk.
She herself had been unable to sleep, troubled by Geom Mugeuk’s advice to "stay vigilant".
Though those words were nothing special in themselves, the thought that Han Seol was still behind her kept echoing in her mind, leaving her sleepless.
If that was the case, she needed to act before it was too late. Not just looking back once, but looking back again and again, as Geom Mugeuk had said. Constantly checking.
But she had not even managed to summon her daughter separately yet.[e]
Facing off against Seo Nak, Geom Mugeuk turned toward the Ice Palace Master.
"Ah, today, the reason I came to meet the Palace Master……."
At the same time, Geom Mugeuk’s hand moved toward the letter hidden in his chest.
That was when Seo Nak quickly intervened, changing the subject.
"Young Cult Leader, I heard you spoke to the Palace Master about Seol?"
At that moment, Han Seogyeong noticed two things.
First, Seo Nak was not the type to interrupt someone mid-sentence. Even when he disagreed, he would always wait until the other person finished speaking before responding calmly.
Second, the topic he brought up—talking about Seol?
The sense of incongruity deepened even further.
Did Seo Nak really want to say that? It was a word he blurted out the moment Geom Mugeuk reached for the letter. He himself knew better than anyone that this behavior was unlike him, but right now, he had to get through this moment somehow.
‘Would it have been a better choice to let him deliver the letter and simply insist it was forged?’
As a brief silence fell, the Ice Palace Master saw it. A small smile only she could see forming on Geom Mugeuk’s face as he looked at her. His eyes seemed to be saying: See for yourself, what kind of person your Elder Seo truly is.
Geom Mugeuk turned to Seo Nak. His hand, which had been about to pull out the letter, naturally dropped back down.
"I mostly advised that she maintains a good relationship amongst themselves as mother and daughter. The Young Palace Master has a softer heart than she appears."
"The Young Palace Master is soft-hearted? I thought she was unusually strong-willed for someone of her generation."
"It seems our Elder Seo knows the Young Palace Master even less than I do, despite having spent much more time with her. That's what happens when you judge a person without really looking at them. Prejudice piles up and blinds you further."[f]
"You are being arrogant!"
Every word he spoke was infuriating, but Seo Nak had to keep talking, no matter what, to prevent that letter from being brought out.
If he could just get out of here without the letter being handed over, he would eventually find a chance to steal it.
Of course, even at this moment, the Ice Palace Master’s sense of incongruity toward Seo Nak continued to grow.
And another thought arose.
Han Seogyeong began to wonder if what Geom Mugeuk had said earlier might apply to her as well.[g]
Because she hadn’t truly looked at Seo Nak properly, all she had accumulated was prejudice.
Was this uncomfortable feeling just the dregs of that prejudice?
How could she deny that she, too, had shouldered the title of Ice Palace Master and spent her entire life rushing forward without ever once looking back?
The stone thrown by Geom Mugeuk had struck Seo Nak, creating ripples that now reached her as well.
"You said you were heading to the Northern Blood Gate, right?"
"That’s right."
"Let’s hurry. It would be rude to arrive too late."
Geom Mugeuk smiled at him meaningfully.
"Let’s do that."
Geom Mugeuk bowed to the Ice Palace Master.
"I will see you next time."
Seo Nak let out a sigh of relief. Even if the letter were to be delivered eventually, he would be prepared. But it was far better if it was not delivered at all.
‘Going to the Northern Blood Gate, huh? How should I steal that letter?’
Just as he was beginning to feel relieved, Geom Mugeuk quickly turned toward the Ice Palace Master and spoke.
"This is a surprise gift! I actually came today to deliver this to the Palace Master."
At last, Seo Nak understood. Geom Mugeuk had been toying with him all along, pretending to hesitate about giving it. Pretending to forget, mocking him until the very end. Damn bastard! Did he think I would quietly admit defeat just because he handed it over?
The Ice Palace Master took the letter from Geom Mugeuk and read it.
Upon checking its contents, her expression showed a sudden jolt of surprise. From that reaction, Seo Nak became certain—it had to be that letter. There was nothing else that could cause such a change in her usually composed demeanor.[h]
"It’s a forged letter."
Seo Nak said in a calm, subdued voice.
"The last time he visited, the Young Cult Leader tried to blackmail me with that forged letter. But let me be clear—I have never received the Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor."[i]
His tone was steady and composed. Now that he had spoken directly to the Palace Master, there was no retreat. The liquor had officially become something he had never received.
Then Han Seogyeong, with a confused expression, asked,
"What are you talking about? Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor?"
In that instant, Seo Nak’s heart dropped.
‘It wasn’t that letter!’
The real mockery lay here.
If only he had stayed silent, there would have been no problem. Yet he had brought up the Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor with his own mouth.
"May I take a look at the letter?"
The Ice Palace Master handed it to him. It listed a few dishes and the names of nearby taverns and restaurants.
Upon seeing it, Seo Nak understood why the Ice Palace Master had been surprised. At the very bottom of the letter, it said, "These are dishes your daughter likes. Please enjoy a cozy time together.”.
"My subordinate, Lee Ahn, has recently been staying and eating together with the Young Palace Master, so she found out. The taverns and restaurants listed below are the best places nearby for those dishes. I personally gathered the information. I thought you could enjoy a meal with your daughter in a different setting."
For the first time, Seo Nak’s expression completely collapsed. It was neither a smile nor a hardened look; it was a new expression altogether. That emotion was anger. Even though he tried to force a smile, it would not come.
And the target of his anger was not only Geom Mugeuk. It was also the disappointment and rage directed at himself, for being swayed by such a shallow trick. Although he had clearly considered that it might not be what he thought, he had been swept up by the atmosphere and convinced himself otherwise.
But he still did not realize. That today’s blunder was not merely due to one moment’s misjudgment.
It was because Geom Mugeuk had already begun dismantling the structure of order within him beforehand.
Nevertheless, the wall built by the man named Seo Nak, over a long time, was thick. He gathered himself with a laugh, as if nothing had happened.[j]
"I overreacted because I thought the Young Cult Leader was exceptionally skilled in schemes. I hope the Palace Master can understand. Earlier, the Young Cult Leader tried to frame me with a misunderstanding."
Han Seogyeong nodded as if she understood everything.
"No matter what evidence the Young Cult Leader brings, I will trust you, Elder."
"Thank you, Palace Master."
This time, Seo Nak glared at Geom Mugeuk. This time, he truly felt defeated. The words, "I lost", came out naturally.
"Young Cult Leader, whatever your schemes may be, you will not be able to break the trust between the Palace Master and me."
After saying that, Seo Nak respectfully bid farewell to the Ice Palace Master and left the hall. He should never have come up in the first place. However, that hateful fellow had been waiting at the entrance to reel him in, and he had been caught without escape.[k]
When only the two of them remained, Han Seogyeong asked Geom Mugeuk.
"Why did you provoke him to this extent? Were you trying to show me what kind of person he truly is?"
If that was the case, she thought it was a dangerously extreme method.
However, Geom Mugeuk gave an unexpected answer.
"No."
"No?"
"It is true that I want to reveal his true nature, but it is not for the Palace Master to see."
"Then for whom?"
Instead of answering, Geom Mugeuk simply bid farewell and left.
"Please make sure to visit the places listed there. They really serve dishes your daughter loves."
Geom Mugeuk descended the Palace Master’s Hall.
As he stepped out the entrance, Lee Ahn came running toward him in a hurry. Just by looking at her expression, he could tell the situation was serious.
"Where?"
"The Hundred Liquors Snow Courtyard!"
He didn’t ask what had happened. Since the event had already occurred, the best course of action was to get there as quickly as possible. Using the Star Light Step, he sprinted toward the place.
In an instant, he arrived at the Hundred Liquors Snow Courtyard.
There was a reason why Lee Ahn had come running to fetch him so urgently.
The place was a sea of blood. Amid the fallen corpses scattered everywhere, one person stood. Surrounded and threatened with swords by the martial artists of the Ice Palace.
The one standing alone, drenched in blood, was Song Sa-hyuk.[l]
[a]Critical mistake !!
Doing that shows how anxious you feel, thus confirming that you have things to hide.
[b]That's the dancing whales talent for sure ^^
[c]Maybe that's the critical point, valuying his version of the Ice Palace over reality.
Though I won't say no to a classic third-rate villain motivation too.
[d]Seriously, did Mugeuk obtain a Psychology PhD in the past ?
[e]It's hard to overcome such a rift in relationship, especially after so many years.
The familial setting only amplify the difficulty.
[f]This topic of 'really looking at someone' might be repeated a lot, but it's the same as the 'constantly looking back' Han Seogyeong didn't managed to do.
It's been, what, 2, 3 years since we started this novel and in that time I didn't manage to truly look at someone either. We should all reflect more on ourselves.
[g]Again, the difference of mindset shows.
Since he's already determined to snatch the letter via all means necessary, Seo Nak didn't truly listen to Mugeuk's words, thus missing the warning he just addressed to the Ice Palace Leader.
[h]Well yeah, her daughter.
You really didn't put her in your eyes at all, huh ?
Never bothered to learn her heart.
[i]Man, he really has no experience being forced to constantly be on his back foot.
[j]Your wall might be thick, but it'll collapse as easily as a castle of cards once Mugeuk finish sapping the foundations.
[k]Always be careful of what you fish for. *Pun intended*
[l]Welp, can't say that it's very surprising, he was ready to explode at any moment.
Probably got attacked by assassins or something to frame him and force Mugeuk and Co to leave the Ice Palace.