Chapter 415: I Permit The Drinking Gathering
Geom Mugeuk rose from the bed.
"We meet often these days."
At Geom Mugeuk's words, Seo Nak stood blankly before speaking softly.
"Seems there was some misunderstanding."
Unlike when he had aggressively pressed forward earlier, he was now calm.
"Looks like someone is trying to put Elder Seo in trouble with false information."
'That's you!'
Seo Nak felt his heart about to flare up.
'This is not like me.'
Since getting entangled with the Young Cult Leader, he had been losing control over his emotions lately.
Even when he had barged in here, it was the same. He should have checked under the blanket more calmly and respectfully. Even if he had seen him in bed, he should not have been so surprised.
"Apologies for my rudeness."
Seo Nak steadied his heart by showing proper courtesy.
"This isn't something that can be resolved with a mere apology. I will officially file a complaint at the Palace Master’s Hall about today."
"Do so."
Seo Nak left the room with the martial artists he had brought.
As they departed, Lee Ahn shouted at Geom Mugeuk.
"When did you even get here?"
"Just a little while ago. When you opened the door for Elder Seo."
"Through the window?"
Geom Mugeuk nodded. Lee Ahn glanced at the Drunken Demon.
'Ugh, like big brother, like little brother, you knew he was here but pretended not to!'
Lee Ahn let out a sigh of relief.
"Ahh! You really scared me! I thought my heart was going to explode earlier."
The Drunken Demon responded to her words.
"He must have been clinging to the window, trying to startle you and make your heart burst. Came in just in time to surprise you."
Lee Ahn nodded in agreement at the Drunken Demon's joke.
"Of course, if he could surprise someone, he'd hang outside even in a snowstorm. Fine, after scaring someone like this, you must have achieved something too?"
She was pressing him, intending to attack Geom Mugeuk.
"I found the mastermind."
Lee Ahn screamed "Oh my!" louder than when she had pulled back the blanket earlier.
"Really?"
"I got lucky."
"You really are the best in the world at surprising people!"
Geom Mugeuk had secretly infiltrated the Northern Blood Gate and witnessed Han Seol meeting Yang Seok.
While everyone focused on that meeting, he had intended to investigate inside the Northern Blood Gate. However, he noticed that the escort who had followed Yang Seok had left his post.
Since it was unusual, he had followed him and witnessed him performing a Blood Technique using blood on a servant girl. Pretending to care for her, he had instantly cast the Blood Technique, leaving no chance for Geom Mugeuk to intervene even if he wanted to.
"Who is that person?"
"The head escort of the Northern Blood Gate successor."
The Drunken Demon and Lee Ahn nodded grimly. As expected, they had hidden themselves in completely unexpected places.
"Then, did you deliberately reveal yourself to him?"
Earlier, Seo Nak had been confident that Geom Mugeuk was not here.
Indeed, Geom Mugeuk nodded.
"I intended to gauge that man's martial arts level and also to check if the Northern Blood Gate and Elder Seo were connected."
"Did you confirm both?"
Geom Mugeuk nodded.
"And one more thing. We'll also be freed from being held here. Since Seo Nak committed a great discourtesy against the Young Cult Leader of the Divine Cult, the Ice Palace Master now has a justification to release us."
Lee Ahn asked Geom Mugeuk with a blank face.
"Do you know what I think at times like this?"
"What kind of thought?"
"Ah! How lucky I am to be on the Young Master's side! How lucky that I'm not the Young Master's enemy!"
Do you know what I think?
How lucky I am that you are beside me with such a bright expression!
"My heart got stronger thanks to being so startled."
Now, Geom Mugeuk looked at the Drunken Demon. He was silently gazing out the window.
What could he be thinking? Liquor? Or the deceased Former Master Brewer? Or perhaps the left-behind Lyu Bin?
But all guesses were wrong. Right now, the Drunken Demon was thinking about Geom Mugeuk. How could he be so clever? How could he handle matters so calmly without being flustered?
If Geom Mugeuk weren't here, it would all be up to him — could he have brought about such a result? Though he was younger, the Drunken Demon was again feeling as if Geom Mugeuk were an older brother.
"Brother."
I'm not your brother. Just call me little brother instead.
Thinking such silly thoughts, he looked back at Geom Mugeuk.
And from the mouth of the brother-like younger sibling came the words he had so longed to hear.
"It's finally time to start a drinking party."
* * *
Han Seol, having returned to the Ice Palace, headed to the Palace Master’s Hall.
"I came for tea."
She had said she would drink upon returning, but the Ice Palace Master was flustered because she had not expected her to come find her immediately.
"Come here."
Han Seol sat at the tea table prepared in the Palace Master’s Hall, and the tea was brewed personally by the Ice Palace Master.
"I will brew it."
"It's fine, just sit."
The Ice Palace Master began brewing the tea herself.
During that time, Han Seol silently watched her mother’s back.
She wanted to say something, but nothing came out of her mouth. Should she ask what kind of tea it was? Or should she bring up the Northern Blood Gate first? At the very least, should she talk about the weather?
Because it had been too long since they had exchanged anything but formal words, she did not know what to say.
She thought that speaking was similar to martial arts. No matter how splendid the moves were in her head, if they were not ingrained in the body, they were useless; just as, no matter how earnest the heart, if the words did not stick to the lips, they could not come out.
It was a moment where she felt anew that words are spoken not with the mind or heart, but with the mouth.
Meanwhile, the Ice Palace Master finished brewing the tea.
"How does the tea taste?"
"It’s good."
Words did not continue, and only an awkward silence flowed.
The Ice Palace Master was not much different in feeling awkward.
What should she say to her daughter? The Ice Palace Master was struggling with a worry she had never dealt with in her life.
Thus, the two of them simply drank their tea in silence. They say you can tell how close a relationship is by how unawkward the silence feels — by that measure, the two were still far apart. It was a suffocating silence, making one wonder what they would have done if not for the tea placed before them.
However, the Ice Palace Master did not want to break the silence with meaningless words.
In some way, she even found this awkwardness pleasant. It felt like the beginning of a new relationship.
The one who broke the long silence was Han Seol.
"Between a ruthless person and a kind person, who do you think survives longer?"
It was a sudden question, but she answered first.
"A ruthless person."
Han Seol then smiled faintly.
"You have the same answer as me."
"Wouldn't all martial artists think the same?"
"Lee Ahn, who came along with the Young Cult Leader, said otherwise. She said she thinks kind people survive longer."
Lee Ahn — somehow, she had caught her attention the first time they met.
"I was just curious. About what you thought."
Was it because of that question? The Ice Palace Master, for the first time, spoke the words she had been holding inside.
"I wanted to raise you strong. A child who would not waver even in the raging northern winds."
The tea in the cup Han Seol was holding trembled slightly, creating ripples.
So? How about now? In your eyes, did I grow into such a child?
Through this conversation with her daughter, the Ice Palace Master could finally understand.
That making this moment happen, that the words she had just spoken, were not due to a sudden change of heart or because of Geom Mugeuk.
Her instincts had known all along. That at this rate, she would lose her daughter. That she had already almost lost her. That she had simply been turning away from it under the excuse of being busy. That if things continued like this, she would only be the Palace Master who passed down the Ice Palace, not a mother.
She might have even been living with the thought that it was already too late. Avoiding confirming it because she was afraid.
And then Geom Mugeuk had appeared. The words that he would still stand behind her had pierced her heart and brought her to this point.
And now, she really wanted to say these words. Even if it was a little embarrassing, she wanted to say it to her daughter.
"You have grown up to be such a child."
Silence flowed.
It was just a single phrase. Yet Han Seol felt as if a part of the ice wall frozen deep in her heart had broken and collapsed. The barrier was still vast, but what mattered was that it had begun to crack for the first time.
After finishing the tea she was holding, Han Seol set down her cup.
"Next time, I will brew it for you."
* * *
When holding a drinking party at someone else's house, it was necessary to get the host's permission.
"You seem to be in a good mood."
At my words, the Ice Palace Master gave a faint smile.
"My daughter visited."
Her expression already spoke volumes about how that meeting had gone.
"Congratulations."
"Thanks to you."
"I only offered some words. It was you, the Palace Master, who turned around and looked back."
The Ice Palace Master felt a deep gratitude toward Geom Mugeuk. Now she understood — those unbelievable emotional shifts written in the reports about Geom Mugeuk.
"But what should I do? I might have to ruin this good mood of yours."
"What is it?"
Geom Mugeuk spoke seriously.
"I intend to take care of Elder Seo. Please grant me permission."
The Ice Palace Master said nothing at the shocking statement. Perhaps she had already anticipated things would come to this.
"I saw a master from the Northern Blood Gate using Blood Technique."
At the word Blood Technique, the Ice Palace Master's eyes gleamed coldly. As far as she knew, there were no masters in the Northern Sea who used blood energy. In other words, it meant some conspiracy was brewing inside the Northern Blood Gate.
"And he was connected to Elder Seo."
"Do you have proof?"
"None."
"Then you intend to kill an elder of the Ice Palace based only on circumstantial evidence?"
"I believe this much is sufficient. Especially when you consider the previous mistakes and lies Elder Seo committed."
Particularly, the decisive issue was how he had completely deceived the Ice Palace Master, even till the end, about asking the Former Master Brewer to store the Fragrant Snow Ice Liquor. During that process, she had seen a different side of Seo Nak as well.
"We won't find any more conclusive evidence from them. They are all too sly. Even if we spent time digging it up, by then it would already be too late."
A brief silence fell. I gave her enough time to think it through.
"Right now, the person the Palace Master should be paying attention to is not Elder Seo. Though he has been around for a long time and would naturally draw your concern, he is nothing but an arm attached to the main body. What you must be concerned about are the head and the torso."
The decisive words that moved her were these:
"This decision is not mine to make."
"What do you mean?"
"It was your bad premonition that summoned us. I'm only here to tell you that your instinct was right."
Finally, the Ice Palace Master made her decision. It did not take long.
"I will personally take care of Elder Seo."
"Of course, you should. However, I hope you will first give the Great Drunken Demon a chance regarding Elder Seo's matter."
Given the current circumstances, it was highly probable that the one who had killed the Former Master Brewer of the Hundred Liquors Snow Courtyard was Elder Seo.
There was another moment of hesitation, but again, her decision came swiftly.
"I will permit the drinking party. But on one condition — that I am invited too."
* * *
Seo Nak was arranging the ornaments in the main hall.
Whenever his mind became complicated, he would take out all the ornaments and redecorate them.
He lined them up again with perfect precision. There was a certain pleasure that came from aligning them without a single error.
While he was fully engrossed in his work, the sound of the main hall door opening came from behind.
The sound of the door opening was different from usual.
Normally, there would have been a report from a subordinate before anyone came in.
But for the door to open like that, alone, meant that an uninvited guest had arrived.
The subordinates guarding outside must have already been subdued.
Without turning around, Seo Nak spoke.
"Wait just a moment. I'm almost finished."
Only after perfectly aligning the last ornament did Seo Nak turn around.
The person standing in the main hall, staring at him, was none other than the Drunken Demon.
The moment Seo Nak met his eyes, he instinctively understood.
'He came to kill me.'
Seo Nak sat down at the table prepared for receiving guests.
"Thank you for waiting. Now, let us sit."
The Drunken Demon sat across from him.
Seo Nak placed one cup in front of himself and the other in front of the seat across.
"Maybe it's because I've been working hard, but I'm thirsty. Could you pour me a drink?"
The Drunken Demon took out the Blood Calabash hanging at his waist and opened the lid.
The fragrant scent of Ice Liquor spread out. It was the Ice Liquor the Former Master Brewer had made before her death.
The Drunken Demon inhaled the aroma deeply, then poured the liquor into the cup before him.
But he did not pour a drink for Seo Nak.
The Drunken Demon drank alone. It was the first time in a long while he had tasted liquor. As the warmth of alcohol spread through his body, he closed his eyes and wore a satisfied expression. Drinking the Ice Liquor made a surge of longing for the Former Master Brewer rise within him.
Even though he was right in front of him with his eyes closed, Seo Nak could not attack him. The Liquor Qi that rose around the Drunken Demon shimmered like a living thing.
Slowly opening his eyes, the Drunken Demon asked.
"Why did you kill that person?"
The Drunken Demon poured his second drink again only into his own cup.
Seo Nak fiddled with the empty cup in front of him and said.
"You should at least pour a drink before asking. How heartless."
Even in this situation, Seo Nak showed no fear at all.
"You must be confident that you can kill me."
The Drunken Demon neither affirmed nor denied, merely staring at him in silence.
"That's all due to falling into habits. I was the same. Here in the Northern Sea, there was no one to make me stay alert."
Heh heh, Seo Nak, who had always lived with a smiling face, began to show his true nature. He revealed the true Qi of his body. The Qi that extended from him was so cold and fierce it felt like it could freeze the entire world. He was an even greater master than his known reputation suggested.
"Falling into habits is truly frightening. You must have lived achieving whatever you wanted because you are a Demon Supreme, right? You must have defeated enemies you normally couldn't beat. Winning and winning again. But when you look closely, your opponents weren't really fighting you — they were being devoured by the fear of the Demonic Cult."
The Drunken Demon was completely unmoved by Seo Nak's fierce momentum. He took another drink of liquor.
Before they knew it, the Liquor Qi from the Drunken Demon had spread around them like a mist.
"I am the one drinking, yet you are the one spouting nonsense."
At the Drunken Demon's calmness, Seo Nak bared his teeth and laughed. The man who always wore a pleasant smile now grinned like a beast baring its fangs.
"That woman was weak. She should have just quietly finished the job when she secretly brewed the liquor, but she kept letting it weigh on her mind. One day, she came to me and said she had to tell the Drunken Demon the truth. Now, is your curiosity satisfied?"
Then the Drunken Demon gave an unexpected reply.
"I was never curious in the first place. For humans like us, the reasons we kill good people are always the same, aren't they? Some petty and selfish reason."
"Then why did you ask?"
Seo Nak wore a look of genuine incomprehension — and at that moment, a voice came from behind.
"I said I was curious."
Cutting through the thick mist, the one who walked over and took a seat was the Ice Palace Master.
She stared at Seo Nak and calmly asked.
"Was that also for the sake of the Ice Palace?"