Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 183

183. The Banquet of the Northern Sea

Un-hyun stammered, replying,

“So, wearing white silk clothes embroidered with gold thread, a noble lady, but…”

The reason his words trailed off was that he hastily omitted the phrase ‘with exposed shoulders’.

The Little Palace Lord’s expression instantly crumpled.

“Did she perhaps show you the Setting Sun [a valuable or significant item]?”

Un-hyun shook his head.

“No, there was no mention of that. I didn’t even bring it up.”

Even if she had asked to see it, he wouldn’t have shown it.

No, in fact, he couldn’t show it.

Because the blade of the Setting Sun was gone.

“Is that so?”

The Little Palace Lord put her finger to her chin and pondered.

Her expression was quite serious, but somehow it was cute, and Un-hyun smiled without realizing it.

The Little Palace Lord’s sharp gaze did not miss that.

“Why are you smiling?”

“It’s nothing. It’s just…”

Un-hyun, trying to brush it off, mustered some courage.

“Your appearance, Little Palace Lord, is a little cute…”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

The Little Palace Lord cut him off immediately.

Un-hyun felt awkward.

“I know very well that I’m not cute.”

“No…”

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

Before Un-hyun could say anything, the Little Palace Lord continued.

“A very important one.”

The Little Palace Lord’s expression was serious.

The smile disappeared from Un-hyun’s face as well.

“What is it?”

The Little Palace Lord bit her lip.

But the hesitation didn’t last long.

“…Recently, the Ice Emperor was ambushed.”

Un-hyun’s expression instantly hardened.

For the Ice Emperor of the Northern Sea to be ambushed was a matter that would shake the world if it were the Imperial Family.

“It seems you haven’t informed the outside world.”

The Little Palace Lord’s eyes flickered slightly at Un-hyun’s words.

But soon, she nodded slightly.

‘So it was as I thought.’

It was as Un-hyun had guessed.

Although it was his first time in the Northern Sea Ice Palace, it certainly didn’t feel like an emergency situation.

It meant they were intentionally hiding it.

There were many things he wanted to ask, but the first thing to confirm was something else.

“How is the Ice Emperor?”

“He is safe. However, he needs treatment.”

“Treatment?”

“Yes.”

The Little Palace Lord continued in a low voice.

“Twelve members of the Northern Sea Twelve Bi [elite warriors], who possess twelve ice cores [sources of power], will infuse the Ice Emperor with energy. And I will control that entire process.”

“You will, Little Palace Lord?”

The Little Palace Lord nodded silently.

Un-hyun frowned.

The explanation was simple, but it was by no means an easy task.

The fact that twelve members of the Northern Sea Twelve Bi and ice cores were needed meant that the Ice Emperor’s condition was that serious.

With even a single mistake, the Ice Emperor’s life would be lost.

“Will you be alright?”

“I know it’s a heavy responsibility. But it’s something I have to do. Even if…”

“That’s not it.”

Un-hyun interrupted the Little Palace Lord.

“I’m asking if *you* will be alright, Little Palace Lord.”

The Little Palace Lord looked at Un-hyun with a puzzled expression.

Un-hyun continued with a serious look.

“It’s about controlling the inner energy of the Northern Sea Twelve Bi. The aftermath or impact of that won’t be small, but will you still be alright?”

Only then did the Little Palace Lord realize.

Un-hyun was worried about her.

“Hmph.”

The Little Palace Lord let out a short laugh.

“Don’t worry about that. I plan to control the Northern Sea Twelve Bi with my pipa [a traditional Chinese stringed instrument].”

“Pipa? Ah!”

Only then did Un-hyun recall the words of the Twelfth Palace Lord.

The Twelfth Palace Lord had said that the Little Palace Lord’s pipa performance was the best in the world.

He didn’t know exactly how, but perhaps she would be overseeing the treatment process through music.

“I see.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Un-hyun felt awkward again.

“What I want to ask of you is something else.”

The Little Palace Lord said.

Although she herself didn’t realize it, the Little Palace Lord’s expression had become much lighter.

“Please provide protection while we are treating him.”

Un-hyun thought for a moment.

The reason was easy to understand.

“Does that mean the person who ambushed him is still inside the Ice Palace?”

“That’s right.”

The Little Palace Lord gritted her teeth.

“There’s no one to trust.”

No one.

So much so that the Ice Queen had to send the Twelfth Palace Lord alone to her.

The Northern Sea Twelve Bi also cannot move during treatment.

Above all, they are a force solely for the Northern Sea, so they do not interfere in the power struggles of the Little Palace Lord or the Ice Queen.

That is the law of the Northern Sea Twelve Bi.

“I understand.”

Un-hyun nodded.

“It’s my first time protecting someone, but I think Dokgo Je and I will be fine. Ah, is there any chance they might attack from somewhere else?”

“No. The place where the treatment takes place is completely sealed off, so even if you were alone, it would be possible.”

Un-hyun nodded.

The Little Palace Lord hesitated for a moment and then said.

“…Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Un-hyun smiled gently.

This side of the Little Palace Lord, who was always cold and sharp, was somehow endearing and refreshing.

But was it because of that?

The Little Palace Lord’s gaze became sharp again.

“Ahem.”

As Un-hyun coughed and turned his head, the Little Palace Lord suddenly said.

“Then, I’ll see you at the banquet.”

“Yes? Banquet?”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you?”

The Little Palace Lord said as if she had forgotten.

“There’s a banquet in a little while. It’s the official banquet of the Northern Sea Ice Palace to welcome the envoys from the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance].”

Un-hyun was taken aback.

A banquet? He hadn’t heard anything about it.

“In a little while?”

“Yes.”

The Little Palace Lord smiled brightly.

“It’s a very important banquet attended by the Little Palace Lord of the Ice Palace and the tribal chiefs. Everyone is looking forward to what the Murim Alliance has to say.”

Seeing the Little Palace Lord’s triumphant smile, Un-hyun was convinced that she had deliberately omitted the message.

“Hmm.”

Un-hyun groaned.

He wasn’t familiar with banquets, and he didn’t have any good memories of them.

Above all, such formal occasions were just uncomfortable.

“Then, I’ll see you at the banquet hall in a little while.”

The Little Palace Lord bowed lightly and turned around.

Swish.

“Just a moment.”

Un-hyun’s voice stopped her.

Un-hyun asked the Little Palace Lord, who turned around.

“Who was that noble lady from earlier?”

The smile disappeared from the Little Palace Lord’s lips.

She replied with a cold gaze.

“…You’ll find out soon enough.”

Swish.

The Little Palace Lord turned and left the room as she was.

Clack.

Left alone, Un-hyun couldn’t erase his puzzled expression.

Because the Little Palace Lord’s expression had suddenly turned cold, he felt like he had done something wrong.

But of course, he couldn’t think of anything.

‘Oh, could it have been someone I shouldn’t have failed to recognize?’

But judging from the Little Palace Lord’s attitude, it didn’t seem like that.

Un-hyun suddenly let out a wry smile.

‘Come to think of it, both of them said the same thing.’

Both the noble lady from earlier and the Little Palace Lord said the same thing.

That he would find out soon enough.

‘Wouldn’t it be better to just tell me instead of saying that?’

Thinking about it, Un-hyun shook his head.

‘This is no time for me to be doing this.’

There was a banquet soon.

And it was the formal banquet of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.

He had to find Zhuge Gi-ho, the chief envoy of the delegation, right away.

Un-hyun hurriedly moved his steps outside.

Hoping that the curious Zhuge Gi-ho would be obediently in his room.

***

Even in the Northern Sea, banquets were similar.

Although the people, the food, and the appearances were different, the somewhat excited atmosphere was the same.

The large, long banners hanging from all sides, although a sight quite different from the south, created a splendid yet imposing atmosphere, which was also the same.

“No, it’s very different.”

Zhuge Gi-ho, who appeared large and good-natured, said while looking at the banquet hall.

“First of all, the women are prettier, aren’t they? And the exposure is daring, too.”

Un-hyun gave a wry smile.

Fortunately, it wasn’t difficult to find Zhuge Gi-ho.

He was chatting with the Ice Palace maids in a nearby hallway.

It was amazing how they could communicate when they didn’t even speak the same language, but the atmosphere between Zhuge Gi-ho and the maids was quite friendly.

Of course, it was cut short by Un-hyun, though.

“The Northern Sea is said to be cold, but the summers are very pleasing to the eye. Well, I don’t know why, but it’s very desirable. Hahaha.”

Zhuge Gi-ho was constantly wearing a satisfied smile.

Whether it was to enjoy the short summer or a reaction to the long, dark winter, the clothes of the Northern Sea women were revealing.

So much so that the attire of the noble lady with exposed shoulders that Un-hyun had seen felt ordinary.

“Ooh, that woman has very…”

“Ahem.”

Un-hyun, who had unknowingly followed Zhuge Gi-ho’s gaze, quickly turned his head.

“…Shouldn’t you be a little more careful?”

Un-hyun said in a low voice.

“Because I heard the atmosphere in the Ice Palace isn’t good right now.”

Zhuge Gi-ho also knew that the Ice Emperor had been ambushed.

Because Un-hyun had told him.

But Zhuge Gi-ho said nonchalantly.

“Yes. I suppose so. There seem to be a lot of eyes glaring at us right now, too.”

The banquet hall wasn’t just splendid and excited.

The men with strong impressions weren’t hiding their wary gazes towards Un-hyun, Zhuge Gi-ho and Dokgo Je.

They were probably those with high positions in the Northern Sea, and among them, there were quite a few who were openly glaring.

“But that doesn’t mean we need to cower.”

Zhuge Gi-ho said with a generous smile.

“Rather, the more it is like this, the better it is to pretend not to know, pretend not to care, and act natural.”

Gulp.

“Cough!”

Zhuge Gi-ho, who had carelessly downed the glass in his hand, coughed.

“No, what were you thinking putting such strong alcohol in…”

Zhuge Gi-ho, who was frowning and looking at the glass, widened his eyes.

“Wow, that woman has a very artistic figure.”

He quickly forgot his complaints about the strong alcohol and even wore a satisfied smile.

Perhaps because he was relieved that there was no one who could understand him, his thoughts were coming out as words.

‘Ugh.’

Un-hyun groaned inwardly.

But Zhuge Gi-ho’s words were right in some ways.

There was no reason to be stiff, nor was there a need to create a grim atmosphere first.

Letting out a soft sigh, Un-hyun turned his head to the side.

‘Well, he might be better than Dokgo Je.’

Next to Un-hyun, Dokgo Rang was standing there exuding a sharp murderous aura.

Thanks to that, no one was approaching only Un-hyun’s group in the banquet hall.

Dokgo Rang was exuding a strong will that he wouldn’t let anyone get close.

“Hoo.”

Un-hyun sighed without realizing it.

The banquet hadn’t even started yet, but he already felt a headache coming on.

***

“Are those the ones the Third Palace Lord brought?”

The Eighth Palace Lord of the Ice Palace said, looking at Zhuge Gi-ho, Un-hyun, and Dokgo Rang.

“There’s nothing special about them. There are many warriors in our tribe with that level of spirit.”

That was a bluff.

Dokgo Rang’s spirit was rare even in the Northern Sea, and the Eighth Palace Lord’s tribe was only a small to medium-sized tribe.

Above all, it wasn’t something the Eighth Palace Lord, who couldn’t even make eye contact with Dokgo Rang, should say.

“You shouldn’t judge rashly.”

The Fifth Palace Lord said, slowly raising his glass.

“That’s the one the Third Palace Lord brought. Before their skills, we can’t know what kind of scheme is hidden.”

Dokgo Rang’s spirit was unusual.

But that in itself wasn’t a big threat.

Even the First Palace Lord, who currently formed the most influential force in the Ice Palace, had warriors of that level.

The problem was the Third Palace Lord who brought them.

Considering her schemes, perhaps that person could be a crucial move to overturn the Ice Palace’s succession structure.

“I’d rather the First Palace Lord and the Third Palace Lord fight each other fiercely at this opportunity.”

The Seventh Palace Lord, who was standing across from him, said with eyes filled with resentment.

“That way, we’ll have a chance too.”