After we successfully drove away the Azure Cold Serpent, we returned to the North Sea Ice Palace. Of course, Seorin’s endless self-praise came as part of the package.

“Ahem. Your sword was sharp, I admit—but in the end, it was this one who burst that snake’s eye and forced it to flee.”

“Yes.”

“Fufu. No need to be upset. It’s because this one is exceptional, not because you were lacking.”

“Yes.”

“Still, your use of energy was quite skilled. When your sudden sword slash cut its jaw, I was truly impressed. Of course, this one’s fist was far more effective, but still.”

“…”

“…Are you answering with only ‘yes’ on purpose?”

“Eeit!”

With her cheeks puffed out, Seorin flailed her arms and pounded on my shoulder. For someone who had just knocked down the massive Azure Cold Serpent with a single punch, her attacks were surprisingly dainty.

I let her flail for a bit, then grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her toward me. She stumbled slightly, but quickly regained balance with practiced footwork.

She kept staring at me with a sulky expression, so I let out a deep sigh and spoke.

“I know you did well. Now, show me your wrist.”

“Wh-Why are you so interested in a lady’s wrist all of a sudden?”

“Calling yourself a lady is a bit…”

I ignored her nonsense and examined her arm with a slightly forceful grip.

Just as I thought. Her right hand had turned faintly bluish.

“Sigh. I knew it.”

“What do you mean? Hasn’t this one’s hand always been this fair and lovely?”

“Let’s treat that ‘lovely’ hand before it gets frostbitten.”

While half-listening to Seorin’s boasting, I’d been reviewing the battle with the Azure Cold Serpent in my mind. I remembered clearly how she had smashed its eye.

Seorin had struck from the outside, but the fragments hadn’t exploded inward—they’d burst outward from the inside.

If it had been a normal punch, that wouldn’t have happened. She must’ve realized mid-punch that the eyeball was too large to destroy with mere impact.

“You forced your fist into the Azure Cold Serpent’s eye and detonated your energy from within, didn’t you?”

“Hik!”

Seorin flinched and hiccuped like someone whose secret had just been exposed.

That creature had so much cold energy in its body that its blood froze instantly upon spilling. She had needed to use her protective energy just to block the backlash from the blood.

But releasing a burst of internal energy inside the creature’s body—even with precautions, it was bound to leave an opening.

The frostbite on her hand must’ve come from that.

She was probably using her own energy to force out the cold, but the Azure Cold Serpent’s aura was particularly potent—it wasn’t easily expelled.

I held her hand in both of mine and began infusing my energy into hers. She didn’t resist as my energy carefully spread inside.

“Ugh.”

Seorin winced and bit her lip. I paused and asked,

“Does it hurt?”

“No. It’s just… a little ticklish.”

“Please bear with it.”

I shook my head and focused again. I couldn’t purge the cold completely, but I could at least reinforce her internal flow.

Woooong…

My energy burrowed beneath her skin, where the cold energy of the Azure Cold Serpent raged wildly, and Seorin’s internal energy tried to suppress it.

I slipped my energy between them and joined the struggle. At that moment, Seorin’s energy spread out and enveloped both, working in tandem with mine.

It was only possible because I understood Seorin’s martial arts, and she trusted me enough to allow it.

We exchanged a slightly awkward glance. Then Seorin pulled her hand free from my grip.

Her skin was still bluish, but her icy hand had regained some warmth.

Staring at her hand, Seorin smirked and held out her other hand.

“What now?”

“Take it.”

“This one looks fine though.”

“Eii! Just take it already!”

She grabbed my hand somewhat forcefully. With a short sigh, I clasped it, and only then did she show a satisfied expression.

“Let’s walk back to the Ice Palace just like this.”

“Holding hands? Even though that hand is fine?”

“Quiet, just do it.”

“Sure. But once we get there, you should let Seol Lihyang take a look.”

Even if Seorin couldn’t fully resolve it herself, Seol Lihyang might be able to help—as I had.

She nodded, and I took the chance to ask something that had been bothering me.

“There’s one thing I’m curious about.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Fighting a spirit beast is very different from fighting a person. I don’t know if I’ll ever face such a creature again, but just in case, I’d like your advice…”

Seorin looked up at me with narrowed eyes.

“So, your only thought after holding this one’s hand was that?”

“…Was there supposed to be something else?”

“Sigh. Typical you. Fine, speak. What’s been bothering you?”

“When fighting something so much larger than a person, footwork and feints feel meaningless. In the end, all that matters is powerful, sweeping attacks… So what if I tailor my sword techniques to that—broad and forceful? My Heartscape happens to suit that idea.”

“I don’t quite understand from just hearing it. But such attacks will naturally have many openings. And a true master won’t overlook those gaps.”

“What if it’s not a solo fight? What if others buy time while I prepare my strike?”

“Hmm. That’s rare, but… if it works, it wouldn’t be bad. If you land the hit properly, not even a Flowering Stage martial artist could easily withstand it.”

One thing I realized while fighting the Azure Cold Serpent—strangely, the sensation reminded me slightly of fighting the Heavenly Demon.

Of course, the Heavenly Demon didn’t use cold energy, nor was he massive or absurdly tough.

But the pressure of wielding an inhuman power—it was similar.

Especially Heavenly Demon Divine Art. That monstrous energy technique warped the very space around it.

It gave off the same oppressive force as the Azure Cold Serpent’s enormous form coiling and writhing.

If there’s a common thread between the two… then maybe a strike that worked on the Azure Cold Serpent could work, even partially, against the Heavenly Demon.

That was my serious line of thought—and perhaps sensing that sincerity, Seorin stopped sighing and began pondering with me.

“A technique focused solely on a single, overwhelming strike… Forget practicality—this one finds that idea intriguing.”

“A thrust or a vertical slash would probably work best. Both are optimal for concentrating power into a single point.”

“Yes, you’re right. Then what about this—this one once nearly fell to something similar…”

She began recounting a story where she almost died, offering advice based on it.

As we shared ideas and walked, we eventually returned to the North Sea Ice Palace.

Seeing Tang Sowol and Seol Lihyang waiting with worried expressions—and holding hands—I couldn’t help but chuckle.

But in the end, the mission concluded without issue.

As for the rest…

Just as expected.

***

To celebrate the successful repelling of the Azure Cold Serpent—and to see us off—the North Sea Ice Palace held a grand banquet.

They say even a ruined noble lives well for three years.

The North Sea Ice Palace hadn’t fallen yet, but the banquet felt lavish enough to evoke that saying.

As promised, we received martial arts manuals and elixirs.

I collected every elixir that would benefit Seol Lihyang’s level. She could take them gradually with enough time between each dose.

We also took all the martial techniques she deemed necessary after reviewing the Ice Palace’s style.

And Bing Yerin… surprisingly, was released from her probation.

She had been prepared to give up her position entirely, but since she had acted for the Ice Palace’s sake—and she was the one who brought us—it seemed they chose leniency.

That’s what they said, at least. But honestly, it looked more like the Palace Lord just decided to forgive her.

They seemed oddly lenient toward Bing Yerin… but then again, she was the granddaughter of the Ice Heavenly Divine Lord.

That, combined with her titles—North Sea Shrine Maiden and top talent of the post-generation—must have helped.

“Well, we’re leaving tomorrow. Not our problem anymore.”

“You’re so cold. What if Lady Seol changes her mind…?”

“She won’t.”

“That’s a shame. Still, she’s taken every secret of the Ice Palace with her. Wherever she may be, she’s part of us now. If she ever wants to return, she’ll always be welcome.”

“No thanks! You can be the Palace Lord, Bing Yerin!”

“Yes. I just might. After all, someone did give me a little push.”

“…Huh?”

Seol Lihyang blinked, staring between me and Bing Yerin, then flailed her arms in mock protest like she was guarding me.

The sight made us all burst into laughter.

But the joy of the banquet didn’t last.

Kuuung!

A massive rumble interrupted the celebration. The ground vibrated beneath us. The sky, once clear if not warm, had turned dark with storm clouds.

Kuuung!

Another tremor. I wasn’t the only one who felt it. People looked up from their food, glancing around to find the source.

Kuuung!

The third impact came with the sound of something breaking. Snowflakes began to drift down from the blackened sky.

But this snow carried a familiar energy.

“No way…”

Alarmed, I shot to my feet and leapt out the window.

Far beyond the warmth of the banquet, a wall of the Ice Palace had crumbled. Beyond it, a raging snowstorm approached.

No—within the blizzard, a dark silhouette loomed.

As I stepped deeper into the palace interior, the snowstorm wrapped around my body, then weakened—revealing its source.

A creature as massive as a grand hall. Scales of icy blue and white, like frozen glaciers. One eye burst, scars around its mouth.

I knew immediately.

The Azure Cold Serpent had returned. The very same one we thought had fled to recover.

But this time, it was cloaked in a far more ferocious aura.

Still—its body was clearly not in normal condition.

“What… the hell is this…”

One eye, now bloodshot. Black spots growing across its blue-white scales. A swollen belly, filled with something unknown. And an aura so massive it wounded even itself.

It was textbook Deviation—a sign that something had gone horribly wrong.

“This is insane.”

I burned away the last traces of drunkenness with internal energy—and reached for my sword.

Srrng.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep