Chapter 182. Textile Shop

The night was late, and the streets were dark. The steam that had felt warm and comforting earlier now gave off an eerie chill.

It felt like entering a completely different city.

Being on an unfamiliar road and with the world cloaked in shadow, Tang So-hwa couldn’t push her mount to any speed.

Clip-clop.

The sound of warm water flowing and hooves stamping broke through the silence.

As she rode between stone buildings, Tang So-hwa tugged on the reins.

An acrid smell of something burning mixed with the scent of peonies.

She lifted her head toward the source.

Thin smoke drifted out from an open window.

A man with a cloth mask across his mouth sat on the sill and looked down at her.

Their gazes met, but neither spoke.

After a while, Haerak—who had removed his mask—broke the silence.

“You arrived sooner than I expected.”

He dumped some ash from a wooden box and gazed at the distant street.

“And you brought a lot of followers.”

A dry laugh tickled Tang So-hwa’s ear.

“You don’t seem to realize this place is the Blood Sect’s lair.”

“Someone told me to risk my life.”

The Main Blood Hall Lord’s calm eyes dropped. Tang So-hwa answered as if replying to that look.

“Didn’t you tell me to go find you and beg? You said you’d listen if I asked.”

Haerak leaned his back against the sill and let the corner of his mouth curl.

“What did you rush here to beg for so desperately?”

His voice was strangely relaxed—far from mocking. He even urged her on.

“Tell me. If you move quickly, I’ll oblige.”

Pressed for time, Tang So-hwa spoke fast.

“The Red Blood Hall’s men are guarding one of the palace’s passages…”

“Ah, those bastards were hiding inside the palace? No wonder I didn’t notice them.”

Haerak clicked his tongue as if he’d understood something.

Tang So-hwa nodded once and continued.

“I need that inner passage destroyed. I want your help.”

“Why not ask the orthodox Young Lord who came with you?”

“The Young Lord will take care of the passage in the Han Clan territory.”

“Oh? That fellow’s busy with other things, is he?”

His tone was light—taunting, really. Tang So-hwa, in the position of supplicant, didn’t ask why he teased and instead pleaded her case.

“It seems the one pretending to be the Branch Leader recognized my face. They will tell the Blood Sect that I’m here. We must seal every passage before that word reaches them. The Red Blood Hall Lord could return—or, worst case, the Blood Demon might cross over. The North Sea is the Blood Sect lair, as you said, so we can’t afford complications. You know the Ice Palace’s routes, and you’re stronger than the Red Blood Hall members. I need you. Please help me, I beg you.

Haerak straightened, sensing her anxiety, and asked,

“What’s gotten you so nervous?”

“It seems the Blood Demon has issued a search order across the continent.”

“Huh? You didn’t expect the old geezer to put out a search order across the whole continent?”

“I didn’t think he’d act this fast.”

Tang So-hwa looked back. She felt approaching presences—men searching the area. Their pace was slow as if methodically scouring the surroundings. Still, her unease wouldn’t abate, and she urged him again.

“The man pretending to be the Branch Leader seems to have recognized me. He’ll report it to Jin-Yin Mountain. We have to block every passage before it gets into the Blood Demon’s ears. He might come himself.”

“Calm down, So-hwa.”

Haerak cut her off gently when she rained out her words.

“If that old geezer has decided to look for you, you can’t run forever.”

His tone shed the playfulness.

“Accept it, and start practicing how to let go of your fear. If you’re already shaking, you’ll accomplish nothing.”

A brief silence hung between them.

Tang So-hwa looked up at him and finally spoke.

“I don’t want to be weak either.”

Her dry, trembling voice confessed to the Main Blood Hall Lord.

“The Blood Demon reaches out without hesitation whenever he wants something from me—so why is it that I’m the one who has to feel fear, even when he’s nowhere in sight? I don’t understand it… and I don’t want to.”

Her grip tightened around the reins.

“I just want him to suffer. I want him to live every single moment as uneasily as I do.”

“……”

“I want him to fear—every day—that I might kill him. To feel that same anxiety and dread that never leaves me.”

Haerak said nothing as he looked down at her.

Her gaze, cold and sharp like the Blood Demon’s own, rose to meet his.

“No—fear isn’t even necessary. It’s enough if he just burns with anger. If someone else takes what he’s built with his own hands, wouldn’t he lose sleep from rage? That alone would satisfy me. Just knowing he’s tormented for a few sleepless nights—I’d be content.”

Tang So-hwa pushed her fear aside and made peace with the darkness within her.

“If we destroy all the passages in the North Sea, he’ll go mad with fury. Don’t you want to see that, Haerak—the Blood Demon in torment?”

Haerak gave a dry, disbelieving chuckle.

“Honestly, I can’t imagine the Blood Demon ever being afraid of you…”

But then, as though something crossed his mind, he touched his lips thoughtfully.

“Still… he’s the kind of man who thinks the world collapses when his plans fall apart. Watching him lose control might be amusing.”

He tilted his head toward the interior.

“Come inside for now. If you stand out there, someone will notice you. Change your clothes first.”

Tang So-hwa tied up her horse and opened the first-floor window.

Creak.

The textile shop smelled musty, as if it had been long abandoned.

Haerak came down the stairs and motioned to her.

“Over here.”

He rummaged through a rack of clothes hanging on one side.

“These are from the Dong Clan. One of them should fit you.”

“Why do I have to wear these?”

“The Red Blood Hall bastards are staying inside the palace, which means they’re hiding there to feed on the blood the Yan and Dong Clans offer them. There’s no need to terrify the rest of the island by letting them see that. The Blood Sect still needs these people alive for labor—if they panic and flee, it’d be troublesome.”

He spoke casually, as though describing something mundane, and pulled out a violet long robe that looked a little small.

Holding it against her, he smirked.

“The Yan and Dong Clans probably kidnapped capable martial artists from the Central Plains and used them as servants before offering them to the Red Blood Hall. So if someone sees you—an unfamiliar face—they’ll just assume you’re one of those Central Plains people brought over by the Dong Clan.”

It was a reasonable explanation.

Tang So-hwa obediently removed her wind cloak and reached for the long robe, but Haerak stopped her.

“Wait. That cloth’s too thin.”

He went further inside, rummaged through a chest, and returned with a padded inner coat.

“Wear this underneath, then put the long robe on top.”

“It’s too thick.”

She often needed to reach into her sleeves to retrieve things, and wearing such heavy layers would make movement difficult—the sleeves would narrow, and her arms would lose range.

But Min Haerak’s tone left no room for argument.

“You’ll see soon enough—inside the Ice Palace, it’s cold. The deeper you go, the heavier the Yin energy gets. Ordinary people can’t even walk properly there.”

“……”

“If your legs freeze and you can’t move, the Blood Demon could cross over directly while you’re stuck there, couldn’t he?”

Tang So-hwa said nothing more. She slipped into the padded coat and draped the violet long robe over it.

Haerak, still unsatisfied, fetched a fur-lined hat and placed it gently on her head.

“Here. Wear this too.”

“There’s no need—”

“If your ears freeze and you can’t hear me, we won’t be able to move together properly. It’ll slow us down.”

Tang So-hwa didn’t resist and simply followed Haerak’s advice.

Apparently dissatisfied with how loosely she tied it, he stepped closer and fastened the knot beneath her chin himself.

“…You’re being so obedient it’s unsettling.”

“You know the North Sea better than I do. It’s only right that I listen.”

“I know plenty of other things, too. You should try listening to me more often, not just here.”

Tang So-hwa’s gaze lifted toward him, but their eyes didn’t quite meet.

He was busy rummaging through the rack for his own outfit. After roughly throwing on a long robe, Haerak brushed past her.

“Let’s go.”

“Why aren’t you wearing a padded coat?”

Haerak laughed as though she’d said something absurd.

“This is the first time anyone’s ever told someone with an Extreme Yang Body to dress warmly.”

She couldn’t deny the logic, but still, the sight of him walking around so lightly dressed made her uneasy.

Anyone could tell at a glance that his physique wasn’t ordinary.

But Tang So-hwa didn’t argue. He clearly understood the island’s customs better than she did.

As they were about to step out of the building, Haerak suddenly extended a hand toward her.

She looked at it questioningly, and he said,

“It’d look strange for a man and woman to walk together at night if we’re being awkward about it, wouldn’t it?”

Tang So-hwa ignored him and pushed the door open herself.

“Tsk, not falling for that one, huh.”

Haerak clicked his tongue and followed her out.

He seemed to know the way well. The streets he chose were completely deserted.

“You seem to know the roads.”

“Just follow the flow of the hot springs. At night, the steam sinks toward the waterways, so people avoid walking near them.”

“Why?”

“They say the hot springs used to give off a rotting stench. Those who inhaled it at night would sometimes faint on the spot.”

As they crossed a bridge, Haerak glanced toward one of the Han Clan’s buildings.

“After the Han Clan installed metal nets across the waterways to filter the air, people stopped collapsing—but still, perception is a frightening thing. North Sea folk aren’t ones to take unnecessary risks, so they keep their distance from the hot spring channels.”

He pointed toward a pipe where the hot spring water flowed into the canal—metal grates were indeed fitted across it.

“Remember this well. If you ever need to escape, follow the hot spring flow—that’s your route out.”

Tang So-hwa gave a small nod.

Before long, they reached the Ice Palace.

Its security was lax—suspiciously so.

Tang So-hwa now understood why. The Red Blood Hall’s members were hiding inside, committing their depraved acts. No one would dare come near this place.

With a single bound, they crossed the low outer wall and slipped silently into the snow-covered mountain.

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