Ep430 - I Became a Drunkard in a Martial Arts Novel.

The opulence of the palace was on full display, with its expensive silk and extravagant decorations catching the eye. Yong Seol-ran, the palace lord of North Sea Ice Palace, stood adorned with numerous adornments, including three jade hairpins meticulously placed in her long hair. My first impression upon meeting her was straightforward: 'Impressive.' It was almost overwhelmingly splendid. In the same way that a conspicuous person might unwittingly attract trouble, a poorly dressed nouveau riche woman parading such grandeur outside might easily be mistaken for something she is not. Yet, when it came to Yong Seol-ran, it was another story. If asked, one wouldn’t dare to call her a courtesan. She possessed qualities that justified the excessive grandeur, including her position as the lord of North Sea Ice Palace, a title akin to being a ruler of the region. Moreover, her beauty did not fade amidst the surrounding brilliance. These two attributes, rather than cheapening Yong Seol-ran, accentuated her charm. Thus, she dressed suitably for her role and appearance. 'Quite impressive.' Some might dismiss the art of dressing well, yet it is a skill in itself. Adapting one’s attire to fit their status and the situation can evoke the appropriate atmosphere. An atmosphere is akin to a presence. If one can disrupt an opponent’s atmosphere with just attire and claim the surroundings as their own— 'You can predict a portion of victory without clashing swords.' Baek Woo-jin’s admiration stemmed from a single reason. 'I envy her.' This ability was one he lacked. Certainly, Yong Seol-ran might not have dressed herself, perhaps aided by numerous attendants that a palace lord typically commands. Even considering this, one definitive fact remained. 'She knows her appeal well.' She had an acute understanding of her inherent charm. Otherwise, she wouldn’t dare aim to bewitch someone with those smiling eyes. While he was consolidating his first impressions, Baek Woo-jin found himself staring intently at Yong Seol-ran. This gaze did not sit well with Geum Yeo-ul. “…Hmph.” Her elbow discreetly yet swiftly jabbed into Baek Woo-jin’s side with surprising force. Thud! “…!?” A sharp pain surged through his side, causing Baek Woo-jin to frown. He was fortunate to barely stifle a groan. Seizing the moment, Geum Yeo-ul returned her elbow unobtrusively and responded to Yong Seol-ran’s greeting. “It’s an honor to meet you, Madam. I am Geum Yeo-ul, though lacking, I manage the Baek-gold Merchant Group.” Concealing her simmering anger perfectly, Geum Yeo-ul returned a gentle smile. Whether Yong Seol-ran was aware of this or not, she approached gracefully, clasping Geum Yeo-ul's hand with gratitude. “I wanted to personally thank you. Many lives were saved because you sold the tea leaves of the So-han Tea at a reasonable price.” “Oh, not at all. I merely sold the tea leaves with a fair profit as a merchant,” Geum Yeo-ul deflected modestly. Yong Seol-ran laughed, “Haha! A fair profit, hmm…” Each year, with the cold worsening, more people struggled to endure the chill. Regularly drinking So-han Tea was the sole way to keep their bodies warm. In such a scenario, one wonders what price other merchants might have set for the tea leaves. “I’m relieved to hear you truly believe that, even as a merchant.” “I never conduct business at a loss, so worry not.” “Oh my…” Yong Seol-ran admired Geum Yeo-ul’s firm stance as a merchant, finding her resolve both endearing and impressive. Although she wished she could sit close and fuss over her like a sister— “Well then, I suppose I must greet the next guest as well?” Unfortunately, Geum Yeo-ul wasn't the only guest. In truth, Baek Woo-jin intrigued Yong Seol-ran more. Releasing Geum Yeo-ul’s hand, she approached, and Baek Woo-jin offered a formal salute. “I am Baek Woo-jin. It is an honor to meet you.” His voice was deep and steady. His appearance seemed meticulously honed, as though crafted with careful deliberation. Behind his martial attire lay a physique not easily concealed, with muscles pronounced and tightly knit. Lastly, there was a profound aura about him that she couldn’t discern with her skill alone. A mischievous gleam flickered in her eyes. “It appears there's not even a hint of falsehood in the title of Heavenly Light Sword Deity.” Rumors tend to balloon as they circulate among people. Thus, she did not take the news arriving from the central plains to North Sea Ice Palace at face value. Especially those not stemming from her direct information networks established in the central plains were even more suspect. Yet... 'This man exceeds expectations.' The moment she laid eyes on him, she realized it. There was no falsehood in the reputation the name 'Heavenly Light Sword Deity' had built. In fact, the rumors seemed almost inadequate. Baek Woo-jin awkwardly shook his head. "You flatter me." Even his modest denial seemed endearing to her as she guided them to their seats. "Now that introductions are over, let's continue our conversation seated." The three took their seats. Soon after, her personal attendant entered with three cups of tea. "This tea is made from herbs unique to our palace. Drinking the hot tea will surprisingly leave a cool sensation in your mouth," she explained. Both guests took a sip of the tea. As the light green liquid rolled over their tongues, their eyes widened. "Wow… It truly does. Even though it’s hot, it leaves a cool sensation," Geum Yeo-ul remarked. "Isn't it?" she replied, pleased. True to her words, the tea left a refreshing coolness. It was a different kind of coolness from mint, which leaves a crisp, bitter taste. It was like the sensation of consuming ice that was burning from the outside. Once they had taken a sip, Yong Seol-ran posed a question. "So, why have the head of the Geum Merchant Group and Master Baek traveled all this way?" "Well, that's…" Geum Yeo-ul trailed off, glancing at Baek Woo-jin. He stepped in to answer her question. "We're looking for a certain item, and we heard there might be one here, so we came in haste." "An item, you say… Could you specify what it is?" "We're searching for the Sacred Pearl of Cultivation." "Sacred Pearl of Cultivation…." She repeated the name a few times, then spoke apologetically. "I'm sorry. I've never heard of anything by that name." "I see." "Could you describe what it looks like?" "It's a bead about the size of a fist. I've never seen it personally, but it should emit a blue light." The Spirit Wood Pearl emitted a brilliant green light. Thus, it follows that the Sacred Pearl of Cultivation would emit a blue light. Lost in thought, Yong Seol-ran finally spoke. "Ah… We do have something similar here in our palace." Baek Woo-jin’s eyes widened. "Really?" "Yes, it's a fist-sized bead that emits a blue light, though the name is different." She described an item that sounded similar, though with a different name. Perhaps its true identity was deliberately concealed by a name change, passed down through the ages. Baek Woo-jin asked, "May I ask what that bead is called?" "That's not hard to answer. It's called…" She responded with a calm smile. "The Eternal Ice Essence." The Eternal Ice Essence. A treasure passed down through generations in the North Sea Ice Palace. There is an arrogant legend that claims, once you hold it, you can become a grandmaster of ice arts and bring the world to your feet. This Eternal Ice Essence is indeed real. Yet, no one has succeeded in wielding it. Many past palace lords of North Sea Ice Palace, striving for higher realms, approached it, only to meet the same fate. Death. Even bodies honed to the extreme of ice skills could not withstand the cold of the Eternal Ice Essence, leading to their freezing demise. 'Eternal Ice Essence, you say…' The Eternal Ice Essence is known to be a treasure formed from coldness converging in one place over many years. However, this is merely hearsay. What if the original name of the Eternal Ice Essence was the Sacred Pearl of Cultivation? It stands to reason. 'Ice is also water, after all.' As the sapling had said, ice and water share the same essence. If there was an issue with the Sacred Pearl of Cultivation, causing it to emit ice instead of water, it might make perfect sense. Yet assumptions can only lead so far. The most certain way to verify a hypothesis is to see it with one's own eyes. "Would it be possible to observe this Eternal Ice Essence?" With earnest eyes and tone, Baek Woo-jin pleaded with Yong Seol-ran. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that's not possible." She firmly declined the request. Writer's Note I’ll see you in the next chapter. Thank you for reading. Have a restful night. (_ _)