"Master Gong."
As expected, it was Sima Young.
Her voice was colder than usual.
Judging by her sharp gaze directed at Seolbaek, it seemed she had misunderstood correctly.
Moreover, even my father-in-law, who wore the kind face of a middle-aged man, looked at me with extreme displeasure.
But that only lasted briefly before his gaze shifted from me to Seolbaek.
My father-in-law frowned.
He seemed to realize that even while restraining her energy, she was a peerless expert.
"Who exactly is this young lady, causing such a stir outside...?"
Sima Young tried to say something by gesturing towards Seolbaek with her eyes, but my father-in-law raised his hand, signaling her to stop.
"Father?"
Sima Young, clueless about what was happening, couldn't hide her confusion.
Regardless, my father-in-law looked at Seolbaek with suspicion and said in a doubtful tone,
"Who is she?"
It was a question full of implications.
Seolbaek glanced at me briefly in response.
I had warned her repeatedly.
[I'll explain, so don't say anything.]
If she spoke carelessly, things could escalate.
Honestly, I was starting to get a headache.
For Yeong-yi, Sima Young, my father-in-law, and Seolbaek all to be gathered in one place like this…
If I don't handle this well, it's going to get messy.
At that moment, Sima Young said, bewildered,
"Father, why are you acting like this?"
"She's no ordinary woman."
"What do you mean?"
"She's crossed the boundary. No, maybe even beyond that."
"Huh?"
At those words from my father-in-law, Sima Young's eyes widened in shock.
Yeong-yi was equally surprised.
[Brother, what does this mean? That Seolbaek unni has crossed the boundary?]
Even in the confusion caused by seeing Sima Chak, one of the Five Great Villains, it seemed overwhelming to hear Seolbaek described as a master who had crossed the boundary.
'She noticed immediately.'
It seemed she had fully recovered her energy after taking the Summoning Pill.
I needed to reveal her identity, but the words wouldn't come easily.
Seolbaek was the one who had grievously wounded my father-in-law.
Thanks to her, I suffered hardships, including being imprisoned in the Shaolin Temple.
My father-in-law had repeatedly emphasized that if we ever saw her again and discussed the events back then, he would repay that debt.
—I have to explain well.
Even if you don't say it like that, it'll be alright.
I must start by clearing the most important matter first.
"Father-in-law, Yeong-a, I will explain what happened, so please don't misunderstand unnecessarily."
"Misunderstanding?"
At Sima Young's question, I nodded towards Seolbaek with my eyes.
Sima Young looked at her suspiciously, then nodded as if she decided to trust me.
My father-in-law still didn't lower his guard and asked,
"Start by telling me who she is."
"She is one of Geumsangje's trusted aides."
"Geumsangje's trusted aide?"
"Yeah?"
At my words, the two women were shocked.
Although they must have thought of her as an extraordinary master who had crossed the boundary, they didn't expect her to be a subordinate of Geumsangje.
"Geumsangje?"
Yeong-yi asked, confused.
To her, the name Geumsangje would be known only as a tyrant who once wreaked havoc in the martial world.
At that moment, a surprised Sima Young asked me,
"What exactly happened that one of Geumsangje's trusted aides is with Master Gong?"
I had to choose my words carefully here.
I looked at my father-in-law and said cautiously,
"Father-in-law, first, please know that she has left Geumsangje's ranks and made a deal with me."
At these words, my father-in-law frowned and said,
"Why do you speak to me like that? As if I'm going to harm this woman."
He was sharp as always.
But if I didn't explain beforehand, who knows what disaster could happen.
Sima Young looked at her and asked me,
"So, has this young lady betrayed Geumsangje?"
"She left, but if you call it betrayal, then yes, it could be considered that."
At her question, Seolbaek answered nonchalantly.
I glared at Seolbaek and shook my head.
It was a sign not to speak.
My father-in-law, suspicious of my behavior, turned his head to her and said,
"I guess I have to hear it directly from you."
"Father-in-law, I…"
"No. I must ask directly why you keep her from speaking."
"Please listen to me first…"
"What kind of deal did you make with my son-in-law that you're trying to explain like that?"
She said nothing.
Shrugging her shoulders as if to show she was keeping her promise to me, she gestured towards me.
My father-in-law looked at me and said,
"Tell her to speak directly. Don't think of giving orders through secret messages."
"Father-in-law, don't you trust me?"
"I do. But I want to know what you're hiding."
"I'm not hiding anything. I'll tell you everything."
"If that's the case, I don't mind hearing it directly from this woman's mouth."
...This is maddening.
They act like I might make something up or twist the story.
I underestimated my father-in-law's sharpness.
No wonder he's said to be on par with Manbakja in the martial world.
"The way something is said matters a lot. I'm worried that what she says might cause you misunderstanding."
"Do I look so narrow-minded that I can't trust my son-in-law rather than a former enemy?"
"...No."
"Then I'll ask directly."
Hearing that, I had no choice.
I looked at Seolbaek and nodded.
Of course, with my eyes, I warned her not to say anything that might cause unnecessary misunderstanding.
I don't know if she understood.
'!?'
But Seolbaek was making a strange expression at me.
The corners of her mouth were raised, which felt ominous.
She looked as if she was enjoying having caught my weakness.
'Ah...'
Not knowing what was going on inside me, my father-in-law asked her,
"What kind of deal did you make with my son-in-law?"
"If he gives me what I want, I'll leave Geumsangje's ranks and tell him everything I know."
"Hmm."
My father-in-law stroked his chin at her words.
So far, nothing too strange.
My father-in-law asked,
"If you're a trusted aide, loyalty wouldn't be broken just for a simple deal. What kind of deal made you decide to betray him?"
She smiled and said,
"I didn't follow him out of loyalty."
"Not out of loyalty?"
"I made a deal with him, and I stayed with him because I thought I could meet someone I wanted to see again."
"Someone you wanted to see?"
At her words, my father-in-law frowned and looked at me.
Because Seolbaek's gaze was directed at me as she said that.
Sima Young asked, confused,
"You speak as if you knew Master Gong?"
"We had a connection about 300 years ago."
At her words, Sima Young looked at me in surprise.
Ah, my head is starting to hurt.
When talking about 300 years ago, I had purposely left out problematic parts about Seolbaek, but now those words have come back to haunt me.
But that wasn't even the real problem.
—Gooohhhh!
Suddenly, a fierce murderous aura emanated from my father-in-law.
The aura weighed heavily in the room, and Yeongyeong turned pale as if she couldn't breathe properly, as though she were suffocating.
"Father-in-law!"
At my words, he raised a hand, signaling me not to interfere, and spoke to Seolbaek in a cold voice.
"Shim Bok, from three hundred years ago. So you're Seolbaek."
Ah…
He finally deduced her identity.
Even without her saying it directly, he figured it out with just a few clues.
"Now I understand why my son-in-law was so hesitant to reveal your identity to me."
My father-in-law's energy grew sharp, to the point where he could've struck her at any moment.
Perhaps sensing this, she began to emit a subtle chill from her body.
As the room turned cold, his eyes became even more icy.
It must've brought back memories of the time he was injured.
"Father-in-law. I understand how you feel, but this is the Martial Alliance. If you do something to her here…"
Before I could finish speaking, Seolbaek suddenly turned around.
Then, with her back to him, she said,
"Even if I acted on orders, this isn't something that can be resolved with an apology. Injure me just as I did to you."
"..."
At her words, a wrinkle formed between my father-in-law's brows.
He hadn't expected her to lower herself like that and offer her back.
He silently stared at her exposed back, then withdrew his murderous intent, exhaling deeply as if to calm his rage.
"What happened to Dugong and Seobok?"
I had been worried that things would escalate, but thankfully they didn't.
Unlike my expectations, my father-in-law composed himself and controlled his anger rationally.
Had she not responded this way, the outcome could've been very different—but for now, they were both being wise.
"They're in his hands."
"Are they alive?"
"Yes."
At her answer, his expression softened slightly.
He must have been genuinely concerned about the life of his close friend.
Relieved, he asked her,
"Where are they?"
Seolbaek shook her head.
"I don't know."
"What?"
His softened expression immediately turned fierce again.
Still, she calmly said,
"Their whereabouts are controlled by him and the Brain Leader. I don't know either."
"Then you must at least know where the emperor and that Brain Leader are?"
"There are a few secret locations they frequent, and ways to contact them."
"Then tell me."
To this, Seolbaek flatly refused.
"I cannot."
—Goooo!
No sooner had she finished than his murderous aura erupted again.
This time, it wasn't just for show—he was ready to strike at any moment.
"If you don't talk, you'll die."
His hand had already reached for his sword.
At this distance, he could sever her head in a blink.
I hurriedly stepped between them.
"Please, calm down, father-in-law."
"Step aside. I only need to make this woman talk."
He clearly intended to force it out of her.
But if that were possible, I would've already done it myself.
"Father-in-law, at least hear me out—"
"I said move!"
Suddenly, a metal bead fired from his left hand like a bullet.
It was the skill Tanjisin Tong (弹脂神通).
It was aimed sneakily at Seolbaek's shoulder, but I caught it effortlessly.
—Pak!
In the past, the force of the spinning metal bead would've injured my palm, but now I could not only stop it—I could crush it.
Shards of metal powder trickled down from my clenched fist.
Seeing this, my father-in-law narrowed his eyes.
He seemed inwardly surprised.
Still, having witnessed my martial prowess at Shaolin Temple, his shock didn't last long.
He asked me,
"Why are you interfering?"
"She won't talk, even if she dies."
"How can you be so sure?"
"She's already endured severe injuries. I even tried to behead her—she didn't talk."
Snorting, he said,
"Hmph! Then we'll see if she can withstand proper torture."
He was unyielding.
Then Seolbaek spoke to him.
"If you give me what I want, I'll tell you everything right away."
"What you want? And what is that?"
I hurried to explain before she said anything outrageous.
"Because of her unique physique—"
"I want to marry this man and have his child."
'!!!'
Before I could finish, her words exploded into the room.
Everything I had prepared to say instantly fell apart.
'I was going to say that due to her Heavenly Yin Physique, she can't bear children, so I wanted to introduce her to Prince Gyeong, who suffers from Sun Yang Deficiency…'
But she swept all that away with a few shocking words.
"Ha!"
At the absurdity of her demand, even my father-in-law was speechless.
Sama-yeong's face flushed red and blue, then finally exploded.
"You're seriously saying that—"
"I've said it many times, but this man is terribly stubborn."
"What?"
"He says he'll only love his fiancée—you, and no one else."
At her words, Sama-yeong, who had been ready to lash out, instead blushed.
Her gaze toward me softened.
Did this woman suddenly eat something strange?
Why the sudden change in attitude?
As I puzzled over it, I noticed something strange on Seolbaek's face.
Tears welled in her eyes.
'Huh?'
As the tears touched her cold skin, they froze and fell like ice shards to the ground.
Everyone was stunned by the sight.
"Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
Sama-yeong asked.
Seolbaek replied in a sorrowful voice.
"The people of the Northern Ice Palace cultivate martial arts filled with cold qi, and our Heavenly Yin Physique renders us sterile. Because of this cursed body, even my tears freeze, and no one can touch me."
"No one can touch you?"
"Yes. I've never even properly felt another person's warmth. If I die, the bloodline of the Ice Palace ends."
'...'
I was dumbfounded.
Was she trying to appeal emotionally now?
Unlike earlier when she tried to seduce me, she was now showing weakness in front of my father-in-law and Sama-yeong.
Sama-yeong frowned and asked,
"What does that have to do with him?"
"Whether it's his physique or martial arts, I don't know, but he can touch me."
Sama-yeong glared at me.
"Surely, you didn't—"
"During the confrontation three hundred years ago, I accidentally touched her. That's all."
I couldn't bring myself to admit we kissed by accident.
Then Seolbaek added,
"I've searched my whole life for someone like him—someone who could revive our bloodline and let me feel another's warmth."
At that, my father-in-law finally spoke.
"Then give up the cold qi."
"How can I rebuild the Ice Palace if I give up martial arts?"
He had no response.
He seemed to accept that she couldn't abandon her martial arts if she wanted to restore her sect.
Seizing the opportunity, I said,
"Father-in-law, that's why I found someone else who could meet her needs. I introduced them so we could get information about the emperor from her."
But Seolbaek looked at me with sorrowful eyes.
"No. If it's not you, then kill me."
I was stunned.
"Didn't we agree otherwise?"
"I said that to buy time to win your heart. But now, I can't do that anymore. The woman you love has shown up."
Looks like I let my guard down.
This woman clearly intends to settle everything here.
She took her shot.
[Do you think this will work?]
[Who knows? He might have a moment of weakness.]
Ha! She was acting all along.
What a cunning fox.
[Why are you going this far?]
[Didn't I tell you? Because I like you.]
Enough to stake her life?
But she clearly didn't understand my father-in-law and Sama-yeong.
They had lived as villains or villains' kin. They weren't the type to fall for emotional appeals.
And my father-in-law? He had loved only one woman his whole life—he wouldn't be swayed.
Her gambit was a misstep.
Then, my father-in-law spoke.
"I'll leave this… to my daughter's decision."
"Huh?"
I was shocked.
I never imagined those words would come from his mouth.
I thought he would lash out in rage and force her to talk.
But he left the decision to Sama-yeong?
Before I could understand, he said coldly to her,
"Rather than let such a martial genius fall to another or die, I believe it wouldn't be bad to formally bring her under your wing."
…Did I hear that right?
Not only did he hand over the decision, but he even spoke positively?
That's not like him at all.
Then Sama-yeong, after thinking a bit, said something that confused me even more.
"Gongja-nim. No matter what happens, I come first, right?"
"Of course, that's obvious…"
"Then it's fine. Since you never looked at anyone else, I'll accept her."
"What?"
"You—Seolbaek, was it?"
"Yes."
"If you want to be his wife, I'm the older one. If you can't accept that, just die here."
…Looks like I really don't understand this father-daughter duo at all.