Free Web NovelThe clatter of emptied bowls was noisy. Even though they had filled their bellies at midday, the appetites of the Northern Sea martial artists showed no sign of fading.
“One more bowl, please?”
A patient’s eyes sparkled as he held out his bowl.
Sohwa smiled and filled it to the brim.
“Eat slowly. There’s still plenty.”
“Thank you!”
“Physician, me too—just one more...”
As if ashamed of his men’s behavior, the First Seat covered his eyes with a large hand.
The Northern Sea martial artists recovered quickly.
What was more, five men had cleaned out porridge for twenty and even took a tonic for dessert, so it gave the illusion that they had fattened up. Their bellies had certainly swollen severalfold. At a glance, they seemed to have gained about four geun in weight, and their faces shone with oil.
Watching the patients eat at a frightening speed, Sohwa turned her gaze toward the doorway.
The martial artists sitting by the door were looking up at their comrades with envious eyes.
From their listless manner and parched faces, those looked more like the real patients.
Instead of inviting that group to eat, Sohwa quietly went to the brazier.
She added water to the pot again and took a hunk of meat from the storeroom. She intended to draw a broth at least and share it. She, too, knew the pain of hunger and could not ignore martial artists on the verge of starvation.
But the moment she put in the meat, there was a thud at the door.
One of the martial artists had collapsed and was sprawled face-down on the floor.
“Mu-eul!”
His comrades nearby made a fuss, and even the patients from the sickbeds climbed down to check on him.
“Physician! Someone’s fallen here!”
A martial artist who had been a patient lifted his comrade cleanly and laid him on a sickbed.
...At this point it was impossible to tell who was the patient and who was the caretaker.
Coming to the bed, Sohwa took the fallen man’s pulse.
“......”
Her gaze rose slowly.
The collapsed man’s eyelids trembled in a suspicious way.
When Sohwa kept silent for a long moment, the First Seat came closer.
“Is it serious?”
How was she supposed to explain this?
Looking at the First Seat’s tightened face, she couldn’t easily open her mouth.
If she said he was pretending to be a patient just to get food, it felt like he would become a real patient for it.
If possible, she wanted to match this poor fellow’s tune and lie for him, but since she was posing as a physician of the Yeonjuda troupe, it was hard to do something that would arouse suspicion.
“Young Hero, I was about to draw broth and share it—shall I just make porridge outright?”
At Sohwa’s words, the martial artist cracked an eye open.
“It will take a bit longer, but broth loses its fullness quickly. Porridge will be better for you.”
“...I am sorry.”
The martial artist flushed, ashamed.
Better ashamed than otherwise.
A chill pressed in from behind.
“What on earth do you think you’re doing.”
With a wrathful voice, the First Seat scolded him. The frightened man screwed his eyes shut, and Sohwa slipped into the conversation.
“Even if he’s not a ‘patient,’ everyone’s in poor shape, so I would like them to fill their bellies now... but I will follow the Great Hero’s judgment.”
“...Is it very dangerous?”
“If they simply eat and sleep enough now, they can recover their health, but if an internal organ is damaged, recovery will take time.”
In a small voice, Sohwa added,
“Of course, this is my dispensary. Even if an organ is injured, I can treat it. Please do not worry about the cost of medicine.”
As if making up his mind, the First Seat closed his eyes.
“It is shameless of us, but I must ask that you feed the others as well.”
“Don’t burden yourself. It’s no trouble.”
With a warm word to the First Seat, Sohwa shifted her gaze.
Already standing by the pot, Namgung Jin nodded and, of his own accord, began trimming vegetables.
Having someone quick-witted and deft at work made everything easier.
Sohwa lowered her gaze to the men back by the door and soothed them.
“Please wait just a little.”
The Northern Sea martial artists looked at the two Central Plains people with teary eyes, as if seeing saints.
Since they must have been very hungry, Sohwa understood the dazed stares.
When she picked up an empty bowl, Namgung Jin came and took it instead. As the two headed to the brazier together, the martial artists grinned.
“I heard you two are husband and wife—your relationship is truly good. We envy you.”
At that, Tang Sohwa and Namgung Jin both cast equally awkward glances toward the doorway. For a moment they almost reacted with What are you talking about?, then realized those men had started “acting” first and narrowed their eyes.
The young martial artists kept sending them shining, burdensome looks. Their eyes were those of people who yearned for the Central Plains.
Sohwa realized they had never once been to the Central Plains.
They had eyes like the girl with the physician—the kind that had learned the Central Plains through books and held nothing but longing. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
'But why are they grinning about us being a married couple? What sort of books have they been reading...'
Just as she found it strange—
As Sohwa’s gaze moved to the window, Namgung Jin reacted at the same time.
It felt as if a chill had packed the room.
It wasn’t just a feeling.
The black wall gradually turned ash-white. White frost flowers spread over the wood, cloaking it.
Sohwa looked at the First Seat. He had already turned his body to face the door.
No sound could be heard, yet the presence of something approaching was distinct.
It felt like footprints were being pressed into her skin.
Unconsciously moving to go to the door, the First Seat turned his body toward Sohwa and Namgung Jin.
“It seems our party has arrived—may I open the door?”
He looked extremely tense, yet clung to a shred of reason and sought the homeowner’s permission.
Tang Sohwa nodded. She, too, tried to avoid showing any sign of nervousness.
“Thank you.”
The First Seat straightened his clothes and immediately took the door in hand.
Clunk.
The cold pooled before the door reacted to that small sound. The white crystals blooming on the wooden wall receded like an ebbing tide.
Inside, the brazier’s red glow pooled softly. Through it, an ill-matched cold seeped in.
Creak.
A snow-white old man and the girl from the gorge were standing there.
Sohwa tensed at the sight of the old man. Though the dark was his backdrop, he seemed to catch the moonlight and reflect it.
For the second time, she faced energy that could be seen with the eyes.
A blue light outlined the martial artist’s form.
Unlike Hae-rak’s, this light was faint and cool, like a halo around the moon.
Every Northern Sea martial artist in the dispensary went down to the floor and bowed their heads.
“We greet the Fourth Seat.”
The one called Fourth Seat did not spare a glance for his blood kin who bowed their heads to him.
His ash-gray eyes held only the two Central Plains people standing in the center.
Sohwa gauged the identity of this strange man.
Fourth Seat: the fourth rank in the hierarchy of the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s Seven Seats.
As if sculpted from snow, the Fourth Seat shed a cold aura and parted his lips.
“May I come in?”
With formal courtesy, Sohwa brought her hands together.
“It is an honor to meet the Fourth Seat. Please, come in.”
For a brief instant, Namgung Jin sent her a look. It was a look of objection. He seemed to feel the killing intent flowing in. But from the start, before such a monster, there was no choice to be had.
Even so, for now it was only killing intent that flowed; he had not harmed them, so there was room for talk.
Click.
As the Fourth Seat stepped in, the girl with him closed the door. Sohwa’s eyes narrowed slightly.
'Had she been dyeing her hair?'
Unlike before, the girl’s hair was pure white.
“You said you wanted to know how to remove the Blood Demon’s blood?”
At the chilly voice, Sohwa lifted her gaze from the child to the elder.
Ignoring his blood kin crouched on the floor, the Fourth Seat leveled his gaze at the Central Plains person staring up at him. Answering that look, Tang Sohwa dipped her head the slightest bit and replied,
“Yes. I heard that is the token of the master of the Baek family.”
The Fourth Seat’s mouth tilted slantwise.
“There’s no reason I can’t tell you. There is a relic that contains the Blood Demon’s blood; we call it the Blood Demon’s Will.”
The First Seat’s back flinched hard.
Unlike the flustered First Seat, the Fourth Seat went on in an even tone.
“Whoever holds a Blood Demon’s relic can handle the Blood Demon—and his blood. It is even possible to strip the blood away. We obtained a Blood Demon’s relic and used it to remove the Blood Demon’s blood from our bodies.”
Sohwa’s eyes narrowed.
“Do you mean you used the Blood Demon’s blood to remove the Blood Demon’s blood?”
“That’s right.”
“Can you still drive out the Blood Demon’s blood with a Blood Demon’s relic now?”
“No, no longer. After the Blood Demon noticed that we used a relic to flee and changed his mind, it became impossible to remove the blood with a Blood Demon’s relic.”
The First Seat’s body gave a slight start. He could not bring himself to interrupt the Fourth Seat, but he could not hide his shock.
From the Northern Sea martial artist’s reaction, Sohwa sensed that the Fourth Seat was telling the truth.
Her black eyes, which had dipped, rose again.
“Then you mean there is now no way to remove the Blood Demon’s poison?”
“That’s right.”
Sohwa was greatly disappointed.
This was not the answer she wanted.
But the Fourth Seat had no interest in her feelings.
In a frigid voice, he commanded,
“You have proved the master’s qualification. Bring me the rest of the genealogy.”
A promise was a promise, in any case.
Sohwa opened one apothecary drawer after another and took out the hidden genealogy.
Stacking the dozens of sheets in order, she handed the full text to the Fourth Seat.
The Fourth Seat read the record Tang Sohwa had given him, page by careful page. Suddenly, the old man let out a dry laugh.
“The Second Seat asked me whether he should tell you the method to remove the Blood Demon’s poison.”
In a voice oddly gentle for him, the old man said,
“In truth, it wasn’t a question worth worrying over. After telling you the method and receiving the genealogy, we could simply kill you.”
The ash of a hundred ghosts lifted its gaze.
“You must have known that was one of the plays. Even so, you seemed to stake your life on speaking with the master of the Baek family, so it appears you have a next thought.”
Smiling as if interested, he asked,
“Seeing you hand the genealogy over without a flicker of hesitation, you seem certain I won’t be able to kill you. Is that right?”
“I am not certain you ‘won’t be able’ to kill me.”
Wiping the smile from her face, the Central Plains woman continued,
“However, if you kill me, the Northern Sea loses. If you were a group without the sense to think even that far, I planned to give up on the Northern Sea without regret and return.”
“Your prank was worth your life, Central Plains person. Very well—just as you wished, my curiosity is piqued. Speak.”
The Fourth Seat’s voice sounded amused, full of a short laugh—yet the laugh brimmed with killing intent. It sounded like a warning to remember that he could take her head at any time.
“The genealogy is a weapon needed after the Northern Sea Ice Palace has been retaken. Seeing you accept something that will be used after the war, you seem to believe the war will happen for certain... Do you, perhaps, have a gift to give us before the war?”
To the Fourth Seat’s question, Tang Sohwa answered with a question.
“There seems to be a Blood Cult passage on the island that connects to the Central Plains. Am I right?”
The Fourth Seat gave no answer, but Sohwa went on alone.
“Judging from how diligently you break the ice so no one can cross the sea, it seems you are monopolizing supplies on the island and controlling the North with them.”
“One thing is slightly off, but it is true that the island controls the mainland with supplies.”
Though she couldn’t tell what she had missed, the Fourth Seat did not give her time to think.
“So then, child—when do you plan to tell me the reason I will not be able to kill you?”
“To be honest, I didn’t know the Northern Sea was in such dire straits. Of course, I have not verified all of the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s strength, but if even the rank and file—and men at the First Seat’s level—are starving, then I don’t think there’s any need to verify further.”
Despite the oppressive presence of the man called Fourth Seat, Tang Sohwa did not stop speaking.
“The island, with its passage, will be receiving a constant flow of supplies and troops. No matter how strong the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s power may be, how long can you endure with no resupply? Even while staying hidden, you have been driven this far.”
She looked up at the Fourth Seat with steady eyes.
“Moreover, if word spreads that the Northern Sea Ice Palace bloodline has returned, the Blood Demon might cross over that passage himself to reclaim his molds. Can you face the Blood Demon?”
Even to her own ears, Sohwa sounded arrogant—but strangely, the Fourth Seat was calm. If anything, the thick killing intent dissipated until no pressure could be felt at all.
While the Fourth Seat permitted her to speak, Sohwa did not drag it out; she stated at once what she could offer.
“To stand against the Blood Cult, the first step is to seal the passage inside the island. Then the Blood Cult dogs will be forced to bring supplies overland, and you can take their logistics en route. And at the right time, if you also seal the overland route, you can stop the Blood Demon from crossing.”
With a composed face, Sohwa said,
“Tie up the boats for me, Fourth Seat. When the lake freezes, I will enter the island and seal the internal passage. I have a way to seal the passage inside the island without being detected.”
