Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 347: The North Sea Ice Palace (1)

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Royal Court of the North Sea Ice Palace was a place where decorum was always upheld, yet one woman boldly challenged that norm.

"Empress, have you still not made a decision?" she demanded.

The high ceiling of the Royal Court trembled at the impact of her voice, which was laden with profound inner qi. Even the martial artists who wanted to criticize her for addressing the Empress so disrespectfully were speechless at her immense power.

"So indecisive. The Cult's delegation will arrive soon. Do you truly not understand that this is effectively an ultimatum?"

Presently, the majority of the prominent masters and elders from each clan of the North Sea Ice Palace were gathered within the Royal Court. Despite this, the woman shouting stood out with her exceptional presence, magnified by the splendid red imperial gown she wore instead of the thick fur clothing typically favored by North Sea martial artists.

She was the White Ice Empress Seol Suryeon, Empress Dowager of the North Sea Ice Palace and a formidable figure who ascended to the jade throne after a bloody succession war.

Rumor has it that she grew stronger after her seclusion training, and it might be true. Instead of aging, she looks younger than ever.

Who can stand against her now?

Is our Palace truly about to fall into the Seol Clan's hands?

A considerable number of North Sea martial artists harbored resentment toward Seol Suryeon, but none had the audacity to express their sentiments overtly.

Except for a few stubborn souls, that is.

Eun Hwiryong, the current ruler of the North Sea Ice Palace, sat on the jade throne and looked down at Seol Suryeon. Her hair was silver and her eyes blue, like those of a westerner, and she was taller than most men. Her hair was cut short in the back and lay around her neck in a shapely way. Combined, she gave off an intimidating yet regal presence.

Taking on a dignified tone, she said, "Empress Dowager, please lower your voice. There are no deaf martial artists present."

However, Seol Suryeon simply scoffed. "If you're not deaf, then act like it. I thought you couldn't hear me, so naturally, I raised my voice."

"How could I possibly decide on the fate of our Palace so easily?"

"Opportunities are transient. Fail to seize the occasion, and you will regret it forever. You must consider how greatly the Cult's proposal will benefit us."

"Empress Dowager, you speak as if our Palace is a subsidiary of the Blood Cult."

"And what about you? Are you so prejudiced against me that you can't make a sound judgment?"

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The gazes of the two strongest martial artists in the North Sea Ice Palace, the Empress and the Empress Dowager, clashed fiercely. Neither woman backed down an inch.

"The Central Plains murim has become complacent after decades of peace. They don't hold a candle to our Palace's warriors.

"The Cult has promised us fertile land in the Central Plains. This is our chance to escape this godforsaken hellhole."

"Given the support we've received from the Cult thus far, it's hard to dismiss their proposal."

The elders backing Seol Suryeon pressured Eun Hwiryong. Each was a master representing a different clan, but their sycophantic behavior, clinging closely to the Empress Dowager and wagging their tongues, was reminiscent of mindless minions.

Eun Hwiryong quietly gritted her teeth. None of these bastards have ever considered me their Empress, have they?

This year marked twenty years since she had inherited the position of Empress, yet Seol Suryeon still held tight to her authority over the North Sea Ice Palace. Although there was no official position of Empress Dowager, she referred to herself as such and ruled like a shadow monarch.

To them, I'm just a figurehead Empress, with no actual power!

Eun Hwiryong felt like absolute shit, but nonetheless, she would rather break than bend. Releasing the White Ice Divine Art's cold energy to silence the chattering family heads, she declared, "Invading the Central Plains murim is not a matter to be taken lightly. As the fate of the North Sea Ice Palace hangs in the balance, I will proceed with utmost caution."

"Foolish girl!" Seol Suryeon shrieked, releasing an aura so frigid and intense that even the North Sea Ice Palace masters, accustomed to the region's cold, couldn't help but shiver.

CRACK, CRACKLE!

The cold energies unleashed by Seol Suryeon and Eun Hwiryong collided, blanketing the hall in ice.

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Narrowing her eyes, Eun Hwiryong shot up from her throne. "…Are you trying to start a rebellion?"

The Empress wielded absolute authority in the North Sea Ice Palace. Although that authority had diminished significantly after the Ice Moon Goddess disappeared with the White Ice Bangles decades ago, many traditional families still pledged loyalty to the Empress.

Therefore, even though Seol Suryeon claimed the title of Empress Dowager, she couldn't openly defy the Empress. Doing so would plunge the Ice Palace into civil war once more, a prospect that appealed to no one.

Seol Suryeon softened her aura and smiled gently. "A rebellion? I merely unconsciously released a bit of my aura out of frustration. Don't you think you're overreacting, my dear little Empress?"

"……" Eun Hwiryong bit her lip. In the past, she wouldn't have tolerated such blatant defiance and would have immediately punished the offender, but now, she felt trapped and powerless. The Seol Clan's influence over the North Sea Ice Palace was just too immense.

Seol Suryeon looked around the Royal Court as if she were its master. "Thirty five years have passed since martial artists from the Central Plains launched a violent assault on our Palace. Empress, did you not lose your younger sister then as well?"

Eun Hwiryong nodded gravely. "Of course I remember. How could I ever forget?"

Several of the successor candidates had died at that time. By a stroke of heavenly luck, Eun Hwiryong had survived the attack and become Princess, but sadly, her younger sister was lost in the chaos.

Hayeon…

She still vividly remembered digging through the snow, desperately searching for her sister's body.

Seol Suryeon continued, "Yes, we lost many brothers and sisters that fateful day. Our Palace, already weakened by civil war, was invaded by despicable martial artists from the Central Plains who sought to plunder our treasures."

On that day marked by darkness, cloaked figures bearing masks launched an assault on the North Sea Ice Palace. Seol Suryeon, the Empress at the time, spearheaded the elite martial artists of the Ice Palace, successfully repelling the invaders. Despite this victory, the North Sea Ice Palace suffered great damage, and hatred toward the Central Plains began to fester.

"For a long time, the Central Plains have treated us as barbarians. They considered us uncivilized for living in a barren land and saw us as an inferior race!"

The Ice Palace martial artists were immediately enraged by these words, and the eyes of those who had lost loved ones to that incident turned bloodshot.

"The moment has arrived to exact retribution!"

"We must show those Central Plains bastards the strength of the North Sea!"

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"Your Majesty! Please make your decision!"

The sycophants following Seol Suryeon significantly outnumbered half of those in the Royal Court. It was a number that burdened even the Empress.

"…You all know as well as I do that the Blood Cult is a dangerous organization," Eun Hwiryong warned.

Seol Suryeon laughed, "That is merely the Central Plains murim's one-sided assessment. The Cult has supported us for a long time, yet they have never demanded anything from us. They haven't pressured us to convert to their religion, nor have they asked for the North Sea's martial arts or treasures."

"……"

It was all true. Although most of the Blood Cult's funding had gone to the Seol Clan, their help had undoubtedly been instrumental in helping the reclusive North Sea Ice Palace overcome difficult times.

"Empress. This is the first time the Cult has asked us for something, and it's not even something contrary to our desires. We need only support them as allies when they invade the Central Plains!"

If the people of the Central Plains learned of this, they would be horrified. The North Sea Ice Palace was larger and more powerful than any of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans.

For them to break their long seclusion and invade the Central Plains alongside the Blood Cult was no different from saying two Heavenly Blights would fall upon the murim simultaneously.

"The Cult has promised us the fertile northern lands of the Central Plains. If we are victorious, we will no longer be forced to live in this desolate hellhole. Empress. Make your decision. Now."

This was the meeting at which the final decision on whether the North Sea Ice Palace would participate in the upcoming war would be made. The sycophant faction, led by Empress Dowager Seol Suryeon, advocated for participation. In contrast, the current Empress, Eun Hwiryong, maintained a conservative stance.

"If we are defeated, our Palace will lose everything," Eun Hwiryong argued again.

Seol Suryeon clicked her tongue in annoyance. Ugh, how many times have we gone through this same conversation already!?

She sneered, "If I had known you were this timid, I wouldn't have passed the Empress position to you…"

BOOM!

An old man with pure white hair and a beard stepped forward with a heavy stomp. He was Grand Elder Han Songbaek, the patriarch of the Han Clan and the most influential person here after the two women.

Releasing his aura, he roared, "Even if you are the Empress Dowager, further disrespect will not be tolerated!"

Twenty years ago, Seol Suryeon had been forced to relinquish the position of Empress to Eun Hwiryong due to pressure from the elders of the Ice Palace, centered around Han Songbaek. At that time, the Seol Clan was nowhere near as influential as it was now, so they succeeded.

What an eyesore of a human! Seol Suryeon glared fiercely at Han Songbaek, but a smile remained etched on her lips. "Grand Elder. Has there been any improvement in your grandson's chronic illness?"

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Han Songbaek's white eyebrows twitched. "…That is not your concern, nor is it a topic you should bring up in this Royal Court."

Seol Suryeon's smile widened. She did not miss the old man's slip up.

This damn geezer will crumble soon enough.

He was still stubbornly supporting Eun Hwiryong, but so what? The delicate balance between the Seol, Eun, and Han Clans had been broken long ago. Now, the Seol Clan was more powerful than the Eun and Han Clans combined.

I can crush them with force anytime. I'm only tolerating them because I want to preserve the North Sea's strength as much as possible.

Seol Suryeon shifted her gaze between Eun Hwiryong and Han Songbaek. "What a dilemma. It seems our Empress and Grand Elder insist on being stubborn…"

"Your Highness the Empress Dowager!"

Before Seol Suryeon could finish her sentence, an urgent voice calling for her echoed from outside the Royal Court.

She furrowed her delicate eyebrows.

The Royal Court doors opened, and a Seol Clan martial artist entered and knelt before her.

"What is it?" she snapped irritably.

"I'm terribly sorry, but there's something you must attend to immediately…"

"Can't you see what kind of meeting this is?"

[I know, but…]

"Using telepathy in the Royal Court, and right in front of me, no less… Shall I take this as an insult?" Eun Hwiryong warned sternly.

The Seol Clan martial artist's face blanched.

"It's fine. Just make your report," Seol Suryeon said.

"Someone named Seol Ryonghwi has come looking for you, Your Highness."

"…Who?" Seol Suryeon tilted her head at the unfamiliar name.

The martial artist explained, "He claims to be the son of Seol Sinwoo. From what we can see, he seems to be of our Palace's bloodline."

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Seol Suryeon narrowed her eyes. "Seol Sinwoo…"

She recalled her nephew, who had left the family long ago. Seol Sinwoo was a pathetic and foolish fellow who chose to leave on the night he lost the successor competition.

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Though perplexing, the matter wasn't important enough to halt the meeting.

"For now, take him to the main family estate and have him wait there. I will check on him myself after the meeting."

"B-But… it seems he's gotten into a dispute with the Prince…"

"That good-for-nothing brat Seol Mugeol!" Enraged, Seol Suryeon released her killing intent.

Trembling in terror, the Seol Clan martial artist continued, "A small commotion occurred outside the fortress wall, so the Prince stepped out to investigate. In the process, he got into a scuffle with the visitor…"

"Sigh, how long has it been since I last grounded him for causing trouble?"

Prince Seol Mugeol was a Seol Clan prodigy with outstanding martial arts talent, but was also notorious for his haughty temperament.

Sinwoo's son might have been seriously injured. No, we're not yet certain if that person is my nephew's son.

Seol Suryeon was not so naive as to believe such claims without evidence. However, the prince's conduct was a serious matter. There was already a lot of controversy surrounding his behavior.

Seol Suryeon knew she wasn't a saint herself, but even she thought Seol Mugeol was overly reckless and arrogant.

"…Understood." Sighing, she turned to Eun Hwiryong and said, "Empress, we shall discuss this matter again soon."

Turning around, she stormed out of the Royal Court, not caring if the Empress gave her permission or not. Still, no one dared to point out her insolence.

"Your Majesty, shall we head out as well?" Han Songbaek suggested.

Eun Hwiryong nodded. "Yes."

The meeting was dismissed, and the Ice Palace leaders left the Royal Court. It seemed word had already spread about the altercation, as many curious North Sea martial artists flocked around the fortress wall, eager to witness a spectacle rarely seen in the North Sea Ice Palace—a brawl.

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"How can this be…?"

"Am I seeing things?"

To Eun Hwiryong's surprise, the spectators' murmurs reflected not horror, but confusion and disbelief.

WHOOSH!

She kicked off the ground, flew above the crowd in an instant, and landed lightly atop the Ice Palace's tallest spire…only to witness an utterly unbelievable sight.

"What on earth…!?"

The Prince of the North Sea Ice Palace was being unilaterally beaten to a pulp.

Translator's Note: Reread the Nine Yin Witch arc, and then read this chapter again. You might notice something…