TL: FoodieMonster007

    "I have... a niece?" Eun Hwiryong stared blankly at Baek Suryong, a look of shock clearly visible on her normally placid face. She had never displayed such raw emotion since becoming Empress.

    Baek Suryong nodded. "Her name is Yeo Min, and she''s a sophomore at the Azure Dragon Academy. Since the first time I saw you, I thought you two looked alike..."

    He recounted his meeting with the Nine Yin Witch in the Valley of Evil, relaying exactly what she had told him without addition or omission. He described the horrors she endured as a test subject, how she had barely escaped, and the atrocities the Blood Cult had inflicted on the abducted children.

    Soon, Eun Hwiryong and Han Songbaek''s faces contorted with unbridled rage.

    "To commit such an unforgivable crime against humanity...!"

    "Those bastards deserve to be torn to pieces!"

    Baek Suryong continued calmly, "Anyway, during that incident thirty-five years ago, the Blood Cult abducted the children of the North Sea and used them as test subjects. I believe the Empress''s sister was among them... what was her name again?"

    "...Eun Hayeon."

    "Yes, Eun Hayeon. I don''t have evidence, but I think it''s quite likely that she escaped the Blood Cult along with the Nine Yin Witch. Later, after they parted ways, she gave birth to a daughter."

    Come to think of it...

    Baek Suryong recalled his brief conversation with the Blue Eyed Freak before leaving the Valley of Evil. Apparently, someone had helped the children escape.

    "He was a boy with a worm-like scar on his lip. He hated the Blood Cult just as much as you do... so for a moment, I wondered if you were him."

    "That definitely wasn''t me, but I would certainly like to meet him someday."

    He had forgotten about it for a long time, but the story of that boy suddenly resurfaced in his mind.

    I wonder if I''ll ever run into him. If he''s still alive, that is.

    Baek Suryong didn''t let his thoughts about the boy linger. There were more important matters at hand.

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    Eun Hwiryong furrowed her brows. "Can you be certain that child is truly my niece?"

    "The facial resemblance could be a coincidence, but I don''t think I''m wrong. Besides, even if she''s not your niece, she is definitely of noble North Sea lineage."

    "T-Then is she living with her mother, with Hayeon, right now?"

    "...Unfortunately, Yeo Min said her mother died more than ten years ago."

    Eun Hwiryong bit her lip, her eyes clouded with confusion. "If she escaped alive, she should have returned home. Why would she give birth to a daughter and raise her in a foreign land alone?"

    "...I don''t know the exact details of her circumstances. You can ask your niece about it when you meet her later."

    Baek Suryong sighed softly. Until now, he had avoided asking his students about their pasts unless they brought them up first. Since he had a secret he couldn''t speak of himself, he was always especially mindful of such matters.

    Still, he felt a small pang of regret.

    If I had known about this sooner, I would have brought Yeo Min here.

    "Yeo Min, Yeo Min..." Eun Hwiryong repeated the name several times. Her younger sister, whom she thought had been killed at a young age, had actually grown up and left a daughter behind in the world.

    It was an astonishing tale, but she truly wanted to believe in a miracle.

    She asked, "You said she''s a student at the Azure Dragon Academy?"

    "Once the mess here has been settled, I will bring her here for a visit during winter break."

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    "...Might I go there to see the child before then?"

    "That would be good too. For now, however, let''s focus on what we must do."

    Eun Hwiryong nodded, her resolve hardening. First, they had to execute the traitor Seol Suryeon and restore the North Sea Ice Palace to its original state. Only then could she face her niece with her head held high.

    Eun Hwiryong, Baek Suryong, and Han Songbaek put their heads together and discussed ways of dealing with Seol Suryeon.

    "When exactly will the Blood Cult''s envoy arrive?"

    "I received word that they will arrive in five days."

    "...That means we don''t have much time."

    Baek Suryong frowned. Once the Blood Cult''s envoy arrived, the Seol Clan would have the upper hand. Before then, they had to kill Seol Suryeon and bring the chaotic North Sea Ice Palace under control.

    Needless to say, that would not be easy.

    "A frontal assault will result in certain defeat," Han Songbaek said with a sigh.

    The Seol Clan''s domain was no different from a fortress within a fortress. For their side to strike first was senseless, especially since Seol Suryeon was always guarded by dozens of martial artists. Even in her chambers, she had bodyguards hidden in the shadows.

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    Not to mention, Seol Suryeon herself was the strongest martial artist in the North Sea. It was impossible to guess how much blood would be shed if the two sides clashed head-on.

    Rubbing his chin, Baek Suryong muttered, "If only we could lure Seol Suryeon outside the Seol Clan''s territory, we might find a way..."

    "There is one opportunity to draw Seol Suryeon out," Eun Hwiryong chimed in. Looking around the Royal Court, she continued, "In three days, a grand conference will be held here. All the elders of the families representing the North Sea and its masters will convene here to decide on the invasion of the Central Plains."

    This meeting was a continuation of one that had fizzled out because of Seol Ryonghwi''s appearance a few days ago. Even after that, Seol Suryeon had pressured Eun Hwiryong continuously, but she held out until the end, delaying the decision.

    Now, this grand conference might be their only chance.

    Baek Suryong''s eyes lit up instantly. "That day will be the perfect opportunity to strike Seol Suryeon."

    "It might be the only opportunity," Eun Hwiryong added.

    Their eyes met, and they both nodded.

    On that day, Seol Suryeon and the elders of the Seol Clan would be without bodyguards and isolated inside the Royal Court. If the doors were locked from the outside, they would only have to deal with Seol Suryeon and her followers.

    Baek Suryong looked at the main doors of the Royal Court. "How long can those doors hold?"

    "It should buy us at least fifteen minutes."

    "We''ll have to end it within that time."

    Baek Suryong nodded. Once Seol Suryeon and the Seol Clan elders were eliminated, the formidable Seol Clan would be reduced to a disorganized mob.

    However, there was still one more issue to address.

    "The problem is the families that follow the Seol Clan," Han Songbaek remarked gravely. "Almost seventy percent of the families in our Palace pledge allegiance to the Seol Clan. They will be here on the day of the grand conference. If they side with the Seol Clan, we will be at a great disadvantage."

    "What if we inform them of what Seol Suryeon has done and ask for their cooperation?" Baek Suryong asked.

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    Han Songbaek shook his head grimly. "It will be difficult. We don''t have any clear evidence of her crimes, and some of them have been loyal to the Seol Clan for decades."

    "Hmmm..." Baek Suryong thought for a moment, then asked, "Grand Elder, let me ask just one question. Of the families loyal to Seol Suryeon, are most of them genuinely loyal?"

    Han Songbaek shook his head, a deep shadow falling over his face. "How could they be? Half of them were coerced through a combination of promises and threats. Turning their hearts will be nearly impossible."

    "What do you mean?"

    "Seol Suryeon bribed their families with money. When that didn''t work, she poisoned their heirs. Then, she demanded loyalty in exchange for the antidote, claiming that only her medicine could save their children. She did the same thing to my grandson. Everyone knows this, too, but they are keeping quiet because they lack evidence."

    "Poison...?" A peculiar light flashed in Baek Suryong''s eyes.

    However, Han Songbaek didn''t notice. His mind was filled with visions of his grandson, who was poisoned at a young age and was now confined to his bed.

    I''m sorry. This is all your heartless grandfather''s fault.

    Even if it meant incurring his family''s resentment, he had no choice. He could not, in good conscience, sell the North Sea Ice Palace to the Blood Cult.

    Most of the other families, in contrast, chose to protect their heirs. Therefore, unless this problem was solved, the families whose children were being held hostage would have no choice but to side with the Seol Clan at the grand conference.

    However, Baek Suryong grinned. "If poison is the problem, I think I can solve it."

    Han Songbaek''s jaw dropped. "What did you say?"

    Baek Suryong declared confidently, "Poison, qi deviation, and delinquent rehabilitation are my specialties."

    "What are you talking about...?"

    "Tell them I will cure all the poisoned children on the condition that they join our side."

    "...!!" Han Songbaek''s eyes went wide with disbelief. "I-Is that truly possible?"

    "Seol Suryeon already tried to poison me, but she failed. The Blood Cult''s poison doesn''t work on me."

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    Baek Suryong grinned confidently. Not only was he immune to the Cult''s poison, he could absorb poison qi and cure others too. After all, hadn''t he had already treated the Beggars'' Gang Chief and earned the title of Honorary Beggar?

    Wait, don''t tell me something similar is going to happen here too? That might be a little...

    As expected, Han Songbaek suddenly grabbed Baek Suryong''s hand, his old eyes completely bloodshot. "Is that really true? If it is, this debt of gratitude, I will surely...!"

    "Enough, let me go. I''ve got plenty of unrepaid debts piled up here and there, but most importantly, I don''t ever want to hear old men call me ''brother'' again."

    Han Songbaek seemed confused by the strange statement, but nodded eagerly anyway. "Understood!"

    Baek Suryong turned to look at Eun Hwiryong. "Are there any other families we need to worry about?"

    Eun Hwiryong shook her head. "Some families have voluntarily pledged loyalty to the Seol Clan, but their numbers aren''t large enough to cause a problem."

    Eun Hwiryong and Han Songbaek''s cheeks flushed. Suddenly, they felt as if victory was within their reach.

    Still, Baek Suryong was concerned. "Even so, simply confronting the Seol Clan won''t be easy. Quite a few of them have learned demonic arts."

    "Demonic arts, you say?"

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    "You didn''t know? Half of the elders have learned demonic arts. When cornered, they will surely use them."

    A chilling killing intent swirled in Eun Hwiryong''s eyes. "Traitors! They''ve thrown away every shred of their pride as warriors of the North Sea. They must never be forgiven!"

    VWOOOOM!

    The White Ice Divine Sword hanging at Eun Hwiryong''s waist, one of the two great divine artifacts passed down in the North Sea Ice Palace along with the White Ice Bangles, trembled in response to its master''s rage.

    Eun Hwiryong placed her hand on the hilt of her sword and spoke as if swearing an oath to her ancestors. "As Empress of the North Sea Ice Palace, I swear that I will personally execute the traitor Seol Suryeon."

    WOOOONG!

    The White Ice Bangles on Baek Suryong''s wrists glowed white in response to the White Ice Divine Sword.

    "I''ll leave her to you, then. Leave Seol Mugeol and the ones who learned demonic arts to me," he said.

    Han Songbaek looked back and forth between the two, his face filled with emotion. "I will secretly contact the elders of the other families."

    The broad outline of the plan was set. Now, only the detailed revisions remained.

    The three of them discussed and reviewed the plan to change the fate of the North Sea Ice Palace late into the night.

    Late that night, Seol Suryeon summoned Seol Ryonghwi as soon as she heard he had returned.

    "You''re late. Did your talk with the Empress go well?" she asked impatiently.

    Seol Ryonghwi nodded, his cold, stern impression giving no hint of his thoughts. "Yes."

    Seol Suryeon raised an eyebrow. "I heard you chased out all the royal bodyguards as soon as you met the Empress. Did you speak ill of me there?"

    A thin smile formed on Seol Ryonghwi''s lips. "How could I?"

    Seol Suryeon narrowed her eyes at her grandnephew''s smile, which she had never seen before. "Judging by your expression, the meeting must have gone exceedingly well. Stop stoking my curiosity and tell me. What did you talk about?"

    Seol Ryonghwi replied, "I will be attending the grand conference in three days."

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    "You? At the conference? Why?"

    Seol Suryeon tilted her head as if puzzled. The grand conference in three days was certainly important, but Seol Ryonghwi had no reason to attend. He was neither a family elder nor in a position to offer an opinion.

    Upon hearing Seol Ryonghwi''s subsequent words, however, she felt her fatigue disappear completely.

    "The Empress will declare the reopening of the succession war at the conference."

    Seol Suryeon''s eyes widened in shock. "...What did you just say?"

    Seol Ryonghwi repeated himself once more, clearly and distinctly.

    Seol Suryeon fell silent for a moment, then shot up from her seat and approached her grandnephew. "Ahahaha! You truly are remarkable! To have persuaded Eun Hwiryong! Surely you''re not lying?"

    Seol Ryonghwi smiled meaningfully instead of answering, letting the old woman''s imagination do the work for him.

    Seol Suryeon looked at her grandnephew, unable to contain her admiration. Her fingers slowly caressed his cheek. "Truly amazing. How impressive. Why did it take so long for our family''s treasure to appear?"

    In her imagination, the Seol Clan already reigned as the North Sea''s eternal royal family. She would see the North Sea fall completely under the Seol Clan''s rule in her generation. Then, they would invade the Central Plains with the Blood Cult and seize those fertile lands and riches.

    "Fufufu, I am greatly excited for the conference in three days now."

    "As am I, Grandaunt."

    Similar smirks formed on the lips of the two martial artists.

    Translator''s Note: Since English readers have finally seen that train wreck of a manhwa chapter, here''s Su cosplaying to cheer you up. P.s. This amount of photoshopping is the limit of my artistic abilities.