Chapter 146
“The Thousand-Year Snowflower is truly precious, even more than my own life.”
The commander smiled lightly.
“I didn’t drop it once throughout the entire journey, you know?”
“…You’ve worked hard to get here.”
Doyul accepted the commander’s gesture with a serious expression.
Countless emotions surged within him.
The Thousand-Year Snowflower.
Among all the elixirs in the world, it ranked at the very top.
Even in the Northern Sea Ice Palace, both the ingredients and the method of crafting it had been completely lost. Restoring the Thousand-Year Snowflower had only recently been accomplished.
Despite the fact that a clear reason was never given, and despite the potential risks, no one had objected.
Doyul, fiddling with the box, impulsively spoke.
“The Thousand-Year Snowflower won’t be wasted. I swear on that.”
The commander casually shrugged in response.
“Of course. If it’s in your hands, it will be handled properly.”
“….”
“….”
Overwhelmed by the sentiment, Doyul gently pulled his lips together, a quiet tension in the room.
Yerin softly patted his hand, providing silent comfort.
They both understood that they were sharing a similar feeling at that moment.
“…Thank you for trusting me.”
His fingers tightened slightly on the box.
“I’ll never let down the people of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
Doyul soon called in a nearby scribe.
“Get the Lord immediately. It’s an urgent matter.”
—
A little later.
The commander of the Frost Sword Unit took a break.
Yerin and Doyul followed the scribe’s guidance to Lord Joo’s office.
“Lord Joo.”
“Ah, you’ve arrived.”
Lord Joo rose from his seat to welcome them.
“I heard you were looking for me.”
“That’s correct.”
Doyul nodded and took out the box from his chest.
It looked like an ordinary box at first glance—a simple lacquered case with nothing particularly special about it.
Lord Joo tilted his head, puzzled.
“What exactly is this?”
“It’s the Thousand-Year Snowflower.”
Doyul’s calm response caused Lord Joo to momentarily doubt his ears.
“T-the Thousand-Year Snowflower?”
“Yes.”
Doyul remained composed throughout.
Lord Joo’s eyes trembled violently.
“If, if this truly is the Thousand-Year Snowflower…”
“It’s for saving League Master’s life.”
Lord Joo froze in place.
“It’s about time League Master makes a full recovery.”
Doyul concluded gently.
Lord Joo was overwhelmed with emotions.
As a military officer of the Wulin Alliance, he yearned to grasp this lifeline immediately.
However…
‘The Northern Sea Ice Palace…’
As a warrior, more than anything else, he understood how deeply the Northern Sea Ice Palace had contributed to the Wulin Alliance and, by extension, the entire martial world.
A true master devotes their life entirely to martial arts.
And these two—Lord Doyul and Madam—though still young, were already considered among the best warriors in the martial world.
What would the Thousand-Year Snowflower mean to them?
One such elixir could redefine the boundaries of martial arts itself.
“I… as a military officer of the Wulin Alliance, cannot dare to refuse the grace you have shown.”
Lord Joo spoke in a trembling voice.
He carefully grasped the box in his hands, and slowly opened the lid.
A deep, soothing fragrance filled the office, and eventually, a softly glowing orb emerged.
Lord Joo inhaled deeply.
“I… I know it’s truly unworthy to accept this so humbly.”
“Lord Joo.”
“The Murim League will not forget the grace of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
Lord Joo embraced the box with both arms tightly.
Despite trembling shoulders, he tried desperately to hold back his tears.
“Thank you so much…”
But the flood of tears couldn’t be stopped.
Thick tears fell one by one onto the coffin.
Knowing the indescribable hardship the League Master had endured, no one tried to console or calm him.
They simply waited silently for the pent-up emotions to be released.
Yerin murmured inwardly,
‘Elmhwang, I’ve done enough as a friend. Do you understand?’
It seemed like Elmhwang’s grumpy voice echoed in her mind.
‘Who asked for help! … Still, thanks.’
With an irritated tone, a voice muttered “thanks” like the buzz of a mosquito.
* * *
There was no need for further delay.
The three of them immediately brought the Thousand-Year Snowflower to the Murim League Master.
The League Master turned with a weary face toward them.
“What is going on here?”
“League Master, it’s the Thousand-Year Snowflower!”
Overcome with emotion, Lord Joo hastily announced the purpose without beating around the bush.
The League Master’s face showed surprise.
“Thousand-Year Snowflower?”
“Yes! If you consume this, you will completely neutralize the poison!”
“Good heavens, this is incredible.”
For a moment, the League Master exclaimed in awe.
However, his expression quickly hardened into seriousness.
“Firstly, I’ve heard that Northern Sea Ice Palace recently restored the Thousand-Year Snowflower.”
“Well, that’s—”
“Such a rare treasure for the Ice Palace. One must have some dignity.”
The League Master shook his head.
“How could I accept such a precious item?”
“But, League Master…!”
As Lord Joo desperately tried to persuade the League Master,
“This is also for us,” a calm voice interrupted.
It was Yerin.
“The Blood Cult took the life of the previous Northern Sea Ice Palace Lord and seized the body of the Saintess.”
“…Yes, I know that.”
“Furthermore, they extended their malice to my former clan, the Dang Clan. Of course, the clan master accepted the threat, but…”
Yerin paused briefly before firmly concluding her words.
“Ultimately, this situation has caused great harm to the righteous faction.”
“Doubtless, if the League Master cannot recover, it is exactly what the Blood Cult desires.”
Lord Doyul added.
“For the sake of avenging the Blood Cult, League Master’s recovery is imperative.”
“…”
The League Master’s brows furrowed deeply.
Lord Joo nearly clung to him in tears.
“Until now, I tried to keep the League Master’s condition as discreet as possible, but even so, rumors spread.”
“Lord Joo.”
“The mere rumor of the League Master being bedridden has already greatly demoralized the righteous faction.”
Hearing those words, the League Master flinched.
Lord Joo added desperately,
“If anything happens to the League Master here, Blood Cult might truly rise to power.”
“….”
Moved by such pleading, the League Master fell into deep thought.
Lord Joo anxiously watched the League Master, his heart pounding.
Then,
“How many times have we been indebted to the Northern Sea Ice Palace? And now, we receive their treasure too…”
Finally, the League Master let out a deep sigh and began to speak.
“I don’t know how I can repay this grace.”
“The price of the Thousand-Year Snowflower will be the complete downfall of Blood Cult,”
Yerin replied jokingly.
At those words, the League Master’s eyes widened for a moment, and then—
“Heh, you got me.”
For the first time, a smile touched the League Master’s lips.
“Good. If that’s the price, then it’s welcomed.”
“I’ll assist you in purifying your energy so you can recover more swiftly.”
Before the League Master could protest, Lord Joo quickly made the suggestion.
Yerin and Doyul nodded in agreement.
“Then, we’ll provide protection.”
* * *
Two days of protection had passed.
“Haa.”
Lord Joo let out a deep sigh as he stepped outside.
Though his face looked tired, it radiated brightness.
“How is the League Master doing?”
“Is everything okay?”
Doyul and Yerin stood near the League Master’s chamber, each asking their own question.
With a beaming face, Lord Joo exclaimed joyfully,
“The antidote worked!”
Hearing his bright voice, both of them deeply sighed in relief.
“That’s a relief.”
“I was worried the purification process might take too long.”
“So was I. I feared the League Master wouldn’t be able to endure the process.”
Excitedly nodding, Lord Joo hurriedly turned around.
“We need to call the physician immediately. We must check the League Master’s condition right away!”
Yerin and Doyul couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
How happy and hurried Lord Joo was—such an uncommon sight for his usually composed demeanor.
Soon after,
The summoned physician checked the League Master’s pulse and examined whether any poison remained.
“All toxins have been neutralized!”
The physician declared joyfully.
The tense expressions on everyone’s faces eased, and it was clear that the League Master’s complexion had become noticeably brighter.
“However, the poison had already spread for some time, so some bodily damage cannot be helped.”
The physician cautioned the League Master.
“It will be difficult to fully regain your former strength right away. You’ll need some time to recover.”
