Chapter 115: Thin Ice Part 5

Among the military officers in the palace, the name Seol Tae Pyeong had already reached towering heights.

As a child, he had killed a wild boar, and even during his time as an apprentice warrior, he had slain hundreds of demonic spirits. He wielded the Cold Iron Heavy Sword as if it were a pair of metal chopsticks and cut down even the special demonic spirits that threatened the imperial family. He was the Sword Master of Hwalseong District.

In fact, Seol Tae Pyeong was already exaggerated by those who had never seen him before, and stories of him demolishing a building with a single sword strike or defeating intermediate demonic spirits with his bare hands had long since been added.

What could that monster possibly be incapable of? Where were his limits?

Who could possibly stand in the way of that warrior with a sword at his waist? That beast, who would cut down anyone he met and keep moving forward, was the rising star among the warriors of Cheongdo Palace.

It was said that in the dictionary of that brave warrior, the word “retreat” did not exist.

For Seol Tae Pyeong, the Sword Master who cut down all masters and monsters alike, the only option was to move forward.

Ta-da-da-da-dak!

I’m going to die… I’m really going to die…!

This Seol Tae-pyeong was currently running around in fear of death.

The passing maids stared in shock as he dashed across the inner palace.

The brave military officer who had once decapitated Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang was now running away with terror-stricken eyes.

Even the maids felt a creeping fear and started wondering what on earth had happened.

Seol Tae Pyeong finally reached the middle gate, but the maids of Vermilion Bird Palace were already stationed around it.

“Huff…”

“We’ve been expecting you, General Seol. Please enter the Vermilion Bird Palace.”

“It seems something serious is happening at Hwalseong District. As its master, I need to get there immediately.”

“Still, please take a moment to meet with Her Highness, the Vermilion Princess. She has personally summoned you.”

Within the palace hierarchy, the Vermilion Princess held the highest rank.

However, no matter how powerful a crown princess might be, she wouldn’t dare order around a general-level officer. Hierarchy alone did not symbolize absolute power.

It was more like the relationship between a battalion commander and a civilian administrator.

Even though the ceremonial hierarchy clearly favored the mistresses of the Four Great Palaces, it was rare for them to restrict each other with commands, as mutual respect was usually maintained.

However, if the Vermilion Princess had truly intended to hold Seol Tae Pyeong in place, he wouldn’t have been able to refuse her orders. That would have been seen as a direct challenge to the authority of Cheongdo Palace.

If they were alone, it might have been a different story, but openly defying the Vermilion Princess’s command in front of so many eyes and ears could easily escalate into a significant problem.

Seol Tae Pyeong swallowed dryly and gave a nod after he saw the state of the gathered maids.

His only option was to head toward Vermilion Bird Palace for now, then find a chance to slip away when no one was watching.

It was at that moment.

“Before that, you’ll need to stop by the White Tiger Palace first. You can visit the Vermilion Bird Palace afterward.”

A figure had entered from the other side of the middle gate while carrying various luggage.

It was Ye Rim, the Headmaid of White Tiger Palace, who was tidying up her maid’s uniform while letting her pure white hair hang down.

“Huh? But the Vermilion Princess…”

“There seems to be a problem with the talisman that wards off demonic spirits in the White Tiger Palace. We urgently need someone to take a look. Since you hold both the rank of Vice General and also served as an internal inspector in the White Immortal Palace, you should be able to review it quickly. It won’t take long.”

Is this a sudden lifeline of salvation?

That was Seol Tae Pyeong’s initial thought, but he quickly shook his head.

The White Tiger Palace wasn’t likely to be much different. Right now, escaping the inner palace was his top priority.

If things took a turn for the worse, his only option might be to overturn all palace hierarchy and make a run for it… but that would be risking his life. For now, watching how things played out seemed to be the best course of action.

“The Vermilion Princess may have her reasons for summoning you, but the issue with the talisman in the White Tiger Palace is directly tied to our safety. Especially during times like these, with the disturbances caused by demonic spirits, it’s even more critical. So… we ask for a brief delay in your visit to Vermilion Bird Palace.”

While the Vermilion Princess’s personal matters were important, they couldn’t take precedence over palace security.

When such reasoning was put forth, not even a maid representing Vermilion Bird Palace could object.

“In that case… please come to Vermilion Bird Palace once the matter is settled.”

In the end, the Vermilion Bird Palace had no choice but to back down.

As Seol Tae Pyeong followed behind Headmaid Ye Rim of the White Tiger Palace, his mind was racing furiously once again.

He had avoided being dragged to the Vermilion Bird Palace by the maids, but there was no guarantee the White Tiger Palace would be any safer.

Since it was almost certain that the crown princess consorts had fallen victim to the White Demonic Spirit, entering the White Tiger Palace could be as good as a death sentence.

However, the White Tiger Palace was located on the outskirts of the inner palace. Once he got there, if he timed it right, he could scale a few walls and escape to the main palace.

If he could just make it out of the inner palace, he could run straight to the Hwalseong District. So, as soon as he entered the courtyard of White Tiger Palace, he planned to use the excuse of visiting the bathroom to make his escape.

The plan was perfect.

But then again, plans are always perfect… until reality hits.

“Oh, Vice General, you’ve arrived.”

To his shock, the White Princess appeared as soon as they stepped into the courtyard. There was no chance to run.

White Princess Ha Wol rarely ventured outside the White Tiger Palace, but today, for some reason, she stood in the courtyard and was gazing up at the branches of a plum tree.

Why did it have to be today? Why, of all times, did it have to be now, right when they had summoned Seol Tae Pyeong to the White Tiger Palace under the pretense of inspecting the talismans for warding off demonic spirits?

Seol Tae-pyeong, whose mind was already at its limit, began to sweat as he subtly took a step back.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen General Seol’s face. But… you don’t look well.”

“Wh-White Princess, I-I, it’s just that…”

“Could it be that I called you at an inconvenient time when you’re not feeling well? But I had something urgent on my end, so I hope you understand.”

A hint of concern appeared on the White Princess’s face as she spoke. However, she wasn’t the type to openly express such emotions.

From her perspective, since Seol Tae Pyeong didn’t look well, the most considerate thing to do was to let him rest as soon as possible.

“I’ve heard you’re busy with matters in Hwalseong District, so once you finish inspecting the talismans, have a cup of tea and go. Since these are talismans the White Immortal Elder himself placed, it would be most efficient for you to check them personally.”

With that, the White Princess along with her maids crossed the courtyard and headed inside to attend to her own matters.

As the mistress of the White Tiger Palace, the White Princess was busy. In fact, she played a crucial role in managing the affairs of the Inbong clan as well, so there was a lot of work to be done every day.

Of course, Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong was an important figure to keep an eye on, but if she neglected the inner workings of the Inbong clan, it would be a case of losing sight of the bigger picture.

Seol Tae Pyeong’s eyes widened as he watched the White Princess walking towards the palace, thinking about her duties.

“…….!”

The White Princess was unharmed.

She hadn’t fallen to the White Demonic Spirit yet…!

“Please, help me, White Princess.”

After swiftly completing his inspection of the talismans inside the White Tiger Palace, Seol Tae Pyeong entered the tea room.

He bowed his head and spoke from where he sat across from her.

The White Princess who had been reviewing the ledgers of the Inbong clan widened her eyebrows slightly in surprise at Seol Tae Pyeong’s actions.

“…General Seol?”

“The other palace mistresses are behaving strangely right now. If this continues, I’m as good as dead.”

The White Princess suddenly changed her expression and put down her brush when he saw Seol Tae Pyeong speaking like that.

For a moment, she suspected he might be employing some trick to deceive her. After all, suspicion had become second nature to her. She was the kind of person who had grown accustomed to doubting others.

But after taking a step back to reconsider, she realized Seol Tae Pyeong wasn’t the type to resort to underhanded tactics. He might engage in power plays or carefully calculated exchanges, but he wasn’t someone who openly schemed like this.

“What… what are you talking about?”

“Among the mistresses of the Four Great Palaces, you are the only one who remains in her right mind, White Princess.”

“You’ll need to explain more clearly if you expect me to believe that.”

“Well…”

Seol Tae Pyeong hesitated and his gaze dropped to the floor before he finally spoke; his words came out with difficulty.

“If you see it for yourself… you’ll understand.”

The White Princess ran her fingers through her loose hair to straighten it.

She wasn’t entirely sure what Seol Tae Pyeong was talking about, but judging by his expression and demeanor, it was clear he was deeply desperate.

“.…..”

The White Princess was an opportunist by nature. She was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to use any means necessary if it meant securing power and authority.

This is… a chance to seize Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong’s weakness.

Negotiation could only happen between equals.

For reasons she didn’t yet know, Seol Tae Pyeong’s life seemed to be hanging by a thread. In this situation, the White Princess could take the upper hand.

No matter how hard she searched, she couldn’t find a single weakness in the vice general Seol Tae Pyeong. So this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take advantage of him…!

On second thought, perhaps now wasn’t the time to be reviewing the Inbong clan’s ledgers.

Maybe it was fate, aligning timing and luck, that gave the White Princess this chance to gain control over the Vice General.

The White Princess closed the ledger and pushed it aside. She then cleared her throat as she prepared to speak.

“I am the mistress of the White Tiger Palace. No matter how urgent your situation may be, you cannot simply command me to─”

She stopped mid-sentence and studied Seol Tae Pyeong’s face again.

He was drenched in cold sweat, looking as if he had truly come back from the brink of death.

This fearless warrior, who hadn’t even flinched before the Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang, now looked utterly defeated.

Was the situation far more dire than she had anticipated?

But still, that was Seol Tae Pyeong’s problem, wasn’t it?

Regardless, the circumstances were clearly in her favor now, and from the White Princess’s perspective, it was only right to take full advantage of this upper hand.

This was her golden chance to raise her own value. Letting such an opportunity slip away was unthinkable for a strategist like her.

And yet—Seol Tae Pyeong’s expression that was filled with such desperation—

“…….”

The White Princess paused for a moment and swallowed dryly without realizing it.

Corner him, manipulate him.

Use your cooperation as a weapon to extract something from him.

That was how the Inbong clan did things.

“…….”

“…….”

“…So, what is it you need me to do?”

The White Princess bit her lower lip and let out a sigh.

Weighing the pros and cons was important, but for now, it seemed wiser to extend a hand to Seol Tae Pyeong in his troubled state.

This too was like planting a seed that she could reap in the future.

Without even realizing that this thought was a form of self-justification, the White Princess listened to what Seol Tae Pyeong had to say.

“If my prediction is correct… soon, the White Demonic Spirit will appear.”

The fact that the White Princess was still unharmed meant that the White Demonic Spirit was still roaming the inner palace.

If that was the case… the White Princess herself was the most crucial key to drawing it out.

***

Headmaid Lee Ryeong entered the Heavenly Jade Pavilion with Seol Ran.

She believed that if they performed the ritual using the Heavenly Jade Pavilion’s pure water, they could dispel the illusion spell that was clouding the mind of the Heavenly Maiden.

Of course, it would take quite some time. If they wanted to return the Heavenly Maiden to her original state as soon as possible, they would need to act swiftly.

“Fill the water jars with the pure water. We should inform the Taoist priest of the main palace about the situation and ask him to prepare a medicinal decoction to dispel the illusion spell affecting the Heavenly Maiden.”

“Yes, Headmaid.”

Seol Ran hurried along while carrying a water jar, and quickly filled it with the pure water of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion.

Only a select few were ever allowed to enter the Pavilion.

Even for a high senior maid, access to this most sacred place within the Heavenly Dragon Hall was only granted in times of emergency.

Therefore, this was the first time Seol Ran had entered so deep into the Pavilion, and the first time she had seen the fabled waterfall she had only heard about.

Of course, the urgency of the situation left no time for her to take in her surroundings.

While she carrying the water jar with Headmaid Lee Ryeong, she paused for a moment and looked up at the large waterfall.

“Maid Seol, we don’t have time. Stay focused!”

Seol Ran who had been staring up at the waterfall in a daze with the jar in her hands briefly had a faint blue light flicker in her eyes before it vanished.

It happened so quickly that even the Headmaid didn’t notice the strange situation.