At dawn the next day, the carriage carrying Geom Mugeuk and his party left Binggung.

Ian, who had said she would continue the mission she had interrupted instead of returning to the main sect, decided to accompany them at least until they were out of the Northern Sea.

As the carriage passed through the Binggung gates, someone was waiting.

It was the young palace lord, Hanseol.

“I came out to say farewell.”

Geom Mugeuk and Chimma exchanged light nods from inside the carriage, and Ian stepped down to talk. They had things to discuss.

“I heard from Mother.”

Hanseol called Binggung “Mother.” This was partly because her relationship with Binggung had grown closer recently, but also because this was a family matter.

Ian quietly observed Hanseol. Now they were cousins.

“You must be surprised? I was shocked too when I heard from the Palace Lord yesterday.”

“Please speak comfortably, since we’re sisters now.”

It was the first time Hanseol had said “sister” in her life. In the past, it would not have come so easily.

Her recent change in relationship with her mother brought a subtle shift in her feelings. Perhaps that was why this moment was not uncomfortable.

“I thought you were my younger sister.”

“...”

“Just kidding.”

“You’re still not funny.”

Hanseol, who had called Ian’s joke unfunny before, now smiled faintly despite her words.

“And this.”

Hanseol handed over a small box.

“Mother told me to give this to you. She said to open it later.”

The box was tightly sealed, not to be opened immediately. Whatever was inside, Ian knew she should at least express thanks.

“Please tell Auntie thank you for me.”

Just as Hanseol first said “sister,” this was Ian’s first time saying “aunt.” It felt awkward, but thinking of Binggung who had been happy to learn she was a niece, she kept proper manners.

“Well then, take care.”

Ian started to leave but looked back.

“Seola, take care.”

Hanseol showed a surprised expression, and Ian quickly added,

“Is it too soon?”

“No, a sister is a sister.”

Ian was bold at times like this.

“When you come to the Central Plains next time, I’ll show you around.”

Hanseol nodded, feeling awkward and unfamiliar—but this feeling was not unpleasant.

Ian got back into the carriage.

Geom Mugeuk leaned out the window and bid farewell.

“When the Post-Heirs gather, I’ll invite you. See you then.”

Hanseol did not yet know that this gathering was the moment when the Northern Sea Binggung’s young palace lord would be no different from anyone else, a truly special occasion.

The carriage carrying Geom Mugeuk, Chimma, and Ian departed.

Hanseol stood still, watching the carriage disappear like a passing breeze.

Binggung approached beside her, having revealed herself after watching from afar.

“Has Mother ever been to the Central Plains?”

Hearing “Mother,” Binggung flinched. When was the last time someone called her that? Hanseol was still watching the distant disappearing carriage, so it was unclear if her words were intentional or accidental.

“A few times.”

“What kind of place is the Central Plains?”

Hanseol only knew of the Central Plains from stories and books. She wanted to hear Mother’s thoughts.

Though the carriage faded into the distance, curiosity about the Central Plains arose in her heart for the first time.

Binggung slowly walked, brushing the snow off the branches, scattering flakes.

“When I was young, the Central Plains was a place I wanted to leave, then wanted to return to after leaving, then wanted to leave again.”

As time passed, that feeling faded, and now her longing was not as strong.

She liked the Northern Sea.

Neither the scattering spring flowers, nor the hot summer heat, nor the beautifully colored autumn leaves could surpass the beauty of this snowy scene.

But that was only her life.

Her gaze softened as it turned to her daughter, now definitely changed from before.

“Your Central Plains will be different.”

The carriage quickly sped south.

Because it was supported by the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Northern Sea branch, the carriage driver’s warrior was tense.

He never thought he’d drive a carriage carrying the Little Pill Master and Chimma—without even a single guard.

Maybe that’s why they could avoid attack? No one would believe the Little Pill Master was inside.

Despite the driver’s nervousness, the inside of the carriage was peaceful.

Chimma, not fully recovered from injury, occupied one side lying down—and still feigning pain.

“What’s the rush to drag a dying brother along like this?”

“When the work’s done, we go. I want to see Father, the Mazone, you, Daeryong, and Lord Jang.”

“And me...”

He almost said he’d be neglected, but with Ian aboard, the joke felt inappropriate.

After signaling Ian to look after him, Chimma closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

Geom Mugeuk looked out the window with Ian.

Feeling his concern, Ian spoke what she’d wanted to say earlier.

“Actually, I didn’t sleep a wink last night.”

Geom Mugeuk guessed she had.

“The Palace Lord probably didn’t either.”

Ian turned to him with a worried look.

“Should I have visited and said goodbye earlier, at dawn?”

She’d thought about it many times but ultimately did not.

“The Palace Lord was watching us from afar.”

“Really?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

He understood well the feeling of watching from a distance to avoid burdening someone.

Hearing Binggung had watched him, Ian felt even more apologetic.

Her gaze turned to the box Binggung had given her.

“Open it.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Ian carefully unsealed and opened the box.

Inside was another small box and a booklet. She opened the small box first.

As it opened, a unique fragrance spread inside the carriage.

It was strong enough to make Chimma, about to sleep, open his eyes wide.

Inside was a pure white fruit. Its aura seemed extraordinary at first glance.

“What is this?”

Geom Mugeuk recognized it immediately.

“It’s the Bingsulcho fruit.”

Geom Mugeuk had joked when teasing Seo Daeryong that snowmen grew Bingsulcho in the Northern Sea. Now here it was.

“Is it precious?”

When Binggung asked earlier if he really wanted the holy cup instead of a precious elixir better than the Eternal Snow Herb, that elixir meant this Bingsulcho.

Geom Mugeuk immediately told the driver,

“Stop the carriage for a moment.”

The carriage halted.

Geom Mugeuk took the box with the Bingsulcho fruit and had Ian get down.

After seating her beside the carriage, he handed her the fruit.

“Should I take it here?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded.

“Getting a rare elixir while I’m with you is your blessing too.”

Taking such elixirs requires someone trustworthy nearby. Aside from being unable to defend against outside attacks, the side effects could cause serious internal injury or possession by demonic influences.

Who else but Geom Mugeuk could give such solid support?

“Can I really take something this precious? You should have it instead.”

“Planning to start a war between the main sect and Binggung?”

Ian smiled faintly at the joke.

Once one’s life changes, it changes madly beyond control—feeling swept by the fierce waves of fate. Yet her courage and steadfastness came from always having someone watching over her.

“Then I will gratefully take it.”

Ian carefully took the Bingsulcho fruit.

It melted instantly in her mouth and spread through her body.

A shiver ran through Ian’s body. The energy flowing through her blood veins was cold—so cold it was almost unbelievable.

But the cold passed quickly, and like a fevered person catching a chill, her body burned hot.

Alternating between cold and heat, the energy from the Bingsulcho fruit shook her body wildly.

Ian was startled by this intense energy. She had braced herself but did not expect it to be so strong.

“Can I melt this?”

While cycling vital energy, she struggled to make the energy hers.

Her effort tamed the wild energy somewhat, but the energies began to scatter and leak away.

“No!”

Yet her inner energy and skill were insufficient to absorb all the medicine’s effect.

Then—

Geom Mugeuk’s hand touched her back. Through his palm, a stream of inner energy flowed into her body. His power helped pull back the scattered energy into her blood veins. Though a single stream, it was greater aid than an army.

Geom Mugeuk did not help from the start.

He let her experience melting the elixir herself enough before helping at the last moment. This was the blessing he had mentioned earlier.

Ian kept trying until the end, managing her vital energy and melting the elixir’s energy.

Eventually, the Bingsulcho fruit’s energy became enormous inner energy gathered in Ian’s dantian. The feeling of a fully charged dantian was an unforgettable thrill. Especially since the medicine suited her constitution, her inner energy was purer.

As a result, Ian’s eyes grew clearer and more intense.

“The energy I feel in my dantian is completely different. Has the Little Pill Master lived in such a wonderful world until now?”

Then Chimma leaned out the carriage window and said,

“Is the world of your Little Pill Master really only that good?”

“Right? If I’m a puddle, Master must be an ocean.”

At her comment about the difference in inner energy, Geom Mugeuk waved his hand.

“It’s not quite that much difference.”

How could he feign humility?

“If it’s a stream and an ocean, maybe.”

The two laughed, facing each other.

Ian bowed politely.

“Thank you for making me a stream.”

“Save that for when you see the Palace Lord.”

Though he said that, Ian knew how much Geom Mugeuk had helped melt the Bingsulcho. Without him, she would have lost a third of the energy.

They got back into the carriage.

From the box, Ian took out the smaller box containing the Bingsulcho fruit, and beneath it, a letter and a martial manual.

Ice Binding Divine Skill.

It was not the Palace Lord’s unique martial art but a treasured family technique of Binggung’s, considered one of the best ice skills. Similar to the relation between Geom Mugeuk’s Bicheon Sword Technique and Nine Flames Martial Arts.

“The manual is a copy. She said to memorize it and then burn it.”

The letter had no other message. To avoid burdening Ian, nothing else was written.

“Is it okay to receive all this just because we’re kin?”

Geom Mugeuk answered gladly.

“Just from this gift, you can tell how much the Palace Lord missed your mother. Accepting it happily is the wish of both of them.”

Ian said no more and began memorizing the manual.

Watching her, Chimma sent a private message to Geom Mugeuk.

—When you call someone your heart and treat them like a heart, they really become your heart.

This was Chimma’s impression of Geom Mugeuk and Ian.

—If you feel that, it means it’s time to take care of your own heart too.

Though said about a woman who liked Chimma, Chimma spoke nonsense.

—When we return, I’ll have to check your drinking first. See if you’ve rotted anywhere!

Geom Mugeuk smiled and loudly told the driver,

“Let’s depart again!”

Of course, no matter how strong one’s heart, it’s still a baby heart set out near water.

When they reached the point to part with Ian after leaving the Northern Sea, Geom Mugeuk said to Chimma,

“Keep going as you are. I’ll go see Ian off for a moment.”

Ian said it was unnecessary, but Geom Mugeuk sent the carriage on ahead.

“Piggyback.”

“Why?”

“Quickly.”

Without explanation, Geom Mugeuk hoisted Ian onto his back.

And started running. The fast stride cut through the air like light.

Even running so fast, being carried was comfortable. Geom Mugeuk’s true skill and level lay not in speed but in that comfort.

‘But where are we going?’

Ian was puzzled the whole time she was carried.

After running almost one shijin without rest, Geom Mugeuk stopped.

“Where are we?”

“I don’t know.”

Ian looked as if saying “What kind of joke is this?” but truly, Geom Mugeuk ran wherever his feet took °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° him. The reason was one Ian never expected.

“In case someone is watching us.”

Startled, Ian asked,

“Was there someone watching?”

Geom Mugeuk shook his head. He sensed no watchers nearby but even one stealth expert could have been following them. Such a person might be targeting Ian.

But running so fast for an entire shijin meant no watcher could follow Ian’s trace.

“Aren’t you being too cautious?”

“I’m just preparing for the one-in-a-million chance. There’s no excuse for losing vigilance twice.”

Ian always felt moved and thankful to Geom Mugeuk but probably not now. She tried to hide her emotion and asked teasingly,

“If you worry about me this much, how did you let me leave before?”

“Then and now are different. Now we just killed the Blood King.”

“If despite trying so hard, a problem arises, that can’t be helped.”

She knew this meant not regretting the results after doing one’s best.

Ian engraved Geom Mugeuk’s teaching on her heart. She would live by it from now on.

“I’ll return as a narrow stream that becomes a strong river.”