The RoFan Novel Fan Has Reincarnated Into A Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 58: The Ice Palace Lord’s Whereabouts

Yeon hadn’t forgotten what Myoeun had once said—that the Ice Palace was similar to Shaolin, particularly the part about the Ice Palace Lord adhering to a strictly vegetarian diet.

Because of that, she hadn’t expected much of a feast. Sure, it was the Ice Palace, so there might be some difference, but it was still likely to be a vegetable-centric meal. Yet even Yeon was at a loss for words when she saw the stone bowl placed in front of her.

“What... is this?”

Inside the dark gray stone bowl that Karaot had brought out was a round, droplet-shaped liquid. The reason she didn’t call it ‘water’ was because it had a peculiar viscosity to it.

‘What the hell is this?’

As the group exchanged bewildered glances, Yeon thought back to a scene she had once seen in a modern restaurant. When eating finger foods, they sometimes brought out a small bowl of water to wash your hands in. Not that she had actually experienced it herself—it was just something she had seen in a drama.

Yeon subtly moved her fingers while keeping an eye on Karaot’s expression. But he simply stood at the side of the dining area without showing any discernible emotion. And there wasn’t a single finger food in sight.

Feeling cornered, Yeon finally mustered the courage to speak.

“What is this for?”

“It’s dinner,” Karaot replied flatly.

“Pardon?”

“It’s exactly what it sounds like. Everyone in the Ice Palace, myself included, has been subsisting on this.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll understand once you try it.”

“Huh.”

Gongye let out a low, intrigued hum as he tilted the bowl. The liquid clung to the stone surface, sliding back and forth as he moved it.

Yeon continued to stare at the liquid when Cheongang picked up his bowl.

“I’ll try it first.”

“W-Wait!”

Soso raised her hand, signaling that she would check it first.

The likelihood of it being poison was slim. If the Ice Palace wanted to kill them, Irkin’s flail would have been far more effective than some suspicious liquid. Still, there was no harm in being cautious.

Soso brought the bowl closer to her nose, sniffing the liquid cautiously. That was when Karaot’s expression momentarily darkened, a trace of bitterness flashing across his lips.

After a brief pause, Soso slightly tilted her head and then swallowed the liquid in one gulp.

Soso’s subtle nod reassured Yeon enough to pick up her own bowl.

The instant the liquid touched her tongue, an icy chill spread across it.

“Mmm...”

As she swallowed, the cold sensation traced down her throat, as if she had just swallowed a shard of ice.

Even as it settled in her stomach, the coldness continued to spread, seeping through her veins and invigorating her body. While her hunger had somewhat subsided, Yeon still wasn’t sure if she could consider it a proper meal.

Karaot let out a small sigh as he regarded the group’s bewildered expressions.

“That’s it. Dinner is over. I hope it was to your taste.”

He had just served them a single drop of bizarre liquid and was now asking if they enjoyed it. The obvious response should have been, “Are you kidding me?” But something in Karaot’s solemn voice prevented Yeon from saying it.

“There must be a reason we’re not aware of, isn’t there?”

Yeon’s words made Karaot flinch slightly before he finally spoke.

“I heard you saw the people outside the ice wall.”

“You mean the ones who clashed with Irkin?”

“Yes. Because of them, we haven’t had any contact with the outside world. The Ice Palace is supposed to be self-sufficient, but with how long this has dragged on, even that has become difficult.”

He was likely referring to the Flame Cultists outside the ice wall. It seemed their attacks weren’t just a one-time occurrence.

“Why are they attacking the Ice Palace?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that they want something from us...”

At Karaot’s words, Yeon’s thoughts immediately turned to the Ice Crystal.

Could the Flame Cult know about the Ice Crystal and be trying to seize it? Perhaps their leader was after it as well. If someone as powerful as the Flame Cult Leader got his hands on the Ice Crystal, he would become unstoppable.

If Yeon’s guess was correct, then she and the Flame Cult were both after the same thing. The realization left a bitter taste in her mouth.

“And that’s why I must ask. Why did you come to the Ice Palace?”

The question struck Yeon like a blow. It was as if Karaot had read her mind.

‘Did he overhear me talking to Irkin about the Ice Crystal?’

That seemed likely. The determined expression on Karaot’s face made it clear that he was bracing himself for this conversation. It even made Yeon wonder if he had orchestrated the bathhouse scene specifically to have this talk.

“The people outside won’t listen to reason. They’re only intent on invading the Ice Palace. But I wanted to speak with you all directly, which is why I brought you here.”

“Speak with us about what?”

“I wanted to tell you that there is nothing left to gain from the Ice Palace. We can’t even serve you a proper meal. That is the reality of our situation. So, whatever you came here for, we won’t be able to provide it.”

Karaot’s words were firm, as if he were hammering in a nail. Yet he wasn’t finished.

“I don’t know who you really are or why you came here holding the Palace’s sacred artifact at a time like this.”

“......”

“Irkin called you guests. I sincerely hope that’s true. But I know how far Zhongyuan is from here, and it’s not a place one can just drop by without a reason. Am I wrong?”

Karaot’s frigid question cast a chill over the table. A moment later, he drew a shaky breath and released it with a resigned expression.

“I got a bit carried away. My apologies.”

“No, it’s fine. I understand why you feel that way,” Yeon said, shrugging, but inside, she felt anything but fine. Karaot was clearly suspicious of them.

When she thought about it, his reaction was more reasonable than Irkin’s, who had let down his guard just because Gongye’s shaved head resembled a monk’s. Moreover, Karaot wasn’t present when Myoeun and the Shaolin monks had visited the Ice Palace.

‘He said he was a foreigner, but he seems to care a lot about the Ice Palace. Has he been here that long?’

Based on how the Ice Palace members treated Karaot, it was clear they didn’t see him as an outsider. In fact, they seemed to trust him more than Irkin.

Sensing the need to change the subject, Yeon spoke up.

“There is one thing I can confirm. This necklace—I received it from the Ice Palace Lord.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that part. But...”

“I know. You’re saying it’s not enough proof. Then why not ask the Ice Palace Lord yourself?”

For Yeon, it was a gamble. She had no idea how the Ice Palace Lord would respond. But it was a risk worth taking.

“We’d like to meet with her directly.”

“That is...”

Before Karaot could respond, a sharp bell rang out from outside.

Karaot immediately rushed out the door, and the group had no choice but to follow.

Once outside, the bell’s ringing grew louder. The sound was coming from a tower adjacent to the Ice Palace’s entrance. From within the tower, someone was violently ringing the bell and pointing a crimson flag toward the horizon.

The Ice Palace members, faces pale with fear, swarmed around Karaot. Karaot calmed them with a few hushed words in a language Yeon couldn’t understand before turning his gaze toward the courtyard.

“Irkin is...”

Before Karaot could finish, the enormous figure of Irkin burst into the courtyard, his flail blazing with an intense blue light.

Irkin shouted and sprinted toward the direction the flag was pointing.

Moments later, flashes of light and the sounds of fierce combat echoed through the air. It was clear that Irkin was already engaging the enemies, just like before. Once Karaot’s previously tense expression finally eased a bit, Yeon asked,

“What’s going on?”

Karaot, still staring in the direction of the conflict, replied,

“The ice wall has started to melt. Every time that happens, those people outside try to break into the palace. Irkin is there, so no one will get through, but...”

“Does the ice wall melt often?”

“It didn’t use to, but lately, it’s been happening more frequently. Fortunately, it’s only been melting in isolated areas so far.”

But Karaot’s words were immediately contradicted by another bell ringing. This time, it was coming from the opposite tower.

“Damn it!”

The person stationed in the tower was now pointing the crimson flag toward the opposite side—the other section of the ice wall was also compromised. Karaot’s face went pale.

“T-This has never happened before...”

“We’ll handle it,” Yeon said without hesitation as she leaped toward the direction the flag was pointing. The others followed closely behind her.

They vaulted over the barricade and arrived at the section of the ice wall that was rapidly melting. The hole had already grown considerably large.

Yeon leaned forward to take a look. Flame Cultists were rushing toward the opening. There were even more of them than before.

If they managed to get inside, it would be a catastrophe. The non-combatants of the Ice Palace could be injured or even killed.

Yeon was about to confront them outside the wall but then her gaze fell upon the necklace.

“Lady ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Yeon?”

“One second,” she said, holding up her hand toward Cheongang.

She quickly called out to Myoeun in her mind.

‘Monk. Is it possible to use the necklace to restore the ice wall?’

[I'm not entirely sure, but the Ice Palace Lord was able to do a lot with it. Especially things related to the ice wall.]

Myoeun’s tone was unusually serious, given the urgency of the situation. Yeon figured she had nothing to lose. Holding the necklace firmly, she poured her inner energy into it and focused her intent on repairing the ice wall.

Wooooong!

A previously unseen reaction surged through the necklace as the blue gemstone radiated a brilliant light.

“Oh! Lady Hwangbo’s necklace!”

Gongye exclaimed in awe as the ice wall began to close rapidly, the gap sealing itself with thick ice. At the same time, the Yin energy Yeon had accumulated in the bath began to drain away. It was a pity, but it couldn’t be helped.

The wall thickened once more, and frustrated shouts from the Flame Cultists echoed from the other side. Ignoring them, Yeon immediately turned around.

Before sprinting toward where Irkin was, she shouted to the group,

“Check if the ice wall is melting anywhere else! Notify me immediately if you find anything!”

With that command, the four of them shot off in different directions like arrows.

****

Fortunately, there were no additional breaches, and the situation was contained without further complications.

Yeon headed to the area where Irkin had been fighting and used the necklace to seal the hole. Irkin, who had been in the midst of combat, nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the necklace’s power in action.

“Irkin. Guide me around the ice wall,” Yeon said.

“O-Okay!”

Yeon and Irkin patrolled the perimeter, inspecting for weakened areas. Whenever they found even a slight crack, Yeon would use the necklace to repair it. By the time they finished, it was deep into the night.

“Thank you! Thank you!”

Irkin pounded his chest repeatedly, expressing his gratitude over and over. Yeon patted his arm, waiting for him to calm down before speaking.

“Irkin.”

“Yeah?”

“I have a question.”

“Ask me anything.”

“Why didn’t you ask for the necklace back?”

Irkin fumbled for a moment before responding.

“The Ice Palace Lord personally gave it to you. I can’t just demand it back. And... there’s something else.”

“Something else?”

“No one else can do what you just did.”

“You mean restoring the ice wall?”

“Yeah. That’s why you should keep it.”

A realization dawned on Yeon, but so did a question.

So that’s why he hadn’t asked for it back. But why couldn’t anyone else use it?

There wasn’t anything particularly special about the way Yeon was using the necklace. As long as someone could circulate their internal energy, they should be able to use it.

“Does that mean no one here knows martial arts?”

“Martial arts?”

“Yes, I mean...”

Before Yeon could finish explaining, Irkin’s face lit up as if he had just remembered something. He clapped his massive hands together, the sound echoing like a thunderclap.

“I get it! Only the Ice Palace Lord knows martial arts.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It wasn’t always like that. But now, no one else can use it.”

Yeon nodded, processing the new information.

Unlike Karaot, Irkin had been nothing but friendly to her. Restoring the ice wall likely earned her even more goodwill. In other words, now was the perfect time to ask for more information.

“Irkin.”

“Yeah?”

Yeon fixed her gaze on the simple-minded warrior, her expression earnest.

“Where is the Ice Palace Lord right now?”