It was a wine cup that felt both splendid and mysterious.
The pure white cup was adorned like a moon rising over a snowy field.
Gazing at the cup quietly, one felt as if they were standing alone in a snow-covered field under the moonlight.
A crescent moon on one side of the cup served as a handle, allowing it to be worn at the waist.
But the cup was not special simply because of its appearance.
“Do you know what kind of cup that is?”
The Ice Palace Master had truly not expected Geom Mugeuk to choose this cup.
“I have heard rumors of a sacred cup in the Northern Sea Ice Palace. Is it not that one?”
“You have seen correctly.”
She explained about the cup.
The Ice Palace Sacred Cup.
At a glance, it looked as if it were made of white porcelain, but the cup was made of metal.
This specially alloyed cup was known to be incredibly light, yet it would never break or bend.
What was important was the cup's effect.
The cup itself had a cold nature, allowing one to drink cool wine even in the middle of summer.
It was also said that drinking wine from this cup would enhance one's inner energy and nourish the body.
Of course, the amount of inner energy gained was not more than what could be gained through energy circulation in the same amount of time, so it would be foolish to ruin one's health by drinking for the purpose of increasing inner energy.
With the exception of one person in this Martial World.
For the Drunken Demon, who lived with wine every moment, this cup certainly held great meaning.
Moreover, only one such cup with these effects existed in the world, and it could only be obtained here in the Ice Palace’s secret treasure vault.
For someone who loved wine more than life and would live their life drinking, this cup would be the greatest gift.
“Are you sure you want this one?”
Geom Mugeuk replied with a smile.
“The Drunken Demon will like this cup more than a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”
That was not why the Ice Palace Master had asked.
It was because there were too many precious items here to be choosing a gift for someone else.
She looked at the splendid protective armor displayed in the air on the opposite side and spoke.
“That Ice Tiger Armor could save your life. There are also Elixirs that can grant you more inner energy than a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, though perhaps not as much as the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal you just took.”
“I am fine.”
Realizing that Geom Mugeuk had set his heart on the cup, the Ice Palace Master did not recommend anything else.
She reached out her hand, and the block of ice containing the cup flew to her.
The Ice Palace Master easily melted the ice using her unique inner energy.
A normal master trying to melt this special ice with extreme yang energy would have to use an incomparably greater amount of inner energy than she just had.
Freed from the ice, the Ice Palace Sacred Cup revealed a mysterious aura.
A pure white energy shimmered around the cup, like a snowstorm sweeping across a snowy field.
Its preciousness was evident just by looking at it, making it a cup that an ordinary person could not carry around even if they wanted to.
Countless people would try to take it every day.
“Here, take it.”
The Ice Palace Master handed the cup to Geom Mugeuk.
Carefully accepting the cup, Geom Mugeuk placed it on his palm and admired it.
“It is truly a magnificent cup.”
Geom Mugeuk was genuinely happy at the thought of gifting it to the Drunken Demon.
The Ice Palace Master felt it.
In this moment, Geom Mugeuk was rejoicing with the pureness of a young boy.
‘The rumors were all true.’
When she first heard the news that Geom Mugeuk had taken control of the Eight Demon Sovereigns, she had been half in doubt.
Who were the Eight Demon Sovereigns that he could control them all?
They wouldn't follow him sincerely; some must have only joined hands on the surface.
The Eight Demon Sovereigns were not easy people for a young successor to handle.
But seeing this now, her doubts vanished.
If their relationship was one where such a precious gift could be given with such joy? Even the word 'control' seemed insufficient.
“Thank you. I will never forget the great favor you have shown me today.”
Geom Mugeuk was sincerely grateful to the Ice Palace Master.
Even though she had told him to choose anything, it could not have been an easy thing to give away a cup bearing the name 'Sacred Cup' so readily.
“It is a trivial thing compared to what you have done for our Palace. Now, let us return.”
Geom Mugeuk left the Ice Palace’s secret treasure vault with the Ice Palace Master.
Shiiiiiii.
As they opened the door, a strange sound accompanied the forgotten, insane cold that rushed in.
Leaving behind that place where even conversation was difficult, the two of them walked out quickly.
As they retraced their steps and were about to leave the valley, Geom Mugeuk spoke.
“Sometimes, people of my age gather together.”
The Ice Palace Master knew this.
She also knew that the successors and brothers of each faction had all gathered at the recent three-party meeting.
“At that time, I will also invite Miss Han.”
The Ice Palace Master stopped walking.
Even without him saying it, she could understand why he wanted to invite her daughter.
It was because Han Seol would be able to grow more if she left the Northern Sea and met many people.
But could she really send her daughter, who had never once been sent to the Central Plains? Just the thought of it made her this worried.
When the Ice Palace Master turned to look at Geom Mugeuk, his eyes seemed to say this.
Do not worry, I will take good care of her and send her back safely.
It was a sign of his gratitude to her for giving him the precious gift.
Whether or not she could trust him and send her daughter was another matter entirely.
When Geom Mugeuk returned, the Drunken Demon was lying on the bed.
“How are you feeling?”
“I feel like I'm going to die from the pain.”
Just a moment ago, when the doctor had come and gone, he had received his treatment with dignity.
He had shown the dignity of a Demon Sovereign, not a single change in his eyes or expression.
After being so fine, he started to whine upon seeing Geom Mugeuk.
“I can't even lift my arm. It hurts too much.”
Lying down, the Drunken Demon showed the sole of his foot.
“Look here. If you had taken out the bottle fragment sooner, it wouldn't hurt this much.”
“Such a persistent brother. That's why I brought you a gift.”
“I'm dying of pain, what's a gift going to do?”
Geom Mugeuk placed a small box on the table.
“You really don't need it?”
“I don't need it.”
“You'll regret it.”
“It's wine, isn't it? You bought wine, right? So obvious.”
The Drunken Demon pretended not to be interested, but peeked at the box.
“It's no use regretting it later.”
As Geom Mugeuk tried to take it back, the Drunken Demon asked nonchalantly.
“What is it? Let me just have a look.”
“It will just make you feel bad for no reason.”
How could he not look now?
“It's fine, just show me!”
“Just look with your eyes. I have to give it back.”
Geom Mugeuk slowly opened the box.
The moment he saw what was revealed inside, the Drunken Demon's eyes widened.
It was an item that everyone else in the world might not know, but the Drunken Demon would recognize.
“Uwaaah!”
With a shout, the Drunken Demon ran to the table.
He ran, forgetting the pain in the sole of his foot.
“No way, is this? Is it really that? It is, right? It's that, isn't it?”
The Drunken Demon was at a loss for words.
The one thing the Drunken Demon wanted most was this very item.
“Why is this here?”
The Drunken Demon's voice trembled.
“I picked it up on the way.”
“Stop joking!”
“I received it as a gift from the Ice Palace Master.”
The Drunken Demon immediately understood what had happened.
It seemed the Ice Palace Master had given a gift as a reward for his work.
“You gave up your own reward to get a gift for me.”
“That would have been really touching, but I got my own thing too. So don't feel burdened and take it. Ah, no. You said you didn't want it, right?”
“What are you talking about!”
The Drunken Demon spread his arms like wings to protect the cup.
The arm he claimed he couldn't even lift due to pain was now forming a defensive line.
“You might as well take my life! It's mine! Go away!”
How could the Drunken Demon not know?
That Geom Mugeuk could have taken something else instead of this cup.
He had forgone the value of the Ice Palace Sacred Cup to give him this gift.
A wave of emotion swept through the Drunken Demon's heart.
It was the most precious gift he had ever received, and above all, it was the one thing he had wanted most.
Geom Mugeuk knew the Drunken Demon would like it, but he didn't know he would like it this much.
“Here, have a drink. I washed it clean before I came.”
Geom Mugeuk poured him a drink.
Drip, drip, drip.
It was the moment wine was poured into the long-sealed Ice Palace Sacred Cup.
Was it just his imagination? The shimmering white energy around the Ice Palace Sacred Cup seemed to grow stronger.
The Drunken Demon took a deep breath and then drank the wine.
The cold wine went down the Drunken Demon's throat, gulp after gulp, without stopping.
“Kyaaaah! It's delicious!”
Geom Mugeuk shouted "Kyaah!" along with him.
Just watching him made it look incredibly delicious.
“Me too, one cup!”
This time, the Drunken Demon filled the cup for him.
As the Drunken Demon poured, the moonlight on the cup seemed to shine even more softly.
Geom Mugeuk drank the wine from the Ice Palace Sacred Cup in one go.
The wine was truly cold and delicious.
A cry of 'Kyaah!' escaped him naturally.
“This is amazing!”
The taste of wine always depends on one's mood, and there would not be many days when wine tasted as good as it did in this moment.
“Here, one more for me.”
“You're taking medicine, stop!”
“Just one more cup!”
Geom Mugeuk said as he poured the wine.
“This cup, I'm not giving it to you so you can drink more. I'm giving it to you so you'll drink less. I was told the cup has a body-protecting effect. So, think of my heart in gifting this, and every time you pour a drink in here, drink only one cup instead of two. Drink one delicious cup instead of two. With that kind of mindset.”
Geom Mugeuk's concern was conveyed.
He used to nag him so much about eating side dishes.
Now here he was, nagging again.
“Never drink too much. Got it?”
“Alright. But just one last cup. I have to drink three cups.”
“Fine, I'll allow it for today!”
The two of them looked at each other and laughed.
After drinking three cups of wine, the Drunken Demon wore the Ice Palace Sacred Cup on the opposite side of where he wore his Blood Tears.
The two artifacts strangely suited each other well.
Of course, that might have been because the person wearing them was the Drunken Demon.
“Then get some rest.”
As Geom Mugeuk turned to leave, the Drunken Demon spoke from behind him.
“Thank you, Young Cult Master.”
It was said without any playfulness, so Geom Mugeuk also replied politely.
“You've accomplished a great feat this time, Drunken Demon.”
Returning to my room, I used the Space-Time Displacement Art to absorb the white essence.
Snap! With a flick of my fingers, I was standing in a new space.
Not the beach I always opened, but the second space, a place with a small hot spring in a pure white snowfield.
It was the very place I had created after being inspired by my father's hot spring long ago.
This place was a space that suited the Northern Sea so well.
In this space, there were only three things.
Pure white snow, the stars in the night sky, and a warm hot spring.
First, I took out the Secret Vessel and the white essence from my robes.
Vroooom.
Upon seeing the white essence, the Secret Vessel vibrated in response.
It was already the third time, but I couldn't help feeling nervous.
I carefully placed the white essence on top of the Secret Vessel.
Sluuurp.
Then, a scene that was fascinating every time I saw it unfolded.
The hard white essence seeped into the Secret Vessel like a liquid.
The Secret Vessel, having absorbed all of the white essence, vibrated greatly, and then...
Shwaaa!
Something with a white energy began to emerge from the Secret Vessel.
As always, it was neither smoke, nor liquid, nor light.
That indescribable thing spread through my hands and arms, and throughout my entire body.
My Heavenly Demon Body-Protecting Art, which had reached Great Mastery, still did not activate.
It meant that it was fine.
I trusted the Heavenly Demon Body-Protecting Art, which is why I am seeking out and absorbing this energy.
A refreshing feeling spread throughout my body.
The moment that energy spread throughout my body, a radiant light burst forth from me.
A light so intense I couldn't open my eyes.
When I opened my closed eyes again, the white energy had been completely absorbed into my body.
I had already absorbed three energies through the Secret Vessel.
Just like the previous two times, there was no change in my body.
The energies did not meet and mix.
It meant that I was not yet ready to undergo any major changes.
Or perhaps it meant that I needed to absorb more of the other energies.
Thud.
The Secret Vessel spat out the white essence from which it had absorbed all the energy.
It had now become an ordinary stone.
“Who in the world made you?”
As always, the Secret Vessel was just smiling.
Having absorbed the energy of the white essence, I threw off my clothes and submerged myself in the steaming hot spring.
“Ah, this is great!”
The cold wind blew above, while it was warm below.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the hot spring.
This time alone is a very precious moment for me.
After my regression, my life has been flowing by, with each day packed full.
A succession of packed days.
But this moment alone within the Space-Time Displacement Art is when my diligently running life slows down.
The slower the speed, the farther I moved away from my life.
I like this distancing.
Naked now, I have also cast off all responsibility.
“The Martial World is going to ruin? The Demonic Path is collapsing? What do you want me to do about it! Don't disturb my rest!”
This irresponsibility slowed the pace of my life even more.
And so, the speed decreased and decreased, until finally, it stopped completely.
The moment my busy life comes to a complete halt, I finally become free.
At the same time, I come to meet another me.
The me from before the regression, whose loneliness had piled up until I became loneliness itself.
The me who ran for only one purpose, without resting, without ever properly comforting myself.
We stood facing each other with a large, black hole in my heart between us.
Is the me on the other side lonelier? Or am I, smiling among so many people, lonelier?
I could not easily find an answer.
Still, I wanted to say this.
-It's all thanks to you that I was able to come this far.
I had said all sorts of nice things to the people around me, but this was the first time I had offered comfort and gratitude to myself.
-Thank you, truly.
I looked at the lonely me on the other side with gentle eyes.
I do not wish for him to disappear.
Because the me on the other side was, in the end, also me.
—Just don't fall into this pit.
In response to my words, the me on the other side gave me a look.
One that said I should be the one to be careful.
That the ones who always fall into the pit are those who try to be perfect, and those who are smiling.
The next moment, the black hole between us turned into a hot spring, and I was soaking in it.
I gazed up at the brilliant stars for a long while before getting out of the hot spring.
Now it is time to return to reality.
“The Martial World can't be ruined. My Demonic Path can't collapse. What else is there to do? I have to go out and protect them.”
Snap