Cheon Myeong was riding a horse, moving towards the Heavenly Mountains.
Daeyeoksan was at the front, and Cheon Myeong and Jong Seojun were following behind him.
Daeyeoksan was guiding them only until the two of them left the territory of the North Sea.
"Nyaa-."
On the saddle where Cheon Myeong was sitting, the ice tiger made a languid cry.
Unlike Baekjo, who was inside Cheon Myeong's bosom, the ice tiger seemed to be unfazed by the wind of the North Sea.
Well, since it was a guy who had lived in the Ten Thousand Year Ice Valley all its life, this much would not even be felt as cold to the ice tiger.
'Looking at it like this, it really looks like a cat.'
Of course, although its fur color and pattern were different from an ordinary cat, its actions were exactly like a cat's.
Who would look at this appearance now and think that it was once a being called the master of the Ten Thousand Year Ice Valley?
Looking at it like this, even Cheon Myeong, who knew the ice tiger's true form, felt more accustomed to its smaller appearance.
"Uh... Young Master Cheon Myeong."
At the sudden voice calling him, Cheon Myeong turned his head to where Jong Seojun was.
Then, Jong Seojun glanced down and said to Cheon Myeong, his lips twitching.
"Could I perhaps... hold that animal for a moment?"
"What?"
"I actually really like cute animals."
"..."
As expected, does it look cute to others too?
However, if Jong Seojun were to know the ice tiger's true form, those words would never come out of his mouth.
"Well... I don't think it would be a good idea."
"Pardon? Why is that?"
"Although it looks like this on the outside, this guy is quite dangerous."
As Cheon Myeong said that, Jong Seojun tilted his head as if he couldn't understand.
It seemed that in order to make him understand Cheon Myeong's words, he would have to show him the ice tiger's true form, but since the horse he was riding would be surprised and run away if the ice tiger suddenly showed its true form, Cheon Myeong shook his head inwardly.
"Come on- why would such a cute child be dangerous?"
"Because it's a tiger."
"It's okay! No matter how much of a tiger it is, it's cute when it's a cub!
"..."
"I was also really cute when I was young."
Jong Seojun's cute face... he didn't particularly want to imagine it, nor could he.
'Well, it won't be a big problem.'
Although the ice tiger was a dangerous guy, it didn't seem to be ferocious.
The reason it had tried to kill him at that time was because it was in the process of protecting the Heavenly Demon Sword.
Since it had been showing a very gentle appearance since its body had become smaller, it seemed that it would be okay to send it to Jong Seojun for a while.
"Ice tiger."
"Nyaa-."
"Do you want to go over there for a moment?"
As Cheon Myeong said that, the ice tiger raised its head as if it were languid and looked at Jong Seojun.
Then, Jong Seojun, who had already brought his horse close and was holding out his hand to the ice tiger.
And he moved his hand gently as if he were handling a baby and said.
"Coochie-coo- come here."
"..."
"Do you want some jerky? No, since you're still a baby, would it be a little tough?"
"...Nyaa."
At that moment, the ice tiger completely turned its head away from Jong Seojun.
Since that appearance looked as if it were not interested, no matter who saw it, Jong Seojun's face instantly became tearful.
"Y-Young Master! Why is it doing this?"
"..."
Cheon Myeong knew what the ice tiger had just said.
However, since Baekjo had also said what the ice tiger had just said before, Cheon Myeong could not easily open his mouth.
'Don't tell me the ice tiger also doesn't want to go because it smells like a widower from Jong Seojun...'
At this point, isn't there really some smell coming from Jong Seojun?
Since even the ice tiger was saying that after Baekjo, he couldn't help but have that thought.
Of course, although it would be a subtle smell that could not be detected by a human's sense of smell, it would be felt by an animal with a much superior sense of smell than a human.
Although he didn't know if that was really the smell of a widower, it seemed certain that it was a smell that animals disliked.
"Jong Seojun, when was the last time you washed?"
"Pardon? Why are you suddenly asking that?"
"Uh... just."
"Don't tell me... did that child say it didn't want to come to me because I smell?"
"Uh? Uh... uh."
As Cheon Myeong answered, Jong Seojun looked quite shocked.
And he said to Cheon Myeong as if to argue, as if it were absurd.
"That can't be! I took a bath this morning!"
"..."
No matter how much you bathe, the smell of a widower won't be erased.
Although Cheon Myeong was thinking that in his mind, if he were to say this, Jong Seojun might really be hurt, so he just kept his mouth shut.
"We will soon arrive at the Half-Frozen Valley."
At that moment, Daeyeoksan's voice was heard from the front.
From the moment they passed through the Half-Frozen Valley, they would leave the territory of the North Sea.
Since they had also passed through that place when they had come to the North Sea from the Heavenly Mountains, hearing Daeyeoksan's words, Cheon Myeong could see that they would be able to leave the territory of the North Sea in a little while.
"Is that so? Then it seems we can go by ourselves now."
What was visible in front would be the entrance to the Half-Frozen Valley.
Since he thought that this much guidance was enough, Cheon Myeong had said that, but Daeyeoksan shook his head and said to Cheon Myeong.
"No. I will guide you until you pass through the Half-Frozen Valley."
"I don't think you need to go that far."
"The order I received from the Palace Lord was to guide the two of you until you leave the North Sea. So please allow me to guide you only until you pass through that place."
"..."
Is it because his original personality is so upright that he can't help it?
Taking responsibility and guiding them to the end would be Daeyeoksan's own way of showing his gratitude to him.
"I understand."
Hearing the answer, a faint smile appeared on Daeyeoksan's lips.
In the end, Cheon Myeong, who entered the Half-Frozen Valley with Daeyeoksan.
As soon as he entered the entrance, Daeyeoksan suddenly asked Cheon Myeong.
"By the way, do you know why this place is called the Half-Frozen Valley, Young Master?"
"...Well?"
"As you can see, half of this valley is frozen, and the other half is not, so it was given that name."
"..."
So what?
Since he wasn't particularly curious about that, Cheon Myeong could not understand why Daeyeoksan was suddenly telling him such a thing.
"This is a tradition of the North Sea."
As if he had felt that from Cheon Myeong, Daeyeoksan continued to say that.
"A tradition?"
"Yes, since people mainly pass through the Half-Frozen Valley when entering the North Sea from the outside, at some point, explaining the origin of the name became a tradition."
"Is that so? This is the first time I've heard that."
"Since I don't think I was able to explain it to you when you first passed through this place, I am explaining it to you belatedly now."
Daeyeoksan was saying that to Cheon Myeong with a smile.
To think that that person could smile like that.
Cheon Myeong subconsciously thought that he had opened his heart to him that much.
So even while talking about such trivial things, he could smile like that...
"...?"
It was then.
As if he had felt something, Cheon Myeong's gaze suddenly turned to the sky.
Then, what was visible in his field of vision was not a clear sky but several black dots that were getting bigger.
At first, Cheon Myeong could not recognize what those dots were and just looked at them with narrowed eyes, but soon, he recognized the identity of those dots and his two eyes widened.
"Dodge!"
As Cheon Myeong suddenly shouted, Daeyeoksan's gaze naturally turned upwards.
At that moment, Daeyeoksan, who could not hide his astonishment.
Since giant rocks were pouring down from the sky like rain, of course, such a reaction could not be helped.
'W-what is this...!'
Occasionally, there were cases where the wall in the Half-Frozen Valley collapsed and debris fell.
But this was the first time Daeyeoksan had seen a case where countless rocks were pouring down like now.
In other words, it meant that it was almost impossible for a thing like now to happen naturally.
As that confusion arose, Daeyeoksan's thoughts seemed to have stopped for a moment.
Swish-
At that moment, Cheon Myeong rushed at Daeyeoksan.
And Daeyeoksan's collar, which he grabbed with his right hand.
Since the situation was what it was, Cheon Myeong threw Daeyeoksan far away in that state.
"Kua-!"
With a single scream, Daeyeoksan flew far away.
Next, Cheon Myeong's gaze, which was heading towards Jong Seojun.
Looking at his face, it seemed that Jong Seojun still did not know properly what was happening in this short moment.
Cheon Myeong's figure quickly headed towards Jong Seojun.
Even at this moment, since the rocks were getting closer from above his head, there was no time to delay even a little.
"Grit your teeth!"
Although Cheon Myeong had warned Jong Seojun like that, Cheon Myeong arrived at Jong Seojun's side faster than his voice.
At the same time, Cheon Myeong, who carried Jong Seojun like a piece of luggage.
Still, as a sign of respect for the elderly, unlike with Daeyeoksan, he did not grab Jong Seojun by the collar and throw him.
'It's done.'
In his left hand, the ice tiger was already held, and with his right hand, he was holding Jong Seojun, wrapping him.
Although he wanted to save all the horses he was riding if possible, that would be going too far.
Without any lingering attachment, Cheon Myeong threw himself in the direction he had thrown Daeyeoksan earlier.
Crash-!
At the same time as he threw himself, countless rocks began to pour down from the place where Cheon Myeong had been.
The death cries of the horses, which were occasionally mixed in with the roar,
However, that sound was instantly swallowed by the rocks, and soon, only a stone tomb made of rocks was created there.
Flop-
At that moment, Daeyeoksan fell on the floor in a rather ridiculous posture.
And next to him, Cheon Myeong, who landed with a light step.
As the situation seemed to have calmed down, Cheon Myeong put down Jong Seojun and the ice tiger, which he was holding in both his hands, on the floor.
"..."
Cheon Myeong's gaze turned to the stone tomb behind him.
If he had been even a little late in noticing or had hesitated in his actions, he might have been crushed under that.
The rocks could be said to have fallen at a very opportune time.
Yes... from that stone tomb, Cheon Myeong felt someone's malice.
"Ugh..."
At that moment, Daeyeoksan stood up from his spot, lightly holding his face.
Cheon Myeong asked such a Daeyeoksan.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes... I'm fine."
"I'm sorry. Since the situation was so urgent, I committed a rude act to you, Great Supervisor."
"Ah, that's fine."
Since he knew that Cheon Myeong had grabbed him by the collar and had thrown him to save him, Daeyeoksan did not pay much attention to that.
However, what was more on his mind were the rocks piled up over there.
Just by seeing that the path was blocked by the broken debris, he could see that a huge number of rocks had poured down from above.
"This is strange... I've never seen rocks pour down like this in the Half-Frozen Valley..."
Especially in the frozen area on the North Sea side, it could be said that there were almost no cases where debris fell.
Since the ground itself was firmly frozen, unless the temperature suddenly dropped or some shock was applied from the outside, there would be no reason for debris to fall like this.
As Daeyeoksan muttered that as if he couldn't understand, Cheon Myeong said in a low voice.
"If so, then it means that someone did this with malice."
"Pardon? Who on earth would do such a thing and why..."
"..."
Even without thinking that deeply, there was only one reason.
No matter who saw it, this could be said to be an act committed to kill Cheon Myeong.
Of course, although there might be someone who had some grudge against Daeyeoksan, this was realistically a high possibility of an act aimed at Cheon Myeong's life.
At that moment, a figure fell from above and landed on the stone tomb.
From the circumstances, it could be said that the person standing there was the one who had committed this act with malice towards him.
Thinking so, Cheon Myeong immediately looked at the person in front of him.
"...!"
Cheon Myeong's two eyes widened slightly as he confirmed the face of the person standing on the stone tomb. But soon, with a sunken face, he opened his mouth.
"...To think that the guy who committed such an absurd act was you."
Grin-
As Cheon Myeong said that, a person who drew an arc on his lips.
On the stone tomb, Su Yeongseong was looking down at Cheon Myeong with a smile full of malice.
(End of Chapter)