Ice Island Palace Chapter 34

Khu Tek San nodded and said,

"Even so, that means you are the daughter of Raja Khitan, Maya! And because of that, you must not be rude to Kam-susiok. He is the younger cousin of Raja Khitan! Besides, if it weren't for this Kam-susiok, do you think we would have survived?"

"That is enough, Khu-ciangkun. There is a group of people ahead; we should continue our journey and catch up to them. I want to know who is passing through this desolate area,"

Said Han Ki.

"Very well, Susiok."

Khu Tek San then invited Maya to chase after Han Ki, who had already spurred his horse. Maya obeyed with a pouting mouth.

She did not know why, but she felt displeased with Han Ki ever since the young man appeared with a style she considered arrogant and haughty, one she felt showed absolutely no regard for her! The young man's gaze swept past her as if she were merely a statue worthless of attention. The young man paid her no mind at all! The young man was arrogant, and she hated him! Khu Tek San was secretly very impressed when, shortly after, he saw that there truly was a group of people ahead. He was amazed by the sharp eyes and ears of the young man who was his susiok. This fact alone reinforced his suspicion that this young man must possess extraordinarily high martial skill!

The three of them held back their horses when they passed the group. Seeing the clothing and the flag mounted on a carriage, Khu-ciangkun and Han Ki knew that the group was an escort of piauwsu guarding the goods inside the carriage. They consisted of seven men with gallant bearing, and the flag fluttering above the carriage was decorated with a painting of a saber embroidered with silver thread; beneath the saber were the characters "Gin-to Piauw-kiok" (Silver Saber Escort Agency). Seeing the arrival of the three riders, the seven piauwsu calmly and vigilantly guarded the carriage, their eyes scrutinizing Khu Tek San. The general with the Khu surname had heard of the prowess of the "Silver Saber" piauwsu, so he quickly cupped his fist and said,

"Cu-wi Piauwsu, where are you escorting these goods?"

The suspicion of the seven men lessened when they witnessed Khu Tek San's friendly and polite demeanor. Khu-ciangkun also looked strong and imposing, while Kam Han Ki, although carrying a sword on his back, appeared refined in his manner—refined and handsome, not fitting the profile of a bandit. Especially Maya, the young girl. Their leader, a man with a broad forehead, returned Khu Tek San's greeting and said,

"We seven piauwsu from the Gin-to Piauw-kiok are heading to the capital city, delivering tribute goods for the Kaisar's palace. May we ask who Sam-wi are, and where you are headed?"

Khu Tak San realized that the man was deliberately using the name "Kaisar's palace" to intimidate them in case they harbored ill intentions to rob the carriage, so he smiled and said,

"Please, Cu-wi, do not worry. I, a man surnamed Khu, am not a robber, so there is no need for Cu-wi to mention the Kaisar's palace. Ha-ha-ha!"

However, the piauwsu leader quickly spoke in a firm voice.

"We hope Khu-sicu does not mock us, because it is truly the case that what we are escorting are tribute goods from the merchants and regional officials to the Kaisar."

Khu Tek San was intrigued. He was a general and even held a rather important position in the capital city, serving as an assistant to Menteri Kam, so he quickly asked.

"Forgive me if I misjudged earlier. But what matter has occurred in the capital city that merchants and officials are sending tribute to the Kaisar?"

"Aihhh! It seems Sam-wi have been away from the south for a long time!"

The piauwsu leader exclaimed in surprise.

"The capital city is bustling and in a state of celebration because the Kaisar is celebrating the marriage of one of the palace princesses. Who has not heard that the Kaisar will bestow the most beautiful princess, the flower of the palace, Puteri Song Hong Kwi, upon Raja Yucen?"

"Ouhhh....!"

"Susiok....! You..... you.... what is wrong....."

Suddenly Tek San leaped down from his horse and grabbed the reins of the horse Han Ki was riding, because the young man had suddenly slumped sideways on his saddle and his horse was about to bolt as Han Ki was no longer controlling the reins.

"Ahhh...., it is nothing...."

Han Ki said, having managed to regain control of his heart, which had been violently shaken by the piauwsu's explanation. However, his face was extremely pale and his forehead was sweating.

"Come.... let us continue our journey quickly!"

Khu Tek San still felt puzzled watching the young man, who had suddenly turned pale and gloomy. However, he did not dare to ask, and hearing Han Ki's invitation, he said,

"This group of piauwsu is escorting tribute goods for the palace. It is our duty to help them safely deliver these goods to the palace. We should travel with them."

That reason was very strong, and Han Ki, who did not want his inner secret revealed, nodded.

The seven piauwsu were delighted when they heard Khu Tek San's admission that he was a Sung General and intended to strengthen the escort of the goods being donated to the Kaisar. Thus, the group, now consisting of ten people, set off. Throughout the journey, Maya noticed a great change in Han Ki. She hated the young man she considered arrogant, yet for some reason, she always paid attention to Han Ki. Unconsciously, she constantly looked at and observed the young man she "hated," so much so that the eight other traveling companions seemed invisible to her!

It was this constant, silent attention that allowed Maya to see the dramatic change in Han Ki. The young man looked extremely gloomy, like a wilting flower drying up from lack of water. The young man no longer wanted to talk, always keeping his distance when they rested, sitting far away and brooding with furrowed brows. Han Ki rarely even ate unless urged repeatedly by Tek San, who was also surprised and worried about the young man's condition, as he always evaded questions. At night, Maya saw that Han Ki never slept; he sat daydreaming, biting his fingernails or chewing on a blade of grass he had pulled from near his feet. Maya often heard him draw a long breath and sigh softly, a sigh containing a whimper, as if the young man felt deeply sorrowful, a sorrow that was suppressed and hidden from others.

Sometimes Maya saw the young man wipe the back of his hand across his eyes, leading her to suspect that he had been crying, although she never saw his tears. Indeed, the suffering in Han Ki's heart was immense. When he heard the piauwsu's account of Puteri Sung Hong Kwi's impending marriage, it was as if lightning had struck his head, entering his heart directly, scorching his soul and shattering his feelings. Hong Kwi, his beloved, was going to be married to Raja Yucen! Imagining the only woman in the world he loved with all his heart and soul becoming another man's wife made Han Ki feel pierced to the core, and he seemed to lose the will to live. If Hong Kwi had been an ordinary girl, he would not have been so restless.