Ice Island Palace Chapter 145

In short, as usual, the common people did not want to bother their minds with war and battles. If they were unintentionally struck by war, the populace would scatter like a swarm of ants being chased away, but as soon as they could settle in a place and the war had passed over their trampled heads, the people returned to their habits and lived as usual, calm and peaceful. In this city, there were many government soldiers gathered in the barracks near the fortress walls surrounding the city. Every day, army officers were seen roaming the city, but the people, accustomed to this sight, took it normally and continued working.

Because of this, the inhabitants of the city were not surprised when, in the past few days, carriages filled with military and civil dignitaries entered the city of Sian-yang. It was even rumored that the Koksu himself was pleased to come to Sianyang to inspect the situation and strengthen the defenses, alongside several generals holding important positions. Although the arrival of these great people did not shock the residents, as usual, people liked to exaggerate stories about the champions who also came to the city. Thus, people excitedly discussed the prowess of the State Koksu, who was rumored to possess martial arts skills like a three-headed, six-armed deity! There were also several other national champions reportedly gathered in the city, possessing martial arts skills beyond the ordinary human.

Siauw Bwee and Coa Leng Bu entered the city and vanished into the human current within. They rented a room at an inn, and when they ate at a restaurant that afternoon, they overheard a conversation between the waiter and several guests. From this conversation, Siauw Bwee and her Supek heard that the Koksu had arrived in the city, bringing his highly skilled champions, among whom the waiter praised a pair of twin devils who were reportedly never defeated by anyone! And they heard that that night, a feast would be held in the regional head's mansion to welcome the Koksu and his assistants. After finishing their meal and returning to their respective rooms, Siauw Bwee said to Coa Leng Bu,

"Supek, it is extremely difficult to find someone like Ang Hok Ci in a city this large among tens of thousands of other people. However, considering that he is a disciple of the Koksu, as told by Yu-twako, now that the Koksu himself has arrived, they will surely report to the Koksu and the man surnamed Ang will certainly hand over the manual to his master. Therefore, I think it is best if we go investigate the meeting hall. If that man surnamed Ang is truly there, I will ambush him!"

Coa Leng Bu furrowed his brows.

"Lihiap, your martial arts skill is extremely high, and I believe you can stand against anyone. However, I have heard of the prowess of the Bu-koksu and his assistants. They are people who, besides holding high positions and commanding legions of soldiers, also possess extraordinarily high skills. Therefore, we must be extremely careful, and I hope you will exercise patience, not taking reckless action. We should only observe and follow the movements of Ang-siucai without involving ourselves in conflict against the government officials. Because that will only bring disaster upon ourselves."

"Very well, Supek. Our goal is indeed only to reclaim the manual and kill the man surnamed Ang, isn't it?"

That night, dressed lightly and carrying a sword slung across her back, Siauw Bwee, along with Coa Leng Bu, left the inn to investigate the regional head's mansion, which was the venue for the officials' meeting that night. As usual, Coa Leng Bu, who had a simple soul, only wore very plain clothes; his feet were even bare without shoes! With light and agile movements like two birds, they leaped onto the roof after arriving near the mansion and crept toward the brightly lit meeting room, which was guarded by troops all around. Fortunately, the night was dark, allowing Siauw Bwee and Coa Leng Bu to move without being seen. They crawled carefully on the roof without making a sound and finally arrived above the room, sliding a tile and peering down.

Siauw Bwee touched her Supek's arm in the dark when she saw that the person they were looking for—the Scholar surnamed Ang who had successfully incited rebellion and chaos on the cliffs and valleys, and then managed to seize the heirloom manual left by Bu-tek Lo-jin—was indeed in the room, sitting opposite a tall, large man dressed as a high commander, and several other generals. In the room, there were dozens of local commanders and officials who seemed to be discussing defense and war strategies against the numerous enemies. Besides that, they were also socializing and welcoming the Koksu with a lively feast. The presence of Ang-siucai at the high officials' table was somewhat awkward. However, Siauw Bwee nodded in understanding when her Supek whispered,

"That is the Bu-koksu in front of him...."

Ah, apparently the cunning scholar had met his master, and surely the manual had been handed over to the Koksu! According to her heart, Siauw Bwee wanted to immediately leap down, capture the *siucai*, and force him to return the stolen manual. However, she was not so foolish and reckless, even without Coa Leng Bu's warning, who touched her arm at that moment, she would not act carelessly. Siauw Bwee was well aware that the people below should not be underestimated, especially those sitting at the end of the room, who were undoubtedly the Koksu's group of champions. What greatly attracted her attention was the pair of twin men sitting side by side. This pair of twin humans was truly terrifying, and they seemed to hate each other, grumbling and exchanging glances filled with murderous intent!

If what she heard at the restaurant was true—that this pair of twin humans had never been defeated—then they must possess truly extraordinary martial arts skills. Because of this, Siauw Bwee felt her hands itching to test the prowess of the pair of twins, whose movements would surely be awkward, obstructing each other. These twin humans were not wearing military uniforms, nor were the two old men sitting with them, but two tall, large men who looked like giants sitting in this group were wearing steel battle armor, making their movements appear stiff and heavy. Suddenly, the Koksu, who had been chatting with Ang-siucai with a satisfied expression, turned to the right and said,

"Hmm, you just showed up? Truly a lazy human!"

Siauw Bwee turned toward where the official was looking and almost let out a scream if she hadn't quickly covered her own mouth with her left hand.

She widened her eyes, her breath hitched, and after rubbing her eyes and blinking several times, she became convinced that the person who had suddenly appeared sitting in the window with a casual posture—left arm supporting his chin with his elbow resting on his left thigh, right foot stepping on a cabinet, sitting daydreaming comfortably in the window opening—the person who had just arrived and was greeted by the Koksu, was none other than Kam Han Ki, her Suheng whom she had missed so much all this time! For a moment, Siauw Bwee almost didn't believe her eyes and suspected that there must be someone else who resembled her Suheng, one of the Koksu's guards or champions. However, she saw something unnatural. This person's demeanor was truly extraordinary.

If he was the Koksu's guard, why was his attitude so insolent? And not only the Koksu, but everyone who witnessed his posture sitting in the window like that, casually as if there were no other people there, seemed not to pay attention to this person! An unnaturalness that matched the unnaturalness if Kam Han Ki were now helping the State Koksu! Kam Han Ki, her Suheng, was a fugitive, a hunted man; how could he now be the Koksu's guard and an assistant to the government that had killed his elder brother, Minister Kam Liong, and had chased him before? There was no mistake, that person must be Kam Han Ki, and his extraordinary attitude indicated that even though the person was Kam Han Ki, his mind was not! Apparently, something had happened to her Suheng, causing him to lose his memory!

"Kam-taihiap! Sit here!"

Bu-koksu said in a gentle voice, inviting him. However, the handsome young man sitting in the window indifferently replied,

"Bu-loheng, you and your friends are sitting comfortably here while two people are spying on you up there!"

Hearing this, everyone was startled, but Siauw Bwee and Coa Leng Bu were even more shocked.

"Run....!"

said Coa Leng Bu, who was surprised that the strange young man knew of their presence. However, he became even more shocked when Siauw Bwee not only did not follow his words but the valiant girl now leaped forward, right above the room, shouting,

"Suheng....!"

Siauw Bwee became extremely anxious. It was clear that the person was Kam Han Ki, and the Koksu also called him Kam-taihiap, and she was not surprised that her extremely formidable Suheng could detect her presence with Coa Leng Bu, but why didn't her Suheng recognize her? The young man was still supporting his chin, only tilting his face and grumbling,

"Who called me Suheng?"

"Suheng! It's me, Khu Siauw Bwee....!"

Siauw Bwee shouted again, and everyone in the room was greatly surprised to hear that the woman whose voice was heard above was the martial sister of the strange young man whom they all knew as the Koksu's number one guard!

"Capture that troublemaker!"

Bu-koksu suddenly shouted, turning to his guards, who were sitting in the corner of the room. One of the two tall, giant-like guards wearing battle armor leaped up while drawing his saber, a large, sharp, gleaming saber that looked very heavy. Siauw Bwee, who was growing increasingly anxious seeing her Suheng still sitting comfortably and completely ignoring her, could no longer restrain herself. She leaped down and somersaulted, her body sliding into the room through the back door. As soon as her feet touched the floor, the giant guard charged forward, his saber sweeping toward Siauw Bwee's waist.

This valiant girl became extremely angry, and she no longer remembered the danger. She felt anxious, frustrated, and angry witnessing her Suheng's condition, angry seeing Ang-siucai, and her anger peaked when she was suddenly met with an attack. Like a flying bird, her body shot upward so quickly that the saber sweep was too slow, and the saber swept beneath her feet. Because Siauw Bwee used lightning movements, her body seemed to vanish; her movement was so fast that when the giant guard missed his attack and quickly tried to reverse his saber, Siauw Bwee's foot, which was in the air, moved forward.

"Crot!"

The giant guard groaned and staggered backward, his left hand wiping the blood that spurted from his broken nose, which had been kissed by the sole of Siauw Bwee's shoe. He became furious, then charged like a wounded rhinoceros, blindly, his large and heavy saber vanishing into a dazzling coil of light.

Although her heart was extremely angry mixed with anxiety, Siauw Bwee still remembered that she was in a tiger's den, and her situation would be extremely dangerous if she committed murder. Therefore, remembering that a Koksu who liked to employ skilled people would surely value high-level martial arts, she decided to defeat the Koksu's champions, and then, in the name of valor respected by the *kang-ouw* world, politely request the return of the Bu-tek Lo-jin manual, and subsequently deal with her Suheng and, if possible, kill Ang-siucai. This resolve made her unwilling to draw her sword, choosing instead to fight the giant guard with the speed of her body movements.