Chapter 288: If You Just Hand Over Money, You Can Even Buy Love
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 288: If You Just Hand Over Money, You Can Even Buy Love
"Give me fifteen minutes. I will make you understand, Palace Master."
Sun-woo spoke while looking at Bukgung Yeon with eyes full of conviction.
Bukgung Yeon stared back at him, looking utterly incredulous. She was flabbergasted by the sheer audacity of his statement.
Buying not just the Ice Essence, but the very future of the North Sea Ice Palace with money?
What on earth was he talking about?
The future of the North Sea Ice Palace wasn't some bundle of herbs traded at a marketplace; how could it be bought and sold with coin?
She couldn't comprehend it—neither what this madman was saying nor where he got the confidence to spout such nonsense.
Did he simply lack the capacity for fear?
In Bukgung Yeon’s eyes, Sun-woo was a man who had reached, at most, the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm. While that was certainly a lofty height, from her perspective—having already reached the Profound Realm, often called the Half-Immortal Stage—his level was almost laughable.
So, what was he relying on to speak so recklessly?
Was he putting his faith in the man known as the Sword Man?
But Bukgung Yeon quickly gave her head a slight shake. If the Sword Man were lying in wait nearby, there was no way she wouldn't have noticed.
He wasn't here. Not anywhere.
Bukgung Yeon’s confusion deepened. If that was the case, where did this confidence come from?
Soon, her doubt shifted into intense curiosity. That curiosity evolved into the thought that perhaps she should hear him out, just once.
Her heart urged her to turn him into an ice statue immediately, but she felt she could at least listen to his excuse before doing so.
"Convince me, then. However, if I am not satisfied, I will consider it an insult to this Palace Master and turn you into a block of ice."
Bukgung Yeon continued in a chilling voice. Her tone carried such a biting frost that, despite the distance between them, it was enough to make one's skin crawl.
Gulp.
Facing that frigid voice, Sun-woo swallowed hard. He could feel an immense cold radiating from her words.
She wasn't making an empty threat. If his explanation failed to convince her, she would undoubtedly freeze him solid.
Sun-woo told himself he had to convince her, no matter what it took.
He slowly raised his gaze. Looking her straight in the eye, he began to speak.
"Palace Master, you are currently laboring under a great misunderstanding."
"And what might that be?"
"You view money merely as a medium for buying and selling tangible objects, do you not?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Money can buy everything. Not just things with form, like food, precious metals, and clothing, but even things that are formless."
"Lies. How can one buy something formless with money?"
"If it has value, it can be bought with money."
"Then do you believe you can buy human emotions with money?"
"Of course. If you just hand over enough money, you can even buy love."
"That is sophistry. Do you truly believe a relationship built on money is a sincere one?"
"Then you simply buy the sincerity as well."
"What kind of absurd logic is that?"
"You say the love isn't sincere? That is only because the amount of money was insufficient. Try handing over an even greater sum. They won't just love you passionately; they'll leap into a pit of fire for you."
"Nonsense. Money is not the ultimate value humans pursue in life. How can you be so certain?"
"Then what do you believe is the ultimate value one pursues in life?"
"It is not the kind of thing that can be easily defined. Everyone pursues something different. But I believe, at the very least, it is not money."
"I agree. Money cannot be the ultimate value one pursues. Because it is a necessity."
"How does that follow?"
Bukgung Yeon asked, her expression one of sheer disbelief. What kind of twisted logic was this?
"No matter what value a human pursues, money must ultimately serve as the foundation. Money is so closely intertwined with human life that the two are inseparable."
"Rubbish."
Bukgung Yeon shook her head at Sun-woo’s words.
"Why do you think it is rubbish?"
"There is no reason money should be necessary for the values humans pursue!"
"Then do you have an example to refute me?" Sun-woo asked, a slight, mocking smile playing on his lips.
"…I have heard that in the Central Plains, there are those who sequester themselves in deep mountains and secluded valleys, seeking only the Tao."
"Are you speaking of Taoists?"
"Yes. Taoists. They pursue nothing but the value of the Tao, spending their entire lives training in isolation. Would such people have any need for money?"
"They do."
Sun-woo replied in a firm tone.
"Taoists are also humans who eat, sleep, and defecate. How could they not need money?"
"What?"
"Even if they do not spend it directly, from the robes they wear to the Fasting Pills they consume, and even the beds they rest upon—not a single thing exists that didn't require money. Money is the foundation that allows them to reach the values they pursue."
"If you put it that way, there's nothing in the world that doesn't involve money!"
Bukgung Yeon raised her voice, shouting at him. If one scrutinized every little detail like that, nothing was free of the influence of money—unless one lived a life of total self-sufficiency in the middle of nowhere.
"That is exactly what I am saying. Even if the values people pursue differ, money must ultimately be at the base of it all. Unless, of course, you're talking about people living primitive lives in the wilderness."
"..............."
Bukgung Yeon fell silent at Sun-woo’s fluent argument. She wanted to scream that it was just sophistry, that it made no sense, but she couldn't. She couldn't think of a specific rebuttal.
After all, what part of human life didn't require money? How could she argue against him when he was preaching the sheer necessity of it?
She remained tight-lipped, like a mute who had eaten honey.
Watching her, Sun-woo cheered inwardly. To be honest, he had been anxious the whole time he was speaking, worried she might launch a surprise attack. Fortunately, she had listened to him properly and even seemed somewhat shaken.
Sun-woo felt it. Now was the time to drive the stake home while she was wavering.
Just as Sun-woo was about to open his mouth again—
"Fine. I understand. It seems I was mistaken. As you said, money is necessary for a human to carry out the values they pursue. I agree. Your claim that even values can be bought with money might not be wrong. Without money, one wouldn't even have the luxury to think about values."
Bukgung Yeon spoke to Sun-woo with an incredibly grave expression.
"However," she continued, her eyes turning cold again, "I cannot agree that the future of the North Sea can be bought. The Ice Essence is a treasure that can raise the martial artists of the North Sea. If I hand such a treasure over to you, how am I supposed to rebuild the North Sea Ice Palace?"
Bukgung Yeon could not accept his outrageous claim that the future of the Ice Palace could be bought with money. It was impossible.
The North Sea Ice Palace was, strictly speaking, a sect that pursued the martial path. Whether they were called the Rulers of the North Sea, the Guardians of the North Sea, or the Sovereigns of the North Sea, their essence was that of a martial sect.
To such a sect, the Ice Essence held a value that could not be traded for anything. The strength of a martial sect is directly proportional to the power and number of its disciples. The stronger and more numerous the disciples produced by the sect, the greater its prestige.
The North Sea Ice Palace was no different. To bring about a resurgence, they needed to train disciples quickly, and the Ice Essence was an indispensable treasure for that purpose.
How could she possibly hand such a thing over for mere money? It was unthinkable.
"Palace Master."
Sun-woo called out to her.
"From what I know, the North Sea has the ability to create Ice Essence artificially."
"That is true. But it takes twenty years to create a piece of Ice Essence the size of a finger joint. I cannot wait that long."
Bukgung Yeon spoke firmly.
Generally, there were two types of Ice Essence: Natural Ice Essence, which formed naturally in places where sunlight never reached and the chill was incredibly dense, and Artificial Ice Essence, created by the North Sea Ice Palace.
In the past, the martial artists of the Ice Palace had been deeply troubled. They needed Ice Essence to advance their Ice Arts, but natural formations were rare and difficult to find. Eventually, after generations of research, the North Sea Ice Palace succeeded in creating it artificially.
While it was somewhat inferior to the natural version, it still contained enough Extreme Yin Energy to aid in the mastery of Ice Arts.
The news of its creation had thrilled many North Sea martial artists. They felt that if artificial production was possible, the revival of the Ice Palace was close at hand.
Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed. Natural Ice Essence followed the principle of absorbing cold naturally over decades. To make an artificial piece hold that same chill, one had to constantly infuse it with cold energy for at least twenty years. Furthermore, because it sucked in all the surrounding chill, the resulting amount was only about the size of a finger joint.
In the end, Ice Essence remained an incredibly rare treasure even within the North Sea Ice Palace, which possessed the technology to make it. How could it not be rare when it took twenty years to produce such a tiny amount?
The piece Bukgung Yeon currently possessed was Natural Ice Essence, containing a level of cold that couldn't even be compared to the artificial kind.
How could she sell such a thing for money? To her, the Ice Essence was worth more than a thousand pieces of gold. There was no way she could let it go.
"If you have the ability to create Ice Essence, I believe it is all the more reason you should hand that one over to me."
"What do you mean by that?" Bukgung Yeon asked, confused.
"Palace Master, how do you plan to rebuild the North Sea Ice Palace?"
"Why should I tell you that?" she replied curtly.
"It is a very important matter. I beg of you, please tell me your plan."
Despite her prickly reaction, Sun-woo requested earnestly with a polite attitude. Perhaps moved by his demeanor, Bukgung Yeon slowly opened her mouth.
"First, I will settle all grudges. Every single person involved in the destruction of the North Sea Ice Palace will pay. Then, I will recruit disciples from the villages. I will categorize them by their skeletal structure and comprehension, and through training, I will turn them into fine warriors of the Ice Palace."
Bukgung Yeon briefly explained her plan. In truth, it could hardly be called a plan. What other way was there besides raising disciples? The number and strength of the disciples were the strength of the sect.
"Is that all?"
Sun-woo asked, looking stunned.
"That's it. Why?" she retorted.
"..............."
Sun-woo mouthed words silently for a moment. He didn't even know where to start pointing out the flaws.
No... surely not... she must have just summarized it.
Sun-woo shook his head. Surely, she wouldn't have planned the reconstruction of an entire sect so simply? There had to be a detailed plan.
"May I ask a few questions?"
"Go ahead."
Bukgung Yeon nodded.
"Rebuilding a sect requires a significant amount of money. How do you intend to procure the funds?"
"The Ice Palace has traditionally collected a protection tax from the villages. I intend to use that tax to rebuild the sect."
"And the disciples?"
"Naturally, I plan to choose children from the villages who show martial talent."
"..............."
Hearing her words, Sun-woo realized the truth. Her plan really was just what she had said. And he realized something else: she was under a severe delusion.
"Palace Master."
Sun-woo looked at her with a grave tone.
"What is it?"
"I'm afraid the reconstruction of the North Sea Ice Palace will be difficult."
Sun-woo spoke with a calm face.
"Do you want to die? Who told you that you could speak so recklessly?"
Bukgung Yeon frowned, her elegant brows knitting together. Instead of cheering her on, why was he saying such cursed things?
"It's not reckless talk. I am being sincere. If you follow your plan, you won't be able to rebuild the Ice Palace even in a hundred years."
Sun-woo looked at her with serious eyes. Hearing this, Bukgung Yeon’s face contorted with anger.
"Explain yourself."
She spoke through gritted teeth.
"The reason is simple," Sun-woo said, nodding his head. "Because the plan you've made is a total disaster."
Sun-woo spoke matter-of-factly.
Zing.
Hearing Sun-woo’s words, Bukgung Yeon’s expression went beyond mere annoyance. She glared at him with eyes filled with murderous aura.