Chapter 292: The Mediation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 292: The Mediation
"And Neung So-hwa. I’m disappointed in you, too."
After rebuking Bukgung Yeon, Sun-woo turned his gaze toward Neung So-hwa and reprimanded her as well.
Hearing his words, Neung So-hwa’s expression shifted to one of utter bewilderment. She looked as if she couldn't fathom what she had done wrong to deserve such a comment.
"Don't you need that Ice Essence more than anyone right now? And yet, you’re willing to give it up just because you’re caught up in your emotions? Do you have any idea how thoughtless that is?"
Sun-woo continued, his eyes fixed on her with a calm but piercing intensity. His voice was heavy with genuine reproach.
"I... No... That is..."
Stunned by his rebuke, Neung So-hwa began to stammer. She couldn't find a rebuttal because everything he said was undeniably true.
"If you give up on the Ice Essence so lightly, what does that make Guard Ma, who escorted you all the way to the North Sea? And what about me, after I decided to help you? Do our efforts mean so little to you?"
"It’s not like that! It’s just... just..."
"If it’s not like that, how could you say you’re giving up so easily?"
"............"
Neung So-hwa fell silent, her lips pressed firmly together under the weight of Sun-woo’s sharp criticism. In hindsight, declaring she would abandon the Ice Essence out of spite was indeed an immature reaction.
"I’m disappointed, So-hwa."
Sun-woo drove the point home, his words final.
Thud.
To Neung So-hwa, those words felt like a heavy boulder dropping onto her chest. Hearing that Sun-woo was disappointed in her left her feeling stifled and oppressed, as if the air had been knocked out of her.
Slump.
Her expression quickly soured, and her shoulders slumped dejectedly. She had claimed she would give up the Ice Essence for his sake, yet the fact that he didn't recognize her intent filled her with a wave of sorrow.
".............."
"............."
After Sun-woo finished speaking, a heavy silence descended upon the Great Hall. The two women, who had been raising their voices in a fierce battle of nerves just moments ago, were now completely silent.
Bukgung Yeon felt a sense of resentment toward Sun-woo. While her displays of affection might have been excessive, she had never intended to treat him like a trivial man. It was simply because he was so charming that she didn't want to lose him to another woman. She felt slighted that he couldn't see the sincerity behind her actions. How could he be so blind to my heart?
Neung So-hwa, meanwhile, felt deeply hurt. It wasn't that she lacked gratitude for Chief Ma, who had guarded her all the way to the North Sea. Nor was she ungrateful to Sun-woo, who had ultimately helped her despite his initial reluctance. She knew she shouldn't have spoken so lightly of giving up the Ice Essence, knowing the effort they had expended.
But she couldn't stand it. She couldn't bear to watch the Palace Master of the North Sea Ice Palace touch and seduce Sun-woo as she pleased. A fierce fire had erupted within her, making her breath hitch and her irritation boil over—to the point where the Ice Essence didn't even matter anymore.
Why should Sun-woo have to endure such treatment because of her? He was her most precious friend, the first one she had made since coming to the Central Plains. That was why she had been willing to walk away. She hated seeing him humiliated.
But how could he not understand why I did it? Neung So-hwa felt a deep pang of sadness at Sun-woo’s lack of insight into her feelings.
Both women, their feelings bruised, remained stubbornly silent.
'Whew.'
Seeing this, Sun-woo let out a quiet sigh of relief. He felt he had finally managed to bring the situation to a temporary lull. He glanced up at the two of them. Both were pouting, their lips jutting out in dissatisfaction. They seemed to accept his logic, but their emotional wounds were clearly far from healed.
"Sigh."
Sun-woo let out a loud, deliberate sigh to draw their attention.
"How about we set aside personal feelings for a moment? Discussing the future of the Ice Palace and the fate of the Ice Essence should be our priority. We can resolve personal grievances later. I’ll make time for it."
Sun-woo looked between them as he spoke. If he tried to soothe all their emotions now, the entire day would slip away. He needed to handle the immediate task first.
"Fine."
"Very well."
Bukgung Yeon and Neung So-hwa answered respectively. They, too, seemed to realize that rational dialogue was more pressing than an emotional spat.
"Then I’ll ask you first, Palace Master."
"Go ahead."
"Do you agree with the opinion that the North Sea Ice Palace needs money more than it needs the Ice Essence right now?"
"I agree."
"Then, do you intend to sell the Ice Essence to Neung So-hwa?"
"............"
Bukgung Yeon fell silent at Sun-woo’s question. She knew they needed the money, but the idea of selling it to Neung So-hwa grated on her nerves.
"Palace Master, you must think wisely. It’s not every day you find someone willing to pay such a massive sum for the Ice Essence."
When she didn't respond, Sun-woo began to coax her, gently prodding her resolve.
"The Ice Essence is a treasure worth a thousand gold pieces to anyone who practices Yin-cold arts. There will be plenty of buyers even if it’s not that woman," Bukgung Yeon countered, her pride clearly wounded. To her, the Ice Essence was a peerless treasure; she refused to believe she was beholden to this arrogant girl.
"Of course, the Ice Essence is worth a fortune to those who practice Yin-cold Qigong. But to anyone else, it’s nothing more than a rare, expensive block of ice."
"Wh-What did you say?!" Bukgung Yeon’s voice rose in indignation.
"If you aren't a martial artist practicing Yin-cold techniques, what use is it? It’s a block of ice that would freeze an ordinary person just by touching it."
".........."
"If the pool of buyers is limited, the price is bound to drop. Think about it. Among those who practice Yin-cold arts, how many can actually afford to pay a thousand gold pieces? Better yet, does such a person even exist?"
Sun-woo continued in a tone brimming with conviction.
"I can say with certainty: there isn't a single one. Anyone seeking to reach a new level of achievement through the Ice Essence would already have to be at a considerable stage of cultivation. Currently, there are almost no masters of Yin-cold Qigong in the Central Plains."
"..........."
"That’s why you can’t afford to miss this opportunity, Palace Master. If you don't dispose of it now, you’ll face the misfortune of never being able to sell it for its true value. You might end up with a result worse than if you hadn't tried to sell it at all."
Sun-woo’s words were sharp, almost like a verbal assault.
"You need to be pragmatic, Palace Master. Just as Neung So-hwa is desperate for the Ice Essence, you are desperate for money. You must acknowledge that fact."
"..........."
Bukgung Yeon remained silent, clearly lost in thought. Sun-woo wasn't wrong. While the Ice Essence was a rare treasure, she wouldn't be able to sell it for a fortune unless the timing was right. It was a niche item sought only by a specific type of martial artist.
In a way, Neung So-hwa coming to the North Sea was a stroke of luck for Bukgung Yeon. She was a customer who could provide the massive funds the Palace Master so desperately needed.
But her pride was stinging. She had used the Ice Essence as leverage to act however she pleased, and now, having to agree to the sale felt like she was begging.
However, if she didn't sell it here, her dream of rebuilding the North Sea Ice Palace would vanish like smoke. She couldn't allow that to happen.
".......I’ll sell it."
After agonizing between her pride and reality, she finally forced the words out. She had chosen practical gain over her ego.
'Whew.'
Sun-woo breathed a sigh of relief. He had managed to persuade her. Now, all that was left was to negotiate the price.
"I’m not buying."
Suddenly, Neung So-hwa spoke up in a blunt, surly voice. Startled, Sun-woo whipped his head around to look at her. She was glaring at Bukgung Yeon with a deeply disgruntled expression.
"What is it with you now?!" Sun-woo shouted in frustration. He had finally managed to convince the other side, and now she was being stubborn.
"I don't like her attitude. She needs the money, yet she’s acting like she’s doing me a favor by selling it."
Neung So-hwa spoke with a face full of irritation.
"She should be more earnest. Something like, 'Please buy it, I beg of you,' would be appropriate, don't you think?" Neung So-hwa added with a malicious smile.
Grind.
Bukgung Yeon's teeth ground together. She had swallowed her pride to agree to the sale, and this was the response she got? She glared at Neung So-hwa with eyes full of frigid killing intent.
"Do you want to die?" she asked, her voice chillingly cold.
"Who in the world wants to die?" Neung So-hwa replied slyly. "You can threaten me with force if you like, but if you do, you’ll have to give up on your dream. The dream of rebuilding the North Sea Ice Palace."
Neung So-hwa stared back at Bukgung Yeon with an unwavering gaze. Her words were the truth. In reality, the one in the most desperate position was Bukgung Yeon. Neung So-hwa could afford to wait as long as it took to find another source of Ice Essence. While she might fail in her duty as the Shield of the Imperial Family, she was still a member of the Imperial Bloodline, the most noble and exalted lineage in the Central Plains.
But for Bukgung Yeon, the situation was different. She was desperate. After hearing Sun-woo’s words, she realized the sheer power of money. With enough funds, the North Sea Ice Palace could be perfectly restored in twenty years—maybe even ten. Conversely, without money, it might not happen even in a hundred years.
The levels of desperation were worlds apart. Bukgung Yeon looked at Neung So-hwa’s face. The girl was looking back at her with a truly mocking smile.
Grind.
Bukgung Yeon gritted her teeth. She realized that this insufferable woman knew exactly how desperate she was and was exploiting it. Rage surged within her. She felt a murderous urge to turn the girl into an ice statue right then and there.
But she couldn't. She wanted to see the North Sea Ice Palace rebuilt within her lifetime. If she killed this woman now, that dream would be lost forever. She had no other way to secure the vast amount of capital required.
"..............."
Bukgung Yeon agonized over it. After a long silence, she finally reached a conclusion.
"...........Ple...ase.. bu..y.."
Bukgung Yeon began to speak, her voice as faint as a crawling ant. It was humiliating beyond belief, but she decided that securing the practical benefit was more important than her pride.
"What was that? I can't hear you. Speak a little louder."
Neung So-hwa’s obnoxious voice rang in her ears.
Grind.
Bukgung Yeon felt a wave of endless shame and insult. Who was she? She was the Sovereign of the North Sea, a great martial artist who had reached the Profound Realm and was hailed as a Half-Immortal. How could she be subjected to such mockery?
She felt a natural urge to kill. She debated a hundred times whether it would be okay to just cut off one of the girl's arms. That was how much her anger had flared.
"I... beg... of..."
But she suppressed her shame and began to enunciate each word clearly. She knew this was the best path for the future of the North Sea Ice Palace.
"Stop!"
A powerful voice rang out from the side.
"That’s enough."
Bukgung Yeon, her face flushed with humiliation, looked toward the source of the voice. Sun-woo was frowning deeply, looking genuinely angry.
"I think that’s more than enough. Both of you, stop it."
Sun-woo continued, his expression turning calm.
"Neung So-hwa, I understand you felt humiliated earlier. But now that the tables are turned, if you threaten and mock her the same way, you’re no different from her. Is that who you want to be?"
"...........No."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"I just wanted her to realize... how much shame and insult her actions cause others."
Neung So-hwa spoke weakly under Sun-woo’s rebuke.
"Do you have extra lives I don't know about? What if the Palace Master couldn't take it anymore and attacked you? What then!"
Sun-woo raised his voice, shouting. Regardless of her intent, her actions had been incredibly dangerous. Even if she held the upper hand in the negotiation, how could she gamble her life to teach a lesson when there was such a staggering difference in martial power?
".........."
Neung So-hwa hung her head low, looking dejected. She couldn't argue because he was right. She also agreed that her life had been in danger. She had assumed the Palace Master wouldn't kill her, but in this world, there was always the possibility of the unexpected.
"We’ll talk later, you."
Sun-woo glared at Neung So-hwa as he spoke.
Nod.
Neung So-hwa nodded obediently. Sun-woo then slowly turned his gaze to Bukgung Yeon, staring at her in silence.
".......What."
Feeling awkward under his silent stare, Bukgung Yeon spoke up curtly.
"How did it feel to be on the receiving end of a power trip?"
"A power trip?"
"I mean using a position of superiority to threaten and coerce someone."
"I felt a surge of shame and insult. Enough to want to kill her," Bukgung Yeon replied honestly, her eyes still flashing with a lingering murderous intent.
"That is exactly what you did to Neung So-hwa earlier."
"..........."
At Sun-woo’s words, Bukgung Yeon silently lowered her head.
"I believe that if both of you had yielded just a single step, this emotional rift wouldn't have deepened so much."
"............."
"............."
"Didn't you both agree to set aside personal feelings?"
"I did."
"I did, too."
"And yet, neither of you could do it. You can't conduct a transaction in this state."
Sun-woo looked at them with a steady gaze.
"So, this time, truly set your emotions aside and speak."
".........Understood."
"......Okay."
The two women answered in subdued voices.
"Palace Master, do you intend to sell the Ice Essence?"
".....Yes."
Bukgung Yeon nodded at Sun-woo’s question.
"Neung So-hwa, do you intend to buy the Ice Essence?"
"......I do."
Neung So-hwa also nodded.
"Then it’s settled. Let’s begin the price negotiations."
Sun-woo smiled with satisfaction. Having confirmed their willingness to trade, he felt there was no more time to waste and immediately dove into the negotiations with them.
The price adjustment ended more simply than expected. Neung So-hwa offered a sum too large to refuse, and Bukgung Yeon accepted the proposal without hesitation.
Thus, the audience concluded with both women achieving a satisfactory result. Bukgung Yeon obtained the funds that would serve as the foundation for rebuilding the North Sea Ice Palace, and Neung So-hwa secured the Ice Essence, the key to resolving the side effects of her Extreme Yang Flame Emperor Demonic Art.
