Chapter 111
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Ronin Market Challenge
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, morning.
Bing Cho-pung and the Taegok branch leaders, along with Seol Hwa-un's group, gathered in the office.
Bing Cho-pung glared at Seol Hwa-un.
“You went too far last night, Young Palace Lord. Forcing me to sleep like that......”
“I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd listen otherwise.”
Then, a middle-aged man beside Bing Cho-pung burst into laughter.
“Well done, Young Palace Lord. I've told him to rest several times, but he never listens.”
He was Seol Mu-baek, the leader of the Second Sword Squad of the Ice Sword Brigade.
The Second Sword Squad handled security and patrols for the Taegok branch.
With two hundred Second Sword Squad members and three hundred additional warriors, there were currently five hundred North Sea Ice Palace warriors stationed at the Taegok branch.
This level of force could easily wipe out most mid-sized sects.
But unfortunately, the problem facing the Taegok branch now could not be solved by force.
Seol Hwa-un looked at Bing Cho-pung and said,
“As I came here, I noticed the public sentiment toward our palace is far from good. Have you figured out why?”
“Yes. Regrettably, ominous rumors had already been circulating even before construction on the branch began.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes. Nonsense like North Sea people enjoying eating children's flesh, or curses falling on places they stay, and all sorts of baseless rubbish spreading around.”
Words have a peculiar trait: even if poorly substantiated, if they're provocative and tug at emotions, they spread quickly.
“The content is absurd too. Stories like 'A North Sea person stayed at so-and-so's house and suddenly it caught fire,' or 'So-and-so's child was kidnapped, eaten, and only bones were found'—unverified tales presented with surprising detail.”
On top of that, ignorance about the unknown land of the North Sea made the rumors spread even faster.
Bing Cho-pung had been working day and night to dispel these misunderstandings, but it was not enough.
“There’s no sign of them dying down.”
“Hmm.”
Seol Hwa-un thought of a few suspects. But he had no immediate plan for dealing with them.
“What's your take, Advisor Yu?”
At his question, Yu Gong-seon replied.
“I see two main approaches.”
“Tell me.”
“The first is to keep refuting them and improving perceptions, as you've been doing, Chief Bing. It's the orthodox way.”
“Hm.”
“People have a deep-seated fear of the unknown. That's why they easily fall for rumors.”
Yu Gong-seon looked around at the assembled men and continued.
“But once they interact with our palace members, they'll realize we're not so different, and the rumors are nonsense. It will just be a long, tedious battle.”
“What's the second?”
Yu Gong-seon smiled faintly.
“Spread rumors of our own.”
“What do you mean?”
“The current rumors paint us as perpetrators and Central Plains folk as victims. We reverse that.”
“Reverse it?”
“People tend not to believe the truth easily. Especially if it contradicts what they firmly believe—no matter how much truth you shove in front of them, they won't accept it easily. So.”
He paused briefly before speaking again.
“We twist these specific rumors slightly. As if new facts have come to light.”
“You mean......”
“We leave the rumors as they are, but claim the truth is that those framing the North Sea people did the deeds and pinned it on us.”
Someone let out an exclamation.
“Ah!”
“Then we become the wronged victims, and the public will curse the framers instead. Sometimes it's easier to twist with lies than correct with truth.”
“Covering rumors with more rumors.”
“Brilliant idea!”
Yu Gong-seon added with a serious expression.
“But first, we need to expose who's spreading them. So we can point to them as the perpetrators.”
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
“We'll go with the second method. I leave it to you, Advisor Yu.”
“Yes, Young Palace Lord.”
Seol Hwa-un's gaze shifted.
“Second Sword Squad Leader, how's the security in Taegok now?”
“Our squad patrols regularly. Eyes are sharp on us, but no major issues so far.”
“Hm.”
“It's almost too quiet—frustratingly so.”
If some problem had arisen and the Second Sword Squad resolved it, they might have won some public favor.
But they couldn't manufacture incidents on purpose.
“Well done. Even if you face some unfair treatment during patrols, never clash with the common folk.”
“Yes, Chief Bing already hammered that in.”
“Good. That leaves the last issue: recruiting warriors.”
“Mm......”
The men groaned.
And rightly so—improving perceptions was already difficult. Now they were asking people to become warriors of the notoriously infamous North Sea Ice Palace.
Seol Hwa-un asked Bing Cho-pung,
“There must be a ronin market in Shanxi Province too. Have you checked it?”
“Of course. With the Shanxi Sword Sect's help, we went to the ronin market in Taiyuan. We offered double the price elsewhere, but the response was cold.”
Yu Gong-seon tilted his head.
“That's odd. They're not righteous sect warriors—they're ronin who love money. All reacting the same way.”
“You're as sharp as ever. There was a reason.”
“What is it?”
“Have you heard of the Red Wolf Blade?”
“Red Wolf Blade?”
At his question, Seol Hwa-un's group tilted their heads. Bing Cho-pung added an explanation.
“He's very famous among ronin. One of the Ten Great Ronin, no less.”
Even among wandering ronin, being in the top ten meant exceptional skill.
“He dominates the Shanxi ronin market and has a grudge against our palace.”
“Why?”
Bing Cho-pung gave a wry smile.
“No idea. We tried to meet him somehow, but he refused even that.”
The Second Sword Squad Leader continued.
“I tried forcing a meeting, but his attitude was so hostile it might backfire, so I gave up.”
It was a truly frustrating situation.
Seol Hwa-un, who had been listening, spoke up.
“I see. I'll handle that.”
“Yes? How will you......?”
“I'll go to the ronin market myself today.”
* * *
Just past noon, Seol Hwa-un left the Taegok branch with Dong Ho-won and Eom Mu-hwi.
Dong Ho-won couldn't contain his curiosity.
“Young Palace Lord, what exactly do you plan to do?”
Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
“They're ronin, but warriors all the same.”
“And?”
“I'll lure them with what they want most.”
“......Money?”
“Who knows. In some ways, yes.”
He gave no further details.
Using lightness skills, they soon arrived at the ronin market in Taiyuan's back alleys.
There, about three hundred ronin had set up camp in a fairly spacious clearing.
At first glance it seemed irregular, but they were precisely grouped by rank.
“......”
As Seol Hwa-un's group arrived, the ronin's gazes immediately focused on them.
The group had come in full Ice Palace attire on purpose. Naturally, the ronin recognized them.
“......!?”
“North Sea Ice Palace?”
Eyes filled with hostility.
“Why are they here again?”
“Persistent, aren't they.”
One ronin raised his voice.
“Hey! My price is one silver tael, but for one gold tael, I'll graciously become your warrior!”
“Crazy! Who'd spend a gold tael on you?”
“What's wrong? If they're desperate, they'll pay. Ice Palace has money, right?”
Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won's faces hardened.
“How dare you...... insult our palace!”
Dong Ho-won bellowed, but the ronin ignored him.
“Oh no, scary! Will I get eaten too?”
“Puhahaha! Your meat's too tough even for them!”
Seol Hwa-un shook his head at them.
[Wait for now.]
Sending a transmission, Seol Hwa-un cupped his hands toward the ronin.
“Greetings. I am Seol Hwa-un, Young Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“......!”
Surprise flickered across the ronins' faces.
“North Heaven Dragon?”
“No wonder he looks so handsome......”
“The North Heaven Dragon who slew the Blood Yin Four Armies?”
A famous name indeed makes a difference.
Once Seol Hwa-un revealed his identity, no more idle chatter came from the ronin.
Smiling, Seol Hwa-un continued.
“You know we're recruiting warriors. I've come here to make the offer once more.”
But as soon as he finished, reactions erupted.
“Nonsense!”
“No chance!”
“Go back! Even the North Heaven Dragon can't make us serve Northern barbarians—not even a speck!”
“......”
Seol Hwa-un's gaze turned to the last shouter.
His emotionless, indifferent eyes made the man shrink and avert his gaze.
“I won't offer more pay than before. Instead, I'll give you the chance to learn our palace's martial arts.”
“......!”
“......Martial arts?”
The ronin began to stir greatly. Money mattered, but what they thirsted for most was martial arts.
Eom Mu-hwi asked in surprise via transmission.
[Young Palace Lord, teaching martial arts? Is that possible?]
[Don't worry. It's already approved at the Five Peaks Assembly.]
“Ah!”
He exclaimed.
'I see. That must be what the Young Palace Lord proposed at the interim Five Peaks Assembly!'
Then, a loud laugh rang out.
“Hahaha!”
“......?”
Turning, they saw a one-eyed man in tattered martial robes.
“Ridiculous. Martial arts?”
“You are......”
“I am Bu Jeok-pung.”
Interest sparked in Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
“You're the Red Wolf Blade.”
The Red Wolf Blade bared yellowed teeth.
“That's right, North Heaven Dragon. You've at least heard my moniker.”
“What's so funny?”
“It's laughable, trying to tempt ronin with low-level martial arts.”
Seol Hwa-un's eyes cooled.
“Low-level?”
“Isn't it? You won't teach your secret ultimate arts—just a few basic ones, right?”
Surprisingly, Seol Hwa-un nodded readily.
“Not wrong. We can't teach the arts mastered by our Palace Lord or family heads.”
“There we go.”
Seol Hwa-un turned back to the ronin.
“But we'll transmit the intermediate arts that form our palace's backbone.”
“Still......”
“Nothing special?”
Seol Hwa-un's gaze returned to the Red Wolf Blade.
“Then, shall we confirm it directly, Red Wolf Blade?