Chapter 114
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: The Black Refinement Sect
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While Seol Hwa-un was taking a brief rest in the temporary office, Yu Gong-seon requested a meeting.
“What is it?”
“It seems we’ll need the Young Palace Lord’s help.”
“Help?”
“To execute my plan, we’re short on intelligence. That said, didn’t you forge a connection with the Hao Clan two years ago?”
Seol Hwa-un recalled the merchant.
“Ah, you mean Branch Chief Jo Il-pyeong? Come to think of it, I heard at the end that he’d become some kind of hall leader.”
“Yes, the Heavenly Flower Hall Leader. It’s one of the top five positions in the Hao Clan.”
“He’s clearly a capable man.”
“That’s why I’m asking—may I request assistance from the Hao Clan in the Young Palace Lord’s name?”
Seol Hwa-un unwittingly tapped his own forehead.
‘Of all things. I should’ve utilized the Hao Clan from the start.’
He already had a good relationship with Jo Il-pyeong, and the current situation made their help essential.
“By all means. Do as you see fit, Strategist.”
“Understood.”
* * *
The next day.
Surprisingly, Jo Il-pyeong, the Heavenly Flower Hall Leader of the Hao Clan, visited the Taegok branch in person.
He immediately requested a meeting with Seol Hwa-un, and soon the two were seated across from each other.
Jo Il-pyeong said with a smile.
“Long time no see, Young Palace Lord.”
“Indeed. You look much sharper. There must be a big difference between branch chief and hall leader.”
And it wasn’t just talk—Jo Il-pyeong’s attire was worlds apart from before. It was clearly of exceptional quality.
Jo Il-pyeong shrugged.
“You flatter me. Truth be told, I’m not comfortable in outfits like this. But with my position, there’s no helping it.”
“I can relate fully. Ah, speaking of which, my greetings are overdue. Thank you so much for the information from Shaanxi Province.”
“Haha, I’m sorry it wasn’t more helpful. If only I’d known sooner... Shaanxi is one of the places where our clan struggles to operate properly.”
“No, it was plenty helpful.”
“Then I’m glad.”
Jo Il-pyeong’s expression turned serious.
“I heard your clan placed a request with us yesterday.”
“Is that why you rushed here?”
Jo Il-pyeong didn’t deny it.
“Indeed. I happened to be passing nearby.”
Seol Hwa-un gave a sly smile.
“Nearby. To be more precise, weren’t you observing our palace’s branch?”
Jo Il-pyeong looked caught off guard.
“...How did you know?”
Seol Hwa-un replied nonchalantly.
“It’s not that hard to figure out. The Central Plains martial world hasn’t seen much change lately, yet our palace is building a branch in Shaanxi Province of all places. Especially one that Hall Leader Jo here has taken an interest in.”
“...”
“Naturally, someone would need to gather intel in person. At this level, it’s likely a high-ranking figure like Hall Leader Jo would step in.”
Jo Il-pyeong shook his head slowly.
“Impressive insight. As expected.”
“You must know the details of the request, then. Here to deliver answers?”
After a brief hesitation, Jo Il-pyeong spoke slowly.
“...There’s no solid proof, but we do have a suspect.”
“As I thought. I figured the Hao Clan would have it pinned down.”
The Hao Clan had begun investigating the circumstances ever since Bing Chief Steward visited the site for the Taegok branch.
Jo Il-pyeong asked cautiously.
“May I know who the Young Palace Lord suspects?”
“That’s not hard to share.”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes gleamed.
“As Hall Leader Jo knows, anything can happen in the martial world. There are plenty of possibilities.”
“...”
“The first that comes to mind is the Demonic Alliance. They’d harbor deep grudges from the Four Evil Heavenly Gates incident. The distance might mean they resorted to some scheme.”
Seol Hwa-un took a sip of tea and continued.
“Next would be the Green Forest Eighteen Bandits.”
They were an obvious enemy of the North Sea Ice Palace, beyond dispute.
“However, considering their range of operations, the odds of them pulling this off are low.”
“...”
“Beyond that, it could be any Shaanxi sect unhappy with our palace’s expansion, or even the Righteous Heaven Alliance or Martial Alliance—we can’t rule them out entirely.”
“You’ve considered a wide array. Impressive.”
“Well? Is the culprit among them?”
Jo Il-pyeong nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes flashed.
“Who?”
“As expected, the Bright King Gate.”
One of the Demonic Alliance’s Eight Gates of the Evil Path—and the masterminds behind the ambush on Seol Hwa-un’s group during their return.
“It seems the Iron-Faced Tiger has made his move.”
Rumors had spread even before the Taegok branch was built, meaning they’d anticipated the North Sea Ice Palace establishing a presence in Shaanxi.
‘As expected of Lee Jeong-myeong.’
“Our clan suspects the same. But that’s not all.”
“Hm?”
“As the Young Palace Lord predicted, the Bright King Gate is too far to exert direct influence.”
“...”
“So Lee Jeong-myeong pulled in Shaanxi’s unorthodox factions.”
“...!”
“We’ve found evidence that the Black Refinement Sect and others spread the rumors. They likely cut a backroom deal.”
No matter how powerful Shaanxi’s unorthodox groups were, they paled against the Eight Gates of the Evil Path.
Of course, they didn’t fear the Eight Gates either—the distance made influence impossible.
‘They must’ve promised something tempting.’
Spreading rumors was simple for Shaanxi’s unorthodox factions.
If the North Sea Ice Palace came calling, they could just deny it. Cutting off tails was second nature to them.
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes sharpened.
‘So that’s how it is.’
“What will you do, Young Palace Lord?”
“Actually, I have one more piece of information.”
“...?”
“You know about the Shaanxi ronin market incident?”
Jo Il-pyeong nodded at Seol Hwa-un’s question.
“I’ve heard. They’re refusing to join the North Sea Ice Palace’s warriors for some strange reason.”
“There’s a mastermind behind that too.”
“Don’t tell me it’s the Iron-Faced Tiger again?”
Seol Hwa-un shook his head.
“Not unrelated, perhaps, but no.”
“Then who?”
Seol Hwa-un named one person.
“The Blood Flash Sword Lord.”
“...! You mean that Blood Flash Sword Lord from the Four Demonic Sword Lords?”
“Exactly.”
The Blood Flash Sword Lord, Dongguk.
His swordsmanship was on par with the Sword Demon among the Four Demonic Sword Lords.
It was the name Seol Hwa-un had extracted from torturing Jeok Rang-do.
“Hah!”
The Blood Flash Sword Lord might prove even more threatening than Shaanxi’s unorthodox factions.
“The situation is graver than I thought. How should we respond...”
As Jo Il-pyeong started to continue, Seol Hwa-un pulled a silk pouch from his bosom and offered it.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“This is...”
“Payment for the request. You did a fine job investigating, so here’s your reward.”
“...”
“I’ll rely on you going forward.”
Jo Il-pyeong stared at Seol Hwa-un with a stiff expression.
“That hurts my feelings. I thought I’d gone out of my way, yet you draw a line like this?”
“That’s not it. I just want things clear-cut. Honestly, the only tie between the Hao Clan and our palace is my personal friendship with Hall Leader Jo.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t get too deeply involved in our palace’s affairs. Trading information like this might be overlooked, but if it looks like you’re aiding us...”
Realizing what Seol Hwa-un meant, Jo Il-pyeong gave a wry smile.
“The Demonic Alliance won’t let your clan off easy.”
“Exactly. I don’t want the Hao Clan suffering because of me. You need to stay intact if I’m to keep requesting your help, right?”
He said this, but even the Demonic Alliance couldn’t touch the Hao Clan itself—they valued the information network too much.
But Jo Il-pyeong personally? That was different. They could strike at him easily, and the clan wouldn’t care if he died.
“Hahaha.”
Hearing that, any lingering resentment in Jo Il-pyeong melted away like snow.
‘He’s as thoughtful as ever.’
He’d always liked Seol Hwa-un personally, but this exchange strengthened it.
‘No wonder they call him the North Heavenly Dragon.’
Seol Hwa-un rose from his seat.
“They might have eyes here too. Head back quickly.”
“Got it.”
“Once... our palace is properly established in the Central Plains. Then, I’ll request your help properly.”
By then, the North Sea Ice Palace could serve as Jo Il-pyeong’s sturdy shield.
“And I’ll pay handsomely.”
“By all means.”
Unable to contain his curiosity, Jo Il-pyeong asked again.
“Just one thing—tell me, what do you plan to do?”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes flashed.
“Sitting back and watching isn’t my style. I’ll go confront them myself.”
Jo Il-pyeong’s eyes widened as something dawned on him.
“You don’t mean...?”
“I’m heading straight for the Black Refinement Sect.”
“...!”
* * *
Black Refinement Sect.
It boasted the strongest power among Shaanxi’s unorthodox factions, in name and reality.
Once diametrically opposed to the Shanxi Sword Sect, their relations had improved after the Green Forest Eighteen Bandits incident, and now they acknowledged each other.
But the Black Refinement Sect’s true might was beyond what the Shanxi Sword Sect could challenge.
Their pretense of aiding the Shanxi Sword Sect had been mere magnanimity from the strong.
At that moment, in the sect leader’s hall deep within the Black Refinement Sect, three men sat at a round table, conversing leisurely.
Among them, the middle-aged man with the darkest complexion and most imposing aura was the Black Killer Ghost Hand, Yeo Mu-oe.
He was the sect leader of the Black Refinement Sect and one of Shaanxi’s top three masters.
Yeo Mu-oe slowly poured tea.
“The North Heavenly Dragon has arrived?”
The Black Refinement Sect’s chief steward, Elder Sang, seated before him, answered.
“Yes, Sect Leader. Apparently, he already swept through the ronin market yesterday.”
“Hoho, he doesn’t even rest after a long journey.”
The sect leader turned to another middle-aged man.
“What do you think, Brigade Leader Bok?”
He was Bok Yeo-wol, leader of the Black Refinement Sect’s Black Killer Brigade. He had already crossed paths with Seol Hwa-un once before.
“The North Heavenly Dragon is no pushover.”
“You state the obvious. Who in the world would dare underestimate the North Heavenly Dragon?”
“Of course, but...”
Bok Yeo-wol was inwardly worried.
‘It’s not just that, Sect Leader. He could threaten our sect’s very survival.’
He’d felt uneasy ever since accepting the Demonic Alliance’s subtle overture.
‘Making the North Heavenly Dragon an enemy—isn’t this too dangerous?’
The Seol Hwa-un he’d seen was extraordinary from the first glimpse. And the rumors that followed gave him chills.
‘You’re too complacent.’
He respected Sect Leader Yeo Mu-oe, but the man was far too arrogant. Speaking frankly would only earn disdain.
“The North Heavenly Dragon will soon realize what our sect did.”
“Probably. We’ve prepared for that, haven’t we?”
“Shouldn’t we devise countermeasures?”
“Hm.”
Elder Sang spoke up.
“I don’t think we need to worry overly much. It’s not like our sect acted alone. Worst case, we pin it on another faction.”
Yeo Mu-oe nodded.
“True enough.”
Bok Yeo-wol’s expression grew uneasy.
‘It can’t be that simple.’
Do you think Seol Hwa-un is the type to just nod and move on if we say, “Not us, someone else did it”?
‘Frustrating. He wiped out the Four Evil Heavenly Gates just for targeting North Sea Ice Palace warriors—that’s the North Heavenly Dragon.’
Just then, a warrior appeared and bowed.
“My apologies for interrupting, Sect Leader. Urgent message.”
“What is it?”
“The North Heavenly Dragon is here and requests an audience with you.”
“...!”