Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Seomun Gong's Proposal
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Seol Hwa-un entered the room to find a rotund man dozing off in a chair.
His features seemed fairly distinct, but they were buried under layers of fat, making them hard to discern at a glance.
‘This is Seomun Gong, the young heir of the Seomun Family?’
The Seomun Family.
Among the Eight Great Families, they were rated as having the weakest martial prowess. In fact, there were even families not counted among the Eight Great Families that surpassed them.
Yet the reason the Seomun Family had secured a spot among the Eight Great Families was simple.
Wealth.
The Seomun Family, which managed one of the Three Great Merchant Houses under heaven, overwhelmed the other seven families in financial power alone.
It was said that Seomun Gong’s financial acumen surpassed even the current family head.
Many predicted that if he became head, he would more than double the family’s wealth.
As Seol Hwa-un sat watching him quietly from across the way, a glint appeared in his eyes.
“How about opening your eyes now?”
“……Ssp!”
Seomun Gong, who had just wiped drool from his mouth as if he’d only just woken, looked around before spotting Seol Hwa-un and breaking into a smile.
“Ah, are you by chance the young palace lord of the North Sea Ice Palace?”
He spoke with such natural innocence, but Seol Hwa-un knew he had been pretending to sleep.
“If you insist on keeping up the act to the end, I won’t stop you.”
“Pardon?”
His expression of utter confusion was so convincing that any outsider would have believed it without question.
Seol Hwa-un had no intention of pressing the point further.
“That’s right. I am the young palace lord, Seol Hwa-un.”
Seomun Gong immediately rose and cupped his fists in a polite bow.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Seomun Gong.”
“Likewise.”
“Haha, it seems the meeting ran longer than expected.”
“More importantly, why did you seek me out?”
“I’ve long admired your reputation and deeply yearned to meet you...”
“If that were the case, why not come to the small gathering? A seat was prepared for you.”
Seomun Gong scratched the back of his head.
“Heh heh, I’m such a busy man that I have little interest in such childish games... Ah, pretend you didn’t hear that!”
“Understood. Then tell me your real purpose in coming here.”
“…….”
In that instant, a sharp gleam flashed in Seomun Gong’s eyes. Seol Hwa-un sensed his gaze swiftly scanning him from head to toe.
‘Impressive.’
Seomun Gong had been trying to gauge him, but in doing so, Seol Hwa-un had turned the tables and assessed Seomun Gong’s own capabilities.
‘At this level, he’s stronger than Ak Su-jeon.’
It was truly astonishing. The Seomun Family’s martial arts were held in low regard compared to their wealth, yet their young heir surpassed the Spear Dragon of the Shandong Ak Family!
Seomun Gong let out a deep sigh with a serious expression.
“Hoo.”
He looked as if he had made a firm resolution.
“I have a proposal for you, young palace lord.”
“What is it?”
“I’d like to form an exclusive trade contract with the North Sea Ice Palace.”
A glint sparked in Seol Hwa-un’s eyes.
“An exclusive contract.”
“That’s right. I figured as the young palace lord, you’d have the authority for it.”
“I’m not leaving right away, so why wait until this late? You could have come tomorrow.”
Seomun Gong smiled faintly.
“I’m a busy man myself. I wanted to get acquainted today and at least settle on a verbal agreement. Tomorrow brings other matters.”
“Fair enough. You must have made a tidy profit from the grand assembly.”
Seomun Gong’s eyes widened slightly.
“Ha, impressive. You can even read the flow of money?”
Seol Hwa-un waved it off as no big deal.
“Just something I picked up in passing. Very well, let’s talk. You’re not aiming for a monopoly on all trade between the North Sea and the Central Plains, so what items do you want?”
Seomun Gong shook his head.
“Ultimately, I want most of the North Sea’s trade goods. But the key ones are two: Millennial Cold Iron and Ice Blood Horses.”
“Ho.”
Millennial Cold Iron was renowned as the strongest steel, extremely rare. And its origin was none other than the North Sea.
“I wouldn’t be surprised about the Millennial Cold Iron, but I didn’t expect you to know about the Ice Blood Horses.”
“Heh heh heh, that’s basic knowledge for a merchant.”
“How much do you know about them?”
“I know the North Sea Ice Palace bred them for cavalry use. But they have a fatal flaw: they’re weak to the Central Plains climate.”
As explained earlier, the Ice Blood Horses were a breed the North Sea Ice Palace had poured their hearts into creating.
For that reason, they were hardly known outside, yet Seomun Gong spoke with precise information.
“And still, you want to trade for them?”
“Exactly. They might not suit Central Plains cavalry, but their size and appearance are extraordinary. Word has already spread quietly among the wealthy and officials, and many are desperate to acquire them.”
“You’re straightforward. Wouldn’t hiding that let you buy cheaper?”
“Trust is the lifeblood of trade, isn’t it? I know the North Sea Ice Palace doesn’t have an abundance of them. Entrust them to me, and I’ll pay top dollar.”
Though Ice Blood Horses served the Ice White Cavalry Brigade, they hadn’t yet bred in sufficient numbers for surplus.
As Seomun Gong said, they weren’t at the point of trading freely.
“Very well. I can push for that much. But the Millennial Cold Iron...”
The North Sea was the source, but production was minuscule. And as material for weapons, the North Sea Ice Palace strictly forbade exports.
A single mistake could turn that iron into the blade striking the palace itself.
Seomun Gong spoke as if aware of the circumstances.
“I’ll pay handsomely. What do you say? Can’t you make it happen?”
Even as young palace lord, authorizing Millennial Cold Iron for trade was no easy task.
It was a sensitive item that could brand one a traitor if mishandled.
‘The profits would be immense, but... no need to go that far.’
Reading the expression on Seol Hwa-un’s face, Seomun Gong took the initiative.
“I know it’s difficult from your position, young palace lord. That’s why I want to show my sincerity.”
With a faint smile, he drew a small wooden box from his bosom.
“You’ll like this.”
Click.
Opening the box released a refreshing fragrance that filled the room in an instant.
“This is...”
A spirit pill emitting a subtle violet glow revealed itself.
“The Purple Sky Pill.”
“……!”
Even the composed Seol Hwa-un couldn’t hide his surprise.
The Purple Sky Pill was the Mount Hua Sect’s signature spirit medicine, comparable to the Shaolin Great Reversion Pill.
“How does the young heir of the Seomun Family have this...”
“I acquired it for a fortune when the chance arose. It’s completely legitimate, so feel free to take it.”
Seol Hwa-un was astonished by Seomun Gong’s generosity.
‘He’s giving me something this precious?’
Any martial artist would pay a king’s ransom for a spirit pill. And the Purple Sky Pill was among the very best.
In truth, Seomun Gong hadn’t initially planned to offer the Purple Sky Pill.
He had heard the North Sea Ice Palace was sending someone to the grand assembly and seen it as a prime trade opportunity.
But upon investigating Seol Hwa-un’s actions, he realized this was no ordinary man.
Seol Hwa-un’s displays at the Shanxi Sword Sect and small gathering were nothing short of spectacular.
The decisive factor was hearing his remarks from the grand assembly meeting—his merchant instincts screamed this was a golden chance.
‘This man is destined for greatness!’
With exceptional martial prowess, eloquence, fine character, and the boldness to read and lead the flow—he confirmed it upon seeing Seol Hwa-un in person.
He hadn’t held high hopes for the Millennial Cold Iron trade. But with Seol Hwa-un, it just might work.
The North Sea had other surprisingly valuable luxuries. Paving the way could yield steady, massive profits.
And looking beyond that, Seomun Gong saw Seol Hwa-un himself as a worthy investment. Thus, he offered a spirit pill that would drive any martial artist mad.
Seol Hwa-un couldn’t help but be tempted by the Purple Sky Pill. But he quickly regained his composure.
“Giving me something so precious is a bit burdensome.”
“I may be a martial artist, but I’m a merchant first—and that identity runs deeper.”
Seomun Gong felt the greatest joy closing big deals through his own efforts—far beyond any achievement from training.
“I firmly believe an exclusive deal with the North Sea Ice Palace will yield profits beyond the Purple Sky Pill. Consider this a token of my request for your efforts, regardless of the Millennial Cold Iron. No pressure.”
“…….”
“A pill brimming with yin cold energy would have been ideal, but among my possessions, the Purple Sky Pill is the best.”
A subtle change flickered in Seol Hwa-un’s eyes.
‘...Indeed. The Purple Sky Pill isn’t pure extreme yang energy, but its yang qi is overwhelmingly strong.’
He accepted the Purple Sky Pill.
“You make it impossible to refuse. Thank you. I won’t disappoint you, young heir of the Seomun Family.”
Seomun Gong beamed. His small eyes nearly vanished into the fat of his face.
“I hope we can maintain good relations going forward.”
* * *
After sending Seomun Gong away and left alone, Seol Hwa-un asked the North Wind Brigade Leader to ensure no one approached his room.
“…….”
He gazed intently at the Purple Sky Pill on the table.
‘To think things would turn out like this.’
He suppressed his surging excitement.
‘It’s the spirit pill I need most.’
Seomun Gong had given it simply as a inner strength booster. With its strong yang energy, he likely figured Seol Hwa-un would gain less than an average martial artist.
‘If he knew the true benefit I’d gain from this Purple Sky Pill, would Seomun Gong have parted with it so easily?’
He might have demanded even greater concessions. Of course, Seomun Gong had no way of knowing.
‘Inner strength skewed to extremes hinders higher realms.’
Having trained the Mixed Origin Sect’s arts, which handled yin-yang dual qi, he knew this well.
That was why, in his past life, he had mainly practiced the Pure Yang Infinite Art while steadily cultivating the Nine Yin Immortal Art.
It was no different now. Though the Ice White Divine Art was primary, it needed a supporting extreme yang art. Absorbing an extreme yang spirit pill would vastly amplify his yin cold art.
And the Purple Sky Pill was more than sufficient as a substitute.
‘Good.’
Seol Hwa-un sat cross-legged and swallowed the Purple Sky Pill in one gulp. It melted instantly, sliding into his stomach.
Whoosh!
A small flame immediately ignited in his dantian.
‘I’ll use the Pure Yang Infinite Art.’
To fully absorb the pill’s yang qi, an extreme yang art was ideal. It had been impossible before, but the pill’s energy made it feasible.
Seol Hwa-un converted the flame with the Pure Yang Infinite Art.
Burrrr!
The Ice White Divine Art reacted at once. As if enraged by the invading opposing energy, it flared up.
‘Don’t resist. You can coexist.’
The Mixed Origin Sect’s arts fundamentally pursued harmony of yin and yang, the primordial chaos before Taiji. Hence the name.
Yin and yang qi were never truly separate. They mingled and coexisted.
But the Ice White Divine Art wasn’t a Mixed Origin Sect art.
‘Still, I’m confident. My Ice White Divine Art is founded on Nine Yin Primordial True Qi.’
The Nine Yin Primordial True Qi was based on the Nine Yin Immortal Art, making it part of the Mixed Origin Sect’s divine arts.
The Pure Yang Infinite Art, enriched by the pill, surged with immense power. Unwilling to yield, the Ice White Divine Art expanded in response.
‘Kuh!’
In the clash, the two energies roiled through his meridians. Excruciating pain tore at him as if his body were being ripped apart.
Seol Hwa-un’s face flushed red, then paled blue, repeating the cycle.
‘You two... have no choice but to join together!’
The energies raced through the twelve meridians in fierce competition. Then, suddenly, the Pure Yang Infinite Art plunged into the Conception Vessel.
‘Hm?!’
Of the Ren and Du meridians, the Du governed yang qi. Seol Hwa-un, overflowing with yin, had nearly cleared the yin-governing Ren but hadn’t dared touch the Du.
Attempting it with pure yin cold art risked shattering his body’s yin-yang balance.
‘This is an unexpected turn!’
Roooar!
The Pure Yang Infinite Art incinerated the blockages in the Du and charged ahead. The Ice White Divine Art surged up the Ren in defiance.
Its nearly cleared points allowed it to swiftly reach the Perineum. Almost simultaneously, the Pure Yang Infinite Art hit the Crown.
And then.
Kuuuung!
They shattered the thick barrier in one go.
‘……!’
Immense pain surged, but he gritted his teeth and endured. Soon, a refreshing clarity enveloped his body.
‘Ah!’
The complete opening of the Ren and Du meridians—a dream for any martial artist.
At the same moment, the two energies merged into one Ice White Divine Art. The Pure Yang Infinite Art blended seamlessly, as if it had always been part.
Though still the Ice White Divine Art, its quality and level were utterly transformed.
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un slowly opened his eyes. Divine light flashed in them.
A satisfied smile curved his lips. Astonishingly, the gains didn’t end there.
“I’ve crossed the wall.”
He had taken a major step toward the realm he had achieved in his past life.