Chapter 64
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: The Simmani's Resolve
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64.
Gwansek intended to kill Old Man Jo, who had sold his soul to the powerful, fawning and clinging to them just to save his own skin. He was a dead man either way, wasn't he?
Rather than live and die so wretchedly, he would kill Jo and then die himself.
That was his grim resolve.
With that festering sentiment, he followed Old Man Jo. The moment the warrior from the Ice Palace left Jo in charge and departed, Gwansek tightened his grip on the hoe.
Thud, thud.
Im sorry, Gwansek.
Just as he was about to close in, the expression on Old Man Jo, the parasite who lived off the powerful, turned somber.
But if I dont do this, you will all die.
What was he talking about? Gwansek wanted to scream at him to stop spouting nonsense. He believed it was just an excuse, a pathetic attempt to avoid being killed.
However.
...Do you know why theyre tormenting us ginseng diggers like this?
Shut up.
Its because of the ten-thousand-year ginseng. The ten-thousand-year ginseng.
Because of the ten-thousand-year ginseng.
The ten-thousand-year ginseng was a legend passed down among ginseng diggers and herbalists. A sacred medicine bestowed by the god who ruled the North Sea.
In reality, it was said that finding even a hundred-year ginseng, or a thousand-year-old snow ginseng, would be enough to live the most luxurious life in the North Sea.
...Cut the crap. Ten-thousand-year ginseng? Who would believe something so absurd?
Its true. Its absolutely true.
Gwansek scowled, ready to bring the hoe down on Old Man Jo. As he drew closer, his breathing ragged, Jo spoke with a placid face.
I found it.
Gwansek froze. He found it? The ten-thousand-year ginseng?
A tremor ran through Gwanseks eyes. He found the ten-thousand-year ginseng?
...What are you
I found it. Follow me tonight.
Gwansek swallowed hard. Could he really trust this man?
A man who fawned, flattered, and clung to power. A parasite who would abandon them all to save himself, leeching off his superiors.
If this moment passed, when would he get another chance to kill him?
How many more hellish days would he have to endure to find that opportunity?
Torn by conflict, Gwansek squeezed his eyes shut.
...If youre lying, youll regret it. Ill make you wish you were dead.
Thank you for trusting me.
With those words, the two met that night. Jo had already built up a considerable amount of trust with the Ice Palace warriors, so no one suspected a thing when he said he was doing night work.
They are looking for the ten-thousand-year ginseng. As if its their lifelong desire.
Since when?
...Its because of some crazy Taoist masters who came over from a place called the Central Plains.
Crazy Taoist masters?
Yes, theyre the ones stirring up trouble in the North Sea.
...What do you mean by that?
Only then did Gwansek understand why they had been captured, why the Ice Palace warriors were pushing them so hard.
And why the North Sea had become such a mess.
Finally grasping the situation, Gwansek watched Old Man Jo, whose breath was growing ragged as they climbed the iceberg, a bitter expression on his face.
Then, you mean you
Listen, my friend. I may look like this, but Ive been a ginseng digger in the North Sea for over forty years. I even have some connections with these so-called lords from the Ice Palace.
Old Man Jo, more than anyone, had realized how strange the situation had become and had planned his actions accordingly.
He had devised a way to save everyone, even if it meant being cursed as a damn traitor for the time being.
...You must have been lonely.
He had been fighting a lonely battle all by himself. There must have been quite a few captured ginseng diggers who had died cursing Old Man Jo.
What can I do? Im old. Ill die eventually as time passes. But I want everyone else in the North Sea, and my family, to have a warm day even in this cold.
Old Man Jo was an ordinary man. But right now, that ordinariness was nowhere to be seen. It was a moment where the ordinary surpassed the extraordinary.
Besides, it's not our rightful rulers who have become these scoundrels.
What do you mean by that?
Someone started a rebellion. From what I heard, it was the Vice Palace Lord.
The Vice Palace Lord, you say
Yes, his name is Han Ilsang. Do you remember the two sons who accompanied the Palace Lord when he toured all the villages in the North Sea?
The Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Han Taemun, had been a relatively good man. He was the kind of person who would personally visit the villages of the North Sea a couple of times a year to listen to what they lacked and what they needed.
That was why those who remembered the past praised him as their lord, wasn't it?
Dont tell me.
Its exactly as you think. That man, Han Ilsang, started a rebellion.
Damn it
As they reached what looked like a ridge after passing through a tunnel in the iceberg, Gwansek felt his own breath growing heavy. The scale of it was truly astounding.
...The problem is that most of those who followed Palace Lord Han Taemun have also been imprisoned.
The problem was more serious than he had thought. A rebellion had occurred in the North Sea, and as a result, it was bringing a storm of blood upon the region.
I want you to take this.
Deep inside the iceberg where Jo had led him, in a spot where they had been digging, Gwansek saw an area covered with signs of human activity. It was a mark only ginseng diggers would know.
Escape the North Sea and ask for help.
...Escape the North Sea?
Thats right.
The moment their captors found what they were looking for, everyone here was as good as dead. Old Man Jo was genuinely worried about the North Sea.
And he hadn't known
Scrape, scrape. He began to dig away the dirt. The frozen earth was not something easily dug by anyone other than ginseng diggers.
Old Man Jo wasn't digging with brute force, but by following the grain of the soil. It was likely to avoid damaging the ginseng inside, but his skill was enough to impress even Gwansek.
Just then.
Look closely.
Gwansek gulped and looked. There, he saw
...Tw-twelve roots
It was a ginseng that had condensed the energy of the extreme cold over the sublime period of ten thousand years. How could it not be translucent after absorbing such concentrated cold for so long?
A staggering twelve roots, each one shimmering with a radiant light.
Its the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
He repeated Old Man Jos words, gazing at its ethereal form. Every ginseng digger in the North Sea had heard the legendary tales of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng at least once.
To actually see it with his own eyes
It was no different from witnessing a miracle.
Gwansek felt something welling up inside him and looked at Old Man Jo, who was showing him this.
...Im sorry.
Shouldering all the resentment of the North Sea.
Sacrificing himself for the sake of what their enemies sought.
Unable to rejoice even when faced with such a miracle, Old Man Jos expression made Gwansek burst into tears.
Dont blame yourself.
Why do you have to be the villain?
...Because if I dont do it, no one will.
Gwansek shook his head. He couldn't let him fight this lonely battle by himself. They all had to stand together.
Even if ginseng diggers and herbalists had little power.
They had found what their enemies desired first, and Old Man Jo had already earned their trust.
And there were countless ginseng diggers and herbalists here.
Lets all work together. The North Sea belongs to all of us. Lets protect it.
Gwanseks words startled Old Man Jo. This wasn't the reaction he had wanted.
But Gwansek was adamant. From now on, he would never let him fight alone.
After hearing the whole story, the ginseng diggers, herbalists, Gwansek, and Old Man Jo became one. The lashes of the Ice Palace warriors whips no longer felt so harsh.
What they were doing was no longer just forced labor; it was a fight to protect the North Sea.
And when everyone was asleep, they would gather cautiously to strategize how to escape the North Sea with the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
...I heard that in the Central Plains, there are people who can summon lightning and fly like the wind.
What! Even a great immortal couldn't do that! Even our lords in the North Sea arent capable of such things.
Hmph, you dont know what youre talking about!
Sensing the conversation was straying, Gwansek raised a hand to quiet the surroundings.
The important thing is that we must ask for help from someone trustworthy. Otherwise, this Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng will be stolen, and we wont get any real help.
...Then where on earth should we go?
Thats why.
Gwansek took out a small ginseng from his tunic.
...Whats that?
A hundred-year ginseng.
A hundred-year ginseng? What are you going to do with that?
At another diggers question, Gwansek met Old Man Jos eyes and gave a slight nod.
...First, well use this to negotiate with them. Well offer the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng if they save the North Sea.
Will they believe that?
Weve found five hundred-year ginsengs. Five should be enough to tempt anyone.
Ive traded hundred-year ginseng before. With people from the Central Plains. They were as happy as children, saying theyd found a treasure.
It might just be called a hundred-year ginseng, but even a snow ginseng that held a century of energy would be considered a treasure in the Central Plains.
Good. Thats good. Then Ill go.
No, Gwansek, you should take this task. Youre the youngest and fastest, arent you?
Just as they were speaking.
Thud, thud.
It was late at night. The Ice Palace warriors did change shifts, but it was still early. Who would come here at this hour?
The ginseng diggers faces turned pale. As they and Gwansek shot up in surprise, Old Man Jo placed a finger to his lips and spoke calmly.
Shh. Everyone, calm down.
Then, Old Man Jo shouted loudly.
You scoundrels! Do you hate night work that much?!
...Aigo! P-please spare us! Please!
Playing along with Old Man Jos words, the ginseng diggers cried out for mercy.
You rascals!
Just as Old Man Jo was about to lay into the ginseng diggers, a young mans voice came from behind him.
...Old Man Jo?
Huh?
Puzzled expressions appeared on the faces of Old Man Jo, Gwansek, and the other ginseng diggers. Who else besides them would recognize Old Man Jo
Ch-Chunsik!
It was Chunsik, and
G-Gangseok, you too?
His father, Gangseok, was also there. They were accompanied by a man of sturdy build.
Were here to help. To help the North Sea.
And so, everyone was uniting as one in the battle for the North Sea.