Chapter 43: The Message
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 43: The Message
As Liaoning Province drew near, Moyong Geum checked the portion of Cold Iron he had brought with him.
Thanks to the escort of the Little Snow Unit, he had been able to transport a full carriage's worth of the precious metal. Once they reached Liaoning, the warriors of the Moyong Family would take over the escort, ensuring his safety from that point on.
"I am truly grateful, Brother."
"Haha, you're returning to the Central Plains, so of course I should see you off."
The greatest harvest from this trip to the Ice Palace was the fact that Moyong Geum had become sworn brothers with Hyeok Ryeon-yeom. To a merchant, establishing a friendship with someone he could maintain a long-term relationship with was a far more valuable asset than simply making a fortune from Cold Iron.
"I'd love to treat you to a grand feast once we're inside Liaoning, but I suppose that would be impossible, wouldn't it?"
"Young Master."
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom shook his head, acknowledging Moyong Geum’s sentiment.
"I appreciate the thought, but if we enter Liaoning, it will undoubtedly cause problems."
The Little Snow Unit was an official military force of the Ice Palace. Furthermore, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was originally from the Demonic Cult. If rumors spread that Moyong Geum had facilitated the entry of North Sea martial artists and a member of the Demonic Cult into the Central Plains, the Moyong Merchant Group itself could fall into jeopardy.
"I suppose so... I think I was being too greedy."
Moyong Geum decided to save it for another time. After all, there was a high probability that Hyeok Ryeon-yeom would eventually make his debut in the Central Plains.
"Let's look forward to the next time, then."
Just as they arrived near the outskirts of Liaoning, they spotted a large group of people rushing toward them from a distance.
"Has the Moyong Family arrived already?"
"Pardon? I haven't sent word about our arrival time yet."
Moyong Geum watched the approaching group with a puzzled expression.
"Is that the cargo of the Moyong Merchant Group?"
A crowd of men in black, their faces hidden behind masks, swarmed out. They looked suspicious to anyone's eyes.
"I don't think that's the Moyong Family, do you?"
"It doesn't seem like it."
Even Seol Yerin, who hadn't said a word until now, spoke up.
"Seeing as they're calling it 'cargo'..."
"It looks like they're definitely targeting us."
"Are they bandits?"
"Should we draw our blades?"
The members of the Little Snow Unit growled as they glared at the enemies.
"...Who are you people?" Moyong Geum asked the men in black, his face twisted in a deep scowl.
"..."
The men in black looked at Moyong Geum with expressions that seemed to say, 'As if we'd tell you.'
"...Attack."
Soon, the one who appeared to be the leader of the masked men gave the order.
Immediately, with a flash of steel, the bandits began their charge.
—They're ronin!
The Sword Venerable shouted as he watched the bandits rush in without a word. Even though they wore masks and black clothes to hide their identities, they couldn't hide their martial arts. They possessed a variety of techniques and distinct styles, yet they moved toward a single goal for one reason.
—Their target is the cargo!
The fact that they were targeting this specific cargo meant they knew it was Cold Iron.
'Which means...'
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s gaze shifted toward Moyong Geum. The only ones who knew the cargo was Cold Iron were members of the Moyong Family. It wouldn't be Moyong Geum, as he would suffer a massive loss if the iron were stolen. However, there were certainly those who would hate to see Moyong Geum monopolize the Cold Iron.
'Foolish bastards.'
They seemed to have sent ronin to seize the Cold Iron brought from the Ice Palace, but the Little Snow Unit hadn't come along as an escort for nothing.
Furthermore, on this side...
"How dare you target goods being traded with the North Sea."
Cr-cr-crack!
The ground began to freeze. In an instant, the earth was transformed into a miniature North Sea.
Slip!
"Aaaagh!"
The masked men who were running across the ground to raid the carriage began to slip and fall.
"They are enemies. Lethal force is authorized."
At Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s command...
Thuck! Slice!
Wi Ji-young and Tae Un-seo began to execute the enemies with swift, practiced movements.
"White Night, Tam Ya!"
—Grrr!
Baek Mu-yong released White Night and Tam Ya.
"Spit it out. Who sent you and where are you from?"
In addition to that, Eun-bin captured one of the masked warriors and began to interrogate him.
"P-please, spare me..."
This seemed to be something the masked men hadn't expected. They had likely thought there were only two guards protecting the cargo—Moyong Geum and his bodyguard, Jang Baek-rim. The masked men now wore looks of utter dismay.
"Seize the cargo!"
—Waaaaah!
At that moment, the masked men reacted to a man's shout.
Whoosh!
Realizing there was a command structure, flames erupted from Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s sword.
"Flame Butterfly—"
A fluttering butterfly of fire descended upon the man who had just given the order. In that instant...
Fwoosh!
"Aaaaaagh!"
The man's entire body was instantly engulfed in flames.
Flinch.
The masked men’s movements momentarily froze at the sight of that spectacular death.
"Stop!"
Moyong Geum was not one to miss this opening.
"I am Moyong Geum of the Moyong Merchant Group! I don't know who sent you, but if you don't stop your attack immediately, I will have no choice but to kill you all!"
Surrender if you don't want to die. Moyong Geum shouted with that warning.
"What are you listening to him for?! Hurry and seize the cargo!"
The hesitating masked men began to rush toward the carriage again.
"That's mine!"
"Die!"
They knew exactly what the cargo was. This meant the information had definitely leaked.
"It seems it really is someone from within the family."
"I have a rough idea of who it might be."
Moyong Geum drew his sword. Come to think of it, Moyong Geum was also a martial artist. If he had mastered the swordsmanship of the Moyong Family, he would be more than capable of holding his own.
Slash!
"Gah!"
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s eyes gleamed as he watched Moyong Geum’s blade work, cutting down those who rushed him in an instant. This was his first time witnessing the swordsmanship of the Moyong Family. In his past life, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had died before he could ever set foot in the Central Plains.
"They're persistent."
Normally, ronin would have given up after seeing so many of their comrades die.
"...?"
"The Moyong Family must be on their way. That's probably why they're trying to seize the cargo so quickly."
It meant time was on their side.
"I suppose it doesn't matter if I freeze them all, then?"
Seol Yerin began to radiate a chilling aura.
"Could you block off the carriage for a moment?"
Rumble!
At Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s request, Seol Yerin erected ice walls on all four sides of the carriage.
"Now no one can get close."
"Thanks."
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom looked ahead. He saw the masked men in black falling, spraying blood. Eun-bin, Baek Mu-yong, Tae Un-seo, and Wi Ji-young were, of course, far stronger than mere ronin.
"What did they take us for..."
To send such weak ronin against them.
"I'm sorry. You've helped me so much already."
Most of the ronin had been struck down.
"I'm fine, but..."
Looking at the result, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom wasn't sure if this situation was truly 'fine.' Blood was everywhere, and corpses were scattered across the ground. If someone were to see this scene...
"Moyong Geum!!!"
As the situation was being settled, a shout was heard from afar. A large crowd was visible, rushing toward them. It was clearly the forces of the Moyong Family.
"Captain."
"Brother, it looks like we have to part ways here."
"Yes, Brother. Please return safely."
"I'll leave the rest to you. Lady Seol."
"I'm ready."
Crack!
The ice walls crumbled. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom and Seol Yerin gave Moyong Geum a brief fist salute before turning back toward the path they had come.
'It won't be good for Moyong Geum to be seen with someone from the Demonic Cult. It's better to withdraw for now.'
"We're heading back to the Ice Palace immediately."
"Are you alright?"
After the group had left, the warriors of the Moyong Family reached Moyong Geum.
"So it was you, Young Family Head."
Moyong Cheong, the Young Family Head of the Moyong Family, gave Moyong Geum a bright smile.
"Are you injured anywhere?"
"I'm not injured, but..."
"What are you all doing?! Pursue them!"
"Young Family Head."
Moyong Geum blocked Moyong Cheong’s shout.
"What do you think you're doing? They are our business partners and guests!"
"Regardless, they are the ones who shed blood on our land. We cannot let them go."
"As of today, the Ice Palace is my business partner. I would prefer it if you didn't cause trouble with them."
"I'm afraid that will be difficult."
Thud, thud, thud.
The warriors of the Moyong Family began to chase after the Little Snow Unit.
"Do you intend to forfeit future trade?"
"Are you really worried about that even after this disaster?"
From the beginning, Moyong Cheong had no intention of listening to Moyong Geum.
"A merchant should act like a merchant and just take the carriage inside. We will drive away those Ice Palace savages who committed murder."
Moyong Geum’s expression hardened.
They were being pursued. This wasn't the scenario Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had envisioned. He had expected to return after successfully selling the Cold Iron.
'It'll be troublesome if we cause friction with one of the Five Great Families already.'
Killing ronin was one thing, but killing warriors of the Moyong Family was entirely different. Rumors would spread in an instant. Even though they had only defended against a ronin ambush, people could fabricate stories about the Ice Palace invading the Central Plains.
"Captain, what should we do?"
Even if those chasing them weren't top-tier experts...
'We can't have a confrontation.'
The Ice Palace must not draw unnecessary attention.
—These pests! Just let me—!
—Hoho, Master. Shall we give them a little help?
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom turned his gaze at the murmurs of the Sword Venerable and the Demon Empress.
Whoosh!
He saw the Demon Empress gliding along. The ground began to be covered in sheets of ice. Not to be outdone...
Whirr!
The Sword Venerable swung his sword. One might wonder what would happen when a ghost swung a blade, but...
A fierce wind began to howl.
"T-the wind is too strong!"
"Why now, of all times?!"
The Moyong Family warriors chasing from behind were unable to advance. Thanks to that, the unit was able to escape with ease.
"Is it alright to just return like this?"
"I believe the payment has already been settled. Since he knows there's plenty of Cold Iron, Young Master Moyong will come looking for us again."
There might be friction within his family, but if he was someone destined to become a Merchant King, he would have to handle that himself.
"I'm worried that strange rumors might spread because we killed those ronin," Wi Ji-young said.
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom shook his head. "On the contrary, it's a good thing."
It would inform the martial world that the Ice Palace was still going strong.
'I remember that when I lived in the Demonic Cult, the Ice Palace's influence hadn't spread through the martial world.'
There were likely various reasons for that. But from now on, the status of the North Sea Ice Palace would change.
'I'll make it so.'
Only then could he survive against Hyeok Ryeon-geuk. His second brother, Hyeok Ryeon-mu, would undoubtedly report everything about Hyeok Ryeon-yeom to Hyeok Ryeon-geuk. Since he hadn't become the Young Cult Leader yet, he had to be fully prepared to face his eldest brother.
The legacy of the Martial Gods, the funding from the Moyong Merchant Group, and a force like the Little Snow Unit that he could move at will—Hyeok Ryeon-yeom needed so many things.
Upon his return to the Ice Palace, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom was summoned by the Ice Palace Lord, Seol Baek-ho.
"Did you call for me?"
"A message has arrived for you."
A message?
"Where is it from?"
Hyeok Ryeon-mu had already left, and he had just seen Moyong Geum off to the Moyong Merchant Group. There shouldn't be any other place connected to him. Who could have sent him a message?
"It's from Potala Palace."
"Pardon?"
"It seems you'll have to pay a visit to Potala Palace."
This sounded strangely familiar.
"Are you saying... I should go to Potala Palace myself?"
"Yes. Go and bring the Young Palace Lord back."
"May I ask the reason?"
"I heard the Young Palace Lord of Potala has a constitution similar to yours. The problem is, unlike you, he seems to have fallen ill with a heat fever. They asked if I could send Yerin, so I told them to come here themselves."
"Then there's no need for me to go, is there?"
"Who knows? Just as you overcame your Extreme Yang Body, perhaps you can treat the Young Palace Lord of Potala."
Whether it was possible for one Extreme Yang Body to treat another was a mystery. Regardless, that was all well and good. But there was something more important.
"The Young Palace Lord of Potala—is it a man or a woman?"
"It's a man."
"I'll be on my way, then."
If it was a man, Seol Yerin wouldn't have to worry about him going to Potala Palace.