Chapter 75: True Power
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 75: True Power
“Hey, did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
“They say Mount Hua teamed up with the Ice Palace to brutally murder disciples of the Zhongnan Sect!”
In an inn somewhere in Shaanxi.
The people eating their meals began to whisper among themselves.
“What? You mean people from the Ice Palace are roaming around Shaanxi right now?”
Nasty rumors about the Mount Hua Sect began to spread throughout the province. It was then that someone spoke up.
“Hey, you guys have it all wrong.”
“Hm? Aren't you… the Wanderer of the Clear Wind?”
The Wanderer of the Clear Wind. It was the title of a martial artist active in Shaanxi Province.
“I’m quite the expert when it comes to information. From what I’ve heard, the story is completely different.”
“Oh? There’s a hidden truth to this?”
“I’m curious!”
“Ahem, just like that? With a dry throat?”
“Waiter! Bring a bowl of flour noodles over here!”
“Coming right up!”
The people, having ordered him a bowl of noodles, pricked up their ears and watched the Wanderer’s mouth intently.
“From what I’ve heard, the whole thing started at the Yulin Inn.”
Through the Wanderer’s lips, the full story of the rumor began to spread.
“Everyone knows how destitute Mount Hua is these days. They’re so focused on their Taoist cultivation that they have no interest in worldly possessions, leaving them on the verge of collapse.”
“True, true.”
“Well, Mount Hua, a sect that knows nothing of business, decided they’d try to make some money and opened a place called the Yulin Inn.”
“Why in Yulin, of all places…?”
“I heard Zhongnan has such a tight grip on Xi'an that they wouldn't let Mount Hua do business there.”
“How cruel!”
“Noodles are served!”
Slurp!
The Wanderer took a large bite of the noodles the waiter brought and continued his story.
“So? How did Mount Hua get involved with the Ice Palace?”
“Mount Hua was trying to make money even in the outskirts, and they heard news that the Moyong Merchant Group recently made a fortune through trade with the Ice Palace.”
“I did hear that Cold Iron has started circulating in the Central Plains.”
“Exactly. So they set up an inn in the outskirts, hoping to invite people from the Ice Palace.”
“Is that even allowed?”
“They’re just making money through people from the Outlands; what’s the problem with that?”
“I suppose so.”
“And then?”
The Wanderer lowered his voice.
“So, they made a big decision and tried to sell Purple Dawn Pills.”
“Purple Dawn Pills? Aren't those the spiritual elixirs of Mount Hua?!”
“Yes. They were trying to keep the sect’s legacy alive, even if it meant doing that.”
“No way!”
“That’s exactly it! Zhongnan caught wind of it and raided the Yulin Inn!”
“Then…”
“The Ice Palace people just happened to be there to buy the pills and got caught up in the mess.”
“So you’re saying Zhongnan is spreading false rumors right now?”
“Exactly!”
“For what reason?”
“Because that’s the only way to ruin Mount Hua!”
“Ah!”
The people began to murmur, as if they finally understood. Generally, the masses tend to side with the underdog. If Mount Hua had been the more powerful sect in Shaanxi, public opinion might have been different.
However…
‘If I fan the flames like this, the rumors will grow wings and spread far and wide, getting distorted along the way.’
“Now then, it’s a secret that I told you this, alright?”
“Of course!”
In this world, there is no such thing as a secret.
The Wanderer of the Clear Wind—or rather, Eun-bin, the Deputy Squad Leader of the Little Snow Unit—hoped the rumor would spread across Shaanxi as quickly as possible. Only then…
‘Can I escort the Young Palace Lord to Dongting Lake.’
To see the Young Palace Lord smile, a disguise like this was nothing to Eun-bin.
*
“The rumors… are spreading as if they have wings.”
Baek San, an Elder of the Mount Hua Sect, reported to the Sect Leader, Hyeoncheon Jinin.
“Is this… what they call an information war?”
“I was shocked when he suddenly asked for Purple Dawn Pills, but I never imagined he would use them this way.”
The day after Mount Hua decided to support the Ice Palace, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had visited the two of them and requested Purple Dawn Pills, offering a staggering amount of money. Considering Mount Hua’s current finances, it was an amount that made the loss of the pills irrelevant.
“…It seems joining hands with the Ice Palace was the right choice, even regardless of the Command Plaque.”
“I suppose the Divine Physician didn't accompany the Young Palace Lord of the Ice Palace for no reason.”
“They say the Moyong Family is growing powerful because of their trade with the Ice Palace as well.”
“I’ve started to think that we might actually become the overlords of Shaanxi Province.”
“Is that possible?”
“If Zhongnan falls for this, I believe it is entirely possible.”
If the rumors about the Yulin Inn had spread, Zhongnan would surely be gnashing their teeth at Mount Hua. Given their fiery temperaments, they were bound to come for revenge.
“They won’t dare attack the main sect. If you were the Sect Leader of Zhongnan, when would you strike?”
“Ah, I’ve already discussed that with the Captain of the Little Snow Unit.”
“Oh? A decision has been made?”
“Yes. He said with confidence that it would be the day the Ice Palace party leaves Mount Hua after purchasing the Purple Dawn Pills.”
As a fellow member of the Nine Sects and One Clan, Zhongnan could not openly attack Mount Hua. Therefore, their natural target would be the Ice Palace.
In other words…
“When Zhongnan attacks the Ice Palace, and the Ice Palace forces—including the Little Snow Unit—emerge victorious, we simply have to take the Ice Palace’s side instead of Zhongnan’s.”
“Will things really proceed that smoothly?”
“I’m not sure yet. That is the plan, but not everything goes according to plan.”
The existence of variables. If they could just control those variables, then as Hyeok Ryeon-yeom said, Mount Hua might truly become the master of Shaanxi.
*
It was a variable.
“Huu.”
Yu So-dong had certainly intended to be hired as a servant in charge of cleaning and laundry.
‘Why am I learning martial arts?’
—Listen well. The Little Snow Unit is a guard unit that protects the Young Palace Lord. Even if you volunteered to carry luggage like a porter, you must learn basic martial arts.
Using his body in difficult ways—namely, martial arts—was the area Yu So-dong was least confident in.
However…
—Here, eat this.
—What is this?
—It is a pill that can turn your martial arts from mediocre to extraordinary.
—There was… such a pill?
—It’s an enlistment gift.
—Thank you.
No one would refuse an opportunity to become stronger for free. Yu So-dong put the pill Hyeok Ryeon-yeom gave him into his mouth.
Then…
Whoosh!
“Urgh!”
A massive amount of internal energy began to flood into his body.
‘W-What is this…?’
“Focus on circulating your qi!”
There was a reason he had been told to sit in a lotus position before taking the pill. Yu So-dong began to circulate his Six Harmonies Qi Gong. As he tried to guide the pill’s energy to his dantian according to the principles of the Six Harmonies…
Thump—
It was blocked.
‘Damn it.’
It was always like this. The reason Yu So-dong’s martial arts lagged behind others was precisely because his internal energy could not circulate freely.
“I’m breaking through.”
‘Huh?’
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s hand touched his back. Then…
Fwoosh!
An incredibly hot energy began to flow through his acupoints.
“Gaaah!”
“Keep your wits about you.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom used his Extreme Yang Qi to burn through Yu So-dong’s acupoints as he pushed forward.
Three Yin Severed Meridians. It refers to a condition where the Yin Qi in the body is so excessively strong that specific acupoints are blocked, causing problems with the circulation of blood and qi. It is a constitution rarely found in men, but Yu So-dong had been born with it. Thus, no matter what martial art he practiced, the Yin Qi would have blocked his internal energy.
But…
‘Aaaaaagh!’
If he could endure the pain and burn away all that Yin Qi…
Yu So-dong’s eyes looked as if they were about to roll back. And then, those cleared acupoints…
—Vrrr!
If they were restored with the energy of the Purple Dawn Pill…
Flash!
“Young Master Yu has essentially met with a miraculous stroke of luck.”
Through Metamorphosis, he could be reborn with a constitution perfectly suited for practicing martial arts.
Thud.
As Yu So-dong collapsed, his eyes rolled back without being able to finish his breathing exercises, Seol Yerin approached him this time.
“Since we took him in as a recruit, we have to make sure he’s useful.”
Hyeok Ryeon-yeom pulled his hand away, and Seol Yerin infused her Extreme Yin Qi to guide the energy of the Purple Dawn Pill toward his dantian. She was cooling down the acupoints rapidly while guiding the energy to circulate smoothly throughout his entire body.
“Even though he’s a child of Mount Hua?”
“He’s a man of the Ice Palace now.”
“Will he follow you that faithfully, Third Young Master?”
“Who knows.”
That was something they would have to see through future conversations, but…
‘In my experience, he’ll have no choice but to be completely captivated.’
In his past life, his master, who was a Great Mage, had once enabled those who couldn't use magic to do so. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom could never forget the look in the eyes of those who gained the ability to use magic. Because back then, only Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had been unable to use it.
Yu So-dong would be the same. Moreover, the fact that he was a disciple of a scholar-Taoist who pursued enlightenment and knowledge made him resemble Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s past life far too much.
Thus, Hyeok Ryeon-yeom found a reason to reach out to Yu So-dong. Furthermore, there had been a request from the Sect Leader. It happened just before he left after discussing Zhongnan.
“May I ask a favor of you?”
“Yes, please speak, Sect Leader.”
“Un-so… that child is not meant to grow up on the cliffs of Mount Hua. If the opportunity arises, I truly wish for you to take him with you.”
“Why is that?”
“My senior brother wanted to see the world. But his health was poor, so he couldn't, and he passed away after pushing himself too hard. On the day he died, he made a request. He asked if a bird that needs to see the world and look into the distance could ever become a plum tree. That is why.”
The Sect Leader smiled quietly.
“That poor child… he wouldn't even leave to see the world after being excommunicated.”
‘Until now, he probably couldn't feel the true sensation of martial arts even when he practiced.’
But it would be different now. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom became curious about what kind of reaction Yu So-dong would show when he woke up.
*
“Deputy Squad Leader.”
“What is it?”
“Is it really necessary to use something as valuable as a Purple Dawn Pill on a recruit?”
Baek Mu-yong grumbled.
“Was it okay for him to teach us the Iron Venerable’s martial arts without asking for anything in return?”
“Ahem, well, that’s…”
It was the martial art of one of the Ten Great Masters. Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had given such a technique to the Little Snow Unit without hesitation.
“Could you give so generously for your subordinates like that?”
One could call it a grand scale of character, or perhaps an abundance of composure beyond his years.
“The Young Lady is one thing, but the Captain is truly impressive as well.”
“Let’s just follow him, knowing we serve a good lord. It’s thanks to him that we can live this comfortably, after all.”
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
Weizhi Young handed a piece of tanghulu to both Baek Mu-yong and Eun-bin.
“Where’s Tae Un-seo?”
“He went to cook, saying the recruit will be hungry when he wakes up.”
“He’s going to be in pain as soon as he wakes up.”
“He has to endure it. He’s the new guy.”
“Make sure you help him adjust well.”
“Yes. Oh, and I saw something on my way back from buying the sweets.”
Weizhi Young shared the information she had gathered with the two of them.
“Men who appear to be warriors of the Zhongnan Sect are crawling all over Huayin County.”
“Oh, really?”
Everything was flowing exactly as Hyeok Ryeon-yeom had predicted.
“Is it tomorrow, then?”
The moment Hyeok Ryeon-yeom’s party descended from Mount Hua, it seemed Zhongnan was prepared to launch their attack.
“Let’s get ready too.”
“Yes, Deputy Squad Leader.”
In a way, the battle with Zhongnan would be the first fight to publicly demonstrate the true power of the Ice Palace.