Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Reason Rules Exist - 5
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I swiftly toured the Crimson Star Sect with Sayoon, burying white jade plaques wherever demonic energy lingered. Once the task was done, we headed straight to the building at the sect's entrance.
"All finished?"
Ryuhyeon must have just wrapped up training and was taking a break. She was drenched in sweat.
Maybe it was because she was so pretty in the first place, but with her hair slightly clinging to her skin, she looked incredibly alluring. Still, that wasn't what mattered right now.
"I heard you encountered Demonic Cultists. I'd like to speak with the Sword Saint..."
For a moment, Ryuhyeon's expression darkened. She seemed eager to cooperate with me as much as possible, but clearly reluctant to summon the Sword Saint.
But there was no avoiding it. Aside from the mission Hyunryeong had entrusted to me, there was something I needed to tell her personally.
"Understood. Please wait a moment."
In the end, Ryuhyeon nodded and stepped out. Sayoon sat beside me, fidgeting uncertainly, but I couldn't stop now.
How long did we wait?
The door burst open, and as the Sword Saint entered, I gritted my teeth.
Her attire was strikingly different from before.
Pure white robes.
Plum blossom embroidery adorned the chest, the fabric clung tightly to her body, and the legs were completely exposed, revealing her snowy thighs.
Designed to accentuate her figure, the outfit highlighted her full, oval breasts while cinching her slender waist tightly.
From that oval pelvis, one long pant leg extended down her leg, contrasting sharply with the exposed skin and drawing gasps of admiration from any onlooker.
The woman with deep navy hair swaying as she came and sat before me.
I couldn't properly face the Sword Saint in her Crimson Star Sect leader's formal robes.
And how could I?
To me.
To us.
That garb symbolized longing, affection, love.
And proof of the suffering Sayoon had endured.
I glanced at Sayoon. She held a tray in her worn training robes.
Imagining Sayoon ascending as the Crimson Star Sect leader and donning those robes filled my mind with white, just like the outfit, steeling my resolve.
I had come this far.
Bearing everyone's will.
I knew I couldn't let Sayoon shed tears of pain while wearing those robes.
A whirlwind of complex emotions clouded my mind.
Yet I had to pull myself together.
What I needed to do now was essential to achieving my goal.
"Allow me to introduce myself first. I'm Yuwol, innkeeper of Island Flower Village. Please feel free to speak casually."
"Nayerin, leader of the Crimson Star Sect. Looking forward to working with you."
She referred to herself not as the Sword Saint, but as the Crimson Star Sect leader. That meant she took pride in her role as such.
In that case, this conversation would be easier.
"Straight to the point, then. I have a proposal."
From here on, it was business talk. No leaning on personal ties—just pure profit.
So I shifted my tone accordingly, and a glint appeared in the Sword Saint's deep eyes.
"A proposal beyond the investigation?"
"Yes. I hear the Crimson Star Sect cultivates herbs."
"Ah, that."
She knew about it, then. She nodded slightly and glanced at Ryuhyeon.
"We plan to supply them to Old Man Cheol's apothecary in Island Flower Village."
"Supplying an apothecary. Not a bad idea. Earlier, thanks to Sayoon's consideration, I visited the herb fields while suffering from the demonic energy. The fresh scent of the herbs was quite pleasant. Your disciples have put in real effort, and it shows. In my eyes, those herbs are top quality."
"Th-thank you."
Joy lit up Ryuhyeon's face. Sorry, but she'd have to shelve that smile for now.
"So, how much do you think that could bring in total?"
"Market rates suggest... at least one gold nyang per month..."
"Yes, that sounds about right. But there's one issue..."
"An issue?"
"No guarantee it'll keep selling."
"Ah."
Ryuhyeon bit her lip, realizing her oversight. I calmly continued explaining to her.
"You know Island Flower Village's nature? Hardly any injuries, rarely monsters or bandits. Few take supplements, and the main users are the constables and your sect disciples..."
The constables grow their own herbs and make exclusive remedies for officials.
And the Crimson Star Sect doesn't use much medicine.
"Supply without demand drives prices down. Sure, Old Man Cheol might buy at the same rate even at a loss..."
Of course, such a small quantity of herbs wouldn't crash the market.
It wasn't enough volume to flood prices.
There'd be inventory pressure at the apothecary, but Old Man Cheol in Island Flower Village would never see it as a burden.
But that's probably not what the Crimson Star Sect wants.
Better to take donations from the clan than burden him for profit.
"Does the Falling Sun Sword know about the herb sales?"
Ryuhyeon shook her head and explained unprompted.
The disciples handling herbs were from martial families or farm backgrounds, so they hadn't considered that angle.
Blinded by hopes of using herb sales to fund sect operations.
She hadn't told Hongryeon to avoid burdening her, since she had plenty else to do.
In short, they'd been riding high on optimism, blind to risks.
That could happen.
People naturally focus on the positive over the negative.
And these disciples had no business experience. This was a forgivable rookie mistake.
But Ryuhyeon didn't see it that way, her face paling as she bit her lip repeatedly.
Alright.
Now that I've dropped them to rock bottom, time to throw the lifeline.
"That's why I'm proposing a partnership."
"A partnership?"
"Yes. All the herbs you grow at the Crimson Star Sect, and the sachets... you're planning those too, right? I'll buy everything."
"But... inns don't manufacture medicines, do they?"
True enough.
In Celestial Moon, you needed recipes, ingredients, and the pharmacology skill to craft pills.
I knew recipe locations, but couldn't fetch them now, and even if I did, lacked crafting ability.
Tried buying ingredients once to test—didn't work. Probably needed someone with the recipe. Anyway, unavoidable for now.
Point is, that's not the issue.
"That's why I'm making this proposal."
I grabbed paper from the table and sketched with charcoal from the kitchen.
The Sword Saint, Ryuhyeon, and Sayoon watched, eyes widening.
"...Huh? Innkeeper, you draw too?"
"Wow, you're good."
"Is this... me, Master, and Sayoon?"
I'd drawn portraits of the Sword Saint, Ryuhyeon, and Sayoon—croquis-level sketches.
Why do I know how to draw?
Few people made fanart for our poor, cute girl, so I practiced in spare moments.
And nothing beat fanart for 50 Million Sayoon Fans promotions—I got serious about it.
As the three stared blankly at my decent work, I tapped the drawings.
"I'll attach disciple portraits to the herbs and sell them as something special."
"What do you mean?"
"'Herbs lovingly grown by the Crimson Star Sect's beautiful disciples.' Something like that."
The Crimson Star Sect was a prestigious orthodox sect, famed for noble but unprofitable deeds. Leveraging that name would let me sell these herbs above market price.
The Sword Saint's eyebrow twitched at my pitch.
"Shall we discuss sect policy? The Crimson Star Sect teaches that those with martial prowess must care for the weak without compensation—it's only natural. And actions must befit a righteous sect. Other rules exist, but the key is not selling the sect's name falsely or yielding to greed. So, what's wrong with what I'm proposing?"
I don't think the sect's teachings are wrong. Sure, some 50 Million Sayoon Fans call them bullshit.
But pursuing ideals isn't wrong.
So, let's skirt around it without touching.
Alright.
Grown on Crimson Star Mountain?
Yes.
Disciples beautiful?
Yes.
Lovingly grown by disciples?
They squeezed free time after training, junior disciples not yet on missions poured heart into it for their hardworking seniors.
Sticking to pure facts, even the Sword Saint couldn't refute.
Not breaking any rules, right?
"How do you plan to price them?"
"After minor processing for marketability, I'll sell higher than at Island Flower Village apothecary."
Premium storytelling demands premium pricing.
Limited edition, even.
"Items with history carry value. A cheap brush sells for a fortune if used by nobility. Add Crimson Star Mountain—a sacred peak—and Crimson Star Sect disciples' name... one, two, even three times markup is feasible."
"Isn't that too steep?"
Steep?
Depending on method—limited edition, specialty, premium, gacha-style—I could multiply profits dozens-fold.
Anyway, no greed violation, fits sect policy.
Save that for season 2.
"If gouging villagers staking their lives, you'd be right. But my buyers? Not so."
I sipped tea and continued to the Sword Saint.
"They're superstitious types. Herbs from sacred Crimson Star Mountain, grown by noble Crimson Star Sect disciples, sachets hand-gathered stitch by stitch—they'll pay extra. Triple? Quadruple? More, and they'll smile. That name brings them peace of mind."
"Peace of mind from that?"
Ryuhyeon asked in surprise. I just shrugged.
Ma! Don't you know placebo effect!
"...Who are they?"
The Sword Saint asked dubiously. I smiled.
"Rich officials from noble houses."
Can't save the world solo like Superman. Couldn't save Sayoon and protect the sect alone.
First step: build connections.
Hyunryeong, of course. Imperial draft disguised as Qinghui Merchant Guild near Island Flower Village.
Haomen, used like errand center in Celestial Moon, and more.
With gathered intel and my knowledge, linking to wealthy officials—short of the imperial family—was plenty possible.
Many were superstition-sensitive.
Limited cards as a dropped soul in this world.
So I focused on collecting them. Now held a decent hand.
I fiddled with my hard-earned cards, staring at the Sword Saint.
Now, persuasion time.
"If you refuse, so be it. But think of your disciples, Sword Saint. Even bad laws are laws, but too rigid rules choke people. Your disciples now..."
Rhetoric honed flaming haters slandering Sayoon. Persuasion drilled to spread her as true protagonist.
Backed by 50 Million Sayoon Fans basics, I talked for ages.
They interjected, but weaker than Sayoon haters.
At least they listened.
Finally, the Sword Saint, who could only listen without retort, chuckled and cut in.
"A bit self-serving, some overreach... but no rule broken. Can't refuse, then. And if it eases disciples' burdens, I won't stand in the way."
The Sword Saint rose and deeply bowed to me.
Ryuhyeon, Sayoon, and I were stunned.
"Innkeeper Yuwol. Please, take good care of us."
The Sword Saint.
A martial luminary, top-tier expert.
Bowed to me.
For her disciples.
For the Crimson Star Sect.
So I stood quickly and returned the bow.
"I look forward to working with you."
For our pride.
"But..."
Talks over. No contract needed yet—later.
Business done, I rose to leave when the Sword Saint stopped me.
"What if they don't sell? If they refuse?"
I answered her smile for smile.
Won't happen, but even if...
I'll buy it all.