The Ghostly Burial Hour (6)
Choseok panicked at the returning warrior's words.
"What? There's no such person?"
"Yes."
He had clearly been told to contact them there if anything happened, so he had sent word...
But the reply was like a bolt from the blue.
It meant he had to protect himself.
"...Check immediately if you can obtain Bingryeon Chamber, Snow Triple Ginseng, Snow Plum Extract, Ice Dew Plum, and Frost Leaf Herb."
"Pardon? Why those?"
"Just find out! Earn your pay!"
"Yes, sir."
The ronin he had hired scattered throughout Yonyeong to search.
Fortunately, Yonyeong was close to the North Sea, so the odds of finding those yin spiritual medicines were high.
And around lunchtime that day, good news arrived.
"It turns out the North Sea Ice Palace's minor palace lord has those spiritual medicines and has come to Yonyeong."
He sighed in relief but frowned at the same time.
Of all people, the minor palace lord from the North Sea Ice Palace he despised.
But his life mattered more than that hatred.
Even thinking back now, the agony of pulverized bones and rooted marrow made cold sweat trickle down his back.
He couldn't even dream of fleeing in such a state because he knew full well the infamous reputation of the ghostly burial hour.
"Contact that minor palace lord bitch right now. Tell her I'll buy those spiritual medicines."
***
By my plan, Minor Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin had quietly moved to a nearby inn.
For the plan to succeed, no one could know she was staying at the Gwangjun Merchant Group.
While she was eating breakfast at the inn, a group in martial robes arrived.
They were the North Sea Ice Palace disciples I had summoned.
"We pay our respects to the minor palace lord!"
They hurriedly cupped their fists in greeting upon seeing her.
"Have you eaten?"
"We had some rations on the way. Fortunately, we still had a little left..."
Their faces were all pale and gaunt, a stark reminder of the North Sea Ice Palace's supply shortages.
I said to them,
"Rations? You need a proper meal."
I ordered warm porridge for them.
"B-but..."
"We couldn't possibly..."
They seemed reluctant, as if they couldn't enjoy good food while their palace kin starved.
"If you don't want to hinder our mission, you must eat."
"Pardon?"
"Do you intend to reveal our palace's plight to the enemy?"
At Bing Hae-rin's words, they nodded as realization dawned.
"Understood."
"We shall obey."
I wanted to treat them to hearty meat, but in their famished state, greasy food would likely cause trouble nine times out of ten.
That's why I ordered porridge.
I also rented out the entire inn for the Ice Palace group.
There were few guests anyway, so I apologized and paid double the fee.
They gladly moved to a nearby inn.
After letting the women rest, I waited downstairs, sipping tea.
Then Palgap entered the inn.
"Young master, Second Sub-leader Jeong Ho asks when we'll depart."
"Ah, within two days."
Brother Jin-ho must be anxious about his mother-in-law and sisters-in-law.
But this matter was even more urgent.
They were hungry now, but if we failed, the North Sea Ice Palace would starve to death.
That afternoon,
a warrior visited the inn where Minor Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin was staying.
"My employer wishes to purchase those spiritual medicines."
Bing Hae-rin replied as I had instructed.
"Then have him come here himself this evening."
"Understood."
The big fish had taken the bait.
After he left, I approached her, and she asked,
"Is that underling from the one who plotted against the North Sea Ice Palace?"
"Just a simple ronin."
"I see."
"Remember what I told you? When he comes to deal, exude overwhelming pressure. I'd appreciate it."
"Ah, that won't be hard."
She smiled as she said,
"I'm already itching to tear apart the bastard who did this to our palace."
Night fell.
A well-dressed man arrived at the inn with warriors.
"I'm here to trade spiritual medicines."
One of the North Sea Ice Palace disciples said to him,
"This way. The minor palace lord will see you."
He sat at one of the tables downstairs. I watched from hiding, at a distance.
Sub-leader Bok-yun's description of his appearance was spot on.
That was the ringleader.
But... why did I sense black道 aura from him?
He didn't seem to cultivate martial arts.
After a moment's thought, the reason came to me.
Someone behind him was backing him. That's how he got the fake spiritual medicines.
And the aura I sensed was residue from that person.
So, this plot to starve the North Sea Ice Palace was definitely orchestrated by that someone.
Choseok's irritation grew evident on his face.
He had waited over an hour, but Minor Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin hadn't appeared.
That was my doing.
To make clear who held the power.
After another half hour, she finally descended the stairs.
And approached him.
"Are you the one who wants to buy the spiritual medicines?"
"Ahem, yes. But isn't this rude? How can you keep a guest waiting like this?"
Suddenly, the inn's temperature plummeted.
"A guest?"
"..."
"You're here to buy spiritual medicines, not as a guest, aren't you?"
"W-well, but..."
"And the North Sea Ice Palace doesn't wait for anyone."
Arrogant words, but true.
The North Sea Ice Palace was one of the top powers in the entire martial world as a single faction.
It was ironic that such a place struggled with food shortages.
"A-ah, I see. Sorry. Ahem."
Under her pressure, he trembled and backed down.
I had no idea why he even said such pointless things.
Minor Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin said,
"I've prepared Bingryeon Chamber, Snow Triple Ginseng, Snow Plum Extract, Ice Dew Plum, and Frost Leaf Herb. Shall we start with Bingryeon Chamber?"
I sent her a sound transmission.
- Ask for six thousand silver taels.
At my transmission, she said,
"Six thousand silver taels."
"Gasp! S-so expensive?"
"If you don't like it, leave. Plenty of others want them."
"N-no, I mean..."
Time for my entrance.
I slipped outside, then burst in as if rushing.
"Huff, huff, I heard you have spiritual medicines here."
A disciple naturally greeted me.
"You're the one who contacted us to trade."
"Yes."
"Please wait a moment. Someone else is trading now..."
I asked,
"What kinds do you have?"
"Bingryeon Chamber, Snow Triple Ginseng, Snow Plum Extract, Ice Dew Plum, and Frost Leaf Herb."
I lit up and shouted,
"All of them! I'll buy them all for twenty thousand silver taels!"
Minor Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin smiled and said,
"Twenty thousand taels?"
"Yes. They're worth at least that."
She turned to Choseok.
"This gentleman offers twenty thousand for all. What will you do?"
He bit his lip, then picked a fight with me.
"How rude to interrupt someone else's deal!"
"The real rudeness is denying the seller a higher price, isn't it?"
"What?"
"Anyway, I don't know about that. Twenty thousand taels for all of them."
That should make him desperate.
Money wasn't the issue; failing to get them meant horror.
"Twenty-one thousand silver taels! All for twenty-one thousand!"
"Twenty-two thousand."
"Twenty-five thousand!"
"Gasp..."
Time to stop.
"D-damn it!"
I feigned anger and slammed the table with my fist. He grinned smugly at me.
"Young man, full of spirit, but no luck."
Minor Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin said,
"Then twenty-five thousand it is. Payment first."
"Can I inspect them first?"
"Of course."
She nodded to a disciple, who brought down the spiritual medicines from upstairs.
And placed them on the table.
"Go ahead. But..."
Minor Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin unleashed killing intent at him.
"Inspecting them means you don't trust the North Sea Ice Palace?"
"Gasp! N-no, that's not..."
Her killing intent carried the chill of North Sea winds.
He trembled, unable to speak properly.
She said coldly,
"Truth is, we had a very unpleasant incident recently. Fake spiritual medicines from our palace! Whoever scammed us will be caught and butchered..."
Her gruesome tales from her mouth.
The culprit, Choseok, paled and shook violently. He had executed the plan but was still terrified.
"So, still want to inspect?"
"N-no."
His intentions were obvious.
He planned to nitpick and haggle down the price.
But under that killing intent?
"Then pay up."
"For payment... I'll use a bill of exchange."
He handed over a named bill of exchange.
Minor Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin gave it to her disciples.
"Go to the money house now and exchange it for cash."
"Understood."
Yonyeong had a branch of the Geumsan Money House, and as a decent-sized town, they should have the funds.
An hour later,
the disciples returned with large chests.
"We exchanged it for cash."
Bing Hae-rin personally opened the chests to check the silver taels.
"Good."
She packed the spiritual medicines into the chests and gave them to him.
"They're yours now. A fine trade."
"A f-fine trade..."
He staggered out of the inn. Seeing the real money paid to Bing Hae-rin must have him worrying about the aftermath.
It was probably nearly all his wealth.
At the auction, he had bid around ten thousand taels total, but I sold them for twenty-five thousand. Guess I'm a natural merchant.
I sighed deeply and followed him out.
"I'm jealous."
"...No need. This is life-or-death for me; I couldn't yield."
"Ah, are you that lord?"
"Hm?"
"Rumor has it about you? The one caught scamming the Ghostly Burial Hour's master."
"S-scam? Just a misunderstanding."
"Anyway, good luck. I have friends in Yonyeong who know him well—they say crossing him is real trouble."
"I-is that so?"
"Sorry for interrupting your deal earlier."
"You needed the medicines too, I suppose."
"Yes. I had a buyer and hoped to make a cut, but oh well."
I continued,
"Take care."
Then I walked away without looking back, as if going my own way.
I sent a sound transmission to Jin Yu warrior.
- Is he heading out now?
- Yes, he's moving.
- On to the next phase.
- Yes.
We donned the goblin masks Palgap had made and red clothes.
Palgap really has a talent for this.
***
Choseok sighed.
"Damn, I must be crazy. Twenty-five thousand silver taels..."
It was practically his entire fortune, making his stomach churn.
But no choice.
Save his life first.
What cruel fate: his already ruined family further doomed by the North Sea Ice Palace.
Though he had brought it on himself.
Then, men in red robes with goblin masks appeared.
"Here for the goods as promised."
"H-here they are."
But something felt off.
The clothes and vibe matched, but goblin masks?
"Why the goblin masks now?"
"It's night. In daylight, we'd come openly like before."
"...I see."
"Handing them over tonight means the bone-pulverizing pain was quite enjoyable."
They even knew that! Confirmed the earlier visitors.
"Hand over the goods."
"Here."
They took them and inspected.
"Don't deceive us next time."
"Yes."
When he looked up after bowing, they were gone.
Not just them.
His two escort warriors were also missing.
With a ghostly expression, he returned to his lodgings to find the auction manager waiting.
"The goods?"
"Just now... I gave the spiritual medicines to them."
"Are you still half-asleep?"
"J-just now, to the goblin-masked ones? You saw too..."
But no ronin warriors to back him up.
He realized he had been duped.
Like being goblin-led.
One thing was certain: he was utterly ruined.