Episode 10
“While we’re on the subject, how are things at the mine?”
“…Well, it’s the same. The warriors of Yangryong are occupying it and interfering… I think it’s only going to get worse.”
“I heard the mining of Hanreung Okjeong has been delayed.”
“If it’s delayed, that’s fortunate. In the first place, we haven’t been able to mine at all. Since Yaunsang, who regularly received Hanreung Okjeong, has died, the damage to Cheongun Sangdan as well as other Sangdans and residents will probably only increase.”
The conclusion was simple.
There was a lot left undone.
I glanced at General Chan Sung, who returned my gaze with an awkward smile.
“…That order you gave me earlier… I’ll go and take care of it.”
The general stopped walking and turned around.
“Also, everything that was stored in the yard has been moved to the warehouse.”
“You must have had a hard time.”
“It wasn’t that bad.”
“Then, since you’ve already gone through all that trouble, let’s do one more thing.”
I pulled out the ledger I had kept close to my chest and tossed it lightly toward him.
Chan Sung received it with a questioning look, as if to say, “Why are you giving me this?”
“The names of those who were exploited in the past are written in there. Some might be dead, some alive. Please classify them and see to it that they are compensated.”
“…All of them?”
“Not all. Except for the English and training resources.”
“…Why?”
“Isn’t this what happened because I turned away?”
“…”
“It all started because of me. If I don’t take responsibility, how am I different from Yaunsang?”
“…I understand. I will distinguish between the living and the dead and compensate them as much as possible.”
“If it’s not enough, I’ll use my own money.”
“…Understood, Your Majesty.”
He nodded, then looked up at the sky again.
It was truly beautiful.
I’m going to be very busy starting tomorrow, so for now, I plan to enjoy this free time a little.
The man wearing four strings around his waist, Wonsam, head of the Gaebeong Yangryeong branch, shouted loudly.
“Seolunhui!”
The deputy chief, Jeong Gaesan, standing beside him, was startled and quickly added:
“That… branch manager… that guy X is a bit… Seol Jung-cheon. That Seol Jung-cheon.”
If Seol Woon-hwi was that bastard’s son, then who exactly was that bastard?
As Jeong Gaesan said, it was a snowy mountain.
Branch Manager Wonsam, irritated, coughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject.
“They say it’s a white tiger, but turns out a real dog came out from under the white tiger.”
If it’s just a little shit like that… well, it’s not so bad.
At least that’s better than insulting Seol Jung-cheon.
“Are you standing?”
“Yes. I am an illegitimate child.”
“So that’s why it’s like that.”
“Yes?”
“The baby’s just very late, you know. There’s a thousand Seulgung behind him, so it’s okay to run like a madman.”
“…”
“The dung dog is pretty good.”
I didn’t care if Yangryeong and Seol-ap fought.
What could I do if they wanted to fight?
But touching someone affiliated with the open faction was a big problem.
Cheeky little kid.
Jeong Gaesan handed Wonsam, who was about to explode with anger, a cloth he had in his arms. It was dirty, but he still needed it.
Wonsam accepted it and quickly wiped bits of food off his face.
“Why is that Ice and Snow Sword bastard taking his anger out on me, you piece of shit?”
“Throwing the food we were eating was a bit harsh. No matter how poor we are, it’s past time for someone to eat leftovers.”
“Is that true now?”
“…Sorry.”
“Tsk, that bastard from the Juryung Inspection Office went to the closed office at this time of year…”
The current owner of the Juryung Inspection Center is a master of Ogijowon.
It closed about a year ago and hasn’t reopened since.
It might remain closed for another year, but the important thing is that during this time, the actual power of the Juryung Inspection has been exercised by the Ice and Snow Sword Mark.
Ahem.
Jeong Gaesan cleared his throat.
“Looking at the situation, it seems Bingseolgeomhun will be visiting Seol-ap today. Shouldn’t we do something?”
“We have to. The Three Seals of Openness are dead; we can’t just sit still.”
“What will you do?”
“What else? That person is just around the corner from Yangnyeong.”
“If it’s him…”
“Yes, that person. The one in charge of the Deputy Commander of the Sword Pressure Castle.”
Geomapseong is a large city overseeing all the surrounding small cities, including Yangnyeong.
The chief of the garrison there has a seven-pointed star, and the deputy chief has a six-pointed star.
A six-legged dog is strong with a thousand hands.
I swallowed hard.
“…Are you really going to… call him?”
“I have to. That bastard is eyeing Gae-young like a rat right now. Shouldn’t I warn him to find a place to lie low?”
“…That’s… right.”
“And while we’re at it, if there’s anything to tear down from the Mannyeonseol Palace, let’s tear it down.”
Jeong Gaesan didn’t try to stop him.
He wasn’t the type to listen to anyone telling him to stop.
He valued authority above all else, so if Cheon Su-gang came and told him to lick food scraps off his face, Wonsam would probably do it without hesitation.
He was greedy and obviously saw this as an opportunity.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
I had no idea what the outcome would be.
Seol-ap was a small city.
In fact, it was too small to truly call a city, but too large to call a village—somewhere in between.
Meanwhile, Yangnyeong next door was a proper city.
When dividing administrative districts, there are states, counties, and districts.
All five countries in the current martial arts world follow this system.
Officials are dispatched from the county, and under the county are the Jin, Ri, and village.
Neighboring Yang Empire and the distant Wolgye Kingdom have castles in front of the main state, but only four castles combined between the two countries—making it a unique trait.
Seol-ap does not belong to any country.
Because it’s the land of the Eternal Snow Palace, its name is simply ‘Seol-ap.’
If you want to get technical, the territory is roughly divided into three levels:
Seol-ap-ri.
And the neighboring town, Yangnyeong, is Yangnyeong-hyeon.
There was a difference in area size, but the important thing wasn’t the quantity difference—it was the quality difference.
The strongest master in Seol-ap was only Samhwachwijeong.
But there were masters of Ogijowon in Yangnyeonghyeon.
And more than five masters of Samhwachwijeong.
Yet there was a clear reason Yang Lingxian did not take the pill.
Because this place—Seol-ap—and I, here in Seol-ap, are the bloodline of the Eternal Snow Palace.
Eating snow pressure is like touching the Eternal Snow Palace itself.
What kind of madman would dare touch the Eternal Snow Palace?
They had no qualms about messing with the giants of the north.
But keeping things in check was a different story.
As far as restraint went, the Mannyeonseol Palace didn’t intervene.
Because it was a fair fight.
Because it was a legitimate argument.
The situation was simple.
There were two mines in Seol-ap and Yangryeong.
The Cheongneung Mine and Seolhan Mine.
Cheongneung Mine was a pressure mine.
It was clearly within the territory, and Seol-ap was the rightful master.
But Seolhan Mine was different.
It was located on the border between Seol-ap and Yangryeong and was supposed to be jointly managed, but it was not.
Up to this point, I thought it would be straightforward.
Demand half the shares of Seolhan Mine or negotiate to jointly manage it per the existing agreement.
But it had been six years.
For six years, since I came to Seol-ap as a part-time clerk, the part-time clerk had been Yaunsang.
Although the clerk members changed several times in between, the part-time clerk position never changed.
For six years, the Cheongneung Mine inside Seol-ap territory was effectively controlled by the Yangryeong sect.
Seolhan Mine was also under Yangryeong’s control.
It would be better to consider him a fool than just having open eyes and cutting off his own nose.
I planned to solve it.
I arrived at Cheongneung Mine with soldiers.
The mines were still in operation, but the people in charge were unfamiliar.
Anyone could tell they were not Seol-ap warriors.
I walked toward them, and they frowned upon seeing me.
I spoke briefly.
“Explain.”
Cheonpung, who was behind me, quickly stepped forward and said,
“They are warriors of the Yangryong clan. Judging by their clothes, they are from the Janggeommun clan.”
“But it’s under control.”
“Yes. We are managing it under the pretext of quality control because recently adulterated Hanreung Okjeong has been distributed.”
“Quality control…?”
“The reasons change all the time. Sometimes, it’s investigating smuggled goods. Sometimes, it’s controlling smooth trade between regions… It varies.”
“I don’t remember well because I’m from a scarecrow background, but has it always been like this?”
“…Yes. That’s right.”
I thought for a moment, then asked,
“They are still mining now, so who receives the Hanreung Okjeong?”
“…Yangryeong.”
“It’s a pressure mine, so Yangling manages, mines, sells, and profits from it.”
Cheonpung said nothing else, biting his lip.
Honestly, no more explanation was needed.
What was written in the ledger was beyond imagination.
The ones who designed this whole situation were Yaunsang and the Yangryeong sect.
They bribed each other.
And split
the profits.
If Yaunsang had been a merchant instead of a warrior, he probably would’ve been very successful.
I looked up and saw the men in front of me looking bewildered.
“Are they from Janggeommun?”
“…Exactly.”
“You’re managing and supervising here?”
“Exactly.”
“Why?”
“That’s right, it’s always been like this.”
“Always… Does this look like Yangnyeonghyeon?”
“…Listen. We are warriors of Janggeommun, and we’re currently investigating reports that adulterated Hanreung Okjeong has been distributed. Come back tomorrow.”
“This is a mine under pressure. Is it right for the owner to tell me to come tomorrow?”
“Huh… What are you talking about? This mine is a mine of spirits.”
“According to the map, this mine belongs to Seol-ap. The first discoverers and those who planted the flag were all Seol-ap people. But you’re talking nonsense.”
“…”
“This is the Yangryeong mine? Can you take responsibility for what you say?”
The long swordsman who had been thinking smiled strangely.
“…Aha, now I get it.”
“What?”
“Just like Yaunsang, it seems he wants some ore… I’ll report to my superiors so we can set up a new negotiation table soon.”
It was absurd.
