Murim Troubleshooter Dan Mujin Chapter 220 : Bone-Piercing Cold

Chapter 220: Bone-Piercing Cold

They were trying to dispatch two Transcendence-Level Martial Artists to the north without even a single coin.

Instead of expensive salt, I grabbed so cheap tea leaves and made a gesture as if I were about to scatter them right in front of them.

“Now, now, hear out a bit more.”

The male uninvited guest scratched his cheek with an awkward expression, as if caught in so exorcism ritual.

“Wait, you were acting so friendly just a mont ago—what’s with that sudden change in attitude?”

Slightly narrowed blue eyes. The female uninvited guest looked at as if to say that people of the Central Plains truly couldn’t be trusted.

“Do you know what’s the most troubleso type of client when doing Troubleshooter work?”

At my unusually serious expression and pressure, she twitched her eyes and asked back.

“…What is it?”

I clenched the stale tea leaves in my hand and continued.

“It’s those bastards who dress in expensive clothes but don’t have any money to pay .”

If they had been honest from the start—saying ‘we don’t have money, please help’—then depending on their situation, I might have adjusted the amount considering Good Karma.

But what was this? They ca looking like so prestigious Righteous Sect, yet tried to hire while claiming they didn’t have a single coin.

My office finances were already tight, and this kind of client disappointed twice over.

“Please leave.”

I flicked the grass-like tea leaves at them as if shooing them away.

Through the fluttering leaves, the blond man waved his hand and spoke again in a troubled tone.

“Wait, just hear out. It’s not that we can’t pay right now—there is definitely a way to get money…!”

The female client also chid in beside him, supporting her older brother.

“What do you take the North Sea Ice Palace for? We’re just short on money for certain reasons right now, but if we try, we can earn it back anyti.”

She was a blue-eyed beauty who, even in desperation, spoke with confidence about the many skilled martial artists in her sect.

“So how exactly are you planning to get it?”

When I asked for specifics, she hesitated again, lips fidgeting.

Her older brother stepped in to explain.

“Well… that is… you would have to help us with that.”

He stepped closer and lowered his voice as if sharing a precious secret.

Apparently, in the cave guarded by the White-Furred Lion King, spiritual energy gathered in abundance, and valuable items were overflowing.

And this, he added, was a secret that must not be told elsewhere.

“So you’re saying… the money to pay my reward… we have to earn it ourselves by fighting that spiritual beast?”

I spoke incredulously at the absurd proposal.

What kind of nonsense was this? I thought I was hearing a good offer, but it turned out to be a scam where I’d do all the hard work.

This couldn’t even be called a proper request.

And from the start, I didn’t move without an advance paynt unless the client was trustworthy.

Too many tis in my Troubleshooter work, people had cut ties and run off without paying.

“So in the end, money only appears if I succeed in the request, right?”

At my words, they looked at each other awkwardly.

“C-cough, yes.”

“Well… that’s true, but…”

Unbelievable. What kind of ridiculous nonsense was this? I shook my head and was about to reject them outright.

At that mont, Ilhong gently grabbed my arm and whispered softly.

“Boss, sothing feels off. The North Sea Ice Palace isn’t a sect that would be this desperate… Why don’t you at least hear them out? You never know.”

As I was fuming like I’d been scamd, Ilhong stepped back and offered a rational opinion.

Her cautious gaze cald .

Well, listening didn’t cost money.

“…Hmm, shall I?”

Since there were no other clients anyway, I suppressed my emotions and plopped back down.

The blond siblings whispered to each other upon seeing this.

“That girl… she handles n quite well.”

“Could she be the one actually in charge?”

I can hear you, you idiots.

“Alright then. What exactly happened that soone from the North Sea Ice Palace ca all the way here? Let’s hear it.”

According to Ilhong, the North had its own specialties and ans of earning money, so it wasn’t a poor sect.

I gestured with my chin, signaling them to explain.

“This isn’t sothing to discuss here… The secret might leak. If you accept the request, we’ll tell you everything in detail.”

They said it involved their family’s safety and that they would reveal everything once we arrived at the North Sea Ice Palace.

These people still seed to be misunderstanding sothing.

“If you don’t like it, you can just leave.”

“…Hmm.”

“…Umm…”

They blinked their blue eyes, flustered.

“Our boss is extrely tight-lipped. He’s never carelessly spread soone else’s story. You must’ve looked into that before coming, so just tell us.”

Not a single word of that was wrong. Confidentiality was one of the most important conditions of a Troubleshooter.

I nodded proudly, agreeing completely with Ilhong.

The siblings looked between and Ilhong again.

“As expected…”

I have no idea what misunderstanding they’re having.

Since I didn’t want to waste ti, I urged them on, and only then was I able to hear the full story and the proper request involving the North Sea Ice Palace family.

The steam rising from the once-warm teacup had long disappeared. Only cold liquid quietly swayed inside.

For , it was the perfect temperature—but for others of the Central Plains, it would be uncomfortably cold.

Looking between the siblings, I organized what I had heard.

“So, because of the youngest sister’s Nine Yin Severed ridians, you need the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp inside the cave, correct?”

“…Yes.”

At first, I thought they ca with so profitable opportunity.

But it turned out the story brought by Seol Cheonsang and Seol Sakhwa was far more heartbreaking.

A father who suffered severe internal injuries while trying to save his daughter.

A family that desperately used every Spiritual dicine and item they could find.

And when all that failed, they now sought to unite and attack the spiritual beast as their final hope.

Their youngest sister, Seol Soyoung, despite carrying such suffering, was said to be a bright girl who cared for others.

The martial artists of the North Sea Ice Palace had also trained relentlessly to help her.

Unlike , who idly wandered around thinking only of making money, they were filled with desperation.

“Ugh… Mujin! Let’s take this request!”

Jo Harang suddenly clenched her fist and shouted.

True to the Purple Tenuity Star who believed eliminating evil would fill the world with good, she couldn’t ignore this.

“Boss, think of it as placing the North Sea Ice Palace in your debt…”

Even the calculating Ilhong, slightly moved, suggested accepting the request.

These brats… knowing how tight our office funds are.

If we took this, we’d have to leave the office empty for a long ti traveling north.

And if we failed and earned nothing, what then?

Would the taxes collected every quarter by the court just magically appear from thin air?

“According to our clan’s records, deep within that cave lies sothing called the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Essence.”

Not knowing what it was, I imdiately asked Ilhong.

She explained that it was Yin Energy crystallized and solidified over ten thousand years.

Sothing endlessly frozen in cold… like an ice stalactite Spiritual dicine?

‘…’

The Salseong flickered silently at my crude assessnt.

“Even if we fail to obtain the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Essence, our North Sea Ice Palace will transfer the Thousand-Year Ice Essence prepared for the next Palace Head to you.”

Seol Cheonsang, the eldest son, spoke firmly.

In other words, even if things went wrong, a minimum reward was guaranteed.

“Ilhong, are those things expensive?”

“Of course. If you find the right buyer, they’re practically priceless.”

There was risk in not receiving an advance, but this was more tempting than expected.

“Who needs them the most?”

“People of the North Sea Ice Palace.”

“…Hmm.”

But they didn’t even have money to buy it themselves.

“Can I use it?”

“You’d need to either cultivate an Ice Technique strong enough to withstand the cold, or possess extre Blazing Yang Energy to lt the Yin Energy.”

In short, soone like , who only had the energy of stars and faint moon energy, couldn’t properly use it.

My body would be destroyed by the imnse Yin Energy.

“However, in the Central Plains, there are many who cultivate extre Yin or Yang techniques. With my information network and the Beggars’ Union connections, I can find a suitable buyer.”

So even if I suffered through the hardship, I could at least recover value with the Thousand-Year Ice Essence.

Of course, the best outco was obtaining the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Essence.

“Mujin, I believe you’ll accept this request.”

Jo Harang looked at with unwavering trust.

As if soone like —a chivalrous hero—would never ignore people in need.

Sotis, that kind of gaze was a bit burdenso.

‘…Why… hesitate… refuse…’

The red aura flickered, urging rejection.

“Fine. Let’s do it.”

I grabbed the siblings’ hands and accepted the request.

‘…!’

The Heaven-Slaying Star reacted violently, but it was too late. Doing the opposite of what it wanted usually worked out fine.

Besides, the Beggars’ Union had recomnded , so they likely had no ulterior motives.

That ant they were sowhat trustworthy.

“Th-thank you! As expected of Dog-Beating Dragon Dan Mujin!”

Seol Cheonsang exclaid in relief.

“I thought all people of the Central Plains were the sa… We will rember this kindness, Master.”

The siblings shook my hand vigorously, already acting as if they had defeated the beast and secured the Fire Carp.

“Then, strike while the iron’s hot—shall we depart?”

And so, we set out toward the North.

The snowy mountains of the North seed to mock the spring of the Central Plains, covered in endless white cold.

Everything in sight glittered in pure white, even the horizon seed frozen.

Each step on the snow crunched, and every breath turned into white mist like a ghostly sigh.

After crossing the endless snowfield, we finally arrived at a stone-walled palace filled with cold Yin Energy.

With smooth ice walls fused into its exterior, it was a natural fortress impossible to infiltrate.

“B-b-boss… at this rate, I-I’m going to freeze to death.”

Ilhong trembled, frost forming even on her eyebrows.

Her body curled like a shrimp in the bone-piercing cold.

anwhile, the siblings of the North Sea Ice Palace looked completely at ease.

Perhaps because they had already accumulated Yin Energy in their bodies.

“Told you to stay at the office, Ilhong.”

My sigh turned into white breath.

Unlike or Jo Harang, Ilhong hadn’t reached Peak Master Level yet.

We could control the cold with Internal Energy, but she had to endure it directly.

“Y-you were going to leave behind again… I c-can’t allow that.”

Sniffling, she stuck close to .

Seriously, that stubbornness hadn’t changed at all.

Clicking my tongue, I pulled her into my embrace, wrapping her in my Internal Energy.

“Mmng.”

She made a strange sound again.

As warmth enveloped her like a thick blanket, her expression relaxed.

I smirked while circulating my Internal Energy.

“How is it? Better now?”

“Y-yes… it’s warr…”

Her ears turned slightly red. Not entirely from the cold.

“…Mujin, can you do that for too?”

Jo Harang asked with a subtle look, bundled in thick clothes.

“You look warr than already.”

“Ehh…!”

There were no discounts for Transcendence-Level Martial Artists.

Shaking my head, I walked forward with the clients into the palace where the Palace Head of the North Sea Ice Palace and the youngest daughter with Nine Yin Severed ridians awaited.