Chapter 71 : Token
Just before the situation ended.
Crackle-
Seol Ye-rin froze all the masked n.
I tried not to reveal that we were from the Ice Palace as much as possible, but since the situation turned out like this, it seed unavoidable.
“Young Palace Head.”
“Young Palace Head?”
Since it ca to this, I decided to modify the plan.
It would be one thing if the Mount Hua thugs died, but didn't they survive?
I heard the Orthodox Factions live and die for justification.
If so,
‘I must change it.’
The perception of the Orthodox Sects regarding the Ice Palace.
“…Did you co from the North Sea Ice Palace to invade the Murim?”
As if he finally understood, the person who appeared to be the Zhongnan Elder muttered dejectedly.
The tide of battle was reversed.
He probably never imagined that all the disciples he brought would be frozen.
“Na?”
I needed to at least know his na.
“…Byeok Ra-jung. An Elder of Zhongnan. What is your na?”
“Hyeokryeon Yeom. You aren't going to say sothing like Zhongnan will take revenge if you die, are you?”
Shing-
I said that and drew my sword.
“No way.”
The Zhongnan Sect Elder, Byeok Ra-jung, also raised his sword.
He sensed it, that this life-and-death duel could be his last.
I held the Fla Extre Sword and took the starting stance of the Seven Severing Demon Sword.
Flare-
Flas soared and disturbed Byeok Ra-jung’s vision.
“I will kill you, escape this place and make it known that the Ice Palace has invaded the Murim.”
“Invasion...”
What did we do?
Rather, didn't Zhongnan attack first?
“I will change that perception.”
My sword extended.
The Extre Yang Qi operated by the Iron Venerable's Iron Blood Divine Art breathed true qi into the bubbling spring acupoint.
“Heavenly River Boundless!”
The best sword strike that could be unfolded with the Heavenly River Thirty-Six Swords stretched out toward .
I smiled while staring straight at that sword.
After unfolding the Seven Severing Demon Sword, I decided to use the demon sword forms I had learned in my head.
“Iron Fla Mad Soul.”
The fla, sturdy as steel, began to run wild.
The mont the sword flying from thirty-six directions touched the fla, it lted down.
“lting the sword...”
The mont Byeok Ra-jung was astonished seeing the sword flowing down in an instant,
Cough-
My fla swallowed Byeok Ra-jung’s heart.
Gulp-
The Mount Hua thugs who saw that swallowed dry saliva.
It was because they saw a Zhongnan Elder lose in an instant.
The Mount Hua Sect's third-generation disciple, Un-sang, looked at Yu So-dong and the other Mount Hua Sect disciples, then raised his body.
The influence of the Zhongnan Sect was significant in making the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect, who dominated Shaanxi Province, turn into street thugs like this.
Even when they first entered the sect, the Mount Hua Sect’s situation wasn't that bad.
Although they didn't know the exact circumstances, there was an atmosphere of trying to gather money from all directions.
However, around the ti Un-so entered, the donations that ca in every month began to stop, and the rchant guilds and shops that received Mount Hua’s protection withdrew their requests for protection.
Mount Hua, which was already living in poverty, faced even more difficulties.
As a result, a situation arose where junior disciples younger than themselves ate grass to fill their stomachs and fell ill.
Not many people knew this fact.
That is why Un-sang and the others ca here.
Yu So-dong also knew there were many deficiencies, but he took the money under the guise of protection fees in an ugly manner.
Because they had to eat. Instead, before entering the inn, they used to patrol and chase away the surrounding hoodlums or gangsters.
The number of inns or shops paying protection fees had already decreased significantly.
However, so people of Mount Hua still protected this place.
If it was their last pride, it was pride.
But if they were pushed back even in this by Zhongnan now, it would be a disgrace for Mount Hua.
The problem was that Zhongnan’s forces were formidable.
They never dread that even an Elder had been deployed.
“Thank you for helping us, Master.”
“Hmm?”
“…Thanks to you, we were able to survive.”
I observed the Mount Hua thugs and Yu So-dong.
It was because I was curious about the Mount Hua Sect’s perception of the Ice Palace.
“…You aren't afraid?”
“Pardon?”
“As you can see, we ca from the Ice Palace.”
“Is that okay?”
“…The fact that you saved us regardless of your origin does not change.”
“…Thanks to the guests, it seems the inn was able to avoid collapsing completely.”
The Mount Hua disciples did not exclude the Ice Palace.
The mont I looked back at Seol Ye-rin at that appearance,
“How… Did this happen?”
A middle-aged man with a plum blossom embroidered on his chest appeared in front of the Yulin Inn.
***
The Mount Hua Sect Elder, Baek San, looked around the Yulin Inn.
His coming here was connected to the crisis of Mount Hua.
Since Mount Hua is a prestigious Taoist sect, it does not directly run businesses.
So they are always poor.
At least their livelihood circulated by receiving donations under the na of protection fees for protecting and guarding those who donated and business places.
It wasn't abundant, but it wasn't lacking either.
However, over the past few years, the number of business places refusing protection began to increase.
At first one place, then two places, then four places...
He only found out recently.
That the Zhongnan Sect was behind it.
But when he found out, Mount Hua was already in a ss.
It was a huge mistake to miss the timing to stop the Zhongnan Sect's mischief because of internal troubles.
There must be money.
Even just to feed and raise the disciples.
That damn money.
This is the reason why he patrols the inns in Yulin City he has connections with, visiting businesses and complaining.
Above all, this is a place he ends up visiting anyti.
If one lives after entering Mount Hua, there are bound to be one or two people buried in one's heart.
‘Un-so.’
To Baek San, that was Yu So-dong.
Because it was the Sect Leader and himself who led his expulsion.
He heard that after leaving Mount Hua, he ran an inn right here in Yulin City.
And so of Yu So-dong's senior and junior brothers were volunteering to go to that inn.
“Ng?”
Suddenly, the sound of tal clashing was heard by Baek San’s ears.
It is a fight!
The direction was the Yulin Inn.
Baek San hurriedly headed there.
‘Isn't that person… Zhongnan’s Heavenly Sword?’
Baek San, who discovered the frozen masked n and the fallen Zhongnan Elder, stared at the man and woman standing next to the third-generation disciples.
Hot and cold energies were spewing out from the two people simultaneously.
“Elder!”
The Mount Hua disciples discovered Baek San and shouted.
“I ca because it was noisy during patrol, but what is going on here?”
“Elder?”
“I am the Mount Hua Sect Elder, Plum Blossom Sword Baek San.”
Baek San said while clasping his hands.
Seol Ye-rin turned her gaze to at Baek San’s introduction.
Asking with her eyes what I was going to do now.
“I am Hyeokryeon Yeom. I am in charge of escorting the Young Palace Head.”
“Young Palace Head…?”
Seol Ye-rin realized at my words that there was no need to hide her identity anymore.
“I am Seol Ye-rin.”
She worried whether she could tour the Central Plains after revealing her identity as the North Sea Ice Palace’s Young Palace Head, but.
‘He will take care of it.’
Seol Ye-rin trusted .
“The Ice Palace’s Young Palace Head…?”
Baek San’s movent stopped.
The Murim’s perception of the North Sea Ice Palace was quite bad.
However,
“Elder, thanks to the two people… we were able to survive.”
“…Is that true?”
“You can tell by looking, can't you?”
The situation of the inn was truly miserable.
To the point where it could no longer operate for the ti being.
Naturally, Baek San’s gaze turned toward Yu So-dong.
“…You must have suffered a lot.”
“…No.”
The inn can be fixed.
But people cannot be brought back to life.
Yu So-dong and the Mount Hua disciples survived here today.
“Thank you for protecting the disciples.”
Baek San knew about the rumors regarding the Ice Palace, but decided to trust only what he saw with his own eyes.
“…Is it okay for you to thank us like this?”
“Isn't it a fact that you protected the disciples?”
“That is true, but.”
“So, I would like to invite you to Mount Hua to repay the favor.”
“……?”
I looked back at Seol Ye-rin at Baek San’s unexpected proposal.
I told him she was the Ice Palace’s Young Palace Head, but I didn't expect him to invite us to Mount Hua.
-What will you do?
-Didn't you want to visit the Five Great Mountains of the Central Plains once?
-How did you...
-You were looking at the mountains a lot. I didn't know you liked hiking.
If it was such a person, I thought she would want to see the Five Great Mountains called the famous mountains of the Central Plains.
-And didn't you say you would change the perception of the Ice Palace?
It ans let's go.
I didn't know Seol Ye-rin would talk like this.
“Good, it seems like it will be a good opportunity.”
The destination was changed to Mount Hua.
***
Yu So-dong could not believe the fact that he was returning to the Mount Hua Sect.
‘I thought I would never be able to return to Mount Hua after being expelled and running an inn in Yulin City.’
Yu So-dong was expelled five years ago.
To the public, and to himself, he said it was because he didn't pay money, but in fact, the essence was different.
‘Master.’
Mount Hua disciple Yu So-dong, expelled five years ago.
He was a disciple of a scholar Taoist whom people in Mount Hua did not know well.
“Your feelings seem complicated.”
Baek San spoke to Yu So-dong, who was lost in thought.
Yu So-dong remained silent for a mont before carefully opening his mouth.
“…Is it really okay for to enter?”
Has there ever been a person who brought back an expelled disciple?
“Yes, since I am bringing you, the Sect Leader will not oppose it either. Furthermore.”
-Didn't they encounter the Ice Palace people first?
Ice Palace people.
He refers to the people of the North Sea Ice Palace.
To be honest, Yu So-dong didn't have much of a reaction even though figures from the North Sea Ice Palace visited the inn as guests.
Since Yu So-dong hadn't recovered from the incident before his expulsion in the first place, he was indifferent to all worldly affairs.
So, he probably had no interest in what the guests did.
How deliciously they ate the food Yu So-dong made and whether they paid properly was more important to Yu So-dong.
And… the person who prevented the inn from being destroyed was no different from soone to whom he owed a great debt.
“With what intention is the Elder taking those people to Mount Hua?”
He had a feeling it wasn't simply because they saved his senior brothers.
“Listen well, Un-so. Currently, there is a very high possibility that we will fight with Zhongnan.”
“So?”
“If the Ice Palace has already beco enemies with Zhongnan, wouldn't it be one thod to borrow their power to deal with Zhongnan?”
“…Are you saying to think that you are taking them because they have utility value?”
Yu So-dong frowned.
If that was the case, it ant Mount Hua was taking Seol Ye-rin, Hyeokryeon Yeom, and the other North Sea martial artists to Mount Hua to use them.
“They are people we t for the first ti. It is true that we owe them a debt, but we do not know with what intent they visited the Murim. The Sect Leader will figure out if they really just ca to tour or if they ca with so plan.”
Furthermore,
Baek San stared at the carriage the Ice Palace Young Palace Head was riding.
‘If Mount Hua can keep the Ice Palace Young Palace Head.’
Mount Hua might be able to demand many things from the Ice Palace.
“…I understand.”
“Junior brother is still full of curiosity.”
“Senior brothers.”
“If you just return to Mount Hua, Master will compensate you, so don't worry too much. Junior brother is returning to Mount Hua to receive the inn repair costs, right?”
At his senior brother's one word, Yu So-dong shut his mouth.
He thought they had reconciled a bit.
‘As expected, people don't change easily.’
As if they had forgotten all the words they said to Yu So-dong at the inn, the senior brothers were looking down on him.
“I think we need to eat briefly here before moving.”
The Ice Palace carriage stopped.
Yu So-dong nodded and approached them.
The road from Yulin City to Mount Hua was farther than he thought.
“I intend to prepare a al.”
When Yu So-dong approached the Ice Palace carriage and spoke, Tae Un-seo, who was sitting in the coachman's seat, stood up.
“Shall I show off my skills?”
“Are you a chef?”
At Yu So-dong’s words, Tae Un-seo’s eyes flashed.
“Correct.”
“Warrior Tae, let's do it together.”
“Thanks.”
Tae Un-seo did not refuse Yu So-dong’s help.
“Hmm, have we stopped now?”
At that mont, the carriage door opened and the Divine Physician ca out.
Baek San, who was watching the Ice Palace carriage, was surprised when an old man appeared from inside.
Because he didn't know until now that not only the Young Palace Head was riding.
“No...”
And even,
“Divine Physician… Elder?”
Baek San, who realized that the old man riding in the carriage was the Divine Physician, rushed toward the Divine Physician.
“Elder, why are you coming out of that carriage?”
“Hmm? It is Elder Baek. Hearing that the destination changed to Mount Hua, did Elder Baek invite the Ice Palace to Mount Hua? Thanks to you, I will see the Sect Leader for the first ti in a while.”
I intervened seeing the conversation the two were sharing.
“Did you two know each other?”
At my question,
Rummage rummage.
The Divine Physician, who was rummaging through his bosom, held out a token to .
“The owner of this token is none other than Plum Blossom Sword, Baek San.”
In other words, the Mount Hua Sect Elder, Plum Blossom Sword Baek San, had a history of receiving help from the Divine Physician.
“Ho, Elder Divine Physician. Then can I have this token too?”
The Divine Physician responded to my question.
“Of course.”
At that appearance, Baek San’s eyes began to tremble.
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