Chapter 75 : Potential Power
“Hey, did you hear?”
“What?”
“I heard that Mount Hua joined forces with the Ice Palace and brutally killed the Zhongnan Sect disciples!”
An inn in Shaanxi.
People eating at the inn began to whisper among themselves.
“What?”
“Are you saying Ice Palace people are roaming Shaanxi right now?”
Bad rumors about Mount Hua began to spread in Shaanxi.
Then.
“Eh, it seems you guys know sothing is wrong?”
“Hmm? Aren't you… Azure Wind Guest?”
Azure Wind Guest.
It was the alias of a martial artist active in Shaanxi Province.
“I have quite the information network, you see. What I heard was completely different?”
“Oh, are you saying there was a hidden truth?”
“I am curious!”
“Eyy, for free?”
“Waiter! Bring one bowl of wheat noodles here!”
“Yes!”
The people who ordered a bowl of wheat noodles pricked up their ears and focused on Azure Wind Guest's mouth.
“From what I heard. The incident happened at the Yulin Inn.”
The full story of the rumor began to spread through Azure Wind Guest’s mouth.
“There is probably no one who doesn't know how poor Mount Hua is right now, and that they are on the verge of collapsing because they showed no interest in material desires while cultivating the Dao.”
“Right, right.”
“They say Mount Hua, which is far from business, opened sothing called Yulin Inn to earn so money.”
“Why Yulin of all places...”
“I heard they couldn't do business in Xi'an because Zhongnan controls it.”
“Oh my!”
“Here are the wheat noodles!”
Slurp!
Azure Wind Guest took a big mouthful of the wheat noodles the waiter brought and continued the story.
“So? How did Mount Hua get involved with the Ice Palace?”
“I heard Mount Hua tried to make money even in the outskirts, and recently heard the news that the Moyong rchant Guild made a lot of money through trade with the Ice Palace.”
“I heard the news that Cold Iron started circulating in the Central Plains.”
“So they put an inn in the outskirts and tried to invite Ice Palace people.”
“Is that allowed?”
“What is the problem with earning money through people from the Outer Regions?”
“That is true.”
“So?”
Azure Wind Guest lowered his voice.
“So I heard they made a big decision and tried to sell the Purple Cloud Pill.”
“Purple Cloud Pill? Isn't that Mount Hua’s spiritual pill?!”
“Yes, they tried to continue Mount Hua’s lineage even if they had to do that.”
“No way!”
“That's exactly it! I heard Zhongnan noticed that and attacked the Yulin Inn!”
“Then...”
“The Ice Palace suffered a mishap while coming to buy that.”
“Then are you saying Zhongnan is spreading false rumors right now?”
“Correct!”
“For what reason?”
“Because that way Mount Hua will be ruined!”
“Ah!”
People began to whisper among themselves as if they finally understood.
Usually, the crowd tends to side with the weak.
If Mount Hua had been the sect with a bit more power in Shaanxi, public opinion would have been different.
However,
‘If I blow wind like this, the rumor will be distorted and spread like a footless horse going a thousand li.’
“Now, then it's a secret that I told you this, understood?”
“Of course!”
Originally, there were no secrets in the world.
Azure Wind Guest, no, the Small Snow Squad Vice Captain, Eun Bin, hoped the rumor would spread quickly throughout Shaanxi.
Only then.
‘I can escort the Young Palace Head to Dongting Lake.’
For Eun Bin, this level of disguise was nothing if it was to see the Young Palace Head smiling.
***
“The rumor… is spreading as if it has wings.”
The Mount Hua Sect Elder, Baek San, reported to the Mount Hua Sect Leader, Hyeon Cheon-jin-in.
“Is this… really what information warfare is?”
“I was surprised when they suddenly demanded the Purple Cloud Pill, but I didn't know they would use such a thod.”
The day after Mount Hua decided to support the Ice Palace,
Hyeokryeon Yeom ca to the two people, gave a trendous amount of money, and demanded the Purple Cloud Pill.
Considering Mount Hua’s current finances, it was an amount where the Purple Cloud Pill wasn't even an issue.
“…It seems joining hands with the Ice Palace was a good choice even if it wasn't for the token.”
“I had the thought that the Divine Physician isn't with the Ice Palace Young Palace Head for nothing.”
“Don't they say the Moyong Clan’s power is becoming stronger because of the trade with the Ice Palace too?”
“I thought maybe we really could beco the hegemon of Shaanxi Province.”
“Will it be possible?”
“If Zhongnan gets entangled here, I think it is fully possible.”
If the rumor about the Yulin Inn spread, it was clear Zhongnan would be grinding their teeth at Mount Hua.
Since they are guys with fiery tempers, it was clear they would co to take revenge on Mount Hua.
“They probably won't invade the main mountain. If you were the Zhongnan Sect Leader, when do you think you would aim for?”
“Ah, I finished talking about that with the Small Snow Squad Captain too.”
“Hmm? Has it been decided?”
“Yes. He confidently said it would be the day the Ice Palace, having purchased the Purple Cloud Pill, leaves Mount Hua.”
Zhongnan cannot openly attack Mount Hua as they are both part of the Nine Great Sects.
Then naturally, the target they aim for becos the Ice Palace.
In other words.
“When Zhongnan attacks the Ice Palace, the Ice Palace side including the Small Snow Squad Captain wins the battle against Zhongnan. He said we just have to side with the Ice Palace, not Zhongnan.”
“Will things really proceed that easily?”
“I do not know yet. That is just the plan, since not everything will happen according to plan.”
The existence of variables.
If only they could control those variables, as Hyeokryeon Yeom said, the hegemon of Shaanxi might beco Mount Hua.
***
It was a variable.
“Hup.”
Clearly, Yu So-dong intended to get a job as a servant in charge of cleaning and laundry.
‘Why am I learning martial arts?’
-Listen well. The Small Snow Squad is an escort unit escorting the Young Palace Head. No matter if you volunteered with the intention of doing work lifting luggage like a porter, you must learn basic martial arts.
Work that requires using the body difficultly, in other words, martial arts, was the field Yu So-dong was least confident in.
However,
-Here, eat this.
-What is this?
-It is a pill that can make your martial arts into that of an ordinary person.
-Was there… such a pill?
-It is an enlistnt gift.
-Thank you.
There was no one who would refuse when offered a chance to beco strong for free.
Yu So-dong put the pill Hyeokryeon Yeom gave him into his mouth.
Then.
Whoosh-
“Cough!”
A trendous amount of energy began to enter his body.
‘Wh, what is this?’
“Focus on circulating qi!”
There was a reason he told him to eat the pill while sitting in a lotus position.
Yu So-dong began to circulate the Six Harmonies Qigong.
As he tried to guide the pill’s energy to the qi center according to the principles of the Six Harmonies,
Thud-
It was blocked.
‘Oh no.’
It was always like this.
The reason Yu So-dong’s martial arts lagged behind others.
That reason was precisely because the circulation of inner qi wasn't free like this.
“I'm piercing it.”
‘Pardon?’
Hyeokryeon Yeom’s hand touched his back.
Then,
Whoosh-!
An incredibly hot energy began to flow along the acupoints.
‘Gah!’
“Hold onto your consciousness tight.”
Hyeokryeon Yeom advanced while burning Yu So-dong’s acupoints using Extre Yang Qi.
Three Yin Severed ridians.
It refers to a state where problems arise in qi and blood circulation because the Yin Qi is excessively strong among the acupoints constituting the body, blocking specific acupoints.
It is a constitution that does not occur well in n, but Yu So-dong was born with the Three Yin Severed ridians.
So, no matter what martial arts he learned, the Yin Qi would have blocked the inner power.
However.
‘Argh!’
If accompanied by pain, the Yin Qi could be blown away entirely.
Yu So-dong felt like his eyes were rolling back.
And. If those pierced acupoints.
-Wooong!
Are recovered with the energy of the Purple Cloud Pill.
Whoosh-
“Young Hero Yu is no different from having t a miraculous encounter.”
Through body reformation, he could be reborn with a constitution most suitable for learning martial arts.
Thud.
Toward Yu So-dong, who couldn't perform qi circulation breathing and rolled his eyes back just like that, this ti Seol Ye-rin approached.
“Since we accepted him as a new recruit, we must work him properly.”
Hyeokryeon Yeom took his hand off, and Seol Ye-rin infused Extre Yin Qi to guide the Purple Cloud Pill’s energy to the qi center.
It is guiding the energy to circulate smoothly throughout the whole body while quickly cooling the acupoints.
“Even though he is a child of Mount Hua?”
“He is an Ice Palace person now.”
“Will he follow the Third Young Master that much?”
“Well.”
We will have to talk more in the future about that, but.
‘In my experience, he has no choice but to be completely captivated.’
In his past life, his master, who was an Archmage, once allowed those who couldn't use magic to use magic.
At that ti, Hyeokryeon Yeom cannot forget the eyes of those who ca to use magic.
Because only Hyeokryeon Yeom couldn't use magic.
Just like that, Yu So-dong too.
Moreover, even the fact that he is a disciple of a Scholar Taoist who explores enlightennt and explores knowledge resembles his past life too much.
So Hyeokryeon Yeom found a reason to reach out to Yu So-dong.
Furthermore, there was also the Sect Leader’s request.
It was just before he was about to leave after discussing matters regarding Zhongnan.
“May I ask you one favor?”
“Yes, please speak, Sect Leader.”
“Un-so, that child is not a child to grow on the cliffs of Mount Hua. If there is an opportunity, I want you to definitely take that child.”
“Why is that?”
“My senior brother wanted to look around the world. But his health wasn't good so he couldn't, and he passed away from overworking. The day senior brother passed away, he made one request. Asking if a bird that needs to see the world and look at distant places could beco a plum blossom tree. That is why.”
The Sect Leader smiled quietly.
“He wouldn't go to see the world just because of expulsion. That poor child.”
‘Until now, even if he learned martial arts, he probably didn't feel the sensation properly.’
But now it would be different.
Hyeokryeon Yeom beca curious about what reaction Yu So-dong would show when he woke up.
***
“Vice Captain.”
“What is it?”
“Is it even a matter of using a Purple Cloud Pill for a new recruit?”
Baek Mu-yong grumbled.
“Is it okay that you taught us the Iron Venerable’s martial arts without any price?”
“Ahem, that is...”
It is the martial art of one of the Ten Venerables under the Heavens, no less.
Hyeokryeon Yeom gave such martial arts without hesitation for the Small Snow Squad.
“Would you be able to give so generously for your subordinates like that?”
Should I say he has a big heart?
Should I say he is overflowing with composure unlike his age?
“Both the Young Palace Head and the Captain seem amazing.”
“Let's just think we served a good liege and follow. Since it's also thanks to them we can live comfortably like this.”
“Here.”
“Thanks.”
Wi Ji-yeong handed one Tanghulu each to Baek Mu-yong and Eun Bin.
“Where is Tae Un-seo?”
“He went to cook saying the new recruit would be hungry when he wakes up.”
“It must be painful as soon as he wakes up.”
“He has to endure it. Since he is a new recruit.”
“Help him so he can adapt well.”
“Yes. Ah, and I saw sothing on the way back from buying Tanghulu.”
Wi Ji-yeong told the two people the information she gathered.
“Those who appear to be Zhongnan Sect martial artists were spread all over Huayin County.”
“Ah, really?”
Everything was really flowing according to Hyeokryeon Yeom’s prediction.
“Is it tomorrow?”
The mont Hyeokryeon Yeom’s group descends Mount Hua.
It seed Zhongnan finished preparations to attack the group.
“Let's prepare too.”
“Yes, Vice Captain.”
Because the battle with Zhongnan would be, in a way, the first battle to outwardly show the Ice Palace’s potential power.
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