Chapter 50 : Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Asked for a Decision

“Did you say you were Myeong of the Dancheon Clan?”

As the Murim Alliance Lord himself remembered my name and asked, it could be said to be an honor for the clan.

“Yes.”

Even so, if I were to make a fuss, the dignity of a prestigious clan would be diminished, so I answered as calmly as possible.

“When you arrive at the Murim Alliance, be sure to find me.”

I did not accurately understand the meaning of his words.

“Aren't we going together?”

Isn't the destination the same anyway?

“If I don't return quickly, I will be reprimanded by the chief strategist, so I can't.”

Saying so, the Alliance Lord Yeom Gi-ha clicked his tongue with a 'tsk'.

As my discerning eye read his expression, I knew that even a martial artist who had reached the strongest under the heavens had something to fear.

I had an ominous premonition.

“……Did you perhaps run away from home?”

“Ahem. I was just on a brief excursion.”

In addition, I also realized the reason why he was able to show his face here.

The Murim Alliance Lord had run away from home.

Recalling the information I had heard about the Emperor Breaker Yeom Gi-ha, it could be said to be a sufficiently possible course of action.

“Anyway, be sure to find this seat. This is the order of the Alliance Lord.”

Seeing him repeatedly emphasizing it, I knew that he had some business with me.

For some reason, it was not a good premonition.

“May I ask for the reason?”

Isn't the quality of an information broker curiosity?

At my question, the absolute ruler's gaze examined me.

However, he seemed to think that now was not the time.

“I will tell you when you come to the Alliance.”

Since the Alliance Lord said so, I could not inquire further.

“See you later.”

As if it were not a lie that he would be reprimanded if he were late, the Alliance Lord's figure moved away ethereally without even hearing my answer.

I expressed my condolences internally to the chief strategist Singija, who would have a hard time assisting him.

“Alliance Lord, let's go together! Dancheon Myeong, see you next time!”

Peng Ga-heon, with a very different atmosphere than before, said so and moved his feet.

“Damn it, because of you brat, I'm going to get scolded by Singija.”

“So there was no gain?”

“Hmph.”

“Say thank you.”

“I don't want to.”

The bickering of the Alliance Lord and the Shanxi Branch Chief was faintly heard, but I decided to pretend I hadn't heard it.

Now that all the outsiders had suddenly disappeared, only the Ice Palace delegation and I were left in Sanmenxia.

I took a step.

As I passed by Han Baek-rim, who was shaking off his tension, Bukgung Seol-a, who still had a blank expression, was seated in front of me.

“Would you like a drink?”

“……Alright.”

Bukgung Seol-a answered my question.

Since Han Baek-rim did not stop her, I would say it is certain that I have gained their trust.

* * *

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.

Horok.

There is nothing like Jiannanchun when it comes to alcohol.

In the past, I used to enjoy it just for the taste, but nowadays, when I drink Jiannanchun, I am reminded of my friend, Lee Chun-baek.

I suddenly miss him, so I will have to make time to visit him soon.

Only after five rounds of drinks had been passed in silence.

“Thank you to our benefactor.”

“I express my gratitude to our benefactor.”

Bukgung Seol-a and Han Baek-rim opened their mouths.

Although the expression 'benefactor' was burdensome, it felt good.

It was because it was the first time I had saved someone's life after receiving the fortuitous encounter of regression.

“I only did what I had to do.”

Since Bukgung Seol-a and Han Baek-rim seemed to be people who knew grace and shame, there would be no need to show off excessively.

“Please accept this.”

Bukgung Seol-a took out a small box from her bosom and handed it to me.

Since I had seen it when she confronted the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han, I was well aware of its identity.

It was the very beginning of the Fifth Stage that I had longed for, the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng.

‘Hmm.’

Even I had not expected that she would try to repay the grace so immediately.

“Is it alright for me to take this?”

Since the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng was a precious item that the Ice Palace delegation had brought as a token of friendship with the Murim Alliance, I asked even though I knew that giving it to me would cause trouble.

“The Ice Palace does not forget a grace. I am only sorry that this is all I can offer you now.”

As she answered so, a firm resolve, as certain as her beauty, was present on Bukgung Seol-a's face.

Since Han Baek-rim also did not stop her, I would guess that he also thought the same.

“I know that you gave up the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Spirit Grass to save us. The Snow Ginseng is just a reward for that. We will definitely repay the debt for our lives in the future. Someday-”

I cut her off.

“I only sold my Snow Spirit Grass to the Heretic Alliance. Don't mind it.”

“Still, please accept it.”

As if not accepting any counterarguments, Bukgung Seol-a placed the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng in my hands.

Since I also did not strongly refuse, the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng became mine without much of a struggle.

Truly, I had not known that I would obtain the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng like this.

The world of people is like that.

Just as there are people you feel a favor towards for no reason, there are also people you dislike for no reason.

In reality, the martial artists of the Ice Palace were people I had a favor towards for no particular reason.

My favor had grown even greater, moved by their spirit of not backing down against the Heretic Alliance Lord.

Now that such people had also provided a practical reason in the form of the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng, I also wanted to bestow a favor upon them with a light heart.

It means that I did what I had originally intended to do.

“In that case, please accept this.”

That is, I handed Bukgung Seol-a a precious item that could be used as a token of friendship in exchange for the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng.

“What is it?”

“Immaculate Pomegranate.”

“……Pardon?”

Originally, I had intended to indebt the Ice Palace delegation and then, through negotiation, attempt to exchange the Immaculate Pomegranate and the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng.

But since they had just given me the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng, I had no choice but to just give them the Immaculate Pomegranate as well.

It could be said to be a scene that gave a sense of déjà vu; the reason I missed Lee Chun-baek might not be simply because of the Jiannanchun.

“Receiving such a precious item…….”

Before Bukgung Seol-a's counterargument could come out, I quickly continued.

“The friendship between the Ice Palace and the Murim Alliance is also my important mission.”

Although it was not true, there would be no better excuse and justification than this.

“Since I cannot refuse the Young Palace Mistress' favor, I will accept this, but in return, please use that Immaculate Pomegranate as a token of friendship.”

“…….”

I know that Bukgung Seol-a is a person with a considerable amount of stubbornness.

But I too was a stubborn person who even Chwipung-gae had thrown his hands up at during my time as Myeong-gae.

Since it was said that a stubborn person recognizes a stubborn person, Bukgung Seol-a, who had caught a glimpse of my stubbornness, yielded.

It is because a stubbornness with a justification is bound to win.

“Thank you.”

As Han Baek-rim, who had guessed Bukgung Seol-a's inner thoughts, stepped in.

“……Thank you.”

Bukgung Seol-a stored the Immaculate Pomegranate.

“Let's have another drink.”

The Jiannanchun made its rounds again.

Perhaps because of my lighter heart than before, the Jiannanchun was sweeter.

I know that trust is built in the exchange of favors.

Now that a deeper trust than I thought had been built, now would be the right time to talk about that story.

“Would it be alright to ask about the circumstances?”

In reality, in the Jianghu Murim, it would be a taboo to ask about another person's personal history and story, but I had broken it.

Didn't they also not ask how I had timely possessed the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Spirit Grass, or how I had the Immaculate Pomegranate?

Thinking about that fact, it was a somewhat embarrassing situation, but I thought it was alright.

It was partly because I now considered them as friends, and also because this question was a necessary process right now.

“……I am a lacking person.”

Perhaps because the grace Bukgung Seol-a felt towards me was not small, she started speaking without showing any rejection.

Perhaps because the name 'Han-yu' had already come up in the conversation with the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor, Bukgung Seol-a's confession was unhindered.

I listened to her long confession in silence.

“……That's what happened. Thank you again for saving the martial artists of the Ice Palace who were almost sacrificed because of me.”

Even in the midst of it all, Bukgung Seol-a, who spoke of her subordinates' lives before her own, was impressive.

Even in my time as Myeong-gae, I had not seen the Ice Palace Lord Bukgung Seol-a, but I know that if she became the Palace Lord, she would be a wise ruler.

It means that my thought that it would be right for her to become the Palace Lord rather than the Bukgung Han-yu I know has grown stronger.

Bukgung Seol-a's expression, after she had finished speaking, seemed a little relieved.

In reality, Bukgung Seol-a might have needed someone to confide in.

Isn't it a law of nature that some worries are harder to confess to those close to you?

As the worry disappeared from her face, which was represented as one of the Three Beauties Under Heaven, perhaps this appearance now would not be lacking even if it were called the number one beauty under the heavens.

“You must have had a hard time.”

“……I know that there are people who have it harder than me.”

I quietly shook my head.

Just because there is someone who has it harder and is in more pain than me does not mean that I am not having a hard time and am not in pain.

Beggars know that fact better than anyone, so it is an enlightenment I had obtained long ago.

To summarize Bukgung Seol-a's confession, it was like this.

The competition for the succession in the Ice Palace had long been overheating, so Bukgung Seol-a had inwardly guessed that her younger brother might send an assassin.

An unexpected point would be that Bukgung Han-yu had tried to abandon not only her life but the lives of the entire delegation, and that the assassin was the Heretic Alliance Lord of the world.

“Even Baek-rim was almost in danger because of me.”

“No, Young Lady. Protecting you is my mission.”

At Han Baek-rim's firm answer, Bukgung Seol-a only gave a sad smile.

“I have no talent.”

Bukgung Seol-a had received all sorts of support thanks to her position as the Young Palace Mistress.

Her current realm of the Peak would not be lacking, but it seems she herself could not accept it that way.

“Having received several times the support of others, yet being at a similar level as them. Do I have the right to lead the Ice Palace?”

I saw Han Baek-rim swallowing Jiannanchun, hiding his emotions.

I could tell that his expressionless heart was crumbling.

“That thought is not right.”

I am not one to make definitive statements about another person's life, but I found myself meddling for the first time in a long while.

“A clan is not ruled by martial talent.”

I sincerely think so.

Therefore, didn't I break the clan's tradition of primogeniture and think of entrusting the position of Clan Head to my elder brother, Dancheon Hak?

“I have made a fool of myself.”

“It’s alright.”

I think I have indirectly experienced the hardships of the eldest son, which I, who have lived the life of a second son, could not have guessed.

-Next time will be different.

The sullen face of my elder brother, Dancheon Hak, came to mind.

Perhaps it was a relief that such a noble and dignified person was my elder brother.

And fortunately, I have information that can solve her worries.

The reason why Bukgung Seol-a must become the Palace Lord of the Ice Palace.

Now that the stage has been set appropriately, it is time to bring up the story.

The story of seeing the future through the life of Myeong-gae.

“What do you think of the demonic way?”

At my sudden question, both Han Baek-rim and Bukgung Seol-a showed a look of not knowing what I was talking about.

“I'm asking what you think about the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

“This palace despises the demonic way.”

Han Baek-rim, who had been silent until now, answered firmly.

In the Central Plains, the martial artists of the Outer Regions are classified as being between the righteous and the heretic, but it would be right to say that this is a perception based on a prejudice against the Outer Regions.

It means that I am well aware that the Ice Palace is a group close to the righteous way.

“What would you do if the Ice Palace were to collude with the demonic way?”

“That will not happen.”

Bukgung Seol-a firmly denied it.

“What would you do if it were to happen?”

“I would have to risk my life to stop it.”

Looking at Bukgung Seol-a's expression, I could tell that that was the justice she believed in.

It could be said that I had come to the right place.

“In that case…….”

After taking a moment to catch my breath.

“What would you do if Bukgung Han-yu had colluded with the Demonic Cult?”

I threw the last question.

“…….”

Both Bukgung Seol-a and Han Baek-rim were speechless for a moment.

It could be said to be truly unexpected.

The fact that the righteous-oriented Northern Sea Ice Palace had colluded with the demonic way and invaded the Central Plains as soon as the Great War of Righteousness and Evil broke out.

Myeong-gae, who was a member of the Secret Pavilion, had come to know the truth.

The fact that the collusion between the Ice Palace and the Demonic Cult was because of Bukgung Han-yu.

“Even if that were the case, would you let Bukgung Han-yu take the position of the Ice Palace Lord? For the sake of something as trivial as talent?”

For a better future, we must stop Bukgung Han-yu from becoming the Young Palace Lord.

That would be the final purpose of my visit to the Ice Palace delegation.

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