Chapter 59
A few years ago, there was a popular song that spread widely in the Jianghu.
It was a song made by a musician with the nickname ‘Luo Yang Nightingale,’ and especially because the lyrics were good, young martial artists at one time would sing along to that song whenever they drank.
At that time, So-ah had cursed at that pathetic sight, but,
“Like the sand of the Yangtze River! The heroes of the Jianghu~ Among them! The most shining one is me! Let’s go! Let’s go! To the martial world! Upholding righteousness!”
The sound of the song echoed thunderously through the valleys of Manju-jang.
‘No… what is this!’
‘My goodness… he’s putting internal energy into his song? Is internal energy a child’s play?!’
Wang So-yeong and Yeon In-hak, who were descending the mountain together, trembled once again.
So-ah’s song was not just at a level where a little internal energy was put into it.
The emission of immense internal energy that made the listener’s heart sink just by hearing it.
If the high monks of Shaolin, who were well-versed in the Lion’s Roar, had heard it, they would probably have been at a loss for words.
Well, of course,
“The number one in the world! The number one in the world! The hero is coming! If you don’t want your head to be broken! Will you move out of the way?!”
So-ah, without caring, was continuing to sing.
But,
‘If you don’t want your head to be broken, will you move out of the way? There were definitely no such lyrics…’
Yeon In-hak tilted his head at the strangely changed song.
But he soon smiled slightly and was able to understand So-ah.
‘Well, he got two internal dans of the Sun Fire Carp for free. I would do the same. Haha. What a lucky man.’
It couldn’t be helped.
The internal dan of the Sun Fire Carp!
It was a precious spiritual medicine that could not be bought even with a lot of money because there was no product, so it was a very human feeling for So-ah, who had acquired it, to be so excited.
But the problem was,
“Ugh… Young Master Jin!”
It came from Yeon In-hak, who was relatively weak in martial arts.
“If you do it! Huh? Yes, Master.”
“That… can’t you stop singing? Or, could you sing without putting in your internal energy? My insides are all churning. Ahem!”
He had tried to endure it if possible, but the wave of ki spreading from the voice had caused a strain on Yeon In-hak’s body.
“Ah! Haha! I’m sorry, Master. I’ll go with my mouth shut.”
Only then did So-ah calm his excited heart.
It had been a long time since he had been this excited.
It seemed that there was no one who disliked treasure.
***
‘What a great gain. How much would I get if I sold this? Our Moyong Family might be able to accumulate the wealth of a small merchant group in one go.’
‘I can’t be satisfied here. The Namgung Family, the Zhuge Family, the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Ximen Family, the Jinju Yan Clan, the Hebei Peng Clan, they’re all well-off, right? But our Moyong family is too small in scale. We need to be active and have a lot of money. What should I do to earn more money?’
‘Ah! Come to think of it, the Sun Fire Carp is used as a medicinal ingredient for the Nine Yin Severed Meridians. Should I give one to Myo-seon? No, Myo-seon uses the Nine Yin Severed Meridians as a martial art, so she won’t need it. It’s more profitable to just sell it and accumulate wealth, of course!’
It was to the point where it would have been better to just suffer.
So-ah, who had returned to Manju-jang, rested his chin on his hand and, like a person who had lost his mind, pondered deeply about the disposal of the internal dan of the Sun Fire Carp.
Wang So-yeong, who could not watch him any longer, reprimanded him.
“Jin So-ah. Are you going to just sit there blankly like a crazy person? Let’s hurry up and say goodbye to the master and go on our way. We’re busy, right?”
“Ah, right! Sorry, sorry. Let’s do that, So-yeong-ah.”
Only then did So-ah’s mind clear up.
‘That’s right. I’ll think about the future later. First, I have to finish the work.’
Because there were still additional gold ingots to be received from the North Sea Ice Palace.
In this way, So-ah and Wang So-yeong left the reception room and headed to Yeon In-hak’s room.
A little later…
“Hah! Are you leaving already?”
As Yeon In-hak asked with a look of disappointment, So-ah nodded.
“Yes, Master. Thanks to you, we had a good deal.”
“By the way, Young Master Jin.”
“Please speak.”
“It’s about the internal dan of the Sun Fire Carp. What are you planning to do with it? If you’re thinking of selling it as a medicinal ingredient, how about you trade with our Manju-jang? Medicinal herb merchants are often stricter than you think, so if Young Master Jin, who is a layman in pharmacology, tries to sell it, it’s obvious that the price will be driven down.”
At that, So-ah smiled slightly.
“Haha, you don’t have to worry about that, Master.”
“How so…”
“Because I have a knack for pharmacology. The <Compendium of Medicine>, the <Compendium of Materia Medica>, and the <Compendium of Chinese Medicine>. I’ve read all the basic books on pharmacology. I can debate with any decent medicinal herb merchant all night, so you don’t have to worry about that part. And bargaining? That’s my specialty, so you can rest assured about that too.”
For a moment, a look of astonishment appeared on Yeon In-hak’s face.
“No! A young martial artist like Young Master Jin is so well-versed in pharmacology? Keke! There’s a limit to being versatile! What a strange person.”
At that, this time Wang So-yeong interrupted.
“Is that all? Not only pharmacology, but his acupuncture skills are also amazing. I suffered from endemic symptoms for a while after arriving in Qinghai, but after So-ah gave me acupuncture, I was completely cured.”
“Is that really so?”
“Yes. Anyway, he’s a really strange brat… no, a kid. There’s nothing he can’t do.”
At those words, Yeon In-hak, as if he had given up in astonishment, shook his head and pulled out a book from a corner of the bookshelf and held it out to So-ah.
“Young Master Jin. This book is a medical book that briefly summarizes the medical skills of our Manju-jang. Since a young person has a knack for medicine, I feel pleased, and thanks to you, we were able to make a good deal, so think of it as a gift.”
<Comprehensive Overview of the Yeon Family’s Medical Skills>
That was the name of the book that Yeon In-hak held out.
“Gasp! Master. This precious thing…”
“Hoho! It’s okay to think of it as a bribe. Seeing Young Master Jin, it seems that the fame of the Moyong family will soon shake the world. It also contains the meaning of asking you to look favorably on our Manju-jang from today, so don’t be so moved.”
Although he said that, the meaning of the book was by no means light.
Where was Manju-jang?
It was one of the most famous medical families in the Central Plains.
Of course, just by looking at a briefly compiled book, So-ah could not become as proficient in medicine as the experienced doctors of Manju-jang, but this was a considerable favor.
“Master. Just like martial arts, medicine is not passed down to outsiders, and the medical world is also competitive. Is it okay to give me this?”
“Hohoho. If Young Master Jin were a doctor or a medicine seller instead of a martial artist, I would never have passed it down. But there’s no way a young hero will open a pharmacy, right? Gifting a book is not the same as passing down medical skills, and the Moyong family will not compete with our Manju-jang, so it’s okay.”
“Thank you, Master!”
So-ah expressed his gratitude with a joyful shout.
“It was a good deal. It was a pretty good connection. Then please, take care. Ah! Young Lady Wang. By the way, when you go back to the North Sea, take the medicine with the internal dan as written on this prescription and give it to your father. Then the cold and cold illness will be cured as if washed away!”
Yeon In-hak handed Wang So-yeong a prescription and performed a cupped fist salute.
“Please! Take care.”
“I hope we can meet again someday!”
So-ah and Wang So-yeong also greeted politely and left the gate of Manju-jang.
***
45 days later…
Shiiiiiing!
It was when he felt the wind brushing against his cheek as sharp as a blade.
‘This is… the North Sea!’
‘We’ve finally arrived!’
So-ah and Wang So-yeong.
The two had insisted on an extreme forced march for the past month and a half.
‘If it weren’t for So-ah, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of it. It didn’t even take two months from Qinghai to the North Sea. Should I say it’s scary, or should I say thank you?’
Wang So-yeong couldn’t help but think that.
Because no matter how great a master of lightness skill they were, such a forced march would be absolutely impossible.
Of course, the reason why he could achieve such a feat with just the Ten-Second Invincible Arts, which was not specialized in lightness skill, was thanks to So-ah’s ‘infinite stamina’.
In terms of instantaneous speed, other lightness skills and footwork such as the Heavenly Demon’s Reigning Steps might be better than the Swift Whale Steps, but without So-ah’s insight, perseverance, and stamina, such a forced march would be impossible.
In that respect, Wang So-yeong was truly impressed not by So-ah’s martial arts, but by his will and sense of responsibility.
“It’s a bit cold, but the scenery is nice.”
“It is. Look at this magnificent view of the snow-capped mountains. It’s so beautiful. I like our North Sea much more than the Central Plains.”
“It seems like a good place for martial artists to live. By the way, if we just cross this mountain, it’s the Ice Palace, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Phew… you really have to thank me. I carried you on my back from Liaoning to the Great Desert, then to Qinghai, and then to the North Sea. Ugh, this really can’t be converted into money.”
As So-ah asked, looking at Wang So-yeong who was on his back, Wang So-yeong smiled brightly.
“I know, I know. I’ll take care of it. I’ll give you more than the amount you mentioned, so can you please stop?”
“Alright!”
—Papapang!
As if he had gained strength, So-ah leaped vigorously and climbed up the snow-capped mountain.
After undergoing Bone and Marrow Cleansing, his body was as light as a feather, so So-ah’s heart also felt much lighter.
***
The North Sea Ice Palace.
The three great sects outside the pass.
Although it was not a place that many martial artists visited due to the harsh environment and remote terrain, its scale and skills were comparable to the Nine Great Sects.
Some argued that if the three great sects outside the pass, the North Sea, the ‘Southern Barbarian Golden Palace’ located in the Yunnan region, and the Potala Palace of Tibet, joined forces, they would exert a power comparable to the Central Plains. Although it might be an exaggeration, no one could deny that their internal strength was solid…
‘There are really a lot of rich people in the world. Well, everyone is rich except for me, right?’
That was the feeling So-ah had when he first entered the North Sea Ice Palace.
The size was incomparable to the Moyong Family, and just by looking at the accessories and murals engraved on the ceiling and walls, it seemed as if it would play with a thousand gold pieces.
But So-ah’s surprise soon turned into displeasure.
“My lady!”
“You’re back!”
“Are you okay? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you? Did that tiger-faced… no, did Jin Mo do anything strange?!”
The bodyguards of Wang So-yeong whom he had met in Liaoning a while ago.
Namely, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 had found him.
‘What are these rude brats looking at me for? Should I have beaten them up more back then? This is why when you beat someone once, you have to make them into a pulp so that they can’t crawl back up again. Tsk…’
As he was having a regretful thought, fortunately, Wang So-yeong scolded them.
“It’s not like that! Thanks to So-ah, I was able to solve the matter well, so you should be grateful.”
‘You brat, no matter what, you’re bright. Haha.’
Even for Wang So-yeong’s sake, So-ah decided to let the bodyguards off once.
But,
“Hey! From No. 1 to No. 6. Hello?”
“…”
“You…”
Towards the trembling bodyguards,
“It’s nice to see you, but. Don’t speak so carelessly, right?”
Grind, grind.
So-ah rolled his neck and his eyes flashed with power.
“If you don’t want to get another massage, that is.”
Only then did the bodyguards recall what kind of person the man in front of them was.
‘If I make a mistake…’
‘Bloody… bloody… stool.’
‘I’ll shit…’
As they recalled the pain of the past, the bodyguards became solemn.
“Aww! Why is the atmosphere so grim again? It’s a good day. Now, now! Don’t be like that, So-ah. Let’s hurry up and go to the Palace Lord. I miss my daddy!”
Perhaps because she had returned home, Wang So-yeong was even acting childishly, which she had never done before.
So-ah nodded because he found that appearance cute.
“Alright, let’s go.”
***
“So-yeong-ah! My daughter! You’re here? You’re really back!”
“Daddy!!”
Hugs—!
‘My goodness…’
He clicked his tongue.
He was bewildered, embarrassed, and on the other hand, he was about to burst into laughter.
‘He’s even more of a doting father than my uncle. Pfft…’
As it turned out, the lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Wang Bang-tae, who could be said to be a high-ranking official of the martial arts sects outside the pass, was a doting father to the point of being cringey.
“You brat! How could you set off on such a dangerous road? If you were in danger, what’s the use of this father eating the internal dan of the Sun Fire Carp or not!”
“Ah~~ Daddy. Don’t say such things. I’m happy only when you’re healthy!”
“Alright, alright. I’m sorry. This incompetent father is not in good health.”
“It’s okay. You’ll be all better now.”
“So-yeong-ah…”
“I’ve brought the internal dan of the Sun Fire Carp!”
“Really? Is that really true?”
“Yes! Hehe.”
It was to the point where he felt nauseous just by watching.
‘Damn it, I almost threw up. I have to get what I need to get and go home, really. Hah! I miss my Huin-dung-i too!’
Just as So-ah was having that thought,
“You baaaastard!”
The lord, Wang Bang-tae, suddenly let out a roar at So-ah.
‘What’s this scene now?’
(End of Chapter)