Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 63
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 63
That can’t be right.
It would be stranger to think that the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace wasn’t involved in the Yang Empire’s withdrawal and the complete annihilation of Yang-ryeong’s Four Major Sects in a single day.
People thought.
The situation where Yang-ryeong became the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace’s territory meant that the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace was no longer satisfied with the Outer Martial World and had begun expanding its influence into the Central Plains Murim.
Whether that was true or not, that’s how the result turned out.
That’s why people were flocking here.
Now this Yang-ryeong was the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace’s territory closest to the Central Plains.
All sorts of people came rushing in.
That’s why Woon-hwi was currently doing this in the Jangryeong Hall of the Yang-ryeong Branch.
“What’s your name?”
“It’s Im Mu-nam.”
“Your affiliation?”
“Samgok Sangmaeng.”
Samgok Sangmaeng.
What kind of place was this?
As mentioned briefly before, there were three regions near Yang-ryeong that required the most attention.
Jeok An, Bong Rae, Sa Ryang.
Between these three regions was a place called Divine Ginseng Valley.
Divine Ginseng Valley was the largest cultivation area for Divine Ginseng Flowers, monopolized by those three regions.
But naturally, where there are interests, there are disputes, and an organization was formed to mediate the conflicts between those three regions.
That was Samgok Sangmaeng.
They were a management organization jointly established by the three regions, and Im Mu-nam was their chief mediator.
Honestly speaking, Woon-hwi hadn’t expected this Samgok Sangmaeng to appear.
He had kept Divine Ginseng Valley in mind, but thought it was still too early, yet they had walked in on their own feet.
Why had they come?
Why had a mediator come all the way to the distant Yang-ryeong? So he asked.
“What’s your purpose in coming to see me?”
After briefly looking at Woon-hwi, then at Manager Seong standing behind him, and then once each at Cheon Pung and Won Yang who were waiting with hands on their sword sheaths by the pillars on either side of Jangryeong Hall, he opened his mouth.
“Since everyone present here are certainly people you trust, sir, I’ll get straight to the point.”
As soon as he nodded, Im Mu-nam spoke.
“We are very concerned.”
“About what?”
“About what would happen if the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace intervened in Divine Ginseng Valley.”
As if understanding, a gentle smile appeared on Woon-hwi’s lips.
The alias Seol San Ma-gun was truly helpful.
That incident of swallowing up Yang-ryeong in a single day must have been quite shocking indeed.
“Frankly speaking, if the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace intervenes, our Samgok Sangmaeng as well as the three regions that established us will do whatever it takes to stop it. We could involve the Martial Alliance or the Four Heaven Alliance, there are many options.”
To Im Mu-nam who paused briefly, Woon-hwi said shortly.
“Continue.”
“Yes. I’ll continue. In that process, we will certainly be defeated by the massive organization that is the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace.”
“Defeat… You were talking as if you’d fight, then suddenly you’re flattering.”
“It’s not flattery, it’s the truth. This is the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace we’re talking about. We don’t dare even predict the limits of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace, but if they step forward, we don’t doubt that three or four cities would be reduced to ashes in an instant.”
“You said you’d get to the point, but your words are unexpectedly long.”
“…I apologize. I’ll speak clearly. We want the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace not to interfere in the competition over Divine Ginseng Valley.”
This wasn’t bad.
That wasn’t a threat or anything like that. It was a proposal.
More precisely, it was basic groundwork before proposing a deal.
Woon-hwi crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand.
“If you’re proposing a deal, now tell me what you can offer.”
“…Indeed, I heard that the ruler of Yang-ryeong lived hiding his sword for six years… You are extraordinary. Yes. I’ll tell you. Our Samgok Sangmaeng, representing the three regions jointly, promises to provide Lord Hyeon Seol-rin of Yang-ryeong with 600 geun of Divine Ginseng Flowers monthly.”
At those words, Manager Seong’s eyebrows twitched behind Woon-hwi, and Won Yang, who knew the value, also flinched.
The only one showing no reaction was Cheon Pung alone.
He didn’t even understand what kind of conversation this was.
Woon-hwi asked.
“How much is produced monthly in Divine Ginseng Valley?”
“About 3,000 geun (approximately 1,800kg).”
“Did the three regions divide those 3,000 geun equally, taking 1,000 geun each?”
“That’s correct.”
“If you give 600 geun to Yang-ryeong, the three regions would take 800 geun each monthly.”
“That’s also correct.”
The smile disappeared from Woon-hwi’s lips.
“I heard Divine Ginseng Flowers are divided into three grades. High-grade, mid-grade, low-grade. High-grade costs nearly 200 nyang of silver per geun, but mid-grade is about 30 nyang of silver. Low-grade is about 5 nyang of silver.”
“That’s correct according to current market prices.”
“Simple numbers are meaningless. Whether it’s 600 geun or 700 geun, such things don’t matter compared to how much high-grade Divine Ginseng Flowers you’ll give, how much mid-grade, and how much low-grade is included. Am I wrong?”
“You’re not wrong.”
“You too, as chief mediator of Samgok Sangmaeng, must have standards you’ve thought of. Before you tell me those, let me first state the standards I want.”
“I’ll listen carefully.”
“Regarding the cultivation in Divine Ginseng Valley, I won’t concern myself with any of it. The Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace won’t intervene either. Of course, we have no intention of doing the cultivation ourselves. I think the 600 geun you proposed is a very reasonable amount, and I have no intention of demanding more. However.”
However, what came next was important.
“Of those 600 geun of Divine Ginseng Flowers, 150 geun must be high-grade Divine Ginseng Flowers.”
Im Mu-nam flinched.
…He had expected a demand for high-grade.
But Im Mu-nam had been thinking of a standard around 60 geun, yet a standard more than double that had emerged.
He smiled.
“Lord Hyeon Seol-rin’s standards are truly clear.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. I like it. Except for just one thing.”
“I can guess what it is.”
“If you can guess, then there’s room for negotiation.”
“Negotiation…”
“I am a mediator. I certainly had standards I’d thought of, but a value somewhat distant from those standards has been proposed.”
Woon-hwi gestured as if to say go ahead.
“150 geun of high-grade Divine Ginseng Flowers is difficult. Since you represent the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace’s position, you must have guessed, but the high-grade Divine Ginseng Flowers from Divine Ginseng Valley don’t even reach 400 geun monthly. On lucky days it might be around 500 geun, but on unlucky days it drops to 300 geun.”
“So?”
“How about finding a compromise somewhere close to the middle value?”
“How much are you thinking?”
“80 geun.”
Woon-hwi chuckled.
“On lucky days 500 geun, on unlucky days 300 geun… 300 geun is probably the minimum, but 500 geun isn’t the maximum. Right?”
“…Yes.”
“Then let’s do this. Whether lucky or unlucky, 100 geun of high-grade Divine Ginseng Flowers.”
“…”
“I won’t demand more than that, and you must guarantee exactly 100 geun of high-grade Divine Ginseng Flowers. This is the compromise I’ve thought of. What do you think?”
After pondering briefly, Im Mu-nam scratched his head and then performed the Embracing Fist salute.
“I’ll prepare and bring the contract by today.”
Unfortunately, Woon-hwi’s words weren’t finished yet.
“But listen. If you play tricks like making the 600 geun of Divine Ginseng Flowers 100 geun high-grade and 500 geun low-grade, I swear on my life.”
Woon-hwi’s eyes turned murderous.
“When that time comes, you will regret this conversation we’re having now until the moment you die, not just you but all three regions.”
“…I will keep that in mind. Then I will specify in the contract the amount of mid-grade Divine Ginseng Flowers that will be guaranteed at my discretion.”
“As expected of a chief mediator.”
“Thank you.”
“You may go.”
Just as Im Mu-nam was about to turn his back.
“Wait, there’s something I want to ask.”
Im Mu-nam turned his head.
“Have you ever played Go?”
At that question, Im Mu-nam was greatly flustered.
It was really a trivial question, and there was no reason for him to show such a reaction, yet he was ‘flustered.’
“…May I know the meaning behind this?”
“It’s exactly the meaning you’re thinking of right now.”
“…”
“I still haven’t received an answer to my question. Perhaps you’ve never played?”
“There’s no way I haven’t.”
Woon-hwi smiled faintly.
“Then you must be the black stones.”
“I personally don’t like the advantage of going first.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. However, when I must play, I do play.”
Woon-hwi and Im Mu-nam looked at each other silently.
Surprisingly, it was Woon-hwi who broke the silence.
“Your footsteps are peculiar.”
“…You mean mine?”
“Really peculiar. They’re footsteps that remind me of a certain moment from the past.”
“…”
“Do you happen to have an interest in poetry?”
Im Mu-nam smiled as he answered.
“I have great interest.”
Looking at Im Mu-nam, Woon-hwi recited in a small voice.
Mouth asks for market prices .
With mouth, one asks for market prices.
Hands know thousand-year sword techniques .
But hands know the sword techniques of a thousand years.
At Woon-hwi’s sudden poetry, Im Mu-nam’s eyes sparkled.
“It’s ‘Merchant’s Question, Sword’s Answer’ by Yi Baek, the poet of Wol Kingdom.”
“Do you like it?”
“I do like it. May I offer a response poem?”
When Woon-hwi nodded, Im Mu-nam opened his mouth in a quiet voice.
Heart is quiet like autumn water .
The heart is quiet like autumn water.
Eyes hide the dust of a hundred battles .
But the eyes hide the dust of a hundred battlefields.
Woon-hwi’s eyes also sparkled.
“It’s ‘Hidden Sword Merchant’ by Bang Ho-wol, the poet of Haeguk.”
“…You’re remarkable. He’s not that well-known a poet.”
“Just as you have an interest in poetry, I too have an interest in poetry.”
Im Mu-nam’s sunken eyes gazed at Woon-hwi.
“Do you have more to say?”
“…No.”
“I’ve seen all I needed to see, so I’ll be going now.”
Im Mu-nam, who had been thinking about something, soon smiled faintly and left Jangryeong Hall.
Only then did Manager Seong, who had been silent, start making a fuss.
“Wow… If 100 geun out of 600 geun are high-grade, how much is that? At least 20,000 silver coins per month, isn’t it?”
“At minimum.”
“My goodness…”
Manager Seong had an expression that said ‘people destined for success will succeed no matter what they do,’ but Woon-hwi did not.
It was strange.
They sent a mediator because they feared the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace’s intervention? This much was understandable.
But to suddenly appear like this out of nowhere when they hadn’t even taken action yet.
“It means they’ve made their choice.”
“…Pardon?”
“Manager Seong, don’t you understand?”
“…I don’t understand.”
“They need the name of the Ten Thousand Year Snow Palace.”
“…Pardon?”
Divine Ginseng Valley is located between a total of four regions including Yang-ryeong. They had been monopolizing that place. As Manager Seong said, just 100 geun of high-grade Divine Ginseng Flowers amounts to 20,000 silver coins. It would have been stranger if they didn’t covet that.”
“…Then… Young Master, what you’re saying is…”
“Other forces must have already been pressuring them over Divine Ginseng Valley.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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