The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 174

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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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Spear Heaven Martial Emperor Episode 174

 

The Great Hall of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.

 

Countless people stood around the Grand Historian’s Chair where the Palace Master sat.

 

Their identities were the executives of the pro-Palace Master faction, including the Bing family.

 

The reason they had gathered was simple.

 

The rebel forces who had been waging civil war had extended a hand of reconciliation.

 

However.

 

“To demand we hand over the Seonghwa Gate Master and his subordinates as a condition.”

 

The Bukhaebinggung Master, Bing Yohwi, twisted his lips as if finding it absurd.

 

“It’s not even worth listening to.”

 

Riiip.

 

He tore the letter from the enemy camp to shreds.

 

Many people flinched at the sight of the precious paper being torn and scattered in the Northern Sea.

 

It wasn’t because they felt sorry for the paper, but because they hadn’t expected the Palace Master to make such an immediate decision.

 

“Palace Master. Please don’t do that and think about it a bit more.”

 

Bing Hyeon, the Third Elder of the Bing family, spoke carefully. Bing Yohwi’s eyes flashed.

 

“Think about it more?”

 

“That’s right. These were people who refused dialogue even when we made proposals. Just the fact that they contacted us like this is close to a miracle…”

 

“Then Third Elder. Are you saying you agree with handing over the Seonghwa Gate Master?”

 

Rummmble.

 

Heavy energy pressed down on Bing Hyeon.

 

Bing Hyeon made a startled expression and gritted his teeth.

 

If he relaxed even slightly, it felt like his knees would buckle immediately.

 

“How disappointing. Of course I knew you were jealous of the achievements the Seonghwa Gate Master made. But to reveal it so openly…”

 

“Th-that’s not it! I’m just doing this for the Ice Palace!”

 

“Shut that mouth!”

 

“…!”

 

Along with the sharp rebuke, an invisible force sealed Bing Hyeon’s mouth.

 

Cold energy waves covered the Great Hall.

 

The subordinates who felt the power that the Bukhaebinggung Master revealed in earnest showed fearful expressions.

 

In the silence that followed for a moment.

 

Bing Yohwi continued speaking.

 

“The Seonghwa Gate is our ally.”

 

“…”

 

“They heard from the distant Central Plains that we were in crisis and came running in one breath. Did they simply just come? They achieved merit.”

 

Bing Yohwi paused for a moment before speaking.

 

“They annihilated the enemies on the Southern Front and established a defense line, and drove out the enemies who were occupying the Heebaek Mine. In that process, they killed two executives of the Heavenly Demon Sect who had reached the Harmony Realm.”

 

“P-Palace Master…”

 

“Is that all? It was also the Seonghwa Gate Master who removed the heavenly punishment that had befallen my daughter and helped her overcome it. This is a great achievement that no one in the Main Palace has accomplished. But you want to betray those who achieved such merit instead of treating them well and repaying them? Are you still human after doing such things!”

 

A thunderous roar echoed and vibrated through the Great Hall.

 

Those who had been about to voice some objection quickly shut their mouths, fearing that the Ice Palace Master’s anger might turn toward them.

 

Bing Yohwi, having calmed down slightly, continued speaking.

 

“The Main Palace is not a place where ungrateful beasts reside. It is a place where if one receives kindness, one must repay it with fitting gratitude. Therefore, I shall reject this proposal. I will personally write a letter, so deliver it to those bastards.”

 

Bing Yohwi had his attendant begin writing a reply with swift strokes.

 

He entrusted the completed letter to his trusted confidant.

 

Soon, a messenger departed from the Ice Palace to deliver the response.

 

“I will not discuss this proposal any further. Everyone withdraw. Rest for today, and I will open the Great Hall again tomorrow.”

 

“We receive the Palace Master’s command!”

 

The executives of the Northern Sea Ice Palace who had been standing on both sides withdrew like a receding tide.

 

Some seemed to have no particular thoughts, while others exchanged meaningful glances with each other.

 

One hour later.

 

Those who had exchanged glances secretly gathered. Meeting in an Inner House within the Ice Palace, they conversed with heavy expressions.

 

“The Palace Master’s will seems more resolute than expected.”

 

The first to speak was Seol Juhyeon, a figure from the Seol family who had not left the Ice Palace even during the civil war.

 

She was also the Left Guardian who protected the Ice Palace’s laws.

 

“Well, that’s only natural. Isn’t the Seonghwa Gate Master the benefactor of the daughter the Palace Master cherishes so terribly? Even without his contributions at the Hancheol Mine, the Palace Master wouldn’t have handed him over.”

 

“I heard that the Small Palace Master’s martial prowess has reached the Harmony Realm after overcoming her heavenly affliction…”

 

“I have no idea what miraculous method was used to resolve the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.”

 

“That’s not what’s important. What’s truly important is that the situation isn’t very favorable. Since he has accumulated merit, trying to diminish it would only make us look suspicious.”

 

“Damn it. To think some Central Plains person would monopolize all the credit…”

 

The true identity of these people was that they were bats who had sided with the Ice Palace Master while secretly maintaining connections with the rebels.

 

Therefore, they had been subtly steering situations to favor the rebel side.

 

However, their efforts were shattered with Namgung Hyeok’s appearance.

 

For them to get what they wanted, this civil war needed to drag on…

 

But Namgung Hyeok and his subordinates had immediately changed the tide of the stagnant civil war upon their arrival.

 

And much more favorably for the Ice Palace side at that!

 

Naturally, this was a rather unpleasant situation for them, who had connections with the rebels.

 

“What’s the situation at the current mine?”

 

“From what I hear, defensive preparations are completely in place. The Seonghwa Sect side is also showing signs of gradually withdrawing from there.”

 

“That’s fortunate, but it would still be difficult for the Seol family to reclaim the mine. That Bing Jeokho is stubborn and not someone who can be swayed.”

 

“Then what should we do?”

 

“Let’s stop worrying about that place for now. That’s something we can’t do anything about. We should do what we can do.”

 

“What we can do?”

 

Seol Juhyeon spoke.

 

“The proposal that came this time.”

 

“But isn’t the Palace Master being so stubborn? As I said earlier, there’s absolutely no sign he’ll agree to it…”

 

“We don’t necessarily need to make it succeed.”

 

At that moment, the youngest among those gathered interjected.

 

It was Bing Sohyeon, from a branch family of the Bing clan.

 

Everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions.

 

“No need to make it succeed?”

 

“They probably didn’t throw this proposal thinking it would work anyway. From a common sense perspective, it’s an absurd suggestion.”

 

“Then wouldn’t that make it even worse?”

 

“No. The fact that such a proposal came itself has great meaning. You all know, don’t you? Among the lower ranks, there are many who view this civil war unfavorably.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

His words were true.

 

Unlike the Northern Sea high-ranking officials directly involved in the civil war, those who had little connection to power did not view the civil war favorably.

 

But if information that there’s a way to end the civil war were to be spread here…

 

Wouldn’t they want to end the war somehow?

 

“You want to use public opinion.”

 

“Yes. No matter how much of a palace master he is, he can’t act like a lone wolf. Especially in a situation like this civil war.”

 

“Is the real goal to shake their unity?”

 

“Yes. The Bukhaebinggung Master will definitely protect the Seonghwa Gate Master, so we’ll remove the trust between him and his subordinates. Once such cracks appear, they’ll grow uncontrollably large someday.”

 

“Indeed a brilliant plan! As expected, the Northern Sea Genius is truly different!”

 

“You flatter me.”

 

Bing Sohyeon answered with a bright smile.

 

The now harmonious group chatted briefly before rising from their seats.

 

“Then we must act immediately.”

 

“Be careful. We can’t let it show under any circumstances.”

 

“Of course. Since we need to move public opinion, we’ll use the lower ranks to act while thoroughly hiding our identities.”

 

“Then I wish everyone good luck.”

 

They disappeared as secretly as their clandestine meeting.

 

However.

 

‘How did this happen?’

 

Bing Sohyeon, who had disguised himself and come to the streets to spread rumors, was flustered.

 

“What? The rebel bastards demanded that the Seonghwa Gate Master be handed over?”

 

“How dare those bastards! Targeting the hero of the Northern Sea!?”

 

“We must thoroughly punish them so they never dare say such things again!”

 

The Northern Sea people on the streets were actually criticizing the rebel side and defending the Seonghwa Gate Master.

 

It was a completely different reaction than expected.

 

* * *

 

In fact, the Northern Sea people’s reaction was the result of several overlapping causes.

 

One of them was that Seonghwa Gate Master Namgung Hyeok’s influence was greater than the traitors had thought.

 

The reason was simple. Namgung Hyeok had been widely known as the benefactor who saved Bing Seolhye’s life even before the civil war broke out.

 

What does Bing Seolhye have to do with the Northern Sea people’s reaction?

 

Of course it was related.

 

Unlike the upper class who, with few exceptions, showed little interest in the common people, Bing Seolhye, the heir to the Ice Palace, had been someone who cared for the lives of the common people since the days when she suffered from Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

 

In other words, it meant he was a leader who took good care of his subordinates.

 

So if he was Bing Seolhye’s benefactor, he was bound to gain their favor.

 

But that wasn’t the end of it.

 

Namgung Hyeok was also the owner of Yeomhwa Trading Company.

 

And Yeomhwa Trading Company was a trading company that had been conducting business with the Northern Sea ever since forming ties with Bing Seolhye.

 

Namgung Hyeok didn’t take profits one-sidedly but paid them sufficient compensation.

 

In particular, he sometimes gave away some of the provisions that the Northern Sea lacked for free, separate from the Cold Iron payments.

 

He also provided so much that when there were sick people, he would treat them with the physicians he brought along.

 

Their good deeds were widely known among the common people of the Northern Sea.

 

“On top of that, as soon as the Northern Sea was in danger, you rushed over and achieved great merit…”

 

Bing Yohwi continued with a slight smile.

 

“It’s only natural that people like you. Didn’t they cheer when you came up after saving the Southern Village, and when you reclaimed the mine?”

 

“The Palace Master must have intervened, right?”

 

Namgung Hyeok, who had returned from the battlefield and was drinking tea with Bing Yohwi, asked.

 

The Ice Palace Master only smiled sweetly, but Namgung Hyeok continued as if he had expected this.

 

“Otherwise, you couldn’t have seized public opinion so preemptively like this. Even if my name became known, the fact that I’m the owner of Yeomhwa Trading Company was something people wouldn’t know unless someone spread it.”

 

“At first, it was something I did because I wanted to repay my daughter’s benefactor. But I didn’t expect it to come back like this.”

 

Bing Yohwi readily admitted it.

 

There was no point in denying it since the other party had already guessed everything, and it wasn’t like he had done anything bad anyway.

 

Namgung Hyeok nodded and said.

 

“Thank you. Thanks to that, I was able to prevent one unnecessary attempt at discord in advance.”

 

“Rather, I’m more grateful. It’s true that I spread the rumors, but if you hadn’t shown such kindness, all of this would have been meaningless. Let me express my gratitude once more. Thanks to you, I’ve received tremendous help.”

 

Bing Yohwi spoke with serious eyes. Namgung Hyeok smiled gently and replied.

 

“It’s natural for allies to help each other. More importantly, did you catch those who were trying to scheme?”

 

“I haven’t secured them yet, but I’ve identified several of them. The reason I haven’t arrested them is because I’m worried the remaining ones might flee.”

 

Bing Yohwi muttered with cold eyes.

 

He had noticed the existence of traitors mixed among the Allied Forces for quite some time.

 

He had just been leaving them alone because he didn’t know how to catch them.

 

But having confirmed the identities of more than half of them through this opportunity, he was planning to take action soon.

 

Namgung Hyeok pondered for a moment, then said to Bing Yohwi.

 

“Palace Master. Please postpone arresting them for a while.”

 

“Hmm? Why is that?”

 

He smiled sharply and answered.

 

“I have a plan to catch them all in one fell swoop.”

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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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