The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 314

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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 314. Please Help Me

 

 

Half a bowl of rice.

Three side dishes.

A little soup.

It was a simple meal.

The side dishes were all preserved foods.

Dried vegetables, mushrooms, and moss that had been soaked in water again.

Bing Chwi-seol, the Palace Lord of Ice Heaven Palace, silently looked down at her meal.

“General Manager. Everyone else is eating the same meal, right?”

“Yes. Palace Lord.”

Ji Heon-wi, who served as General Manager of both Palace Lord’s Hall and the Ice Family, respectfully answered the question directed at him.

He too had brought the same meal to his own room.

“The timing was truly exquisite. Wasn’t it?”

At the Palace Lord’s continued question, General Manager Ji could only nod his head.

Palace Lord’s Hall operated completely independently.

However, the materials for this were supplied monthly.

This month’s supply period for food ingredients and daily necessities was ten days ago.

And the Tak Family had blockaded Palace Lord’s Hall eleven days ago.

They had suddenly blockaded it one day before the supply of goods.

If the Tak Family had shown any signs of this beforehand, they would have conserved supplies.

But it was too sudden.

It was an unplanned movement even for the Tak Family.

Tak Mu-jeon.

They had moved using the news he brought back from Gyoryong Hall as justification.

Who could have predicted that?

In the end, to survive together with insufficient supplies, everyone had no choice but to conserve.

There were no exceptions, even for the Palace Lord.

Fortunately, due to the nature of the North Sea, water was abundant.

They could just melt the snow piled up within the walls of Palace Lord’s Hall.

The problem was.

‘Even firewood has its limits.’

Still, they had stockpiled plenty of firewood.

Black coal.

Black stones that burned in fire.

This was Ice Heaven Palace’s main fuel.

Thanks to black coal, the people of Ice Heaven Palace could live relatively warmly on the cold and harsh North Sea land.

“It’s an absurd excuse.”

General Manager Ji answered with an angry voice.

“They must have been constantly watching for an opportunity. Han Seol-bing’s incident just happened to provide a plausible excuse.”

Bing Chwi-seol said while picking up her chopsticks.

“Still, you submitted too meekly. With Palace Lord’s Hall’s power, with the Ice Family’s power, we could have avoided being blockaded so helplessly. If we had fought against the Tak Family, there surely would have been support from the Han Family too.”

Ji Heon-wi spoke as if feeling wronged and frustrated.

“Even so, it would be a fight we’d lose anyway. It would only increase the meaningless sacrifice of martial artists.”

“Even so. The Tak Family is looking down on you too much, Palace Lord…”

Ji Heon-wi showed signs of understanding with his head but not accepting it with his heart.

“The Tak Family might actually be hoping for armed conflict due to Palace Lord’s Hall’s resistance. It would be an opportunity to deploy more force and exhaust our strength.”

“…”

Since it was a reasonable statement, Ji Heon-wi had no choice but to keep his mouth tightly shut.

“More importantly, how much food remains?”

“With the current ration amount, we can hold out for about three more days.”

“That’s fortunate. Are there any complaints among the people in Palace Lord’s Hall?”

“Thanks to your leading by example, Palace Lord, it’s fine.”

“There shouldn’t be anyone who can’t even receive these rations due to food shortage, right?”

It was a cold voice.

“From what I’ve confirmed so far, there aren’t any. But I’ll check once more.”

Bing Chwi-seol nodded her head.

“Though it’s a humble meal, General Manager, you should eat too. Please go now.”

At Bing Chwi-seol’s consideration, Ji Heon-wi bowed his head and left the Palace Lord’s office, heading to the General Manager’s office where his meal was prepared.

 

“Sigh… this again today?”

A middle-aged worker who had received his meal at the workers’ quarters sighed.

“Considering the remaining food, even this much is a blessing. So eat it gratefully. The Palace Lord is eating exactly the same thing.”

At the Head Cook’s words, the worker who had sighed asked with a dubious expression.

“Really?”

He looked like he couldn’t believe it at all.

He had no choice.

His middle age.

The years he had lived made it hard for him to easily believe that fact.

The higher-ups he had experienced were busy satisfying their own greed and paid no attention to lowly people like himself.

Especially those Tak Family bastards.

He didn’t even want to think about them.

“Though it’s hardly worthy of being called cooking, I’m the one responsible for all meals in Palace Lord’s Hall. The Palace Lord’s meal is exactly the same as this. Not a single grain of rice different.”

The Head Cook said once more.

“The Head Cook is right. I’m the one who brings her meal every time.”

The office maid chimed in.

“Not only that. She’s the one who ordered us to reduce work since the workers wouldn’t have strength from not eating properly.”

Another worker also joined in.

At those words, the middle-aged worker had nothing to say.

He too was benefiting from the greatly reduced workload.

It was just hard to believe since this was his first such experience.

“Anyway, those Tak Family bastards. How long are they planning to keep up this damn blockade of this place…”

The Head Cook muttered with an annoyed expression.

 

***

 

“I’ve arrived…”

Han Seol-bing, with her haggard appearance, muttered in front of Ice Heaven Palace’s wall.

After the last horse had collapsed.

Since there were no more horse markets to stop at, she had run with all her might again and again.

And finally, she had arrived.

She didn’t foolishly head to the main gate.

If the Tak Family truly possessed such power, they would already be guarding the main gate.

Instead, among the many side gates, she headed to one directly connected to the Han Family.

Located beneath the wall here.

‘Well, I wonder if they’re monitoring this place too?’

With such thoughts, she finally returned to Ice Heaven Palace.

 

“You’ve come? You must have had a hard journey.”

Han Go-jeok welcomed Han Seol-bing.

“It’s been a while, Family Head. What do you mean the Tak Family has made their move?”

Han Seol-bing asked urgently upon seeing the Family Head.

“Exactly as I said. They’ve made their move.”

Han Go-jeok’s answer.

Manager Na added from the side.

“They’ve blockaded the Palace Lord’s Hall.”

A chill appeared on Han Seol-bing’s face.

How dare they blockade the Palace Lord’s Hall?

Such was her expression.

“Family Head. No, Uncle. You just watched that happen?”

Han Go-jeok’s expression hardened gravely.

“Even combining our forces with the Ice Family’s, we can’t match the Tak Family’s power. They’ve already seized fifty percent of the Palace’s forces.”

Han Seol-bing was shocked by those words.

How could such a thing be possible?

Ten years was a long time, but even so.

Han Seol-bing looked at Han Go-jeok and Na Hong-ryeon with disbelief.

“The Great Murim War. It’s because of that.”

“What do you mean, Sister!”

She was so shocked that a personal address slipped from Han Seol-bing’s lips.

“The Tak Family conserved their forces as much as possible for the Great Murim War. They opposed participation from the beginning.”

“You just watched them preserve their strength?”

“The Central Plains situation was that urgent. And they did send adequate numbers.”

Han Go-jeok’s answer.

“Numbers?”

“North Sea vagrants, orphans. They scraped together such people to fill the ranks.”

Han Seol-bing’s face hardened.

It was a group she’d heard of often.

The Maengryong Corps.

Wasn’t it exactly like the place where she served as instructor?

Go and become meat shields.

“At the time, they disguised it well, and the Central Plains situation was so urgent… we couldn’t investigate properly. The Tak Family just filled numbers while preserving their true strength.”

“Damn bastards.”

Was it because of the Maengryong Corps?

Han Seol-bing spat out even deeper anger at the Tak Family’s schemes.

“But no matter how powerful they are, how could the Tak Family dare blockade the Palace Lord’s Hall? Under what pretext?”

At Han Seol-bing’s question, Han Go-jeok and Na Hong-ryeon.

The two looked at each other.

With expressions showing it was difficult to speak.

It was Na Hong-ryeon who opened her mouth.

“Tak Mu-jeon has returned to the Palace.”

A brief statement.

“Why would that bastard’s return… Ah! Don’t tell me?”

“Yes. He claims he was humiliated at Gyoryong Hall, making the ridiculous excuse that it was our scheme using you.”

At Na Hong-ryeon’s words, Han Seol-bing gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

“They demand an official apology and that the Han Family give up half its forces. Additionally, they want you handed over.”

Han Go-jeok spoke in a voice suppressing anger.

Just voicing such unreasonable demands seemed to make his anger rise.

“So you…”

Han Seol-bing could guess what came next.

Those were absolutely unacceptable demands.

An official apology.

That was the limit of conditions they could reluctantly accept to avoid conflict.

However, honestly, even that was unreasonable.

Making an official apology would be admitting the Han Family used underhanded schemes, so even that shouldn’t be accepted.

Then.

Only all-out war remained.

“Yes. We intend to wage all-out war with the Tak Family.”

Han Go-jeok spoke calmly.

Han Seol-bing.

Her presence or absence made a huge difference.

Not only her martial arts, but her mastery of formations was the best in Ice Heaven Palace.

“Moreover, the Tak Family has Tak Pung-geon. That bastard is there.”

He held the second position in formations within Ice Heaven Palace.

Though his mastery couldn’t compare to Han Seol-bing’s, he had considerable skill.

Facing the Tak Family without Han Seol-bing could result in significant damage from Tak Pung-geon’s formations.

That’s why Han Seol-bing’s return was absolutely necessary.

“But the Tak Family waited for my return?”

It would have been much easier to strike the Han Family when she wasn’t there.

Yet they waited.

“Because you’re the justification.”

Na Hong-ryeon answered that question.

“They waited for you to return to the Palace. Not making an official apology even after your return. They need that as justification. Though the Tak Family’s power is fifty percent of the Palace forces, the minor families they haven’t controlled yet hold twenty percent. They’re wary of those families siding against them if they move without justification.”

The situation was more serious than expected.

If fifty percent of Ice Heaven Palace’s forces had gone to the Tak Family.

The Han Family’s forces were at most around ten percent of the total Palace forces.

They had to face an enemy with a tremendous power difference of five times their strength.

“Then the Palace Lord…”

“Will find it difficult to move. The timing of the blockade was exquisite. They suddenly blockaded the day before food and daily necessities were to be delivered.”

Na Hong-ryeon spoke with a grave expression.

“Then by now the supplies…”

“Must be running dangerously low.”

Na Hong-ryeon continued Han Seol-bing’s words.

“The Tak Family is holding the Palace Lord hostage. To prevent the Ice Family from interfering. They’ve gained two benefits with one move.”

Han Go-jeok was also extremely grave.

“To supply the Palace Lord’s Hall, the Tak Family must lift the blockade… If we try to break through by force, the personnel maintaining the blockade would instead directly…”

From Na Hong-ryeon’s continued words, Han Seol-bing understood the entire situation.

“And even if the Ice Family lends their strength, being at a disadvantage doesn’t change. The Ice Family’s power has also weakened considerably. It’s just over twenty percent of the Palace forces.”

The Han and Ice Families combined were just over thirty percent. The Tak Family had fifty percent.

Just under twenty percent of forces remained.

Probably opportunists waiting to side with whoever seemed to be winning.

“Then the Tak Family already knows I’ve arrived.”

Though she’d entered using the Han Family’s side gate.

With the Tak Family’s current power, such surveillance would be nothing.

“Probably tomorrow. Someone from the Tak Family will come, won’t they?”

At General Manager Na Hong-ryeon’s prediction, Han Seol-bing bit her lips.

“Starting tomorrow, it’s war. So rest well.”

Han Go-jeok rose from his seat after finishing those words.

He too needed to prepare for tomorrow.

Solemnity settled on Na Hong-ryeon’s face as well.

Han Seol-bing headed straight to her room.

This place felt truly nostalgic after so long.

Sitting on the bed, she fell into deep contemplation.

 

“If you need help, send Baek-a.”

 

When they parted ways.

Those were Ha Mu-baek’s words.

Han Seol-bing slowly assessed the current situation.

Whether this was truly a situation that warranted asking Ha Mu-baek for help.

The power difference with the enemy, as estimated by the Han Family’s Family Head and General Manager, was five to one.

Overwhelmingly unfavorable conditions.

Truly like throwing an egg at a rock.

They probably calculated without including her.

But even with her addition.

This situation wouldn’t change dramatically.

It would only change from lasting three days to lasting four days.

To overcome this level of difference, an incalculable existence would need to intervene.

Someone like Ha Mu-baek.

No matter how much she thought about it, there was no other way.

Even the Ice Family’s participation had been blocked.

The Ice Family wouldn’t abandon Bing Chwi-seol, who was both their Family Head and Palace Lord.

‘Sister Bing…’

She suddenly worried about her safety as well.

The Bing Chwi-seol that Han Seol-bing knew would be enduring this situation steadfastly, but.

“Haah…”

Han Seol-bing let out a sigh.

She had no choice but to send Baek-a.

If she waited until the war started and confirmed their disadvantage directly, it would be too late.

The distance from Muchang to this place, the North Sea.

It was no ordinary distance.

Considering that, she needed to send Baek-a now.

Having made her decision, Han Seol-bing spread out paper and ink.

Han Seol-bing hastily wrote down the general situation with a single brush sweep.

The final phrase was.

 

-Please help me. Dan-ju.

 

That was it.

A black pigeon landed on Han Seol-bing’s window sill.

Then it soared powerfully into the dark sky.

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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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