ISS-Chapter 6

Chapter 6

-You’ll need time to think as well. I’ll come back tomorrow at noon.

Thud!

“……Nuna. Nuna!”

“Huh? Oh. What’s wrong?”

Seohwa, who had been staring blankly into space, hurriedly snapped back to her senses at the voice calling her and responded to Seowoo’s call. And seeing that, Seowoo asked anxiously.

“What did you talk about with that warrior mister? Your illness? Did he say he can cure it?”

“……He can cure it.”

“Huh?”

“He said he can cure it.”

He can cure it. To be precise, he said there’s a high probability of curing it.

Baek Riyun had said that. Since Baek Riyun had no reason to lie to Seohwa, that must be the truth. But then a question remained.

‘Why?’

Right.

Why was Baek Riyun trying to save her?

Those with Extreme Yin Bodies were fundamentally born intelligent. Even without being taught, Seohwa knew more than enough about how the world worked. And in the world Seohwa understood, ‘sympathy’ was the act of sharing what one had left over with others. However.

‘There’s no benefit to be gained from treating me.’

Then what about Baek Riyun?

Thinking logically, treating an Extreme Yin Body couldn’t be easy. Yet Baek Riyun had readily said he would treat her. Even during this busy time.

There was the condition of becoming a disciple of Uicheonmun, but that was merely a nominal matter, wasn’t it?

It went against the world Seohwa had learned. The world Seohwa knew prioritized oneself over others.

That’s why Seohwa couldn’t understand Baek Riyun.

“What are you going to do, Nuna?”

“……Mmm, what should I do?”

“I hope you get healthy soon, Nuna!”

“Is that so?”

“Mmmmm.”

Seohwa, who had been grabbing Seowoo’s cheeks and stretching them playfully, put her hands back into the fire and fell into thought.

‘Murim people…….’

She had thought it was a story far removed from herself. To Seohwa, the Orthodox Faction were people who wore masks of righteousness and chivalry while killing people, and the Unorthodox Faction were people who murdered for their own greed and selfishness.

Those who grandly proclaimed righteousness and chivalry while actually being desperate to fill their own pockets. That’s what Seohwa called Murim people. And it was actually true.

But if righteousness didn’t exist only as a Murim person’s mask, if chivalry wasn’t used merely for appearances.

Seohwa.

“I’m getting curious.”

She wanted to see behind the mask.

***

The next day.

“Are you sure you thought deeply about this?”

“Yes.”

“Even if you ask to back out again…….”

“How many times are you going to ask, Sect Leader…… We’ve already come all the way to the manor.”

“Ahem ahem, sorry. This is my first time accepting a disciple too.”

Seeing Seohwa sigh with an exasperated expression, I cleared my throat and turned my head. No matter what, isn’t this too good a deal for me?

‘Recovery was a function I’d have to activate eventually anyway.’

Considering the growth of disciples who would enter later, I’d have to unlock things like Recovery and Spirit Concentration soon anyway. But while unlocking it, I also get an Extreme Yin Body disciple?

Isn’t this something even Taishang Laojun would click his tongue at for getting something for nothing? My luck is too good.

“I’ve already decided to enter, so you don’t have to keep asking. Please speak comfortably.”

After finishing speaking, Seohwa smiled brightly, removed her hands from the hastily lit campfire, and bowed to me. And at that moment, a window appeared.

[‘Achievement – Secure your first disciple!’ has been completed.]

[50 Essence has been granted.]

[‘Achievement – Secure your first business connection!’ has been completed.]

[40 Essence has been granted.]

First disciple.

My sect truly has its first disciple.

“Ahem ahem.”

“Are you that happy?”

“……I didn’t say I was happy, did I?”

“It’s written all over your face, Sect Leader.”

“You’re mistaken.”

Looking at Seohwa who was smiling mischievously, I cleared my throat and deliberately spoke in a solemn voice.

“Treatment will begin tomorrow. There are things I need to prepare. More importantly, what about the appearance of the Dobok I asked you about?”

“Ah, if it’s that, I’ve already finished planning it to some extent…….”

“You’ve finished it?”

“The fabric is the problem.”

“Fabric.”

Hearing Seohwa’s words, I rubbed my chin with my finger. Thinking about it, it’s natural that fabric is important for making clothes.

“Since it’s the sect’s Dobok, we need many things, right? First, we’ll need everyday clothes, training clothes are also needed, and martial robes for external events are needed too……. And your clothes too, Sect Leader.”

“That many?”

“This is actually very few. When I was taking work from the fabric shop, I heard that large sects that divide by generation also differentiate the robe colors according to generation.”

“……That is true as well.”

“Well, actually that’s not a big problem. If I put my mind to it, I can think of the martial robe’s appearance without much difficulty. What’s important is the fabric after all!”

Seohwa narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, letting out a thoughtful sound.

“Even if we say everyday clothes and training clothes are one thing, we absolutely must use good fabric for the ceremonial martial robes. We’ll use them for traveling through Gangho too. To make comfortable and sturdy martial robes, it’s best to use premium-grade silk among silks…….”

“Can’t we just use it? I have quite a bit of money.”

“……Money aside, such silk is hard to obtain too. And this area happens to be near Dongting Lake.”

“Ah.”

The region with the most wealthy people in the Central Plains is Beijing, but the region where luxury goods are most expensive in the Central Plains is Dongting. Even looking at all of the Central Plains, it’s hard to find a tourist spot as famous as Dongting Lake.

And conversely, that also meant that top-quality luxury goods like premium silk were all swept up by Dongting Lake. That’s why such silk couldn’t be obtained in this vicinity.

“What should we do? Still, I think I can produce a similar feel even using slightly cheaper fabric.”

Looking at Seohwa asking me, I let out a thoughtful sound and then shook my head. There’s no other choice, is there?

“If it can’t be obtained, what choice is there?”

I can’t create something that doesn’t exist, and there’s more than one or two places that will need money. I have no choice but to get the martial robes made a bit cheaper.

Just as I was thinking that and about to speak.

Suddenly, a status window appeared before me.

[Quest Generated!]

『Heavenly Garment Without Seams (Seamless Heavenly Robe)

If you take away pride from warriors, they become corpses. For such warriors, their sect’s martial robes are elements that evoke self-esteem.

Do not compromise and create the most perfect martial robe symbolizing Uicheonmun.

Rewards will be given according to the martial robe’s completion level.』

“…….”

“Sect Leader?”

……If it’s like this, I can’t skip it.

“If we obtain the fabric, can you make it?”

“Huh? Well, that’s not difficult.”

“Understood. I’ll manage somehow.”

I clenched my fist and glanced at my pouch.

……Generously speaking, one or two silver ingots should be enough.

***

Two days later.

I had come to Dongting Lake with Seohwa after finishing her treatment.

“……Wooow.”

Looking around curiously at the bustling street scenery, I lowered my gaze at the sound of sudden giggling. Then Seohwa acted completely innocent as if she hadn’t just laughed.

“……Don’t laugh too much.”

“Hehe, sorry. You just looked so excited.”

“……Is your body alright?”

“Uh, yeah. Bearable? It’s a bit chilly but I’m fine.”

Yesterday.

I applied Level 10 Spirit Concentration and Level 10 Recovery to the manor. I brushed it off to Seohwa as energy treatment and fed her medicinal herbs that were good for the body. And this is the result.

Although her body temperature is quite lower than others and she’s sensitive to cold, Seohwa can now go outside.

Especially significant was the fact that Level 10 Recovery also applied to sect members outside the manor.

“If it gets hard, let me know. I’ll help relax your body.”

“Yes. I’ll tell you right away if it’s hard. By the way, Sect Leader, is this your first time at Dongting Lake?”

“No. I’ve been here once before.”

When I was active as Changcheon Corps Commander, I traveled all over the Central Plains. Naturally, I had visited Dongting Lake, which was a famous commercial district. But then was then and now is now.

“When I came before, I was desperately saving my meager salary to establish a sect. I didn’t have the opportunity to leisurely look around like this.”

“……You saved that diligently?”

“Murim Alliance warriors have low wages.”

At my words, Seohwa, who had been silent for a moment, cautiously spoke.

“Maybe we should compromise a bit on the fabric after all? We can change it to good quality later when we earn money…….”

“No, didn’t we already decide?”

It’s true that my mind changed because of the status window’s urgent quest, but thinking about it, it would have turned out this way even without the urgent quest.

Anyway, it will be a long time before disciples start going out on Gangho journeys in earnest. Then the only thing that can show the sect’s appearance before that is the martial robes. Just imagine.

At the opening ceremony, I appear before the crowd in splendid martial robes and draw sword energy to split a boulder in one strike. And if the beautiful Seohwa stands behind me wearing pretty martial robes?

Applicants will line up. In the end, what’s important is ‘style.’

“But a silk auction, I was surprised.”

“Were you?”

“Yes. I’ve heard about it too. That such auctions exist. But I heard that silk auctions require qualifications just to participate. They say they don’t even give qualifications unless you’re quite wealthy…….”

“Is that so?”

Hearing Seohwa’s words, I let out a thoughtful sound and recalled the conversation with Iryang from two days ago.

-To obtain good fabric, you naturally have to go to Dongting Lake. Have you heard of the silk auction?

-……Silk auction? What is that?

“He’s a more capable merchant than I thought.”

I had only thought he was a trustworthy merchant, but that’s not all. Seeing how easily he obtained such connections.

Well, just looking at his face, he didn’t look like someone who would live at a loss.

“……But are you really going to participate? Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

At Seohwa’s worried voice, I suddenly recalled the value in my pouch.

“Did he say to take up to four silver ingots?”

The maximum amount Iryang set. Four hundred taels in silver is in my pouch. It seems Iryang thinks this much should be brought as spare money to definitely obtain the highest quality silk.

“Ten bolts of silk for four silver ingots is truly premium grade…….”

“Surely I won’t use all four. Even if it’s expensive, it should end around two.”

“Right?”

“……Let’s hope so.”

I sighed deeply and glanced around. He had definitely said to find Punghwaru (Wind Flower Tower) at Dongting Lake.

“Isn’t that it over there?”

“Mm.”

I looked where Seohwa pointed and nodded. Familiar characters were written on the signboard of the large pavilion visible in the distance.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

As we moved forward and approached the front of Punghwaru, the guards standing at Punghwaru’s entrance blocked our way. Along with an extended hand.

“Please present your token.”

“Here it is.”

I handed the token to the guard’s hand and waited for a moment. And after the guard’s confirmation was finished.

“Confirmed. This way inside.”

The moment the door opened, Seohwa and I lost our words.

Because.

“……A formation?”

Inside the entrance of Punghwaru.

Beyond the distorted space.

“Welcome to Heuksi (Black Market).”

An enormous street was spread out.