Murong Family.

Though the family had declined compared to other martial clans, no one could deny that the Murong Family remained the unrivaled overlord of Liaodong Province, with no sect or house able to rival them within the region.

At present, the Murong Family was divided into two opposing factions.

Azure Dragon Hall and Spearwind Hall.

The lair of a serpent that, due to jealousy and envy, failed to become a dragon and fell into corruption, and of a phoenix that killed its own mate.

Now, under the names of Dragon and Phoenix, the Murong Family stood in tense confrontation.

Spearwind Hall.

A private training ground hidden deep within. Unless one was among the most trusted, even approaching it was forbidden.

There, a woman stood holding a sword.

Anyone seeing her for the first time would feel as though their thoughts froze from the breathtaking beauty before them.

Even one who had wandered the martial world all their life would call her the most beautiful woman they had ever seen, and any connoisseur, upon seeing her face, would hesitate no longer in naming her as the greatest beauty of the martial world.

The supreme beauty of the martial world—Murong Sang-ah.

The phoenix who had killed her husband was now dancing a sorrowful sword dance.

"Your achievements grow by leaps and bounds each day."

The Lord of the Spearwind Guard admired her, watching as she ceased her training.

An unbelievable level of mastery. How many years had it taken him to reach that stage himself? He had never seen anyone of her age reach such heights.

"I’m still far from enough. What of the task I ordered?"

Murong Sang-ah replied with an indifferent expression. Even the way her sweat-dampened side hair clung carelessly to her cheek was enchantingly alluring.

"The private merchants of Joseon have resumed smuggling ginseng after a year’s hiatus. They are trading with our merchants at the border town of Chaekmun."

"Once we purchase the Joseon ginseng, use the businesses we’ve acquired to distribute it throughout the Central Plains."

"That is..."

The Spearwind Guard Lord hesitated, as if something troubled him.

"What is it?"

"A serious problem has arisen."

-----------

Even in Joseon, official ginseng trade took place regularly. However, ginseng was an elixir that enhanced internal energy and invigorated vitality.

The official trade volume from Joseon could never meet the demand of the Central Plains. Therefore, across the Yalu River on the border, smuggling of Joseon ginseng into Liaodong Province had regularly occurred.

Ginseng smuggling was so lucrative that any Joseon merchant would covet it. And for decades, one family had dominated this trade.

The Kang Family of Joseon.

This now-destroyed family, originally interpreters, had begun with small-scale smuggling, expanded into border trade, and eventually advanced into the Central Plains, coming to control most of Joseon’s ginseng distribution.

"They said they want to open trade with someone else?"

Murong Sang-ah spoke while heading toward the ginseng smuggling site with the Spearwind Guard.

Someone else?

All the businesses and merchants related to the Kang Family’s ginseng smuggling in the Central Plains were in her grasp.

She alone could, and should, handle all the ginseng supply from Joseon—who else were they seeking?

"They say they’re unhappy with the price we’re offering."

"I told you to offer the average market price. And if negotiations were tough, I even permitted up to a 20% increase."

Murong Sang-ah looked at the Spearwind Guard Lord with suspicion.

"They’re demanding double the price. And they’ll only deliver 30% of last year’s volume."

"Double? Are they saying the supply of Joseon ginseng is low?"

It was true that the smuggling had halted for a year due to the Kang Family’s treason case. But there was still stock in the Central Plains. It wasn’t a situation where double payment could be justified.

If the supply had stopped for a year, they could simply buy an additional year’s worth now. Double the price?

"No. They’ve appeared with two years’ worth of ginseng."

"So they must have another scheme. Let’s meet them."

Murong Sang-ah and her party arrived at the village where the smuggling was taking place.

After walking a bit, numerous crates of ginseng and a discreetly erected temporary tent came into view.

As Murong Sang-ah and her party entered the tent where the Joseon merchants and merchants of the businesses acquired by the Murong Family were gathered, all eyes turned to them.

In particular, a middle-aged man, seemingly the representative of the Joseon merchants, could not take his eyes off Murong Sang-ah.

"A woman of such stunning beauty! I know exactly who you are. Quickly, give her a seat! A benefactor of Joseon’s merchant world has arrived!"

The representative quickly collected himself and fussed as he welcomed her.

"A benefactor?"

"A benefactor indeed! Thanks to your noble report, you wiped out those Kang Family scoundrels who ruled over Joseon’s merchants. How could you not be a benefactor!"

At his words, the atmosphere inside the tent instantly froze. To strike at the leader of Spearwind Hall’s weakness so directly—

Murong Sang-ah narrowed her eyes and glared at the man. Was he someone who didn’t know boundaries by nature? Or did he have a purpose in provoking her from the start?

Her merchants, knowing that if swords were drawn, the deal would collapse and blood could be spilled, could only tremble with unease.

But Murong Sang-ah was also the head of a faction.

Now, entering the second year of her leadership, she would not be swayed by such a small provocation.

"I heard the situation on my way here. Let’s get to the point. I’ll pay you 30% above the usual price. In return, deliver all of the stock."

Double the price was impossible. But with a 30% increase, both sides could reach a satisfactory deal.

Murong Sang-ah stepped back, conceding slightly to the provocative merchant.

"Girl, don’t overstep your place. The terms are set by us, the ones with the goods. Double the usual price. We’ll only hand over 30%."

"How dare you...!"

"My lady!"

How dare this lowly black-haired barbarian merchant insult her lady! The tent heated with hostility, and the merchants’ faces turned pale.

But only Murong Sang-ah and the provoking merchant remained calm.

"The ginseng market in the Central Plains is in my hands. Who do you think can handle such a volume?"

Murong Sang-ah raised her hand, stopping the Spearwind Guard, and addressed the merchant.

"I’ll simply sell it to others in the Central Plains who need ginseng, beyond Liaodong."

"...How bold you are."

Though it sounded like praise, his tone dripped with sarcasm.

Joseon ginseng was an elixir. Could mere merchants—not diplomatic envoys—carry such a sought-after item for martial artists and commoners alike?

Bandits, forest rebels, marauders, unorthodox martial artists, even corrupt orthodox ones with dark intentions could draw their swords in secret.

"I know how dangerous the road to the Central Plains is, so I’ll pay handsomely for an escort. Wasn’t that the extent of the deals the Kang Family made with the Murong Family anyway?"

Stop coveting the ginseng—just be content guarding it.

Murong Sang-ah mulled over the words of the man who had rallied the ginseng smuggling forces in place of the Kang Family.

If this continues, I’ll lose control of the ginseng trade.

She had many businesses, but several of them could only be maintained by securing the ginseng.

Murong Sang-ah thought of one man in her heart.

Sang-gong.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

She could endure humiliation. But what he had # Nоvеlight # left her—what he had entrusted to her even while choosing to die—she could not lose that because of some worthless thugs.

As the Overlord of Liaodong Province, and the master of Spearwind Hall, Murong Sang-ah was enduring the scorn of those ignorant of their place not for the sake of wealth, but because she wished to preserve intact what Sang-gong had left behind.

Murong Sang-ah opened her mouth to make one final concession to these merchants who did not know their place.

“I will pay you fifty percent above the usual price. I believe that is a satisfactory offer, without needing to place your head on the scale.”

Murong Sang-ah did not look at the man before her, but at the other Joseon merchants to his side as she spoke.

Fifty percent above the average price. Even considering the cost, it was an immense profit.

The tent stirred with murmurs. But the representative of the Joseon merchants held enough sway to quell them.

“We will hand over forty percent of the stock we have. Be satisfied with that.”

“... Very well.”

“My lady! With that quantity, all our businesses will starve to death!”

The merchants on Murong Sang-ah’s side cried out in shock. They hadn’t been able to purchase ginseng for a year—forty percent?

Of course, what they brought was two years’ worth, so for today, they might manage. But if they lost the initiative, they would be forced to concede in the future as well, and the outcome was all too clear.

“You merchants, go with the Spearwind Guard and verify the quantity and quality.”

Murong Sang-ah ignored the merchants’ protests and sent them out.

“You should have agreed sooner. Now, let’s talk about the escort. If you sit beside me in my carriage, I’ll make sure your escort fee is generous from now on.”

Was it the thrill of victory? The merchant reached for Murong Sang-ah’s pale hand resting on the table, his fingers slithering like a lewd serpent.

Murong Sang-ah lightly swatted the man’s hand away.

“I never said I would escort you.”

“Then I suppose all your businesses will starve.”

“...”

“I’ll be leading the Joseon ginseng smuggling trade from now on, so you should treat me well, shouldn’t you?”

Murong Sang-ah looked at the man.

Her wealth was certainly immense, but it was not an endless goblin’s club.

Because these businesses were once the Kang Family’s, if she could not receive a steady supply of ginseng, many of them would surely collapse.

“We are only willing to deal with the remnants of those Kang traitors because it’s you. If it were other merchants, we’d have avoided the deal entirely. So, isn’t it better to let this be?”

The merchant looked at the hesitating Murong Sang-ah, inwardly smiling in satisfaction.

Just a little more pressure, and I can have her sit beside me. Unable to suppress the lust rising within him, he again reached out, his hand slithering like a wicked serpent.

This time, Murong Sang-ah struck the man’s hand aside with force.

“Vicious wench! Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep that up.”

The man scowled deeply, clutching his wrist, shouting in anger.

It was a large deal, and he had resolved to remain composed despite his usual love of women and drink. But he could not keep that resolution the moment he saw her beauty inside the tent.

“My lady. The ginseng has all been loaded.”

At the Spearwind Guard Lord’s report, Murong Sang-ah rose from her seat.

“What, will you give up the deal over your pride? Woman. Let me teach you, as a senior merchant, how to swallow your pride.”

“How shall I do that?”

The corner of Murong Sang-ah’s lips lifted slightly. But her smile was as cold as a blade pressed to the heart.

Beautiful. Too beautiful.

The man, his reason dulled by her looks, failed to grasp what kind of smile it was—the kind no man should ever covet.

No, worse, he mistook that provoking her further was the right course.

“Come here. Take off that thick clothing and show me your pale skin. Pour me a drink by my side, and I’ll make sure you get five percent more stock. A widow whose husband never tasted the wedding night ought to pour me a drink.”

Perhaps it was the intoxication of victory. Or perhaps he simply couldn’t think straight in the face of Murong Sang-ah’s beauty.

But the man had crossed an unmistakable line.

To trample and mock a defeated rival was something one could do to a competing firm—not to a trade partner.

A chilling smile that could pierce the heart spread across Murong Sang-ah’s face, aimed at the man.

What Sang-gong had left her—his businesses. She could not ruin this trade. That’s why she had endured humiliation.

Even with this ridiculous bargaining, she had yielded, confident she could still turn a profit.

But this man had touched what should never be touched, had spoken what should never be spoken.

Within Murong Sang-ah’s chest, a fury burned—so hot it had turned cold.

“Spearwind Guard Lord.”

“Yes, my lady!”

“Burn all the remaining ginseng.”

She chose to let the flames of her cold fury consume everything.