At my question, Zhurong Palace’s Palace Lord asked me one in return.
“Doyeon Sect?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you asking about that place?”
“I apologize. I read the records from back then inside the hall.”
“I see…”
After silently mulling it over for a moment, the Palace Lord opened his mouth.
“If you want to know about that place, bring me the Silver Mist Sword first.”
“Pardon?”
“Since No-Exit Mountain has disappeared, it seems someone took that sword… Find it and bring it here.”
The Palace Lord continued.
“The Silver Mist Sword is Snow Wind Palace’s sacred artifact! If the Silver Mist Sword is not in Snow Wind Palace’s possession, then even if you take revenge, it will only be one man’s revenge, not Snow Wind Palace’s revenge.”
The Silver Mist Sword was that important?
I asked the Palace Lord.
“Do I absolutely have to bring the Silver Mist Sword?”
“I’m worried that if I tell you about Doyeon Sect and you start digging into it, you may find yourself in danger. Of course, I have a rough idea of your strength. But something about this smells dangerous. With the Silver Mist Sword, you should be able to avoid the worst, at least. That is why I told you to bring it.”
So he was worried about me.
“In that case, you can tell me now.”
“Hoo. Did you not hear what I said?”
“If it is the Silver Mist Sword, I have it right here.”
I untied the sword from my waist and held it out.
“This… is the Silver Mist Sword?”
Shrrrng.
Then I drew the sword halfway, showing him the name Silver Mist Sword engraved on the blade.
“Right. Now that I think of it, the Silver Mist Sword never had a fixed form.”
The Palace Lord nodded.
“When you drew it to stop my foolish son from barging in, I did not notice it clearly. But seeing it like this, I understand.”
The Palace Lord only looked at it. He made no attempt to touch it.
It seemed he knew that carelessly touching the Silver Mist Sword when it already had an owner would drive a man mad.
“That feeling, without a doubt… It is the Silver Mist Sword’s Qi.”
His voice was thick with emotion.
Perhaps he was seeing something he missed through this Silver Mist Sword.
“That is enough. You may sheathe it now.”
Shrrrng, click.
After sheathing the sword, I spoke to the Palace Lord.
“Then, may I now hear about Doyeon Sect?”
At my question, he let out a sigh.
“Since I have already said as much, how could I refuse to tell you now?”
I did not let my guard down as I focused on the Palace Lord’s words.
“Doyeon Sect was a sect that once existed in Yunnan.”
“…Once existed?”
“Yes. It was annihilated a little over ten years ago. It was a sect under our palace, but around twenty years ago, it declared independence.”
The situation was so unexpected that I could not help but ask.
“A sect can declare independence?”
“That is their freedom. The reason they place themselves under our palace is to seek our protection. If they have the strength to protect themselves, they are free to leave.”
“I… see.”
“But they did not even last ten years.”
The Palace Lord looked somewhat bitter as he said it.
To make sure, I asked him.
“Was Doyeon Sect’s sect leader perhaps a Yu?”
“How did you know that? Was that written in the records as well?”
“No. It was not in the records.”
“Then how do you know?”
“I learned it when I obtained the Silver Mist Sword. The mad warrior in those records was named Yu Deok-jin. I subdued him and found an identity plaque in his possession.”
“So that is what happened.”
But I did not say anything beyond that.
That was something my master should tell him personally, not me.
If those two met, all the longing, resentment, and old wounds between them might mix together and turn into flying fists before they even got a proper word out…
In any case, the reason Yu Deok-jin had carried the Silver Mist Sword to Yunnan was now clear.
His father had belonged to Yunnan’s Doyeon Sect.
“Then… did Doyeon Sect’s martial arts also use the Fire Art?”
“That is correct. Their martial arts were influenced by our palace.”
So that was it.
I thought I understood why his father had refused to acknowledge and accept him.
When I fought Warrior Yu Deok-jin back then, something about his martial arts had felt oddly familiar.
Only later did I learn that the martial art he used was the one the ordinary warriors of Snow Wind Palace learned.
His father was from Doyeon Sect, but his Internal Power was the complete opposite, a Yin-based martial art, so there was no way Doyeon Sect would have accepted him.
And if his mother either did not love him or was in no position to show him love, then of course he would have longed so desperately for his father’s affection.
Thinking about it like this made him seem somewhat pitiful.
And Doyeon Sect, which used a man like that, was absolute garbage.
“You said Doyeon Sect was annihilated a little over ten years ago, correct?”
“Yes. They killed everything. Not even a dog or chicken was left alive.”
“Do you know who destroyed them?”
“Since they were once a sect that served Zhurong Palace, we investigated as well. Through that, we managed to identify the culprits. They were an Unorthodox group in Yunnan called Blood Heaven Sect.”
Blood Heaven Sect? Had there been such a place?
It was my first time hearing the name, so I asked again.
“Where is Blood Heaven Sect located?”
“No one remains where Blood Heaven Sect once stood.”
“Pardon?”
“They vanished overnight.”
“What? Were they also annihilated by someone?”
“No. Not quite. They simply withdrew all at once.”
What was that supposed to mean?
For a martial world faction to establish itself in a region, it had to invest considerable time and effort.
And yet they gave all that up and pulled out so easily?
“That is why I said this smells dangerous. It means there is a power behind them capable of controlling an entire sect with a single word.”
I returned to my quarters.
Thud.
Then I sat in the chair before the tea table and looked at the moon beyond the thin cloth covering the window.
Just as that moon appeared faintly in my eyes, the culprits who destroyed Snow Wind Palace seemed close enough to see, yet still just out of reach.
Even so, this was a much better situation than before, when I had not even managed to grasp a single clue.
I took a plaque from my sleeve.
It was the one the Palace Lord of Zhurong Palace had just given me, and it granted me permission to freely use this place’s library.
He had given it to me, saying it would be better for me to look into Doyeon Sect myself rather than simply listen to his explanation.
If I wanted to find something before the conference ended, I would have to move diligently.
“Did you just come back, sir?”
At that moment, Palgap entered and asked.
He had been awake earlier when I went to meet Young Palace Lord Maeng, and he was gone when I returned to my quarters, so I had been wondering where he had gone.
“Where were you?”
At my question, Palgap grinned.
“There is a fine spectacle to see, sir.”
At those words, I tilted my head and followed Palgap outside, only to end up letting out a small laugh.
Geumryeong was standing in the rear courtyard, full of triumph.
And before Geumryeong stood Hwa-sik, tail tucked, unable to even look straight ahead.
Geumryeong had won.
I asked Palgap.
“What happened?”
“When that tiger came near this place, Geumryeong rushed over like an arrow, and the two of them started scrapping, sir.”
“Did they?”
“From the very start, Geumryeong overwhelmingly pushed that tiger back, sir. When Geumryeong went, Growl! that tiger could not even put up a proper fight and whimpered right away.”
Of course.
How much money had I poured into feeding Geumryeong until now?
Geumryeong ought to be capable of at least this much.
A little while later.
Geumryeong climbed onto my stomach as I lay in bed to sleep.
Then, with a triumphant expression, Geumryeong recited its heroic tale.
“Kui! Kui!”
“Yes, yes. I told you, didn’t I? You’re strong.”
“Kuit!”
“Speaking of which, why exactly was Hwa-sik acting cute with me?”
At my question, Geumryeong explained.
“Kui. Kuit! Kui!”
“Hm? Hwa-sik felt some kind of unknown pressure from me? And that made Hwa-sik think it had to get on my good side?”
Why?
I asked Geumryeong.
“Do you ever feel like you need to get on my good side too?”
“Kui? Kui. Kui.”
“Huh? It’s only natural to get on the good side of the one paying for everything?”
Ah…
I had nothing to say to that.
“Kui. Kui!”
I let out a small laugh at Geumryeong’s words.
Apparently, Geumryeong was broad-minded, so even if Hwa-sik became friendly with me, there would be no jealousy.
Hey, saying that now doesn’t make it sound convincing at all, you know?
The next day.
I woke up early in the morning and headed to the library.
Once the conference ended, I would have to return to North Sea Ice Palace. Since the conference was tomorrow, today was the only time I had.
“This is the library.”
The disciple who guided me was extremely polite.
Perhaps the disciple who had been showing me around Zhurong Palace’s famous sights had received a rather severe punishment.
That would explain why this one was treating me so respectfully while also seeming slightly afraid of me.
“Thank you for guiding me.”
“Not at all.”
“I would like to eat lunch here today. Would that be possible?”
“Yes. There is a table, so you may eat over there.”
Where the disciple pointed, a table and chair had been set up.
“Then I will have lunch here today.”
“Understood. I will bring your meal here later.”
“Thank you. By the way, I heard this was the library, but I don’t see any books.”
At my question, the disciple explained.
“The true library lies beyond that door. If you place the key you have into the groove on the door, it will open.”
“The key?”
“The plaque you received from the Palace Lord is the key.”
“I see. Then why did you only guide me this far?”
“I do not have permission to enter that library.”
“Pardon? What does that mean?”
“Did you not know? This library contains the Gap-grade section, and only the Palace Lord’s blood relatives or other important figures may enter. For an outsider to receive permission to enter this place is, in itself, an extraordinary matter.”
“I see.”
So that was how much the Palace Lord trusted me.
This was a little burdensome.
“When it is time to eat, I will pull the bell cord. Once you hear the bell, please come out for your meal.”
“I will.”
I approached the library door and placed the plaque I had received from Zhurong Palace’s Palace Lord into the hole before it.
Click.
The door opened with the sound of the latch being released.
“Wow…”
The sight of the library inside made admiration slip out of me before I could stop it.
Elegant shelves filled the room, packed tightly with bamboo slips and books.
But I had no time to stand around admiring it.
I quickly began searching for records related to Doyeon Sect.
At that time.
Zhurong Palace’s Palace Lord, Maeng Jin, was listening to a report.
“Snow Wind Palace’s Young Palace Lord has entered the library.”
“I see.”
“But why did you allow Snow Wind Palace’s Young Palace Lord to enter that place?”
“I owe him a personal debt.”
“Is that so?”
At that, the Outer Chief Administrator standing before him nodded. If the Palace Lord said he owed a personal debt, then it was not something he could pry into.
Maeng Jin thought of Eun Seo-ho’s bold, fearless face and let out a small laugh.
‘That brat is their Young Palace Lord! I’m starting to envy that bastard Myeong-hyeon.’
He spoke to the Outer Chief Administrator.
“By the way, is that truly all you have to say to me?”
“…!”
At that question, Outer Chief Administrator Hae Dal-man flinched. Then he lowered his head before Maeng Jin and said,
“I heard about the rudeness my son committed toward Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho. I apologize.”
“An apology is not what I want.”
He shook his head and sighed.
“Hoo… I failed at educating my son as well, so I am in no position to say much.”
The Outer Chief Administrator cautiously asked,
“What are you concerned about?”
“The future of this palace.”
“Pardon?”
“I am worried about this palace’s future. I want to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“In your eyes, do you think the Young Palace Lord has sufficient qualities to become Palace Lord?”
“…!”
“Speak without adding or taking anything away.”
At that question, the Outer Chief Administrator went rigid.
He had never imagined the Palace Lord would ask him something so directly.
For a moment, he wondered if this was some kind of test… and his mind grew tangled with all sorts of thoughts.
As if he had noticed the Outer Chief Administrator’s expression, Palace Lord Maeng Jin continued.
“This is not a test, nor is it some whim of mine, and I am not asking to make your life difficult. So I want you to speak honestly.”
“…”
After thinking for a moment, the Outer Chief Administrator let out a sigh.
Then he prostrated himself before the Palace Lord and said,
“This lowly servant will offer an answer to the question you have asked.”
“I am listening.”
“The Young Palace Lord becomes far too fixated on things. As a ruler, having fixation on something can indeed help one accomplish a goal, but if that fixation grows too strong, it exhausts the people who follow.”
“True.”
“The Young Palace Lord is short-tempered and lacks prudence. For the position of Palace Lord, it is better to have weak martial strength and prudence than strong martial strength and none.”
“I think the same.”
“And the Young Palace Lord is narrow-minded. Even if there is something lodged in one’s heart, for the sake of the greater cause, one must be able to conceal it. If he cannot do that, then it will bring great harm one day.”
“…I see.”
“Please forgive this lowly servant’s disloyalty for speaking of the Young Palace Lord’s flaws.”
“No.”
Palace Lord Maeng Jin shook his head.
“I was the one who told you to speak, was I not? And thanks to you, I have made up my mind.”
Then he called in the warrior standing outside.
“Summon the Young Palace Lord at once.”
“Yes.”
A short while later.
Young Palace Lord Maeng Hyeon entered the office.
“You called for me, Father?”
Maeng Jin silently looked at his son.
“Hyeon.”
“Yes, Father.”
“How is your body?”
“Ah… I am fine.”
He answered that way, but his expression gave everything away. He was not fine at all.
In truth, Maeng Hyeon’s entire body was aching so badly that he could hardly bear it.
He remembered being beaten by Eun Seo-ho the previous night, but he remembered nothing of what happened afterward.
Only that when he woke up, the pain wracking his whole body nearly made him scream, and he realized he had lost.
Even so, he still refused to acknowledge his defeat.
‘This is all because I fell from that ladder the night before! If my body had only been in proper condition.’
As he grumbled inwardly and cursed Eun Seo-ho in his heart, words came crashing down like a bolt from the blue.
“You do not need to attend tomorrow’s conference.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“As of this moment, you are no longer this palace’s Young Palace Lord.”
“…Pardon?”
–TL Notes–
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