I approached my Master with careful steps, gathering my courage.
“Master, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“While I was in Luoyang, I stopped by an old bookstore. I managed to acquire a particular book there—the owner claimed it was a secret manual.”
I pulled the manual from my pouch and extended it toward him.
“This is it.”
Master accepted the book with his usual composed expression and began leafing through the pages.
“…!”
His face went rigid with shock, then his hands started trembling.
I’d never witnessed him react like this before. The sight left me genuinely startled.
“What’s wrong?”
“Where exactly did you say you found this?”
“A small bookstore on book street in Luoyang—one of those places that deals in old books…”
I pressed on.
“I felt this inexplicable pull toward it, so I bought it. The moment I stepped into that shop, I couldn’t see any of the other books. My eyes were drawn to that one alone.”
“…”
“I thought it might be related to the Supreme Yin techniques, so I wanted to show it to you. Do you recognize what it is?”
Master released a heavy sigh, paused for a long moment, then spoke.
“How could I not? This contains the profound insights left behind by the founder of the Snow Wind Palace—the very one I just told you about.”
“Excuse me?”
I asked again, stunned.
“Didn’t you say all the Snow Wind Palace’s secret manuals were destroyed in the flames?”
“That’s what I believed. I never imagined anything could have survived.”
Master closed the manual and spoke in a voice thick with emotion.
“May I… keep this and study it properly?”
“Of course.”
With my permission, he carefully tucked it within his robes.
“Actually, there’s one more thing I’d like to discuss with you, Master.”
“Please, go ahead.”
I retrieved another secret manual from my pocket and offered it to him.
“This is the manual the bookstore owner recommended for Palgap.”
Master took the book, examined it, then looked at me with bewilderment.
“That bookstore owner—just who in the world is he?”
“I honestly don’t know, but I’m certain he was once someone extraordinary. I sensed that if I pushed too hard for answers, he’d simply disappear, so I held back.”
“You showed wisdom.”
Master nodded approvingly.
“Escort Guard Jin Yu once mentioned to me that Palgap possesses the natural talent of a King of Assassins.”
‘So Jin Yu had noticed after all.’
Master considered this for a moment before continuing.
“From what I can tell, Department Chief, you’re not concerned about whether Palgap should learn this technique—you’re worried about something else entirely.”
“Exactly. I’m afraid that if he masters this art, he won’t be the Palgap I know anymore.”
“That’s a pointless worry.”
“Pardon?”
I questioned Master’s dismissive response, and he handed the manual back to me.
“A person’s fundamental nature doesn’t change regardless of what martial arts they learn. And you know Palgap’s true character better than anyone.”
“Well…”
“If he learns this technique, Palgap will be overjoyed, declaring that he can serve his master even better. Loyalty to his master—that’s the very essence of who Palgap is.”
Master’s words struck me like a hammer blow to the head.
‘What exactly was I so worried about?’
Palgap is simply Palgap, and always will be.
“If you decide to have him trained, you can make arrangements with Escort Guard Jin Yu.”
“Understood.”
After departing from Eun Seo-ho’s private residence at Munghok Hall, Gwak Myeong-hyeon glanced back over his shoulder.
He pressed his hand firmly against his chest, where the precious manual rested.
When the Snow Wind Palace fell, he had searched desperately for any surviving remnants.
But everything had been so thoroughly burned and destroyed that he couldn’t salvage even a single scrap.
Eventually, he’d abandoned hope of recovering the palace’s martial arts and devoted his life to mastering only the True Snow Twelve Form Sword.
Admittedly, even that was a formidable art that had brought him to his current level, but he couldn’t help regretting the loss of the other techniques.
Above all, the insights left by the Snow Wind Palace’s founder represented an immeasurable loss.
He had lived believing those insights had surely been consumed by flames as well.
So one could only imagine his shock when Eun Seo-ho presented him with that very manual.
‘He said he felt a powerful pull toward it?’
In truth, this manual of insights was restricted to only the Palace Lord and Young Palace Lord of the Snow Wind Palace.
The only reason he could recognize it was because he had read it before.
Because he had been the Young Palace Lord of the Snow Wind Palace.
However, the Young Palace Lord was permitted to see only the first half—he had never laid eyes on the latter portion.
He had been lamenting that very limitation when this complete manual appeared before him.
‘The fact that this manual called out to the Department Chief means…’
He recalled the Silver Mist Sword that Eun Seo-ho wielded, and Geumryeong, the Ice Guardian Beast that was always at his side.
Both were essentially sacred treasures of the Snow Wind Palace Lord.
‘Could this be the third sign?’
Still, he didn’t want to burden his disciple with such weighty knowledge just yet.
‘First, I need to investigate that old man at the bookstore and discover how this manual ended up in his possession.’
Minjang Village.
About ten days had passed since Eun Seo-ho’s party departed.
Lord Min Ik studied his second son, Min I-jun.
The young man’s complexion was so vibrant and healthy, it was as if he’d never been ill at all.
“So you said you had something important to discuss with me?”
“Yes, Father.”
The reason for today’s meeting was that his son had approached him, claiming he had something significant to share.
“Very well, what is it?”
“Father, I wish to learn martial arts.”
“Martial arts?”
“Yes, Father.”
Honestly, the prospect of his second son learning martial arts was welcome news.
Being a great landowner meant having much to protect.
Such protection required a certain degree of martial power, and there were often times when one needed to rely on others’ strength.
The most common approach was to become a disciple of a powerful sect.
Just as Lord Min Ik’s younger brother served as a disciple of a certain sect.
But two things troubled him.
First was the attention focused on how Min I-jun had overcome his Meridian Severance.
Second was his son’s motivation for wanting to learn martial arts.
“I-jun.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Why do you want to learn martial arts?”
“It’s said that a man will lay down his life for one who recognizes his worth. If someone would die for mere recognition, what wouldn’t I do for the person who saved my life? I want to be of use to my savior, but my current abilities are insufficient.”
“So that’s your reason for wanting to learn martial arts?”
“Yes, exactly.”
The truth was, Eun Seo-ho hadn’t given him the Heavenly Fragrance Nectar freely. They had agreed that for three years, he would provide one-quarter of his harvest.
The Heavenly Fragrance Nectar was undoubtedly a priceless treasure.
If Eun Seo-ho had used it strategically, he could have gained something far more valuable than what he’d agreed to accept.
But instead, he had willingly sacrificed that opportunity to save his son.
‘He used his only bottle of Heavenly Fragrance Nectar for my son.’
He suspected Eun Seo-ho had asked for grain because it would place less burden on their family. Both the amount and duration of payment were reasonable.
He looked at his second son.
The young man’s eyes blazed with unwavering determination to see his goal through.
As for explaining how his Meridian Severance was cured, he could simply fabricate something plausible.
He asked Min I-jun.
“Very well. Which sect do you wish to join?”
“I want to go to the Mount Hua Sect.”
The eleventh month had arrived, and my birthday was fast approaching.
Which meant I was about to turn nineteen.
But I had no time to dwell on such matters. The work that had accumulated during my time in Luoyang was substantial.
I rose from my desk.
I felt the need to walk around for a while and clear my head.
Besides, the office staff could use a breather without their superior hovering nearby.
“I’ll step out for a short while.”
“Yes, enjoy your walk.”
Deputy Yeo Chang-ui responded quickly, and I suppressed a knowing smile.
When I opened the door and emerged, Escort Guard Seo Wu, who was stationed by the entrance, bowed respectfully.
‘So it’s Seo Wu’s shift now.’
“I’m just taking a brief walk.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
I strolled leisurely through the merchant group compound while Escort Guard Seo Wu spoke.
“Palgap has been training with remarkable dedication these days.”
“So I’ve heard.”
On the evening I showed the manual to Master, I called Palgap over and asked for his thoughts.
— Of course I should learn it, sir! It means I can serve you even better!
Just as Master had predicted.
I asked Escort Guard Jin Yu to guide Palgap’s training, and these days, while I handle paperwork, Palgap trains intensively.
Geumryeong was also assisting with Palgap’s training—though from what I observed, it seemed more like playful torment.
I suddenly sensed a familiar presence.
‘Hmm?’
I looked up toward the tree and soon spotted a familiar face.
It was Chun-il.
“What are you doing up there?”
“Shh! Please keep quiet!”
“Pardon?”
“My target is approaching from that direction.”
Following his gaze, I tilted my head and looked ahead. Pavilion Lord Yeon Dami was walking toward us.
“Pavilion Lord Yeon?”
“Today’s assignment is to steal the silver pouch from Pavilion Lord Yeon’s deputy.”
“I see. Best of luck.”
But something seemed off about Pavilion Lord Yeon’s expression—she looked troubled.
“Ah! Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Actually, we have a serious problem at the Trade Pavilion.”
At her words, I smiled inwardly.
‘I remembered this incident, so I’ve already prepared for it.’
I couldn’t prevent what was coming, but I could certainly help with the aftermath.
I didn’t know the exact date, but I knew it would happen around this time.
‘So today is the day.’
I couldn’t possibly miss such an entertaining spectacle.
“May I come along?”
“Please do.”
I shot a quick glance at Chun-il in the tree, then followed her to the Trade Pavilion.
“I’m sorry! I’m deeply sorry!”
“Where was your head when you were working?!”
A tense atmosphere permeated the Trade Pavilion.
Sharp reprimands and repeated apologies echoed through the space.
When Pavilion Lord Yeon entered the building, everyone who saw her quickly bowed.
“Greetings, Pavilion Lord!”
“What’s the meaning of this? You lost a ledger?”
“Well, you see…”
A clerk bowed his head deeply.
“I’m terribly sorry!”
“An apology won’t solve this—we need a solution. Report the details immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am…”
He steadied his nerves and explained the situation.
The clerk had been swamped with work, but it was his turn for a trade journey.
So he took his documents with him, but forgot to pack the ledger he’d been referencing.
Later, he rushed back to the carriage depot to retrieve it, but by then, the depot workers had already sorted through the goods and burned the remaining trash.
The problem was that the ledger had been mixed in with that trash.
In my past life, after this incident, the merchant group instituted an absolute ban on taking original ledgers on trade journeys, regardless of pending work.
Because the ledger lost that day was…
“What type of document did you say it was?”
“It was… this year’s ledger for the silk trade in Jiangxi Province.”
“…”
The silk ledger—one of the merchant group’s primary trade commodities.
Since travel to Jiangxi becomes nearly impossible once snow begins falling, he’d taken it assuming no one else would need it.
The destination for this particular trade journey was also nearby.
A vein bulged on Pavilion Lord Yeon’s forehead. She was livid.
‘This is bad—she might explode.’
But Pavilion Lord Yeon managed to restrain herself.
Just then, a low-ranking clerk spoke up.
“Pavilion Lord, we’ve received word that they’re bringing silk from Jiangxi tomorrow.”
Which meant that without the ledger, business couldn’t proceed.
Pavilion Lord Yeon quickly assessed the situation and issued orders.
“Search through all other ledgers and journals, request documents from the Virtuous Wind Department and Finance Pavilion, and reconstruct that ledger. This is our top priority—everyone focuses on this task.”
It was then that a man approached, limping with a cane. It was Heo Un—or rather, Clerk Heo Un, who was working at the Trade Pavilion.
He was the solution I had prepared for this very incident.
“Excuse me, I believe I can resolve this problem.”
“What do you mean? That you can solve it?”
“You’re referring to the Jiangxi silk trade ledger, correct? This year’s edition.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve examined that ledger before.”
Pavilion Lord Yeon tilted her head, not grasping his meaning, and Clerk Heo Un continued.
“I remember everything I see, down to the last detail.”
–TL Notes–
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Yep. Fixed.