At the Black Flute Physician’s words, I was flustered.
For him to ask about my relationship with my Master meant he must have had some suspicion.
Then again, it was plausible that someone like the Black Flute Physician would notice.
My constitution, and my martial arts.
My Master had asked me not to mention that I was his disciple as much as possible, so I had deliberately avoided saying anything, but I couldn’t hide it here.
“I am…”
But before I could finish my words, another voice rang out.
“He is my disciple, father-in-law.”
When I looked up, my Master had already emerged.
‘When did he return from his escort mission?’
Glancing around, I spotted a laundry basket overflowing with clothes.
‘He just got back.’
My Master politely cupped his fist to the Black Flute Physician.
“It’s been a long time, father-in-law.”
“Yes, it has been a while. But your disciple, you say?”
“Yes.”
After looking at me for a moment, the Black Flute Physician nodded and asked again.
“I see. Then what is your disciple’s relationship with the Snow Wind Palace?”
“He has no relationship. It was simply by a twist of fate that I took him as my disciple.”
“Is that so?”
Just then, the door opened and my Master’s wife came out to greet him.
“Father, you’re here.”
“Yes.”
“…”
“…”
Their appearance, just staring at each other without a word, might have seemed frustrating, but it wasn’t to me.
Because I knew of the Black Flute Physician’s ability.
I recalled when he had visited to cure my illness in my previous life.
When he asked if I had treated the Weaver of the Bamboo Grove well, knowing she was his daughter, I had replied that I had simply cherished the person and her talent.
At that time, the Black Flute Physician had said.
“You’re sincere. That’s why she must have asked.”
Taking that as a clue, I inferred that the Weaver of the Bamboo Grove had seen through the sincerity of my words and actions.
For both of them to react the same way meant they both possessed the same ability.
Both the Black Flute Physician and my Master’s wife would gaze intently at the other person when talking.
I studied the faces of the Black Flute Physician and my Master’s wife.
Seeing their subtle changes in expression, they weren’t speaking, but they were reading and sensing each other’s hearts.
Seeing my Master standing beside them with a calm expression must mean he already knew.
But… he looked a little uncomfortable.
Then again, is there any son-in-law who is comfortable in front of his father-in-law?
I think even Brother Jeong-ho was on pins and needles in front of Lord Guan.
Just then, the Black Flute Physician turned his head and said to my Master.
“Tsk, tsk, you’re injured.”
‘What? My Master is injured? I had no idea.’
‘So my Master looked uncomfortable not because of his father-in-law, but because of an injury.’
I quickly asked my Master.
“Are you injured?”
“It’s just a slight injury from the escort mission this time. It’s nothing to worry about.”
He spoke calmly, but for the Black Flute Physician to click his tongue, it must not be a light injury.
What in the world had happened for a warrior of my Master’s level to get injured?
‘I’ll have to look into it.’
The Black Flute Physician said gruffly.
“Let’s go inside. I’ll have to take a look.”
“Thank you.”
Still, I felt a sense of relief at the Black Flute Physician’s words that he would treat him.
My role of guiding him here was over, and I could give him the payment later, so I decided to take my leave here.
“Excuse me, then I will be on my way.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Take care.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, Master. Please, take care of yourself.”
And so, I left them behind and returned to the Eunhae Merchant Group.
That evening, hearing that the Black Flute Physician had returned, I headed to the detached house where he was staying.
Just then, the sound of a flute reached my ears.
This beautifully echoing sound was the work of the Black Flute Physician.
The reason I recognized it was because I had heard the Black Flute Physician play the flute in my previous life.
It was because of that flute that he came to be called the Black Flute Physician.
And unlike his usual words and actions, the sound of the flute was so fine, yet mournful and sad.
Today, it sounded especially sorrowful.
When I arrived at the entrance of the detached house, the sound of the flute stopped. The Black Flute Physician, who was sitting at the stone tea table in front of the detached house, saw me and spoke.
“You’ve come?”
“Yes.”
I approached him, cupped my fist, and said.
“I have brought a small payment in gratitude for treating my older brother’s children.”
I took out a bank draft from my robes and held it out.
The Black Flute Physician took the draft, looked it over, and then put it in his robes without a word.
“Then I will be on my way.”
I bowed and turned away, but I had to turn back again soon.
“Thank you.”
“Pardon?”
“My daughter, my grandchildren, and my son-in-law, thanks to you, they were finally able to settle down.”
He continued with a bitter expression.
“Honestly, even though there were circumstances, it was a little heartbreaking to see them wandering around.”
“I haven’t done anything, but I’m glad to have been of help.”
“Yes, I knew you would say that. I plan to leave early tomorrow morning.”
“Why don’t you stay a little longer? My Master’s injury and all.”
“That will heal with some spit on it.”
“…Ah, yes.”
At my words, the Black Flute Physician said bluntly.
“I’ve prescribed him medicine, so he’ll treat himself. And it’s about time for me to leave.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Partings are always a shame.”
“Thank you for not refusing my request back then.”
“For some reason, I didn’t want to refuse.”
After a moment of silence, the Black Flute Physician bid me farewell.
“Then, you may leave.”
“Yes. I will bid you farewell in advance. Take care.”
And so, I left the Black Flute Physician’s detached house.
It was the Black Flute Physician who had saved my life in my previous life. So, with that heart, I added some of my own money to the payment Father had given me.
I chuckled to myself.
The Black Flute Physician pretended to be calm, but I could see his hand trembling.
‘He’s such a dishonest person.’
.
.
.
The next morning, at dawn.
I got up from bed and was told by Palgap that the Black Flute Physician had left.
“Really?”
“Yes, he’s truly like the wind.”
At Palgap’s words, I nodded.
Because he was a person who truly came and went like the wind.
But I felt that we would meet again someday.
Not just because his daughter and son-in-law lived nearby, but a premonition that we would meet for some other reason.
.
.
.
As soon as I finished my Qi circulation, my Master entered my private residence.
He always comes in at just the right time, it’s amazing.
“Good morning.”
“Yes, Master. Good morning. Excuse me, your injury?”
“It’s fine. Then, let’s begin our training.”
And so, today again, under my Master’s guidance, I was thoroughly beaten.
What’s amazing is that he stops right when I think I really can’t take it anymore.
But it was a little disheartening that that limit was coming later and later.
As I was gasping for breath, my Master looked at me and said.
“From tomorrow, we will learn a form that can be called a true area-of-effect technique.”
“Pardon?”
‘Could it be that one?’
“It is the tenth form of the True Snow Twelve Form Sword, Snowslide. Snowslide is an expression of an avalanche in swordsmanship, and it is a form that can be usefully employed when dealing with multiple enemies.”
I was excited.
In my previous life, my martial arts had remained at the First-rate level, so it was a form whose true power I did not know.
At that time, my Master had said that to know its true power, one had to be at least at the Peak level.
Just then, my Master’s words continued, and my thoughts stopped.
“And, I would like to have a conversation with you for a moment.”
My Master’s serious expression.
I realized that this was not a conversation to be had with a light heart.
“Understood. I’ll go wash up and come back.”
“Please do.”
With Palgap’s help, I quickly washed up and headed to the reception room of my private residence where my Master was waiting.
My Master was drinking tea and looking at the scenery visible from the reception room.
I sat in front of my Master, and Palgap poured me tea.
Perhaps considering that it was still before breakfast, it was a tea made from grains.
‘That’s Palgap for you.’
After taking a sip of tea, my Master opened his mouth.
“The reason I asked for a conversation with you, Department Chief, is because I have a favor to ask.”
My Master asking me for a favor?
I was slightly surprised and also curious. What in the world was it that he was asking for a favor with such a serious expression?
“I will listen.”
“I believe you know that I am a person of the Snow Wind Palace.”
“Yes, you told me before, so I know.”
“This time, my father-in-law said he saw a place where he suspects there are traces of the Snow Wind Palace. So I want to go and confirm the traces, but as you know, I am injured, so it is difficult for me to go there.”
My Master cleared his throat and continued.
“Ahem, and my wife won’t let me go either.”
“…”
“I should go to that place before it becomes winter, so I must depart before the sixth month passes. That’s why I’m asking this of you. Please go there and confirm if it is really a remaining trace of the Snow Wind Palace.”
“Excuse me…”
“Of course, I know it won’t be easy for you. You’re busy, and it’s a far place.”
“That’s not it, even if I go, how will I be able to recognize it as a trace of the Snow Wind Palace?”
“You don’t have to worry about that. If it is a trace of the Snow Wind Palace as my father-in-law said, it will react to the martial arts of the Snow Wind Palace.”
.
.
.
After hearing my Master’s request, I asked for some time.
If it were a place not far away, I would have gladly accepted, but the place he mentioned was the North Sea.
The North Sea was far away, and the road was incredibly treacherous.
But it wasn’t easy to refuse either.
The bank draft in my hand.
It was the money my Master had given me as a request fee.
It must mean he was that desperate.
To make such a request, no, a commission, to me.
If my Master weren’t injured, he would have rushed there immediately.
After some thought, I called for Palgap.
“Palgap.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Pack some things in advance.”
“Pardon? Where are you going?”
“The North Sea.”
“…”
.
.
.
That afternoon.
I headed to my father’s office to get permission for an external schedule.
“Come in.”
As I entered the office, my father looked up and asked.
“So, what is it? I thought we discussed the important matters at the Eunwol Council meeting earlier?”
At my father’s words, I said bluntly.
“Father, I’d like to go to the North Sea for a bit.”
“The North Sea? Hmm, has a restaurant named the North Sea opened recently?”
“If it were that, I wouldn’t be telling you before I went.”
“That North Sea where the north wind and snow rage?”
“Yes.”
“That North Sea where the Ice Palace is?”
“Yes.”
My father asked several times as if bewildered, and then, regaining his composure, he asked me.
“The reason?”
“A personal commission.”
After thinking for a moment, my father let out a deep sigh and said.
“Alright, if you’re doing it, there must be a reason. I understand. Be careful on your journey.”
“Thank you.”
“So when are you planning to go?”
“I plan to depart as soon as possible.”
After getting permission from my father, on my way back to my private residence, I thought about what I should be careful of around this time.
‘There’s probably nothing, right?’
.
.
.
That afternoon.
I informed Palgap and the four Escort Guards that it had been decided that we would go to the North Sea.
At my words, the four Escort Guards simply nodded without any particular reaction.
“By any chance, has anyone here been to the North Sea?”
At my question, Escort Guard Jin Yu said.
“I know it to some extent.”
Come to think of it, my Master had said of Escort Guard Jin Yu, “an acquaintance from a very long time ago.”
I was guessing that they might be from the same martial school.
So he would know about the North Sea.
“But I don’t know much about recent information.”
That was to be expected, so I just nodded.
That evening,
I headed to the bookstore where the old general shop owner resided.
Because before going to the North Sea, I had to say goodbye to the old general shop owner and also tell the Emperor to understand if my work was delayed.
In fact, we would pass through Beijing on the way, but if I met the Emperor and all that, a lot of time would be wasted.
As we were walking, Palgap asked me.
“Are you worried?”
“I decided to go to the North Sea, but there’s a problem.”
“What is it about? Seeing you like this, Young Master, it seems to be quite a serious problem.”
“I won’t be able to see Geon-hyeok and Bo-yeon while I’m away at the North Sea. What if the kids forget my face?”
“Pardon?”
Palgap was slightly flustered, but he soon regained his composure and said.
“That won’t happen, so you can rest assured. Even if the young masters see you after three years, they’ll treat you as if they saw you just three gaks ago.” (TL Note: A gak is around 15 minutes)
“You think so?”
“Yes. Because it’s a shallow world that only cares about faces, I’m sure of it.”
‘Huh? I think some strange words were mixed in there?’
–TL Notes–
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