For girls, they said they became disciples of the North Sea Ice Palace. But what about the boys?
That question was answered from the other side.
“That’s why the Snow Wind Palace existed.”
“Pardon?”
“It was established to raise the boys born to women of the North Sea Ice Palace. That place is the Snow Wind Palace.”
He added an explanation.
Since they were children born of love, some were raised by their fathers. But not always.
In those cases, the Snow Wind Palace took them in.
The children were raised there. When girls came of age and the North Sea Ice Palace opened its gates, they entered as disciples.
Boys lived on as disciples of the Snow Wind Palace.
“And the stories of the boys who became disciples of the Snow Wind Palace vary greatly. Some lost their fathers, some never knew them, and some were rejected by their fathers’ families.”
At those words, I recalled the madman who had attacked me when I first met Geumryeong and obtained the Silver Mist Sword.
Yu Deok-jin of the Snow Wind Palace.
And the contents of the letter he carried.
[As I told you before, bring that sword to me.
Then I’ll acknowledge you as my son.]
So Yu Deok-jin stole the Silver Mist Sword.
It was to be acknowledged by the father who had denied him.
I had heard that the Snow Wind Palace was destroyed by the Demonic Cult, but my intuition told me there had to be more to the story.
“Then was the Snow Wind Palace founded by the North Sea Ice Palace?”
“No. A long time ago, the retired Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance heard these stories and helped establish the Snow Wind Palace. It wasn’t a martial force at the time.”
He continued.
“Eventually, someone with extraordinary martial talent was born, and thanks to that person, the Snow Wind Palace grew into a powerful force. They revered that person as the Patriarch.”
That Patriarch must be the one who left behind the secret manual of insights I found earlier.
“You know quite a lot about the Snow Wind Palace.”
“I heard many stories from a close friend.”
“Ah… the one who fell in battle when the Snow Wind Palace was destroyed?”
“That’s right.”
“But the Snow Wind Palace was annihilated about ten years ago, wasn’t it? Then what about the children since then…?”
He hesitated at my question, then replied.
“I’m taking them in.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m taking those children in.”
.
.
.
At dawn the next day, I rose early and completed my morning breathing and Qi circulation.
As expected of a heart method created in the North Sea, the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art was incredibly well-suited to this place.
It was several times more efficient than when I practiced it at home.
Judging by how it worked better in winter, the colder it was, the greater the heart method’s effect.
But then, how could the Snow Wind Palace have been destroyed, when its martial arts were so suited to this land, harnessing the northern wind and cold as weapons?
I soon dismissed the thought. I wouldn’t find the answer right now anyway.
I tried to move on to sword training after circulating my Qi, but gave up.
If other disciples of the North Sea Ice Palace saw me practicing or sensed unfamiliar Qi, it could cause trouble.
It was better not to invite unnecessary misunderstandings.
Since I wasn’t going to train, I wondered if I had gotten up too early.
Hm?
Just then, I sensed busy movements outside. Among them, I felt the Qi of the girls we had met yesterday and their companions.
They’re already leaving?
When I went down to the first floor, many people were exchanging farewells.
“Stay healthy and live well.”
“Yes.”
“Even if it’s hard, endure. The clan’s fate rests in your hands.”
“I understand.”
“Please, take care of yourself.”
“Thank you for escorting us this far. Our clan will pay the remaining fee.”
“Understood. Please stay safe.”
Among those exchanging parting words were the people we had met yesterday.
“Father. Please stay well. Tell the children I’m doing fine.”
“I will.”
“Yeonrang, return safely.”
“We’ll meet again, I’m sure.”
“Of course.”
“Please look after Hyeon.”
“Don’t worry.”
I turned my gaze to the other girl.
“Brother.”
“Don’t worry about us. Just live your life.”
Watching it all made me feel strange.
Thump.
Then a woman struck the floor with her scabbard and spoke.
“Then we’ll depart. Follow me.”
They left the inn and walked toward the mist-covered area behind it.
“Ugh!”
“Urgh!”
The girls entered the mist without issue, but the men following behind were stopped in their tracks.
It was as if the mist had materialized and was pushing them back.
“Is this the mist from the rumors?”
“Ah…”
They stared blankly at the mist, then slowly turned back and reentered the inn.
From behind, I felt all kinds of emotions.
But mist that pushes people away? What kind of Mysterious Power is that?
I lightly touched the mist with my hand.
Sssk.
Hm? That’s strange.
It was the same mist that repelled the other men, but I felt no resistance at all.
Just then, Palgap spoke from behind me.
“What are you doing here, Young Master?”
“Ah, Palgap.”
I called Palgap over and pointed at the mist.
“Put your hand here.”
“…?”
Palgap tilted his head but did as I asked and touched the mist.
Tuk.
“Huh? W-what is this? There’s nothing in front of me, but my hand won’t go through?”
“…”
“Wow! That’s amazing!”
I’m a man too, so why didn’t it block me?
But thinking that making a fuss wouldn’t help anything, I quietly smiled and changed the subject.
“Since the North Sea Ice Palace is beyond this, it must be a barrier to keep men out.”
We returned to the inn, did some light training in the room, then headed down for breakfast.
Now, it was time to start looking for traces of the Snow Wind Palace, just as Master had said.
“Good morning.”
Once we sat at a table, a server came to take our order.
“What would you like?”
“Is there something light for breakfast?”
“In that case, we have a dish made with soft tofu.”
“Then we’ll have that.”
After ordering, Palgap let out a sigh.
“Ugh, we’ve gotta walk that snowy road again.”
“We do. That’s why we came here, after all.”
“I heard the wind here is vicious. We’ve made it fine so far, but I’m worried about what lies ahead.”
“Don’t worry too much. We’ll manage somehow.”
“I envy those disciples of the Snow Wind Palace. I heard they govern the snow wind.”
The one who refuted that was the woman who had taken our order.
“Oh my, that’s not exactly true.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s true the Snow Wind Palace had that power, but not everyone. Only the Palace Lord and those of their direct line had that ability.”
“Ah, I see.”
Just then, the kitchen called for her, and the conversation ended there.
“Ah, sir.”
“Good morning.”
The ones we had traveled with yesterday came downstairs.
The girl’s father, the young man who traveled with them, and the girl’s brother.
They all looked a bit downcast, especially the brother, who now sat alone.
I invited them to join us.
“If you don’t mind, let’s eat together.”
“Thank you.”
They sat with us and ordered food. The brother spoke first.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, we rested well.”
“Um… my name is Han Jae-ik.”
Since he introduced himself, I did the same.
“I’m Eun Seo-ho.”
At my greeting, the girl’s father also gave his name.
“My name is Yeom Jin-yeon. The one next to me is a young man who travels with me due to a certain connection.”
He bowed silently in greeting.
“But I’m worried about my sister. I heard training at the North Sea Ice Palace is harsh… will she be okay?”
At Han’s words, Yeom offered reassurance.
“The North Sea Ice Palace is still a place where people live. They aren’t heartless. You needn’t worry too much.”
“That’s a relief… I hope she endures it well.”
“You seem to have many concerns.”
“Yes. It’s because my sister didn’t go there by choice. There were unavoidable circumstances.”
“What kind of circumstances?”
At my question, he sighed deeply and explained.
“It’s complicated, but… the reason we came here was because of marriage talks surrounding her.”
“Isn’t marriage a good thing?”
“Not in this case. There’s a powerful household near our clan. When we heard their clan lord was sending a matchmaker to take my sister as his ninth wife, we left in a hurry.”
“As a ninth wife? Not a concubine?”
“Yes, a wife. But the problem is… all eight previous wives died.”
“All eight?”
“Yes. Most died under suspicious circumstances, but they were all ultimately ruled as suicides.”
“…”
Only then did we understand the situation.
“Then isn’t your whole household in danger, Han?”
“Even so, my parents said this was better.”
Rather than see their daughter murdered and live in regret, they chose to send her to the North Sea Ice Palace to endure hardship instead.
I felt sympathy for their decision.
Why does the world always torment those who try to live upright and kind lives?
“Where’s your clan?”
“We’re from Henan.”
Since the Fengzhou Escort Bureau is located near Henan, they must have hired them when they left.
Henan isn’t far from Hubei, so I offered a bit of help.
“If you ever feel like you can’t manage, come to the Eunhae Merchant Group. I can offer you work.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”
It wounded my pride to think that someone I helped might suffer again under another’s cruelty.
Yeom spoke to him.
“By the way… getting home is the real issue. The road from here to Henan isn’t exactly safe.”
“That’s my worry too.”
“Then try speaking to the escorts who just completed their job. Technically, they can’t take private commissions, but since they’re heading back anyway, it won’t be a bad deal for them either.”
He added.
“And even if they can’t go all the way to Henan, if they can take you to a major city along the way, you can arrange another escort there.”
“That sounds like a good idea. Thank you for the advice.”
Just then, the food arrived. After finishing the meal, everyone returned to their rooms to pack.
I stopped by Yeom’s room.
“Sir, it’s Eun Seo-ho.”
“Ah, come in.”
When I entered, he was also packing.
“May I speak with you for a moment?”
He nodded and spoke to the young man beside him.
“Go rest outside for a bit.”
“Yes.”
He left without question, and Yeom gestured for me to sit.
“What brings you?”
“Yesterday, you said that you take in and raise the children born to women of the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“I did.”
“Then… how do you manage financially?”
“I take on private commissions or receive sponsorships.”
“Would you be open to another sponsor? I’d like to contribute a little.”
From what I’d heard earlier, I was convinced the sponsor he mentioned was Master.
I was also convinced that the ‘close friend’ he had mentioned was Master.
He was too calm when he spoke about his friend’s death. And he knew far too much about the Snow Wind Palace.
Only the direct line could govern the Snow Wind.
Master had said the True Snow Twelve Form Sword was a family-passed martial art. Not a sect’s art, but something only the direct line could learn.
When you put it all together…
Master is the last surviving heir of the Snow Wind Palace.
And the ‘close friend’ Yeom spoke of was Master.
He’s pretending Master is dead to protect him.
Either way, as someone learning the martial arts of the Snow Wind Palace, it’s only right I support them.
Strictly speaking, the children Yeom is raising are my senior and junior brothers.
And I’m not short on money.
“It’s a bit sudden to hear of sponsorship, but… of course I’m grateful. May I ask your reason?”
“Just… consider it sympathy for the children after hearing their story.”
He thought for a moment, then nodded.
“My circumstances aren’t good enough to refuse. I’ll gratefully accept.”
I immediately pulled out a bank draft and handed it over. He was shocked when he saw the amount.
“A-are you really offering this much?”
–TL Notes–
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