Buried in the ground was a fairly large lacquered box.
We dug deeper to extract it, then carefully opened it.
Inside were twelve tightly sealed jars.
The white paper layers wrapped around each jar’s mouth resembled blooming white lotuses.
What was this?
As I tilted my head, Escort Chief Ha approached, glanced in, and cried out in shock.
“Th-this… could it be! Ice Lotus Wine?”
“Pardon? What’s Ice Lotus Wine?”
“It’s liquor brewed from ice lotuses, only found in the North Sea. And Ice Lotus Wine can only be made by the Northern Sea Ice Palace and Snow Wind Palace.”
Escort Chief Ha was completely excited.
“Its flavor is unforgettable once tasted—full of…”
He went on praising the liquor for nearly an hour.
That showed how precious it was.
“The recipe was lost when Snow Wind Palace was destroyed… Now, only the Northern Sea Ice Palace can brew it.”
Truly a rare treasure unobtainable in the Central Plains!
“May I examine it briefly?”
“Ah, yes.”
Escort Chief Ha carefully lifted one jar from the box.
The paper around the neck noted the brewing date.
“And Ice Lotus Wine becomes more valuable with age. Let me see… Gasp!”
For a moment, it seemed Escort Chief Ha’s breath stopped.
“E-eight… hun…”
“Escort Chief Ha! Calm down!”
“Hah! Hah!”
Curious about his reaction, I sneaked a peek at the paper.
Gasp! Eight… hundred years?
That meant it was brewed during the Patriarch’s lifetime.
This would fetch a king’s ransom.
“Eight hundred years… The aroma must be indescribable.”
“Indeed.”
“Even ten years aging yields incredible depth—eight hundred!”
Escort Chief Ha continued.
“And since it’s brewed with ice lotuses, it clears the mind. It sweeps away worries and obsessions completely.”
“…”
I understood why the Patriarch gifted this.
A nudge to sober up and face things.
But Patriarch, I’ve already pulled myself together.
So, I’ll share one jar with Escort Chief Ha—whose eyes are sparkling—and Master at the bureau, then save the rest for a triumphant toast on the day I complete my revenge.
To commemorate striking the Baekcheon Merchant Group and Murim Alliance hard.
- * *
Escort Chief Ha wondered if he was dreaming.
‘Whew! I nearly had a heart attack!’
It was that astonishing.
Eight-hundred-year-old liquor from Snow Wind Palace!
When Snow Wind Palace fell, he was around thirty.
He’d been a disciple but worked as an escort leader outside.
One Snow Wind Palace rule: Upon reaching a certain mastery, disciples spent ten years in external activities.
Called the “Snow Cleansing Journey” for short.
It kept the palace connected to the outside world.
That’s how he’d known about their Ice Lotus Wine.
Brewed from the spiritual herb ice lotus and specially sealed, it could last a thousand years.
One sealing feature: white paper folded into a lotus shape around the cork.
Ice lotuses bloomed every ten years, so the wine was made then too.
On departing for Snow Cleansing Journey, or returning, each disciple received one cup.
Escort Chief Ha never forgot the taste from his own departure.
Indescribably refreshing, awakening every sense.
And the sensation of all troubles vanishing.
‘I thought I’d never see it again…’
He gazed at Eun Seo-ho with an expression of deep emotion.
Meanwhile, Eun Seo-ho still seemed unaware of its full significance.
Makes sense, he wouldn’t kn—Huh?
“By the way, Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“Ah, yes.”
“How did you know this wine was buried here and tell us to dig?”
It suddenly struck him.
“Honestly, when you woke and abruptly told servant Palgap to dig, I looked at you oddly…”
“Ah, well.”
Eun Seo-ho scratched his cheek and said.
“In a dream, a handsome man appeared and told me to dig here. Said he’d prepared a gift.”
“Did he have a blue tassel on his waist?”
“Yes.”
“Good heavens… That’s our Snow Wind Palace Patriarch.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Escort Chief Ha understand Palace Lord Gwak Myeong-hyeon’s decision.
He’d named Eun Seo-ho as Little Palace Lord.
When many questioned it, he’d replied.
“He is the next Palace Lord prepared by the Patriarch.”
Back then, it was incomprehensible.
Hard to accept, even.
No matter a disciple, naming a non-blood-related third son from an unrelated merchant group Little Palace Lord?
But now, he had no choice but to believe.
The proof—Ice Lotus Wine from the Patriarch’s era—lay before him.
“Ah, here—take one jar.”
“Y-you’re really giving it?”
“Yes. But since we’re traveling, storage is tricky. I’ll hold it and deliver when we return.”
“I see… But how will you preserve it?”
At his words, Eun Seo-ho smiled faintly.
“Actually, I have an item bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor.”
“I understand.”
This young man before him probably didn’t know.
That for someone like Ha, unable to drink Ice Lotus Wine again, his Snow Cleansing Journey remained unfinished.
“Return safely, Cheol-ah.”
He missed the late former Palace Lord, who had said that while pouring him a cup.
- * *
We resumed our journey.
I glanced back briefly.
The site where I and my people died in my previous life.
Yes, memories don’t vanish.
But this place no longer tensed me or stirred fearful recollections.
It would steel my resolve and ignite my fighting spirit.
I often wondered.
What became of the Eunhae Merchant Group after my death?
Naturally, the retainers all perished. The group scattered to the winds…
No—given Namgoong Gang’s greedy nature as their lord, he’d likely devoured the whole thing.
A plump, appetizing merchant group, after all.
Ah, my stomach churns.
The thought soured my gut.
Yes—to avoid such a dog-like end, I must grow stronger.
Become the world’s top merchant group.
Then smash the backs of the Baekcheon Merchant Group and Murim Alliance.
After days of travel, we finally reached Hangzhou.
“Is this Hangzhou?”
At Palgap’s question, Escort Chief Ha replied.
“Yes.”
Was it because I promised him a jar of Ice Lotus Wine?
His attitude had softened since.
Even adding a touch of deference.
Before, it was cordial—brother to his prospective son-in-law, honoring Master’s request.
But Ice Lotus Wine that precious?
Enough to spark uncharacteristic respect?
I chuckled inwardly. It was at the sight of Palgap and the bodyguards’ expressions, gazing at Hangzhou’s scenery.
The vast West Lake, boats drifting on its surface, tiny islands.
Like a fairyland for immortals.
Winter had its own charm.
I hadn’t expected even Escort Guard Seo Wu to look so awestruck.
“First time in Hangzhou for everyone?”
“Ah, yes.”
Seo Wu answered.
“I handled Yunan routes at the bureau.”
“Same for me, Guard Jin Yu.”
“Yes, no chance.”
“Weirdly, our escorts skipped this area too.”
“Exactly. Haha.”
Then, since we were here, visiting a fine tavern for fun after business wouldn’t hurt.
Of course, no drinking—but the views made up for it.
And when I returned later to acquire one, with no customers and lax oversight, it wouldn’t feel like this.
.
.
.
“That’s the Yangyang Martial Hall.”
Escort Chief Ha pointed to a building slightly off from West Lake.
From outside, the Yangyang Martial Hall looked utterly ordinary.
Black-tiled walls encircled a spacious plot—about five hundred pyeong.
Inside buildings were visible, and children’s shouts echoed as they trained.
“Hah!”
“Ha!”
“Extend your arms more!”
“Hah!”
“Don’t spread your legs too wide!”
“Hah!”
No gatekeeper, so we entered under Escort Chief Ha’s lead.
A young warrior instructing the children spotted us, told them to rest, and approached.
“Escort Leader Ha, you’re here?”
“Yes. Where’s the Hall Master?”
“He’s out briefly.”
Then, a familiar voice came from behind.
“Huh? Brother Ha?”
Turning, we saw a familiar figure entering through the main gate.
Warrior Yeom, hall master here.
He greeted Escort Chief Ha warmly, then spotted me and startled.
“Huh? Young Warrior Eun, what brings you here?”
Escort Chief Ha answered seriously in my stead.
“He’s come with full authority from the Palace Lord.”
.
.
.
In the Yangyang Martial Hall master’s office.
Silence lingered briefly.
We waited for Warrior Yeom—no, Hall Master Yeom—to compose himself.
“Hm… So, Young Hero Eun is a Snow Wind Palace disciple too?”
“Yes. I’m learning martial arts from Master Gwak, the future Palace Lord.”
“Then why act like you knew nothing of Snow Wind Palace before?”
“I’m sorry. Master instructed absolute secrecy…”
“Ah… I see. Then the prior sponsorship was…?”
“Aren’t these children my junior disciples? I gave it with senior brotherly intent. And.”
I continued.
“It’s also to keep my promise of further support.”
“I see. For Myeong-hyeon to delegate full authority means he trusts you deeply… He’s not one to trust just any disciple.”
His familiar tone for Snow Wind Palace’s Palace Lord prompted my cautious question.
“By chance, is the late friend you mentioned before my master?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right. The ‘death’ was a ruse.”
“As I thought. But Hall Master, you don’t seem a Snow Wind Palace disciple…”
“Correct.”
Hall Master Yeom nodded with a smile.
“I’m not. That’s why I call Myeong-hyeon by name, not title.”
Who calls their Palace Lord by name, after all?
He gave an embarrassed smile, resolving my doubt.
“Truth is, I came to see my daughter Hyeon and ended up staying, somehow becoming Hall Master. Anyway, have you heard about our hall’s situation?”
“Yes, that’s why I’m here. Working for the merchant group, I thought I might find a solution.”
“I see. I just returned from an outing—summoned by the manor lord who owns the land.”
He sighed.
“Construction start date’s set. Mid-third month next year. But.”
His face showed no emotion as he continued.
“They demanded the cost of demolishing the hall.”
“Pardon?”
What did I just hear?
Demolition cost?
I asked Hall Master Yeom again.
“They want demolition fees?”
“Yes.”
Hall Master Yeom’s blank expression wasn’t from indifference.
It was sheer absurdity.
Not only evicting after over ten years of quiet tenancy, but refusing compensation—and demanding demolition costs?
Of course, landowners could request eviction.
But this wasn’t an illegal build; permission was granted.
By right, compensation was due.
Yet demanding demolition fees?
“Any lease contract from back then?”
“Ah, yes. We have one, but it won’t help much.”
Saying so, Hall Master Yeom fetched the contract.
I read it.
The tenant leases five hundred pyeong of land at XX location to the landlord, paying five taels of silver annually in the first month.
Truly one clause only.
Now I saw why it wouldn’t help.
But five taels for five hundred pyeong!
Such cheap rent suggested a reason.
The previous lord might’ve been lax, but a current manor lord wouldn’t draft something so sloppy, even minor.
At minimum, it’d have basic formalities.
Something’s off…
–TL Notes–
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