She turned her head and looked at me, her eyes going wide.
“So it was you. I thought I sensed a familiar aura. You’re… Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
I nodded.
“To think we’d meet here in Hangzhou. What a surprise.”
“The same goes for me.”
“By the way, why are you here?”
She smiled as she replied.
But her voice had a slightly cold edge to it.
“Even if you’re my benefactor, must I share personal matters with you?”
Hm, prickly, aren’t you.
“Of course not. It’s just that you seemed confused about Yangyang Martial Hall disappearing. If it’s about that, I thought I might be able to help, so I asked.”
“Oh…”
Her face flushed slightly, and she gave a polite bow.
“I’m sorry. I overreacted.”
“It’s alright.”
“But do you know something about Yangyang Martial Hall? I’m sure it was here the last time I came.”
“It moved.”
“What? It moved?”
“It was just a few days ago. That’s probably why you haven’t heard.”
“I see. Then…”
Suddenly, a guarded look appeared in her eyes.
“But Deputy Merchant Lord, you seem to know a lot about Yangyang Martial Hall.”
“Ah, I haven’t properly introduced myself yet.”
I cupped my fists and spoke.
“I’m a disciple of Snow Wind Palace, Eun Seo-ho.”
Her wariness melted, and her voice softened.
“…I thought so. I really did feel something familiar.”
“I’ll guide you to the new Yangyang Martial Hall.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
I led her toward the new location. The place it had moved to was only about 15 minutes from where the original hall had stood.
“This is the place.”
“Hmm, it feels like a manor.”
“Good guess. It was a manor until recently.”
As we stepped inside, Hall Master Yeom, who happened to be in the courtyard, spotted us and hurried over.
“Lady of the Ice Palace, you’re here?”
“It’s been a while, Hall Master. Have you been well?”
“Well, I’ve been doing alright. But what brings you all the way here?”
“I brought the support funds from the Ice Palace.”
“Oh! Really?”
His face immediately lit up at the mention of support funds.
Truly a straightforward person.
“Come on in.”
“Thank you.”
As Hall Master Yeom turned to guide her inside, he also nodded to me.
“Ah, Deputy Merchant Lord. Thank you. Thanks to you, everyone’s eaten very well.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
To be honest, I couldn’t stop thinking about the children while I was eating earlier at the tavern.
So I slipped some money to the waiter and asked him to send food over here too.
I worried they might get sick from overeating, but not letting them enjoy good food would’ve missed the point.
They’ll digest it just fine if I play with them a bit later.
As Hall Master Yeom headed back toward his office, he turned and asked me with a puzzled look.
“What are you doing?”
“Sorry?”
“You should come with us. You’ve been entrusted with full authority from the Palace Lord of Snow Wind Palace, haven’t you?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
.
.
.
So the three of us sat around the tea table in Hall Master Yeom’s office and shared a pot of tea.
“So…”
The Lady of the Ice Palace looked at me and asked.
“You’ve been entrusted with full authority by the Palace Lord of Snow Wind Palace?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Did something happen to the Palace Lord?”
“No. He’s in excellent health.”
“Then why…”
“There are reasons for that.”
I explained everything to her. Since the Lady of the Ice Palace already knew about Snow Wind Palace, there was no need to hide anything.
“…That’s how it happened.”
When I finished, a brief silence followed.
“Do you think it’s too much for me to take ownership of the land where the original Yangyang Martial Hall stood?”
At my question, she shook her head.
“No, not at all. I don’t feel pity for the ungrateful. I’m genuinely happy that the children will have a good home.”
She looked at me and said,
“If it were me, I would’ve taken that real contract and immediately made the land Yangyang Martial Hall’s property. But I’m honestly impressed by your foresight in aiming for something bigger.”
“You’re too kind. Just to be clear, this matter is confidential.”
“Of course.”
At that moment, Hall Master Yeom asked the Lady of the Ice Palace,
“By the way, when did you leave the Ice Palace? It must be difficult to travel from the North Sea with the snowstorms starting…”
“Ah, I left before the heavy snowstorms began. There was something urgent to take care of, so I dealt with that first and only just arrived here.”
“I see.”
Still, she wasn’t late. I’d heard the support funds wouldn’t usually arrive until spring.
So in truth, she had come early.
“I’ll probably be staying here until spring arrives.”
“Please do.”
The Lady of the Ice Palace staying here…
The strength I’d seen from her was no joke. Just having such a master around the children was reassuring.
“Please take good care of Yangyang Martial Hall.”
“Are you… leaving?”
“I’ll need to return to Hubei soon. I’ll likely leave the day after tomorrow.”
“I see.”
“Since we’ve wrapped up our discussion, I’ll take my leave first. I’ve got to spend some time playing with the kids.”
“Huh?”
With that, I headed toward the courtyard.
The sun was starting to set, but it wasn’t yet bedtime. So I figured I’d play with the children a while and help them digest all the food they’d eaten earlier.
.
.
.
The next morning.
The children each came up to me and told me what gifts they wanted.
“I want pigments!”
“Pigments, like the dyes used for coloring?”
“Yes. I love to draw.”
“Alright, got it. What about you, Amin?”
“I want a poetry collection. There’s this famous one called Poetry Collection, by So-ak.”
To hear that name here of all places…
It’s a collection I published myself years ago, using the poems written by Internal Chief Administrator Yu.
It’s been several years now, but it must still be popular.
“Alright.”
None of the kids asked for toys or anything like that. That made me proud, but also a bit sad.
It meant they’d had to grow up too fast.
Just then, a familiar voice came from the front gate.
“Is anyone here?”
“Ah! Yes!”
I quickly rushed out to the gate.
Shopkeeper Wi was waiting there with a porter.
“I brought the paper you asked for.”
“Thank you.”
“Where should we place it?”
“Ah, just hand it to me.”
Palgap stepped up at the right moment and hoisted the heavy stack of paper like it weighed nothing, carrying it inside.
Lately, he’s been learning martial arts and seems to have gotten even stronger.
After thanking Shopkeeper Wi and seeing him off, I came back inside to find the children staring at the paper with wide eyes.
“Wow! The paper’s glowing!”
“It looks amazing!”
Smiling as I watched the kids marvel at the paper, I thought—
This turned out well.
Just in time, since the Lady of the Ice Palace was here, the children’s letters could be sent back with her when she returned to the Ice Palace.
And as for the Changin Escort Bureau, they had Escort Chief Ha.
“Everyone. Tomorrow, the folks from the Changin Escort Bureau and I will be heading back. So if you finish your letters by dawn tomorrow, I’ll ask Escort Chief Ha to pass them on to the escort guards.”
“But… can we really write our letters on this paper?”
“Of course you can. I bought it for you to use. If you didn’t use it, wouldn’t I be a little upset?”
“Oh!”
“R-Right!”
I gave each child five sheets of paper.
Though honestly, there was so much paper that it didn’t even make a dent in the pile.
While the children were writing their letters, I went out to buy the gifts they’d asked for and came back.
With the gifts in hand, I headed to Hall Master Yeom’s office.
“Gasp! Wh-What is all this?”
“They’re the things the children asked for.”
“But why bring them here? Why not give them to the children directly?”
“I’d like you to hand them out after I’m gone.”
“What? Why…?”
“I won’t even be here for a hundred days. But you’ll be with them year-round.”
“That’s true, but…”
“Think of it as me helping you become the beloved Hall Master to the children, with my money.”
His eyes reddened at my words.
“Thank you, truly.”
“It’s nothing. Oh, and…”
I pulled Geumryeong out from my sleeve and held it up.
“Kui!”
“From now on, through this little one—”
“Gasp!”
Before I could finish, Hall Master Yeom recoiled and pointed at Geumryeong.
“W-Wait, isn’t that a Spirit Beast? Why is that here…?”
“Yes, it’s a Spirit Beast. And… well, it’s a long story.”
“Did you know that this creature is the divine beast and spiritual entity of the Snow Wind Palace?”
“Yes. My master told me.”
“…”
Seeing the shock on his face, I figured he’d probably faint if he knew I also had the Silver Mist Sword, so I decided to say no more.
“In any case, I’ll be sending urgent letters through Geumryeong from now on, so please keep that in mind.”
“Ah, understood.”
“And we’ll be leaving at dawn tomorrow.”
At that, he nodded.
“I heard from Escort Chief Ha. And…”
He seemed a little calmer now and continued with a smile.
“Thank you, truly. The fact that Deputy Merchant Lord is a disciple of Snow Wind Palace is a huge blessing for our Yangyang Martial Hall.”
Seeing his genuine gratitude made me a little embarrassed, and I scratched my cheek.
.
.
.
The next day, we prepared to depart for Hubei.
Honestly, I wanted to stay a little longer, but there was still a lot to do.
And if we delayed any further, we’d end up traveling through the bitter cold.
Just as we were getting ready to leave, one of the older children, who seemed to act as the group’s representative, approached us.
He was carrying a huge basket that looked like it had been borrowed from the kitchen, and it was filled to the brim with paper.
I stepped forward and took the basket from him.
Seeing the pile of letters, it was clear the children had a lot to say.
“That’s quite a lot.”
“We just had a lot to write about. It’s our first time writing letters too.”
Escort Chief Ha’s eyes reddened a bit as he looked at the letters. Since I had asked him yesterday to deliver them, he knew what they were.
“Understood. I’ll make sure these get delivered.”
“Thank you.”
As he gathered the letters, I noticed his expression waver slightly.
“But… our work as escorts keeps us busy. Even if the letters are received, there may not be time to write back. Will that be alright?”
“It’s okay. We just want to send our thoughts. That’s enough for us.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
At those words, I tilted my head slightly.
No matter how busy the escort work was, surely they could spare a moment to write a short reply?
But then it hit me.
That’s what this is about.
Remembering what escort guards do, I quickly understood.
They live the same knife’s-edge life as martial artists.
There must’ve been escort guards who died fighting the Forest Bandits during missions, or who got caught in murim conflicts and lost their lives.
In other words, Escort Chief Ha was talking about those who wouldn’t be able to write back—without saying it directly.
That stung a little.
To shift the mood, I asked the children,
“So, none of these letters are for me?”
At my question, the older boy grinned.
“There is one.”
“Huh?”
Two more kids walked over, carrying another basket.
No way…
“That one’s the letter for you, Senior Brother.”
“…”
I’m an adult. I shouldn’t cry.
But I was moved.
Before long, our preparations were complete.
We said our goodbyes to Hall Master Yeom, the Lady of the Ice Palace, and the children of Yangyang Martial Hall.
“Goodbye, then.”
“Travel safely.”
And so, we left Hangzhou and headed for Hubei.
We crossed over Huangshan and passed the spot where I had once died.
Back when I first came here, I was so tense I fainted.
But now, this was the place where I’d gained an Ice Lotus Wine.
And the place that ignited my resolve.
After Eun Seo-ho and Escort Chief Ha’s group departed, that afternoon—
Shopkeeper Wi Jun-deok visited Yangyang Martial Hall and discussed the goods Eun Seo-ho had requested.
“What? A-All of that?”
“Yes. All of it.”
“Huh…”
Hall Master Yeom couldn’t help but let out a sigh of awe.
‘Deputy Merchant Lord Eun is seriously wealthy!’
Fitting, for someone who owns the divine creature known for sniffing out money.
After days of travel by boat and horseback, we finally arrived home.
“We’re home!”
At my words, Palgap asked,
“You’re that happy, Young Master?”
“Of course I am. It’s home. Home.”
We thanked the Changin Escort Bureau’s people for their hard work, exchanged greetings with our merchant group members, and everyone returned to their places.
I headed straight to Father’s office.
“Father, I’ve returned.”
“Good work. But… you’ve received a letter.”
“A letter?”
I tilted my head and took it. The name on the envelope was one I knew well.
–TL Notes–
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