I waited in the reception room for the Clan Lord, thinking back to how the Hwangbo Clan members had reacted earlier.
They had practically lit up at the sight of the high-quality whetstones I'd brought.
And no wonder. They'd been sharpening their blades far less often than usual just to conserve the whetstones they had left.
More martial artists than most people realized used weapon maintenance as a way to settle their minds.
Being forced to ration their whetstones under those circumstances must have weighed on them more heavily than I'd expected.
I pushed those thoughts aside and raised my head.
I had sensed the Hwangbo Clan Lord approaching.
Clatter.
The door slid open and the Clan Lord entered, prompting me to rise from my seat.
“You've arrived, Clan Lord?”
“Yes. Sit.”
I sat back down, and the Clan Lord immediately drained the tea that had already been poured into his cup.
Normally, he would have taken several sips…
It seemed he'd rushed all the way here after hearing I'd brought whetstones and had worked up quite a thirst.
“Whew. So, I hear you brought some high-quality whetstones?”
“That's right. Everyone seemed quite pleased.”
“Well, of course they were. I was wondering what had kept you from returning to the main estate for the past two days. So this was the reason.”
The Clan Lord continued.
“But first, there's something I have to ask. How in the world did you get your hands on those whetstones?”
“I got lucky. When I came to Jinan last time, there was a rocky mountain that caught my eye. I went to inspect it this time and ended up purchasing the entire site.”
“So that's why you were so confident when you offered to supply us.”
“Exactly.”
At my answer, the Hwangbo Clan Lord clicked his tongue in amazement.
“And you've been hiding that all this time! You're a sly one.”
“I apologize. But secrecy was important. If word had reached the Baekcheon Merchant Group, I doubt I would've been able to purchase the land at all.”
“That is true. If that had happened, we'd have been in quite a bind ourselves.”
The Clan Lord nodded.
“Then how much are you thinking of charging us?”
“I heard you were previously paying half a silver tael for every forty pounds of whetstones.”
“That's right. They were fairly high-grade whetstones.”
Well, a clan as prestigious as the Hwangbo Clan would naturally require whetstones of a certain quality.
“I asked your people to inspect the whetstones I brought this time, and they said mine were even better than the ones you'd been receiving before.”
As soon as I laid the groundwork, I could see the Clan Lord tense up.
“So… how much do you intend to charge?”
“Half a silver tael for forty pounds will be enough.”
“Isn't that exactly what we've been paying until now? You're really willing to supply them at that price?”
Judging by his reaction, he probably would have agreed even if I'd named a higher price.
But that would be getting greedy.
I had no intention of becoming like the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
Besides, considering what I planned to do from here on out, maintaining friendly relations with the Hwangbo Clan would be important.
“Yes.”
I continued.
“The quarry isn't very far from the Hwangbo Clan, so the transportation costs won't be particularly high either.”
“Even so, I feel like we're taking advantage of you…”
“If it bothers you that much, you can have your people patrol the quarry from time to time. That will be more than enough.”
“Very well. I'll make sure it's taken care of.”
Then he spoke again.
“Putting that aside, I'd like to repay you personally. The Hwangbo Clan is a martial clan, so whetstones are extremely important to us. You've solved a serious problem for the clan. I can't simply let that pass without rewarding you.”
I would've been a little disappointed if he hadn't said that.
I didn't bother pretending otherwise.
“There is something I'd like from you, Clan Lord.”
“And what would that be?”
“I'd like you to find out Elder Hwangbo Hwi's real birthday.”
“Hwi's real birthday?”
“Yes.”
I scratched my cheek before continuing.
“The truth is, Elder Hwangbo Hwi and I made a bet. But even His Majesty said he didn't know the answer… so my last option is to ask you.”
“I see.”
The Clan Lord nodded, fell silent for a moment as though thinking something over, then said,
“I'll summon you again later regarding that matter.”
“Understood.”
I readily nodded and returned to my quarters.
“You've returned.”
Young Lord Hwangbo Uk was there to greet me.
“Yes.”
“I heard you brought whetstones back today.”
“Yes, that's right.”
“I'll admit, I'm a little disappointed. You didn't say a single word to me about any of this.”
I smiled at that and asked in return,
“Was there some reason I needed to tell you?”
“Well, I mean… I'm the one who's supposed to be assisting you…”
“If you'd pulled the handcart and followed me that day, you might have found out ahead of time. What a shame.”
“…”
I gave the speechless young lord a brief glance before calling for Palgap.
“Palgap! Get some bathwater ready for me!”
“Right away!”
After taking a bath and changing into clean clothes, I was visited by one of the Clan Lord's attendants.
“The Clan Lord is asking for you.”
“Understood.”
I followed the attendant.
This time, I wasn't taken to the reception room, but to the Clan Lord's office.
“Clan Lord, Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho has arrived.”
“Send him in.”
I entered and offered my greetings, at which point the Clan Lord held out a key.
“Take it.”
“What does this key open?”
“Hwi's private library.”
“Excuse me?”
“He asked me for a favor a long time ago. If anyone ever came asking about his real birthday, I was to give that person this key.”
I accepted the key and asked,
“So in the end, he wants me to find the answer myself?”
At my question, the Clan Lord burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha!”
Why was he laughing?
“Go visit the library first. If you still can't figure it out after seeing what's inside, I'll tell you myself.”
“Understood.”
But when I didn't immediately leave, the Clan Lord looked at me curiously.
“Is there something else you wanted to say?”
Rather than answer aloud, I sent him a Voice Transmission.
This wasn't something anyone else should overhear.
– I've been debating whether I should tell you this, but I decided I had better say something.
– It sounds like this is confidential. Go on.
– Keep Young Lord Hwangbo Uk under surveillance.
– What?
At my words, the Clan Lord gave me a strange look.
– What exactly do you mean by that?
– I can't explain it right now. But if you keep him under watch, you'll eventually understand.
.
.
.
It wasn't until late that night that I was finally able to enter Elder Ghost-faced Constable's private library.
First, I'd asked Father to send a supervisor and enough workers to operate the quarry.
Finding a good stone deposit meant nothing if we couldn't actually mine it and transport what we extracted.
After that, I'd gone back up the mountain to collect enough whetstones for the Baekyeom Merchant Group's delivery, handled the remaining work, and returned. By then, it was already late at night.
“This is the place, Young Master?”
“Yes.”
I'd already found out where Elder Ghost-faced Constable's library was located, so we reached it without any trouble.
Escort Guard Seo Wu answered me.
“We'll wait here.”
“This might take quite a while. Though I suppose you'd refuse even if I told you to relax and wait back at the quarters.”
He smiled at that.
“If our presence is too uncomfortable, we can stand guard in shifts.”
“That would put my mind at ease. Then I'll head inside.”
I took out the key and unlocked the library.
Creeeeak.
The door opened with the groan of old hinges.
Once I stepped inside, I found another sliding door beyond it. I opened that one as well and entered.
Countless books filled the shelves, while weapons hung from the walls beside them.
Wasn't this supposed to be a library? Why were there weapons in here?
The thought crossed my mind, but I decided to inspect the room carefully first.
As I looked around, I noticed an envelope sitting on top of a writing desk.
The recipient's name was written clearly across the front.
[Eun Seo-ho, read this.]
In other words, it was a letter meant for me.
I opened the envelope, pulled out the letter, and unfolded it.
[Everything in this room is part of the collection I gathered over the years. I have decided to leave all of it to you.]
My eyes widened.
Elder, what in the world are you talking about?
[I don't know how much longer I have left to live, but if a brat like you is willing to accept these things from me, I suppose I'll be able to say I lived a rather worthwhile life before I go.
Don't refuse. It wouldn't be like you.]
I lowered the letter.
He really did know me far too well.
After he'd gone so far as to put it that way, how could I possibly refuse what he wanted to leave behind?
But Elder, if you've been drinking the Longevity Herb decoction I gave you, you should have at least another ten years left in you…
Aren't you doing this a little early?
Then again, the Longevity Herb I'd given him was probably something even he could never have anticipated.
I smiled as I recalled the final sentence.
[My true birthday is the fifth day of the Seventh Month.]
Honestly, Elder.
That was the exact same birthday I'd already known.
Which meant there had never been some separate, secret “real birthday” in the first place.
The whole thing had been an excuse and a test so he could pass this library on to me.
And I supposed this library was the reward he'd prepared for the day I finally figured out his real birthday.
Then I'll accept it gratefully.
For some reason, my heart felt lighter.
At the same time, I couldn't help wondering exactly what he'd collected here that he thought worth leaving to me.
Once I started examining everything, I couldn't help but be astonished.
The books were all remarkably rare, and the weapons were no less exceptional, the sort of items that could never be found easily.
Even the spirit herbs stored off to one side were things I rarely saw even through the Eunhae Merchant Group.
Among all of them, however, one particular item caught my eye. It was a single book.
[Rejoicing in the First Snow (初雪喜)]
A title that meant taking joy in the season's first snowfall.
The pull I felt toward it was so strong that I found myself walking over before I even realized it.
I picked up the book and opened it.
[Child newly entered into Snow Wind Palace, do you remember the joy you felt when you once played beneath falling snow?]
Huh? Wait, what?
My eyes flew wide open in shock.
This is… a Snow Wind Palace martial arts manual.
Why is this here? No, how did Elder even get his hands on it?
Snow Wind Palace was an extremely secluded sect.
It could hardly be otherwise, since most of Snow Wind Palace's disciples had been born to women of the North Sea Ice Palace.
On top of that, everything had been thoroughly burned to ashes on the day disaster struck Snow Wind Palace.
Given all that, finding a Snow Wind Palace martial arts manual here was nothing short of astonishing.
Master is going to love this.
As I continued reading, I realized it was a manual meant to teach disciples who had only just entered Snow Wind Palace.
If Snow Wind Palace was ever going to be rebuilt and endure for generations, the martial arts that formed its foundation would be crucial, especially its basic techniques.
I'd already been worrying about that very problem, and now this manual had fallen straight into my hands!
I'd wondered why I'd suddenly felt so determined to uncover Elder Hwangbo Hwi's birthday and win his gift. Apparently, this was the reason.
The more I read, the more I discovered things I had never been taught myself.
The origins of Snow Wind Palace, for example, and the proper mindset one was supposed to cultivate while learning its martial arts.
Whenever Master taught me martial arts, he would sometimes voice her regret.
“Snow Wind Palace originally had a foundational martial arts manual. If it had survived, your training would have been far more efficient. It's a shame.” he would say.
Now that I'd read this manual for myself, I finally understood why Master had regretted its loss so deeply.
I'll have to take this with me and give it to Master first.
Elder said everything here was mine, so there shouldn't be any problem with taking it now.
I searched for any other books connected to Snow Wind Palace, but couldn't find another.
Then again, finding Rejoicing in the First Snow alone was already an enormous gain.
I should bring Elder some good tea next time.
.
.
.
The next morning.
After breakfast, I requested a meeting with the Clan Lord.
I was leisurely strolling through the rear garden when one of the Clan Lord's attendants came looking for me.
“The Clan Lord is asking for you.”
“Understood.”
But the attendant's expression seemed a little darker than usual.
We'd already solved the whetstone problem, so what could possibly have…
Ah! Could it be that?
Before long, I arrived at the Clan Lord's office and went inside.
“This humble merchant, Eun Seo-ho, greets the Clan Lord.”
“Come in.”
“I entered Elder Hwangbo Hwi's library last night. Do I need to return the key?”
He waved a hand at my question.
“There's no need. Hwi left that place to you, so why would you return the key to me?”
“I see.”
“And you may continue keeping everything in the library here for now. After Hwi dies, the library itself will have to be returned to the clan, so you'll need to take your belongings out then.”
“Then I'll take everything inside when that time comes.”
“Do that.”
The Clan Lord nodded readily, then held out a token to me.
“It's an entry pass.”
“Excuse me?”
“If you're going to keep using that library, you'll need to be able to enter the main estate freely, won't you? You came with Seon-yu this time, so there wasn't a problem, but if you were to come alone, the entry procedures would be rather troublesome.”
“I see. Thank you. I'll accept it gratefully.”
Come to think of it, just how many tokens do I have now? At this rate, I'm going to end up with an epithet like the Token Collector.
I accepted the token and slipped it into my robe.
“You told me something yesterday. You said I should keep Uk under surveillance.”
“Ah, yes. I did.”
“How did you know?”
“Excuse me?”
“I'm asking how you knew Uk was secretly colluding with the Namgoong Clan.”
Considering he'd just discovered that his own grandson was a traitor, his expression was surprisingly calm, but I quickly realized I'd been mistaken.
He was only pretending to be calm.
Because his eyes were blazing with fury.
The reason I'd realized Young Lord Hwangbo Uk was the traitor was thanks to Lady Seohyang's advice.
But I obviously couldn't tell him that.
“I'm afraid that's a trade secret.”
–TL Notes–
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