At dawn the next day, I finished my Breathing Meditation, got up, and left my quarters.
Escort Guard Myeong Jong, who had been guarding me outside, spoke.
“If you've finished your Breathing Meditation, you should go to the training grounds now. Escort Chief Gwak is waiting for you.”
“What? My master is already here?”
“Yes. He arrived about an hour ago.”
Oh, no! What kind of disciple kept his master waiting?
I hurried to the training grounds and found my master swinging his sword.
“I'm sorry I'm late.”
My master sheathed his sword as he answered my apology.
“No, I simply came early. I needed to examine these training grounds carefully for your training today, Deputy Merchant Lord.”
Come to think of it, whenever we changed training grounds, my master would come early to inspect the ground and its surroundings closely.
He'd said then that in a fight, one had to take in the surroundings, even the soil underfoot and the wind, to improve one's chances of winning.
This would have been for a similar reason.
“Let's do one easy lap around the training grounds before we start.”
“Yes.”
And so a lesson from my master that I hadn't expected began.
.
.
.
A little later, I was panting hard, dragging in one breath after another.
Was the sky really yellow? Or did it look yellow because I was exhausted?
I'd been in the Profound realm for quite some time, but my master's training still tested my limits.
Every time, he stopped just before I reached the point of thinking, ‘Ah, I can't do any more. I'm done for.’
This time was no different.
“Kui? Kui?”
Geumryeong sat just below my neck and tapped my face with its front paws.
Was I all right? Did I look all right?
Ah… Since I could answer with a question, I must be all right?
I had nothing to say to that. Hmph.
“Still, perhaps because you've learned Rejoicing in the First Snow, your movements are certainly better than before.”
My master's voice reached me then.
I sat up as I answered.
“I felt it too. Since then, my feet have somehow felt lighter.”
“That explains why you held up so well even though I pushed you a little harder than before.”
What? M-Master? What did you say?
Whew. So there was a reason I'd collapsed so quickly, even though I hadn't been neglecting my training.
“I'm proud of you, Deputy Merchant Lord.”
For a moment, my mind went blank.
Ah, I couldn't just let this slide…
My master so rarely expressed his feelings that, before I knew it, I was feeling pleased, and the shock of a moment ago was fading.
Surely he hadn't said that with this very effect in mind?
“When will you return to Hubei Province?”
“Probably early tomorrow morning.”
“You're leaving Beijing sooner than I'd expected.”
“I received a new assignment last night. If I had my way, I'd leave as soon as I'd eaten breakfast today. But the Escorts and porters who came with me need to rest.”
“I see.”
True, the Escorts and porters didn't have my master's stamina.
Come to think of it, hadn't Father decided to leave tomorrow morning too?
“Then, since you're leaving anyway, why don't you travel with my father?”
“You mean the Merchant Lord?”
“Yes. As it happens, Father said he'd return to Hubei tomorrow too.”
“Then that would be fine with me.”
“Then I'll ask Father and send you word.”
“Understood.”
My master nodded.
“There's something I'd like to ask you, though.”
“Yes. Please go ahead.”
“Have you told the Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace about your marriage?”
“Ah…”
At my reaction, my master spoke.
“It seems you haven't told her yet.”
“Your thoughtless disciple hadn't considered that.”
Lady Seohyang and I had decided to marry in the Twelfth Month of last year.
Since then, I'd resolved the Sword Tomb incident at Springview Fortress, repaired the damage from the earthquake in Sichuan Province, gone to Nanjing with the Crown Prince… And after visiting the Hwangbo Clan, I'd resolved the counterfeit-draft case discovered at the Geumsan Money House.
It had been a truly eventful half year.
So I'd had no time to send word to the North Sea Ice Palace.
My master spoke.
“When the Young Palace Lord of Snow Wind Palace marries, custom requires the Young Palace Lord and his bride to visit the Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace in person and tell her. If you don't, she'll be very hurt.”
“…”
“Even setting that custom aside, I believe the two of you are quite close. Wouldn't it be right to tell her in person out of consideration for her?”
“I hadn't thought of it. Thank you for reminding your foolish disciple.”
“And… that old hag is a bit petty. She'll keep showing you how hurt she is for a long time to come.”
“…”
M-Master…
Anyway, if it hadn't been for my master, I could have made a serious mistake.
I needed to make plans to go to the North Sea Ice Palace as soon as possible.
I also needed to deliver a wedding invitation to Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun of the Gwangjun Merchant Group, after all.
.
.
.
At breakfast, I ate with Father, and Lady Seohyang sat beside me.
Father had said that since we were getting married anyway, we should eat breakfast together.
My eldest brother's wife was there too. Brother Jeong-ho was away in Shandong.
“The pine nut porridge is really good today.”
“Yes. It seems especially good today.”
I gently brought up the subject with Father.
“Father, you said you'd return to Headquarters tomorrow.”
“Yes. I can't leave Headquarters unattended for too long.”
“As it happens, my master says he's returning to Hubei Province tomorrow morning too. So I was wondering, why don't you travel with him?”
Father smiled at my suggestion.
“You must be worried about me.”
“Of course, I'm not dismissing the strength of the Eunpoong Division members who came with you. But it would be safer to travel with my master's group too. The Eunpoong Division would be less tired as well.”
“Hmm, that's true. Are you asking them to take on an escort commission, then?”
“No. You'd simply be traveling together. But could the Changin Escort Bureau just stand by if the Merchant Lord of its biggest customer were in danger?”
“True enough.”
Father nodded and chuckled.
Hm? Why was he laughing?
I tilted my head, but Father said nothing.
So I brought up another subject.
“Ah… And Father, Lady Seohyang and I will be going to the North Sea for a little while.”
“To the North Sea?”
“Yes. There's someone we need to give a wedding invitation to, so we need to go.”
After looking at me for a moment, Father nodded.
“All right. Have a safe trip.”
“Yes. I'll be careful.”
* * *
Gwak Myeong-hyeon, Chief of the Changin Escort Bureau, approached Eun Gil-sang, Merchant Lord of the Eunhae Merchant Group.
“I look forward to traveling with you.”
“And I look forward to your company.”
Eun Seo-ho and the people of the Beijing Branch came out to see them off.
“Have a safe journey, everyone.”
“We'll see you again.”
“You take care on your trip too.”
After they exchanged their farewells, Gwak Myeong-hyeon spoke to the party.
“Move out!”
“Yes!”
The procession slowly began to move.
Eun Seo-ho and the others remained standing there for a long while.
The carriage window creaked open. Eun Gil-sang leaned his face out and spoke to Gwak Myeong-hyeon, who was riding a horse beside him.
“I appreciate the trouble you've taken to humor my boy.”
“Please don't concern yourself. In fact, if the Deputy Merchant Lord hadn't asked, I would have offered to travel with you myself.”
“Would you?”
“You're the Changin Escort Bureau's most important customer, after all.”
“Isn't there another reason as well?”
Eun Gil-sang was the father of Gwak Myeong-hyeon's disciple, the Young Palace Lord. If something happened to Eun Gil-sang…
It was something Gwak Myeong-hyeon didn't want to think about.
That was why he'd agreed to Eun Seo-ho's request: to prevent it.
But he didn't answer Eun Gil-sang's question. He only smiled.
“There's something I'd like to ask.”
“Please go ahead.”
“Just how skilled is Seo-ho?”
“What?”
“The boy has never told me exactly how good he is.”
Gwak Myeong-hyeon answered.
“He's known publicly as a Peak Warrior, isn't he?”
“That's what they say. But from what I've seen, I have my doubts that he's really in the Peak realm.”
“In the martial world, they say to keep thirty percent of your skill hidden. I hope that answers your question.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Eun Gil-sang nodded. He'd understood the meaning hidden in that answer, which sounded like a riddle.
Gwak Myeong-hyeon recalled crossing swords with Eun Seo-ho while supervising his training yesterday morning.
Eun Seo-ho's growth had been astonishing.
Was this the true potential of someone born with the Black Dragon Star Body?
A very long time ago, Gwak Myeong-hyeon had learned about the Black Dragon Star Body.
The Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace had that constitution.
And so he'd asked his father about it.
“Father, the Qi I sensed from the Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace was far from ordinary.”
“If you could sense that, you've grown capable enough to succeed me.”
“Is there something special about her?”
“Yes. The Palace Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace was born with the Black Dragon Star Body. It's the finest constitution for a woman who harbors Yin Qi.”
His father had explained the Black Dragon Star Body to him.
“Then can a man ever be born with the Black Dragon Star Body?”
“Of course. And a prophecy concerning that has been passed down in our Snow Wind Palace.”
“A prophecy?”
“You've reached a level where you can recognize the Black Dragon Star Body, so I suppose I can pass the prophecy on to you.”
His father continued.
“It says that someone chosen by Snow Wind and born with the Black Dragon Star Body will lead Snow Wind Palace to prosperity through exceptional insight and talent.”
“I see.”
“But there's a condition. He must live past forty.”
“Why is that?”
“A man being born with the Black Dragon Star Body is extremely rare. What's more, the constitution comes with a problem he must overcome.”
“What problem?”
“Around the age of fifteen, when his male characteristics fully emerge, he begins to weaken rapidly. The Yang Qi in his body clashes with the Water Qi of his constitution.”
“Then is there no way to overcome it?”
“Yin Qi Elixirs and Yin Qi martial arts. If those are used properly, he'll flourish like a fish returned to water.”
“I see!”
“But… Even with that, living past forty isn't easy.”
“What? Why? If the clash of Qi is resolved, can't his talent blossom fully?”
His father shook his head at the question.
“I don't know either. The Yang Qi that's been suppressed might erupt. He might draw the jealousy of those around him. Or heaven might be short of talented people and take him early.”
“…”
“I've gone on at length, but the Palace Lord of our Snow Wind Palace has a duty to care for any boy he finds who was born with the Black Dragon Star Body. He is the one who will lead Snow Wind Palace to prosperity. We must do whatever we can to keep him alive until forty. That's why recognizing someone born with the Black Dragon Star Body is one of the important qualifications for becoming the next successor.”
Gwak Myeong-hyeon had gone to thank the Young Master who'd saved his eldest son, and he'd been astonished.
Their bond had begun then and continued ever since.
In truth, at first he'd taught Eun Seo-ho martial arts out of duty and a desire to repay the kindness he'd received.
But before he knew it, Eun Seo-ho had come to occupy a place in his heart all his own.
He returned to his memories of that conversation with his father.
“Then, Father, how can we help him live past forty?”
“According to the records passed down to us, the Patriarch of Snow Wind Palace was also born with the Black Dragon Star Body, and he lived past forty. Judging by that, there is one way.”
“What is it?”
“Transcendent.”
“What?”
“The Transcendent realm is said to let one twist and change even fate. If he reaches it, he'll have a chance of living past forty.”
Gwak Myeong-hyeon clenched his fist.
If that was the only way, he had to get the Young Palace Lord into the Transcendent realm, whatever it took.
Eun Seo-ho was now twenty-four.
There were still fifteen whole years left until he turned forty.
But for Eun Seo-ho's sake as well, Gwak Myeong-hyeon could never stop his own training.
* * *
Brother Jeong-ho returned from Jinan.
“Welcome back, Brother!”
“Thanks.”
“Father went home a little while ago.”
“I know. He stopped in Jinan on his way back.”
Ah, he could go through Jinan with only a small detour, so he'd stopped to see him.
“How did things go?”
Brother grinned at my question.
“How do you think they went? They practically fell over, saying they'd never seen whetstones of such high quality.”
“But they'd seen the samples.”
“Usually, people bring their very best as samples. And there's no way to tell whether they really came from that quarry.”
“That's true.”
That was why they made inspections in person.
“Then I'll leave the rest to you, Brother.”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“I'm going out for a little while with Lady Seohyang tomorrow morning.”
Brother Jeong-ho looked steadily at me before speaking.
“A little while? Be honest. How many days is this ‘little while’?”
“About fifteen days…? We're going to the North Sea Branch.”
“Hey! A trip to the North Sea takes more than fifteen days! Don't you lie to me!”
But I wasn't lying.
I'd be riding a River-Crossing Horse.
.
.
.
That afternoon, I busied myself with preparations for the journey to the North Sea.
The road to the North Sea was rough, and I had not one but two things to do there.
Hmm. The weather was nice. Should I take a short walk?
As I walked through the rear garden, I saw a Warrior from the Eunpoong Division with a youthful face approaching me.
That face looked strangely familiar. The Warrior bowed deeply to me with a cupped-fist salute.
“My respects, Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“What is it?”
“I've come to ask a favor. I heard you're going to the North Sea. Would you deliver this letter to Uncle Gu Pyo, a Supervisor at the North Sea Branch?”
Now that I looked, there was a letter in the Warrior's hand.
“That's no trouble. But what's your name?”
“Ah! I'm sorry. I should have introduced myself first… My name is Ma Sun-bok.”
That name took me completely by surprise.
What?
–TL Notes–
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