Chapter 162
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 162
Chapter 162. Master's Request (1)
I was taken aback by Heukjeok's words.
Asking about my relationship with my master meant that he had guessed something.
Come to think of it, someone like Heukjeok would have noticed.
My constitution and my martial arts skills were obvious.
My master had told me not to tell anyone that I was his disciple, so I had deliberately kept it a secret, but I couldn't hide it here.
“I am...”
But before I could finish, another voice interrupted me.
“He is my disciple, Palm Print.”
I looked up and saw my master standing there.
When did you come back from your trip?
I glanced around and saw clothes piled high in the laundry basket.
You just got back.
My master bowed respectfully to Heukjeok.
“It's been a long time, Master.”
“Yes, it's been a long time. But you're his disciple?”
“Yes.”
Heukjeok-ui-seon looked at me for a moment, nodded, and asked again.
“I see. Then, what is your disciple's relationship with Seolpunggung?”
“There is no relationship. I just took him as my disciple because we happened to meet.”
“Is that so?”
At that moment, the door opened and Samo came out and greeted him.
“Father, you're here.”
“Yes.”
“....”
“....”
It may seem frustrating that they were just staring at each other without saying a word, but I didn't feel that way.
I knew the abilities of Heukjeok.
I remembered when he visited me in my previous life to cure my illness.
When asked if I treated her well knowing that she was his daughter, I replied that I only cared for people and valued their talents.
Then Heukjeok-ui Seon said,
“You are sincere. That's why he asked you to do this.”
Based on that statement, I deduced that Jukrim Jiknyeo had seen through my sincerity.
The fact that they both reacted in the same way meant that they both had the same ability.
Both Heukjeok and my mother would stare intently at someone when they were talking to them.
I looked at Heukjeok and my wife.
Judging from the subtle changes in their expressions, they were reading each other's minds without saying a word.
Seeing my Master standing calmly beside them, I realized that he already knew.
But... he seems a little uncomfortable.
Then again, is there anyone who feels comfortable in front of their master?
Hyung-nim Jung-ho also seemed uncomfortable in front of Principal Jin.
At that moment, Heuk-jik turned his head and said to Master.
“Tsk, tsk, you're hurt.”
What? Master is hurt? I didn't know!
So Master didn't look uncomfortable because he was in front of my father, but because of his injury.
I quickly asked Master.
“Are you injured?”
“I just got slightly injured during my trip. It's nothing to worry about.”
He said it calmly, but if Heukjeok-ui Seon was shaking his head, it couldn't be a minor injury.
What happened to injure a master like Master?
I had to find out.
Heukjeok-ui Seon said bluntly.
“Let's go inside. I need to take a look at it.”
“Thank you.”
Still, I felt somewhat relieved knowing that Heukjeok-ui Seon would treat him.
My role in guiding them here was over, and I could pay him later, so I decided to leave.
“Then I will be on my way.”
“Good work.”
“Take care of him.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, Master. Please take care of him.”
With that, I left them behind and returned to the Eunhae Trading Company.
That evening, when I heard that Heukjeok had returned, I headed for the guest quarters where he was staying.
At that moment, I heard the sound of a flute.
The beautiful sound was the work of Heukjeok.
I recognized it because I had heard him play the flute in my previous life.
It was because of that flute that he came to be called Heukjeok.
Unlike his usual words and actions, the sound of his flute was gentle, yet melancholic and sad.
Today, it sounded particularly sad.
When I arrived at the entrance of the annex, the sound of the flute stopped. Heukjeok-ui Seon was sitting in front of a stone table in front of the annex and looked at me and said, “You're here?”
“Yes.”
"I have brought you a small gift to show my gratitude for treating my brother's children.
I approached him, clasped my hands together, and said,
“I brought a small gift to thank you for treating my Hyung-nim's children.”
I took the slip of paper from my pocket and handed it to him.
He took it, looked at it, and put it in his pocket without saying a word.
“I'll be going now.”
I bowed and turned to leave, but I couldn't help but turn back.
“Thank you.”
“Yes?”
“My daughter, my children, and my son-in-law are all here now, and it is thanks to you that we were able to settle down.”
He continued with a bitter expression.
“To be honest, even though I know you have your reasons, it was hard to see you wandering around.”
“I didn't do anything, but I'm glad I could be of help.”
“I knew you would say that. I plan to leave early tomorrow morning.”
“Please stay a little longer. You're injured, Master.”
“It'll heal with some medicine.”
“...Oh, I see.”
Heukjeok replied curtly to my words.
“I gave you medicine, so take care of yourself. It's time for me to go now.”
“I'm sorry to see you go.”
“Parting is always sad.”
“Thank you for accepting my request.”
“I didn't want to refuse you.”
After a moment of silence, Heuk-jik-ui-seon said goodbye.
“Then I'll be going.”
“Yes. I'll say goodbye now. Take care.”
With that, I left Heukjeok's private quarters.
Heukjeok had saved my life in my previous life. So, with that in mind, I added some money of my own to the reward my father had given me.
I smiled wryly.
He tried to appear calm, but I could see his hands trembling.
You are so honest.
.
.
.
The next morning.
When I woke up, Pal-gap told me that Heuk-jik had left.
“Really?”
“Yes, he was like the wind.”
I nodded at Pal-gap's words.
He really was a man who came and went like the wind.
But I felt that we would meet again someday.
Not simply because his daughter and son-in-law lived nearby, but because I had a feeling that we would meet again for some other reason.
.
.
.
As soon as I finished my breathing exercises, my Master entered my annex.
He always enters at exactly the right moment.
“Good morning.”
“Yes, Master. Good morning. Are you okay?”
“I'm fine. Let's start training.”
And so, under my Master's guidance, I trained really hard again today.
The strange thing is that he stops right when I feel like I really can't do it anymore.
But it made me a little sad that the limit was getting later and later.
When I was panting for breath, my Master looked at me and said, “Tomorrow, you will learn the tenth move of the Ten Moves of the Snow Avalanche, which can be called a true wide-area technique.”
“Starting tomorrow, you will learn a technique that can be called a true wide-area technique.”
“What?”
Could it be that?
“It is the tenth technique of the Jinseolshik Sword Technique, called Seolbong. Seolbong is an expression of an avalanche in sword technique, and it is a technique that can be useful when facing multiple enemies.”
I was excited.
In my previous life, my martial arts skills were top-notch, so I didn't know the true power of this technique.
At that time, my master said that in order to understand its true power, I had to reach at least the peak of my abilities.
My master's words stopped my thoughts.
“And I would like to have a word with you.”
My master looked serious.
I realized that this was not a casual conversation.
“Yes, I will go wash up.”
“Go ahead.”
With Pal-gap's help, I quickly washed up and headed to the reception room in my annex where my master was waiting.
My master was drinking tea and looking at the scenery from the reception room.
I sat down in front of my master, and Pal-gap poured tea for us.
Perhaps because it was still before dinner, the tea was made from grains.
Typical Pal-gap.
My master took a sip of tea and then spoke.
“I asked to speak with you because I have a request.”
My master has a request for me?
I was slightly surprised, but also curious. What could be so serious that he would ask me with such a grave expression?
“I am listening.”
“I believe you know that I am from Seolpung Palace.”
“Yes, you told me before.”
“My Palm print master has found a place that may be related to Seolpung Palace. I would like to go and check it out, but as you know, I am injured and cannot travel that far.”
Master cleared his throat and continued.
“And my wife won't let me go.”
“....”
“We need to go there before winter, so we have to leave before the end of June. That's why I'm asking you. Please go there and confirm that those are indeed the remains of Seolpung Palace.”
“I...”
“Of course, I know it's not easy. You're busy, and it's a long way to go.”
“It's not that. How will I know if it's really the remains of Seolpung Palace?”
“Don't worry about that. As Palm print said, if it is the remains of Seolpung Palace, it will react to the martial arts of Seolpung Palace.”
.
.
.
After hearing my master's request, I asked for some time to think about it.
If it were a nearby place, I would have readily agreed, but the place you mentioned was the North Sea.
The North Sea is far away and the road is extremely dangerous.
However, it was not easy to refuse.
The slip of paper in my hand.
It was money my master gave me as a commission.
That must mean he is desperate.
Enough to make such a request, or rather, commission, to me.
If my master had not been injured, I would have rushed there immediately.
After much deliberation, I called for Pal-gap.
“Pal-gap.”
“Yes, young master.”
“Pack my bags.”
“What? Where are you going?”
“To the North Sea.”
“...
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.
.
That afternoon
I headed to my father's office to get permission for an outside appointment.
”Come in.“
When I entered the office, my father looked up and asked,
”What is it? Didn't we discuss important matters at the Eungwolgak meeting earlier?"
I responded directly to my father's question.
“Father, I would like to visit the North Sea.”
“The North Sea? Have you recently discovered a restaurant with that name?”
“If that were the case, I would not have mentioned it.”
“The North Sea, where the north wind blows fiercely?”
“Yes.”
“The North Sea, where the ice palace is located?”
“Yes.”
My father seemed taken aback and asked several times, but soon regained his composure and asked me.
“Why?”
“It's a personal request.”
After thinking for a moment, my father sighed deeply and said.
“Well, if it's something you want to do, there must be a reason. I understand. Be careful on your trip.”
“Thank you.”
“So when are you planning to go?”
“I plan to leave as soon as possible.”
After receiving my father's permission, I returned to my private quarters and thought about what I needed to be careful of at this time of year.
There wouldn't be anything, right?
.
.
.
That afternoon.
I informed Pal-gap and my four bodyguards that I had decided to go to the North Sea.
The four bodyguards nodded without any particular reaction to my words.
“By the way, has anyone here been to the North Sea?”
In response to my question, Jin-yu said, “I know a little about it.”
Come to think of it, my master had said that Jinmu was “an old acquaintance.”
I guessed that they were probably from the same school.
That would explain why he knew about the North Sea.
“However, I don't know much about recent developments.”
That was to be expected, so I just nodded.
That evening
I headed for the bookstore where the old man who ran the general store lived.
Before going to the North Sea, I had to say goodbye to the old man and ask him to tell the emperor that I would be late in completing my task.
Actually, I would be passing through Beijing on my way there, but meeting the emperor would take a lot of time.
As we were walking, Pal-gap asked me, “Are you worried?”
“Are you worried?”
“I've decided to go to the North Sea, but there's a problem.”
“What is it? From the look on your face, it seems to be quite serious.”
“I won't be able to see Gun-hyeok and Bo-yeon while I'm in the North Sea. What if they forget my face?”
“What?”
Pal-gap was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained his composure and said,
“Don't worry, everything will be fine. Even if it's been three years since you've seen them, they will treat you as if it were only yesterday.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. In this dirty world where people only care about appearances, that is certain.”
Huh? Something seems strange about what he said.