Chapter 176
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 176
Chapter 176. Traces of Seolpung Palace (3)
Huh?
Something felt strange, so I looked up.
The area around me was a barren field covered in snow.
Was I dreaming?
I was definitely reading a secret manual in the cave.
Then, I heard someone's voice behind me.
“Are you here?”
“...?”
When I turned around, the handsome man I had seen in my dream was looking at me.
“Are you the investigator?”
He nodded in response to my question and said,
“Raise your sword.”
“What?”
“Raise your sword and perform the technique called ‘snowfall.’”
I tilted my head at his words, but figured he must have a reason, so I obediently drew my sword and performed the first technique, “Kangseol.”
However, he frowned when he saw my sword technique.
“What is that? What kind of sloppy sword technique is that?”
“...What?”
I couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
He meant that my sword technique was a mess.
Gangseol was definitely the technique I was most confident in.
Not only had I practiced it the most as it was the first technique, but I also knew its true meaning because I had learned all the techniques.
Furthermore, my Master had also recognized it as excellent.
But when the investigator saw my technique, he frowned and shook his head with a look of disapproval, which made me feel embarrassed.
“Isn't this it?”
“No.”
“The movements are correct, aren't they? It's exactly the same as the secret technique you taught me.”
“The movements are the same. But you don't fully understand its true meaning. Just because the form is the same, does that make it Gangseol?”
“...”
His words made me curious.
“Then what is the real Gangseol? I've never seen it, so how can I understand its true meaning?”
The instructor nodded at my words.
“Yes, you're right. It's better to show you once than to explain it a hundred times.”
As he said that, the investigator made a slight gesture with his hand, and the sword in my hand was suddenly in his.
But it looked completely different from when I was holding it.
“The shape of the Eunmu Sword has changed.”
“This sword does not have a fixed form. It takes the form that best suits its owner. That is why it is called Eunmu Sword.”
It was named Eunmu Sword because it was like a formless sword, like mist.
That must be why it can control mist.
“Now, watch closely.”
“...!”
The moment he held the sword, I felt a chill.
And I felt a coldness that I hadn't felt in a long time.
A coldness that pierced my flesh.
Ah...
It started snowing.
The sword qi scattered by the investigator's movements was like snow falling in the middle of winter.
I was only able to regain my senses after the technique was over.
And I was surprised once again.
That was because everything around me had been completely destroyed.
“...
”This is what Gangseol is."
I knew that Gangseol was a more powerful technique than I had imagined, but I couldn't have imagined it would be this powerful.
“Gangseol is to forcefully turn the surroundings into winter and at the same time lay the foundation to continue fighting. As you know, Tae-eum Byeonghae Gong is more effective when the surrounding temperature is low.”
“That's true.”
“So that you can fight even in the desert.”
The investigator smiled.
“And then you destroy them with your sword qi.”
“...”
Was it just my imagination that the investigator seemed to have an unusual personality?
.
.
.
When I opened my eyes, I was back in the cave from earlier.
Was it a dream?
When I looked down, I found that I was holding the silver sword in my hand again.
Should I try it?
I stood up and recalled the technique that the investigator had shown me in my dream.
Recalling that memory, I slowly moved the sword.
.
.
.
Finally, I was able to incorporate the true meaning of the technique into my technique.
“Is this it?”
Did he hear my question?
The part of the secret manual where the first technique was written disappeared as if sand had been scattered by the wind.
Could it be...
Once I master all the techniques, this secret manual will disappear?
At that moment, my vision spun.
“Hm?”
I was standing on a snow-covered field again. And the investigator was standing in front of me.
“We meet again.”
“That means you have mastered the technique of snowfall. Let's see.”
At his words, I immediately performed the technique of snowfall, and the investigator nodded.
“Not bad, not bad.”
Yes.
I'm glad you passed.
“Does that mean I have to master all the techniques of the Jinseolshik to graduate from the Dojo?”
He smiled and nodded at my question.
“Yes.”
So I really had to master everything to graduate.
I felt lost, but at the same time, I felt relieved.
I now had a clear goal.
“But, Master. There are people waiting for me outside, and also…”
“Even if you say that, there is only one thing I can do for you.”
“Yes?”
“That is to help you master the Jinseolshik sword technique as quickly as possible.”
That's right.
The sooner I mastered it, the sooner I could leave this place.
How much time had passed?
To be honest, I was very worried at first. It was as if I had disappeared.
But fortunately, the things I had arranged would continue to run smoothly even without me.
I felt sorry for Pal-gap and the guards, but it was a situation I couldn't help.
How could I have known this would happen?
Still, if they returned, Master would understand the situation and let my parents know.
So I tried my best to focus on my sword training.
I realized that this was an incredible opportunity that I couldn't get even if I paid a fortune.
Not only did I have time to focus solely on martial arts, but I was also being taught directly by the founder of the Jinseolshik Sword Technique.
How should I put it?
Is it like the one-on-one instruction that is popular in Beijing?
And I finally realized how amazing the Hyunryongseong technique is.
When my master said that I had great insight, I wasn't particularly impressed, but now I understand how important that is for a martial artist.
When I saw what my master showed me, I just knew how to do it.
I can't explain it in words, but I just know when I see it.
When I asked the investigator about this, he smiled and said, “It's because you're a genius like me.”
Isn't that bragging?
Anyway, I don't know how much time has passed, but it feels like five years have passed.
Now, there are only two techniques left in the secret manual.
The eleventh technique is “White Night” and the twelfth technique is “Snow Flower.”
I hadn't learned them in my current life, and although I had learned them in my previous life, my skill level was only mediocre, so I had only scratched the surface.
My Master said that only when I reached the peak of my skill would I be able to understand the true nature of those two techniques.
.
.
.
“I'm here.”
“Yes.”
I was now used to this, so I bowed to the investigator.
The investigator immediately took my silver sword and swung it.
“...!”
At that moment, I saw the true nature of the White Night, something I had never seen before in my entire life.
A white night.
It wasn't a bright night because the sun was still up.
It was a white night because even the sun was frozen.
It wasn't actually frozen, but it felt that way.
It wasn't this bad when Master showed me.
The investigator put away his sword and said.
“This is what a white night is.”
“Wow, this is really difficult.”
“Why? It's just the first ten techniques combined.”
The investigator was right.
That's why it might seem simple, but I didn't think so.
“Each technique must be coordinated so that they don't clash with each other. Calculating that must be really difficult. Did you think about that when you created it?”
The investigator turned his head slightly and cleared his throat in response to my question.
“Hmm.”
Seeing that, I knew the answer.
He didn't think about the people who would learn this, but created it based on his own standards.
He could calculate it intuitively.
As I stared at the investigator, he looked at the distant mountains and said.
“I didn't know my disciples were so lacking.”
“...”
There was nothing I could say here.
The sword technique had already been created, and the investigator was already dead.
The problem was those who remained.
The investigator had given me a huge reward and asked me to rebuild Seolpung Palace, but in order to do so, it seemed necessary to improve the sword technique.
“But isn't the Jinseolshik Sword Technique only taught to direct descendants?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Yes?”
“That sword technique was taught to all disciples of Seolpung Palace.”
“...”
I was at a loss for words.
Didn't Master say that the Jinseolshik Sword Technique was a family specialty?
“In the first place, Seolpung Palace does not have martial arts that only direct descendants can learn. The Palace Head of Seolpung Palace is not a direct descendant of the Palace Head, but the strongest martial artist recognized by the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the disciples of Seolpung Palace.”
“...”
It seemed that the rules of Seolpung Palace had changed little by little over the years.
In that case, there should be no problem in turning my idea into reality.
“Um, so would it be okay if I tweaked the Jinseolshik Sword Technique a little?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“To make it easier to learn.”
After thinking about what I said for a moment, the investigator nodded.
“Yes, do as you wish.”
I got his permission.
A long time passed again.
Finally, only the last technique, Seoljunghwa, remained.
A flower blooming in the snow.
“It's finally the last technique.”
I nodded at the master's words.
“Yes. It's time to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?”
The master smiled slightly.
“Why do you think so?”
“Well... It's the last technique of the Jinseolshik Sword Technique.”
“Do you think the Jinseolshik Sword Technique is the only martial art I created?”
“....”
Um... That's true.
Master said he had many other martial arts, but they were lost in battle.
“Time has its good points, but it also has its bad points. That's because things that existed disappear.”
“...”
I asked, just in case.
“Surely this isn't the only place where I can learn sword techniques?”
“No, I've created places all over the place.”
That was his answer.
Did that mean I had to go through all this hardship again?
I wanted to decline.
Did he read my mind? The investigator said with a sad look in his eyes.
“But they are meant to be passed on to my successor in exchange for my life.”
“...”
“If my successor does not learn them, the martial arts of Seolpung Palace will disappear forever.”
Why are you being so mean?
The Elder is crying.
This is cheating.
“That was a long story. Let's get back to training.”
Master looked serious and raised his sword.
“Watch carefully. This is the final technique of the Twelve Swords of Jinseol. It is called Seoljunghwa.”
Snow was falling lightly.
Was it sleet?
No, it was snow.
Amidst the fierce wind, he felt something warm.
Warmth?
No, it was heat.
He had heard that before. When the cold becomes extreme, it can cause burns.
That's right.
The extreme of yin is the extreme of yang.
Puff!
And then, a single flower bloomed in the snow.
It was beautiful.
.
.
.
Another long time passed.
When he had perfectly mastered the Snow Flower and woke up again, the secret book had disappeared, like sand blown away by the wind.
Then my eyes closed.
Finally, I escaped from this place.
How much time had passed?
Everyone must be worried.
I must hurry back.
But then I heard a voice.
“Young master? Why are you standing there in a daze?”
“Huh?”
In front of me stood a rock. It was the rock with the words engraved on it, demanding proof of my qualifications.
When I turned around, Pal-gap and the guards were looking at me.
For a moment, I wondered what was going on.
“Have I been standing here the whole time?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How long?”
“How many hours? What are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
“You've been standing there for about half an hour.”
“What?”
I'm sure I've been training in the cave for at least a few years, but you're saying I've only been standing there for half an hour?
I looked at the rock again, but there were no words on it.
“The writing is gone?”
“What?”
“What writing?”
I raised my inner arts and touched the rock, but there was no response.
What was that? Was it an illusion?
.
.
.
We returned to the inn at the Northern Sea Ice Palace. Then I went to my room alone.
I had to check if the treasure I had hidden in the secret storage room was also an illusion.
I carefully opened the secret storage room.
“This is...”
There was a huge amount of gold and silver treasures, as well as a sword made of ice and a sword hilt.
I had no idea how this had happened, but one thing was certain.
The investigator of Seolpung Palace is the best.