Chapter 238
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 238
Chapter 238. It Was Here (3)
Unlike usual, Geum-ryung did not swallow the silver coin I gave him.
He put the silver coin in his mouth, approached the stone structure in Seolpung Palace, and placed the coin in front of it.
“....”
I silently watched him.
Come to think of it, I met Geum-ryeong in Yunnan. It was very far from the North Sea.
There must be some story behind this.
And now, Geum-ryeong is showing his utmost sincerity in his own way to pay his respects.
Who is Geum-ryeong paying his respects to?
The former Palace Head of Seolpung? Or...
I approached Geum-ryung, patted him on the back, and said.
“If you were going to do this, why didn't you just ask for gold?”
“Kui... Kui.”
“You know better than that?”
“Kui...”
“It's okay. You can spend generously on things like this.”
I took a gold coin out of my pocket and placed it on top.
“I am Seolpung Palace disciple Eun Seo-ho, and I am here to pay my respects to Seolpung Palace Head and my seniors.”
Then, with the utmost respect, I mourned them.
As I stared at the stone monument, I felt a sense of uneasiness that I couldn't quite explain.
Without realizing it, I muttered to myself.
“What was it about Seolpung Palace that made them so desperate to destroy the entire clan?”
“I wish I knew that too.”
As if she had heard my muttering, Palace Head Bing Haerin replied.
“What was it that bothered them so much that they killed my father?”
Father?
“Could it be that your father was also...”
“He was a disciple of Seolpung Palace.”
“...”
“Excuse me, but how old are you? Seolpung Palace was definitely...”
“It was destroyed nineteen years ago. I am twenty years old this year.”
Then you're the same age as me?
As far as I know, children under the age of five are not allowed to enter the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
That means the Palace Head was only one year old at the time. Could it be...
“And I am the only child who survived when Seolpung Palace was destroyed.”
“...”
“I was very young at the time, so I don't remember much, but there is one thing I remember clearly.”
“What is that?”
“I don't know.”
She avoided answering.
Come to think of it, my question must have been rude.
The last memory of a survivor cannot be a happy one.
I quickly bowed my head.
“I'm sorry. I was rude.”
“I accept your apology.”
I stared at the stone structure where the remains of Seolpung Palace were enshrined for a long time, then turned around.
“I think we should go back now.”
Then I said to Geum-ryung.
“Geum-ryung, let's go.”
“Okay.”
Geum-ryung jumped into my sleeve.
On the way back to my quarters.
The Palace Head Binghaerin said.
“You are leaving tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“Actually, even though my disciples look frail, they are all heavy drinkers. Moreover, as they are all past their prime, they are also masters at controlling their drinking.”
“...?”
“Anyway, that's how it is.”
The next morning, I understood what the Palace Head Binghaerin meant.
.
.
.
“What?”
I unconsciously asked the disciple who was attending me.
Jin-ho got drunk?
I immediately rushed to Jin-ho.
Lying on the bed, Jin-ho was vomiting with a yellowish face.
“Ugh!”
“No! Really! How much did you drink yesterday?”
“I counted up to 120 glasses. But after that, I don't remember anything...”
“Oh no! Really!”
My sister-in-law, who was sitting next to him, looked apologetic.
“I'm so sorry. He drank all the glasses that were brought to me.”
“....”
I'm sure I made a good impression on my mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law, and the others.
But still...
“I'm fine. Let's go back as planned... Ugh!”
“How can you go back in this condition? You'll die on the way!”
“That's true... Ugh!”
What kind of alcohol did you drink over a hundred glasses of? You're lucky you didn't die from drinking so much.
Is it because my brother is a warrior on the verge of reaching his peak?
Still, they're not that clueless...
Oh, these sly people...
For some reason, I thought I knew why they made Jin-ho drink so much.
Now I can't go even if I want to.
That's what the Palace Head said. They all said it was just a drinking game.
That's what it meant.
“Anyway, let's postpone our return for a few days. I'll ask for their understanding. So take care of yourself.”
“I'm sorry. I... Ugh.”
I shook my head and left Jin-ho's room.
Then I said to my disciple who was attending to me.
“Given the circumstances, I will stay a little longer until my brother recovers.”
“I understand.”
Was it just my imagination that she looked cheerful when she replied?
“The people staying at the Bing Palace Inn will be waiting for me. Would you deliver a letter for me?”
“Of course.”
I glanced at Jin-ho's residence and thought to myself.
I felt sorry for Jin-ho, but I was glad that I had escaped quickly at that time.
However, as I stayed longer without any particular purpose, I began to feel a little bored.
There was only so much I could do with Geum-ryung...
My disciple, who was attending to me, said, “How about visiting the library?”
“The library?”
“Yes, the library.”
“Yes. There is probably no other library with as many books as the one in the main palace.”
His words piqued my curiosity.
“Can I go too?”
“You can, if you have permission from the Palace Head. And I'm sure he will give you permission.”
“Please ask him for me.”
The Palace Head gave his permission immediately.
I headed to the library, guided by my disciple.
The door to the library was smaller than I had expected.
But once I entered, I realized how foolish it was to judge by appearances.
The building was not large, but it seemed quite tall.
It was filled with bookshelves.
I wondered how the books on the upper shelves could be taken out, but when I looked closely, I saw that they were all connected by stairs.
“This is amazing. I didn't know there were so many books.”
“It is one of the prides of our palace.”
“I can see why.”
I love reading books, but I was so busy with work that I didn't have time to read.
Since I couldn't do any work here anyway, I thought it would be nice to take a break and read some books until Jin-ho's drunkenness wore off.
I hope he doesn't get drunk again.
Putting that worry aside for the moment, I slowly looked around the library and couldn't help but admire it.
There were so many books I had never seen before.
Hmmm...
As I was looking around the library, I felt a strange attraction.
It was the same feeling I had when I stopped by the bookstore on my way to Luoyang for the Baekdaesang Trading Company meeting.
It felt as if something was calling me, so I approached it.
The attraction was too strong to ignore.
That attraction led me to the fourteenth floor of the library.
“...!”
A book caught my eye.
I couldn't see any other books, and the feeling of only seeing that one book was the same as what I felt back then.
Could it be related to Seolpungung again?
I took out the book.
Just like last time, it had no cover.
“May I read it here?”
“Yes, of course. There is a place where you can read books over there.”
Following her instructions, I sat down in front of a fairly large desk on the first floor.
She left to get some snacks, and I took a deep breath and opened the book.
At that moment, I felt the energy contained in the book.
It was so faint that it was difficult to notice, but those who had mastered the Tae-Eum-Bing-Hae-Shin-Gong like me would be able to recognize it.
That energy was the Tae-Eum-Bing-Hae-Shin-Gong.
The moment it entered my body through my hands holding the book and met the energy in my qi center,
Before I had time to react, everything in front of my eyes turned white.
.
.
.
“We meet again.”
It was a familiar voice.
“Huh? Investigator?”
The investigator from Seolpung Palace was standing in front of me. And I was standing in the middle of nowhere.
“Did you make arrangements for the library of the Northern Sea Ice Palace as well?”
“Yes, I made arrangements for that as well.”
How many arrangements did you make?
I was impressed by the investigator's preparedness.
My life span is getting shorter.
“If you came here, that means you are currently in the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“Yes, I stopped by the library to take a break.”
“I made these arrangements half-heartedly, but you really are an amazing person.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
I'm not immune to compliments, but for some reason, the investigator's compliments are okay.
“Anyway, this arrangement is to teach you the Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique.”
Interpreting the meaning, it seems to be a fight that freezes the soul to the extreme of yin energy.
“However, from what I saw of your martial arts at Seolpung Palace, your sword technique was outstanding, but I didn't feel that your other martial arts were that great.”
I mainly learned sword techniques from my Master, but I also learned other techniques such as staff and fist techniques.
However, they were nothing more than auxiliary techniques to sword techniques.
“What have you learned so far?”
“Ah, yes. Well...”
When I recited what I had learned, Master laughed.
“That may be so. But the Gyeok-eum-hon-bing-tu that I will teach you is on a different level from those things.”
“...?”
“Because Gyeok-eum-hon-bing-tu is one of the martial arts that only the Palace Head can master.”
I was shocked by his words.
“What? Only the Palace Head of Seolpung Palace can master it? But I am not the Palace Head of Seolpung Palace.”
“It doesn't matter.”
“But... Master is the Palace Head of Seolpung Palace. I can't just learn it without Master's permission.”
“There is no secret technique that only the Palace Head of Seolpung Palace can learn.”
“Then what was that book I was reading?”
“Hmm, what was it? I don't remember.”
“What?”
“I just picked a book that looked like it had been sitting on the shelf for a long time.”
“...”
“And it's a waste to store such memories in this space. This arrangement is solely for the purpose of passing down martial arts.”
The investigator continued.
“That is why someone must pass it down directly, and you need someone to practice with.”
“...
”But currently, I am the only one who can demonstrate this and serve as your opponent.“
The investigator's face looked sad.
That was understandable, as the only person who could pass this on was the former Palace Head of Seolpung Palace...
”You are the only one I can pass my martial arts skills on to, so stop talking and learn.“
”Yes."
Then, I had a question.
“Excuse me... You said that only the Palace Head of Seolpung Palace can learn these martial arts... How many are there?”
“It wouldn't be fun if I told you that now.”
“...”
No, Investigator.
Is this the time to be thinking about fun?
“Now, let's enjoy learning.”
As he waved his hand, golden letters appeared around me in an instant, surrounding me.
“First, the first technique.”
Was it a coincidence that the first technique appeared in front of me at that moment?
[Muryuyeop (Dancing Willow Leaves) Hanpungjeol (Cold Wind Slash)]
It means that dancing willow leaves cut through the cold wind.
After I finished reading the content, the instructor said,
“Watch carefully.”
In an instant, the air around me changed.
The instructor held out both hands, and that was the beginning.
Watching the movement of his hands, I felt as if willow leaves were really dancing.
However, the air around me was cold.
“...!”
What was that?
It was only for a moment, but it seemed as if the wind stopped where the investigator's hands passed.
The investigator finished his movement.
“From the look on your face, it seems you have realized the true meaning of this technique.”
“You are using the edge of your hand as a sword, aren't you?”
“That's right.”
“That's quite...”
“Overwhelming?”
“Yes, that's right.”
“Then, with the disciples of the palace dying, do you think you can save them with your gentle martial arts?”
“...”
“As the head of the palace, you must be prepared to shed much blood to protect your disciples. If you don't have a weapon, you must use your hands to defeat your enemies.”
Hearing those words, I understood the meaning of the martial arts that only the Palace Head could learn.
It was a ruthless martial art that could protect the disciples of Seolpung Palace.
But why couldn't the disciples of Seolpung Palace learn it, and only the Palace Head?
When I asked about this, the investigator replied readily.
“As you know, this is a very powerful martial art. Therefore, if you don't practice enough, you are likely to be corrupted by it.”
“That's why only the strongest Palace Head is allowed to learn it.”
“That's right. Do you have any more questions?”
“No.”
At that moment, the investigator's hand moved, and I felt a burning sensation near my chest, as if ice were passing through it.
“Kuh!”
I know what that feeling is.
It feels like being cut by a knife.
However, the investigator's attack did not stop, and in an instant, my arms and legs were cut, and I collapsed on the spot.
Thud.
“I... trusted you...”
“Stop acting like a baby and get up. You won't die here. And in order to master the extreme martial art of Hyung-nim in such a short time, I had no choice.”
Damn it!
Come to think of it, the reason I opened that book was because Hyung-nim broke a bottle of alcohol.
I won't let you get away with this.