Chapter 688
Chapter 688
Chapter 688. Choseolhui (2)
I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but I still saw a single crest.
A crest that seemed to take the shape of a snowflake.
I feel like I have seen it somewhere…… where did I see it? (Eun Seoho)
Ah! (Eun Seoho)
Soon, I realized where I had seen that crest.
I had seen it on the belt of the clothes the Founder had been wearing.
“Snow Wind Palace…… it is the crest of Snow Wind Palace.” (Eun Seoho)
I muttered that and placed my hand on the crest.
That instant.
“……!” (Eun Seoho)
Huh? What? (Eun Seoho)
I was definitely sitting on the bed in my sleeping quarters, so why am I suddenly in a snowfield? (Eun Seoho)
“You have come.” (Founder)
At the voice I had not heard in a long time, I turned around.
The Founder was standing there, looking at me.
“Founder!” (Eun Seoho)
“The fact that you came here means you saw the martial arts book I had slipped away.” (Founder)
“You…… slipped away a martial arts book?” (Eun Seoho)
At my question, the Founder nodded.
“That is right. Since I came to know of a future in which all the martial arts books of Snow Wind Palace would be lost, I had to prepare for it. But I could not slip away every martial arts book, and I could not help but worry about those martial arts books falling into someone else’s hands.” (Founder)
“So the martial arts book you chose was Choseolhui?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes, there are a few others as well. It was difficult, since I had to choose only those that would not matter even if they fell into another person’s hands.” (Founder)
“And while doing that, you planted an arrangement like this.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is so.” (Founder)
The Founder grinned.
“Judging by the look of you, it seems you have encountered quite a few arrangements.” (Founder)
Now that I think about it, she had said that some arrangements are connected to other arrangements, and some are not.
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
I nodded confidently.
Through the Founder’s arrangement, I had been able to learn the true meaning of the Jinseol Twelve Forms Sword Technique, and I had also learned Binghae Donghwa Mental Technique and Binghae Sujeol Art, the water arts.
And I had also learned the hundred bare-handed combat techniques called Geugeum Honbingtu.
At the arrangement I encountered in the library of Chukyung Palace, I learned the Extreme Ice Sword as well.
At that time, she said she had also prepared an arrangement for the Snow Soul Sword Technique, but where could that be?
“I have encountered four arrangements so far.” (Eun Seoho)
“I see.” (Founder)
The Founder nodded and said,
“Then the fact that you have now encountered this arrangement regarding Choseolhui must also be the will of heaven.” (Founder)
“Pardon?” (Eun Seoho)
“It means that had you encountered the other arrangements without perfectly understanding Choseolhui, you would have seen no further progress.” (Founder)
“Was Choseolhui such an important martial arts book?” (Eun Seoho)
“Of course! It is the foundation of Snow Wind Palace’s martial arts! Have you ever seen a house built without a foundation? Even a hut at least requires foundation work.” (Founder)
“That is true, but…….” (Eun Seoho)
I scratched my cheek and answered.
“But honestly, even after reading Choseolhui, I do not really understand it. Isn’t it just content reminiscing about the old days? It only had things written about playing with snow, or recalling memories of snowy days.” (Eun Seoho)
“…….” (Founder)
“I examined it several times to see whether there was some profound meaning inside it, but I still do not know. It must be because I am dull. Hahaha.” (Eun Seoho)
When I said that with an awkward laugh, the Founder clicked her tongue with a pathetic expression.
“You know yourself well.” (Founder)
“…….” (Eun Seoho)
No, of course it is true that I lack enlightenment compared to you, Founder…… but still, if you say it so directly, I get hurt. (Eun Seoho)
“What profound meaning…… Choseolhui is no such thing. Why do you have that expression? Were you hurt because I called you dull?” (Founder)
Does she use mind reading? How did she know? (Eun Seoho)
“Having a good head, a good memory, and good comprehension…… being outstanding in insight like that does not mean one is not dull.” (Founder)
“Pardon?” (Eun Seoho)
“One is dull because one cannot see the essence.” (Founder)
“What is that essence? Please tell me. I will listen carefully.” (Eun Seoho)
“The true meaning of Choseolhui is not something you can realize just because I simply tell you.” (Founder)
The Founder approached me.
“So, learn it with your body.” (Founder)
“Pardon?” (Eun Seoho)
That instant, the Founder lifted her foot and kicked me.
There should definitely have been a snow-covered field behind me, but my body broke through that snowfield and kept falling downward.
“Aaaagh!” (Eun Seoho)
Like that, my vision grew distant.
“Kkui? Kku?” (Geumnyeong)
“Mm?” (Eun Seoho)
At Geumnyeong’s sound, I opened my eyes.
What I saw in my field of vision were snowflakes falling from the sky.
“Kkui?” (Geumnyeong)
And Geumnyeong was sitting on my lap, going kkui.
“Are you asking if I have finally woken up?” (Eun Seoho)
“But why am I lying here like this?” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui?” (Geumnyeong)
Why am I asking him that?
When I should know better?
Right…… now I remember. The Founder kicked me and dropped me here.
Sigh. That was too much.
I rose from my spot and looked around.
Snow was falling from the sky, and I could see a thatched house ahead.
Should I go there first? (Eun Seoho)
When I went inside the thatched house, there was a warm brazier, and beside it were corn and rice cakes.
Seeing those makes me hungry. (Eun Seoho)
I placed the corn inside the brazier. Since there are skewers too, that must mean I am supposed to roast the rice cakes as well, right?
A while later, the savory smell of cooking corn began to rise.
After eating the corn and rice cakes like that, I looked at the falling snow through the window.
It seems she sent me here to learn the true meaning of Choseolhui with my body…… but I do not know what I should do. (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui?” (Geumnyeong)
I hugged Geumnyeong to my chest and let out a sigh.
“By any chance, if I cannot learn the true meaning of Choseolhui with my body this time either, I probably cannot leave this place, right?” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui!” (Geumnyeong)
“Yes, I knew it.” (Eun Seoho)
Of course, even if I stay here for decades, not even a moment will have passed when I go outside.
But I do not want to stay that long.
Enduring that much time is harder than one might think.
I need to get out quickly……. (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui! Kkui!” (Geumnyeong)
Geumnyeong struck my arm with his front paw.
Thwack thwack!
“Ugh! Why are you hitting me?” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui! Kku!” (Geumnyeong)
“I should not get impatient? If I do, I will never be able to leave here?” (Eun Seoho)
“…….” (Eun Seoho)
Damn it, then what do you want me to do?
Time passed.
It felt as if about two days had gone by.
I had gone outside and looked around, and I had also tried walking aimlessly.
Thanks to that, I learned something.
That if I moved beyond a certain distance from this thatched house, I returned to this thatched house again.
I lay on the snow and looked at the sky.
After staying like that for a long time, I began to feel somewhat strange.
“Now that I think about it, it has been a long time since I spent this long not working.” (Eun Seoho)
When I cast aside impatience and took things leisurely, my heart felt peaceful and my head felt clear.
How should I put it?
Since there is no use thinking about those things now, should I say I have given up?
When I was first trapped in the Founder’s arrangement, I had worried that my family and escort warriors would search for me, but since this was the fifth time, I no longer had that worry.
Staying like this feels somehow peaceful.
“Kkui! Kkui!” (Geumnyeong)
At that moment, I heard Geumnyeong and raised my body, and saw Geumnyeong hopping up and down in the snowfield.
“Mm?” (Eun Seoho)
When I looked at the footprints Geumnyeong had stamped into the snow……
“Did you draw a picture?” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui!” (Geumnyeong)
You drew it because you were bored?
Looking closely, what Geumnyeong had drawn was……
“Could that be a gold ingot?” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui.” (Geumnyeong)
As expected of Geumnyeong. His love of money never changes.
He drew it rather well.
At that moment, I suddenly recalled the various games played with snow that were written in Choseolhui.
“When I was young, I think I played with snow whenever it snowed too…….” (Eun Seoho)
Recalling memories of the past, I gathered snow from the ground and packed it together.
A snowball packed firmly.
At that moment, the Founder’s words came to mind.
“Have you ever seen a house built without a foundation? Even a hut at least requires foundation work.” (Founder)
Now that I think about it, there were various tools inside the thatched house.
I went into the thatched house, and inside it, I found a wooden mold for making bricks and chisels of various shapes.
Good! (Eun Seoho)
I brought out the wooden mold, filled it with snow, and stamped out snow bricks.
“Kkui?” (Geumnyeong)
“What am I doing?” (Eun Seoho)
I smiled and said,
“I am going to try making a castle out of snow here. Doesn’t it seem perfect for passing time?” (Eun Seoho)
Then I looked around and continued speaking.
“To be honest, I am a little bored too.” (Eun Seoho)
Because the only things I could do here were roast corn and rice cakes.
So now that the Founder’s words had come to mind, I was thinking of trying to make a castle out of snow.
I stamped out bricks and began laying the foundation.
Tap tap tap tap tap! Thunk!
Perhaps because the snow packed together well, very smooth snow bricks were made.
As I built walls with those bricks, before I knew it, I was completely absorbed in making the castle.
No other thoughts came to mind except this.
“This is quite fun.” (Eun Seoho)
As I stacked the bricks one by one like that, before I knew it, I had managed to stack them fairly high.
“Now I should try making the roof.” (Eun Seoho)
After carving snow into the shape in advance, I poured water from melted snow over it and froze it to make a beam out of ice.
Then I supported the beam with pillars made of snow bricks.
“Geumnyeong, fit this together like this!” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui!” (Geumnyeong)
Like that, with Geumnyeong’s help, I completed even the roof.
“But this looks a little plain.” (Eun Seoho)
After thinking about it, I made a slope that came down from the top of the snow castle.
Because I remembered that when I was young, if snow piled up, I would lay a straw mat on the slope and ride it like a sled.
Like that, the castle made of snow was completed.
“It is complete!” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui!” (Geumnyeong)
It was a major construction project that felt as though it had taken a little over ten days.
Seeing it after making it like this gave me a sense of pride.
“Kkuikkui!” (Geumnyeong)
“Hm? You want to try riding the sled? Sure, you go first.” (Eun Seoho)
With my permission, Geumnyeong climbed up through the stairs of the snow castle, got on the sled I had made for him by carving firewood at the very top of the slope I had made, and slid down.
Whoooosh!
“Kkuiit!” (Geumnyeong)
He likes it a lot. Then should I ride it too?
I too got on a sled made by carving firewood and slid down the slope.
Whoosh!
Wow, this is fun. (Eun Seoho)
Without realizing it, I felt as if I had gone back to my childhood.
Back then, I think I played without thinking about anything, just like now.
Because I simply liked it when it snowed.
There is a saying that if you cheer when it snows, you are a child, and if you sigh, you are an adult.
That is because when you become an adult, you can no longer see snow as snow.
Snow is merely snow, but people come to think of it differently depending on their circumstances.
I was the same.
When it snowed, traveling became inconvenient, I had to calculate the manpower needed to clear the snow, I worried that it would cause problems with transport, and so on.
My memories of playing with snow had become memories of childhood.
At that thought, a small laugh escaped me.
“Still, it is nice to play like this without any worries after so long.” (Eun Seoho)
I rode the sled several times like that, but I did not get tired of it.
“It would have been nice to play together with my brothers.” (Eun Seoho)
Because when I was young, I had played with snow together with my brothers.
And not only with my brothers, but with the children of the employees inside the Trading Company as well, dividing into sides and having snowball fights.
We had played excitedly until the sun set and each of our parents came to pick us up.
Suddenly, Miss Seohyang came to mind.
“Miss Seohyang probably has never ridden a snow sled like this, has she?” (Eun Seoho)
She was from Guizhou Province.
Guizhou Province was a place where it almost never snowed, to the point that Miss Seohyang’s wish had been to see snow.
That was why I had gone to the North Sea and brought back snow.
I recalled her smile when she saw the snow I had brought that time, smiling so very happily.
It was an extremely beautiful smile.
I think it was from that moment that she entered my heart.
Because she was the first person who had truly felt happy and delighted by something I had done.
It was pure joy, without a single trace of any other emotion mixed in.
And I also recalled how happy she looked as she stood beneath the falling snow when she came to Beijing.
Seeing that, I had felt something stir inside me for reasons I could not explain.
Though I had been momentarily flustered by what her father said to me, asking me to marry his daughter.
Remembering what happened then, I laughed without realizing it.
“Huh?” (Eun Seoho)
At the thought that suddenly occurred to me, I blinked.
“This…… was it?” (Eun Seoho)
[Choseolhui (初雪喜)]
It meant rejoicing in the first snow.
[Child who has entered Snow Wind Palace, do you remember that heart with which you played happily on a snowy day?]
And I felt as if I understood what the words written on the first page of Choseolhui meant.
There was no such thing as a profound meaning.
Simply, that heart that had found joy in snow falling.
That heart that had fluttered on a snowy day.
The joy that came from that was the foundation of Snow Wind Palace’s martial arts.
Whoooooosh!
At that moment, a snowstorm suddenly blew in.
I closed and opened my eyes without realizing it, and before I knew it, my surroundings had changed.
It was the place where I had first entered the arrangement.
And the Founder asked with a faint smile,
“So, did you play to your heart’s content?” (Founder)
“Yes. But I wanted to play more.” (Eun Seoho)
To be honest, I felt disappointed that I could not play more.
“If you think so, then you have properly learned Choseolhui.” (Founder)
The Founder nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Unfold the Jinseol Twelve Forms Sword Technique.” (Founder)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
At that, I drew my sword and unfolded each technique of the Jinseol Twelve Forms Sword Technique one by one.
Whoosh!
Vwoom!
Snow scattered as my body moved.
Seeing that snow made me recall the memories of playing excitedly.
Now that I think about it, the movements of the techniques did not seem to be merely for cutting, tearing, and stabbing an opponent.
And I felt as if something that had been missing from my techniques had been filled.
After finishing the techniques like that and sheathing my sword, I said,
“The foundation of Snow Wind Palace’s martial arts was joy.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is right.” (Founder)
“But would it not be a little strange to feel joy while harming someone?” (Eun Seoho)
“That heart also contains the wish that those one protects may play happily. Since one has played happily oneself, one wants one’s child and disciple to be happy as well.” (Founder)
The Founder’s words were right.
A child can play happily in the snow because there is someone who protects that child so they will not be cold or hungry.
We call that existence an adult.
The Founder smiled.
“It seems you have no more questions, so go now. I shall see you next time.” (Founder)
Whooooosh!
A snowstorm blew once more.
And when I opened my eyes again, I had returned to my sleeping quarters.
Uh, w-wait…… what about the castle I made out of snow? (Eun Seoho)
Kkui! (Geumnyeong)
At Geumnyeong’s call, I turned my head, and my eyes widened.