Treasures Should Be Kept in the Warehouse (2)
I cautiously called out to my master.
"Um, Master. I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Actually, when I went to Luoyang this time, I stopped by a used bookstore. I managed to get my hands on a certain book there. The owner called it a secret manual."
I pulled the manual from my pocket and held it out.
"This is it."
My master took the book from me with a calm expression and flipped through the pages.
"……!"
At first, surprise stiffened his face, and soon his hands began to tremble.
Id never seen him like this before, so I was pretty shocked myself.
"Whats wrong?"
"Where did you say you found this……?"
"A small used bookstore in Luoyangs book street."
I continued.
"Truth be told, I felt this inexplicable pull and ended up buying it. When I walked in, no other books caught my eye—only that one."
"……."
"It seemed to be about the Taiyin techniques, so I thought Id show it to you. Do you know what it is?"
My master let out a sigh, paused for a moment, and then spoke.
"How could I not? Its the secret manual containing the insights left behind by the investigator of Seolpung Palace, the one I just mentioned."
"Pardon?"
I blurted out in shock, and he repeated himself.
"Didnt you say all of Seolpung Palaces manuals were burned?"
"Yes, thats right. I never dreamed this one survived."
My master closed the manual again, his voice trembling as he spoke.
"May I take this and look it over?"
"Of course. Please do."
At my permission, he tucked it carefully into his bosom.
"Um, actually, Master, theres one more thing Id like to discuss with you."
"Go ahead."
I pulled another manual from my pocket and offered it.
"This is the one the bookstore owner recommended to Palgap."
My master took it, skimmed through, and gave me a look of utter disbelief.
"What in the world is that bookstore owners true identity?"
"Im not entirely sure, but I think hes someone who was incredibly powerful in his day. I didnt push too hard, figuring hed bolt if I did."
"……You did well."
My master nodded.
"Jin Yu Warrior mentioned it before. He said Palgap has the talent of a Slaughter King."
So Jin Yu Warrior noticed it too.
My master pondered for a bit before speaking.
"From what I see, youre not worried about whether Palgap learns it or not. Its something else."
"Exactly. Honestly, learning this would change Palgap into someone I dont recognize anymore."
"Thats needless worry."
"Pardon?"
I echoed his words, and as he handed the manual back, he explained.
"A persons essence doesnt change, no matter what martial art they learn. And you already know Palgaps essence well enough."
"Uh……."
"If he learns it, hell be thrilled at the chance to serve his lord better. Loyalty to his lord—that’s the essence of Palgap as I see it."
His words hit me like a hammer to the head.
What was I so worried about?
Palgap is Palgap, and hell stay that way.
"If youre thinking of teaching it to him, just ask Jin Yu Warrior to guide him."
"Got it."
Gwak Myeong-hyeon emerged from the annex of Eun Seo-hos estate, Mungok Hall, and glanced back over his shoulder.
He pressed a hand firmly against his chest, where the manual was secured.
When Seolpung Palace was destroyed, he had desperately searched for anything salvageable.
But everything had been thoroughly burned and ruined—nothing survived.
Hed given up on recovering the palaces martial arts and focused solely on cultivating the True Snow Twelve Style Swordsmanship.
It was an extraordinary art in its own right, allowing him to reach his current realm, but he couldnt help regretting the loss of the other battle-tested techniques.
Above all, the investigators insights had been a profound loss.
Hed assumed they were gone forever and moved on.
So how shocked was he when Eun Seo-ho presented that manual?
He felt a powerful pull, he said?
In truth, this insight manual was reserved only for the palace lord and vice lord of Seolpung Palace.
Hed recognized it because hed read it before.
He had been the vice lord, after all.
But even as vice lord, he was only permitted the first half—the latter half remained unseen.
Hed deeply regretted that, and now the complete manual had appeared.
And this manual called out to the young lord……
He thought of the Silver Mist Sword Eun Seo-ho carried and the golden spirit carp that always stayed by his side.
Both were practically sacred relics of the Seolpung Palace lord.
Three items now?
Still, he wasnt ready to burden his disciple with such heavy responsibilities yet.
First, I should investigate that old man at the bookstore. And how this ended up there.
Min Village.
About ten days had passed since Eun Seo-hos group departed.
Min Ik, the village lord, looked at his second son, Min I-jun.
His face was rosy, as if hed never been ill.
"So, you have something to tell me?"
"Yes."
Hed met with his son today because the boy had sought him out with something to say.
"What is it?"
"Father, I want to learn martial arts."
"Martial arts?"
"Yes."
Truthfully, it pleased him that his second son wanted to learn martial arts.
Being a great landowner meant having much to protect.
And for that, a certain level of force was necessary, along with borrowing the prestige of others at times.
The most common way was becoming an in-name disciple of a prominent sect.
Like his own brother, who was one in a certain sect.
But two concerns lingered.
One was the attention drawn by how Min I-jun had overcome his blocked meridians.
The other was the reason for wanting to learn.
"I-jun."
"Yes, Father."
"Why do you want to learn martial arts?"
"As the saying goes, a man lays down his life for those who recognize him. If one gives their life for those who merely appreciate them, what wouldnt I do for the one who saved mine? I want to be of help to that lord who saved me, but my abilities fall short."
"So thats why you want to learn martial arts?"
"Yes."
In truth, Eun Seo-ho hadnt given the Heavenly Fragrance Dew for free. Hed receive one-fourth of the villages output for three years.
The Heavenly Fragrance Dew was undoubtedly priceless.
Used wisely, it could yield far more value than what hed promised.
Yet Eun Seo-ho had forgone it and gladly saved his son.
He used the last bottle of Heavenly Fragrance Dew on my son.
Hed guessed that requesting grain was less burdensome for him, and the amount and term were reasonable.
He looked at his second son.
His eyes shone with unyielding determination to achieve his goal.
Hed find some excuse for the recovery from blocked meridians.
He asked Min I-jun,
"Very well. Which sect do you want?"
"I want to go to Mount Hua Sect."
November had arrived before I knew it, bringing my birthday right around the corner.
That meant I was turning nineteen.
But I had no time to fuss over that. There was plenty of backlog from the Luoyang trip.
I rose from my desk.
I needed to walk and sort my thoughts.
Besides, my subordinates in the office would breathe easier without their superior hovering.
"Ill step out for a bit."
"Yes, sir. Take care."
Yeochangs deputy responded promptly, and I chuckled inwardly.
As I opened the door, Seo-u Warrior standing guard bowed his head.
Hes on duty today.
"Just going for a short walk."
"Ill accompany you."
I strolled slowly through the merchant group grounds, and Seo-u Warrior spoke up.
"Lately, Palgap has been throwing himself into training."
"I noticed."
The evening I showed the manuals to my master, I called Palgap to ask his opinion.
"Of course I gotta learn it, young master. So I can serve you even better."
Just as my master said.
I asked Jin Yu Warrior to guide him, and these days, while Im working, Palgap trains diligently.
Even Gold Spirit helps with his training—though it looks more like teasing to me.
Suddenly, a familiar energy caught my sense.
Huh?
I looked up at the tree and spotted a welcome face.
Its Chun-il.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
"Ugh! Quiet!"
"Pardon?"
"My target is coming right now."
I tilted my head and looked ahead. Yeon Dami Branch Leader was approaching.
"Branch Leader Yeon?"
"Stealing the silver pouch from her deputys belt is todays task."
"Got it. Good luck."
But Yeon Dami didnt look pleased.
"Ah! Deputy Leader."
"Something wrong?"
"Actually, theres a problem at Sangyu Pavilion."
I smiled inwardly.
Id remembered this incident and prepared for it.
I couldnt prevent it, but I could help clean it up.
I didnt know the exact date, but I knew it was around now.
So its today.
Cant miss this entertaining show.
"Mind if I come along?"
"Please do."
I glanced at Chun-il in the tree and followed her to Sangyu Pavilion.
"Sorry! Were so sorry!"
"Where the hell did you leave your brain?!"
A tense atmosphere hung over Sangyu Pavilion.
Harsh rebukes and endless apologies filled the air.
When Yeon Dami entered, everyone spotted her and bowed.
"Greetings, Branch Leader!"
"What is this? Losing the ledger?!"
"W-well, you see."
One branch member hung his head low.
"Sorry!"
"Apologies later. Fix it first. Report the details."
"It went like this……."
He calmed himself and explained.
Hed had overdue work, but it was his turn for a business trip.
So he took the documents needing processing on the trip, but forgot the reference ledger.
When he rushed back later to grab it from the warehouse, theyd already sorted the goods and burned the trash.
And the ledger was in that trash.
In my past life, after this incident, the merchant group banned taking original ledgers on business trips, even with workloads.
Because the lost ledger was…….
"What kind of documents were they?"
"Uh, the ledger for this years silk trade with Jiangsu Province……."
"……."
It was the ledger for silk, one of the groups main trade items.
With snow coming, trips to Jiangsu would be tough, so no one else needed it—he took it along.
The trip was nearby too.
A vein bulged on Yeon Damis forehead. She was furious to her core.
One wrong move and shell explode.
But she held her temper admirably.
Then a non-salaried branch member spoke up.
"Branch Leader, we got word that silk from Jiangsu arrives tomorrow."
Meaning, without the ledger, work grinds to a halt.
Yeon Dami quickly assessed and issued orders.
"Dig through other ledgers, logs, everything. Request documents from Sepung Pavilion or Finance Pavilion and recreate it. Thats priority one—everyone focus on this."
That was when it happened.
A man limped in, leaning on a cane. Heo Un, the young master—or rather, branch member—working at Sangyu Pavilion.
Hed prepared the solution for this in advance.
"I-I think I can resolve this."
"What do you mean? Resolve it how?"
"The Jiangsu silk trade ledger? This years?"
"Yes."
"I saw that ledger. Its the one I remember."
Yeon Dami tilted her head, not grasping, and Heo Un continued.
"I remember everything Ive seen once."