Traces of the Snow Wind Palace (2)
I nodded at his question.
"Yes, please take good care of the children so they don't feel your absence."
I sometimes think about it.
If the palace lord's sword, the Silver Mist Sword, hadn't vanished, the Snow Wind Palace might not have been destroyed.
Judging from Grand Master Yeom's demeanor yesterday, the other children were probably being raised just as happily as little Yeom.
Pushing down those complicated emotions, I continued.
"When I get back, I'll sponsor them again. I've got plenty of money, after all."
I left his room amid his heartfelt thanks.
It was time to depart.
When I returned to my room, Palgap had already finished preparing to leave.
"Let's go."
We stepped out of the inn.
Leaving the warm inn and heading back into the snow-laced wind made me sigh involuntarily.
Let's go—we had to. To fulfill Master's commission.
I couldn't help but admire the escort agency's couriers, who went anywhere they were tasked.
"My lord, where to now?"
Jin Yu Warrior, well-versed in the North Sea's geography, asked. Recalling Master's words, I replied.
"Keep heading west until you see a massive snow mountain. When it looks about the size of an adult, turn right."
Master hadn't seen it himself either; he'd heard about it from the Black Crimson Immortal Sword, so the directions were a bit vague.
But with this, a little legwork should find it. If I couldn't, Master wouldn't have sent me.
Still, why had the Black Crimson Immortal Sword come all the way here? Did he have ties to this place too?
Pondering that, we traveled for about an hour, and the snow mountain came into view.
When it appeared roughly the size of an adult man, we turned right.
As we went, a sudden intuition struck.
Something lay ahead.
Not dangerous or ominous... more like, whatever was there was drawing me in?
That pull let me press on without hesitation.
After turning and traveling another hour, we arrived at our destination.
But there was nothing there, which left me quite flustered.
"Is this the place, my lord?"
I nodded at Palgap's question.
"Yeah, seems like it. This is it."
The drawing sensation told me something was here.
Meanwhile, Jin Yu Warrior pulled a pole from his saddlebag and began assembling it.
Then he started probing the snow with it.
"Why are you stabbing the snow?"
Seo-u Warrior asked, and Jin Yu Warrior explained.
"The North Sea Ice Palace's terrain shifts constantly due to snow winds. Poles like this are useful for finding buried things. Same for locating avalanche victims."
I'd wondered why he brought it, but now it made sense.
Moments later,
"Something's here."
Jin Yu Warrior pointed to a spot, and we began digging through the snow.
Soon, we uncovered the 'trace of the Snow Wind Palace' Master had mentioned.
"This must be it."
"It's a huge rock, sir."
We all nodded at Palgap's words. The rock was about Palgap's height.
Truth be told, I'd been puzzled inside.
Why hadn't Master found the trace that even the Black Crimson Immortal Sword had discovered?
It wasn't far from the North Sea Ice Palace's inn.
But now it clicked.
The snow winds had buried it under drifts as the terrain shifted.
It must have surfaced by chance when the Black Crimson Immortal Sword passed by.
A single line was carved on the rock.
Heir of snow and wind, prove your worth.
Seeing it, I recalled Master's words.
If it was the Snow Wind Palace's trace, it would react to their martial arts.
"Everyone, step back a moment."
I dismounted and stood before the rock.
Taking a steady breath, I drew the Silver Mist Sword.
Shing.
"My lord, why draw your sword so suddenly...?"
"It says to prove my worth. Showing the swordsmanship I've learned should do it."
"That makes sense. Then you'll need to perform the full sequence, from start to finish."
I froze at Yeo Eung-am Warrior's words.
The True Snow Twelve Style Swordsmanship consisted of twelve forms, as the name implied.
But I'd only mastered up to the tenth, Snow Swan.
Master, who knew that better than anyone, had sent me because I had the qualification.
So...
I changed my approach, channeling my inner energy and placing my hand on the rock.
At that moment, the rock vibrated, and familiar formulas engraved themselves into it.
"...!"
The formula for the eighth form of the True Snow Twelve Style Swordsmanship, One Point Manifest Ice.
And below it, a single hole.
I could guess its meaning and grinned.
Slowly gathering my energy, I moved my sword in the form of One Point Manifest Ice.
At the end, I focused and thrust into the hole with killing intent.
Click.
A mechanism shifted with that sound, and my vision changed.
"..."
Where was this?
Moments ago, I'd been before a massive rock in a snowy field. Now, I was in a vast cavern.
Palgap and the guards were gone.
"Kkwi?"
Golden Spirit poked its head from my sleeve.
"Ah, you came along."
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
"Know where we are?"
I'd asked without much hope, but Golden Spirit nodded vigorously.
"Huh? You do?"
"Kkwi!"
It hopped to the floor, tail thrashing wildly—the sign it was thrilled.
Like when I gave it silver or gold coins?
Sure enough.
I walked toward the straight path ahead.
About fifteen minutes in, light appeared.
"...!"
Mountains of gold and treasures.
No wonder Golden Spirit's tail had gone crazy.
I approached cautiously—traps were possible.
One might call it paranoia this far in, but you never knew.
Up close to the pile, I tensed.
An envelope atop it read,
This was clearly addressed to me.
Not many lived second lives like mine, and even fewer would practice Snow Wind Palace arts.
I swallowed hard and opened the envelope.
Thud.
Inside was a translucent orb like crystal, strung on silver thread—a sword tassel, probably.
I set it aside and unfolded the enclosed letter.
To you, living a second life, my heir. I have awaited the day you read this.
The Snow Wind Palace taught warmth to one with nowhere to go, and the North Sea Ice Palace was my mother's sect. To protect the North Sea Ice Palace and advance the Snow Wind Palace, I created the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art with the Alliance Lord's aid and laid the foundation for our martial arts.
One day, I foresaw the Snow Wind Palace's end. Tears of blood flowed as I watched it crumble. Yet I could not despair—I resolved to defy heaven's will.
Thus, I traded my remaining lifespan to grant a second life to one connected to me: a man bearing the Profound Dragon Physique, like myself.
...!
Heir, if the second life I gave you holds meaning, rebuild the Snow Wind Palace with these treasures.
Though I granted you that life, I know rebuilding a fallen sect is arduous. Thus, I leave you three gifts to aid you.
First, the tassel enclosed with this letter, for your sword. Made of ice crystal, it will bolster your inner energy.
Second, one-third of the treasures I gathered.
Third, the manual of the True Snow Twelve Style Swordsmanship. Its location is...
Heir, the Snow Wind Palace's survival rests with you. I pray you do not refuse my plea.
That opening line brought to mind the mysterious handsome man from my dream.
Was this meant for me, left here in wait?
This confirmed it: the letter's author was the revered founder of the Snow Wind Palace.
His mother had been a North Sea Ice Palace disciple too.
He'd foreseen the destruction?
And altered fate?
By sacrificing his life to give me this second chance.
I bit my lip.
Of course it had meaning.
Thanks to it, I could dream of revenge against the Murim Alliance and Baekcheon Merchant Group.
Rebuild the Snow Wind Palace, though?
Running a sect was tough; reviving a ruined one, exponentially harder.
Then the next lines caught my eye.
Three gifts...
The ice crystal tassel would help my energy.
I eyed it. Really made of ice crystal?
One-third of these treasures? The pile was immense.
With this, maybe I could manage.
I'd been frustrated hiding my Snow Wind Palace arts; Master must feel it worse.
No loss for me here.
The manual held little thrill—I was already at the tenth form.
The plea ended there.
Incredible foresight—he'd known I'd come.
Chillingly precise.
I owed the founder thanks, whatever his motives. This life was his gift.
I'd long wondered how I'd returned from death; it defied logic.
Now solved, my mind eased—though with this burden added.
Time to claim the treasures.
I pulled out my dimensional inkstone pouch and opened the secret vault.
I packed the treasures inside.
Leaving them for Master felt wrong; better to take and deliver them.
No need troubling him here, and they might vanish.
"Kkwi..."
Golden Spirit nudged my leg with its paw, eyes sparkling pleadingly.
"Kkwi... kkwi."
It wanted a gold coin, coquettishly.
Fine.
It had to eat too.
"Here, your share."
I held out a gold coin.
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
It snatched and gulped it down, tail quivering adorably.
I scraped every last bit into the vault.
"Time to go."
But scanning around, no exit.
What? After that request, no way out?
I searched meticulously: backtracked, inspected walls, even channeled energy as before.
Nothing.
How the hell do I leave?
Sighing, I asked Golden Spirit.
"Hey, Golden Spirit, how do we get out? Any idea?"
It nodded.
"You do?"
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
It dove into my sleeve, grabbed the True Snow Twelve Style Swordsmanship manual I'd stashed, and dropped it open on the floor.
No way?
The founder, knowing I'd come, wouldn't miss my mastery of this art—up to the tenth form.
Reason for gifting the full manual?
I recalled the clear pool of water and wall grains nearby.
Why else were they here?
Master them all to leave.
Sighing, I picked up the manual.
How long would it take?
Palgap and the guards must be frantic with me gone.
Urgency rose, but I calmed myself.
Haste in cultivation led to qi deviation.
"Alright, let's do this."
Shouldn't take long—I'd mastered ten, nearly all.
Or so I thought.