Ice Sea Water Severing Technique (1)
As the ship from Hwaryeon Pier that we were on began to move, the other ships that had rushed over to help followed suit.
Just like in my previous life, the nearby ships had come to assist.
Of course, thanks to our swift approach and rescue efforts, the other ships had only needed to take on the passengers.
Soon, the ship arrived at the pier near Daegun Pier.
The passengers who had nearly died when Daegun Pier's ship capsized naturally didn't stay quiet.
They swarmed to Daegun Pier en masse to protest.
But,
"As you can see written here, even in the event of an accident, our pier offers no compensation whatsoever."
No compensation for damages under any circumstances.
The wall indeed boldly proclaimed, [No compensation for damages under any circumstances.]
"The ship sank, causing us immense losses too! So please leave. If you keep this up, we'll report you to the county office."
Instead, the Daegun Pier manager adopted a high-and-mighty attitude.
The passengers had no choice but to grumble and retreat.
"This is outrageous!"
"Damn it!"
"I'll never use Daegun Merchant Group products again!"
Watching the scene, I shook my head in disbelief.
I'd expected as much, but they really were something else.
From what I knew, the Daegun Pier manager was the third son of the Daegun Merchant Group leader.
I had no idea how he'd been educated, but his customer service—the most basic aspect of business—was utterly botched.
Even without this incident, I figured he'd have gone bankrupt in my previous life anyway.
No matter how much they tried to dodge responsibility with that sign, they could at least apologize.
But threatening to report to the county office? That was the height of impudence.
Thanks to them, I had yet another justification.
I turned on my heel and headed straight for the county office.
Upon arrival, I immediately requested an audience with the county magistrate.
"Who might you be?"
"Please inform him that Eun Seo-ho, sub-leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group, wishes to see him."
Thanks to our group's reputation, I didn't have to wait long before meeting the magistrate.
"So, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes, sir. Eun Seo-ho, sub-leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group, at your service."
"What brings you here?"
"Are you aware of the Daegun Pier ship that sank in Dongting Lake last night?"
"......I am."
"I've come to request an investigation into the matter. It's clearly Daegun Pier's fault, yet they're denying it."
The magistrate clicked his tongue at my words.
"There was no fault on Daegun Pier's part. It was just an inexplicable accident that happened in the dark of night."
"Has the investigation already concluded?"
"Of course. I even visited the site myself."
When exactly?
I hadn't seen even a glimpse of him there.
With a subtle smile, the magistrate spoke in a measured tone.
"I know the Eunhae Merchant Group has a high reputation, but bullying a small outfit like that doesn't look good."
It was clear now.
The magistrate before me had taken a bribe from the Daegun Merchant Group.
"Is that truly what you believe?"
"It's not a belief—it's the truth."
"Would those words hold up if reported directly to His Imperial Majesty?"
I sighed and pulled the imperial inspector's badge from my bosom, holding it before his eyes.
"Huh? What is..."
His face drained of color upon seeing the badge.
"Gasp!"
I signaled him to stay quiet and whispered,
"I'm operating under a secret imperial mandate. If you reveal my identity to others, you'll be held accountable."
"......"
"Do you understand?"
He nodded vigorously, his face ashen.
To make it even more certain, I produced a scroll and presented it.
"His Imperial Majesty has granted me authority for direct investigations. My report on this matter will go straight to him."
I smiled brightly and continued,
"You said the investigation was already complete? That you'd even visited the site yourself. Then, would you mind sharing the details so I can draft the report?"
With a trembling voice, the magistrate bowed his head and pleaded,
"T-truth is, I lied about investigating last night!"
As expected.
I stayed silent, gesturing for him to continue, and he confessed everything in a rush.
"The Daegun Merchant Group offered a huge sum to cover it up, and I... I ended up lying."
"I see the circumstances."
"I'll conduct a proper investigation right now. Please, just let this slide once."
"Hmm......"
"Please, just this once. I have an elderly mother to support, and a wife and children to feed."
"Sigh, very well. I'll overlook it this time. But if I hear of this again, I won't let it pass."
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
The magistrate bowed repeatedly.
I had no intention of punishing him harshly.
Officials' salaries were meager, and this wasn't some grave crime.
That said, seeing this reminded me of the magistrate in Sungyang County.
As our group grew, the expectations for "gifts" were rising.
I'd have to pay him a visit soon.
I said to the magistrate,
"Magistrate."
"Y-yes? Speak, please."
"We need a thorough investigation. Scrutinize from top to bottom, A to Gui."
"It shall be done."
.
.
.
On my way from the county office to Hwaryeon Pier, I ran into a family.
It was the child I'd rescued last night and his parents.
"Ah! Isn't that Seonhyeopmirang?"
"You're too kind. I'm not yet worthy of 'daehyeop'."
"Then we'll call you so-hyeop. Where are you headed?"
"To Hwaryeon Pier. How's the child?"
"Yes, the physician said he's good to go, so he just woke up."
"No other pains?"
"None."
"That's a relief."
Seeing my genuine relief, the child's father clasped his hands in salute.
"It's all thanks to you, so-hyeop. We'll never forget this grace."
He bowed and introduced himself.
"Forgive the late introduction. I'm Hwang Bon-ji from Guizhou. This is my wife, and the boy you saved yesterday is Hwang In-seon."
"Eun Seo-ho, sub-leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group. These are my attendant and guards."
I introduced our group and smiled in greeting.
"Well, we'll be off then."
"Yes, take care."
I bowed again and continued toward Hwaryeon Pier.
The ship capsizing incident from my previous life.
For the Emperor to intervene in something this minor was highly unusual.
Normally, it wouldn't even merit a report, but the reason for that anomaly was this very man.
Scholar Hwang Bon-ji.
Once exiled due to a false accusation, the Emperor had valued him and summoned him back to Beijing.
But by then, he'd crossed the point of no return, prompting the Emperor's investigation.
In the process, he'd learned of the Daegun Pier ship capsizing in Dongting Lake.
In my previous life, Scholar Hwang Bon-ji had planned a grand celebration for his son's birthday.
Wanting to nurture his son's heroic spirit, he'd commissioned an escort bureau and brought his family to see Dongting Lake.
But their finances were tight, forcing them onto the cheaply discounted Daegun Pier ship.
Tragically, it capsized, and his wife and son drowned first.
Devastated, Hwang Bon-ji sickened and died soon after, enraging the Emperor upon discovery.
In my view, the Emperor was furious at losing a talent who could lighten his workload.
Either way, the Daegun Merchant Group got hammered and collapsed.
Well, this time, I wouldn't let them off either.
"Welcome."
As I neared Hwaryeon Pier, the pier master hurried over to greet me.
"I thought we'd have no customers after last night's incident, but there are plenty."
"You're right."
He chuckled.
"Honestly, I'm stunned myself."
He claimed ignorance, but I had a good idea why.
It stemmed from his personality—always prioritizing safety meticulously.
On my way here, I'd stopped at a shop and overheard an intriguing conversation.
"But I heard a ship capsized."
"If you're that worried, go to Hwaryeon Pier."
"Is it safe?"
"It's safe. Too safe, even."
Recalling it, I smirked. Indeed, truly good people are recognized by those around them.
This business was about to catch a fair wind.
That aside...
What on earth was that thing I saw last night?
When I'd entered Dongting Lake to save Hwang In-seon, I'd glimpsed a rock on the lakebed.
It felt familiar, and a strong intuition that I needed to go there lingered in my mind.
No way... a trace of the Snow Wind Palace?
The investigator had mentioned it.
That traces were left here and there.
But how soon after my trip to the North Sea...?
Either way, I needed to check it out.
* * *
At that moment,
the Daegun Merchant Group leader was in a foul mood.
"So, we have to abandon that ship?"
"Yes."
Vice Officer O Jin-chuk replied cautiously.
"I've inquired everywhere, but it's too large and fully sunk—impossible to salvage. The only option is divers dismantling it underwater, but that would cost far more than the ship's worth."
"......"
A young man seated nearby spoke up.
"Father, does this mean I can't do business anymore?"
"......"
"I finally got my act together to try working, but heaven isn't helping."
"Shut your mouth."
"......Yes, sir."
The Daegun leader frowned and asked his vice officer,
"How much was that ship worth?"
"Three hundred nyang of silver."
Gripping his throbbing head, the leader wondered,
What went wrong?
Was it trying to swallow Hwaryeon Pier's business whole?
Or slashing prices to outcompete them by overloading passengers?
We doubled the passengers to double the profit...
The crew had strongly objected, but none dared defy him.
Then,
"Group leader! Big trouble! Leader!"
"What is it?"
"Runners from the county office are here!"
"Runners?"
Wondering what was happening, he stepped into the courtyard—where dozens of runners had already invaded.
"What is the meaning of... Ah, Magistrate!"
The magistrate approached him.
"What's this sudden visit? With all these runners, no less..."
"We're here to investigate yesterday's accident. Your cooperation, please."
"Wasn't it concluded as an unknown cause? Why this now?"
He whispered,
"Was the gift insufficient?"
"No."
"Pardon?"
"No matter how much I like gifts, my neck comes first."
"......!"
He jolted in shock.
If the magistrate was protecting his own skin, things had gone seriously south.
The Daegun leader's vision whitened as he collapsed to the ground.
Damn it. We're screwed!
* * *
That night,
I took Seo-u Warrior and Palgap to the lakeside where I'd seen the rock.
"So, you saw something at the bottom of Dongting Lake?"
"Yeah."
"And you won't sleep until you check it?"
"Yeah."
Seo-u Warrior sighed.
"I need to master underwater breathing sooner. These needs keep popping up more than expected."
"It's pretty useful once you learn it."
No harm in mastering anything, regardless of reason.
I handed my clothes to Palgap and, clad only in a thin jeogori and pants, entered Dongting Lake.
"Be back soon."
"Take care."
"Be careful, young master."
I nodded and slipped into the lake.
Hoo...
I slowly circulated the Ice Sea Assimilation Heart Method.
My body temperature dropped, merging with the water.
Body temperature plummeting, merging seamlessly with the water.
Using the Ice Sea Water Severing Technique, I propelled myself forward.
Body darting through the water like a fish, swift and free.
My body moved nimbly, like a fish gliding through the depths.
I headed to the spot from my memory.
Though dark all around, the Ice Sea Assimilation Heart Method preserved my vision.
After swimming about half a gak, the sunken Daegun Pier ship came into view.
The rock should be nearby.
I scanned the surroundings slowly.
"......!"
There it was.
Smiling, I approached slowly.
Familiar characters were inscribed on the rock.
Heir of snow and wind, prove your worth.
[Heir of snow and wind, prove your worth.]
Circulating the Ice Sea Assimilation Heart Method, I placed my hand on the rock.
Wooong.
The rock hummed, and familiar traces began engraving upon it.
The moment I saw it, memories flooded back—of being forcibly confined by the investigator to learn the True Twelve Forms Sword Technique.
It had been grueling. And now this again?
The vibration from the rock.
Wung wung, wung wung,
Was it my imagination, or did the rock seem to whimper pathetically, 'Please don't go'?