Ice Sea Water Step Technique (2)

I let out a sigh.

Suddenly, the image of the Ancestor Master I'd met in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠North Sea flashed through my mind.

"If this successor doesn't learn it, the Seolpung Palace's martial arts will vanish forever."

And he'd even shed tears.

How sly.

Damn it, no choice then.

If not me, the true martial arts of Seolpung Palace would disappear forever.

Damn my soft heart.

As I examined the traces on the rock, I spotted the footprints from when he'd walked across the water using the Ice Sea Water Step Technique.

Strictly speaking, they were traces of the Traceless Step, but due to the special environment of water and the Ice Sea Water Step Technique, they were slightly different from the standard Traceless Step.

I should try walking across the rock while circulating the Ice Sea Water Step Technique.

The moment my foot touched the final footprint—

"……!"

In an instant, my vision flipped, and I was transported to an entirely different place.

But this time, I didn't panic.

It was a cave all too familiar to me.

"Back here again."

"Kkwi! Kkwi!"

At the cheerful sound, I looked down to see Gold Spirit tapping my foot with its front paw.

"You came too?"

Come to think of it, Gold Spirit had entered the water with me.

Thanks to that, I'd learned something.

Gold Spirit could move and breathe freely even underwater.

But why did it keep pawing at my foot?

"Got something to say?"

"Kkwi!"

"What is it?"

Gold Spirit scurried off somewhere and looked back at me.

Its eyes seemed to say, Why aren't you following?

I'm coming, I'm coming.

Following Gold Spirit, I arrived at the spot where I'd previously found the manual for the True Snow Twelve Style Sword Technique in the North Sea.

This time, different manuals lay there.

"Gotta master these fully to get out this time too, right?"

Gold Spirit nodded at my question.

I gave a wry smile and sat in the center of the cave, opening the manuals.

.

.

.

When I opened my eyes, the surroundings had changed to a snowy plain……

"Huh?"

No, it wasn't. I was standing on a massive block of ice.

In other words, I was atop an iceberg.

"Come forward."

Turning my head, I saw the Ancestor Master standing behind me before I knew it.

I cupped my hands in a formal salute.

"Greetings, Ancestor Master."

The Ancestor Master nodded in return to my greeting and spoke.

"You've returned quite early this time."

"Isn't it all thanks to your arrangements, Ancestor Master?"

"Well, not wrong. Without my brilliant foresight, I couldn't have designed such meticulous arrangements."

I was a bit taken aback by his blatant boasting.

Noticing my reaction, the Ancestor Master asked curiously.

"Why so surprised? Surely not because ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I praised myself?"

"Well…… Normally, don't people around you say those things, not yourself?"

"I know my own excellence—why borrow others' mouths?"

"……I see."

Then, a sudden question arose in my mind.

"I have a question."

"What is it?"

"When I learned the True Snow Twelve Style Sword Technique, I had to perform its forms to enter here."

"Indeed."

"And this time, to learn the water technique, I used the Ice Sea Water Step Technique to enter."

I continued.

"But that's the only martial art I know. How am I supposed to access the others you've left behind?"

The Ancestor Master smiled faintly at my question.

"Do you think I didn't arrange for that too?"

"Then, could you tell me how many more arrangements are left?"

"I'd love to, but I can't."

"Pardon?"

The Ancestor Master clicked his tongue.

"I designed the arrangements, but that picky fellow insisted on some kind of 'restriction' to avoid offending the higher-ups."

Like heavenly secrets, some restriction prevented him from revealing that much.

"Anyway, no more questions? Time's short. Fail to master it in time, and you'll be in trouble."

"Pardon?"

"The iceberg you're standing on right now—it's crumbling."

Damn it.

Nothing's ever easy.

* * *

Dongting Lake.

Palgap sat on a log, gazing at the lake.

Because Eun Seo-ho, whom he served, had entered the lake.

Man, what hardships is the young master going through……

It wasn't winter yet, but the weather was still chilly enough to make entering the water unpleasant.

He'd insisted on checking something in that cold water on a day like this, or he couldn't sleep.

Thinking back, Eun Seo-ho had been like that since childhood.

If there was something he had to do, he couldn't rest until it was done.

Even after exhausting days of work, sprawled on his bed, he'd suddenly bolt up shouting, "No! Training! I have to train!"

In truth, Palgap sensed Eun Seo-ho had some secret.

It started on Eun Seo-ho's fifteenth birthday.

From the moment he got word that something was off with him.

He'd take wrong turns on familiar paths, or gaze at him with suddenly mature eyes full of pity.

And then he went into the snowy mountains to fetch spirit herbs.

Come to think of it, I was really freaked out back then.

Thinking about it, few servants like him had gone through so many ordeals.

Yet he was still alive and breathing because, amid it all, Eun Seo-ho had always looked out for him.

Even lending him the Fire Character Tablet bestowed by the Emperor.

I wonder what he's hiding……

Probably something burdensome to share with others, so he kept it secret.

He hoped Eun Seo-ho would unburden himself, whatever the secret.

He could handle it, no matter what.

As he pondered what the secret might be, he soon gave up.

He wasn't gifted at scheming.

Reading the room and acting accordingly suited him better.

And he trusted Eun Seo-ho. Even if that unknowable secret stayed buried forever, it was fine.

From their first meeting, Eun Seo-ho was his master.

"Palgap's family of the Eunhae Merchant Group too! Don't bully him!"

He could never forget the sight of the barely five-year-old boy boldly yelling at the nasty kids tormenting him with a sharp voice.

And calling him family.

That day, by some twist of fate, the now-retired former guild leader had suggested he become Eun Seo-ho's servant.

He accepted, and never regretted it.

His father had supported him, saying, "So that's your fate."

He turned to look at the Seo-u Warrior.

He'd been standing rigidly at his post since earlier.

"Aren't your legs hurting, sir?"

The Seo-u Warrior replied with a solemn expression.

"How can I, as his guard, stand easy when I don't know what trials my lord faces inside?"

"I'll just sit here. If I tire out and can't serve the young master, that'd be the real joke, right?"

"Well…… yes."

The Seo-u Warrior gazed steadily at Palgap.

"How's your training going?"

"Good."

The manual Eun Seo-ho had gifted him in Luoyang.

It began, "To one who walks the Path of the King-Slayer."

With Jin Yu Warrior's help mastering it, Palgap kept thinking, What is this?

It fit him like a glove.

Parts Jin Yu Warrior found baffling made perfect sense to him.

While Jin Yu Warrior and others saw it as an assassination manual, it looked different to him.

If he had to name it, maybe The Perfect Servant Manual?

That's why he loved the martial art he was learning.

"……!"

Then he sensed something.

Since mastering it, he'd increasingly felt Eun Seo-ho's emotions, even faintly from afar.

This feeling now……

Irritation.

Anyway, sensing emotions meant Eun Seo-ho was emerging from the lake.

He grabbed a towel and hurried to the shore. The Seo-u Warrior tilted his head, then flinched.

And nodded, as if acknowledging something.

Moments later,

Eun Seo-ho emerged. Not a drop of water clung to his body as he walked out across the water's surface.

No splashing sounds either.

Combined with his striking looks, it felt like a lake god manifesting—utterly mystical.

The Seo-u Warrior and Palgap were momentarily speechless.

Until Eun Seo-ho opened his mouth.

"Damn it! That damn Ancestor Master! Even if it's a test, dropping me into the actual sea……."

* * *

I grumbled as I emerged from Dongting Lake.

Once I'd fully mastered the Ice Sea Assimilation Heart Technique and Ice Sea Water Step Technique, the Ancestor Master had grinned mischievously and said,

"Well then, no need for this iceberg anymore."

"Wait, what do you—?"

He stomped, shattering the iceberg.

I plunged into the sea before I could prepare.

As I fell, his voice reached my ears.

"Your foot must touch the ocean floor's depths to return."

A heads-up would have been nice.

Grumbling inwardly, I circulated the Ice Sea Assimilation Heart Technique and Ice Sea Water Step Technique.

When my foot finally touched the seabed far below, I returned to Dongting Lake.

And hurried out.

"Young master, you're out?"

"Yeah."

"But why do you look so grumpy?"

"Some old coot."

Thanks to him, I'd grasped the true power of the Ice Sea Assimilation Heart Technique and Ice Sea Water Step Technique, but that didn't improve my mood.

And it wasn't because he didn't give me anything extra after all that hardship. Definitely not……

"Kkwi!"

Gold Spirit wagged its tail vigorously, explaining. I flinched at its words.

"There's a gift inside?"

"Kkwi kkwi!"

Gold Spirit was scolding me for rushing out so hastily.

I turned back.

"Gonna head in again for a bit."

"Ah…… sure."

I dove back in, heading for the rock.

With the Ice Sea Water Step Technique at greater completion, I reached it far faster than before.

I was so quick that Gold Spirit flailed cutely trying to keep up.

Come to think of it, the rock resembled the iceberg where I'd learned the water technique.

There was a reason the Ancestor Master shattered it at the end.

Standing on the rock, I stomped just as he had.

No sound, no vibration—but the rock shattered to pieces.

What's this?

Inside was a small red box, just big enough to fit in one hand.

Nothing else?

Gold Spirit shook its head ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠when I looked—no more.

I nodded and surfaced again.

.

.

.

Moments later.

I returned to the inn.

Placing the red box on the table, I opened it.

Inside was a handful of gold ingots and a letter. I opened the letter first.

I smiled awkwardly reading it.

The Ancestor Master, hiding rewards under the rock.

Almost misunderstood him.

I chuckled at the gold ingots. Money's always nice.

Does this mean more rewards next time? Sounds good?

Gasp!

I recoiled at my own thought.

Making me think like this…… Scary guy, that Ancestor Master.

Wait, is this bait?

.

.

.

I headed to Hyeoncheong upon Ji-hyeon's summons.

"You've arrived?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"Here's the investigation report."

Huh? Already done? Not half-assed, I hope?

Skeptical inwardly, I opened the report Ji-hyeon handed me and examined it closely.

Whoa……

To investigate and organize this thoroughly in just two days!

And purely factual, no bias—impeccable.

"You have some talented subordinates."

"No, I did it myself."

"Pardon?"

"It's for His Imperial Majesty—how could I be negligent? I investigated and wrote it personally."

"I see."

I instantly recognized Ji-hyeon as prime talent. Tempting.

But if I saw it, the Emperor surely had too.

And more talents like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him by the Emperor's side would make things easier for me.

I smiled brightly at Ji-hyeon.

"Thank you for your efforts. I'll ensure it's presented to His Majesty."