Yangyang Martial Hall (3)
The journey to Zhejang Province was relatively comfortable this time.
There were no detours along the way, nor were we hauling goods on a merchant caravan.
So they decided to travel by boat along the Yangtze River.
With little snow to hinder them, they reached the ferry landing without issue.
Truly, the Yangtze is vast, Palgap remarked.
It's not called the Long River for nothing, Eun Seo-ho replied.
The Yangtze rarely froze even in winter.
It cut through the relatively warmer southern regions of the Central Plains, after all.
But even this mighty river had partially frozen during this brutal cold snap. The chill was that severe.
Once the upper reaches thawed and heavy rains followed, floods ravaged several areas in the middle and lower stretches.
The Eunhae Merchant Group suffered heavy losses as a result.
Most of their branches, including the main headquarters in Hubei Province, hugged the Yangtze's banks.
Logistics ground to a halt, and in the chaos of recovery, the announcement of Eun Seo-ho's sub-branch leadership had been delayed even further.
As he wryly smiled to himself at the thought, Ha the Escort Leader spoke up.
We'll reach Huangshan soon.
Meaning it's time to disembark, Eun Seo-ho said.
That's right.
Huangshan was the grandest peak in Anhui Province.
And Anhui was home to the Nangong family, one of the Central Plains' renowned martial houses.
It was the clan of Nangong Gang, who had killed him in his previous life, and Nangong Bo, who had clashed with him during the imperial silk delivery competition.
The Nangong family had been the Murim Alliance's staunchest supporter.
Hardly surprising, since the Alliance Leader hailed from their ranks.
The local magistrate clan, the Yeom family, were also fervent Alliance backers.
Come to think of it... the reason Padoopa's husband, Yuyu Geomje, had fallen into qi deviation was the Yeom clan's scheming.
If those two ever faced off against the Yeoms, it wouldn't end prettily.
He'd had business in Anhui before but had deliberately avoided it.
It was where he'd died, after all.
More precisely, at the foot of Huangshan.
Being within Nangong territory made it easy to tamper with evidence, no doubt.
Honestly, who would want to visit the place of their own death?
But he couldn't keep avoiding it forever.
So he'd decided to resolve his master's dilemma this time. And to do that, he had to pass through here.
He always kept his word.
Yet as Huangshan came into view, his breath caught in his throat.
Young master? Are you alright? Palgap asked, concern etching his face.
Eun Seo-ho forced a smile.
I'm fine.
Your face looks pale.
I've always had fair skin. Maybe it just looks whiter in winter?
...
Palgap stared at him wordlessly in response to the lame joke.
His eyes seemed to be cursing him silently.
Still, it eased the tension a bit.
The boat soon docked at the ferry landing. After disembarking, they rested at a nearby inn, planning to set out early the next morning.
The inn they chose was one Eun Seo-ho knew well.
Welcome.
A plump middle-aged woman greeted them warmly.
We'll be staying one night.
Perfect timing—plenty of rooms available. Take your pick.
Then...
They booked rooms leisurely, one per two people. Eun Seo-ho decided to share with Palgap.
It's incredibly clean, Palgap noted.
Yeah, it is.
The room wasn't large or ornate, but it was spotless, without a speck of dust.
The inn's reputation rested on its cleanliness and affordability.
That kept it bustling year-round, but luck was on their side today with vacancies aplenty.
He'd even braced for one room per four.
The Seolpung Escort Agency always stopped here in Anhui, so he'd stayed often himself.
He'd once wondered why they skipped fancier spots, but now he knew.
Unlike other inns, this one was free from martial faction meddling.
The woman greeting them was the innkeeper's wife and head chef.
In truth, both she and her husband were martial artists.
Peak experts, no less. Even elders from prominent sects rarely reached that level, so no ordinary faction dared touch the place.
The couple had severed ties with the martial world.
It stemmed from the deaths of their two sons.
The elder had entered the Alliance's Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, held every five years, to make a name for himself.
Bad matchup.
His opponent was a scion of a famed house, ruthless in combat.
Despite it being a tournament, the young man suffered grievous internal injuries and perished.
The younger son sought revenge, tracking the killer down—but returned humiliated and mocked.
Unable to bear the shame, he took his own life. The couple lost both boys overnight.
Drained of any desire for vengeance, they cut all martial ties and quietly ran the inn.
Eun Seo-ho had learned their story through the Eunhae Merchant Group's intelligence network.
Few knew the full tale.
But word spread among martial folk that the innkeepers were formidable, keeping trouble at bay.
Thus, the Seolpung Palace, needing to hide their identities, favored the spot.
And Eun Seo-ho found it comfortable too.
No eyes from the Alliance or Nangong family meant he could scheme in peace.
After washing up and heading downstairs, Ha the Escort Leader and the escorts were already there.
Ah, I'm the last one down.
No, sir. We just arrived ourselves. What'll you have?
Nothing in particular. Recommend something—first time in the area.
Got it.
Ha rose and placed the order in the kitchen before returning.
Soon, the innkeeper's wife brought tea.
As they sipped, dishes began arriving.
First came noodles in chicken broth, followed by steamed fish.
Sniff sniff! Ugh! What is that smell? Palgap recoiled at the fish.
Fermented mandarin fish, fried, seasoned, and steamed.
Come to think of it, Palgap had hated this dish in his previous life too.
As winter neared, mandarin fish caught in the Yangtze fermented naturally during transport.
Fried, sauced, and steamed—it was a local Huangshan specialty. Folks here prized the stronger the stench, the better the ferment.
He'd balked at the smell at first, but one bite hooked him on the chewy, springy texture.
The salty-sweet sauce sealed the deal.
How'd you know it's fermented mandarin fish?
Oh right—he wasn't supposed to know, being here for the first time.
Eun Seo-ho grinned sheepishly and covered.
Heard from the escorts. They said it's a delicacy.
I see...
Just looking at it makes my mouth water. Dig in.
He quickly tore off a piece with chopsticks and popped it in.
Funky smell, but delicious as ever.
Ha tilted his head watching him.
You eat it better than expected...
Yeah, suits my taste.
Palgap, meanwhile, wouldn't even touch it with his chopsticks.
Now that he thought about it, Palgap devoured anything—from Sichuan spice bombs—except a few hates.
Fermented mandarin fish, stinky tofu...
He hates fermented stuff, huh.
Bears don't eat rotten meat, they say... Was he really a bear?
Ha chuckled at him.
Seeing you enjoy it makes ordering worthwhile.
Haha, thanks.
Paired with liquor? Perfection. Kah!
The escorts nodded in agreement.
But no alcohol graced their table. They were on escort duty, guarding him.
Grab some fermented fish for the return trip. Cold weather'll preserve it easy.
Good idea.
Of course, the smell was each man's problem.
The next morning, they departed early.
And Eun Seo-ho tensed again.
The site of his previous life's death loomed near.
Closing his eyes even now brought it all back vividly.
Then, he'd been boating from Zhejang into Anhui, heading to yesterday's ferry landing.
Precisely twenty ri before that inn.
Murim Alliance warriors ambushed without warning, attacking mercilessly.
They fought desperately to break through, but more blocked the way ahead.
To buy him escape time, Palgap took countless arrows to the body and died. The other guards fell one by one.
Gwak Jun, shielding him to the end, was the last.
The memories welled up, choking him with emotion.
Then, the scene before him stole his breath entirely.
Screams of crowds, guards shouting to protect him, pursuers' footsteps, lungs burning from full sprint...
And the metallic tang of blood.
His vision shook.
A tree came into view.
A sturdy trunk beside a cliff with an exposed boulder.
Beneath it lay the spot where he'd died before.
Gasp...
Was he still not over it?
Five years reborn, and he'd thought himself healed.
Nightmares were rare now, but facing this place demanded more training, it seemed.
His chest tightened.
Young master? You okay?
...
Palgap noticed first.
My lord!
The nearest guard, Seo-u Warrior, rushed over to support him.
Your face is ashen.
...
He barely managed,
Let's... rest a bit... then go.
With Palgap and Seo-u's help, he dismounted—but then memory faded.
It was a dream.
Had to be. How else could he watch his own corpse?
Blood from the sword wound soaked everything.
Or maybe that was reality, and he was the ghost. His lingering will conjuring illusions...
Thwack!
Ugh!
A jolt of pain exploded in his skull. He clutched his head and cried out.
Look at this idiot!
He turned to the familiar voice. Seolpung Palace's Investigator stood there.
Huh? Investigator?
Her fist was clenched—she'd clearly walloped him.
But why was she here?
Look straight! Does that look like you?
Pardon?
She grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to face the corpse.
Does it really look like you? No averting eyes—see it as it is.
...Huh?
The body had vanished.
No—just a pile of cliffside dirt.
Thought you were smart, but you're dumber than I figured.
He bristled.
Why am I dumb?
Can't tell reality from illusion? Smart guy who'd mastered the Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art, no less.
...
No retort.
There's only one Eun Seo-ho—the one I'm seeing. The one I saved with my remaining lifespan. Your memories can't be helped, but you're agonizing over what hasn't happened.
...!
Her words snapped him awake.
Right—his death hadn't happened. Not yet.
Just a past memory. One that wouldn't repeat.
She smiled faintly, pointing beside the tree.
Feeling better? Dig there. I left a gift.
Huh? Young master? You okay?
He opened his eyes to Palgap's worried face.
Yeah, fine.
As he sat up, the guards and Ha approached, faces etched with concern.
You fainted out of nowhere—scared us.
Sorry. Pulled an all-nighter before departure. Fatigue caught up.
He smiled.
But a good nap cleared it right up.
True enough.
The choking tension felt like a lie, gone.
He stood and approached the death site, staring long. Then turned to Palgap.
Palgap, dig here?
Pardon?
Palgap blinked at the sudden request but nodded, fetching a small shovel and starting.
The others tilted heads curiously but waited silently.
Clunk.
Something hit.
Huh? Something's buried here.