It Was Here (3)
Unlike usual, Gold Spirit didn't gulp down the silver coin I gave it.
It held the silver coin in its mouth and approached the stone monument of Seolpung Palace, then placed it down in front.
“……”
I silently watched.
Come to think of it, I'd met Gold Spirit in Unnam, far from the North Sea.
There must be some story behind it.
And now, Gold Spirit was paying its respects in its own maximal way.
Who was it mourning right now?
The former Seolpung Palace Lord? Or...
I approached Gold Spirit and stroked its back.
“If you're going to do this, why not ask for gold instead of silver?”
“Kkwi... kku.”
“You know shame after all?”
“Kkwi...”
“It's fine. We can be generous with this sort of thing.”
I pulled a gold ingot from my pouch and placed it on top.
“Seolpung Palace disciple Eun Seo-ho pays respects to the Palace Lord and seniors.”
I paid my utmost respects to them.
As I stared at the monument housing their ashes, an inexplicable frustration welled up.
I muttered without thinking.
“What exactly about Seolpung Palace irritated them so much that they couldn't rest until wiping it out?”
“That's something I want to know too.”
Binghae-rin, the Vice Palace Lord, replied—whether she'd overheard my mutter or not.
“What exactly irritated them... enough to kill them? To kill my father?”
Father?
“Was your father, Vice Palace Lord, also...”
“A disciple of Seolpung Palace.”
“……”
“If I may ask your age? Surely Seolpung Palace...”
“Was destroyed nineteen years ago. I'm turning twenty this year.”
Same age as me?
From what I knew, children under five couldn't enter the North Sea Ice Palace.
That would mean she was one year old at the time. No way...
“And I was the only child to survive the scene when Seolpung Palace was destroyed.”
“……”
“It happened so young that I don't remember much, but one memory remains crystal clear.”
“What memory?”
“Hmm.”
She evaded the answer.
Thinking about it, my question must have been rude.
A survivor's final memory couldn't be pleasant.
I quickly cupped my fists and bowed my head.
“My apologies. I've been rude.”
“Apology accepted.”
I gazed long at the stone monument holding Seolpung Palace's ashes, then turned away.
“We can head back now.”
To Gold Spirit, I said,
“Gold Spirit, let's go.”
“Kkwi.”
Gold Spirit hopped up and slipped into my sleeve.
On the way back to my quarters,
Vice Palace Lord Binghae-rin spoke.
“You're leaving tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Truth be told, our palace disciples may look delicate, but they're all heavy drinkers. And being beyond Peak realm, their control over intoxication is impeccable.”
“……?”
“Anyway, that's how it is.”
I learned what Vice Palace Lord Binghae-rin meant the next morning.
.
.
.
“What?”
I reflexively questioned the disciple attending me.
Brother-in-law Jin-ho was hungover?
I rushed straight to him.
Jin-ho hyung lay on the bed, face sallow, dry-heaving.
“Urk!”
“No way! Seriously! How much did you drink yesterday?”
“I counted up to a hundred twenty cups. After that... no memory?”
“Aigoo! For real!”
Sitting beside him, my sister-in-law looked apologetic.
“I'm truly sorry. He even downed all the cups coming my way.”
“……”
He must have left quite the impression on mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law, and the others.
Still, sigh...
“I'm fine. I'll head out as planned... urk...!”
“In this state? You'll die on the road.”
“That's not... uuurk!”
No, over a hundred cups? Lucky he didn't die drinking.
Thanks to being on the cusp of Peak realm?
But those ladies aren't that reckless...
Ah, those sly foxes...
I suddenly understood why they'd gotten Jin-ho hyung plastered.
Now he couldn't leave even if he wanted to.
Vice Palace Lord Binghae-rin had said it: they're all heavy drinkers.
That was what she meant.
“Anyway, let's delay departure a few days. I can get permission. Just focus on recovering.”
“Sorry. I... urk.”
I shook my head and left his quarters.
To the disciple attending me, I said,
“With things like this, I'll stay until my brother recovers.”
“Understood.”
Her bright expression—was that my imagination?
“Our group at Binggung Guest Quarters might wait too long. Could you deliver a letter?”
“Of course.”
Glancing back at Jin-ho hyung's quarters, I thought,
Sorry, hyung, but glad I slipped out early.
But with no special purpose, staying longer felt idle.
Even playing with Gold Spirit had limits...
The attending disciple suggested,
“How about the library?”
“The library?”
“Yes. There's probably no library in the main palace with as many volumes.”
Curiosity piqued.
“Can I go too?”
“With the Palace Lord's permission, yes. And she'll grant it.”
“Please ask.”
And the Palace Lord immediately permitted it.
Guided by the disciple, I headed to the library.
The door was smaller than expected.
But stepping inside, I realized judging by appearances was foolish.
Not vast, but towering high.
Shelves packed it densely.
I wondered how to reach the upper books, but stairs connected everywhere seamlessly.
“Incredible. I had no idea there were so many books.”
“One of our Ice Palace's prides.”
“Well deserved.”
I loved reading, but business left no time.
Here, no work possible anyway—so reading till Jin-ho hyung recovered sounded ideal.
Not another hangover, right?
Pushing that worry aside, I slowly toured, marveling nonstop.
So many books I'd never seen.
Startle—
While browsing, a strange pull tugged at me.
Like in the Luoyang book street during the Baekda Merchant Association meeting.
A summons, drawing me there.
The pull too strong to ignore, I followed.
It led to the fourteenth-floor shelf.
“……!”
One book caught my eye.
Others vanished; only it stood out—like before.
Another Seolpung Palace relation?
I pulled it out.
No cover, just like then.
“May I read it here?”
“Yes, of course. There's a reading area over there.”
Guided to a spacious desk on the first floor, I sat.
She left to fetch snacks; I took a deep breath and opened the book.
Instantly, the energy within surged.
Faint, imperceptible to most—but to one who'd mastered Taeyin Binghae Divine Art to Peak, unmistakable.
It was Taeyin Binghae Divine Art.
Through my hand, it flooded my body, meeting my dantian energy.
Before I could react, my vision went white.
.
.
.
“We meet again.”
A welcoming voice.
“Eh? Elder?”
Seolpung Palace's elder stood before me. I was on an empty plain.
“You even set arrangements in the North Sea Ice Palace library?”
“Yes, this too is my arrangement.”
How many had he prepared?
I admired his thoroughness.
No wonder his lifespan shortened.
“You're here, so you're at North Sea Ice Palace now.”
“Yes, stopped by the library for rest.”
“This was half-doubtful preparation, but you're impressive.”
“Thank you.”
I wasn't immune to praise, but his felt good somehow.
“Anyway, this arrangement transmits Gyeuk-eum-hon-bing-tu.”
Extreme Yin Soul Ice Battle
Extreme yin freezing the soul... in battle?
“But the Seolpung Palace arts I saw excelled in swordsmanship; others felt merely adequate.”
Master taught mainly sword, but also palm and fist arts.
Supportive at best, nothing more.
“What have you learned so far?”
“Ah, yes. Well...”
Listing them, the elder snorted.
“Fair enough. But this Gyeuk-eum-hon-bing-tu is on another level.”
“……?”
“It's one Palace Lords alone can learn.”
I startled.
“What? Only for Seolpung Palace Lords? But I'm not one.”
“Irrelevant.”
“But... Master is the Palace Lord. I can't learn over him.”
“Palace Lord arts have no manuals.”
“Then what was that book I opened?”
“Hm, what was it? I don't recall.”
“Pardon?”
“Just grabbed something likely to linger in the library.”
“……”
“No need to store such memories here. This is purely for transmission.”
The elder continued.
“Thus, direct instruction is required—and a sparring partner.”
“……”
“But only I can demonstrate and oppose now.”
His face saddened.
The former Seolpung Palace Lord, sole capable of transmission...
“You're the only one I can teach. Learn without fuss.”
“Yes.”
A question struck me.
“But... you said only Palace Lords learn it. How many are there?”
“Spoiling that kills the fun.”
“……”
Elder, is this the time for fun?
“Now, let's learn enjoyably.”
He waved; golden letters filled the air around me densely.
“First form.”
Coincidentally, the first appeared before me.
Dancing Willow Leaf, Cold Wind Slash
Dancing willow leaves slicing cold wind.
Finishing, the elder said,
“Watch closely.”
The air shifted instantly.
He extended both hands forward—that was the start.
His motions evoked truly dancing willow leaves.
Yet the air chilled fiercely.
“……!”
What was that?
For a split second, the wind where his hand passed seemed severed.
He finished the form.
“Your expression says you've grasped the essence.”
“Using hand blades as swords?”
“Correct.”
“Quite...”
“Overbearing?”
“Yes.”
“Think gentle arts save dying disciples?”
“……”
“A Palace Lord must steel for bloodshed to protect disciples. No weapon? Use hands to fell foes.”
That explained Palace Lord-only arts.
Overbearing enough to shield Seolpung disciples.
Why not teach disciples, then?
Asking, he answered readily.
“As you know, it's intensely overbearing. Insufficient training risks demonic corruption.”
“So only the strongest Palace Lord learns it.”
“Yes. More questions?”
“No.”
His hand moved; burning near my chest, like ice grazing.
“Kuh!”
I knew the sensation.
Slashed by a blade.
His assault unrelenting, arms and legs cut in moments, I collapsed.
Thud.
“I... trusted you, Elder...”
“No whining—stand. You won't die here. Shortening years-long training demands this.”
Damn!
Realizing it, Jin-ho hyung's hangover led me here.
Won't let them off easy.