The Emperor's Errand (1)
I took a moment to stroll through the rear garden.
Of course, I trained in martial arts every morning, but staring at paperwork all day still made my vision blur and my body stiffen up.
So I used these breaks to walk the garden paths and loosen up.
"The weather's truly warmed up now," Yeo Eung-am Warrior remarked, and I nodded in agreement.
As if to prove spring had arrived, the plum blossoms were beginning to bloom.
Last winter had been brutally cold, but thanks to the warming roots that Gold Spirit had fetched, everyone in the merchant group had made it through unscathed.
I slipped my hand into my sleeve and stroked Gold Spirit.
- Ku-ee?
What a reliable little guy.
It was about time to head to Beijing.
We needed to hurry and finish the Beijing branch building if we wanted to start operations there by year's end.
And the onset of spring also meant the hungry gap—the lean months before the harvest—was fast approaching.
After I'd dismantled the largest nearby rebel groups by assigning them tenant farming on our lands, no major threats had emerged.
Winter wasn't a season for easy travel, after all.
Even seasoned escorts and merchants struggled with it—what chance did ordinary commoners have?
Surviving the frozen roads without dying of exposure was victory enough.
But now that the weather had thawed, the wandering refugees could move freely again, and the hungry gap would spawn even more of them.
The court was stepping in with relief efforts, but there were limits to what they could do.
So we had to dash to Beijing before things got worse.
.
.
.
That evening, after wrapping up my work, I went to my father and told him I was heading to Beijing.
"You sure about this? Reports of unrest are pouring in...."
"That's exactly why I need to go now, Father. The longer we wait, the harder travel will get."
"Fair enough."
He pondered for a moment before asking, "So, when do you plan to leave?"
"Within ten days."
With his approval secured, I was handling the preparations when an unexpected visitor arrived.
Gyeong In-juk, one of the men I'd recently pulled from the rebels and integrated into the merchant group.
"What brings you here? I heard you've been swamped."
"No matter how busy I am, can I really be busier than the third young branch head?"
"Hahaha."
Come to think of it, yeah.
Gyeong In-juk and the young men who'd come with him were diligently carrying out their assignments.
The overseers were singing their praises for their hard work.
If they kept this up for a few years, they could apprentice as overseers without a hitch.
"I heard you're off to Beijing."
"Yeah, that's the plan."
Word of my trip had spread like wildfire through the entire merchant group.
It made sense—I might not return for a while, so everyone coming with me was bustling about with preparations.
That's probably how Gyeong In-juk had heard.
"When will you be back?"
"Hard to say for sure. Maybe half a year?"
"I see."
He nodded and held out what he was carrying.
"Take this."
"What's this?"
"Something we all chipped in from our first paychecks."
A bit surprised, I opened the pouch.
Inside was a fire starter and a waterskin.
"A fire starter and waterskin?"
"On long trips, keeping a flame and staying hydrated are key, right?"
"True enough."
The thoughtfulness—never go cold or thirsty—tugged at my heart.
"This'll come in handy. Thanks."
Time passed.
After finishing my meditation, I stood. Right on cue, Master entered my pavilion.
"Good morning."
"Yes, Master. Good morning."
Seeing my guards, Seo-u Warrior gave a quick bow and led Myeong-jong Warrior out.
At first, Myeong-jong and Chang-un Warriors had questioned leaving during my training.
But after seeing Master's gaze, they never argued again.
Master must have overwhelmed them with his presence. Inner energy really was king, huh?
"Let's begin."
"Yes."
At his word, I drew my sword. In a flash, Master's form rushed at me.
I raised my blade just in time to block.
Clang!
Clang-clang!
Swords clashed dozens of times.
A while back, Master had promised to teach me a new sword style, but said preparations were needed first.
All he'd asked was that I counter and counterattack using every technique from the Jinseol Twelve Forms and Snow Lotus Sword I'd learned so far.
"Huff... huff..."
As we sparred frantically, Palgap rang the bell.
Dong!
One hour was up.
"Your movements are more fluid than last time. But the transitions between them are still awkward. Probably because you're calculating each one."
"So I shouldn't calculate?"
I tilted my head.
"Didn't you say before that analyzing and calculating an enemy's moves is key to fighting efficiently?"
"Correct."
Master nodded.
"It prevents wasting inner energy. But even with calculations, you'll eventually reach a no-thought, no-form state where all thinking vanishes—and that's how you ascend another level."
His words brought back memories.
When I'd dueled the mad warrior for the Silver Mist Sword, I'd slipped into that state without realizing.
And that's how I'd broken into peak realm.
"Frankly, the higher your realm, the rarer those moments become. You can calculate more, after all."
"True."
True to his words, I hadn't entered that trance since.
Probably because my guards kept me out of desperate straits.
Maybe I should ditch the guards and wander the martial world alone for a year?
The thought made me chuckle—my guards would faint if they heard.
But impossible.
How could I abandon all the people under me for some wandering?
Martial arts were just a means for self-defense.
The Eunhae Merchant Group was my true priority.
"This round, you attack first."
"Yes!"
I charged at Master with my sword raised.
"Haat!"
Kang!
He blocked effortlessly, and another hour of exchange began.
A while later.
"Haa... haa..."
I collapsed in the courtyard, gasping. Exhausting.
Lately, we'd spar an hour, get advice, spar another—repeating until a full two hours passed. I'd be too drained to stand.
Honestly, tougher than before.
"Good work."
I struggled up, clasped my hands, and bowed.
"Thank you for the guidance."
"Heading to Beijing early tomorrow morning?"
"Yes."
"Take care."
"I will. You too, Master. So, the new sword style after I return from Beijing?"
He pondered my question before replying.
"I'd prefer that."
What did he mean?
* * *
Gwak Myeong-hyeon glanced back as he left Mun-gok Pavilion, Eun Seo-ho's residence.
Eun Seo-ho sat on the ground, gulping water from Palgap.
The sword style he'd learned from his master's insights—thanks to Eun Seo-ho—was meant for the lord of the Snow Wind Palace.
To pass it on, one prerequisite was essential.
Reaching the Super First-rate realm.
It was far too dangerous for anyone below that.
So he'd been focusing on elevating Eun Seo-ho's realm.
Then a middle-aged man appeared before him.
"Gwak of the Eunhae Merchant Group outer chief inspector greets you."
It was Outer Chief Inspector Go Il-pyeong.
"Watching over the third young branch head's training, I see."
"Yes."
Go Il-pyeong smiled faintly.
"Personally, I owe you thanks. The arts I practice are extremely yang-based, so..."
"Not suited for the third young branch head."
He nodded.
"Since we're here, mind if I ask something?"
"What is it?"
"Has the third young master truly reached peak realm?"
After a moment's thought, he nodded.
If Go Il-pyeong was asking, he already suspected. Denying it was pointless.
Besides, Go Il-pyeong struck him as upright and trustworthy.
"As expected!"
His expression confirmed Gwak Myeong-hyeon's guess.
A ominous thought struck him.
"You aren't planning to make the third young branch head your successor as outer chief inspector, are you?"
Go Il-pyeong shook his head.
"No, no. I've already chosen the second young branch head for that."
Relief.
He continued.
"That role needs someone steadfast. The third young branch head's talents don't fit."
The outer chief inspector hurried on.
"Not that he's not steadfast, I mean..."
"I get it. You mean he's versatile and quick on his feet."
"Ahem, yes."
"I agree."
Go Il-pyeong pressed.
"In your view, how likely is it the third young master can climb higher?"
Gwak Myeong-hyeon chuckled, glancing at his hand.
Still tingling.
The shock from sparring Eun Seo-ho lingered.
It meant it wouldn't be long.
But he wasn't about to spill it straight. Mischievously, he said,
"That's a secret."
"..."
"I'll be off."
He bowed to the flustered Go Il-pyeong and went on his way.
Truly exceptional masters balanced inner energy and insight perfectly.
But from his experience, the higher the realm, the more insight mattered.
Higher realms accelerated inner energy accumulation—but there was a limit.
The dantian's capacity.
Expanding it required shedding the mortal shell.
But sheer inner energy or years of practice didn't guarantee it.
If so, anyone grinding good arts would achieve it—but they didn't.
Some stagnated between first- and second-rate lifelong; others hit peak young.
Only shedding the shell through insight—expanding the dantian—marked true ascent.
Of course, spirit pills could force it.
But they were rare, and even then, enduring the influx demanded superhuman patience.
It forcibly remade an unprepared body into a master's.
Excruciating agony in one's right mind—eight out of ten failed and died midway.
Those who succeeded via pills were freakish outliers. Or insanely lucky.
Still, it wasn't without insight.
Facing death sharpened the mind like nothing else.
That's why even prestigious clans used such elixirs cautiously.
Eun Seo-ho had endured the frost plum ordeal, surviving near-death to reforge his constitution—but Gwak Myeong-hyeon thought it'd just built his inner energy.
Anyway, he hoped Eun Seo-ho would shed his shell through insight.
His body was primed; no physical torment needed.
Gwak Myeong-hyeon wanted his cherished disciple to ascend painlessly.
Now prepared, Eun Seo-ho needed only that insightful spark to become Super First-rate.
From experience, it came from endless sword swings.
Yet part of him hoped it never came.
Insight brought no bodily pain... but mental torment just as fierce.
He wanted his precious, beloved disciple Eun Seo-ho to see only good and walk only bright paths.
'Whew, so this is a master's heart?'