Special Request (2)
At the words of the Guizhou Prefect, I was momentarily taken aback.
Snow?
Snow in this seventh month?
Had I misheard?
I asked the Prefect again.
"Pardon me, Your Excellency. Are you referring to the snow that falls from the sky in winter?"
"Indeed."
"……."
I scanned his face, wondering if he was jesting, but he was utterly serious.
Then there had to be some reason for it.
"May I ask why Your Excellency seeks snow?"
"Sigh... The truth is, I have a daughter bedridden with illness."
Ah, right, now that he mentions it.
I'd never seen the Guizhou Prefect's face in my previous life, but I knew that fact.
The story of his daughter dying because of a swindler was fairly well-known.
The Guizhou Prefect had commissioned a merchant group in the city to fulfill his daughter's wish.
Just as we'd received such requests many times, commissions for merchants to procure items were common enough.
That merchant group was one of the top three in Guizhou, but during the process, they pulled a scam, leading to his daughter's death.
In the end, the merchant group that incurred the Prefect's wrath went completely bankrupt.
It had nothing to do with me, so I hadn't known the details of the request—until now.
It had been to procure snow.
Aside from the request's difficulty, what kind of prank had they pulled that it killed his daughter?
The Prefect let out a heavy sigh as he spoke.
"My daughter has never seen snow in her life."
"Has your daughter never left Guizhou since birth?"
He nodded at my question.
That explained why she'd never seen snow.
Guizhou was warm even in winter, with rain but no snow.
Even if snow fell, it melted before reaching the ground.
"But it seems she read about snow in a book I procured for her."
I understood the reason, but there was something I needed to clarify here.
"Does your daughter want to see snow? Touch it? Or watch it falling?"
"Truthfully, the child wants to see a snowy landscape... but that's impossible in Guizhou. She knows that too."
He continued.
"So now she just wants to touch snow herself."
"I see."
"I know it's an unreasonable request. Especially in summer, it's even more so. But with no knowing when my daughter might pass, I have no choice but to hurry."
His voice carried the desperation of a father desperate to grant his child's wish.
To procure snow at this time of year, I'd have to head to the North Sea.
Impossible for ordinary folk, but not for me.
I knew the route to the North Sea and had the ability to get there. Plus, with my extreme yin martial art, I could preserve the snow without melting.
This was an opportunity.
Guizhou thrived on tea, fruit, and animal husbandry, which could benefit our merchant group.
Even if we failed, as long as we didn't pull anything shady, he wouldn't hold it against us.
He knew full well how near-impossible it was.
But a sudden doubt arose.
"Why our Eunhae Merchant Group, though? Guizhou has plenty of capable merchant groups."
"True enough."
The Prefect nodded as he replied.
"I originally planned to commission a local group, but by chance, I was recommended your Eunhae Merchant Group. I visited the government offices on business, and the officials there strongly vouched for you. They said you were capable enough to procure what I wanted."
At that moment, a twitch at the nape of my neck.
Ah, damn... those bastards.
The government officials had recommended me to get revenge.
But I didn't show anger—instead, I smiled.
They probably thought I'd be in a real bind. Too bad—I wasn't troubled at all.
I was even grateful for the opportunity they'd handed me.
And in a few months, when their buildings collapsed, the offices would be cleaned out.
Tsk tsk. They should've focused on their own survival instead of scheming against me.
The Prefect spoke with earnest eyes.
"Money is no object. The sooner, the better. Can you do it?"
"Understood. We'll take the request."
At my words, he seized my hand.
"Thank you!"
The Guizhou Prefect handed over a hefty advance and departed.
Of course, failure meant we'd have to return it all.
First, I sent a letter to Father detailing the whole affair.
"Kkweee!"
Geumryeong devoured a silver ingot with gusto and returned the next day with Father's reply.
What a chicken-rib of a request! But success would clearly benefit us greatly.
You must be confident to accept it. Take care and come back safe.
As expected, Father saw the situation clearly.
I smiled and tucked away the letter, then called for Palgap.
"Palgap!"
"Yes, you called, young master?"
"When will the box I ordered be ready?"
"By tomorrow, sir."
To fulfill this request, a special box was essential, so I'd commissioned it in advance.
It was a box within a larger box, packed with straw between them for insulation.
Designed for maximum thermal retention—I planned to fill it with snow.
Truthfully, I could make snow with the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art.
Spray water into the sky and freeze it into snowflakes.
But at my current level, I couldn't make enough to let someone touch.
So the best was to gather snow from the North Sea, chill the box, and transport it unmelted.
Besides, I couldn't casually reveal my art to others.
Publicly, I was known to have inherited the famed technique Heavenly Flow Ice Sword from Grandmaster Gwak Hoon of the Extreme Heavens Sword.
But the Heavenly Flow Ice Sword wasn't extreme yin enough to create snow.
All things considered, trekking to the North Sea myself was the best, if laborious, option.
The next day, the box was ready.
I also prepared thick fur coats to withstand the North Sea chill.
With preparations complete, we set off for the North Sea.
.
.
.
Starting from Beijing this time, we shaved days off the previous North Sea journey.
We entered Liaoning territory in just a few days.
A slight detour would let me meet my friend, Bokyun Subgroup Leader of the Gwangjun Merchant Group, but urgency meant skipping it.
Yet,
"No way! Who's this? Young Master Eun?"
"Subgroup Leader Bokyun?"
We ran into him at an inn during a stopover.
"What brings you here without word?"
To his question, I replied sheepishly.
"Heading to the North Sea on business. It wasn't something I could dawdle on, so no notice. Sorry."
"No need to apologize! I understand the circumstances. I'm not so petty as to hold it against you."
He waved it off with a laugh and continued.
"Join me for dinner tonight, at least."
"Sure."
So I dined with Subgroup Leader Bokyun at the inn, then shared tea.
He spoke first.
"Truth be told, I was en route to Beijing."
"I see."
"I heard you were there, so I sent a letter before departing. But seeing you here, you must've left before it arrived."
"We nearly missed each other."
"Indeed. Meeting like this must be fate."
Subgroup Leader Bokyun went on.
"Plus, after the favor in Luoyang last time, I prepared a token of gratitude."
"……?"
What had he prepared?
He pulled a small box from his sleeve.
"Open it."
I did, and was mildly surprised.
Huh? A signaling horn?
"Isn't this the emblem for your group's members?"
"Correct."
He grinned and continued.
"You seem to visit the North Sea often, so I had an extra made. It'll come in handy."
"But I heard your group only has a few."
Specifically, just the leader, subgroup leader, and two chief accountants.
"Father ordered it personally. He was that grateful. Don't refuse."
With wagons, our pace was slower than riding horseback.
I'd been worrying how to pass through the northern tribes' lands.
Borrowing a horn for personal business felt awkward.
But receiving one as a gift? Perfect.
"I'll put it to good use. Thank your leader for me."
"Will do."
"Short as this meeting is, I'll definitely visit your group next time."
"Looking forward to it."
The next day.
Subgroup Leader Bokyun headed to Beijing, and I to the North Sea.
Unlike my four veteran escorts who'd been before, the Myeongjong and Changun warriors seemed uneasy in the vast desolation.
"The endless plains make you dizzy, huh?"
They glanced at me, unsure how to respond.
"I felt the same at first. Grasslands stretching forever. But after a few trips, you get used to it."
Seo-u Warrior chimed in from beside me.
"You'll adapt soon enough."
Then Yeo Eung-am Warrior added.
"Yeah, traveling with you forces it on us."
I grumbled.
"You saying that for my benefit?"
"Aigoo! You caught me? Haha!"
As the most seasoned, he could be sly as a fox sometimes.
"Still, seeing places others never will—how lucky is that?"
"It's hard work too, right?"
"I didn't say that far."
"Even so, I'm grateful. You follow without complaint, wherever I go."
"Such words embarrass me deeply."
"That's the point."
"Aigoo! You got me there. Haha!"
"Hahaha!"
The mood lightened considerably.
"I'll never forget your loyalty."
This was sincere.
I knew from my past life how rare such fine escorts were.
We camped through the nights and left Liaoning behind.
Entering the tribal grasslands, the horn from Subgroup Leader Bokyun proved its worth.
With aid from tribes friendly to the Gwangjun Merchant Group, we restocked supplies.
We nearly fought unfriendly ones, but they fled at the sight of me.
They must've remembered traveling with Binghae Palace's Little Palace Lord before.
The North Sea Ice Palace was an object of terror.
Thus, we finally reached the Eunhae Merchant Group's North Sea branch at the entrance.
"Where from?"
To the gate guard, I presented my subgroup leader's token.
"Eunhae Merchant Group's Subgroup Leader, Eun Seo-ho."
"Gasp! Welcome, Subgroup Leader!"
He bowed hastily and opened the gate.
"Please, come in."
We were shown to the reception room, where Branch Manager Su soon greeted us.
"Welcome, Subgroup Leader."
"Long time no see."
Branch Manager Su wasn't young, yet he looked far healthier than before.
"This place's air must be good. You look rejuvenated."
He chuckled heartily.
"Hunting with the locals keeps me fit."
Still, such a sudden change?
"What brings you to the North Sea?"
"Ah, came for snow."
"Pardon? Snow?"
He looked baffled, as expected.
"Got a request to procure snow."
"Isn't it the seventh month?"
"Exactly. That's why I'm here."
Stunned briefly, he regained composure.
"Tough job."
"All for the group."
"Then you'll head up north."
"Yes, early tomorrow to move fast."
"Understood. One thing to mention."
"What?"
"Rumors of a spirit resembling a man harming people in the North Sea lately."
First I'd heard of it.
What could it be?