Little Palace Lord (1)
Master wore a complicated expression as he spoke.
"Honestly, I never thought this day would come so soon."
"I didn't expect to reach the Super First-rate realm this quickly either."
Master chuckled at my words.
"As your master, I should be overjoyed at my disciple's achievement, but with this decision looming, I can't fully rejoice."
I tilted my head quizzically.
"What decision do you mean?"
"The martial arts I've taught you lately are actually the ones reserved for Seolpung Palace's Little Palace Lord."
I knew that much.
"Anyone who masters those arts and ascends to the Super First-rate realm must make a choice: to advance or to stop."
"Well, obviously, one would advance..."
"To move forward, you must formally become the Little Palace Lord."
"...!"
Something felt off about this.
"Master, didn't you say the swordsmanship I learned is for the Little Palace Lord? So why do I need to become one? There's a contradiction here."
"To be precise, the swordsmanship I've taught you so far—the one the Little Palace Lord practices—is meant to test a candidate's aptitude. It's the sword art that prospective Little Palace Lords train in. The Palace Lord uses it to decide whether to appoint them."
"..."
"That decision determines whether you proceed. The next techniques I'll teach are the precursors to the Palace Lord's own arts."
That explained why, before I left for Beijing, when I asked if we'd learn the new swordsmanship after I returned, Master had said, "I wish that were the case."
Master continued.
"Deciding to become the Little Palace Lord means aiming for Palace Lord."
Master drew the sword from his waist and traced a long line in front of me.
Shiiiing.
"If you're resolved to become Little Palace Lord, cross this line."
"If I choose to stop here, does our master-disciple bond end as well?"
"That's obvious."
"I don't like that. I want to maintain our master-disciple relationship with you forever."
"..."
Master's gaze wavered as he looked at me.
"If Seolpung Palace weren't in its current state, I would have ordered you to become Little Palace Lord by force."
"On the flip side, isn't that why I could learn Seolpung Palace's arts? Otherwise, how could I have trained in a candidate's techniques?"
"You have a point."
"One question."
"What is it?"
"Do I have to reach Super First-rate to become Little Palace Lord?"
"No. But if you've mastered the candidate's swordsmanship and reached Super First-rate, the decision is compelled."
"..."
This must be for the preservation of Seolpung Palace.
I stared at the line Master had drawn before me.
It radiated a warning.
Little Palace Lord...
But Master, did you know?
I've already been entrusted with Seolpung Palace's reconstruction and revival through the arrangements of your master, whom I met in the North Sea.
What else could that role be but Little Palace Lord's?
I grinned and stepped forward, crossing the line.
Master's expression as he watched me was indescribable.
"So... you've made your decision?"
"Yes."
I nodded firmly.
"You don't want to burden your children with the harsh fate of Seolpung Palace's Palace Lord. As your disciple, shouldn't I honor that wish?"
"...!"
Master's eyes widened at my words.
"How did you..."
"I'd already suspected. If you wanted Hyeongwon or Junha as Little Palace Lord, you'd have appointed one by now. You've been delaying, and your answer to my question just now confirmed it."
"I can only apologize."
In my previous life, Seolpung Palace never got a new Palace Lord before I died.
Instead of making Junha an escort or leader at Cheongin Escort Bureau, you asked me to take him as a guard—to spare him that fate.
How could a father watch his son walk a thorny path?
Understanding that a little, I couldn't dare condemn your choice.
But Junha died protecting me.
One reason I'm choosing to become Little Palace Lord is for Junha, who died shielding me in that past life.
Did he not know he was meant to be Little Palace Lord?
Impossible.
Junha wasn't that naive.
But his father—you—didn't want it and never appointed him.
Junha must have suffered knowing that.
If I become Little Palace Lord, he won't have to agonize anymore.
"And Master."
I met his eyes directly.
"I'm the only one who can access your master's arrangements. Doesn't that mean he already acknowledged me as Little Palace Lord?"
"That's logical. But..."
Master glanced at my feet—precisely at the line he'd drawn behind me now.
"Becoming Seolpung Palace's Little Palace Lord formally means walking a thorny path. You'll face threats from the unknown enemies who destroyed us, and even Lord Sodanju's family will be in danger."
Master said gravely.
"You can still retract now. No regrets?"
Master, the path of vengeance I'm already on is nothing but thorns.
Threats to my life?
I died at thirty-nine in my previous life, killed by Baekcheon Company and the Murim Alliance.
My family met tragic ends too.
Whether I accept or reject this fate as Little Palace Lord, it changes little for my life.
I smiled.
"Didn't I say earlier? I want our master-disciple bond to last forever."
"Is that why you chose this?"
"It's one of many reasons."
But it wasn't just for Master, Seolpung Palace, or your master.
Becoming Little Palace Lord means Seolpung Palace becomes my force.
It's for me too.
I still remember Nangong Gang's words at my death.
"You caught the higher-ups' eyes."
Those "higher-ups" were the Murim Alliance leadership.
That's why my ultimate vengeance targets the Alliance.
But the Murim Alliance is the world's largest organization.
To oppose and avenge myself against it, I need power—a faction.
In that context, Little Palace Lord of Seolpung Palace is irreplaceable.
Of course, Seolpung Palace isn't a mere tool.
I'll give it my all.
I smiled brightly at Master.
"Master, I promise to bring prosperity to Seolpung Palace."
Master bit his lip, eyes reddening as if fighting back tears.
Moved by my words?
"Hoo..."
After a moment, he composed himself.
"I should have said this first..."
"...?"
"Congratulations on reaching Super First-rate. It must not have been easy."
"..."
This time, I was the one moved.
I hadn't detailed it, but battling the Heavenly Demon Cult's Little Cult Lord to the death was brutal.
It was so grueling I wanted to quit, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to die there.
Master recognized that effort.
"Now that you've formally accepted the Little Palace Lord position, I'll teach you with even greater care. First, let's review your training so far."
"A spar?"
"More precisely, guided instruction."
Master drew his sword again.
It gleamed with sword aura.
Uh, Master? Why sword aura for a disciple's instructional spar?
The感動 from moments ago evaporated.
His earnest intensity made cold sweat trickle down my back.
Now at Super First-rate, I could finally confirm it.
The gap between Master and me was still vast.
Master? A graze from that sword aura will kill your disciple—your only Little Palace Lord.
.
.
.
The moment training ended, I collapsed in the courtyard.
Ha...
My vision was a blur of yellow stars.
All prior training felt like child's play compared to today's guided hell.
Even at early Super First-rate, I was exhausted enough to drop.
"Today's session ends here."
At those words, I barely rose and bowed.
"Thank you for the instruction."
"Since you've formally become Seolpung Palace's Little Palace Lord, visit Cheongin Escort Bureau this afternoon."
"Understood."
The key figures need to know.
"Then, may I speak with my new nephew?"
"Ah, yes. Of course. And... one request."
***
Kwak Myeonghyeon returned to Cheongin Escort Bureau.
"You're back?"
Those who saw him cupped fists in greeting. Kwak Myeonghyeon nodded lightly in response.
"Where's the Bureau Lord?"
"In his office."
He headed straight there.
"It's Kwak Myeonghyeon."
The door opened promptly—the Bureau Lord himself.
As expected; Kwak Myeonghyeon was Seolpung Palace's Palace Lord.
"Come in."
"I have something to discuss."
"Sit."
Kwak Myeonghyeon didn't drop formalities with the Bureau Lord—to avoid public scrutiny.
"What is it?"
"About the new Little Palace Lord."
The Bureau Lord straightened.
"Does that mean one's been appointed?"
"Yes."
"Lord Sodanju Eun Seo-ho?"
Kwak Myeonghyeon's eyes widened briefly before he nodded.
"Correct."
"Not surprising—I expected it."
He smiled faintly.
"Given his actions so far, who else?"
"I'm sorry. Not my son, but an outsider—Lord Eun—as Little Palace Lord."
"No need to apologize, Palace Lord. What we need now is a Little Palace Lord who aids reconstruction, blood-related or not."
He continued.
"And in my view, Lord Eun is exceptionally talented."
"Agreed."
"Still, a major decision."
Kwak Myeonghyeon shook his head.
"No."
"Pardon?"
"I didn't decide. It was solely my disciple's choice."
The Bureau Lord's eyes widened.
"You mean... he made the 'Choice Before the Line'?"
Kwak Myeonghyeon nodded.
Drawing that line before Eun Seo-ho and compelling the decision wasn't impromptu.
p>It embodied one of Seolpung Palace Lord's arts; without true resolve, none could cross it.
Knowing the qualification for that "Choice Before the Line," the Bureau Lord was pleased.
"Seolpung Palace's future looks bright."
"My disciple promised to prosper Seolpung Palace."
Kwak Myeonghyeon closed his eyes.
"Finally, I can face Father properly in the afterlife."
***
As promised, I headed to Cheongin Escort Bureau.
While riding in the carriage, I stroked the golden bell in my sleeve.
It cooed contentedly, in good spirits.
Suddenly, it hit me: I had the Silver Dance Sword, Seolpung Palace Lord's sacred relic.
And the White Tiger Statue, its guardian spirit item.
Was this fate?
I hadn't thought of it this morning.
"Whoa, whoa."
Lost in thought, I'd arrived at Cheongin Escort Bureau.
Descending, I led Palgap and my guards to the small side gate at the carriage yard.
Like our merchant group, the bureau needed space for wagons and horses, hence the yard.
The main entrance from there was called the small side gate.
"Where from?"
Palgap answered the gatekeeper.
"Lord Sodanju Eun Seo-ho of Eunhae Merchant Group."
"One moment."
He rang the bell beside the gate.
Ding ding ding! Ding dong ding! Ding ding ding!
Someone rushed out at the sound.
Eh? Why him?
It was Ha Cheol, Jin Ho's father-in-law, the head escort.
"Greetings, in-law."
"No need for such formality. Come in—everyone's waiting."
Ha Cheol led me to a building.
Inside waited eleven people, including Master.
Master spoke as representative.
"Seolpung Palace has ten Dharma Protectors, and these are our current ones."
Familiar faces—I'd seen them often.
The Bureau Lord and Ha Cheol included.
"As Seolpung Palace Lord, I appoint Eun Seo-ho, Lord Sodanju here, as Little Palace Lord. Speak if any object."
Hm?
Wasn't it my decision alone?
But a Palace Lord couldn't decide unilaterally.
Even our Eunhae Merchant Group needed Eunwol Pavilion consensus for big matters.
As I scanned the ten Dharma Protectors, my gaze stopped on one.
And his mouth opened.
"I object."
Why is my intuition always spot on?