Stop the Fire at Jaekyung Pavilion (1)
It began to move slowly along the acupoints.
But this movement wasn't according to the incantation of the Wan-gi Dae-ra Simbeop.
Instead, it followed the incantation of the inner art I had learned in the future—the one I knew.
I was so stunned by the unexpected movement of the Hyeonryong that I was left dumbfounded.
How?
But there was no time to be surprised.
When the Hyeonryong reached my dantian, it spat out the energy it had swallowed.
And then...
my memory cut off.
.
.
.
"......"
When I opened my eyes, I was lying in the middle of the room.
Ah!
In that instant, I recalled what had happened right before my memory snapped—the moment I nearly died after eating the Azure Ice Snow Plum, unable to control its energy.
I hurriedly straightened my posture.
"......!"
I could feel the cold, vast inner energy accumulated in my dantian.
It was unmistakably the energy of the Azure Ice Snow Plum.
To save me, the Hyeonryong had swallowed all of it, circulated it through the Grand Circulation, and stored it in my dantian.
"This is ridiculous. I nearly died because of the Hyeonryong Physique, only to be saved by it too."
Suddenly, I remembered what the Black Crimson Ghost had said.
"It's said that a woman born with the Hyeonryong Physique becomes a prodigy of the world, while a man becomes its center."
I'd thought it was just words of comfort at the time, but now I understood their true meaning.
Come to think of it, it had always been a bit strange.
In my previous life, my life had been in danger more than once or twice, but nothing like this had ever happened.
Still, no amount of pondering would solve this mystery right now.
Since I'd survived in the end, that was a relief. I focused on the inner energy in my dantian.
The Black Crimson Ghost had advised me that if I wanted to live healthily from then on, I should learn ice arts.
Since yang energy wasn't good for the Hyeonryong Physique, intensely yang-based martial arts were equally unsuitable.
Fortunately, I'd formed a connection with a master who used ice arts at the time and learned from him.
The foundational art: Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art.
At first, the name "Divine Art" had felt overly grandiose, but as I practiced the method, I realized it was deserving of the title—an extraordinarily profound inner art.
But for such a master to wander without ties and settle in Hubei Province of all places...
I suspected there was a story behind it, but I never learned what it was.
I set aside my thoughts and calmly circulated the method.
As if I'd practiced it for decades, the meridians in my body were clear, allowing the inner energy to flow naturally.
The Hyeonryong must have forcibly cleared them.
Though I sensed its presence during the process, it didn't stir at all.
I completed the circulation and opened my eyes.
Only then did I take in my surroundings. The entire room was frozen white.
"Oh no!"
Startled, I jumped to my feet, and my clothes fell off limply.
Rustle.
"Huh?"
I blinked.
The clothes on the floor weren't just worn out—they were frayed to rags and frozen solid.
What the hell...
Tilting my head, I opened the locked door.
Creeeak.
Palgap stood there, his face full of worry.
"Palgap. You've had a hard—"
"Waaah! Young master!"
Before I could finish, Palgap collapsed to the spot and burst into sobs.
"Wh-what's wrong all of a sudden?"
Palgap sniffled as he spoke.
"Do you know how worried I was? You didn't come out from dawn till now, the door was frozen white, and I heard bones cracking like they were breaking inside..."
"R-really? Haha."
"But you're safe now, so I... really..."
Palgap, mid-sob, tilted his head.
"Sniff sniff! But what's that smell? No, more importantly, why are you naked?"
"Uh, well..."
Palgap wrinkled his nose and hurriedly backed away.
Hm? No way...
I'd thought there was a foul stench, but it was coming from me.
Still, for him to retreat so frantically.
"......What are you doing?"
"N-no, it's just..."
"I'm already hurt."
"I-I'm just going to prepare bath water!"
.
.
.
Palgap immediately prepared the bath, and I soaked in water laced with plenty of fragrant oils.
Feeling refreshed, I came out and put on the clothes Palgap had prepared—but there was a problem.
"Hm, these clothes feel a bit small."
Palgap looked at me like I was talking nonsense.
"Those are the ones you wore just the other day."
"Then why are they small?"
"Huh? Now that you mention it..."
Palgap eyed me up and down.
"You seem taller and more built somehow."
"Really?"
"And your face looks even more handsome. Look in the mirror here."
I took the hand mirror Palgap offered and examined myself.
My face was subtly different—more refined, more striking.
There was only one cause for all these changes.
The inner energy from the Azure Ice Snow Plum.
Palgap headed off to the seamstress to get new clothes made.
The messy room had been cleaned spotless by Palgap while I bathed.
I sat on the edge of the bed.
Subjectively, it felt like only about an hour since I'd locked the door, but in reality, it had been nearly a full day—from early morning to late afternoon.
Yet I wasn't hungry or tired.
I drew up my inner energy.
A faint blue glow emanated from my hand.
Fifty years' worth of inner energy.
I'd nearly died for it, but the outcome was fortunate.
And this was my sharpest claw.
So I had to hide it.
There was an old saying for that.
A tiger hides its claws.
I moved straight to the next step.
The ice arts master who'd taught me was a truly good man.
But when it came to teaching martial arts, he was incredibly strict and intimidating.
"If you use martial arts without the stamina and muscle to back it up, your body will break down. So lay a proper, thorough foundation. It'll be grueling, enough to make you curse, but endure it."
Thanks to that, even though I started learning at twenty-four, I reached the first-rate realm.
He credited my sharp mind, but the solid basics played a huge part too.
That's why I was now retracing those memories to build my foundation.
The thought of enduring that grueling process again brought tears to my eyes for a moment.
But why does it feel more bearable than back then?
I was following the exact same routine.
Maybe because I'd done it once before.
Or perhaps my body was different now.
Palgap had mentioned hearing bones cracking inside.
Did I shed my mortal bones and rebirth?
It seemed like it.
And just like that, my five days of vacation flew by.
* * *
The morning after vacation ended.
Today, I was to start practical work at Jaekyung Pavilion.
Everyone working for the Eunhae Merchant Group wore wooden identity plaques.
I examined the new one I'd been issued.
[Eunhae Merchant Group Jaekyung Pavilion Special Apprentice Eun Seo-ho]
My status was special apprentice.
I hadn't gone through the normal hiring process, after all.
And special apprentices at Jaekyung Pavilion had access to anywhere in it.
I fastened the plaque to my waist and left the room.
Upon arriving at Jaekyung Pavilion, I headed to the office of the Pavilion Master—my internal steward, Chief Steward Yoo So-ak—to greet him.
A warrior stood guard in front of the office.
His name was Kyo Jin-un.
One of the two personal bodyguards under Chief Steward Yoo So-ak.
"You've arrived?"
"Is the Chief Steward inside?"
"Yes, please wait a moment."
The guard Kyo Jin-un announced my arrival, and Chief Steward Yoo So-ak's voice came from within.
"Come in."
The door opened.
I entered.
Piles of documents towered precariously on Chief Steward Yoo So-ak's desk.
"You've arrived?"
He looked up, his face etched with exhaustion.
"Yes."
"Here. This is your task for today."
Somehow, from the teetering tower, Chief Steward Yoo extracted a single scroll and handed it to me.
I unrolled it.
It instructed me to review last year's grain delivery case, summarize its key features, and report.
Same as back then.
It was the same task from my previous life.
"Go review it and submit your report."
"Yes."
Chief Steward Yoo lowered his head back to his work, immersed once more. I rolled up the scroll and gripped it.
Leaving the internal steward's office, I headed to my seat.
I sat at my desk and looked around.
Being here stirred fresh emotions.
Then a man in gray scholar's robes and gray turban approached.
"Young master, you've arrived?"
"Ah, yes. Good to see you."
His name was Yeo Chang-ui.
My assigned assistant, a Gyeong-grade officer at Jaekyung Pavilion.
Not just at Jaekyung Pavilion, but all Eunhae Merchant Group employees were ranked from Gap-grade (highest) to Im-grade (lowest) in nine tiers based on experience and ability.
External and internal stewards were equivalent to branch leaders.
Below them were deputy stewards, all Gap-grade.
Gyeong-grade was the seventh of nine.
Not a high rank, but considering his age, it wasn't low either.
A position with enough experience and leeway to assist me.
Perfect for someone like me just starting practical training.
Probably someone Chief Steward Yoo handpicked.
He wouldn't assign just anyone to the young master's son. Plus, if I took a liking to him, he could rise fast with me.
Assigning Yeo Chang-ui as my assistant was surely Chief Steward Yoo's intention.
He valued skill and character above all.
In my memory, he had solid skills and good character.
Unfortunately, our time together had been far too short.
He'd died in an unfortunate accident not long after.
Had he not, he would have become my right-hand man.
"Last time, I troubled you because I wasn't well."
"Don't mention it."
"I'll take better care of my health from now on. Let's get to work. I need to fetch some documents for this task."
"You're getting them yourself?"
"Yes. There are a lot—would you help?"
"Of course. It's only right."
One lesson from my future experience:
Just reviewing delivered documents wouldn't satisfy Chief Steward Yoo.
I had to go myself, check them, and gather what I needed.
I headed to the document archive with Yeo Chang-ui.
A place I knew so well I could navigate it blindfolded from all my trips there.
Soon, I began selecting the necessary materials.
For summarizing last year's grain delivery features, I couldn't rely on delivery records alone.
I needed data on production, supply and demand, public funds, delivery points—everything.
Back then, my ignorance had earned me plenty of scoldings from Chief Steward Yoo.
But not now.
I was the one who'd elevated the Eunhae Merchant Group to one of the world's top three.
This was routine for me.
Yeo Chang-ui, holding a tray and receiving the documents I handed him, had wide eyes.
Probably because I unhesitatingly picked exactly what was needed.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
.
.
.
That day,
I finished the assigned task in just two hours.
Normally, I'd have taken breaks every hour from exhaustion, but with my new inner energy and improved body, I felt no fatigue.
That boosted my efficiency, finishing faster than expected.
"All done."
Yeo Chang-ui approached with an incredulous look.
"Already? No way... That should take at least two days! You can't half-ass it. Chief Steward Yoo will reprimand you."
"How about a little bet then?"
He countered.
"A bet?"
"I'll submit it now. If it passes, great; if not, I'll sort all these documents myself."
My desk was littered with reference materials.
It'd take nearly half an hour to tidy.
"If it passes, you sort them alone. Deal?"
Yeo Chang-ui nodded readily.
"Deal."