Meeting Again (2)
Meng Hyun couldn't believe his ears.
That he was no longer the Little Palace Lord!
It was a bolt from the blue, something he'd never even considered.
"Ah, Father! I'm your eldest son! It's only natural for the eldest to succeed you. What do you mean by this all of a sudden?"
"Don't delude yourself. There's no rule in any of our palace's records that mandates the eldest son must inherit the position of Palace Lord."
"If I'm stripped of my position as Little Palace Lord like this, it'll be a massive humiliation."
"For the future of our palace, it's better to suffer that humiliation now."
"I'm the humiliation?!"
"……."
At his words, which prioritized the palace over himself, Palace Lord Meng Jin let out a sigh and squeezed his eyes shut.
When he opened them again, his voice held not a shred of warmth.
"This decision is final."
Faced with Meng Jin's unyielding resolve, Meng Hyun resorted to his last gambit.
"Father! If that's the case, then kill me right here!"
"What?"
"Just kill me! Better to die than endure that kind of insult!"
"Hah……."
Meng Jin sighed deeply.
"This confirms once more that my decision to remove you from the Little Palace Lord position was right. I nearly let you ruin Chukyung Palace."
Shing.
Meng Jin rose from his seat, drew his sword, and approached Meng Hyun.
Meng Hyun backpedaled at the sight.
"F-Father? What are you doing?"
"Didn't you beg me to kill you? As your father, how could I refuse your wish……."
For the first time, Meng Hyun trembled under the genuine killing intent radiating from Meng Jin.
"Still, I'll send you off without pain."
Whoooong—!
Meng Jin swung his sword at Meng Hyun.
"Eek!"
A lock of his hair was severed, scattering across the floor.
Thud.
Meng Hyun collapsed on the spot.
"What? Didn't you want to die?"
"I-I'm sorry! I spoke out of turn!"
"That's exactly why you're being removed from the Little Palace Lord position."
Shing, clack!
Meng Jin sheathed his sword and spoke coldly.
"Confine yourself to your quarters and reflect."
"……."
"Get out."
Meng Hyun staggered out of the office. Watching him go, Palace Lord Meng Jin clicked his tongue.
"Isn't that a bit too harsh?"
Even Outer Chief Manager Haedalman, who had quietly observed the entire exchange, voiced his concern, but Meng Jin just shook his head.
"If the vessel isn't up to it, replace it as soon as possible."
"That's true."
He nodded emphatically before continuing.
"But…… isn't Second Young Master always at that western annex where Eun Seo-ho the Little Unit Leader entered? It doesn't seem like you let him in without knowing. Are you…… expecting something?"
Meng Jin nodded at the question.
"I'm curious what that Eun fellow, our Little Palace Lord, thinks of him."
* * *
Entering the library, I scanned the bookshelves and soon sensed another presence besides my own.
Who's that?
Approaching cautiously toward the source of the energy, I spotted someone leaning against the wall beside a bookshelf, reading a book.
That person……?
His face was younger than I remembered, but it was definitely him.
A man I'd been connected to in my previous life.
Sensing my approach, he looked up at me.
"I don't believe we've met. Since you've entered here, you must have Father's permission."
I cupped my fists in a formal greeting at his polite words.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Eun Seo-ho, Little Palace Lord of Seolpung Palace. With the Palace Lord's permission, I'm here briefly to search for some materials."
He nodded at my introduction.
"Ah, so you're the Little Palace Lord of Seolpung Palace. I heard you came for the conference."
He set down his book and introduced himself.
"I'm Meng Cheon, second son of our palace's Lord. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Ah…… so he's the second son of Chukyung Palace's Lord.
Meeting Young Master Meng Cheon here like this—is it someone's intention? Or coincidence?
Observing him with those thoughts, I noted his calm expression and the keen intelligence in his eyes.
Completely different from the eldest, Meng Hyun.
Not just in appearance, but his eyes and voice matched exactly the man I'd met in my previous life.
Though the name was different back then.
What circumstances led to that in my previous life?
Anyway, if he's here at this hour, he must know the library well. Time to get some help.
"Do you know this library well, by any chance?"
"I visit often."
"I see. Then, may I ask for your assistance? The materials are so vast, I was at a loss where to start for what I need."
"Of course. What materials are you looking for?"
"Doyeonnun Sect and Blood Heaven Sect. Anything on those two factions."
He flinched slightly at my answer.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nothing. I was just surprised you were seeking such unexpected materials."
Fair enough.
Someone who frequents this library would know what those places are.
"Those materials should be over there."
He led the way.
Along the path, he fetched a small cart and pulled it along.
"Why the cart?"
"Ah. The books are numerous."
"Don't worry. I can carry them all."
"Of course you could. But they'd get damaged. These books are precious; they must be handled with care."
"I see."
I nodded quickly.
True, clutching them to my chest could ruin them.
Meng Cheon scanned the shelves, pulling books one by one onto the cart.
"That should be all."
"You've read every book on this shelf, I take it."
I couldn't help but be impressed.
To select exactly what I needed in less than half a shichen.
"Just a minor skill. Examining those books should yield what you're after."
"Thank you for your help."
"No trouble at all. Take your time. I'll be off, then."
He helped but clearly didn't want to intrude further, heading back to his spot.
I watched his retreating figure quietly.
It overlapped with the image from my previous life.
In my previous life, he was a ronin.
I met him when I needed to hire some.
But he knew too much for a mere ronin, and his bearing exuded refinement.
Working with him, I was so impressed by his wisdom and knowledge that I asked him to join Eunhae Merchant Group.
He refused at first but yielded to my persistence.
He quickly distinguished himself, especially in candy trading, where his strategies put us in a league of our own.
And he was Chukyung Palace Lord's second son?
At least one mystery solved.
Why he so firmly refused the Yunnan route.
Back then, upon learning he was from Yunnan, I'd asked him to handle trade there.
"I won't go to Yunnan. If you send me there, I'll resign instead."
I had no choice but to send him to Guangxi Province, the candy source, instead.
His reason for refusing Yunnan was probably Little Palace Lord Meng Hyun.
The man I knew wouldn't tolerate someone he'd taken a dislike to.
Meng Cheon must have fallen out of favor, been exiled, and faced mortal danger if he returned to Yunnan.
What a pity.
But that's for later. First, examine these materials.
I sat at the reading desk.
True to its purpose, it had a stand for comfortably viewing books.
I began skimming them quickly.
Upon the plea of Doyeonnun Sect's leader, our palace decided to accept him as one of our affiliates.
The start of records on Doyeonnun Sect?
I scanned through.
Mostly unremarkable. But one entry caught my eye.
According to a man who visited Doyeonnun Sect, their attitude toward our group was suspicious. It was as if they'd latched onto another line instead of us.
The reporter was sharp-eyed, so fairly reliable.
They also spotted a stranger there.
I reported this to the Palace Lord, and we decided to observe for now.
A stranger?
This was from over twenty years ago.
Not the Palace Lord's records like yesterday's—the previous Outer Chief Manager's.
This isn't the same section I visited yesterday.
But it doesn't matter.
These matters are often detailed more accurately in subordinates' records than the Lord's.
The warrior reported that his subordinate caught a faint blood scent from the stranger, inexplicable as it was.
Blood scent?
As expected, Doyeonnun Sect declared independence. We subtly asked if they'd found a good backer. Their warrior claimed Doyeonnun would rise from border clan to Central Plains sect.
A Central Plains sect?
Delusional fools.
Central Plains sects are petty and clannish.
As if they'd welcome newcomers into their turf.
Even if they did, they'd use and discard them.
But we have no duty to coddle defectors.
Still irritating, though.
If they wanted independence, they shouldn't have joined and sucked us dry…….
I chuckled.
The previous Outer Chief Manager who wrote this must've been pretty pissed.
The rest was full of Doyeonnun-bashing.
Another sticking point: Doyeonnun ditched Chukyung Palace to advance from the borders to the center.
But to do that, they'd need a powerful imperial faction.
With their pride as a righteous sect, they wouldn't ally with demonic paths.
Border sects cling even harder to that pride.
They're just more pragmatic due to geography.
Meaning their surroundings are a mess.
And for Doyeonnun to leave Chukyung's protection, their new backers must be renowned or powerful in the martial world.
Plus, the blood scent from their contact.
I pulled another book.
This one covered Doyeonnun's destruction.
Something felt off. Like someone secretly devoured my favorite candy I'd saved.
I learned why at dawn the next day.
A warrior from Doyeonnun arrived, covered in blood, hair disheveled, prostrating and begging us to save them.
They said Doyeonnun faced annihilation from an attack.
I asked if they'd sought help from their protectors.
The warrior replied sorrowfully that contact had suddenly cut off three days prior.
Sigh.
You fools.
Didn't I warn you not to trust Central Plains folk?
Anyway, I reported to the Palace Lord and led my disciples to Doyeonnun.
Too late. Nothing left.
These records meant one thing.
Doyeonnun's destruction had been meticulously planned long ago.
Suspecting those targeting Doyeonnun might ultimately aim for us, the Palace Lord ordered us to find the culprits.
We dispatched disciples across Yunnan Province to investigate.
Persistent efforts revealed them: Blood Heaven Sect.
Demonic path group that appeared about five years ago.
They'd been quiet, so we paid little mind—until now.
After reporting, we confronted them.
They claimed self-defense, saying Doyeonnun struck first.
Talking to them, I sensed something odd.
Not the usual demonic greed for money or power, but some other order.
And briefly, I caught a blood scent that soon vanished.
Strange place.
I bit my lip.
I focused on the blood scent mentions.
The Doyeonnun visitor had sensed it too.
Both North Sea Ice Palace and Chukyung Palace use nature-attuned martial arts.
Thus, acutely sensitive to ominous twists against nature.
That might explain their adherence to the righteous path.
I've sensed that bloody demonic aura multiple times myself.
And Master said Blood Cultists reek of blood.
So, Blood Cultists involved in Doyeonnun and Blood Heaven Sect?
Why did Doyeonnun think their new backers were Central Plains righteous forces?
Did the Blood Cult manipulate Doyeonnun to strike Seolpung Palace, then establish Blood Heaven Sect and wipe them out?
But I sighed.
The question is why?
Why utterly destroy Seolpung Palace?
And how?
Known as destroyed, barely maintaining a bloodline, they couldn't possibly found Blood Heaven Sect or annihilate Seolpung.
Whew, still a long way to go.
But that's fine.
I've uncovered quite a bit already.