550. The Jegal Family's Eccentric (3)
After finishing my conversation with Young Master Jegal Cheondu, I followed the servant's guidance back to my quarters.
"You can stay here."
The accommodations I was shown to looked even finer than Young Master Jegal Cheondu's own.
It must be the best guest room they offer, I thought.
That alone spoke volumes about how highly they regarded me.
I didn't refuse.
They had gone out of their way, and turning it down would have been rude.
Besides, there was probably some guilt mixed in.
"Please convey my thanks to the Supreme Patriarch."
We entered the quarters.
It was a detached pavilion, complete with two male servants and two maids assigned to it.
As I unpacked, a familiar presence caught my attention.
And soon, Palgap's voice rang out.
"Young master. The Jegal family's young matriarch has arrived."
I quickly replied.
"Tell her to come in!"
"I've already shown her to the receiving room."
I hastily straightened my robes and headed to the receiving room attached to my pavilion.
Opening the door, I saw a welcome face.
"It's been a while, Young Matriarch."
"Yes, it has. Please, sit."
The one greeting me was Lady Jegal Yu-a.
She was the Jegal family's young matriarch.
She had taken second place at the last Dragon-Phoenix Martial Assembly after yielding to Young Matriarch Paeng Gang-un, but her skills were beyond reproach.
Thus, after deliberations within the Jegal family, she had been recognized as young matriarch.
The Jegal family prized wisdom above all, but as a martial clan, they couldn't ignore prowess entirely.
Just like the current patriarch and Supreme Patriarch, both exceptional warriors.
Her reputation as young matriarch was quite strong, which made sense given the decisiveness she'd shown me and what I'd known of her from my past life.
"You could have just sent for me—why come all this way?"
"Does it matter? It's not like this diminishes my authority."
She continued.
"A young matriarch's authority comes from the clan's recognition and loyalty, not from me insisting on it."
She had a point.
As long as she held onto that mindset, she'd make an excellent matriarch someday.
"How have you been?"
"Nothing much to report."
Of course, all sorts of things had happened, but I couldn't bore her with every detail.
After exchanging light updates, we parted ways.
Not because we'd run out of things to say, but because Young Matriarch Jegal Yu-a had other matters to attend to.
"Let's share a meal next time."
"Yes, I'd like that."
With that, she left my quarters.
Young Master Jegal Cheondu had asked for three days' grace, so I had some time off.
I made up my mind.
Tomorrow, I'm sleeping in, I resolved.
"Kkwi!"
Golden Spirit tugged at my robe hem with its teeth.
Ah... I should give Golden Spirit its gold coin before bed.
If Golden Spirit sulked, it was cute—no, I'd be the one who couldn't sleep.
I pulled out a gold coin and handed it over. Golden Spirit hugged it tight and rolled around gleefully.
It loves that thing.
But aren't you supposed to be recuperating? You're not eating it, right?
.
.
.
The next day at dawn.
I opened my eyes and let out a sigh.
Sigh.
Sleeping in? Yeah, right.
At this hour, my eyes just naturally popped open.
My body had adapted to waking at this time, thanks to my consistent schedule.
I tried closing my eyes to drift off again, but sleep wouldn't come—instead, my mind sharpened.
In the end, I grumbled inwardly as I got up and began my meditation and breathing exercises.
After breakfast, I headed to the Supreme Patriarch's quarters.
He had asked for my time today.
"Ah! Right on time!"
The Jegal family patriarch was there as well.
"Merchant, the Eunhae Merchant Group's sub-branch head Eun Seo-ho greets the Jegal family patriarch."
He smiled warmly and returned my bow.
"Delighted to see you like this. It's been too long."
"Yes. I've been well."
"I know you're busy, so don't trouble yourself too much."
"Thank you."
The patriarch rose and bowed to the Supreme Patriarch.
"Then I'll take my leave."
"Very well."
He turned to me with a final word.
"If anything inconveniences you during your stay, let me know anytime."
"I appreciate your consideration."
The patriarch departed, and the Supreme Patriarch said to me,
"Care for some tea?"
"Yes."
I followed him inside.
We soon arrived at the very spot where I'd recited poetry with Inner Supervisor Yu So-ak before.
A place undisturbed by anyone.
He personally brewed tea for me, and we drank in silence.
"Do you know of the Snow Wind Palace?"
"...!"
His sudden words nearly made me spit out my tea, but I barely held it back.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"I asked if you know of the Snow Wind Palace."
"May I ask why you're inquiring about it?"
"Because I sense the Snow Wind Palace's unique energy from you."
"... ."
I looked at him tensely.
I couldn't reveal to the world yet that the arts I practiced were from the Snow Wind Palace.
So I'd passed it off as having learned from the great hero Extreme Heaven Sword Kwak Hoon, and others had accepted that.
But how had he seen through the arts I practiced?
Even the Martial Alliance Leader hadn't noticed.
"Forgive me. I was too hasty."
The Supreme Patriarch drew something from his bosom and placed it on the low table.
A small white jade plaque, fitting perfectly in his palm.
Shaped like a plum blossom, it emanated a familiar energy.
Precisely, the energy of the Great Yin Ice Sea Divine Art that I practiced.
"This is...?"
"A token of friendship shared with my old comrade. When our main house was once endangered by the Soul-Capturing Dark Veil Formation, this jade plaque shielded me from its effects."
He smiled bitterly.
"My comrade is gone, but this token he left behind saved my life."
I asked cautiously.
"May I inquire who that comrade was?"
"Surely you've guessed. His name was Kwak Won-gyu, lord of the Snow Wind Palace."
I'd suspected as much.
Only a palace lord could imbue such pure, refined, and profound energy into a jade plaque.
"And I've known since your first visit to our main house that you practiced the Snow Wind Palace's arts."
"I see. Even knowing that, you never let on because you suspected something amiss with the Snow Wind Palace's destruction?"
He nodded at my question.
"Precisely."
"Then I owe you my thanks."
"How could I endanger a disciple of the place my comrade served?"
He continued.
"When I heard of the Snow Wind Palace's annihilation, I quietly began investigating. But truly, nothing remained."
"The remains were reportedly recovered by the North Sea Ice Palace's lord."
"That makes sense—they wouldn't have overlooked it. At least the remains were gathered. If even those had been devoured by spirit beasts, it would have been heartbreaking."
His expression revealed deep sorrow and regret for his lost friend.
"Was your master, by chance, Myeonghyeon?"
So he knows Master.
And addressing him by name alone, without honorifics, spoke of their closeness.
"Yes."
"As I thought—he survived! Ah, then Myeonghyeon must have succeeded as palace lord."
But questions lingered.
"That's right. Yet Master never mentioned you, Supreme Patriarch."
"Of course not."
"Pardon?"
"We called each other by different names. Those of the Jegal family all have true names kept secret from outsiders—it's our code. I didn't want to reveal my given name either, so I asked him to use another."
He went on.
"Then that fellow Ilmok suggested an intriguing title."
Ilmok?
"Ah, I'm Ilmok—One Tree. And Jeok-ui Hwa-ta is Samok—Three Trees."
Wait, then...?
"Is the Snow Wind Palace's Supreme Palace Lord Imok—Two Trees?"
"Indeed."
"Then the three trees drawn on that letter I was tasked to deliver were a token referring to him."
He nodded firmly.
Suddenly, chills ran down my spine.
That would mean I'd saved the fathers—no, the Supreme Palace Lord's two old friends.
Is this fate?
"I met Imok during the Hidden Dragon Journey, and afterward, we built our bond mostly through letters."
He smiled.
"When I first met him, he was on his Snow Washing Journey."
I recalled Master mentioning the Snow Washing Journey.
It was the Snow Wind Palace's custom: once one's arts reached a certain realm, they spent about ten years active in the outside world.
To keep the palace from becoming isolated.
"That's when I also met Samok—Jeok-ui Hwa-ta. Those days the three of us spent together... I miss them dearly."
His eyes held profound nostalgia for a bygone era that would never return.
"Later, we chose a meeting spot and agreed to leave letters there. Visiting each other's homes was difficult."
"So you've never actually visited one another?"
The Supreme Patriarch shook his head.
"Not quite. We managed a secret visit or two afterward. I even saw young Myeonghyeon then. He was too little to remember me."
"... ."
"Having visited the Snow Wind Palace before, I could investigate after the news of its fall. Without knowing the location, there'd have been nothing to find."
"... ."
"So Myeonghyeon knows of 'Uncle Ilmok' but not that it's me."
That explained why Master had never mentioned him.
As I pondered, the Supreme Patriarch asked,
"Has Myeonghyeon married? Imok fretted endlessly over finding a proper bride for him."
"Yes, he has."
"Thank goodness. At least the line continues. Then his son must be the young palace lord."
"Well, about that... ."
I suppose I should come clean now.
He'd revealed himself first, so etiquette demanded reciprocity.
I rose and offered a deep bow.
"Young Palace Lord Eun Seo-ho of the Snow Wind Palace greets the Supreme Palace Lord."
His eyes widened at my greeting.
"What? Y-You?"
"Yes. Things just... turned out that way."
I sat back down and watched him struggle to compose his shocked expression.
A sudden doubt struck me.
My connection to the Supreme Patriarch wasn't brief.
He could have brushed it off at first, but later opportunities to speak hadn't been lacking.
Why reveal it only now?
"Supreme Patriarch, I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Why tell me about the Snow Wind Palace only today? Did you find me untrustworthy until now?"
"No, nothing like that!"
He waved his hand dismissively.
"After the grace you've shown our house, how could I doubt you?"
"Then why?"
"I judged that now, you could bear the truth."
"Pardon? What do you mean...?"
Instead of answering, he asked back.
"You're at the super first-rate realm, aren't you?"
So he's noticed.
Of course. Even among super first-rate experts, his decades of experience and wisdom as the Jegal Supreme Patriarch were not to be underestimated.
I admitted readily.
"Yes. I reached the super first-rate realm about a year ago."
"As I thought."
"But 'bearing the truth'—is it that dangerous?"
He nodded with a bitter expression.
"To a degree, yes. Super first-rate is a realm where you won't fall easily. And the training and experiences to reach it will keep you from rash actions."
What truth could demand such caution...?
"Moreover, as young palace lord, this revelation carries even greater weight now."
Noting my puzzled gaze, he asked,
"How much do you know of the Snow Wind Palace's destruction?"
"Pardon?"
"Precisely—how much?"
I bit my lip slightly and sighed before answering.
"I learned recently that the Blood Cult was involved."
"The Blood Cult... ."
He closed his eyes briefly in thought, then produced a letter and placed it on the table.
"Read this."
It was an old letter, well-preserved despite its age.
But the faint stains here and there were unmistakably blood.
"This is Imok's final letter, left at the spot the three of us agreed upon."
"Our palace has been attacked. See? I was right. Didn't I tell you not to trust them? And you told me not to talk nonsense."
"I'm worried about my son, who's out on a mission. Please look after him for me."
"Beware of them, above all. And live long in my stead. I will never forget our friendship, even in death."
"Kkwi!"
Golden Spirit's sound transmission reached me.
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
This letter holds your family's energy?
Ah! In his final moments, he entrusted it to Han Ho-su.
I carefully unfolded the letter.
The scrawled handwriting betrayed the dire urgency.
No wonder it was bloodstained.
I folded the letter and set it down, then asked the Supreme Patriarch,
"Who are the 'them' mentioned in this letter?"