Eun Jin-ho Goes Missing (6)
I recalled my previous life.
While investigating the disappearance of the Mu-chul-mu-san by sending an investigation team from the imperial palace, the sword vanished.
The martial alliance leader receiving the Silver Mist Sword as a gift from the Emperor.
These events shared a common thread: the imperial palace.
So, a master from the palace had obtained this sword, and as he sheathed it, the Mu-chul-mu-san disappeared.
And later, this sword was bestowed upon the alliance leader.
The rumor that anyone unworthy who grasped this sword would go mad seemed to be a lie.
After all, I was holding it just fine.
Of course, that's why a palace master could wield it in the first place.
For the unworthy, it simply restricted its power.
I'd never heard of the martial alliance leader displaying extraordinary prowess with this blade.
At that moment, the little creature peeked out from my left sleeve.
"Kui."
It glanced at the Silver Mist Sword in my hand and chuckled happily, "Ku-kul."
"You... did you bring me into this cave to have me take this thing?"
The creature nodded at my question.
"Well, whatever. Thanks anyway."
Perhaps this was payment for the silver coin I'd fed it.
In any case, I'd confirmed there was no issue with me holding this sword, and now it was in my hands.
So, I had to make good use of it.
Better in my hands than the alliance leader's, where it might spill the blood of the innocent.
I retrieved my broken sword.
In the process, I figured out why it had snapped.
My blade had been too weak to withstand the sword energy I'd just reached Super First-rate with.
The shattered blade, frozen solid, was proof of that.
And the mad warrior's corpse...
Come to think of it, before dying, the mad warrior had said his letter was atonement for his sins.
I approached the body and rummaged through his robes.
I half-worried he might spring back to life, but nothing like that happened.
From his bosom came an identity token and a single letter.
Luckily tucked in his right side, it had escaped being pierced by the Silver Mist Sword.
Fortunate, I suppose?
Identity Token: Snow Wind Palace's Yu Deok-jin
The letter was already unsealed.
Since its owner was dead, I pulled it out without hesitation and read.
"As I told you before, bring that sword to me."
"Then, I will acknowledge you as my son."
No sender was named.
But from the content, it was clearly his birth father.
Snow Wind Palace?
That place was wiped out over a decade ago.
In the north, one power still holds immense sway.
The North Sea Ice Palace.
Snow Wind Palace was known as the family guarding it, yet it was exterminated ten-odd years back.
No one knows who did it or why.
Rumors abound: the Ice Palace covering its shame, or some force targeting the Ice Palace striking its guardians.
In truth, it was a mysterious sect shrouded in legend—a single sword summoning blizzards—its reality unclear even then.
So, this Yu Deok-jin was carrying the sword there when this happened.
Honestly, I had no idea what exactly went down.
But sensing the letter's importance, I pocketed the token and it.
As I prepared to leave the cave, Yu Deok-jin's—no, the mad warrior's—body caught my eye.
I gathered dry wood and cremated him.
I bowed slightly before the flames.
It was self-defense, but he'd died by my sword.
The least I could do was show respect.
After a brief moment of silence, I exited the cave.
The thick fog had completely vanished.
When I'd sheathed the Silver Mist Sword earlier, it must have absorbed the mist.
"Hey."
I called to the creature, and it peeked from my sleeve.
"Where to now? You know the way, right?"
It emerged fully at my question.
But how had it survived in my sleeve during the fight with Yu Deok-jin?
Whatever, it managed somehow.
"I need to meet up with my group."
Its tail pointed left, and I followed.
The next day after Palgap and the others began searching for Eun Seo-ho.
They had to descend the cliff, but even with the longest ropes, reaching the bottom seemed impossible.
The only option was circling the mountain to descend.
Unable to move at night, they rested—but no one slept easily.
Most who stayed to search believed Eun Seo-ho was dead.
They aimed to at least recover the body.
But oddly, Palgap didn't think so.
No evidence, no reason.
Just a gut feeling.
At dawn, they set out again.
As they trudged on, something changed about the mountain.
The fog blanketing the base had vanished in an instant, without a trace.
"The fog... it's gone."
What sorcery was this?
But with it lifted, they saw how impossibly deep the ravine was.
Eun Seo-ho's survival odds plummeted further.
"...Let's go."
At So Gun-deok's words—the one leading them here—they moved on.
Half a day later.
So Gun-deok raised a hand: halt.
From the brush emerged about a dozen armed men.
Weapons varied; obvious bandits at a glance.
Though somewhat clumsy.
About two hours after following the creature's lead.
The clash of cold steel rang from afar.
Hearing it, the creature darted into my left sleeve.
Approaching, I was stunned.
What the hell are they doing here?
Yeo Eung-am Warrior, I-pil Warrior, So Gun-deok, four Silver Wind Corps warriors, and Seo-u Warrior.
So Gun-deok and Seo-u stood out most.
Now I understood Seo-u's fame.
He fought brilliantly.
Light as a butterfly, dispatching bandits effortlessly.
Hence White Butterfly Sword?
But the fight dragged on.
Forces evenly matched now.
Why were they brawling here?
They'd stayed for me, obviously.
But their opponents—dressed as bandits—weren't true ones.
Too amateurish for real bandits.
Hesitant with killing blows.
Looking closely, their swordplay had a signature: tracing the 乙 character.
I knew the sect using such paths.
The skirmish paused, and I hurried forward.
If anyone died, this wouldn't end cleanly.
"That oddly curving sword path is Snake Ethyl Swordsmanship, from the Ethyl Mark Sect near Ye River. Why are righteous martial artists mimicking bandits?"
They stared in shock, just as I'd guessed.
"W-Who are you?"
I smirked at their question.
"Eun Seo-ho. Branch head of the Eunhae Merchant Group in Hyeonpung Province."
"Kui!"
I tapped my left sleeve.
Quiet.
Then someone barreled over—like a bear charging.
"Young master! Aigoo! Young master! Is it really you? How are you alive?"
Palgap hugged me, sobbing.
Seeing him, guilt hit; I patted his back.
"Sorry. Long story."
First, resolve this mess.
Calming Palgap, I turned to them.
"I asked why you're playing bandits."
They hesitated, faces guilty—confirming they were Ethyl Mark Sect disciples.
"Need money?"
"...!"
More shock.
Knew it.
I knew their story.
Borrowed from the martial alliance, got exploited, turned demonic, and destroyed.
I eyed one among them.
The half-masked one.
So you're the Half-Faced Swordsman.
Later, a ronin by that name spread word of their prowess.
Makes sense; alliance used them for their skill.
"So, why the money?"
They wavered.
"I've got plenty. I could lend some. But ignore my goodwill, and the Ethyl Mark Sect goes from righteous to demonic."
"..."
"That what you want?"
One spoke up.
"Eldest brother! Even with one more, we're stronger. And he claims to be rich?"
"..."
"Bluff. Kill 'em all; no one knows."
"..."
"Eldest brother! Watch our master die?"
I glanced at the chatterer.
Haa...
That nauseating aura since earlier...
But at Super First-rate, Master's words rang true: easier to endure foul energies.
Anyway, his awkward expression on certain sounds confirmed it.
Human skin mask.
I closed in with Wordless Phantom Step, ripping off his face.
Too fast to block; he panicked.
Others panicked more.
Another face beneath.
"..."
Realizing exposure, he bolted.
Futile.
The half-masked man's sword severed his arm.
"Arghhh!"
"Who are you?"
"Ask later."
"Ugh..."
The eldest sealed his acupoints for bleeding and movement.
Then clasped fists at me.
"Ethyl Mark Sect's eleventh-generation disciple Yoon Ul apologizes for the trouble, benefactor."
"Good you caught the infiltrator."
He bowed to my group too.
"Can't deny the black path blame—we did banditry. But it's my fault alone; report just me."
He knelt before me.
"Please."
Other disciples knelt.
"No! We failed to speak against his sway."
"We're equally guilty."
"Punish us alone; don't tell our sect."
"If master learns... ugh!"
I regarded them.
"How much do you need?"
"Pardon?"
"How much? You said your master was ill."
The eldest hesitated.
"About... a hundred silver taels."
I pulled a gold note from my pouch.
"Take it."
He stared, stunned.
"That's... a gold note?"
"Yes."
"Can't accept that much."
He waved it off; I chuckled.
"Who said free?"
"Pardon?"
"All money has a price. This does too."
Tension in his eyes.
"What price?"
"Join under Eunhae Merchant Group."
"...Don't understand."
"Simple: I help you, you help us when we need it."
"That's our duty to a benefactor. Makes us ashamed."
"What if we never need help? Or it's tough?"
"You don't seem the type."
"Hahaha."
I laughed heartily.
"I'm a harsh employer, aren't I?"
Palgap sniffled.
"Harsh, yes. Fall off a cliff, come back fine... why not sooner? Burned us all up... sniff."