Chapter 215: Heaven Sea Divine Art (1)

At those words, Hoi Unkyung gave a gentle smile.

“You’ve gone through much hardship.”

“From now on, you must take the antidote, but there are a few things I must mention. Since the Jiangshi Poison has been lingering in your body for a long time, your organs and body have suffered serious damage. So, even if you take the antidote, you won’t be able to stand up right away. Please don’t be disappointed if recovery is slow. You’ll recover gradually. Also, the fact that you’re taking the antidote has been kept secret from others.”

Hoi Unkyung tried to smile, but her facial muscles wouldn't move due to the Jiangshi Poison.

“Lord Yong, I believe my father also fell victim to this poison. If there’s any antidote left, please give it to him as well.”

“Don’t worry. There’s enough antidote for the Pavilion Lord.”

When Yong Hwarin sought out the antidote, he already intended to save Hoi Jongbaek.

In her past life, Hoi Unkyung had suffered a miserable life all because Hoi Jongbaek succumbed to the poison and slowly wasted away before dying.

Once Hoi Jongbaek lost consciousness and became like a walking corpse, Hoi Unkyung had to handle all the great and small matters of the trading company herself, which brought her immense pressure.

Having lived like a carefree princess, she suddenly had to shoulder all responsibilities, and it was too much for a young girl to bear.

Moreover, the people of the trading company did not pledge loyalty to Hoi Unkyung. Instead, they pursued their own gain, constantly opposing her every decision.

If Hoi Jongbaek had survived in her previous life, Hoi Unkyung wouldn't have lived such a wretched life.

“Let’s stop here. You need to take the antidote now.”

When Yong Hwarin took out the jade bottle and opened the lid, Hoi Unkyung opened her mouth.

“There’s still something I need to say.”

Since she would lose consciousness for two hours once she passed out, she wanted to speak before taking the antidote.

And because she couldn’t guarantee recovery after taking the antidote, Hoi Unkyung decided to speak her heart.

“First, there’s a reason why I got so deeply involved with the jianghu during my escort journeys.”

Even without hearing it, Yong Hwarin already had an idea.

He had a faint sense of why Hoi Unkyung had helped the Three Chivalrous Sisters in capturing Black Kill Sword Wonho.

“I found a man to be my husband. A martial artist at that. Someone I intended to bring in as a son-in-law.”

Hoi Unkyung had told Hoi Jongbaek to leave finding a man for herself to her, and she began observing martial artists during her escort journeys.

“Is that so?”

Yong Hwarin had thus ended up catching Hoi Unkyung’s eye and was brought in as a prospective son-in-law.

“But there was a reason I wanted to bring in a martial artist as a son-in-law.”

Yong Hwarin, who hadn’t known the reason, grew curious.

Hoi Unkyung continued with a voice that sounded metallic.

“As you know, our family was founded by our ancestor Hoi Eulshin, renowned for the Heaven Sea Divine Art. However, the ancestor sealed the martial art with the command that it should not be passed down unless a worthy heir appeared.”

Yong Hwarin was well aware of this. And since there was such a long preface, he expected to hear something he didn’t know.

“Because our household possesses the Heaven Sea Divine Sword, I wanted to bring in a righteous martial artist as a family son-in-law.”

“Ah! Then the reason you summoned me to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union was...?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t summon you because I intended you to be my family son-in-law. I invited you because I believed you were someone who could fulfill my wish.”

“I came because you said you’d give me half of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.”

When Yong Hwarin reminded her of the promise, Hoi Unkyung faintly smiled.

Still, that smile looked more like a grimace.

“That’s true. But I never said I’d give it in the form of money. If the Heaven Sea Divine Sword is to be passed on, I believed it should be inherited by a chivalrous person like you.”

“People in the world don’t believe the Heaven Sea Divine Sword actually exists in the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.”

“That’s true. Even I only know of its existence but not its whereabouts. But because of the words left behind by the ancestor, I’ve been investigating for a long time. I still haven’t found where it is. But the hope of our household is too great for me to bury this secret, and so I called for you, Lord Yong.”

Only then did Yong Hwarin begin to understand why Hoi Unkyung had specifically summoned him for help.

“But why me of all people?”

The more he listened, the more curious Yong Hwarin became.

Surely Hoi Unkyung had met many martial artists during her escort missions, so why had she chosen him for something like this?

“I’ve met many people, but even those called righteous warriors only acted for their own gain. I was deeply disappointed. The reason I helped the Three Chivalrous Sisters is because they are true righteous warriors. To be honest, I even considered letting them inherit the ancestor’s martial art. But then I met you, Lord Yong. At first, I didn’t think much of you. But then the three sisters from Jeong Family Manor said that you were a true righteous man, and that’s when I began to see you differently. Could you give me some water?”

After talking for so long, Hoi Unkyung’s mouth had gone dry, and she asked for water.

Yong Hwarin moistened a piece of cotton cloth with water and brought it to her lips.

Hoi Unkyung sucked the moisture from the soaked cloth several times.

“If it’s you, Lord Yong, I believe you are fully qualified to inherit the ancestor’s martial art. I don’t want that martial art to fall into the hands of someone with evil intentions.”

As Hoi Unkyung spoke, several of Yong Hwarin’s doubts from his past life were resolved.

He had always wondered why someone like him, who hadn’t even properly learned martial arts, had been chosen as a son-in-law.

He had neither the appearance nor the background. As a descendant of a minor sect, he hadn’t even properly learned martial arts.

‘It must’ve been clear to her that those from powerful sects would never agree to marry into a trading company. Someone like me, with my humble qualifications, was a perfect fit. Hoi Unkyung intended for me to find and train in the Heaven Sea Divine Art.’

‘Then, upon realizing that my constitution had not changed and the opportunity had passed to Hoi Soyu's side, she must have given up on the Heaven Sea Divine Art to protect me. That’s why she could only live her life with such despair.’

The many questions Yong Hwarin had about Hoi Unkyung’s behavior in his past life began to unravel.

“I have searched for the Heaven Sea Divine Art for a long time. But with only the will left behind by Ancestor Hoi Eulshin, it was utterly impossible to find.”

Yong Hwarin knew that will. Of course, he had heard it in his past life, but it was truly better left unheard.

“The ancestor said, if there is a worthy heir to inherit his martial art, then pass down the phrase: 남아수독오거서 (A man must read five cart-loads of books).”

‘Yes, that’s what he said. Do you know how long I agonized over that line?’

Surely, Hoi Eulshin had hidden some meaning in those words, but without being able to decipher the true intent, Yong Hwarin ultimately failed to find the Heaven Sea Divine Art in the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.

The phrase came from a poem by Du Fu, suggesting that a man should read at least five cartloads of books.

Because of this, Yong Hwarin searched through every single poem by Du Fu. He thought perhaps the martial formula had been embedded in one of them.

In the end, Yong Hwarin dismissed Hoi Eulshin as a senile old man who had no intention of passing down his martial art and had simply uttered nonsense.

“But recently, I was able to find a clue as to what that line really means.”

“Is that true?”

Yong Hwarin unconsciously leaned closer to Hoi Unkyung.

Having now inherited his family's martial art, Yong Hwarin realized he also coveted the Heaven Sea Divine Art.

When Hoi Unkyung forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, Yong Hwarin realized her true condition.

“It sounds ridiculous, but after lying here for so long, I began to see things clearly. Staring at the ceiling all day, I managed to find a clue in the words the ancestor spoke.”

Hoi Unkyung appeared breathless, perhaps from speaking too much.

“Please speak slowly.”

“No, I fear that if I fall asleep now, I may never wake again. I must say everything while I still have the strength.”

Yong Hwarin looked at Hoi Unkyung with pity.

“I believe the words left by the ancestor are indeed a clue. And I came to realize that in our household, there has long been a storage room that the ancestor cherished.”

It was the first time Yong Hwarin had heard of it.

In his past life, the Sky Ocean Merchant Union had no such thing as a storage library.

Currently, there was a document archive attached to the Chief Administrator’s office, but in the past life, there was no such library.

There was especially no storage left behind by Hoi Eulshin.

“But none of our household members know about the existence of that place. Because it’s not used as a library. I once heard from my grandfather that long ago, all the books were stored there because they didn’t rot in that place. But he said it was too good a space to be used just as a library, so it ended up being used as a grain storage. The wind flowed well and the ventilation was good, so the grains didn’t spoil. And so, since long ago, it’s been used as a grain storage rather than a library. While lying here, lost in thought, I suddenly recalled that story I heard when I was little.”

Yong Hwarin was slightly skeptical.

He couldn’t understand how something like that could be enough to find the Heaven Sea Divine Art.

“Wouldn’t that clue be a bit lacking?”

At Yong Hwarin’s words, Hoi Unkyung caught her breath and replied.

“I found it odd. Why would they have used it as a grain storage if it had originally been a library? And another thing troubled me. Why don’t the books or the grain ever spoil in that place?”

“Perhaps because libraries or grain storages are generally built for good ventilation.”

Hoi Unkyung closed her eyes and refuted Yong Hwarin’s response.

“No. I’m certain that the ancestor left a clue in that library. Or perhaps there is a hidden chamber. Why else would he leave behind the phrase 남아수독오거서? That connects perfectly with the library. I began to believe that the reason the wind passes so well from below is because there’s a secret chamber prepared by the ancestor, which is why neither books nor grain would spoil.”

Yong Hwarin found himself nodding continuously as he listened.

Her words were highly persuasive.

“Now that I hear it, there’s certainly merit in what you’re saying, Lady Hoi.”

“If I could move, I would have taken that clue and searched for the martial art myself. But now, I leave that task to you, Lord Yong.”

“And if I were to find and train in that martial art, why would you entrust me with such a secret?”

Hoi Unkyung paused for a moment, taking a long breath.

It was a sign her consciousness was fading.

“Because I have no objection if Lord Yong finds and masters the Heaven Sea Divine Art. If you carry on the ancestor’s legacy, I’m sure the ancestor would be pleased as well. If I may ask one selfish favor, it would be this: please protect the Sky Ocean Merchant Union so that it does not fall into the hands of others.”

Those words were her plea to safeguard the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.

“I understand.”

“I’m sorry that all I could give you was a clue.”

“No, even that clue alone makes it worth investigating. I’ll go and look into it.”

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