Seol Un-cheon's expression hardened at Namgung Geom's words.
But he quickly smoothed his features and spoke.
"An undercover force of the Northern Sea Ice Palace? I have no idea what you are talking about."
Seol Un-cheon feigned ignorance, but it was useless against Namgung Geom, who already knew the truth.
"Then how would you explain the Northern Sea Snow Cold Art flowing through your body, Manor Lord?"
Seol Un-cheon could not conceal his shock that Namgung Geom even knew of the Northern Sea Snow Cold Art.
If Namgung Geom knew that much, he must have definitive proof that the Seol Family Manor was the Northern Sea Ice Palace's undercover force.
How?
The Seol Family Manor's true identity was classified.
Even within the Northern Sea Ice Palace, hardly anyone knew.
How, then, had Namgung Geom uncovered the truth?
"How did you come to learn of this?"
An edge crept into Seol Un-cheon's voice.
Namgung Geom shrugged.
"Let's just say I found out by chance."
Seol Un-cheon sensed that Namgung Geom had no intention of answering.
"Does the Namgung Family also know our manor's true identity?"
Namgung Geom shook his head.
"The main family does not yet know the Seol Family Manor's true identity."
"So you are saying no one besides yourself knows who we are."
A razor-sharp glint flickered in Seol Un-cheon's eyes.
Namgung Geom detected the killing intent behind that gaze.
"Why? Planning to silence me?"
"Knowing our manor's true identity, you can't expect me to simply let you walk away."
Seol Un-cheon looked ready to attack at any moment.
Even so, Namgung Geom remained perfectly composed.
"If I truly meant to harm the Seol Family Manor, I would have already made your identity known to the murim."
That was a fair point.
There had been no need to reveal the truth to Seol Un-cheon directly.
That meant Namgung Geom had a different purpose.
"Then what is your purpose?"
Seol Un-cheon lowered his aggression and asked.
He would hear him out first.
"As I said before, I ask that you cease your threats against the Taeho Tea House."
"And in return, you will keep our manor's identity secret?"
"Correct."
"But how can I trust you? As long as you know our manor's true identity, you could reveal it at any time. You could use it to hold our manor hostage indefinitely."
Seol Un-cheon feared Namgung Geom would use the Seol Family Manor's secret to leverage them again and again.
He could not simply take Namgung Geom at his word.
"Then what if we became indispensable to one another?"
"Indispensable to one another?"
"In exchange for keeping the Seol Family Manor's identity secret, the Seol Family Manor becomes my ally."
Seol Un-cheon's brow furrowed at Namgung Geom's words.
"Are you telling us to serve under you?"
Namgung Geom shook his head.
"I am proposing that we protect each other."
Seol Un-cheon snorted.
"Mutual support sounds nice in theory, but what guarantee is there you won't toss us aside once you've gotten what you want—killing the hound after the hare is caught?"
After using the Seol Family Manor to his heart's content, Namgung Geom could discard them and expose their identity to the murim once they were no longer useful.
The Seol Family Manor would then be helplessly subjected to the murim's assault.
"If it came to light that I had concealed the Seol Family Manor's identity, I, too, would face the murim's condemnation."
So Namgung Geom could not recklessly reveal the Seol Family Manor's secret either.
"That alone is not enough. Show me something concrete—something that would make me trust you."
At Seol Un-cheon's demand, Namgung Geom wore a meaningful expression.
"Would solving the problem with your inner arts suffice?"
Seol Un-cheon's brow furrowed at Namgung Geom's expression, as if the young man knew something he should not.
"A problem with my inner arts?"
Seol Un-cheon feigned ignorance.
"When you circulate your inner arts, do you not experience blockages at the Yang Intersection and Triple Yang Junction points?"
Seol Un-cheon's eyes went wide.
Namgung Geom had pinpointed his symptoms with perfect accuracy.
Namgung Geom smiled faintly and added one more detail.
"There should also be a stabbing pain like an awl when you use your inner arts."
"How could you know that?!"
Seol Un-cheon stared at Namgung Geom in disbelief.
He had never told a soul about the problems with his inner arts.
Yet Namgung Geom had identified his condition precisely.
The reason Namgung Geom knew was simple.
In his past life, he had been the Northern Sea Ice Palace's Young Palace Lord. He knew more about the palace's martial arts than anyone.
The same went for the Northern Sea Snow Cold Art, which Seol Un-cheon practiced.
The Northern Sea Snow Cold Art was an inner arts method focused purely on extreme yin energy. While it offered rapid growth, it carried a single flaw.
The higher one's inner arts rose, the greater the imbalance between yin and yang became.
As a result, the qi could not flow smoothly, and cold energy would stagnate at the Yang Intersection and Triple Yang Junction points.
Those two points sat at the crossroads of the yang meridians—critical junctures.
If the cold buildup at those points worsened, excruciating pain like an awl boring through the body would strike each time one circulated their inner arts.
At Seol Un-cheon's current realm, the side effects would be at their most severe.
"How I know is not important. What matters is that I can resolve the Manor Lord's problem."
"You can truly clear the cold buildup at those two points?"
"The Northern Sea Snow Cold Art's side effects can be resolved with the ascending formula of Yin-Within-Yang."
Seol Un-cheon was not unaware of this method.
But the Yin-Within-Yang formula was not something one could simply obtain at will.
"You possess this formula?"
Seol Un-cheon asked, eyes gleaming.
"I do. And I am prepared to share it with you, Manor Lord."
"Is that true?"
Seol Un-cheon asked, struggling to believe it.
The Yin-Within-Yang formula was passed down exclusively to direct blood relatives within the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
For Namgung Geom, who had no connection to the palace, to offer it freely was almost beyond belief.
"For now, I will share only a portion of the formula. Even that much should be enough to resolve the cold poison at those two points."
Namgung Geom could not fully trust Seol Un-cheon yet.
That was why he intended to pass on only a portion.
"And when will you share the rest?"
"That will depend on how the Manor Lord conducts himself."
Seol Un-cheon furrowed his brow at Namgung Geom's words.
"So you intend to dangle the formula as leverage to make our manor do your bidding?"
"Fair exchange is the law of the world. Surely the Manor Lord should show me some trust as well?"
Seol Un-cheon let out a cold laugh.
"So we must blindly obey your demands?"
Namgung Geom shook his head.
"All I ask is that you lend your strength when I need help. And in return, when the Seol Family Manor faces hardship, I will not turn a blind eye."
Seol Un-cheon studied Namgung Geom in silence.
If Namgung Geom truly resolved the Northern Sea Snow Cold Art's side effects, ceasing the threats against the Taeho Tea House would be a small concession.
And an alliance of mutual support, considering that Namgung Geom was the Namgung Family's First Young Master, was hardly a losing arrangement.
Should he one day become the Namgung Family's head, the Seol Family Manor's gains would grow even greater.
Setting everything else aside, the mere fact that he would not expose the Seol Family Manor's identity was reason enough to accept Namgung Geom's offer.
Concerns remained, of course. But for now, accepting Namgung Geom's proposal was the best course of action.
The alternative was to abandon everything the Seol Family Manor had built, and Seol Un-cheon did not want that.
"I will accept your proposal."
"Then you will immediately cease the threats against the Taeho Tea House?"
"Before that, I believe resolving my inner arts should come first."
Namgung Geom nodded at Seol Un-cheon's demand.
"Then let me share it with you right away."
Namgung Geom shared a portion of the Yin-Within-Yang formula.
"If you circulate your inner arts according to this formula, the energy will flow smoothly without obstruction."
Seol Un-cheon circulated his inner arts following the formula Namgung Geom had taught him.
Just as Namgung Geom said, the energy that had been blocked at the Yang Intersection and Triple Yang Junction points flowed gently without resistance.
Seol Un-cheon stared at Namgung Geom with an expression of astonishment.
"By continuing to practice with this formula, you should be able to dissolve the cold poison at those two points."
"I am grateful."
Seol Un-cheon spoke with deep feeling.
"Then I look forward to working together."
"Likewise."
Even the partial formula had already eased his cultivation and given him the means to eliminate the cold poison.
If he could obtain the rest, reaching the True Martial Realm might no longer be a dream.
At the very least, until he acquired the remaining formula, he would need to stay in Namgung Geom's good graces.
Having concluded his talk with Seol Un-cheon, Namgung Geom returned directly to the Taeho Tea House.
When he arrived, Baek Nak-hyeon was waiting for him with an anxious expression.
Namgung Geom informed him that the Seol Family Manor's threats would no longer be an issue.
Baek Nak-hyeon could hardly believe it.
But when Namgung Geom stated it with certainty, he had no choice but to accept it.
Baek Nak-hyeon was astonished that the matter had been resolved so easily, and he marveled at Namgung Geom's ability.
He expressed his gratitude and insisted on repaying the debt, but Namgung Geom firmly refused.
He had gained the Seol Family Manor as an ally—there was nothing more to wish for.
Baek Nak-hyeon was once again awed by Namgung Geom's character, performing a righteous deed without expecting repayment.
And he resolved in his heart that one day, he would surely repay Namgung Geom's kindness.
***
The next day.
Namgung Geom and his Azure Dragon Pavilion peers departed Namgyeong and headed for the Namgung Family estate.
Traveling overland, they arrived at the estate five days after leaving Namgyeong.
The moment Namgung Geom arrived, he went to the Family Head's Hall to deliver his report.
"I greet the Family Head."
"Good. Welcome back."
Namgung Pae greeted Namgung Geom warmly.
"I apologize for the delay caused by the trip to Namgyeong. Have you been well in my absence?"
"As you can see, I've been just fine."
"It seems you were not the least bit worried about your grandson."
When Namgung Geom spoke as if mildly hurt, Namgung Pae let out a chuckle.
"Are you so incompetent that a task like that would give me cause to worry?"
"Of course not. And I will make sure you never have reason to worry in the future, either."
"I've already received the report on the Yi Family Manor. You handled it far better than I expected."
He was not merely saying it.
Namgung Geom's work had exceeded expectations.
He had uncovered the Black Bear Gang's role in the tea raids, eliminated the gang leader, and secured the tea distribution rights from the Yi Family Manor.
For a first mission, these were remarkable results.
"I was expecting to be scolded for fighting the Yama Spear at the Black Bear Gang."
Namgung Pae shook his head at Namgung Geom's words.
"You upheld the Namgung Family's honor. That deserves praise."
The Yama Spear was one of the Evil Tyrant Alliance's top fighters.
For Namgung Geom, barely at the Age of Twenty, to have fought the Yama Spear to a standstill was in itself an act that upheld the Namgung Family's honor.
It demonstrated that the Namgung Family was stronger than the Evil Tyrant Alliance.
On top of that, Namgung Geom had borrowed the Yama Spear's hand to eliminate the Black Bear Gang Leader.
There could be no better outcome.
So praise was entirely warranted.
"However, from now on you must exercise greater caution when facing opponents stronger than yourself."
Namgung Pae did not forget to add a word of warning.
As a martial artist, encounters with stronger opponents were inevitable.
One should not always bow their head in submission, but there were times when knowing when to yield was equally important.
"Understood. I will act with greater prudence in the future."
Namgung Geom agreed without argument.
"Now then, since the Yi Family Manor matter has been resolved, I trust you will approve the formation of the new Sword Company?"
"Of course. You fulfilled the conditions, so naturally I will grant it."
Namgung Pae was true to his word.
"Do you have a name in mind for the new Sword Company?"
Namgung Pae asked.
"With your permission, I would like to call it the Azure Dragon Sword Company."
Namgung Geom had intended all along to use the name he had declared at the Black Bear Gang.
His Azure Dragon Pavilion peers had all voiced their approval upon hearing the name.
"Azure Dragon Sword Company. I think that suits it well."
Namgung Pae raised no objection.
"Then it shall be the Azure Dragon Sword Company."
And so, Namgung Geom obtained his own Sword Company.
It was still a small unit of fewer than thirty members.
But it would one day become the greatest Sword Corps of the Namgung Family.
Namgung Geom was confident he would make it so.