The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 172

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 172

Chapter 172. In the Northern Sea (2)

The snowstorm had ceased, and we emerged from the hut.
“….”
I began to understand why people spoke of the snowstorm with such dread. The terrain had transformed completely from what I had witnessed yesterday.
The fourth form of the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique, Snowstorm, was a swift technique, yet it seemed far more than merely swift.
I had realized yesterday that these forms were rooted in the natural phenomena of this place.
Something lingered at the edge of my understanding, but it refused to crystallize into clarity, so I set it aside for now.
Fortunately, the horses had survived unscathed.
“Thank you for your assistance.”
We bowed respectfully to the hunters.
“I cannot fathom why you venture to the Northern Sea, but travel safely.”
“Yes.”
I briefly considered offering monetary compensation, but decided against it.
If money were to pass between us, our relationship might be tainted by its exchange.
Besides, there were countless ways to express gratitude beyond mere coin.
I could contemplate that upon our return.
“Ah, and be wary—malevolent spirit creatures have been stirring about these days.”
“Yes. Thank you for the warning.”
After receiving such counsel, we donned fur hats and heavy furs before venturing into the Northern Sea.
White snow reflected the sunlight, creating a blindingly beautiful vista.
So this was what they called snow-light.
I urged my horse forward, recalling the ninth form of the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique—Snow-light.
According to my Master’s instructions, we need only travel another two days or so from here.
“Wow, it’s freezing cold.”
Palgap spoke while sniffling.
“If it’s like this in summer, winter must be absolutely brutal.”
Jin Yu Warrior responded to his remark.
“Yet winter possesses its own austere beauty here. The snow falls endlessly, after all.”
Was that truly… beauty?
“Honestly, this is a harsh place for people to inhabit.”
“But Young Master, are you managing well?”
At Palgap’s question, I nodded.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
The cold of the Northern Sea truly had no effect on me. If anything, I felt invigorated.
It was likely due to my Hyun Ryong Constitution combined with my cultivation of ice techniques.
This must be why my Master sent me to this place.
With that thought, I glanced at Jin Yu Warrior. I hadn’t noticed it before, but his inner energy was also that of yin-based cultivation.
Still, it’s nice that I’m not cold.
Thinking so, I pulled a box from my pocket.
It was a gift the Emperor had given me through Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster of the Geumui Guard. The Emperor’s words echoed in my mind.

‘This will prove useful to you. Whenever you use it, remember that you are my faithful servant.’

Well, it’s not as though I must use it, nor does refusing it make me any less the Emperor’s servant.
Since it’s already in my hands, I should put it to good use.
“Palgap, come here.”
I called Palgap over and took a necklace from the box, handing it to him.
“Wear this around your neck.”
“What is this?”
“The Jade of Heshi.”
“…Pardon?”
Palgap was startled.
“Isn’t that the one where insects won’t land on it, and it’s warm in winter and cool in summer?”
“Correct. Though this isn’t the genuine Jade of Heshi—it’s an imitation.”
I sighed and continued.
“The Emperor gave it to me. To wish you safe travels.”
At my words, Palgap jumped up in surprise.
“Can such a precious thing really be given to me?”
“I don’t have much need for it. But I can’t very well refuse a gift from the Emperor either.”
It would be unwise to offend the Emperor’s sensibilities, and besides, there’s no reason to reveal the extent of my martial prowess to him.
“We are masters of the highest caliber and first-rate warriors. We can endure this cold, but you cannot.”
“But still… even if it’s merely an imitation of the Jade of Heshi, something of that quality is a treasure of the world.”
“I know. But you are more precious to me than any treasure.”
At my words, Palgap looked at me with moved expression.
“Ahem, the greatest decision of my life has been to serve as your attendant.”
“….”
In that moment, I recalled what Palgap had said to me before his death in my previous life.

“Young Master, the greatest thing I ever did in my life was to become your attendant.”

My fist clenched without my realizing it.
This time, such a thing will not happen. I swear to let him live comfortably by my side for the rest of his life.
With that resolve, I responded to Palgap’s words.
“You’re only realizing that now?”
“I realized it long ago, sir.”
Palgap wore a necklace of Hwa’s Jade… well, I suppose I can just call it Hwa’s Jade.
A Hwa’s Jade necklace. Thanks to the Hwa’s Jade necklace, I felt a warmth radiating about a zhang around Palgap.
The Emperor certainly gave him something precious.
After traveling for about an hour, Lee Pil Warrior asked.
“By the way, where is the Northern Sea Ice Palace located?”
“It appears after about two days from here. Fortunately, it’s in a similar direction to where we need to go.”
I was slightly taken aback by Jin Yu Warrior’s words.
Then the place my Master mentioned isn’t that far from the Northern Sea Ice Palace?
The Northern Sea Ice Palace is the most famous place in this Northern Sea region.
Though it was a sect composed entirely of women, each of its members was an extraordinarily skilled master.
Even the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, known as the Demonic Cult in my previous life, ultimately failed to capture the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
“Then those young girls you mentioned earlier are braving this bitter cold to become disciples of the Northern Sea Ice Palace?”
“That is correct.”
Jin Yu Warrior nodded.
“It is a path difficult to choose without such unwavering resolve.”
Indeed, if my guards’ skills had been lacking, they would not have been able to come here with us.
Well, Palgap is just a bear anyway.
I’ve heard there are even bears that live in snow.
In any case, this Northern Sea is a treacherous place where one must not venture with mediocre skills.
And this harsh environment itself serves as the first trial for reaching the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
“Wait, there are people ahead of us.”
I saw people in front of us, but something seemed wrong.
They were completely motionless.
As I drew closer, I could only furrow my brow.
“They’ve frozen to death.”
“It seems they couldn’t withstand yesterday’s blizzard.”
A fierce blizzard had blown yesterday, and they must have waited here, thinking it would be too difficult to continue on. They likely hoped the blizzard would pass.
But a blizzard is not something to be taken lightly. Even seasoned hunters feared it.
In the end, it seems they endured and endured until they froze to death.
Had it not been for that hunter’s help yesterday, we would have rushed in and met the same fate.
Though our martial prowess was high enough that we wouldn’t have frozen to death, we certainly would have faced considerable hardship.
I felt grateful once more.
Judging by the fine cloth of their clothing, they seemed to come from a reasonably well-off family, yet they perished frozen like this.
“It seems they were heading to the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
Seo-woo Warrior said this, pointing with his hand at one person. She appeared to be a young girl of about twelve years old.
I couldn’t fathom what circumstances had driven them to traverse such a treacherous path, yet my heart ached for them.
I searched through the belongings of the one dressed in the finest clothes, hoping that if I could ascertain their identity, I might later inform their family of what had transpired.
Fortunately, there was an identification token, which bore the name Gu Ak of the Hong Family from Guizhou Prefecture.
They came all the way from Guizhou to here?
Guizhou lies even further south than Sichuan, and it is renowned for its brutal heat.
The fact that they had crossed the Central Plains from such a place to reach the Northern Sea seemed difficult to comprehend.
In any case, after confirming their identity, I returned the token to its original place. It was possible that their family might come searching for them.
“Let us continue.”
“Yes.”
Regrettable as it was, the dead remained dead.
We had our own journey to pursue.
After walking the entire day, we selected a place to rest as dusk began to fall.
Jin Yu Warrior laid out a wooden board he had prepared in advance and began to kindle a fire upon it.
Starting a fire in such circumstances was no simple task, yet he accomplished it with ease.
“Impressive.”
Seo-woo Warrior, being from Pyodo, seemed to understand how difficult such a feat was. His genuine amazement made this evident.
“It is a skill I learned from my seniors.”
Thanks to him, we were able to enjoy warm tea even in this frigid place.
At that moment, someone approached from the distance.
They were a group of three: two men and a young boy.
Ah… no, not a boy.
If they were traveling through the Northern Sea in such a composition, that youth must be a girl disguised in men’s clothing.
The oldest-looking among them cupped his fists respectfully and inquired.
He appeared to be in his forties.
“Forgive the intrusion, but might we borrow the warmth of your fire?”
At his question, we exchanged glances, and I nodded.
Seo-woo Warrior responded.
“Please do.”
“Thank you.”
We made space for them, and they settled into that spot.
“Would you care for a cup of warm tea?”
They answered my offer.
“If you offer it, we shall gratefully accept.”
“Palgap.”
“Yes, young master.”
Palgap poured warm tea for them.
“Pour me a cup as well.”
“Yes.”
Palgap filled my cup, and I drank from it first.
It was to assure them that the tea was safe to drink.
My intentions seemed to have come across clearly, as they readily drank the tea and ate the provisions I had brought.
“It’s quite cold today, isn’t it?”
The man who had politely requested our assistance responded with a wry smile.
“It’s the Northern Sea, after all. Though strangely, today’s weather has been mild, so we’ve traveled comfortably.”
Those words implied he had visited this place before.
Then he asked me cautiously.
“May I ask where you’ve come from?”
“We’ve come from Hubei.”
“I see. We’re traveling from Zhejiang.”
“Zhejiang? Isn’t that where Lake Tai is located? I’ve heard the scenery there is truly magnificent.”
“I’m not just saying this because I’m from Zhejiang, but it truly is a wonderful sight.”
We exchanged various pleasantries in this manner.
Throughout the conversation, the girl who appeared to be disguised as a boy said nothing.
However, her expression revealed that her silence wasn’t due to reluctance to speak.
She was likely refraining from speaking for fear that her voice would betray her as a woman.
There is a saying in the Martial Arts World.
It warns: when you encounter a woman, an old man, or a child in the Martial Arts World, be cautious.
This reflects how harsh that world is for the weak—those women, old men, and children who have survived are formidable.
Moved by her plight, I addressed her.
“Are you heading to the Northern Sea Ice Palace, young lady?”
“Pardon?”
She responded in apparent confusion.
Her voice confirmed my suspicion.
In that instant, the aura of the two warriors accompanying her became menacing. However, I continued without hesitation.
“My guard mentioned that the gates of the Northern Sea Ice Palace have opened for the first time in ten years.”
“….”
A brief silence followed, and she asked in a guarded tone.
“How did you know?”
“No matter how well one disguises themselves as a boy, if we can’t see through it, the name of the Hundred Great Merchant Guilds of the World would be tarnished.”
When I subtly revealed that I was from one of the Hundred Great Merchant Guilds of the World, I could feel her wariness diminish.
“And how many reasons could there be for someone to travel from Zhejiang to here at this particular time?”
She nodded as if understanding.
“Yes, that’s right. I’m heading to the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“I see.”
After I finished speaking, she asked in return, as if puzzled.
“You’re not asking why I’m going?”
“Going to the Northern Sea Ice Palace means becoming a disciple of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, doesn’t it?”
“That’s… when people find out I’m going to the Northern Sea Ice Palace, they ask why I want to become a disciple there.”
“You must have your reasons for going. Besides, it appears you’re traveling with your father, and if your father is accompanying you all the way to the Northern Sea Ice Palace, it would be improper to ask carelessly.”
The middle-aged man’s eyes widened in surprise at my words.
“How did you know? The way you look at her is simply different—how could I not notice?”
“…I see.”

The night continued to pass.
.
.
.
The next morning.
We gathered our belongings and prepared to depart.
Then the Middle-Aged Man who had rested with us yesterday approached and asked politely.
“Forgive me, but would it be acceptable if I traveled with you?”
I believed our destination was in close proximity to the Northern Sea Ice Palace, though I couldn’t say for certain where exactly it was.
“Our destination is not the Northern Sea Ice Palace. We may need to part ways along the journey, but if you don’t mind, you’re welcome to travel with us.”
“Thank you. Then I shall accompany you.”
And so we continued our journey.
“The wind is remarkably calm today. Though truthfully, this place isn’t usually so still.”
“Is that so?”
As I acknowledged the Middle-Aged Man’s words, a faint sense of bewilderment stirred within me.
Calm? This is calm?
The wind swirling around us right now is quite fierce.
“It feels as though I’m walking alongside a disciple of the Snowwind Palace.”
Snowwind Palace?
I asked him about it.
“Do you know of the Snowwind Palace? I heard it was destroyed by the Demonic Cult.”
At my words, he nodded with an expression full of regret.
“I do. My Old Friend was a disciple of the Snowwind Palace. And…he died along with them when the Demonic Cult destroyed the sect.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“No, it’s fine. But…do you perhaps have some connection to the Snowwind Palace?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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