The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 235
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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 235
Chapter 235. My Elder Brother Jin-ho’s In-laws (5)
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master’s reaction upon seeing Geumryeong was far more intense than I had anticipated.
So much so that she even questioned my identity.
“You’re asking about my identity?”
“Yes.”
But honestly, there wasn’t much of an identity to speak of.
“I’m simply the third Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
Of course, the fact that I had died and returned to the past was an absolute secret I could never reveal.
“Then, why does Han Ho-su follow you? Han Ho-su may love money, but he doesn’t follow just anyone.”
“Is that… so?”
I looked down at Geumryeong. Geumryeong gazed back at me with sparkling eyes.
Eyes that sparkled excessively.
Right, right, I understand.
When I pulled out a silver coin from my pocket and offered it, Geumryeong didn’t hesitate and devoured it immediately.
“I simply met this creature by chance, and since I give it silver coins like this, it follows me.”
I continued speaking confidently.
“In fact, I don’t understand why you would ask such a question upon seeing this creature. Though it’s certainly impressive that it just drove away the Seolrang Alpha.”
At my words, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master let out a sigh.
“I apologize. Now that I think about it, I reacted too strongly. Please forgive me.”
“It’s fine.”
“Then… shall we continue on?”
* * *
Bing Haerin reproached herself inwardly.
‘I certainly did overreact. I need to reflect on that.’
However, there was a reason she had reacted so strongly upon seeing Geumryeong.
Han Ho-su was an exceptionally particular Spirit Creature, choosing its own master.
Remarkably, every master Han Ho-su had chosen was invariably the Palace Master of Seolpung Palace.
Her excessive reaction stemmed from more than just that.
It was because of Han Ho-su’s growth rate.
Of course, Han Ho-su was called the king of Spirit Creatures living in the Northern Sea, but it had taken quite a long time to reach that status.
According to records, Han Ho-su would have needed to grow for roughly fifty years to reach the point of subduing the Seolrang Alpha.
‘Eun Seo-ho is said to be only twenty years old now. That means Han Ho-su has been serving him as master for at most twenty years.’
No matter how she thought about it, it made no sense.
At that moment, as she rode her horse, Eun Seo-ho’s voice reached her ears.
“Hmm? Still not enough? Do you know how exhausting it was clashing energy with that Spirit Creature earlier? I know. So… sigh. Fine. Fine. Here.”
Turning her head, she saw Eun Seo-ho placing another silver coin into Geumryeong’s mouth.
He was feeding silver coins as if giving snacks to children.
‘According to the records, Han Ho-su only needs to consume one silver coin per year…’
Somehow, she thought she understood why Han Ho-su was so powerful.
* * *
I gave Geumryeong another silver coin and tilted my head. I could feel Bing Haerin’s gaze upon me.
‘Hmm, Geumryeong does eat quite a lot. But the Young Palace Master still hasn’t explained why she reacted so strongly to me.’
At that moment, my Elder Brother Jin-ho spoke to me.
“That pig you raise is quite a remarkable creature.”
“It is rather something, isn’t it?”
“We nearly had a disaster back there.”
Everyone nodded at my Elder Brother Jin-ho’s words.
Earlier, Seo-woo Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior had rushed to me urgently, likely trying to keep me away while they held back the Seolrang Alpha.
Though that was the duty of my guards, I was grateful they acted so immediately.
I needed to become a better master.
“Will creatures like that continue to appear?”
At Elder Brother’s Wife’s question, Bing Haerin shook her head slightly.
“That’s impossible to predict. The Northern Sea is a place where such forecasts are impossible.”
“….”
“Still, when Seolpung Palace existed before, it wasn’t to this extent…”
There was a hint of regret in her voice.
.
.
.
A day had passed since we entered the Northern Sea, and during that time we encountered Spirit Creatures twice more.
We were no match for them. Especially Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master’s abilities were remarkable.
Since the Snowwind wasn’t blowing, the Spirit Creatures seemed to be acting even more violently.
The Snowwind must be something the Spirit Creatures feared as well.
The next morning, the snow glistening in the sunlight was truly beautiful.
The path we were taking was a shortcut that Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master was guiding us through.
Because of that, we were able to move much faster than before.
“We should be able to reach the Entrance to Northern Ice Palace in two or three hours.”
We had already arrived at the Ice Palace Inn.
So we pushed forward with renewed energy.
“Huh? Seo-ho, is something wrong with my eyes? I can see an inn up ahead?”
I smiled and answered Jin-ho, who was rubbing his eyes in confusion.
“Your eyes are perfectly fine. That’s an inn over there.”
“Now that I think about it… I think I heard that there’s an inn at the entrance to the Northern Sea Ice Palace. Is that the one?”
“Yes.”
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master spoke.
“That place is the entrance to the Ice Palace and the only place where men are allowed to set foot.”
“I see.”
I spoke to Jin-ho.
“I’m sorry, but it seems you and the Guards will have to stay at the inn.”
“There’s no helping it.”
“To be honest, that inn might be a bit… less comfortable compared to the inns we’ve stayed at so far. But it can’t be helped.”
The Ice Palace Inn was large in scale, but its facilities and conveniences were somewhat inferior to the inns we had stayed at before.
I continued speaking with an apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry for going in alone and living well in there.”
“I’m fine. Just arriving here safely is enough for me.”
As I spoke with Jin-ho, I glanced at Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master.
She looked quite troubled.
Eventually, she sighed and spoke.
“…However, if the Palace Master permits it, men can enter as well.”
“Is that so?”
“Let me… make a request.”
I clenched my fist secretly.
The reason I paid all of Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master’s inn fees and told her there was no need to settle accounts with me.
It was to remove any sense of debt from her heart, so that Jin-ho could also go to the Northern Sea Ice Palace with me.
“But others cannot.”
I hadn’t expected even that much.
When we arrived at the Ice Palace Inn, the Twin Innkeepers greeted us.
“We greet the Young Palace Master!”
“Welcome!”
“It’s good to see you all.”
However, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, did not dismount from her horse.
“I’ll enter the palace and return tomorrow morning. Please take good care of these guests in the meantime.”
“Understood.”
To bring Elder Brother Jin-ho inside together, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, would need to move about busily.
She sought our understanding.
“I need to obtain the Palace Master’s permission regarding your brother, so I must enter the palace first. My apologies.”
“Not at all. We understand. Please don’t worry about us and go ahead.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, headed toward the back of the inn and soon vanished into the mist.
I spoke to Elder Brother Jin-ho.
“Let’s wash up and rest for a while.”
“That sounds good.”
We entered the Ice Palace Inn, washed, and filled our bellies.
Then, lying on the bed and thinking about what lay ahead… I seemed to have fallen asleep right then and there.
When I had first lain down on the bed, the sun was still up, but when I woke, everything around me was dark.
It must be night.
I rose from the bed. I had slept quite a bit, so sleep no longer came to me.
When I left the guest room and descended to the first floor, one of the Twin Innkeepers was awake.
“Ah! You’re awake?”
I recalled they distinguished the elder from the younger by a mole beneath their eyes.
Judging by the mole on the right side below his eye, this was the elder.
“After sleeping well, my eyes opened naturally.”
“It’s been almost a year since you’ve been here, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right. I came around August of last year.”
“The martial prowess you displayed then was truly breathtaking.”
“I’m embarrassed. It was merely modest skill.”
“I don’t see it that way. Thanks to you, those staying at our inn were able to remain safe.”
It seemed I had been wounded quite severely while fighting the Spirit Creatures that had attacked the inn back then.
“But the injuries you sustained then—are they fully healed?”
“Yes. They’ve completely recovered.”
He offered me a respectful fist salute.
“Though late, I offer my gratitude once more.”
“Not at all.”
I returned the fist salute, though I couldn’t hide my embarrassment.
It seemed I had no immunity to praise or gratitude.
After concluding my conversation with him, I left the Inn.
Snow was falling gently and steadily.
Whether it was thanks to the full moon or the whiteness that surrounded everything, the night was brilliantly illuminated despite the darkness.
It was now the fifth month.
Yet seeing snow fall like this made everything feel dreamlike and ethereal.
Unreal, one might say.
An endless snow plain stretched before me.
I advanced slowly, my footsteps crunching through the snow.
Normally, the Shop Attendant would have tried to stop me from venturing this far into the night, but he simply watched over me.
That was likely because he understood my capabilities.
And truthfully, the cold of this place only strengthened me—it was never a hindrance.
I extended my hand toward the falling snow.
“Squeak?”
At that moment, Geumryeong poked her face out from my sleeve and sniffed at the descending snow.
Then, before I knew it, she scampered up my arm, using my shoulder as a stepping stone to perch atop my head.
So you love the snow too.
Of course—she was a Spirit Creature who once guarded the Snowwind Palace Master, so she would naturally cherish the cold and snow.
With that thought, I gently channeled my inner energy.
The snow around me swirled in a gentle vortex, enveloping my body.
“Squeak! Squeak!”
I could feel Geumryeong’s delight from atop my head.
I too was filled with joy.
.
.
.
The next morning.
As I was having breakfast at the Inn, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, entered.
She had mentioned that orchid fragrance could be detected, and now…
“Ah, I see you’re in the middle of your meal.”
“Yes. Have you had breakfast?”
At my question, she nodded.
“Yes. I had a light meal beforehand.”
Then she continued, looking at me.
“Please finish your meal at your leisure, and you and your brother Jin-ho and his wife should prepare to depart. The Palace Master has granted permission for your entry into the palace.”
At those words, I smiled.
After finishing our meal, we prepared for departure.
Since only I and Jin-ho with his wife had received permission to enter the palace, the other guards and Palgap had to remain here.
“Please take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
“Don’t get bewitched by the beauties of the Ice Palace and cause trouble.”
“You’ve been watching me all this time, so why are you spouting nonsense?”
“Still, one can never predict what might happen in life.”
At those words, Yeo Eung-am Warrior spoke up.
“But if that were to happen, you’d be getting married anyway… shouldn’t that be something to look forward to?”
“Well…”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
At Lee Pil Warrior’s agreement, Palgap blinked his eyes.
“Perhaps he’s worried about being the only one left unmarried.”
When Seo-woo Warrior said this with a laugh, Palgap replied bluntly.
“You’re teasing me, aren’t you?”
“Exactly.”
“Goodness! You’re too much!”
Seo-woo Warrior seemed to be enjoying teasing Palgap.
“In any case, it just shows how much Palgap cares about his master.”
I patted Palgap’s shoulder and spoke.
“So, I understand your heart well.”
After spending several years together like this, we’d grown close enough not to take offense at this level of teasing.
“I’ll be back soon.”
As we stepped outside, I could identify the presence I’d felt earlier.
About a dozen Northern Sea Ice Palace disciples who had come with Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master.
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master spoke to them.
“Show respect to our benefactor.”
Before her words even finished, the disciples stomped their feet.
Tap! Thud!
And they all performed the martial salute simultaneously.
Whoosh!
“We greet our benefactor.”
Finally, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master performed the martial salute to me and spoke.
“It is an honor to welcome our benefactor to our palace. Please, come inside.”
“Yes.”
Immediately, the dozen disciples formed a formation.
With my brother and his wife in the center, they lined up on both sides as if to escort us.
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master handed a necklace to Jin-ho.
“Please wear this around your neck.”
“Yes.”
Jin-ho took the necklace and hung it around his neck.
“We depart.”
“Understood!”
I observed Jin-ho as we advanced toward the Gate of Mist.
Was that necklace the artifact that would allow passage through the Gate of Mist?
As expected, a blue yin energy bloomed from the necklace, enveloping Jin-ho’s body.
Thanks to it, Jin-ho was able to pass through the Gate of Mist as well.
During our journey, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, spoke to my sister-in-law.
“Ha Su-min’s mother arrived at the Ice Palace four days ago, so you should be able to meet both your mother and grandmother when you reach the Ice Palace.”
“What? My grandmother?”
In response to my sister-in-law’s question, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, answered.
“It seems you didn’t know. Ha Su-min’s grandmother is also a disciple of the Ice Palace.”
“Ah….”
So that meant the Northern Sea Ice Palace was essentially her maternal family home.
Jin-ho, you certainly have quite an extensive in-law family.
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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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