The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 236

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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 236

Chapter 236. It Was Here (1)

After traveling for about an hour, white-tiled roofs appeared in the distance.
“Could that be…?”
“Yes, that is the Main Palace—the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
Seeing it, I finally understood why the Northern Sea Ice Palace bore the name “Ice Palace.”
It looked as though it had been constructed entirely from ice.
And standing before the palace was a beautiful woman with hair the color of silver-white.
The moment I laid eyes on her, cold sweat began to pour down my face unbidden.
Her strength… I could not even begin to fathom it.
“Ah, the Palace Master herself has come to greet us.”
As expected, she was the Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Soon we drew near to her, and she approached me.
“Welcome. I am the Palace Master of this Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“I am Eun Seo-ho.”
I quickly clasped my fists and bowed my head.
“I am Eun Jin-ho.”
“I am Ha Su-min.”
“Please, raise your heads.”
She addressed us with a gentle voice.
“This palace and I welcome you all.”
“We are overwhelmed by such generous hospitality.”
“I heard that the young master of the Eun family previously rescued our disciples from Hyung-su. I shall treat the young master of the Eun family as a benefactor of this palace. And likewise, your family as well.”
“We are deeply grateful for your consideration.”
“Then please, come inside.”
The Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace personally guided us, and soon we arrived at a building.
“You may stay here. And all the people here are at your service—feel free to command them as you wish.”
Looking around, I saw about twenty people lined up, each wearing an apron.
Were we meant to use them like maidservants?
“Thank you.”
I finally understood what Bing Hae-rin, the Lesser Palace Mistress, had meant by “lavish hospitality.”
It was truly, in every sense of the word, lavish hospitality.
The meals were sumptuous feasts prepared from the finest ingredients, and each room was furnished with soft silk garments and silk bedding.
And twenty people stood ready at all times to attend to our needs.
Moreover, we were told we could stay as comfortably as we wished.
I needed to keep my wits about me.
If I let myself slip even slightly, I might grow complacent.
That absolutely cannot happen.
I have the Greatest Under Heaven Trading Company as my goal, and I must seek vengeance against the Baekcheon Trading Company and the Murim Alliance.
To achieve that goal, I need to continuously hone myself and remain actively engaged.
Since I cannot refuse their goodwill, I had no choice but to keep my mind sharp and focused.
At that moment, one of those who had attached themselves to me approached.
“The Small Merchant’s elder brother is heading to meet his mother-in-law now. Would you like to accompany him?”
Of course I should go.
Father entrusted me with a letter to deliver as well.
“Yes. Thank you for guiding me.”

As she led me along, I asked casually.
“Excuse me, what sort of person is my elder brother’s mother-in-law?”
“Seol Seo-yun, the Dharma Protector, is….”
“Pardon? A Dharma Protector?”
“The Main Palace differs from other locations in that we have eight Dharma Protectors, and Seol Seo-yun Dharma Protector oversees the western section of the Bing Hall.”
At minimum, she would be at least mid-tier among those at the pinnacle of cultivation.
And this is the Northern Sea Ice Palace, after all.
“Seol Seo-yun Dharma Protector is truly a benevolent person. Many follow her because of this. She is particularly skilled in footwork techniques, and her attacks incorporating the Twelve Flying Roc Steps are….”
In other words, Seol Seo-yun Dharma Protector was a master of swift swordplay.
“Then she must have shown her talents from a young age.”
“Ah, that is not the case.”
What?
“It has not yet been ten years since she took the Seol surname.”
She became a Dharma Protector less than ten years after reaching the pinnacle? Was that even possible?
However, I could not dwell on it further.
“We have arrived.”
We had reached the place where Elder Brother Jin-ho and his wife were.
The location I was guided to was the Guest Reception Room of the pavilion where we were staying.
The pavilion was so vast that it took considerable time just to reach the reception room.
Upon entering, I could see Elder Brother Jin-ho and his wife, both wearing tense expressions.
Why were they so nervous?
I should help ease their tension.
“What’s wrong, Elder Brother? Why are you so tense?”
“Of course I’m nervous. I’m about to meet my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law. You’ll understand once you marry.”
“I suppose so. But Elder Brother.”
“What?”
“You look even uglier when you’re nervous.”
“Ugh!”
At my words, Elder Brother Jin-ho, who had been sitting with perfect posture, flinched.
“R-really?”
“Hehehehe.”
Whether my words were amusing or Elder Brother Jin-ho’s flustered reaction was the source, my Elder Brother’s Wife burst into laughter.
Thanks to her, the tension that had been stretched taut as a thread suddenly dissolved.
Thank goodness.
“Relax. Otherwise you’ll make a mistake and kick off the blankets in your sleep tonight.”
“Right, I understand.”
Elder Brother Jin-ho nodded and took a measured, deep breath.
Just then, I sensed a presence approaching through my qi perception—someone drawing near.
A rather formidable aura.
She’s arrived.
The door opened, and the voice of someone standing outside came through.
“Seol Seo-yun, the Dharma Protector, and Elder Sang Ho-ran have arrived.”
Two women entered the room.
One was someone I had seen at Elder Brother Jin-ho’s wedding before, and the other appeared to be in her fifties.
She looks remarkably youthful!
Soon we faced them.
“Mother!”
My Elder Brother’s Wife cried out with delight.
But the expression of the one called Mother was cold.
“Why have you come?”
“….”
“Why are you here after putting so many people through hardship?”
“…”
“Did you perhaps expect warm maternal affection from me?”
Her words were as sharp and cutting as a dagger.
Yet I noticed her lips trembling, her hands clenching with tension.
Indeed… she was suppressing the urge to rush to her daughter, embrace her, and tell her she was loved.
No wonder she had only watched from a distance at the wedding ceremony.
Still, I was concerned for my Elder Brother’s Wife.
Those harsh words and cold gaze must have wounded her deeply…
“Mother, it seems you still don’t truly know your own daughter.”
“…!”
Yet my Elder Brother’s Wife was smiling radiantly.
Wow… our Elder Brother’s Wife is no ordinary person either.
“One of the things I learned from Father was how to discern a person’s true intentions. There are far too many deceivers in this world. But Mother…”
My Elder Brother’s Wife continued with a gentle smile.
“You’re really quite bad at acting.”
“A-acting? What do you mean by that…?”
The Mother-in-law’s gaze wavered, her composure visibly shaken.
“Father told me that Mother’s greatest wish is for me to marry and live happily. So I came here to show you my husband.”
At those words, Elder Brother Jin-ho sprang to his feet and pushed his chair aside.
“Mother-in-law! Grandmother-in-law! Please accept this son-in-law’s bow.”
Then he prostrated himself before them and cried out loudly.
“Thank you for giving birth to such a beautiful, brilliant, lovely, spirited, and wise Sumin! I swear to you that we shall live happily together!”
My brother caught his breath and continued speaking.
“I wanted to say this to you both, and so I came here.”
That’s right—Elder Brother Jin-ho had said he had something he wanted to tell his mother-in-law.
He had truly traveled all the way to the Northern Sea Ice Palace just to tell them this in person.
The two women fell silent for a moment, perhaps overwhelmed by his bold conviction.
“Pfft! Hahahaha!”
The first to burst into laughter was the old master known as Sang Ho-ran Elder.
She was Eun Jin-ho’s mother-in-law.
She chuckled as she looked at Elder Brother Jin-ho.
“He’s just like that Ha Cheol Pyo-du. Exactly the same. That man also shouted with such confidence before me.”
Ha Cheol Pyo-du—so that’s who she was referring to.
“You’ve come well. Thank you for the trouble of the journey, and thank you again. If you ever make our granddaughter cry, I won’t let it slide, so remember that.”
“I shall remember.”
So that settled things with Elder Brother Jin-ho’s mother-in-law, but what about his wife’s mother?
Her lips were pressed tightly together, her expression both moved and as if she were holding back something overwhelming.
Oh!
I nearly forgot.
I drew a letter from my robes and offered it.
“This is a letter our father sends to the Lady.”
“I shall receive it gratefully.”
Sang Ho-ran Elder accepted the letter on her behalf.
“What a remarkable fate this is. The elder brother of the Main Palace’s benefactor has become my grandson-in-law.”
“Isn’t fate always remarkable?”
“So, when do you plan to depart?”
“I intend to leave tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
At those words, Eun Jin-ho’s mother’s eyes widened.
“Isn’t that too soon? Leaving after only three days?”
“Please understand. We have many duties at the trading company and cannot afford to be away for long.”
“Then… there’s no help for it.”
At that moment, my sister-in-law spoke to her mother.
“Mother. I’m telling you this just to be sure, but I have never resented you. Father always told me how much you love me.”
She smiled gently.
“So please, live long and well. When I have children, I’ll bring them to show you.”
Then my sister-in-law rose from her seat.
“We’ll take our leave first.”
As I turned to go, a voice reached my ears.
“You come to this harsh place again?”
“….”
“I… carriage. Child see… I… will go.”
Seol Seo-yun, the Dharma Protector, barely managed to speak, her expression flushed with embarrassment, and Elder Brother’s Wife smiled softly at the sight of her.
“I’ll wait.”
Thus, the family reunion concluded happily.
.
.
.
Evening had arrived.
Eun Jin-ho was now fostering camaraderie.
It was a gathering hosted by Sang Ho-ran Elder, and all the elders and Dharma Protectors of the Northern Sea Ice Palace were said to be attending.
From what I saw earlier, they seemed quite fond of Eun Jin-ho….
It felt as though he had truly become the son-in-law of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Sensing that a wine cup would soon come my way, I hastily made my escape.
My apologies, Eun Jin-ho.

I packed my belongings as planned, preparing to depart tomorrow.
The disciples who had been attending to me requested to stay longer, but I gently declined.
Work was already piling up back home.
Thinking about it kept me from sleeping.
I had already accomplished the purpose of my visit to the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
And I felt somewhat guilty enjoying this happiness alone with my family.
What of Palgap and the Guard Warriors….
I hoped they were all well.
Then, a fragrance of orchids suddenly wafted through the air.
“As expected, you’re here.”
I turned my head to find Bing Hae-rin, the Lesser Palace Mistress, standing before my quarters.
I could only tilt my head in confusion.
“I heard you were quite busy….”
“Yes, that’s right. I had quite a lot of work delayed from being away. But I’ve finished everything by today.”
My expression seemed quite satisfied.
“Follow me.”
“Pardon?”
“The Palace Master is calling for you.”

I headed toward the Palace Master’s quarters alongside Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master.
The Palace Master’s residence was called Bing Hall, I was told.
Guard Warriors stood in strict vigilance around Bing Hall.
“Normally it wouldn’t be this tight, but today the Palace Master graciously gave the protectors the day off.”
Ah… so that’s why Elder Brother Jin-ho is over there drinking merrily right now.
They bowed respectfully to us and opened the way.
Following Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master deeper inside, I finally arrived at the Palace Master’s quarters.
“Palace Master, we’re entering.”
When the Young Palace Master spoke toward the interior, a crystal door slid open smoothly.
“Welcome.”
She rose from a transparent chair made of crystal, where she had been reclining, to greet me.
“I heard you were looking for the Small Merchant.”
“Yes. Would you care for some tea?”
“If you offer it, it would be an honor.”
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master withdrew as if her role was complete, and I sat across from the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master, sipping tea.
“Since the Small Merchant’s family deals in tea, I’ve tasted every variety across the realm… but this is my first time with this tea.”
“That makes sense. This tea is made from Seolryeon.”
“Thank you for serving me such precious tea.”
Her eyes gleamed as she gazed at my waist.
“Is that sword you’re wearing a Silver Martial Sword?”
“…!”
I tensed slightly at the sudden question.
I hadn’t expected her to recognize the Silver Martial Sword so immediately.
But thinking about it, it made perfect sense.
The Silver Martial Sword was forged from ice crystals produced in the Northern Sea, and I’d heard that Snowwind Palace and the Northern Sea Ice Palace maintained close ties.
“That’s correct. I obtained it through a fortunate connection.”
“May I examine it for a moment?”
I unsheathed the Silver Martial Sword and offered it to her.
She accepted it and examined it carefully before drawing the blade.
The blade sang as it emerged.
“Ah! If you draw that sword….”
“It’s fine. I don’t lose my mind even when drawing a Silver Martial Sword with an established master.”
“….”
“It’s thanks to the blessing of the ice crystals.”
Her gaze upon the Silver Martial Sword held a longing light.
She sheathed it with a soft sound.
She returned the Silver Martial Sword to me.
“Thank you for letting me see it. I apologize for the abruptness.”
“Not at all.”
“By the way, the Young Palace Master mentioned you’re a disciple of Snowwind Palace?”
“Ah, yes, that’s correct.”
“Under whose tutelage are you studying?”
“I’m studying under Master Gwak Myung-hyun.”
“That boy… is he doing well?”
That boy—she must be referring to Master.
“Yes. He’s doing well.”
“I remember when that boy first came here. He climbed a tree in the back garden to pick the Bing Jade Peaches, fell, and broke his leg.”
“Pfft!”
Laughter burst from me unbidden.
Ahem, my apologies, Master.
This disciple has just learned an embarrassing tale from your childhood.

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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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