The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 237

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

The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 237

Chapter 237. It Was Here (2)

The Northern Sea Ice Palace Master laughed as he looked at me.
Until now, he had worn a faint smile on his face, but it had felt somewhat artificial.
But this was genuine laughter.
“Truly, how much of a troublemaker that child was when he was young… I cannot even begin to describe it.”
“You mean our Master?”
My Master, who was usually taciturn and rarely expressed emotions, had been a troublemaker in his childhood!
I could not imagine it at all.
“That is why the Seolpung Palace Master, that child’s father, would often come to me with his concerns. But I should have had experience raising children myself. That fellow, consulting with me who had never even married…”
“…”
So he had not yet married.
Wait…
Judging by how he referred to the previous Seolpung Palace Master as a friend and my Master as “that child,” he seemed to be quite advanced in age.
Yet the Palace Master appeared to be only in his early twenties.
“I wonder how he has changed now. Whether he has matured or remained the same…”
The Palace Master continued.
“I heard he was alive, but since that time… I have never seen him once.”
“I see. In fact, the Master I know is so taciturn and grave that I wonder if he is truly the same person you speak of.”
“He has grown well. He was a child who would wet himself out of fear whenever I scolded him…”
“Cough—!”
I nearly spat out my tea at those sudden words.
But soon my expression turned bitter.
“That incident must have been quite traumatic for him.”
“…”
Not only did he lose his home, but most of those like family to him perished and vanished.
It was fortunate he had not gone mad.
Perhaps he changed as he grew older, but when the palace fell and he inherited its legacy, he must have transformed completely.
Perhaps his taciturn nature became a means to suppress those sorrowful emotions.
But suddenly, there was something I could not understand.
The look in the Palace Master’s eyes when he saw the Eun Moo-geom earlier.
The emotion contained in those eyes was unmistakably longing.
The object of that longing was undoubtedly the previous master, the Seolpung Palace Master.
In other words, the previous Seolpung Palace Master and the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master had been extremely intimate.
Close enough to call each other friends.
Moreover, considering the relationship between the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the Seolpung Palace, they were practically bound by blood oath.
A place like that was completely destroyed, so why did the Northern Sea Ice Palace not react at all?
“In truth, the reason I summoned you here was to have various conversations and also to repay a debt of gratitude by granting one request. Since you said you’re leaving tomorrow.”
The Northern Sea Ice Palace Master finally broached the main subject.
“That’s quite alright.”
“No, this too is law of the Main Palace. So please don’t feel burdened.”
Then what should I say?
After deliberation, I decided to demand an answer to one thing.
This answer would serve as the basis for determining whether the Northern Sea Ice Palace would become my ally or enemy going forward.
There were even rumors circulating that the Northern Sea Ice Palace had erased the Seolpung Palace, so I needed to confirm this fact.
From what the Palace Master said about the previous Seolpung Palace Master and my Master, I could infer that there was some circumstance involved, but I felt I needed to pin this down clearly.
I could have asked my Master, but dredging up those memories would be cruel.
I wanted to hear it directly from the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master’s own lips.
“Then, would you answer one question for me?”
“Yes, please ask.”
“When the Seolpung Palace was destroyed, why didn’t the Northern Sea Ice Palace help? You could have at least prevented the destruction.”
“….”
The Northern Sea Ice Palace Master’s expression darkened.
Was she recalling those events?
What on earth could the reason have been?
Without realizing it, I grew tense and my mouth went dry.
I wanted to drink tea, but I couldn’t bring my hand to the cup. I couldn’t afford to miss a single word.
“I think the same way. If the Main Palace had intervened, the Seolpung Palace would not have been destroyed.”
She continued, letting out a sigh.
“But we couldn’t act that day.”
“Does that mean it wasn’t that you wouldn’t help, but that you couldn’t help?”
“That’s right.”
Clear anger flashed across her face as she answered.
“Why wouldn’t we help them? They weren’t just closely connected to the Main Palace, but they were where our disciples’ children lived.”
“….”
“Our Northern Sea Ice Palace travels northward once every five years, with everyone except essential security personnel. If we don’t periodically eliminate the Spirit Creatures of the North, the situation becomes uncontrollable.”
“Wasn’t it the Seolpung Palace that handled the Spirit Creatures of the Northern Sea?”
“They couldn’t handle all the Spirit Creatures of the Northern Sea alone. So we handle this side and they handle that side. However, since this side is our Northern Sea Ice Palace’s territory, others couldn’t know of it.”
“I see.”
“That day was when we had headed north to eliminate the Spirit Creatures of the Northern Sea.”
“….”
She continued speaking.
“After successfully subjugating the Spirit Creatures and returning, we sent a letter. Suggesting we meet after so long and share a drink. But… what the disciple who carried the letter found was the Seolpung Palace reduced to ashes.”
“When they were attacked, wasn’t there any signal requesting help or anything like that?”
Even the Green Forest Bandits, when their scale was significant, had systems to send signals.
A place like the Northern Sea Ice Palace and Seolpung Palace surely would have had such measures.
“Of course there is. However… it was never activated. If the signal had been triggered, the guards from the Main Palace would have rushed over, or we would have hastily retreated as well.”
At the revelation that the emergency signal should have been activated but wasn’t, I bit my lip.
Suddenly, I recalled Yu Deok-jin, the Madman Warrior I had encountered when discovering Eun Moo-geom in Yunnan.
And the contents of the letter that had been in his possession.

[As I instructed you before, bring that sword to me.
Then I shall acknowledge you as my son.]

So why had Yu Deok-jin’s father ordered his son to bring him that sword?
Out of greed for the blade itself?
No—rather, he must have been concerned that the plan to erase the Seolpung Palace might fail because of that sword.
In other words, meticulous preparations to obliterate the Seolpung Palace were already underway.
Likely, the attack that day involved either bribing or eliminating whoever would send the distress signal.
Or perhaps…
“We conducted our own investigation afterward and discovered that the device meant to send that emergency signal had already been sabotaged.”
So there had been a traitor after all.
But Master said there was nothing left remaining?
When I asked about this, the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master offered a bitter smile.
“No matter how thoroughly one destroys something, if one flees in haste, some trace inevitably remains.”
“…”
“And the remains that were left behind—we gathered them ourselves and enshrined them properly.”
“So that’s why Master couldn’t find the remains.”
“Correct. But please don’t tell that child about this. That child knows nothing of it.”
“Pardon?”
I blinked. I didn’t understand what she was saying.
“But surely those remains include Master’s family members as well. Then why are you asking me not to tell them?”
“Because if that child learns of this fact, they will undoubtedly come here to the Northern Sea.”
Well, of course they would…
“We cannot assume that those who annihilated the Seolpung Palace have no eyes here in the North.”
“Ah!”
The Seolpung Palace is now barely maintaining its existence in hiding.
As such, Master coming to the Northern Sea Ice Palace would be dangerous.
Knowing this, Master must have chosen not to come to the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
I recalled when Master asked me to investigate the traces of the Seolpung Palace remaining in the North.
Had Master not been injured at that time, they likely would have taken some risks and moved forward.
After all, the gates of the Northern Sea Ice Palace had opened, and many were heading that way.
I cupped my fist and bowed my head to the Palace Master.
“I was shortsighted. I am grateful for your wise judgment.”
“Your concern for that child is touching.”
“Of course—they are my Master, after all.”
A brief silence fell between us, and the Palace Master and I both reached for our teacups.
My throat had been parched.
Yet now that I knew the Northern Sea Ice Palace was no enemy, the tea felt refreshingly cool.
“What I just answered is something I should naturally tell my direct disciple, So Hyup.”
“Pardon? Your direct disciple? I’m merely….”
“You are a disciple directly taught by the Seolpung Palace Master himself. Are you saying you’re not my direct disciple?”
I felt somewhat embarrassed and scratched the back of my neck.
“So ask for something else instead.”
“Then….”
As I recalled the request my Master had made to me before, a name naturally came to mind.
“I would like to send a brief letter to one of those who recently entered the Seolpung Palace.”
“It seems you have a connection with this disciple.”
“Yes.”
I spoke of Han Jae-in, the younger sister of Han Jae-ik, the direct disciple of the Han-ga Martial Arts School in Henan Province.
“I wish to send word that since Ma Jang-ju, who had been oppressing that family, has been punished by law, they need not worry for their family’s safety.”
At my words, the Bing Palace Master gazed at me intently.
Why was she looking at me like that?
“So Hyup truly… doesn’t know how to look after yourself.”
Pardon?
I take quite good care of myself, actually.
“Don’t you realize what an enormous opportunity it is to make a request of me, the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master?”
“Of course I do.”
Though my help had been of great benefit to them at the time, it was not such a great matter for me.
“Didn’t you already give me three silver tokens then? Moreover, you’ve treated me with such generosity, and even permitted my brother to come and go freely. Furthermore, though you said it was only natural, my long-standing curiosity has been thoroughly satisfied.”
I continued.
“What more could I possibly ask for?”
As the saying goes, excess is never good—ask for too much more and my belly might burst.
A true merchant must know how to set a fair price. And the fair price I’ve determined is here.
At my words, the Bing Palace Master smiled.
Not a forced smile, but a genuinely radiant one that came from the heart.
“Your Master is truly blessed with fortune. Or perhaps it’s the Seolpung Palace that is blessed.”
She continued.
“Send word to that disciple Jae-in. But that is something we should have done regardless, to prevent her from falling into demonic delusion. Is there truly nothing else you wish to ask?”
“Then… I would like to visit the place where the remains of the Seolpung Palace Master are enshrined. As a disciple of the Seolpung Palace, and in place of my Master, I wish to pay my respects.”
She paused briefly in thought at my words, then nodded.
“Do so.”
“I am grateful for your consideration.”
I cupped my fists again and bowed my head.
“By the way, I heard you have Han Ho-su with you.”
“Ah, yes. That’s correct.”
“May I take a look for a moment?”
I nodded readily and withdrew Geumryeong from my sleeve, placing her on the table.
“Squeak?”
Geumryeong glanced around in surprise at being suddenly produced, then caught sight of the Palace Master and flinched visibly.
She retreated backward cautiously, her fear of the Palace Master unmistakable.
So this creature did have something to fear.
“She’s grown quite considerably.”
“Yes.”
“Despite her young age, she’s already developed this much… I wonder, how much money do you feed her?”
“Well, that is…”
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
“I’m not entirely certain myself. Whenever she ran errands, she’d ask for payment, so I’d give it to her. For major tasks, I’d feed her gold coins, and for smaller ones, it seems I’m feeding her at least ten silver coins a month.”
“…”
The Northern Sea Ice Palace Master fell silent for a moment.
“Can you afford that?”
“Of course.”
That much is nothing, really.
“That creature is quite fortunate. But when and where did you meet her?”
“I met her when I obtained the Eun Moo-geom in Yunnan.”
I gave her a brief account of obtaining the Eun Moo-geom and meeting Geumryeong.
It seemed she needed to know about this as well.

After a moment, I withdrew from the Palace Master’s presence.
Returning to my chamber, I was contemplating the tasks that lay ahead when Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, came to find me.
“She’s asked me to guide So Hyup to that location.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“And, I’m personally grateful to you.”
“Pardon?”
“You see, she’s been spending rather tedious days. Thanks to you, she’s been delighted.”
She was speaking of the Palace Master.
Now that I thought about it, I’d heard that whenever the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master moves, the Central Plains trembles.
Perhaps that’s why she remains within the Ice Palace, and the Young Palace Master handles affairs instead.
She led me on a lengthy walk.
I couldn’t say for certain, but it seemed to be roughly westward—had she arranged a location as close as possible to the Seolpung Palace?
Soon I came upon a stone sculpture.
It was a masterwork carved in stone—a building adorned with elegant tiles.
“It’s the original form of Seolpung Palace. We recreated it at about one-hundredth scale.”
“I see…”
“We’ve enshrined her within.”
Just then, Geumryeong suddenly burst from my sleeve and began tapping the ground with her feet.
And she gazed at me with pleading eyes.
In such cases, she was asking for money—was she hungry?
Though she had a strong appetite for silver, she wouldn’t ask for money without reason, so I produced a silver coin and offered it to her.
And I couldn’t help but be astonished by what Geumryeong did next.

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