The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 238

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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 238

Chapter 238. It Was Here (3)

Unlike usual, Geumryeong did not swallow the silver coin I gave him.
He held the silver coin in his mouth and approached the stone monument of Seolpung Palace, then set it down before it.
“….”
I watched silently as he did so.
Now that I thought about it, I had first met Geumryeong in Yunnan—a place far removed from the Northern Sea.
There must be some story behind this.
And now, in his own way, Geumryeong was showing his utmost sincerity in paying his respects.
Who was he mourning for?
The previous Seolpung Palace Master? Or perhaps….
I approached Geumryeong and patted his back as I spoke.
“If that’s how you feel, why didn’t you just ask for gold?”
“Squeak… squeak.”
“You know shame, do you?”
“Squeak….”
“It’s fine. You can spend generously on something like this.”
I retrieved a gold ingot from my pocket and placed it atop the silver coin.
“Eun Seo-ho, Disciple of Seolpung Palace, pays respects to the Palace Master and my seniors.”
And with utmost reverence, I honored them in remembrance.
As I gazed upon the stone monument, an inexplicable sense of frustration washed over me.
Without thinking, I murmured aloud.
“What exactly about Seolpung Palace was so intolerable that they couldn’t rest until the entire sect was annihilated?”
“I wish I knew the answer to that myself.”
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, answered as if she had heard my murmur.
“What was so intolerable that they… that they killed my father?”
Your father?
“Could it be that the Young Palace Master’s father was also….”
“A disciple of Seolpung Palace.”
“….”
“If I may ask, how old are you? Surely Seolpung Palace….”
“Was annihilated nineteen years ago. I am twenty years old this year.”
So we’re the same age?
From what I knew, children under five years old could not enter the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
That would mean the Young Palace Master was only one year old at the time—could it be….
“And I am the only child who survived that massacre at Seolpung Palace.”
“….”
“It happened when I was so young that I don’t remember most of it, but there’s one memory that remains perfectly clear.”
“What memory is that?”
“I’m not sure.”
She evaded the question.
Come to think of it, my question must have been tactless toward her.
A survivor’s final memory could hardly be a pleasant one.
I quickly apologized and bowed my head.
“My apologies. I was out of line.”
“I accept your apology.”
I gazed at the stone monument where Seolpung Palace Master’s remains were enshrined for a long moment, then turned to leave.
“I think it’s time we departed.”
And I spoke to Geumryeong.
“Geumryeong, let’s go.”
“Chirp.”
Geumryeong hopped up and nestled snugly into my sleeve.

On the way back to my quarters.
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, spoke.
“You’re leaving tomorrow, then.”
“Yes.”
“Actually, the disciples of the Main Palace may look delicate, but they’re all quite skilled drinkers. Moreover, since they’re all at the peak level or above, their technique for controlling intoxication is remarkable.”
“…?”
“In any case, that’s how it is.”
I understood the meaning of Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master’s words the next morning.
.
.
.
“Pardon?”
I couldn’t help but repeat the words of the Disciple Attendant who was attending to me.
Elder Brother Jin-ho had gotten drunk?

I rushed immediately to Eun Jin-ho’s quarters.
My elder brother lay on the bed, his face sallow and jaundiced, retching violently.
“Ugh!”
“No! Seriously! How much did you drink yesterday?”
“I counted up to one hundred and twenty cups. After that… I don’t remember anything.”
“Good grief! Seriously!”
His wife, sitting beside him, wore an apologetic expression.
“I’m truly sorry. He drank all the cups meant for me as well.”
“…”
He’d certainly made an impression on my mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law, and the others.
But still, well… sigh.
“I’m fine. I’ll leave as planned… ugh!”
“How can you travel in this condition? You might die on the road.”
“That’s true, but… ugh!”
How does anyone drink over a hundred cups of wine? I’m just grateful he didn’t die from it.
Was it because my elder brother is a warrior approaching the peak realm?
Still, those people didn’t seem so thoughtless…
Ah, what cunning individuals they are.
I began to understand why they’d made Eun Jin-ho drink so heavily.
This way, he couldn’t leave even if he wanted to.
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master had said it. They all called it “parting wine.”
So that’s what she meant.
“In any case, let’s postpone the departure for a few days. I can arrange it. So just focus on recovering.”
“I’m sorry. I… ugh.”
I shook my head and left Eun Jin-ho’s quarters.
Then I spoke to the Disciple Attendant who served me.
“Given the circumstances, I’ll stay a bit longer until my elder brother recovers.”
“Understood.”
Her expression seemed unusually bright—surely that was just my imagination?
“The members of my party waiting at the Ice Palace Inn must be growing impatient. Could you deliver a letter for me?”
“Of course.”
I surveyed Eun Jin-ho’s quarters and reflected.
I felt sorry for my elder brother, but I was grateful I’d managed to escape quickly back then.

But as I lingered without any particular purpose, boredom began to creep in.
There were only so many ways to entertain myself playing with Geumryeong.
The Disciple Attendant who served me then offered a suggestion.
“Would you perhaps consider visiting the Archives?”
“The Archives?”
“Yes. I believe no other archives, not even those of the Main Palace, could rival the collection housed here.”
Her words kindled my curiosity.
“Would I be permitted to go as well?”
“With the Palace Master’s permission, it would be possible. And I’m certain the Palace Master will grant it.”
“Then I would be grateful for your assistance.”
And indeed, the Palace Master granted permission immediately.
I made my way to the Archives under the Disciple Attendant’s guidance.
The entrance to the Archives was smaller than I had expected.
Yet upon stepping inside, I realized how foolish it was to judge by appearances alone.
The building was not wide, but it rose considerably high.
Bookshelves were densely packed throughout the interior.
I wondered how one might retrieve the volumes from the upper reaches, but upon closer inspection, I saw that stone stairs connected every section seamlessly.
“This is extraordinary. I had no idea there were so many books collected here.”
“It is one of our Ice Palace’s greatest treasures.”
“Deservedly so.”
I have always enjoyed reading, but my duties had left me scarcely any time for it.
Since I could not conduct business here regardless, I thought it would be pleasant to rest and read books while waiting for my elder brother Jin-ho’s ailment to improve.
Surely his condition wouldn’t worsen again in the meantime?
Setting that concern aside for now, I leisurely explored the Archives, unable to suppress my admiration.
There were countless books I had never encountered before.
A faint hum—
As I continued my exploration, I felt a peculiar pull.
The same sensation I had experienced when I visited Book Street in Luoyang for the Top Hundred Merchant Guilds gathering.
Drawn by this calling, as if something were summoning me, I moved toward that location.
The pull was far too intense to ignore.
That pull led me to a bookshelf on the fourteenth level.
“…!”
A single volume caught my eye.
Just as before, I could see nothing else—only that one book stood out with absolute clarity.
Could this also be related to Seolpung Palace?
I carefully withdrew the book.
Like the last time, it bore no cover.
“Would it be permissible for me to read here?”
“Of course. There is a reading area over there where you may examine books.”
I was guided to a spacious wooden table on the first floor and took my seat.
She left to fetch refreshments, and I took a deep breath before opening the book.
In that instant, I felt the energy contained within the pages.
It was so faint that most would never notice, but those like me who had mastered the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art to its pinnacle would recognize it.
That energy was the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art itself.
The moment the energy traveled through my hand holding the book and entered my body, meeting with the vital force in my dantian—
Before I could even react, my vision turned white.
.
.
.
“We meet again.”
A familiar voice.
“What? Ancestor?”
Seolpung Palace’s Instructor stood before me. And I was standing in a barren wasteland with nothing around.
“Did you arrange something in the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s Archives as well?”
“Yes, this too is an arrangement I prepared.”
Just how many arrangements had he made?
I couldn’t help but marvel at the Ancestor’s foresight.
It must have cost him years of his life.
“The fact that you’ve come here means you’re currently at the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“Yes, I stopped by the Archives briefly for rest.”
“This arrangement was made half in doubt, but you truly are an extraordinary one.”
“Thank you for the praise.”
I’m not immune to compliments, but strangely, the Ancestor’s praise felt different.
“In any case, this arrangement exists to transmit to you the [Extreme Yin Soul Frozen Duel].”
If I interpret the meaning, it’s a technique that freezes one’s soul to the extreme of yin energy… a form of combat.
“However, from what I’ve observed of Seolpung Palace’s martial arts, while the swordsmanship is exceptional, I haven’t felt the same excellence in other techniques.”
I primarily learned swordsmanship from my Master, but I also studied spear techniques, fist arts, and others.
Yet they were merely supplementary to the swordsmanship—nothing more, nothing less.
“What have you learned so far?”
“Ah, yes. So what I mean is…”
As I recited what I had learned, the Ancestor let out a scoff.
“Well, that’s understandable. But the Extreme Yin Soul Frozen Duel I’m about to teach you operates on an entirely different level.”
“…?”
“Because the Extreme Yin Soul Frozen Duel is one of the martial arts that only a Palace Master can master.”
I was startled by those words.
“What? You mean only the Seolpung Palace Master can master it? But I am not the Seolpung Palace Master.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“But… the Seolpung Palace Master is my Master. I cannot presume to learn this without his consent.”
“The martial arts learned only by a Palace Master have no secret records.”
“Then what was that book I just opened?”
“Hmm, what was it again? I can’t quite recall either.”
“Pardon?”
“I simply picked a book at random from the Archives—something that seemed like it would remain there for ages.”
“….”
“And storing such trivial memories in this space would be a wasteful indulgence. This arrangement exists solely to transmit martial arts.”
The Ancestor continued.
“Therefore, someone must directly impart the knowledge, and there must be a partner willing to receive it.”
“….”
“But currently, there is no one else capable of demonstrating this and serving as your partner except myself.”
The Ancestor’s expression grew sorrowful.
And well it might, for the previous Seolpung Palace Master—the only person who could have transmitted this knowledge—was….
“You are the only one I can teach these martial arts to, so stop your questions and learn.”
“Yes.”
Then a question occurred to me.
“Pardon, but… you mentioned these are martial arts only the Seolpung Palace Master can master… how many such techniques are there?”
“That would spoil the fun if I told you now.”
“….”
Really, Ancestor?
Is this truly the moment to concern yourself with amusement?
“Now then, let us proceed with joyful learning.”
As he swept his hand through the air, golden characters suddenly materialized around where I stood, densely encircling the space.
“First, the opening stance.”
Was it mere coincidence that the content of the opening stance appeared before me in that very moment?

[Dancing Willow Leaf (舞柳葉) – Cold Wind Severance (寒風切)]

The meaning of dancing willow leaves cutting through cold wind.
After reading all of that, Seol Pung-gung’s Instructor spoke.
“Watch carefully.”
In that instant, the air around us shifted.
The Instructor extended both hands forward, and that was the beginning.
Watching the movement of those hands, I truly felt as though willow leaves were dancing.
Yet the air around us remained bitterly cold.
“…!”
Just now, what was that?
It was only a moment, but I could have sworn the wind where the Instructor’s hand had passed was severed?
The Instructor finished the movement.
“From your expression, it seems you’ve grasped the true meaning of this technique.”
“You’re using the edge of your hand as a blade, aren’t you?”
“Correct.”
“Quite….”
“Ruthless, you mean?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then do you think refined martial arts could save the disciples while the Palace’s disciples are dying?”
“….”
“A Palace Master must be prepared to see much blood to protect the disciples. If there are no weapons, one must use their hands to strike down enemies.”
Hearing those words, I began to understand the meaning of martial arts that only a Palace Master could learn.
It was ruthless martial arts capable of protecting Seolpung Palace’s disciples.
But why couldn’t Seolpung Palace’s disciples learn this, only the Palace Master?
When I asked about this, the Instructor answered readily.
“As you know, this is extremely ruthless martial arts. Because of that, if training is insufficient, there’s a high possibility of being consumed by demonic energy.”
“So only the strongest Palace Master learns it.”
“Correct. Any other questions?”
“None.”
In that moment, the Instructor’s hand moved, and I felt a burning sensation near my chest, as though ice were grazing across it.
“Ugh!”
I knew what that feeling was.
The sensation of being cut by a blade.
But the Instructor’s attack didn’t stop, and in an instant, with both my arms and legs slashed, I collapsed right there.
Thud.
“I…trusted you, Instructor….”
“Stop whining and get up. You won’t die here. And to master the Extreme Yin Soul Ice Thrust, which normally takes years to learn, in such a short time, there’s no helping it.”
Damn it!
Now that I think about it, I opened that book because Elder Brother Jin-ho had run out of liquor.
I won’t let this slide.

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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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