The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 239

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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 239

Chapter 239. It Was Here (4)

How long had it been since I began my training?
By my perception, several months must have passed.
When I first entered this space, I had worried whether those around me would be concerned about my disappearance.
But now I understood.
Even if I remained here for years, even decades, only a fleeting moment would have elapsed in the outside world.
“Hah… hah…”
I lay sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath.
In truth, thanks to my Master’s physical conditioning training over this time, I had never heard anyone say my stamina was weak.
Now I could hang from a beam for ten days straight—such was my endurance.
Yet here I was, collapsed like this. The Ancestor’s training was brutally demanding.
The Ancestor’s hands showed no mercy, and there was no quarter given whatsoever.
Though my body bore no visible wounds, the pain was very real. There had been more than one moment when I thought I would truly die like this.
Seeing me in such a state, the Ancestor spoke.

“It pains my heart to strike you as well. But time is scarce, and real combat is the finest training method there is. I have no choice.”

Does someone with a painful heart smile?
But I couldn’t help but agree that actual combat was the best training method.
I had nearly mastered the Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique, which supposedly took years to learn.
But right now, I didn’t have the strength to move a single finger.
“Not even the strength to move a single finger… Get up.”
Damn it!
Can you read my thoughts?
Grumbling inwardly like that, I forced my upper body to rise.
But this is really the limit.
“Ancestor, I can’t get up right now. Just kill me.”
“Such dramatics…
But this is someone who knows my condition precisely. So they must have pushed me to this point for a reason.
Just enough not to die.
Ah…
They said people don’t die here.
By now, I had mastered ninety-nine of the Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique’s forms.
With a total of one hundred forms, I now faced only one remaining technique.
I had wondered why there were as many as one hundred forms, but as I learned them, I began to understand.
It meant the martial art was that practical in real combat.
Now only a single passage of golden characters remained surrounding me.
Whenever I completely mastered a form, the characters corresponding to that technique would vanish.
My instincts were telling me something.
When the final passage of the last form disappeared, I would be able to leave this place.
“Chirp.”
Geumryeong sat on my lap, looking at me and chirping softly.
Geumryeong was the only one comforting me.
“So only the final form remains.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I looked at the passage of the last remaining form.

[Together to the End—Preserve Life, Preserve Name]

“Do you understand what that means?”
“It means that by dying together with the enemy, one preserves life for others and leaves behind a name, does it not?”
“Correct. And there is no hidden meaning here. It is a truly straightforward technique.”
“….”
The Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique was said to be a technique for the Seolpung Palace Master.
In other words, the Palace Master would die together with the enemy, thereby saving the disciples of Seolpung Palace while preserving his own name.
Ha… what nonsense.
I forced strength into my trembling legs and rose from my seat.
My legs quivered, but I managed to stand upright through sheer willpower.
“I don’t like this technique.”
“Hmm?”
My words seemed unexpected, and the Ancestor tilted his head in confusion.
“You don’t like it? Yet it is a technique most befitting the final moments of the Seolpung Palace Master?”
“What do you mean befitting? If one dies to save the disciples, do you think those who survive would find joy in it?”
I continued with a bitter laugh.
“They would find no joy at all. And leaving behind a name? What good is fame to someone who is dead?”
I clenched my teeth.
How did I know this?
Because in my past life, there were those who died for me.
Not merely those who rushed at enemies on the day I died to save me.
There were those who died while helping me escape during attacks on our merchant caravans, and those who endured cruel torture without uttering a single word until their final breath.
It was through the sacrifice of such people that the Eunhae Trading Company rose to become one of the Three Greatest Trading Companies.
Did I feel joy each time that happened?
No. I wailed in anguish at the limits of my own strength, and I shed tears of blood.
The Baekcheon Trading Company and the Murim Alliance trampled upon the sacrifices of those people.
My revenge against the Baekcheon Trading Company and the Murim Alliance was not merely my personal grudge.
It was also vengeance for those who died for me and for the company.
In this life, I live more fiercely than before so that their sacrifices need not occur.
Yes, this time I will make the Greatest Merchant Guild Under Heaven without their sacrifice.
“Mutual destruction, leaving a name—it’s all nonsense.”
“Nonsense… Even so, this is one of the greatest martial arts the Seolpung Palace Master learns. Your words are harsh.”
“No! This technique deserves such criticism. I would like nothing more than to completely overhaul it.”
“Then, if you were to change the final verse of this technique, what would you change it to?”
“If it were me… Huh.”
I took a deep breath.
It seems I got too worked up.
But I should stop spouting nonsense.
I calmed my mind and gazed at the characters before continuing.
“I would change it to this: I live and all survive, proclaiming victory under heaven.”
It meant that I would live and everyone would survive, declaring ourselves victors to all under heaven.
In that instant,
a faint rustling sound.
The final verse of the technique that had been before my eyes had changed.

[I Give Life to All Life—Heaven Witnesses Victory]

The Ancestor laughed with hearty abandon.
“Hahahaha! Have you ever seen such a ridiculous fellow! Hahahaha!”
But surely you should explain the reason before laughing like that.
Otherwise, how am I supposed to know whether to laugh or not?
Soon after, the Ancestor composed himself and spoke with a serious expression.
“In truth, the final verse of the Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique exists, yet does not exist.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“Because the final verse concerns the true purpose of the Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique. Did you never wonder why the technique was so aggressive yet possessed such strong defensive elements?”
“Ah… now that you mention it, that is indeed the case.”
Every verse contained elements designed for defense.
“It is to preserve the disciples’ lives and ultimately ensure the Palace Master returns alive. You must understand this to leave this space.”
“And if I do not understand it?”
….
The Ancestor said nothing more, but cold sweat ran down my spine.
I had nearly been trapped here for centuries without escape.
In an instant, the verse before me—I Give Life to All Life, Heaven Witnesses Victory—was absorbed into me, and my inner energy surged.
My vision began to blur.
“It is time for you to go now. We shall meet again.”
“Yes, Ancestor.”
I cupped my fists in salute as the Ancestor’s form grew indistinct.
“Never forget the heart you hold now. Even when death comes, you shall survive.”
“I shall do so without fail.”
And so my vision turned white.
.
.
.
“Huh?”
Books came into view before me.
This is… ah, the Archives of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
I had entered the Ancestor’s arrangement while reading these texts.
Looking around, I saw shelves crammed with volumes.
I gazed at the book before me. It was merely a common tale written upon its pages.
The Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique…
Its contents were now etched into my mind.
I intend to compile that content into a manuscript and present it to my Master.
After all, he never said it couldn’t be recorded.
Besides, since both my Master and I are busy, this is the best approach. If worst comes to worst, he can always burn it later.
And then there are those eight characters that come to mind with crystalline clarity.
“I give birth to all beings, the Realm proves victory.”
That is the final technique of the Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique that I will inscribe.
I won’t be writing down the technique called “Together to the End, Leave Life and Name.”
My Master believes that to be the Seolpung Palace Master’s ultimate mission, so I can’t let him harbor any reckless resolve.
Just then, the Disciple Attendant who served me approached carrying a tray.
“I’ve brought some refreshments.”
“Ah, thank you.”

* * *

The Bing Palace Master was listening to her subordinate’s report.
“He’s still in the Archives?”
“Yes.”
Since he had requested access to the Archives, she had granted permission.
In truth, she was someone who had read all the countless manuscripts in the Archives.
The Bing Palace Master’s life was so formidable that finding a worthy rival was nearly impossible, and her existence was marked by tedium—manuscripts were an excellent remedy for such boredom.
To her, Eun Seo-ho’s visit felt refreshingly novel.
‘Eun Moo-geom and Han Ho-su…’
It seemed the world had chosen him as the new Palace Master of Seolpung Palace.
‘But there is one thing lacking.’
That was martial prowess.
The martial techniques that only the Palace Master of Seolpung Palace could master across generations.
There were no written records of them.
The Palace Master of Seolpung Palace had transmitted them directly to the next Palace Master.
Because these techniques were so tyrannical in nature, if someone with insufficient training attempted to master them, they would fall into demonic delusion.
It was a reason that made perfect sense, but it created a problem.
If the Palace Master of Seolpung Palace died suddenly, the lineage of those techniques would be severed.
Thus, the Palace Master of Seolpung Palace typically chose a successor early and transmitted the martial techniques gradually. Once all techniques were transmitted, the position of Palace Master was officially passed on.
That was what made it so regrettable.
Before Seolpung Palace fell, that friend had intended to choose his eldest son, Gwak Myung-hyun, as his successor.
So now Gwak Myung-hyun was the Palace Master of Seolpung Palace, but he was only half-complete, lacking the three symbols that define a Palace Master.
In fact, regardless of all that, she had always felt sorrow when thinking of Seolpung Palace.
It stemmed from the simple, inevitable truth that martial achievement differs according to one’s talent.
The most talented in martial arts among Seolpung Palace was the one called the Seolpung Palace Ancestor.
From the records, the Seolpung Palace Ancestor’s martial prowess was truly extraordinary.
But the Palace Masters who succeeded him seemed to lack his talent, and consequently their martial techniques were somewhat diminished in power.
But then,
as if by fate, someone appeared before me bearing two of the symbols that represent a Palace Master.
Moreover, despite being not yet twenty years old, he had already reached the pinnacle of cultivation.
And furthermore….
‘He possesses the same constitution as I do!’
Though Eun Seo-ho still seemed unaware of this fact.
In any case, this time I could not allow him to be lost so meaninglessly, as the previous Seolpung Palace Master had been.
I had to protect Eun Seo-ho from those vicious people.
‘But I cannot move easily….’
After pondering for a moment, I asked my subordinate.
“What of Eun Jin-ho and So Hyup?”
“They say Eun Jin-ho is currently resting in his chamber.”
“Truly, that cunning fox knows no bounds. One would think a simple word to stay longer would suffice… though I suppose he’s not the type to listen to mere words.”
“The protectors and elders are taking turns visiting him, I’m told.”
“His face must be worn thin from all the attention. So how long is the recovery expected to take?”
“It appears it will take about three or four days.”
“Three or four days….”
That worked out well.

* * *

That night.
After dinner, I visited the Bing Palace Master again.
Sitting in the Crystal Chamber, which never ceased to amaze me, she truly was a beautiful person.
Beyond her appearance, there emanated an air of such grace that it naturally inspired reverence.
“I heard you summoned me.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
She offered me a seat.
“Please, have some tea.”
“Thank you.”
This time it was a different tea than yesterday. It carried a peach flavor, but with something more fragrant, refreshing, and….
“It’s made from Bing Okdo fruit.”
Bing Okdo—the fruit my Master had climbed up to pick when he was young, only to fall….
Ahem…
Fortunately, I didn’t spit out the tea.
“How is it?”
“It’s a truly remarkable taste. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.”
“The tea tastes wonderful, but it also has the benefit of purifying one’s meridians and harmonizing one’s inner energy. Of course, since you’re already cultivating the martial arts of Seolpung Palace, your inner energy must be perfectly pure already.”
“Surely adding something good to something already good only makes it better, does it not?”
“That’s true enough.”
The Ice Palace Master took a sip of tea and continued speaking smoothly.
“Your elder brother seems to have developed quite the drinking habit, hasn’t he?”
“Cough!”
He choked on his tea.
“Hack! Hack!”
“Oh my! Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes! I apologize for my rudeness.”
“Not at all. And as you’ve likely noticed, the disciples of the Main Palace can be a bit mischievous. Please accept my apologies on their behalf.”
“That simply means you care for them dearly. Haha.”
“Recovery is expected to take about four days. Which brings me to what I wanted to discuss….”
Now we’re getting to the real matter.
I tensed and focused intently on her words.
“Would you be interested in learning martial arts?”
“Pardon? Martial arts… what do you mean exactly?”
“The martial arts that So Hyup is learning are those of Seolpung Palace. And Seolpung Palace’s martial arts are not something people would easily recognize.”
I nodded in agreement.
My Master had said the same thing.
“But as they say, one never knows what the world holds. And I heard that So Hyup works in the Merchant Guild.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“While he may not be a full martial artist, traveling to various places means he’s bound to encounter martial artists from time to time. Some of them might recognize Seolpung Palace’s techniques.”
In truth, I had been worried about that myself.
Though I hadn’t yet faced an opponent requiring my full strength—and thus hadn’t fully revealed those techniques—there was no guarantee I wouldn’t in the future.
“So here’s my proposal: learn the Ice Martial Sect instead of Seolpung Palace’s techniques. That way, you can disguise yourself as having learned a different Ice Martial Sect style.”
The Palace Master smiled as she continued.
“I will personally instruct you.”

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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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