The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 392

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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 392

Chapter 392. The Crystalline Ice Eyes (1)

The next morning,
a Northern Sea Ice Palace Disciple attended to my breakfast at my side.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace did not employ dedicated maidservants or attendants.
Thus, when guests arrived, the disciples served them instead.
But that didn’t mean I could treat them like common servants.
I spoke to the disciple who was attending to my meal.
“We plan to depart tomorrow morning.”
“So soon?”
“Yes. I would prefer to stay longer, but I have many responsibilities and duties awaiting me, so I have no choice.”
It was time to head to Hangzhou and collect what needed to be collected.
And I would also need to announce that the Imperial Palace was recruiting merchant guilds for foreign trade.
“Truth be told, I intended to leave this morning, but I lingered another day because I feared my elder brother, Sang Ho-ran Elder, and Seol Seo-yun would feel disappointed.”
“Would it not be possible to stay just one more day if we earnestly request it?”
“No. It is not possible.”
At my firm words, she nodded her head.
“I understand. I shall convey this to the Palace Master.”
There was one reason I asked her to inform them of my departure.
So they could prepare money and healing elixirs in advance for me to take with me when I left.

After finishing breakfast, I left my quarters with Seo Hyang and took a walk through the garden.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace’s garden was filled with rare and exotic plants, so it was a pleasure to behold.

“Aren’t you cold?”
She nodded at my question.
“No, it’s actually much more bearable than I expected.”
Her complexion looked healthy as she spoke. I said to her,
“May I check your wrist for a moment?”
“Pardon?”
At my words, she blinked in surprise.
“There’s nothing improper about it. I simply want to assess your vital energy.”
At my explanation, she hesitantly extended her left hand, and I grasped it.
But then…
I truly had no ulterior motive—I only wanted to check Seo Hyang’s condition and confirm her vital energy was stable.
So why was my heart racing?
Puzzled by this inexplicable reaction, I examined her energy flow.
Her condition was indeed excellent, just as she’d said.
Yet I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion.
The cold of the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the yin energy here were potent enough to suppress even the strongest of women, let alone ordinary people.
That’s why the first training for young girls who enter the Northern Sea Ice Palace is to acclimate to and absorb this energy.
Yet without even undergoing such training, her vital energy was already so vibrant?
Perhaps the Heavenly Stream technique suited her constitution exceptionally well?
In any case, it was fortunate.
I released her wrist and spoke.
“You’re in excellent health. That’s a relief. I won’t be scolded by the Provincial Inspector.”
At my words, she laughed brightly.
Young lady, that’s not something to laugh about.
You may not realize it, but the Guizhou Provincial Inspector is quite a fearsome person.
I still cannot forget the sight of him throwing a punch at Pyeong Tak from the Oseong Trading Company, who had tried to ruin my eyes.
Without even having trained in martial arts, he knocked out two teeth with a single blow.
I bowed to her.
“Ah, and I should have mentioned this sooner. Thank you for your help with the White Blood Pressure Beasts last time.”
I was somewhat startled when she said the monster’s true identity was a duck.
And I laughed inwardly.
But upon actually seeing the White Blood Pressure Beast, it was no laughing matter.
Had I not heeded her warning beforehand, the damage would have been severe.
She gently shook her head.
“It was only natural that I should.”
“Honestly, given that you keep that ability secret, it must have been difficult to speak of it.”
“It was, yes.”
Especially considering she’d nearly been poisoned to death because of that very ability.
“But I disliked the thought of someone dying because I remained silent.”
She continued speaking.
“And because I trust the Small Guild Master.”
“Pardon?”
“The Small Guild Master is someone capable of changing the terrible and unfortunate future I’ve foreseen.”
At her words, I scratched the back of my neck.
“You’re too kind. I simply do my best.”
Still, I felt pleased by her words.
Just then, the Disciple Attendant who had been serving my breakfast approached.
“The Palace Master is looking for you.”
“Understood.”
I nodded and was about to excuse myself to Seo Hyang.
“Then I should….”
The Disciple Attendant spoke again.
“Both of you are being summoned.”

Seo Hyang and I made our way to the Palace Master’s quarters.
As we approached, the Palace Master’s voice came from within.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
We entered.
The Palace Master’s quarters were vast and imposing, as always.
In that spacious chamber, the Palace Master reclined at an angle on a long seat resembling a bed.
If that posture resembled a languid white dragon, would that be a mistake?
“You called for us?”
At my words, the Palace Master straightened and offered us seats.
“Please come and sit here.”
“Thank you.”
We bowed respectfully and sat across from the low table.
Soon the Disciple Attendant entered and placed a teapot on the table.
“Refreshments are difficult at the moment, given the circumstances.”
“Sweets in such a situation! You’re too generous.”
“Still, I’m grateful we have tea to offer.”
She poured tea for us.
It was Seolpung tea, which I had tasted before.
“You’re leaving tomorrow?”
“Yes. I have accumulated matters that require my attention, and I cannot delay further. I ask for your understanding.”
“It cannot be helped. I know well that you are a busy person.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Right now, Jin-ho is surrounded by his wife’s mother, grandmother, and aunts, receiving their affection in abundance.
The fortunate part is that due to the Empire’s alcohol prohibition and the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s circumstances, he need not drink.
The schedule won’t be delayed by drinking problems.
“I’ll provide the compensation I mentioned earlier. And I’ve prepared the elixirs as well. Though they’re rather heavy….”
“Ah, that’s no trouble.”
I have a Secret Vault, after all.
“I would simply ask that what happens from this point forward remain confidential.”
She let out a soft laugh at my words.
“Of course. Besides, even if I wanted to gossip, I have no one to talk to. The only one I can really converse with is rather taciturn….”
Ah, she’s talking about Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master.
“And she hasn’t a shred of charm or playfulness….”
I smiled bitterly to myself.
She alone survived the Seolpung Palace and now sharpens the blade of vengeance.
Given such circumstances, isn’t it only natural that she would be taciturn and lack charm?
“I understand it’s difficult, but that approach will only make things harder.”
I could sense the concern for Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master in the Palace Master’s words.
“In any case, so what did you want to keep secret?”
“Ah, it’s because of this.”
I withdrew an inkstone from my pocket and opened the Secret Vault.
Seo Hyang’s eyes widened at the sight.
This was the first time I was revealing it to her.
Though she was someone trustworthy, I knew she could never betray me.
But the Palace Master’s reaction upon seeing the Secret Vault differed from what I expected.
“That is the Secret Vault of the Seolpung Palace Master.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s a treasure passed down through generations to the Palace Master of Seolpung Palace. When Seolpung Palace fell, I thought it had been lost, but to think it has come into your hands like this….”
The Palace Master, speaking with a voice tinged with regret, looked at me and asked.
“How did you obtain it?”
“This….”
I told her the truth.
That I had purchased something from a nearby Miscellaneous Goods Shop and received it as a bonus.
And that I had discovered by chance what it truly was.
After hearing my story, the Palace Master spoke as if sighing.
“It seems this too is fate. And Gwak coming to the Main Palace as well….”
“…Pardon?”
What did that mean?
“But was there nothing inside it?”
“No. It was completely empty.”
All that remained was an explanation of the Secret Vault itself.
“Just as I thought! Then the items that were inside must have been moved elsewhere by that Han Ho-su.”
“Pardon?”
The Palace Master explained to me as I tilted my head in confusion.
“Only the owner of the Secret Vault and the owner’s Han Ho-su can access it.”
Now that I think about it, when I first learned of the Secret Vault’s existence, Geumryeong entered it and brought me the manual.
I didn’t understand why back then, but after hearing the Palace Master’s explanation, it all made sense.
“And Han Ho-su can retrieve items from the Secret Vault on the master’s command, or store things within it.”
“So that means I wouldn’t need to carry the inkstone around with me?”
The Palace Master paused in thought, then shook his head.
“Han Ho-su can move freely in and out, but you’ll likely need the inkstone to enter the Secret Vault yourself.”
“I see.”
Then when I smuggled out the spirit medicines before, did Geumryeong store them in the Secret Vault rather than inside his body?
But there was nothing about that in the manual?
When I asked about it, the Palace Master answered readily.
“If everything were written in the manual, there would be no meaning to the inheritance. The detailed matters are explained to the next Palace Master during the succession. And the items stored within are also passed to the next Palace Master.”
As expected of the Palace Master of the Ice Palace, who maintained close ties with Seolpung Palace, he knew the details well.
But I couldn’t help tilting my head at what came next.
“Though I must confess, I’ve never actually seen what the Secret Vault looks like.”
“Pardon?”
Wait…
Now that I thought about it, the Secret Vault had been invisible to others.
They couldn’t even see the door, but when objects disappeared beyond it, Palgap had asked, “Is there really a warehouse here?” to that extent.
Master hadn’t witnessed it either—he only inferred the existence of the chamber when the Ancestor’s treasures were poured out.
“Palace Master, how did you know this was the Secret Vault?”
“I recognized it from the inkstone in your hand.”
“Can’t you see the door that’s right here?”
At those words, Seo Hyang was the one who looked surprised.
“Huh? Isn’t that white door supposed to be invisible?”
Wait? Can Seo Hyang see it?
That’s why she could say it was white without me ever mentioning the door’s color.
As if to answer my confusion, the Palace Master spoke.
“That’s precisely why I called for you, young lady. I was uncertain before, but now I’m certain.”

A moment later.
After placing the compensation the Palace Master had given me into my secret vault, I sat back down across from Pyeong Tak.
The Palace Master looked at Seo Hyang and asked.
“You can see the future, can’t you?”
“…!”
At that blunt question, Seo Hyang flinched, then looked at me with questioning eyes.
When I gave a slight nod, she obediently confirmed the Palace Master’s words.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“That’s because your eyes are special, young lady. It also means your heart is exceptionally pure.”
I agreed with that assessment of her purity of heart.
When I first met her, I was moved by the clarity of her spirit.
Purity of heart doesn’t simply mean being virtuous.
It means having no darkness in one’s soul and perceiving all things with righteous vision.
“In the Northern Sea Ice Palace, we call your eyes the Crystalline Ice Eyes.”
In the Northern Sea Ice Palace, ice crystal holds profoundly special significance—truly a treasure among treasures.
So I could understand how greatly they valued those who possessed such eyes.
When the Palace Master introduced Seo Hyang, she had gazed at her quietly before her expression brightened—now I understood why.
“Those with the Crystalline Ice Eyes don’t merely see the future. They can perceive hidden things.”
“Is that why I was able to see the door to that secret vault?”
“Precisely.”
As she said this, the light in her eyes was unmistakable.
She had found something that pleased her….
I raised my hand and shielded Seo Hyang with my sleeve as I spoke.
“Don’t set your sights on her. She’s mine.”
“Hehehehe.”
The Palace Master laughed at my response.
“How did you know I was setting my sights on her?”
“Have I not conducted a merchant deal or two?”
“True enough. But you needn’t be tense. I won’t devour her, so lower your arm.”
Only then did I lower my arm.
“But I was indeed setting my sights on her.”
The Palace Master spoke to Seo Hyang.
“I imagine this place didn’t feel particularly difficult for you. In truth, even though only women can enter here, it’s a harsh environment if one cannot adapt to its qi.”
“….”
“That means this place’s environment suits you well. Moreover, we will provide you with martial arts to grow stronger, and an environment second to none.”
She continued.
“Except for the disadvantage of being unable to marry, it’s a wonderful place. So let me make a formal proposal. Become a disciple of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“Palace Master!”
My voice rose sharply.
She said she wouldn’t devour her, and now this is exactly what devouring looks like!
I was about to protest to the Disciple Attendant when it happened.
That moment.
“Forgive me, Palace Master.”
“…?”
Seo Hyang spoke with unwavering confidence.
“I cannot accept your proposal.”
“And why is that?”
“The safest place for me is by Small Guild Master Eun Seo-ho’s side.”
“This place is safe as well.”
“Even without Small Guild Master Eun Seo-ho’s assistance?”
“….”
The Palace Master, rendered speechless, burst into laughter.
“My! I’ve been outmaneuvered. Truth be told, I knew you’d refuse, but I never expected such a cutting rejection.”
So why are you so interested in Seo Hyang?
Seo Hyang is hardly someone to be trifled with.
The Palace Master, composing himself, continued.
“Very well. Then I’ll ask just one favor instead.”

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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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