The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 515

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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 Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 515

Chapter 515. Ice and Flame (3)

My Master once told me something.
If one becomes the Lesser Palace Mistress of Seolpung Palace, one can carve pathways even through the snow wind itself.
That was precisely the phenomenon unfolding before my eyes.
If we could halt the snow wind, travel would become far easier.
But the same held true for the Spirit Creatures dwelling in the Northern Sea.
That was why, by leaving the surrounding snow wind undisturbed while creating only a passage, we could traverse safely and swiftly without fear of Spirit Creature attacks.
In truth, utilizing Hyun Ro-do would allow us to travel safely.
But the problem was it couldn’t guarantee rapid movement speed.
I spoke to my companions.
“Then, let us depart.”
“Yes.”
Thus we moved at swift pace, and soon arrived at the Ice Palace Inn at the entrance to the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
“We greet the Lesser Palace Mistress and our honored guests.”
“Welcome.”
“Please entrust your horses to us.”
“Will you be staying for the night?”
The Twin Innkeepers, still alternating their words as always.
While it might seem somewhat chaotic, it had become something of a signature of this Ice Palace Inn.
I spoke to them.
“The others will rest here. Only I, Gwak Vice-Manager, and the Lesser Palace Mistress will enter now.”
The others couldn’t enter the Northern Sea Ice Palace anyway.
“Understood.”
“We shall prepare quarters for your rest.”
They would remain here and rejoin us when we headed toward Zhurong Palace.
“So please rest well at this inn. We don’t know what may happen ahead.”
I continued.
“Don’t push yourselves with unnecessary training.”
“We shall remember your words.”
After instructing my companions thus, I took only Bing Hae-rin, Young Palace Master, and Seo Hyang with me through the Gate of Mist toward the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Beyond the Gate of Mist, a magnificent building with white tiles rose into view.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace.
As we drew near, the disciples guarding the gate quickly bowed in salute.
“We greet the Lesser Palace Mistress.”
“I have brought guests.”
They bowed respectfully to Seo Hyang and me, offering their greetings.
“Welcome.”
“We are honored by your arrival at the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, spoke to us.
“Then let us proceed inside.”
And so we all entered the Northern Sea Ice Palace together.
Having visited so frequently, I had grown quite familiar with the layout of this place.
Familiar enough to wander alone without losing my way.
We made our way directly to the Palace Master’s quarters.
“Welcome.”
The Palace Master, who had been lying languidly on her side, straightened herself to greet us.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, a small merchant. I pay my respects to the Palace Master.”
“I am Gwak Seo-hyang. I pay my respects to the Palace Master.”
The Palace Master received our greetings and spoke.
“Thank you for honoring our request.”
“My Master was also pleased with my participation in the Ice Flame Conference.”
“Is that so?”
In truth, this Ice Flame Conference held a purpose.
They were suspected to be those who had annihilated the Seolpung Palace. And the whetstone that Bok Chief Merchant had provided as evidence also pointed to them.
In other words, I sought to confirm whether they were truly responsible for the destruction of Seolpung Palace.
“We plan to depart in about four days. Before then, you will require various forms of instruction.”
“Instruction, you say?”
“You must know what actions to avoid at the Ice Flame Conference and the history of the conference itself. The Young Palace Master will provide this education.”
“Understood.”
I nodded and continued speaking.
“Is the security of this place secure?”
At my question, the Palace Master countered.
“Why do you ask such a thing?”
“I have sensitive matters to discuss.”
The Palace Master then spoke toward the empty air.
“Please withdraw for a moment.”
Whoosh!
Immediately, the presence of those around us vanished.
“So, what is it you wish to discuss?”
I withdrew the whetstone that Bok Chief Merchant had given me from my possession and offered it to her.
“Would you examine this?”
“Is this not a whetstone?”
“It is evidence that will reveal the secret behind the annihilation of Seolpung Palace.”
“…!”
Her eyes widened at my words.
“Is this… a whetstone?”
“Yes.”
The Palace Master examined the whetstone for a moment, then shook her head.
“Indeed, neither Seolpung Palace nor our Ice Palace use whetstones. Even if we did, we would never have one worn down this much or split so wide.”
The Palace Master asked me a question.
“How did you come to possess this?”
I told her the entire story from beginning to end.
At my words, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, let out a sigh.
“I’ve visited the Gwangjun Trading Company several times! Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
As the sole survivor of Seolpung Palace, she seemed genuinely disappointed.
“Perhaps… that person couldn’t bring themselves to trust anyone.”
“…”
I too had once suspected the Northern Sea Ice Palace when I didn’t hear the reason why they couldn’t help during Seolpung Palace’s destruction.
“That could very well be the case.”
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, nodded in understanding.
“But when the Palace Master brought the Young Palace Master here, didn’t she see this whetstone?”
“At that time, I was too urgent in saving the Young Palace Master to have any opportunity to examine my surroundings.”
“I see.”
So it seemed the Palace Master had arrived shortly after the incident at Seolpung Palace, and then the previous Bok Chief Merchant had come not long after.
I explained what I had learned about that whetstone. Or rather, what Seo-woo Warrior had told me.
“I can certainly feel the presence of a master craftsman’s spirit from this whetstone.”
“You can sense that?”
“I can. I am the master of this Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
Ah…
I think I understand what she means.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace and Zhurong Palace had been enemies for so long that they were sensitive to each other’s auras.
“You intend to confirm during this conference whether they are the culprits who destroyed Seolpung Palace.”
“That is correct.”
I asked her a question.
“If Zhurong Palace is indeed the culprit behind Seolpung Palace’s destruction, what do you intend to do?”
At my question, the Palace Master smiled and spoke.
“Of course, the armistice will collapse.”
“Pardon?”
“Seolpung Palace is the guardian of our Northern Sea Ice Palace. If they have been destroyed, it ultimately means they are targeting our Northern Sea Ice Palace. We are not so weak as to overlook such a thing.”
.
.
.
We withdrew from the Palace Master’s presence and were guided to our quarters.
Seo Hyang’s quarters were prepared right next to mine, as she had requested.
As I emerged from washing, I heard Seo Hyang’s voice from outside.
“Small Guild Master, may I come in?”
“Of course.”
The door opened and Seo Hyang entered.
“But what brings you here? Wouldn’t you prefer to rest before dinner?”
“It’s just… I find it rather overwhelming.”
“Overwhelming?”
“You keep calling me Holy Maiden and attending to my every need… I suppose you could say your kindness is excessive.”
She sighed.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t complain about being treated so well.”
“No, that’s not it.”
I shook my head.
“Your feelings are entirely understandable.”
The way the Lesser Palace Mistress referred to her as Holy Maiden alone revealed just how extraordinarily she was being treated.
But excessive kindness and consideration could become a form of violence.
“It’s even worse than my brothers.”
“Haha.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that remark.
After all, her brothers were men who stopped at nothing.
“When I see the Palace Master and Lesser Palace Mistress, sometimes I feel like they might devour me.”
In other words, she feared they would keep her trapped here.
“Is that why you requested quarters next to mine?”
“Yes.”
I chuckled at that.
“You needn’t worry.”
The reason the Palace Master and Lesser Palace Mistress desired Seo Hyang so desperately yet refrained from acting was because of my existence.
If they truly tried, they knew all too well that I would not remain idle.
.
.
.
The next day.
Seo Hyang and I began studying the Ice Flame Conference.
Bing Haerin, the Lesser Palace Mistress, conducted the lessons herself, and she proved to be a rather competent instructor.
“We call it the Ice Flame Conference, but they call it the Flame Ice Conference.”
“Even in the name of the conference, one can sense the power struggle.”
“Exactly. There is an official designation—the Armistice Conference—but honestly, it lacks flair. The Ice Flame Conference is far more direct and evocative.”
“That’s true.”
Bing Haerin, the Lesser Palace Mistress, explained the conference’s history, information about the attendees, and the order of proceedings.
“There’s a Lesser Palace Mistress from Zhurong Palace, and that brat is absolutely insufferable.”
“Is that so?”
Half of what she said was cursing Zhurong Palace.
“The Ice Flame Conference alternates venues between us. This time, it’s our turn to travel to Zhurong Palace.”
“Then Seolpung Palace’s role is quite significant.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
She nodded in agreement.
“To be honest, it’s also a kind of demonstration. I’m showing confidence that even if you resort to any cowardly schemes, I can break through them and escape with my guardian at my side.”
She continued speaking.
“So I feel a bit sorry about it.”
“Not at all.”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“Isn’t that precisely Seolpung Palace’s role? I am the Lesser Palace Mistress of Seolpung Palace, and I must fulfill that responsibility.”
“Thank you for saying so.”

The preparations proceeded methodically, and at last, the day of departure arrived.
A hundred people moved for the conference alone.
Moreover, their aura was so sharp and keen that they seemed capable of piercing through any enemy that stood before them.
With a hundred carefully selected elite warriors, I could sense how seriously the Northern Sea Ice Palace regarded this conference.
“Lesser Palace Mistress Bing Hae-rin, I shall return safely.”
“Travel well, Lesser Palace Mistress.”
“Yes.”
“I too shall return, Palace Master.”
“Please ensure that Lesser Palace Mistress Eun Seo-ho and the Spirit Creature return safely as well. I entrust this to you.”
Thus we departed from the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Shortly after, we arrived before the Ice Palace Inn, where the contingent stood ready, their preparations already complete.
I had sent word through Geumryeong to have everything prepared in advance.
“Young Master!”
“Let’s depart!”
“Yes!”
They immediately mounted their horses and joined the procession.

Zhurong Palace is located in Yunnan.
To be precise, it sits on the border between Yunnan and Tibet.
Yunnan, huh…
The Chungyeongseong incident was in autumn last time…
So I’m going back there again after nearly half a year?
I wonder if the Fortress Lord of Chungyeongseong and Yeon Yu-mun are doing well.
If time permits, it might be worth visiting them once more.
I am a merchant, and for a merchant, connections are invisible wealth—the more abundant, the better.
Still, since I’m a benefactor to Chungyeongseong, they won’t pretend not to know me.
The opening of the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s gates carries two meanings.
Either people are being admitted, or people are departing.
Of course, this refers to large numbers of them.
We don’t say the “gates have opened” for just one or two people coming and going.
In the Martial Arts World, even fifty disciples from the Northern Sea Ice Palace emerging causes tension. What more if a hundred elite warriors depart?
Precisely for this reason, the Northern Sea Ice Palace chose routes with as few people as possible to avoid unnecessary conflict.
They deliberately passed through the grasslands to the north, reached the foothills of the Qilian Mountains, descended downward, then slightly altered course to board boats at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and travel to Yunnan.
An ordinary person would have to endure considerable hardship just passing through the grassland territory.
But for the disciples of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, it was an entirely different matter.
The tribal peoples of the grasslands instinctively kept their distance.
“Isn’t the Qilian Mountains in Gansu?”
Palgap asked me this while we were traveling.
“That’s right.”
And it was at Geom Chong in Gansu Province’s Yanzhi Mountain where I had discovered the corpse of the Blood Gorge Fortress Sage.
Thinking about it this way, I’ve traveled to nearly every corner of this empire.
.
.
.
After riding horses for several days, we arrived at the Qilian Mountains.
Remarkable, truly.
Despite the exhaustion from riding at such a rapid pace, none of them showed any signs of fatigue.
“Why do you look at us that way?”
“Ah, Young Palace Master.”
I shared my observations with Bing Hae-rin, the Young Palace Master, and she smiled in response.
“Perhaps breathing comes easier here than in the Northern Sea. The cold there makes breathing quite difficult.”
“Ah, I see.”
“And since most of the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s disciples spent their childhood outside, returning to the world after so long is quite exhilarating.”
“That makes sense.”
We altered our direction downward from there and arrived at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in Qinghai.
There, we boarded boats.
Now it was time to entrust our journey to the boats and take our rest.
“My rear end hurt so much I nearly died.”
At Palgap’s words, I let out a quiet chuckle.
“Well, at least you can rest now. If your backside hurts too much, should I cool it down for you?”
I gathered cold energy in my palm as I asked.
“Eek!”
Palgap was startled by my suggestion.
“Why would you say something so perverted?”
“What?”
“No! Don’t say such things with that expression on your face!”
Wait, why am I being scolded?

As we spent that comfortable time together, we eventually arrived in the Yunnan Region.
“Let’s search for an open ground nearby.”
“Understood.”
We were looking for open ground because finding an inn that could accommodate over a hundred people simultaneously would be difficult.
Just then, someone approached us.
Hm? That person is…?
“It’s been quite a while! Aren’t you the Great Hero Seonhyeop Mirang?”
“Young Master Yeon Yu-mun?”
The eldest son of the Lord of Chungyeong Castle—Young Master Yeon Yu-mun.
“Yes! You remember me!”
He asked with genuine delight.
“But what brings you to this place?”
Rather than answer immediately, I sent a telepathic message to Bing Hae-rin, the Lesser Palace Mistress, and she nodded in acknowledgment.
With her permission, I briefly explained the circumstances to Young Master Yeon Yu-mun.
He smiled and nodded in understanding.
“I see. In that case, please follow me. I’ll show you a place where you can stay for the night.”
Indeed, one should always live with kindness.
Tonight, I’ll be able to sleep comfortably.

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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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