The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 550

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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 550

Chapter 550. The Eccentric of the Jegal Family (3)

After concluding my conversation with Young Master Jegal Cheon-du, I followed an Attendant’s guidance toward my quarters.
“You may stay here.”
The quarters I was shown appeared even more impressive than Young Master Jegal Cheon-du’s own residence.
I suspected this must be the finest accommodation reserved for distinguished guests.
It was a clear indication of how much they valued my presence.
I did not refuse.
It would be discourteous to reject such thoughtful consideration.
And there was surely an apology woven into this gesture as well.
“Please convey my gratitude to the Grand Patriarch.”
We entered the quarters.
The residence was arranged as a separate pavilion, with two male servants and two maidservants stationed within.
As I unpacked my belongings, I sensed a familiar presence.
Soon, Palgap’s voice reached my ears.
“Young Master. The Small Patriarch of the Jegal Family has arrived.”
I responded at once.
“Invite her in immediately!”
“I have already shown her to the Guest Reception Room.”
I quickly adjusted my appearance and made my way to the Guest Reception Room adjoining my pavilion.
Upon opening the door and stepping inside, I saw a familiar face.
“It has been quite some time, Small Patriarch.”
“Yes, it truly has. Please, be seated.”
The one who greeted me was Jegal Yu-ah.
She was the Small Patriarch of the Jegal Family.
At the previous Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament, she had finished as runner-up after losing to Peng Kang-un Minor Patriarch, yet her martial prowess was undeniably impressive.
Thus, through the Jegal Family’s deliberations, she had been recognized as Small Patriarch.
While the Jegal Family prioritized wisdom by nature, as a martial arts family they could not overlook martial ability.
Just as the current House Master and Grand Patriarch were exceptional warriors themselves.
Her reputation as Small Patriarch was quite favorable, which was only natural given the meticulous approach she had demonstrated to me and her conduct in her previous life.
“Why not simply call me by my name? Why have you come all this way?”
“What difference does it make? My authority as Small Patriarch isn’t diminished by such courtesy.”
She continued speaking.
“A Small Patriarch’s authority arises when the family members acknowledge and follow her, not from my insistence on formality, does it not?”
A sound argument indeed.
If she never loses sight of such thinking, she will become an excellent House Master.
“How have you been all this time?”
“Oh, nothing much has happened.”
Of course, all manner of things had occurred, but I couldn’t possibly recount every trivial detail.
After exchanging pleasantries about our recent circumstances, we parted ways.
Not because we’d run out of things to discuss, but because Jegal Yu-ah had other appointments awaiting her.
“Let’s share a meal together next time.”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
With that, she departed from my quarters.
Jegal Cheon-du had granted me four days of leave, so until then, I was on holiday.
I had made a decision.
Tomorrow, I would sleep in.
“Squeak!”
Geumryeong tugged at the hem of my robe.
Ah… I should give Geumryeong a gold coin before bed.
When Geumryeong pouts, it’s adorable—no, rather, I can’t sleep.
I produced a gold coin and handed it over, and Geumryeong hugged it, rolling about gleefully.
She seemed absolutely delighted.
But didn’t she say she was nourishing her body? Why isn’t she eating it?
.
.
.
The next morning, at dawn.
Upon opening my eyes, I let out a sigh.
Sigh.
So much for sleeping in.
At this hour, my eyes simply open of their own accord.
My body had grown so accustomed to rising at this fixed time that waking now felt entirely natural.
I closed my eyes and attempted to drift back to sleep, but instead of drowsiness, my mind grew perfectly alert.
In the end, I grumbled inwardly and rose from my bed to begin my cultivation breathing exercises.

After breakfast, I made my way to the Great-grandfather’s Residence.
He had asked me to make time for him today.
“Ah! You’ve arrived at just the right moment!”
The Jegal Family Head was also present at the Great-grandfather’s Residence.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company, and I pay my respects to the Jegal Family Head.”
He accepted my courteous bow with a warm smile.
“I’m delighted to meet you this way. It’s been quite some time.”
“Indeed. I have been remiss in my visits.”
“I know you’ve been busy, so don’t concern yourself too much.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
The Family Head rose from his seat and bowed to the Great-grandfather.
“Then I shall take my leave now.”
“Very well.”
He then turned to me with a word of caution.
“Should you find anything uncomfortable during your stay at the Main House, do not hesitate to speak of it.”
“I am grateful for your consideration.”
The Family Head withdrew from the Great-grandfather’s Residence, and the Great-grandfather spoke to me.
“Let us have some tea.”
“Of course.”
I followed him inside.
We soon arrived at the place where I had once come with Yu So-ak Internal Chief Manager to recite poetry.
A place where no one could disturb us.
He personally brewed tea for me, and we drank in silence.
“Do you know anything of Seolpung Palace?”
“…!”
His sudden words startled me so greatly I nearly spat out my tea, but I barely managed to contain myself.
“…What do you mean by that, sir?”
“I asked if you know anything of Seolpung Palace.”
“May I ask why you inquire about that place?”
“Because I sense the distinctive aura of Seolpung Palace emanating from you.”
“….”
I tensed, studying him carefully.
The martial arts I have learned cannot yet be revealed to the world as belonging to Seolpung Palace.
That is why I have been attributing them to the martial arts of Geuk Cheon Sword Gwak Hoon, and I assumed others would accept this explanation.
But how did he discern the true source of my techniques?
Even the Murim Alliance Leader did not recognize it.
“Forgive me. I was too hasty.”
The Great-grandfather withdrew something from his robes and placed it upon the table.
A small white jade token that fit perfectly in the palm of one’s hand, shaped like a plum blossom.
From within it, I felt a familiar aura.
More precisely, it was the aura of the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art that I had cultivated.
“What is this…?”
“A token of friendship shared between my old friend and me. Years ago, when the Main House faced danger from the Confused Soul Barrier Formation, I was able to avoid its effects thanks to this jade pendant.”
He smiled bitterly.
“My old friend is dead now, but this jade pendant he left behind saved my life.”
I asked carefully.
“May I ask who that old friend was?”
“You’ve already guessed, haven’t you? His name was Gwak Won-gyu. He was the Palace Master of Seolpung Palace.”
I had suspected as much.
Only someone of the Palace Master’s caliber could infuse such pure, pristine, and formidable energy into a jade pendant.
“And I noticed from the moment you first came to the Main House that you had learned the martial arts of Seolpung Palace.”
“I see. Then the reason you pretended not to know was because you suspected the destruction of Seolpung Palace was not as it appeared?”
He nodded at my question.
“Your words are correct.”
“I owe you my gratitude.”
“How could I leave in danger a disciple of the place where my old friend belonged?”
He continued.
“When I heard that Seolpung Palace had been destroyed, I began a secret investigation. But there was truly nothing left.”
“The remains were collected by the Palace Master of Northern Sea Ice Palace, I’m told.”
“Northern Sea Ice Palace must have known as well. At least the remains were recovered—that’s fortunate. If the spirit creatures had consumed even the remains, it would have been truly unbearable.”
His expression clearly showed his sorrow and regret for his old friend.
“Is your master perhaps Myung Hyun?”
So he knew my master.
And the fact that he called him by name alone, without any honorific, meant they were quite intimate.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“So he was alive after all! Ah, then Myung Hyun must have inherited the position of Palace Master of Seolpung Palace.”
But my doubts had not been entirely dispelled.
“That is so. However, my master has never mentioned you, the Grand Patriarch.”
“Of course he wouldn’t know.”
“Pardon?”
“We called each other by different names. Those who bear the surname of the Jegal Family all have true names, but there is a law that forbids revealing them to outsiders. Since I also disliked revealing the name Hyun Ri, I asked to be called by another name instead.”
He continued.
“Then that rascal Sam Mok proposed an interesting designation.”
Sam Mok?
“Ah, I am Il Mok. And Jeok Ui-hwa-ta is Sam Mok.”
What? Then could it be…?
“Is the Great Ancestor Palace Master of Seolpung Palace Yi Mok-yi?”
“That’s right.”
“Then the drawing of three trees in that letter I was asked to deliver must be proof of that.”
He nodded.
A sudden chill ran through my entire body.
So I had rescued two old friends of the Great Ancestor Palace Master—my Master’s father.
Was this also fate?
“I first met Yi Mok-yi during the Zamryong Journey, and afterward, I’ve maintained our friendship primarily through correspondence.”
He smiled gently.
“When I met that scoundrel Yi Mok-yi, he was undergoing the Seseol Journey, or so I heard.”
I recalled what my Master had once told me about the Seseol Journey.
It was a law of Seolpung Palace—when one’s martial prowess reached a certain level, they would spend roughly ten years engaged in external activities.
It was meant to prevent Seolpung Palace from becoming isolated from the outside world, or so I’d been told.
“At that time, I also met Sam Mok—that is, Jeok Ui-hwa-ta. Those days when the three of us were together… I miss them dearly.”
His eyes held a deep yearning and regret for a past that could never return.
“After that, we designated a specific location and agreed to leave letters there for one another. It was difficult for us to visit each other’s residences, you see.”
“So you never exchanged visits at all?”
The Great Ancestor Palace Master shook his head.
“That’s not quite right. After that, we did exchange visits secretly once or twice. I even saw young Myeong Hyun then. Though he was so young, he likely doesn’t remember me at all.”
…
“Because I had visited Seolpung Palace before, I was able to investigate it when news of its destruction reached me. Had I not known its location, there would have been nothing left to find.”
…
“So Myeong Hyun knows of ‘Uncle Il Mok,’ but he doesn’t know that I am him.”
Now I understood why my Master had not mentioned this.
As I was thinking this, the Great Ancestor Palace Master asked me a question.
“Has Myeong Hyun taken a wife? Yi Mok-yi was quite concerned about finding a virtuous woman to be his daughter-in-law.”
“Yes, he has been married.”
“That’s fortunate. To have an heir to carry on the line. Then that son must have become the Lesser Palace Mistress.”
“Well, about that…”
At this point, I had no choice but to tell him.
Since he had revealed his identity first, it was only proper that I show the same courtesy.
I rose from my seat and bowed respectfully with clasped fists.
“Eun Seo-ho, Lesser Palace Mistress of Seolpung Palace, offers his respects to the Great Ancestor Palace Master.”
At my greeting, he blinked his eyes.
“What? You, you, you are?”
“Yes. It came to pass in unexpected ways.”
I sat back down and observed the Great Ancestor Palace Master, who still could not hide his astonishment.
Then a question suddenly occurred to me.
My connection with the Great Ancestor Palace Master was far from brief.
Even if I could have feigned ignorance at first, there would have been ample opportunity afterward to speak of this matter.
So why reveal this story only now?
“But Great Ancestor Palace Master, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Why are you telling me about Seolpung Palace only now? Did you perhaps not trust me until now?”
“No, that’s not it at all!”
The Grand Patriarch waved his hand dismissively.
“How could I ever doubt you, after the kindness you’ve shown to our Main House?”
“Then why, sir?”
“I’ve come to believe that you’re now ready to bear the truth.”
“Sir? I’m not sure what you mean….”
Rather than answer, the Grand Patriarch asked me another question.
“You’ve reached the Transcendent Realm, haven’t you?”
He’d seen through me.
Though we were both at the Transcendent Realm, the years of cultivation and wisdom he possessed as the Jegal Family Grand Patriarch were not to be underestimated.
I nodded without resistance.
“Yes, sir. I reached the Transcendent Realm about a year ago.”
“As I thought.”
“But this truth you speak of—is it truly that dangerous?”
At my question, he nodded with a bitter expression.
“To some degree, yes. The Transcendent Realm is a height few can easily overcome. Moreover, the training and experiences you’ve endured to reach that realm will keep you from acting rashly.”
What truth could possibly be this grave….
“And given that you’re the Lesser Palace Mistress, this conversation becomes all the more significant.”
The Grand Patriarch studied my confused expression and asked:
“How much do you know about the destruction of Seolpung Palace?”
“Sir?”
“I’m asking exactly how much you know.”
I bit my lip slightly and exhaled before answering.
“I only recently learned that the Blood Sect was involved.”
“The Blood Sect….”
He closed his eyes for a moment in thought, then withdrew a letter and placed it on the table.
“Read this.”
The letter appeared quite old, though it had been carefully preserved.
Yet the stains scattered throughout were unmistakably bloodstains.
“This is the final letter left by Yi Mok-yi at that place where the three of them made their pact.”
– Kwui!
I heard Geum Ryung-i’s spiritual transmission.
– Kwui! Kwui!
You sense your family’s presence in this letter?
Ah! In that final moment, he entrusted this letter to Han Ho-su.
I carefully unfolded the letter.

[The Main Palace has been attacked. I was right. Didn’t I tell you? Don’t trust them! And yet you told me to stop spouting nonsense]

The hastily scrawled handwriting on the letter revealed the urgency of the situation.
Of course, that would explain why blood was smeared across this letter.

[My son is away on a mission, and he weighs heavily on my mind. I entrust his care to you.]

Even amid that urgency, the Great Ancestor Palace Master was consumed with worry for his son.
There is no need for concern. My Master has become a truly exceptional Palace Master.

[Please be cautious of them. And live long in my stead. Even in death, I shall not forget the friendship we have shared.]

I folded the letter and set it on the table, then turned to the Grand Patriarch with a question.
“Who are ‘they’ mentioned in this letter?”

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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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