The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 698

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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 698

Chapter 698. The Ice Palace Wedding (3)

I opened my eyes and rose from the chamber, glancing to my side.
But Seo Hyang was nowhere to be seen.
Strange?
When did she wake? I didn’t sense any movement at all.
Just then, the door opened and Seo Hyang entered.
“You’re awake.”
“When did you wake?”
“About an hour ago. You were sleeping very soundly.”
“Was I really?”
In truth, I don’t sleep deeply.
Even less so since reaching the pinnacle of cultivation. I’m always acutely aware of the energy and sounds around me.
Yet here in the Northern Sea Ice Palace, I slept without such distractions.
Did this mean I found the energy of this place so comforting?
“You should cultivate your energy. I’ll stand guard as your Dharma Protector.”
“Thank you.”
And so Seo Hyang and I took turns standing guard while we cultivated our energy.
After washing and emerging, breakfast was already laid out in the chamber.
“Thank you.”
The Disciple Attendant responded humbly to my gratitude.
“Please don’t mention it. Enjoy your meal.”
She continued.
“It appears we’ll need about two days to prepare for the Ice Palace wedding. I wanted to ask for your understanding regarding this delay.”
The schedule would be set back that much, but there was no helping it.
“I understand.”
“Once you both finish eating, the disciples will come to take your measurements.”
“Pardon? You mean body measurements?”
“We need to tailor wedding garments for you.”
They were actually making custom wedding robes.
The Ice Palace was taking this wedding far more seriously than I’d expected.
“But is it possible to tailor wedding garments within two days?”
“Of course. There’s no need to worry.”
After we finished eating.
A group of disciples visited my quarters.
They came well-prepared, setting up a partition and taking measurements of both Seo Hyang and myself.
Beside her, a Painter Disciple sketched our portraits.
“You’re drawing pictures as well?”
“Yes. Ice Palace marriages are significant events for our palace, yet they occur infrequently, making records invaluable. This is how we preserve such documentation.”
She continued speaking.
“This way, future generations won’t face difficulties.”
“I see. Then the Archives of the Northern Sea Ice Palace must contain vast collections of such materials.”
“That’s correct.”
She spoke with evident pride.
“There’s likely no archive in the entire Murim with resources as comprehensive as ours. And this region’s climate is perfectly suited for preserving documents.”
That made sense.
Moisture and insects were the greatest enemies of preserving books.
After taking all the measurements, we were given free time.
I wanted to stroll through the Ice Palace, but the disciples were occupied with wedding preparations, making a leisurely walk impractical.
I didn’t want to become a hindrance to them.
That’s when Seo Hyang spoke.
“I heard there’s a memorial space for Seolpung Palace here.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Could we visit it briefly? Since I’m marrying the Lesser Palace Mistress of Seolpung Palace, I feel I should at least pay my respects there.”
Ah….
I had forgotten about that.
It would have been proper to pay respects there, but I hadn’t thought of it.
She already knew I was the Lesser Palace Mistress of Seolpung Palace. I felt it would be discourteous not to inform her of the danger I carried.
“Let’s go there right now.”
We informed the disciple of our destination and left my quarters.
The memorial space, where the remains of fallen Seolpung Palace disciples were enshrined, lay on the western side of the Ice Palace.
Having visited twice before, I found it easy to locate.
Soon, a structure modeled after Seolpung Palace came into view.
After becoming the Lesser Palace Mistress of Seolpung Palace, I had come here to pay formal respects.
I recalled the resolve I had expressed at that time.
“This is the place.”
I approached and bowed first with clasped fists, my head lowered, and Seo Hyang stood beside me, joining in the respectful gesture.
“I’ve returned once more. You must be wondering who this beautiful young lady beside me is? She will become my wife.”
“Gwak Seo-hyang… No, Dong Ja-ryeong.”
She spoke her true name.
“Though I am lacking in many ways, I humbly ask for your favor and guidance as we move forward together.”
At this, I let out a soft laugh.
“You lack nothing, and you are far too precious for me. If you don’t approve of this marriage, I will never marry in my lifetime, so please give it serious thought.”
At my half-threatening words, Seo Hyang’s eyes widened.
“If you say such things….”
“It’s fine. And this is truly what I feel.”
After exchanging pleasantries, we turned to head back to my quarters.
That was when Seo Hyang spoke.
“Say, there was something written on that stone wall over there. I wonder what it means?”
“Pardon? What writing are you referring to?”
“Over there.”
With those words, Seo Hyang headed in a certain direction, and I followed her.
Soon we arrived at a corner of the Ice Palace’s outer wall.
“Here. There’s writing on this wall.”
She pointed to the wall, but I could see no characters at all.
“I cannot see anything. It appears to be visible only to Gwak Vice-Manager.”
“It seems it only shows up in my ice-sight.”
“That appears to be the case. But what does it say?”
“Well, let me see… ‘To you who have chosen to walk a perilous path alongside Hyun Ryong, I present this gift. And it’s signed Seolhwa Jae Sung.'”
Seolhwa Jae Sung?
By that title alone, they would be a formidable being capable of commanding snowflowers.
One who moves the snowflowers…
Could they be connected to Seolpung Palace?
“But Hyun Ryong? What could that mean?”
“Ah, I believe that refers to me. You see, I possess what’s called the Hyun Ryong Constitution. That’s what nearly killed me.”
I laughed awkwardly.
“I apologize for not mentioning it sooner. I told you about Seolpung Palace, but I never thought to explain my Hyun Ryong Constitution.”
“No, it’s fine. You said it nearly killed you—are you alright now?”
“Yes. I’m fine now.”
I gave her a brief explanation of the circumstances surrounding my Hyun Ryong Constitution.
“Truth be told, I don’t know everything about it myself. And I’d appreciate it if you kept this secret. My Master instructed me to keep it confidential.”
“Of course. But now that you mention Hyun Ryong, something comes to mind.”
She continued speaking.
“My mother saw a Hyun Ryong in a dream before giving birth to me. So my birth dream was of a Hyun Ryong. Though she didn’t explain all the details, so I’m not entirely sure.”
“I see. But it says ‘gift’—is there nothing here?”
“Oh, wait. There’s something inside here.”
She thrust her hand into the wall and soon withdrew something.
It was something long, wrapped in white cloth.
Could it be?
I took it from her and unwrapped the cloth.
A sword emerged into view.
A white sword.
With a soft whisper, I drew the blade.
The sword gleamed with a transparency as if forged from ice itself.
And engraved upon the blade was a name.
And his name was engraved on the sword’s blade.
[Seolhwa]
True to its name—a rainbow of snow—the blade shimmered with countless hues as light danced across its surface.
“A magnificent sword.”
I could sense its quality as a legendary blade.
Then, suddenly, the Seolhwa sword trembled as if resonating with something.
And I felt my own Eun Moo-geom at my waist trembling in response.
Eun Moo-geom was delighted to meet Seolhwa, and Seolhwa answered in kind.
Could it be…?
“I believe… my Eun Moo-geom and this Seolhwa sword are a matched pair. The two blades are resonating with each other.”
Considering that Eun Moo-geom was passed down to the Palace Master of Seolpung Palace, could Seolhwa be a treasure passed down to the Palace Master’s wife?
If so, then the person who placed it here could only be… the Ancestor.
Someone capable of hiding it in the Ice Palace’s stone wall.
Someone who could employ such mysterious concealment methods, invisible to ordinary eyes.
Someone who could foresee that Seo Hyang would possess the Ice Crystal.
Considering all of this, the answer became clear.
This was a wedding gift from the Ancestor.
In place of those who had already passed and could not respond, they had answered in this way.
Congratulations on this marriage, they were saying.
Then I should accept it with gratitude.
“Gwak Vice-Manager, this is yours. Your ancestors are giving it to you as a wedding gift.”
“Am I truly permitted to accept it?”
“Of course.”
I nodded.
“Surely it was arranged so that only you could see it, was it not?”
“I suppose so.”
She grasped the sword.
In that moment, her eyes grew distant, then she smiled softly and spoke.
“I have found a worthy companion.”
.
.
.
We returned to our quarters.
Then we sent word requesting an audience with the Palace Master.
Shortly after, a Disciple Attendant who served the Palace Master’s residence arrived.
“The Palace Master requests your presence.”
“Very well. Let us go.”
We made our way to the Palace Master’s quarters.
It was only proper to report such matters immediately.
Though the Seolhwa sword was a treasure of Seolpung Palace, we had found it here in the Ice Palace.
“Come in.”
The Palace Master received us.
“What brings you here?”
“Today we visited the memorial space dedicated to Seolpung Palace to the west. I felt compelled to inform you of our marriage.”
“Well done.”
“However, Gwak Vice-Manager discovered something there.”
I presented the Seolhong Sword before the Palace Master.
The Palace Master tilted his head curiously and reached for the blade, but his hand passed through it.
As though grasping at mist.
The Palace Master gasped in surprise.
“Could this be the Seolhong?”
“Do you know of this sword?”
“I have never held it myself, but I have seen records of it in our palace archives. It is said to be a blade that cannot be grasped by any hand save its rightful master.”
She continued.
“And it is also the sword of the Guild Master’s Wife of Seolpung Palace.”
As I suspected.
“I heard it vanished long ago, yet it was here in our palace! Could you explain the circumstances in detail?”
Seo Hyang then recounted the entire story from beginning to end.
Yet…
The Seolhong Sword cannot be grasped by anyone save its master—it scatters like mist—while the Eun Moo-geom drives mad anyone who is not its rightful owner.
It seemed as though their names had been reversed somehow.
After all, “rainbow” carries meanings of illusion and madness.
Perhaps sensing my thoughts, the Palace Master spoke.
“The Eun Moo-geom and the Seolhong Sword bear names opposite in meaning. They were named thus to signify that a husband and wife share a common destiny.”
“I see.”
“However, the master of the Eun Moo-geom can grasp the Seolhong Sword, and the master of the Seolhong Sword will not go mad even if they wield the Eun Moo-geom.”
So that is why I was able to grasp the Seolhong Sword.
Seo Hyang spoke.
“It is truly a remarkable blade. To scatter like mist if one is not its master. Yet its master is meant to be the wife of the Lesser Palace Mistress, and I am still…”
The Palace Master chuckled softly.
“Formal ceremonies matter little. If your hearts cherish one another as they do, you are already husband and wife in truth.”
“Ah…”
“Mm.”
At those words, both Seo Hyang and I felt our faces flush with warmth.
The Palace Master gazed upon us with affection and continued.
“Those two blades were forged long ago by Cheong Tae Blacksmith, who once served Seolpung Palace.”
“There was a blacksmith in Seolpung Palace?”
“Of course. In those days, he supplied weapons to our palace as well.”
“I see.”
“In any case, that blacksmith’s skill was said to have reached the heavens themselves, and the pinnacle of his craft was the Eun Moo-geom and the Seolhong Sword.”
“What a tragedy that such mastery was lost due to Seolpung Palace’s calamity… It is truly lamentable.”
At my words, the Palace Master tilted his head in confusion.
“Lost the lineage, you say?”
“Pardon?”
“No, that’s not it. Only some of Cheon Tae Blacksmith’s descendants remained at Seolpung Palace, while the rest left and settled in the Empire.”
“…I see?”
So those descendants are currently somewhere in the Empire?
“Do you happen to know where they are?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know that either.”
Then there’s nothing to be done about it.
There’s one more thing I need to ask the Palace Master.
“By any chance, do you know who Seolhwa Jae Sung is?”
The Palace Master responded with a puzzled counter-question.
“Are you truly asking me because you genuinely don’t know?”
“Yes.”
I ask only because I truly don’t know—would I ask if I already knew?
I’m certainly not presumptuous enough to test you, sir.
I value my life too much for that.
“Ah, I suppose that’s possible.”
The Palace Master nodded as if he understood.
“Seolhwa Jae Sung is the honorific title of the one whom Seolpung Palace reveres as our Ancestor.”
I’d wondered who possessed such an illustrious title, and my suspicion had been correct.
“Then this is indeed a wedding gift for Gwak Vice-Manager.”
.
.
.
We returned to my quarters.
After hearing the Palace Master’s explanation, Seo Hyang’s eyes sparkled as she gazed upon the blade.
“I’d like to properly wield this sword.”
“My body’s been itching for a good match myself. Would you care for a sparring session?”
“I’d love to!”
We headed to the Training Ground.
The Ice Palace had a spacious Training Ground, so we could move freely.
And the best part was that even if the ground cracked or walls collapsed, I’d feel less apologetic.
Building materials were scattered everywhere, after all.
.
.
.
The promised two days of preparation had come to an end.
Seo Hyang and I changed into our ceremonial robes.
The crimson ceremonial garments were remarkably light and soft, made from some mysterious material.
This shimmering silk that gleamed when light touched it was something I had never seen before.
“What in the world is this silk?”
“Would you like to take a guess?”
Well then, perhaps I should ponder it for a moment.
Just then, as the door to my quarters opened and I saw who was entering, my eyes widened.

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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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