The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group – Chapter 235

Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin’s reaction to seeing Geumryeong was more intense than I’d expected.

Intense enough to question my identity.

“My identity?”

“Yes.”

But honestly, there wasn’t much to tell about my identity.

“I’m just… the Third Deputy Merchant Lord of the Eunhae Merchant Group.”

Of course, the fact that I died and returned to the past was an absolute secret I could never reveal.

“Then why does that Ice Guardian Beast follow you? The Ice Guardian Beast may love money, but it doesn’t follow just anyone.”

“Is that… so?”

I looked down at Geumryeong. Geumryeong looked back at me with sparkling eyes.

Excessively sparkling eyes.

Alright, alright, I get it.

When I pulled out a silver tael from my pocket and held it out, Geumryeong devoured it without hesitation.

“I just happened to meet this creature by chance, and it started following me when I gave it silver taels like this, you know?”

I continued speaking confidently.

“Actually, I don’t understand why you’re asking me that just from looking at this creature. Though I’ll admit what it just did—chasing away the Snow Wolf pack leader—was certainly impressive.”

At my words, Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin sighed.

“I’m sorry. Now that I think about it, I overreacted. I apologize.”

“It’s fine.”

“Then… let’s continue moving.”

• * *

Bing Hae-rin inwardly reproached herself.

‘I definitely overreacted. I need to reflect on that.’

But there was a reason she’d reacted that way upon seeing Geumryeong.

The Ice Guardian Beast was an extremely particular spiritual creature that chose its own master.

Strangely enough, every single person the Ice Guardian Beast chose as its master had been a Palace Lord of Snow Wind Palace.

That wasn’t the only reason she’d overreacted so strongly.

It was also because of the Ice Guardian Beast’s growth rate.

Of course, the Ice Guardian Beast was called the king of spiritual creatures living in the North Sea, but it took quite a long time to reach that level.

According to records, the Ice Guardian Beast needed to grow for about fifty years before it could subdue a Snow Wolf pack leader.

‘Young Hero Eun Seo-ho said his age is now twenty. Which means the Ice Guardian Beast has been serving him as its master for at most twenty years.’

No matter how she thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

Just then, as she rode her horse, she heard Eun Seo-ho’s voice in her ear.

“Hm? Still not enough? You know how hard that power struggle with that spiritual creature was, right? I know. Then… ugh. Fine. Fine. Here.”

When she turned her head, Eun Seo-ho was pulling out another silver tael and feeding it to Geumryeong’s mouth.

Feeding silver taels like they were children’s snacks.

‘According to records, one silver tael is enough to feed the Ice Guardian Beast for a year…’

Somehow, she felt like she understood why the Ice Guardian Beast was so strong.

• * *

I gave Geumryeong another silver tael and tilted my head. I could feel Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin’s gaze.

‘Mm, Geumryeong does eat quite a lot. But she still hasn’t explained why she reacted that way to me.’

Just then, Brother Jin-ho spoke to me.

“That pig you’re raising is quite an admirable creature.”

“It is, somewhat.”

“We almost had a real disaster earlier.”

At Brother Jin-ho’s words, everyone nodded.

Earlier, Escort Guards Seo Wu and Jin Yu had rushed toward me urgently—probably trying to get me to safety while they held off the Snow Wolf pack leader.

That was the duty of escort guards, but I was grateful they’d acted so immediately.

I need to become a better lord to them.

“Will more spiritual creatures like that keep appearing?”

At my sister-in-law’s question, Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin shook her head slightly.

“There’s no way to know. The North Sea is unpredictable like that.”

“……”

“Still, when Snow Wind Palace existed in the past, it wasn’t quite this bad… though.”

There was something wistful in her voice.

.

.

.

A day had passed since we entered the North Sea, and during that time we encountered spiritual creatures about two more times.

They were no match for us. Especially since Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin’s skills were remarkable.

Since the Snow Wind wasn’t blowing, the spiritual creatures seemed to be running even more rampant.

The Snow Wind must be fearsome even to spiritual creatures.

The next morning, the snow sparkling in the sunlight was truly beautiful.

The path we were taking was a shortcut guided by Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin.

Perhaps because of that, we could move much faster than last time.

“We should reach the entrance to the Ice Palace in about four to six hours.”

We’re almost at the Ice Palace Inn already.

So we pushed forward with renewed energy.

“Huh? Seo-ho. Are my eyes playing tricks on me? I see an inn up ahead?”

I answered Brother Jin-ho with a smile as he rubbed his eyes.

“Your eyes are perfectly fine. That’s an inn alright.”

“Come to think of it… I heard there’s an inn at the entrance to North Sea Ice Palace. Is that inn that inn?”

“Yep.”

Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin said.

“That place is the entrance to the Ice Palace and also the only place where men can set foot.”

“I see.”

I said to Brother Jin-ho.

“Sorry, but it looks like you and the guards will have to stay at the inn.”

“Can’t be helped.”

“Honestly, that inn is a bit… less comfortable compared to the inns we’ve stayed at so far. But there’s nothing we can do about it.”

The Ice Palace Inn was fairly large in scale, but its facilities and convenience were somewhat inferior to the inns we’d stayed at recently.

I continued with an apologetic expression.

“Sorry that I’ll be the only one going inside to eat and stay well.”

“I’m fine. Just getting here safely is enough.”

As I conversed with Brother Jin-ho, I glanced at Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin.

She looked quite troubled.

Eventually, she spoke as if sighing.

“…However, if the Palace Lord gives permission, men can enter as well.”

“Is that so?”

“I’ll… try asking.”

I secretly clenched my fist.

The reason I’d paid all of Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin’s inn expenses and told her she didn’t need to settle up with me—

It was to make her feel indebted to me, so Brother Jin-ho could also go to North Sea Ice Palace.

“But the others can’t come.”

I hadn’t expected more than that anyway.

When we arrived at the Ice Palace Inn, twin attendants greeted us.

“We greet the Young Palace Lord!”

“Welcome!”

“It’s good to see you all.”

But Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin didn’t dismount from her horse.

“I’ll go into the palace and come back tomorrow morning. Please take good care of these people in the meantime.”

“Understood.”

Since Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin would need to move busily to bring Brother Jin-ho along.

She asked for our understanding.

“I need to get permission from the Palace Lord regarding your brother, so I should enter the palace first. I apologize.”

“Not at all. We understand. Don’t worry about us and go ahead.”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin headed to the back of the inn and soon disappeared into the mist.

I said to Brother Jin-ho.

“Let’s wash up and rest a bit.”

“That sounds good.”

We entered the Ice Palace Inn, washed up, and filled our stomachs.

Then I lay down on the bed to think about what lay ahead… but apparently fell asleep right away.

When I’d lain on the bed, the sun was still up, but when I woke, everything around me was pitch black.

Must be nighttime.

I got up from my spot. Since I’d slept quite a bit, I wasn’t sleepy anymore.

I left my room and went down to the first floor, where one of the twin attendants was awake.

“Ah! You’re up?”

I think they said you could tell the older and younger brother apart by the mole under their eyes.

Seeing the mole under the right eye, this was the older brother.

“After sleeping a bit, my eyes just opened.”

“It’s been almost a year since you were here, right?”

“Yes. That’s right. I came around last eight month.”

“The martial prowess you showed back then was admirable.”

“I’m embarrassed. It was merely mediocre skill.”

“I don’t think so. Thanks to you, the people staying at our inn could be safe.”

I think he’d been injured quite badly fighting the spiritual creatures that attacked the inn at that time.

“But the injuries from back then—are they alright?”

“Yes. They’ve already healed.”

He cupped his fists to me respectfully.

“It’s late, but thank you once again.”

“Not at all.”

I returned the gesture, unable to hide my embarrassment.

It seemed I had no immunity to praise or gratitude.

After finishing my conversation with him, I left the inn.

Snow was falling softly.

Perhaps because of the full moon, or because everything everywhere was white, even though it was night, everything was bright.

It was now the fifth month.

Yet watching the snow fall like this felt somehow dreamlike.

Should I say unreal?

An endless snowy plain.

I slowly walked forward, stepping on that snow.

Normally, if you went far out at night like this, an attendant would try to stop you, but he just watched me.

That was probably because he knew my skill level.

And honestly, the cold here gave me strength rather than harming me.

I reached out my hand toward the falling snow.

“Kui?”

Just then, Geumryeong poked its face out from my sleeve and wiggled its nose at the falling snow.

Then it climbed up my arm, used my shoulder as a stepping stone, and went up onto my head.

You like the snow falling too, huh.

Well, they said it was a spiritual creature that guarded Snow Wind Palace’s Palace Lord, so it would like cold and snow.

Thinking that, I lightly circulated my Qi.

The surrounding snow swirled gently and wrapped around my body.

“Kui! Kui!”

I could feel Geumryeong on top of my head enjoying itself.

I was happy too.

.

.

.

The next morning.

As we were having breakfast at the inn, Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin entered.

“Ah, you’re eating.”

“Yes. Have you had breakfast?”

At my question, she nodded.

“Yes. I had a simple meal before coming.”

Then she looked at me and continued.

“Finish your meal comfortably, and Young Hero Seo-ho and Young Hero Jin-ho and his wife should prepare to depart. The Palace Lord’s permission to enter has been granted.”

At those words, I smiled.

After finishing our meal, we made preparations.

Since only Brother Jin-ho and his wife and I had received permission to enter, the other guards and Palgap had to remain here.

“Take care of yourself.”

“I will.”

“Don’t go falling head over heels for the Ice Palace beauties and cause trouble.”

“After watching me all this time, what nonsense are you spouting?”

“Still, you never know what might happen with people.”

At those words, Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am said.

“But if that happened, you’d be getting married… wouldn’t that be something to celebrate?”

“Uh…”

“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

At Escort Guard Lee Pil’s agreement, Palgap blinked.

“Maybe it’s that kind of feeling—not wanting to be the only bachelor.”

When Escort Guard Seo Wu said that with a laugh, Palgap replied curtly.

“You’re teasing me now, aren’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Ah, really! That’s too much!”

Escort Guard Seo Wu seemed to have developed a taste for teasing Palgap.

“Anyway, Attendant Palgap means well—thinking of his lord that much.”

I patted Palgap’s shoulder and said.

“Right, right, I know your heart well.”

After spending several years together, we’d become close enough to tease each other without hurt feelings.

“I’ll be back.”

When we went outside, I could identify the presences I’d felt earlier.

About a dozen North Sea Ice Palace disciples who seemed to have come with Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin.

Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin said to them.

“Show respect to our benefactor.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the disciples stomped their feet.

Thud! Thwack!

Then they cupped their fists in unison.

Swish—!

“We greet our benefactor.”

Finally, Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin cupped her fists to me and said.

“It’s an honor to welcome our benefactor to the palace. Please, let’s go inside.”

“Yes.”

Immediately, the dozen or so disciples formed up.

It was a formation where they lined up on both sides as if escorting Brother Jin-ho and his wife and me in the center.

Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin held out a necklace to Brother Jin-ho.

“Please wear this around your neck.”

“Alright.”

Brother Jin-ho accepted the necklace and put it around his neck.

“We depart.”

“By your command!”

As we headed toward the Mist Gate, I observed Brother Jin-ho.

Is that necklace an artifact that allows passage through the Mist Gate?

As expected, blue Yin energy rose from the necklace and wrapped around Brother Jin-ho’s body.

Thanks to that, Brother Jin-ho could also pass through the Mist Gate.

As we moved along, Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin spoke to my sister-in-law.

“Warrior Ha Su-min’s mother arrived at the Ice Palace three days ago. So when you get to the Ice Palace, you’ll be able to meet your mother and maternal grandmother.”

“What? My maternal grandmother?”

When my sister-in-law questioned this, Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin answered.

“It seems you didn’t know. Warrior’s maternal grandmother is also a disciple of the Ice Palace.”

“Ah…”

So in other words, North Sea Ice Palace was her maternal family.

Brother Jin-ho, your in-laws are quite numerous.

–TL Notes–
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