The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group – Chapter 240

The Palace Lord’s proposal was welcome news to me.

I’d been worrying about this anyway.

I still didn’t know who annihilated Snow Wind Palace, but there was no harm in being careful.

“I’ll do that.”

I accepted the Palace Lord’s proposal.

Huh?

Come to think of it, the Palace Lord said she conducted her own investigation after Snow Wind Palace was annihilated.

In the process, she discovered the emergency signal device was broken and collected the bones that remained after the fire.

“Um, Palace Lord.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“By any chance… do you know who annihilated Snow Wind Palace?”

“…”

Instantly, the Palace Lord’s face darkened.

“Are you thinking of revenge?”

“More than that… it’s because I want to know for certain who I should avoid. I’m still too weak for revenge. Surviving comes first, doesn’t it?”

“Wise.”

The Palace Lord nodded.

“In the world, the story that the Demon Cult is the culprit is most widely spread, but…”

“That’s nonsense.”

“What?”

“I can’t say in detail, but think of that as nonsense.”

“Ah, yes…”

The Palace Lord’s assertion.

If she says it that firmly, it’s certain the Demon Cult isn’t the culprit.

They came all the way to this North Sea where harsh winds and snow blow year-round and instantly annihilated Snow Wind Palace.

Having learned Extreme Yin Soul Ice Combat from the ancestor, I could tell.

Snow Wind Palace’s Palace Lord was considerably strong in themselves, whether they had the Silver Mist Sword or not.

I unconsciously touched the Silver Mist Sword’s hilt.

If Yu Deok-jin hadn’t stolen this Silver Mist Sword, would the situation have been different?

Anyway, those who annihilated Snow Wind Palace are a force that can plan for a long time, approach the North Sea secretly, swallow Snow Wind Palace instantly, are strong enough to do so, and have a long history.

Currently, there aren’t many such forces in the martial world.

First… not the martial world, but capable of influencing it while being the strongest—the Imperial Palace.

Led by the Embroidered Guard and Eastern Depot, they possess many masters not revealed to the world.

Their number was something no one but the Emperor could accurately grasp.

And the Murim Alliance, an alliance of orthodox factions, and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the strongest as a single martial force.

Besides those, as outside forces there are North Sea Ice Palace, Potala Palace in the west, and Zhuque Palace in the south.

About six places come to mind immediately.

Sects or clans like Shaolin, Wudang, Namgung Clan also have long histories and strong martial arts, but as single forces, it’s hard to see them overpowering Snow Wind Palace.

And there was a place called Blood Cult, but that place was annihilated by the Murim Alliance.

The water bandits called the Twelve Strongholds of the Yangtze River also could be considered gone due to the Emperor’s Yangtze subjugation campaign.

Looking at it this way, there are quite a few.

Actually, the most suspicious place is Zhuque Palace. They’re a sect whose mainstay is fire arts.

Because they didn’t get along well enough with those who learned ice arts to be called natural enemies.

But if they came here, North Sea Ice Palace couldn’t have failed to notice, right?

Being natural enemies, they’d be wary and watching each other.

Then who on earth…?

“Won’t you please be patient even if you’re curious?”

“What?”

Perhaps I’d fallen too deeply into serious contemplation, as the Palace Lord spoke to me.

“When the time comes, I’ll tell you.”

She means she knows but can’t say now.

If she’s at that level, there must be some reason.

I nodded.

“Understood.”

The Palace Lord picked up a book placed on the desk and held it out to me.

“…?”

The book had the title ‘Thousand Flow Ice Sword’ written on it.

“This is the martial art I’ll teach Young Hero. It’s a martial art from a sect that existed in the past, but its lineage ended without descendants.”

Why does North Sea Ice Palace have such a place’s martial arts manual?

“The last descendant came and left it with this palace, asking to pass it down to someone with a connection, so there’s no problem with Young Hero learning it.”

“But I understand there are problems when heart method and martial arts don’t match each other.”

“Of course that’s true. But this martial art won’t be a problem. Because it’s a martial art that anyone who’s learned a yin energy internal cultivation method can learn without restrictions.”

“I see.”

Well, someone at North Sea Ice Palace Lord’s level wouldn’t recommend martial arts to me without considering such things.

But Thousand Flow Ice Sword…

I feel like I’ve heard of it somewhere? Where did I hear it?

“Then first familiarize yourself with this secret manual. And after breakfast tomorrow morning, come to my personal training hall.”

.

.

.

The next day.

After eating breakfast, I changed into training clothes the attending disciple brought me.

The training clothes were white and didn’t hinder movement at all.

“Kui…”

The training clothes I received here, unlike the clothes I usually wear, had narrow sleeves without space for Geumryeong to enter.

Geumryeong looked at me with a sullen expression, then quickly climbed onto my shoulder.

I understood why it was a guardian spirit beast.

Because it rarely tried to leave my side.

“Then, I’ll escort you.”

“Yes.”

I followed that disciple toward the Palace Lord’s personal training hall.

The personal training hall was underground in Ice Hall.

“You’ve arrived.”

At her words, the crystal door slid open smoothly.

“Please enter.”

“Yes.”

But only I entered the training hall. She didn’t enter and stood before the door.

“…?”

“Did you enjoy your breakfast?”

At that voice, I looked up to see the Palace Lord standing there.

The Palace Lord’s personal training hall seemed as if made from crystal. The floor and ceiling were so smooth my reflection showed.

Could all of Ice Hall be made of crystal?

Setting aside my admiration for now, I answered her question.

“Ah, yes. I ate well.”

“Did you familiarize yourself with the secret manual completely?”

“Yes.”

I confidently nodded and answered.

“I memorized all of it.”

At my answer, the Palace Lord asked with slight surprise.

“You memorized all of it? I just said to familiarize yourself…”

“Isn’t familiarizing yourself the same as memorizing?”

“…”

Ah… I guess not.

“I didn’t think you’d memorize it all in one night. Anyway, that’s even better then. Then I’ll teach you from the first move.”

The Palace Lord taught me the moves thoroughly and in detail.

Overall, it was truly meticulous instruction on how to move internal energy and how to move efficiently when using a sword.

It was so different from when the ancestor taught me Extreme Yin Soul Ice Combat that it was moving.

“Thousand Flow Ice Sword, as the name suggests, when mastered to its peak, energy extends like a thousand streams of water attacking the opponent.”

“Yes, I’m familiar with that content.”

“Then what do you think is the most important thing to be careful of when learning Thousand Flow Ice Sword?”

“That would be injuring yourself by not properly handling the energy, or harming allies.”

At my answer, she wore a satisfied expression.

“Correct. How did you know that?”

“Because while you called it water stream-like energy, I thought its nature was like a whip or soft sword. And I once had an opportunity to see someone learning soft sword.”

Mother uses a soft sword.

And Mother said before. Soft swords are truly difficult to handle and must be handled delicately.

“I see. But knowing and actually handling are different… you handle it quite well.”

“I merely predicted its movements.”

“…”

The Palace Lord looked at me for a moment.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m thinking I should have taught you soft sword technique. Predicting those movements means you have insight into soft sword technique too.”

At that praise, I scratched below my ear.

Did I inherit talent for martial arts from Mother too?

“However, since Young Hero’s main weapon is a regular longsword, not a soft sword, Thousand Flow Ice Sword is right.”

And so I devoted myself all day to learning Thousand Flow Ice Sword, and two days passed like that.

.

.

.

“No further instruction is needed now.”

At the Palace Lord’s words, I clasped my hands and bowed my head.

“Thank you for your instruction.”

I’d completely learned Thousand Flow Ice Sword in just two days.

“In any case, truly outstanding talent. To learn it all in just two days even so…”

“It’s thanks to the Palace Lord’s instruction.”

“That child who is Young Hero’s master must find you rewarding to teach. I’m somewhat envious. If Young Hero were a woman, I would have taken you as my disciple.”

“Even now, the Palace Lord is my master.”

At my answer, she burst into laughter.

“That’s true. Though I won’t acknowledge it officially, I am your master.”

She continued.

“I hope this martial art helps Young Hero. From now on, whenever you need to step forward publicly, try to use Thousand Flow Ice Sword.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Now that Young Warrior Jin-ho’s condition has significantly improved, you can depart tomorrow.”

Brother Jin-ho’s condition this morning had improved quite a lot.

And since the Palace Lord ordered the descent, it was time to leave.

I clasped my hands and bowed my head again.

“Thank you for the Palace Lord’s grace. Please live long and healthy.”

“I certainly will. Then go ahead.”

“Yes.”

• * *

The Ice Palace Lord watched Eun Seo-ho’s retreating figure leaving the personal training room.

Actually, she’d only planned to tell Eun Seo-ho the outline of Thousand Flow Ice Sword.

Because she thought even that alone wouldn’t have enough time.

But that was her miscalculation.

‘I think I understand why heaven allowed Young Hero Eun the Silver Mist Sword and the Ice Guardian Beast.’

A genius.

Not words to flatter, but a real genius.

If he’d seriously set his sights on martial arts, he possessed the genius to grab a declining sect by the scruff and pull it up.

Her words about envying Eun Seo-ho’s teacher Gwak Myeong-hyeon were her true feelings.

Bing Hae-rin was also a genius, but there was an even greater genius.

‘As expected of someone born with the Black Dragon Star Body. Though it’s strange for a man to have the Black Dragon Star Body.’

She suddenly wondered if her own master had felt the same emotions when looking at her as she did looking at Eun Seo-ho now.

That made it all the more regrettable that the martial arts only Snow Wind Palace’s Palace Lord could learn had been lost.

‘But… when learning Thousand Flow Ice Sword, I thought I strangely saw Extreme Yin Soul Ice Combat’s movements…’

Thinking that, she chuckled and shook her head.

“That can’t be. How could he learn that without anyone to teach him.”

She suddenly looked forward to the hero’s sword that would be recreated from Eun Seo-ho’s blade.

‘That person will be satisfied too.’

• * *

The next morning.

Brother Jin-ho and his wife, and I prepared to leave North Sea Ice Palace.

For us, North Sea Ice Palace’s core members came out to see us off.

“Farewell.”

“Yes.”

“See you again next time.”

“Yes.”

“And our son-in-law, remember what I said.”

“Yes! I’ll keep it in mind!”

During Brother Jin-ho’s suffering from alcohol poisoning, it seemed he’d grown closer to his mother-in-law Protector Seol Seo-yun and his grandmother-in-law Elder Sang Horan.

Thank goodness.

Next, the person approaching us was the Palace Lord.

“Thank you for everything.”

We clasped our hands and bowed our heads to her.

“Please, return safely.”

“Yes.”

“And Young Palace Lord.”

At her call, Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin standing beside answered.

“Yes, Palace Lord.”

“Safely escort everyone to their destination.”

“Understood.”

And so we left behind everyone’s farewells and exited North Sea Ice Palace through the fog gate with Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin.

When I first saw the Palace Lord, I was surprised by her strength, but as that surprise settled, I’d been feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Perhaps that’s why this parting felt slightly sad.

But there will be a day we meet again.

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.

.

“Oh my! Young Master, you’re here?”

As soon as we entered Ice Palace Inn, Palgap ran to me.

“Yeah. I’m back.”

“You didn’t cause any trouble or anything, did you? I was worried since you came out later than expected.”

“Ah, about that…”

I glanced at Brother Jin-ho.

I couldn’t say Brother Jin-ho got alcohol poisoning, so I’d just written that there were circumstances.

Right… I should protect Brother Jin-ho’s honor.

“Brother Jin-ho’s in-laws held onto him.”

At those words, Escort Guard Seo Wu nodded.

“That I understand. They say mothers-in-law love their sons-in-law.”

Then Bing Hae-rin said.

“I heard you’re departing today. Looking at things, snow winds will likely blow in a day or two. If you hurry, you won’t be stranded.”

“Ah! Yes. Understood.”

We quickly prepared to depart and left Ice Palace Inn.

While passing through the North Sea, several spirit beasts attacked us, and thanks to that, I could completely master Thousand Flow Ice Sword the Palace Lord taught me.

While traveling like that, a thought suddenly occurred.

Given that she made time for an outsider like me to teach Thousand Flow Ice Sword, does that mean the culprits who annihilated Snow Wind Palace are ones I’ll frequently encounter during my merchant travels?

Then should I exclude outside forces?

No, I shouldn’t make hasty conclusions yet.

And so we passed through the North Sea and safely arrived at Eunhae Merchant Group’s North Sea Branch, where we decided to rest.

That evening.

“My lord.”

Escort Guard Seo Wu called me as I stood alone in the courtyard.

“Yes.”

“May I ask something?”

“Please speak.”

“It’s because you seem to be using martial arts different from before.”

“Ah! That’s right. Actually, I learned martial arts at North Sea Ice Palace. It’s a martial art called Thousand Flow Ice Sword.”

Since he’s my escort guard, I thought he should know, so I told him.

“What? Did you just say Thousand Flow Ice Sword?”

But his reaction was unusual.

“What’s wrong?”

“Thousand Flow Ice Sword is the signature technique of Extreme Heaven Sword, the martial world’s hero from about two hundred years ago.”

Ah… I remembered.

–TL Notes–
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