235: Jin-ho Hyung's In-Laws (5)
Binghae-rin's reaction upon seeing Gold Spirit was even more intense than I'd anticipated.
To the point where she started questioning my true identity.
"My identity, you say?"
"Yes."
But honestly, there was no great secret to reveal.
"I'm just... the third young division leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
Of course, the fact that I'd died and returned to the past was a secret I could never share.
"Then why does that Hanho-su follow you around, young hero? It loves money, sure, but it doesn't follow just anyone."
"Is that... so?"
I looked down at Gold Spirit. It was gazing up at me with sparkling eyes.
Overly sparkling eyes.
Yeah, yeah, I get it.
I pulled a silver ingot from my pocket and held it out, and without hesitation, Gold Spirit snapped it up.
"I just happened to meet this guy by chance, and it started following me once I started giving it silver like this."
I continued confidently.
"Frankly, I don't quite understand why you're asking while looking at this creature. Chasing off the leader of those snow wolves was impressive, sure."
At my words, Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, let out a sigh.
"I'm sorry. Thinking about it, I overreacted. Please accept my apology."
"It's fine."
"Then... shall we get moving again?"
Binghae-rin inwardly scolded herself.
I definitely overreacted. I need to reflect on that.
But there was a reason for her strong reaction upon seeing Gold Spirit.
Hanho-su was an incredibly picky spirit beast that chose its own master.
Curiously, every one it had chosen as master was the Palace Lord of the Snow Wind Palace.
That wasn't the only reason for her intense response, though.
It was Hanho-su's growth speed.
Though called the king of spirit beasts in the North Sea, it took a considerable amount of time to reach that point.
According to records, it needed over fifty years of growth to overpower the leader of the snow wolves.
Young hero Eun Seo-ho is only twenty now. That means Hanho-su has been serving him as master for at most twenty years.
No matter how she thought about it, it didn't add up.
Then, as they rode on, Eun Seo-ho's voice reached her ears.
"Huh? Still not enough? Do you know how tough that staring contest with the other spirit beast was? I know. Fine... sigh. Alright, alright. Here."
Turning her head, she saw Eun Seo-ho pulling out another silver ingot and feeding it to Gold Spirit.
Feeding it silver like a snack to a child.
According to records, one nyang of silver per year is plenty for a Hanho-su...
Somehow, she felt like she understood why Hanho-su was so strong.
I fed Gold Spirit another silver ingot and tilted my head. I could feel Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord's gaze on me.
Hmm, Gold Spirit does eat a lot. But she hasn't explained why she reacted so strongly to me yet.
Then Jin-ho hyung spoke to me.
"That pig you raised is quite the remarkable fellow."
"Kinda, yeah."
"We almost had a real disaster back there."
Everyone nodded at Jin-ho hyung's words.
Seo-u Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior had rushed to me in a panic earlier—probably to keep me safe while they held off the snow wolf leader.
That was the duty of escorts, but I was grateful they'd acted so swiftly.
I need to become an even better lord for them.
"Will we keep running into spirit beasts like that from now on?"
Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, shook her head slightly at my sister-in-law's question.
"Impossible to say. That's the North Sea for you—unpredictable."
"......"
"Even back when the Snow Wind Palace existed, it wasn't this bad..."
There was a note of regret in her voice.
.
.
.
A day passed since entering the North Sea, and we encountered spirit beasts twice more in that time.
They were no match for us. Especially Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord's skills—they were astonishing.
Without the snow wind blowing, the spirit beasts seemed even more rampant.
The snow wind must terrify even them.
The next morning, the sunlight-glistened snow was breathtakingly beautiful.
The path Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, was leading us on was a shortcut.
Thanks to that, we were moving much faster than last time.
"In two or three si-jin, we'll reach the outskirts of the Ice Palace."
We're almost at the Binggung Inn already.
We pressed on with renewed energy.
"Huh? Seo-ho, are my eyes playing tricks? Is that an inn up ahead?"
I smiled and answered Jin-ho hyung, who was rubbing his eyes.
"Hyung's eyes are fine. That's the inn, alright."
"Come to think of it... I heard there's an inn at the entrance to the North Sea Ice Palace. Is that it?"
"Yeah."
Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, spoke up.
"That's the entrance to the Ice Palace—and the only place men can set foot."
"I see."
I turned to Jin-ho hyung.
"Sorry, but you and the escorts will have to stay at the inn."
"Can't be helped."
"Honestly, compared to the inns we've stayed at so far, this one might be a bit... uncomfortable. But no choice."
The Binggung Inn was large, but its facilities lagged behind what we'd grown used to.
I continued apologetically.
"Sorry I'll be the only one going inside to eat well and rest easy."
"I'm good. Just making it here safely is more than enough."
As I chatted with Jin-ho hyung, I glanced at Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord.
She looked quite troubled.
Finally, she spoke with a sigh.
"...But with the Palace Lord's permission, men can enter as well."
"Really?"
"I'll... ask."
I clenched my fist discreetly.
That was why I'd covered all the inn expenses for Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, and told her she didn't need to settle up.
To create a debt of gratitude, so Jin-ho hyung could enter the North Sea Ice Palace with me.
"But no one else."
I hadn't expected more than that.
Upon arriving at the Binggung Inn, the twin errand boys greeted us.
"Minor Palace Lord!"
"Welcome!"
"Good to see you all."
But Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, didn't dismount.
"I'll head to the palace and come back tomorrow morning. Take good care of them in the meantime."
"Understood."
To bring Jin-ho hyung along, she'd have to move quickly.
She excused herself to us.
"I need to get the Palace Lord's permission for your brother-in-law first, so I'll head in ahead. Sorry."
"No, we understand. Don't worry about us—go on."
"See you tomorrow."
Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, headed behind the inn and vanished into the mist.
I said to Jin-ho hyung,
"Let's wash up and rest."
"Sounds good."
We entered the Binggung Inn, bathed, and filled our bellies.
Then, lying on the bed thinking about what lay ahead... I must've dozed off right away.
The sun had still been up when I lay down, but now it was pitch black around me.
Night already.
I got up. I'd slept so much that I wasn't tired anymore.
Heading downstairs from my room, one of the twin errand boys was still awake.
"Ah! You're up?"
They could be told apart by the mole under the eye, I recalled.
The one on the right side under the eye—this was the older brother.
"Slept a bit, and my eyes popped open."
"It's been almost a year since you were last here, right?"
"Yes. Around August last year."
"The martial prowess you showed then was truly awe-inspiring."
"You're too kind. It was nothing special."
"I disagree. Thanks to you, the guests at our inn stayed safe."
I remembered getting pretty badly injured fighting the spirit beasts that attacked the inn back then.
"How's that injury from back then?"
"All healed up."
He clasped his hands in a formal bow.
"Better late than never—thank you again."
"No need."
I returned the bow but couldn't hide my embarrassment.
I seemed to have no immunity to praise or thanks.
Wrapping up the chat, I stepped out of the inn.
Snow was falling gently.
Thanks to the full moon—or maybe the white expanse everywhere—the night was as bright as day.
It was May now.
Yet watching the snow fall felt dreamlike.
Unreal, almost.
The endless snowfield.
I walked slowly, stepping into the snow.
Normally, the errand boy would've tried to stop me from going out so far at night, but he just watched.
He knew my capabilities.
And honestly, this cold was empowering rather than harmful to me.
I extended my hand toward the falling snow.
"Kkwi?"
Then Gold Spirit poked its head from my sleeve, sniffing at the snow.
Climbing my arm and using my shoulder as a stepping stone, it reached the top of my head.
You like the snow too, huh.
Makes sense for a spirit beast that guarded the Snow Wind Palace lord.
With that thought, I lightly circulated my qi.
The snow around me swirled gently, enveloping my body.
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
I could feel Gold Spirit on my head thrilled.
I was enjoying it too.
.
.
.
The next morning.
As we ate breakfast at the inn, Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, entered.
I'd smelled the wildflower scent...
"Ah, having breakfast."
"Yes. Have you eaten?"
She nodded at my question.
"Yes, just a light meal."
Looking at me, she continued.
"Finish up comfortably, then you, young hero, and Jin-ho young hero and his wife should prepare to depart. Permission to enter the palace has been granted."
I smiled at that.
After breakfast, we packed up.
Only I, Jin-ho hyung, and his wife had permission, so the other escorts and Palgap had to stay.
"Take care."
"Got it."
"Don't get swept away by the beauties of the Ice Palace and cause trouble."
"You've watched me all this time—why talk nonsense?"
"Still, you never know with people."
Yeo Eung-am Warrior chimed in.
"If that happens, you'll end up married... isn't that good?"
"Uh..."
"Come to think of it, yeah."
Palgap blinked at I-pil Warrior's agreement.
"Maybe it's that he can't be the only bachelor left."
Seo-u Warrior laughed as he said it, and Palgap grumbled.
"You're teasing me right now."
"Yup."
"Hey, come on! That's too much!"
Seo-u Warrior seemed to be enjoying teasing Palgap now.
"Anyway, it means he cares about his lord that much."
I patted Palgap's shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah, I know how you feel."
After years together, we could tease like this without hard feelings.
"I'll be back."
Outside, I spotted the source of the presence I'd felt earlier.
A dozen or so North Sea Ice Palace disciples, with Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord.
She said to them,
"Pay respects to our benefactor."
No sooner had she spoken than they stomped the ground.
Tadak! Tak!
And in unison, clasped their hands in bows.
Cheok-!
"We greet the benefactor."
Finally, Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, bowed to me.
"It's an honor to escort our benefactor to the main palace. Please, come inside."
"Yes."
The dozen disciples immediately formed ranks.
With me and hyung's family in the center, flanking us protectively.
Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, handed Jin-ho hyung a necklace.
"Put this around your neck."
"Yes."
Jin-ho hyung donned it.
"Depart."
"Understood!"
As we headed toward the gate of mist, I eyed Jin-ho hyung.
Does that necklace allow passage through the mist gate?
Sure enough, blue yin energy rose from the necklace, enveloping him.
Thanks to it, Jin-ho hyung passed through the mist gate unscathed.
Along the way, Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, said to my sister-in-law,
"Lady Ha Su-min's mother arrived at the Ice Palace three days ago. So once you're there, you can meet your mother and grandmother."
"Grandmother too?"
At my sister-in-law's surprised question, Binghae-rin, the Minor Palace Lord, replied,
"You didn't know? Your grandmother is also a disciple of the Ice Palace."
"Ah..."
So the North Sea Ice Palace was her maternal family.
Jin-ho hyung, your in-laws are stacked.