The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 1

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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 Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 1

Chapter 1. Fifteen Again (1)

“Cough!”
With each cough, blood sprayed from my lips and pooled across the ground.
My chest felt as though it were burning from within.
I had forced my inner energy to surge beyond its limits, and now my vital channels churned in chaos.
Leaning against a tree, I surveyed my surroundings.
Horses, carriages, and carts—everything was engulfed in roaring flames.
A fire meant to erase all evidence.
The sight drew a bitter smile from me.
‘This is no amateur’s work…’
.
.
.
My name is Eun Seo-ho.
I am the youngest son of the Eunhae Trading Company.
When I was born, the Eunhae Trading Company held a modest position among the hundred greatest trading houses in the Realm.
Too large to be called a minor enterprise, yet too small to be deemed a major one—caught in that awkward middle ground.
Born into such a company, by the time I turned fifteen, I was thrust into the serious business of managing its operations.
Of course, I was not immediately given a position of authority; instead, I had to learn practical skills across the various divisions of the company.
This was a tradition established by my Great-grandfather.
His philosophy was simple: placing someone in a leadership role without preparation or experience was a sure way to ruin the company.
After five years of study and experience, I reached twenty and finally took charge of managing a small shop.
The first establishment entrusted to me was the Eunhae Fabric Shop.
Within three years, the Eunhae Fabric Shop had become the most renowned fabric shop in Hubei, surpassing even Chongyang County, and everyone marveled at my abilities.
I too came to realize that I possessed a natural talent for commerce.
My Grandfather would always beam with pride when he looked at me.
He said I resembled my Great-grandfather perfectly—the ancestor who had grown the company from a single silver coin into one worthy of the hundred greatest trading houses in the Realm.
While I was enjoying those happy days, my Elder Brother approached me with a proposal.

“I want to yield the position of Trading Company Master to you. No matter how much I think about it, you suit the role far better than I do.”
“I appreciate it, Elder Brother, but I must decline. That position belongs to you.”
“Yet anyone can see your talent for commerce surpasses mine.”
“It’s not that I covet the Master’s seat. I simply find joy in growing the trading company itself.”
“You find growing the company enjoyable? You’re being sincere?”
“Yes! Completely sincere. When I see the company expanding through my own efforts, there’s a satisfaction I can’t quite describe.”
“Then all the more reason——”
“No, I really mean it! Elder Brother! Honestly, that position means meeting with troublesome people and maintaining appearances, doesn’t it? Always worried about the company’s reputation suffering.”
“….”
“I prefer operating beneath the surface like this. There’s a certain thrill to it.”

At my words about moving beneath the surface, Elder Brother let out a soft chuckle.
He was a man of the trading company, after all.
He understood exactly what I meant.

“You’re right—such work suits your keen mind perfectly.”
“I’m delighted you agree, Elder Brother.”
“If that is your wish, so be it. I shall bear the position with a willing heart.”

Thus, my considerate and gentle Elder Brother became the Trading Company Master.
My Second Brother, righteous and exceptional in martial prowess, became commander of the Eunpung Corps.
I, blessed with a sharp mind, served as strategist to both my brothers.
Observing us, people called us the Eunhae Trading Company’s Hyun-deok, Yun-jang, and Wa-ryong.
Our three brothers’ collaboration transformed Eunhae Trading Company into one of the Realm’s three greatest trading enterprises.
Those were truly blissful days.
At this rate, becoming the greatest trading company in the Realm was no mere dream.
But then, suddenly, disaster struck.
I was ambushed while returning after receiving word from Second Brother that he awaited my arrival for my birthday celebration.
Of course, I had faced such attacks countless times before.
As a trading company grows, it is inevitable to incur the jealousy and resentment of others.
Until now, I had survived every encounter.
But today seemed different.
Only I remained alive.
And even then, I bore wounds so severe I could barely move.
Thud, thud, thud.
A man approached me.
A man with a goat beard.
Namgung Kang, Master of the rival Baekcheon Trading Company.
The Baekcheon Trading Company, established with capital from the Murim Alliance, had been far superior to Eunhae Trading Company when I first began my duties at Jaegyeong Pavilion.
It was, after all, one of the Realm’s three greatest trading companies, and ranked third among them.
However, once I began actively managing the Eunhae Trading Company, Baekcheon Trading Company lost its position to us.
They said Baekcheon was preparing some grand counterattack,
but to think they would mobilize the Murim Alliance—that supposedly righteous coalition of martial artists—to launch an ambush!
It was absurd.
“Cough! So you mean to kill me today?”
At my words, he let out a soft laugh.
“I must admit, I’m sorry to see it end this way. I know your abilities well. Wasn’t it you who transformed a trading company that barely ranked among the hundred greatest in The Realm into one of the top three?”
“I’m grateful you recognize my abilities, cough! But I never wanted to hear such words in a situation like this—haa—I didn’t. And isn’t this approach rather petty, isn’t it?”
“Well, I suppose you could see it that way.”
“I thought we had been competing fairly and squarely all this time, cough, competing honorably, you know?”
“Competing? You have an amusing way with words.”
He laughed heartily.
“You were only able to run wild because the higher-ups allowed it.”
“….”
“To be honest, watching you all this time has been quite entertaining. It was amusing to see you scurrying about so desperately over mere money.”
“Mere…. Money, you say?”
The moment I heard those words, something surged up inside me without warning.
“Why did the Murim Alliance establish a trading company? Wasn’t it for money?”
“Do you truly believe we founded this company for mere money?”
“Of course. A trading company naturally exists to earn….”
“If that’s what you thought, you were wrong. Why would we establish a company for mere money? Money flows in of its own accord when you simply ask for it.”
Namgung Kang, the company master, laughed with evident amusement.
“Then what was it for…?”
“Unification of the martial world.”
“….”
“…is nonsense, but we needed to redirect attention away from the Murim Alliance. So the higher-ups had me take the lead in establishing this company.”
Namgung Kang smiled bitterly.
That makes even less sense…. Why are you trying to kill me then? You said you weren’t interested in making money….”
“Because you’ve become an eyesore to the higher-ups.”
“What do you mean….”
“Your Eunhae Trading Company has grown too large and become a nuisance. Your excessive righteousness displeases them. Because of your company, the standard for goodness has risen too high, and that’s problematic. So you see, you’re simply an eyesore.”
Grind.
I clenched my teeth.
Now that I thought about it, Baekcheon Trading Company’s main products and market territories overlapped considerably with ours.
We had engaged in fierce competition especially in medicinal herbs and silk, and ultimately our Eunhae Trading Company emerged victorious.
I had always done my best and considered them worthy competitors.
But to resort to this….
Beyond anger, I felt a hollow emptiness.
‘Wait… they said our company is an eyesore, but could it be…?’
If what he says is true, they wouldn’t stop at just eliminating me.
Moreover, the fact that he knew my exact location, and something about the whole situation felt deeply unsettling.
“…What did you do with the other family members?”
At that question, Namgung Kang, the trading company master, laughed with a sinister edge, and that laughter felt ominous.
“I was wondering when you’d ask that.”
He spoke to his subordinate beside him.
“Hand me that box.”
He received a box from his subordinate, opened the lid, and showed me its contents.
The moment I saw it, my mind went blank.
Soon my body trembled uncontrollably.
It was my Second Brother’s head.
My Second Brother’s, the one who had sent word that he was preparing a birthday celebration….
“Do you like the gift? The one called the Warlord of Hubei begged so desperately for me to spare at least you. Hehehehe.”
In that moment, I understood.
I had always grown cold and composed when angry, but I realized that beyond a certain threshold of rage, composure meant nothing.
I spat curses at him and swung my fist.
“You, you bastard!”
But it was a meaningless punch.
Thwack!
Namgung Kang, amused by my curse-laden fury, kicked me, and I crumpled to the ground.
He drew his sword.
“Yes, that’s the reaction I wanted. It would have been boring if you’d shown no emotion at all.”
His blade touched my throat.
“Do you know something?”
“What do you mean?”
“The real reason the Eunhae Trading Company was destroyed was because of you.”
“That, what do you….”
“Farewell.”
Squelch!
In that instant, I felt my entire body freeze as if encased in ice.
Is this what dying feels like….
.
.
.
“Young Master….”
“….”
“Eun Seo-ho, Young Master!”
I snapped awake at the sound of my name being called.
Standing before me was Yu So-ak, the head steward.
“You’re dozing off right as work begins—what’s the meaning of this?”
“What? Ah, work, you say?”
“Did I not tell you? Review last year’s grain delivery records and prepare this document accordingly. Of course, it’s your first day, so you may find it challenging, but….”
I couldn’t comprehend what was happening at all.
The sensation of Namgung Kang’s blade from Baekcheon Trading Company piercing through my neck still felt vivid and immediate.
Yet here I was, receiving a lecture from Yu So-ak, the Chief Administrator.
‘What in the world is this….’
I glanced cautiously around my surroundings.
This was unmistakably Jaegyeong Pavilion.
But it wasn’t the Jaegyeong Pavilion I knew.
This structure, this appearance—it was definitely….
‘The time when I was learning practical work.’
I couldn’t forget it.
It was the place where I’d spent three years learning the practical operations.
And the documents spread across the desk before me—those memories were still crystalline.
They were the tasks I’d been assigned on my very first day of practical work at Jaegyeong Pavilion, and I’d made such a mess of the paperwork that Yu So-ak had scolded me severely.
“…!”
The moment that realization struck me, I lifted my head and asked Yu So-ak.
“Chief Administrator Yu. Today—how old am I?”
“Pardon?”
“How old am I?”
“What do you mean all of a sudden….”
Yu So-ak looked flustered.
But I needed to confirm it.
Whether what I was thinking was correct.
“Please tell me.”
“Yesterday was your fifteenth birthday, young master.”
“….”
I looked down at my own two hands. They were small, not yet fully developed.
I raised both hands and struck my cheeks with all my strength.
Smack!
“Ow!”
It hurt. Tremendously.
“Y-young master, why are you suddenly doing that?”
Yu So-ak’s eyes widened in shock and confusion. The others working alongside me reacted the same way.
Feeling the sharp, stinging pain radiating from both cheeks, I muttered.
“I was dead, wasn’t I?”
.
.
.
That day, I left work early.
Whether out of concern for my condition, Yu So-ak had me leave the office ahead of schedule.
“Are you truly certain we needn’t summon a physician?”
Behind me, my attendant Palgap asked.
There was something unsettling about seeing the young Palgap rather than the elderly one I remembered, yet Palgap was still Palgap.
I waved my hand dismissively.
“It’s fine. I’m simply a bit fatigued, that’s all.”
“Young Master….”
“I assure you, I’m perfectly well.”
“No, that’s not it—your quarters are not in that direction, but rather this way.”
I stopped in my tracks.
Now that I thought about it, I had been heading toward the Separate Quarters where my thirty-nine-year-old self had resided.
Upon turning twenty, I had been formally granted my own quarters.
But at my current age, I would have occupied a room attached to the Main Residence. Even though fifteen was typically considered the age of adulthood, the Eunhae Trading Company required completion of five years of practical apprenticeship before recognizing one as a true adult.
“Ah….”
I quickly changed direction and, drawing upon my memories, arrived at my chamber.
Creak.
As I opened the door, a familiar sight greeted me.
For a moment, my tension nearly dissolved, but I barely managed to contain myself and spoke to Palgap.
“I need to rest for a while. Please don’t disturb me unless necessary.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
Palgap acknowledged and closed the door behind him as he left.
I collapsed onto the bed.
‘Is this real…?’
Unable to believe the reality before me, I reached up with both hands and touched my neck.
It was intact.
Next, I pinched my arm hard.
The pain was sharp enough to bring tears to my eyes.
Am I truly alive?
And returned to fifteen years old at that. I could not fathom what twist of fate had brought this about.
I recalled the moment of my death.
The contemptible face of Namgung Kang, the merchant lord of the Baekcheon Trading Company, remained vivid in my mind.
The warriors who had died protecting me, and the members of our company.
My Second Brother’s severed head.
As all these memories surfaced with crystalline clarity, my clenched fists trembled with force.
They had trampled upon the Eunhae Trading Company—a legacy my family and I had built over a lifetime—far too easily.
Not through fair competition, but through brute force.
Rage surged within me.
Had I possessed greater strength then, I would not have been rendered so utterly helpless.
‘But is it truly certain that I have returned?

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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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