The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 107

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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 107

Chapter 107. A Gift for Elder Brother Jin-ho (1)

Only a few days had passed since I returned from Uichang when October arrived.
The greatest event of this month was Elder Brother Jin-ho’s birthday, but this year was special.
Finally, Elder Brother Jin-ho was becoming a Small Merchant Guild Leader.
Then I ought to prepare a fitting gift for him.
I recalled what had happened during Elder Brother Jin-ho’s proclamation ceremony in my previous life.
There wasn’t anything particularly significant… or rather, there was.
Something did occur.
During Elder Brother Eun Jung-ho’s proclamation ceremony, an assassin had intruded.
During my own proclamation ceremony, Elder Brother Eun Jung-ho and Miss Jin So-mi had confirmed their feelings for each other, and not long after, Miss Jin So-mi became my sister-in-law.
In truth, that was something I hadn’t anticipated either.
I had become a Small Merchant Guild Leader three years earlier than in my previous life.
During my proclamation ceremony in my previous life, a famine had caused the nation to issue a liquor ban, so we had no wine and could only hold a greatly simplified banquet.
It was truly unfortunate that something always happened whenever a Small Merchant Guild Leader’s proclamation ceremony took place.
I rose from my bed.
It was time to begin the day.
As I stepped out of my chamber, the warrior standing before the door bowed his head.
He had requested that I call him by a different name rather than Yeon Gye-seung.
His reason was that Yeon Gye-seung was a name given by the League Master, and if it were discovered, it would become troublesome.

“What name would you prefer I use?”
“Please call me Jin Yu.”
“A name you chose yourself?”
“No, sir.”
“…?”
“My original name, forgotten by the world.”

And so Yeon Gye-seung became Jin Yu.
Jin Yu Warrior now resided together at Mun Gok Hall.
His position belonged to my personal guard unit.
A Small Merchant Guild Leader could maintain a guard unit for personal use, and the guards provided upon becoming a Small Merchant Guild Leader were also part of that unit.
Operating them personally meant I had to pay their salaries from my own resources.
The Eunhae Trading Company provided funds sufficient for two guards, but nothing beyond that.
“You’ve worked hard all this time.”
At my words, Jin Yu Warrior bowed in salute.
“Not at all. It was a time to learn many things.”
Until yesterday, Jin Yu Warrior had been training at the Eun Pung-dae, returning only last evening.
The Trading Company’s household guards often found themselves moving alongside the Eun Pung-dae Warriors.
Therefore, when moving with them, there were quite a few things one needed to know to avoid gaps in coordination.
In other words, to master these, about two weeks of joint training at the Eun Pung-dae was necessary.
It was a mandatory procedure for accepting external personnel as guards rather than Eun Pung-dae members.
From my perspective, the two-week trial at the Eun Pung-dae seemed designed to verify whether someone was trustworthy.
My Father, who had expressed concerns about Jin Yu Warrior’s past as an assassin, told me “I’ve decided to respect your choice” on the day Jin Yu Warrior completed his training and returned to Mun Gok Hall.
I too believed in my own decision to place Jin Yu Warrior in my guard unit.
Because despite his work as an assassin, Jin Yu Warrior gave off no sense of discomfort whatsoever.
Rather, I felt a strange familiarity.
And there was something about his swordplay that seemed oddly familiar, though I couldn’t quite place it.
“I welcome you as my official guard.”
“Thank you for giving me a second chance. I will devote my loyalty to you, my lord.”
“Direct your gratitude to the Sect Leader of the Hyungmun Sect instead. Show me only your loyalty.”
I smiled and spoke to the three warriors.
“Then I’ll begin my breathing exercise. Please stand guard.”
At my words, Yeo Eung-am Warrior spoke to Jin Yu Warrior.
“Just do as I explained yesterday.”
“Understood.”
Soon they each moved to their assigned positions, and I sat in the center of the courtyard and began my breathing exercise.

What I’ve come to realize during my breathing exercises is that as the weather grows colder, the efficiency of my cultivation increases dramatically.
It seems this is because the martial art I’m learning is an ice-based technique.
During my last encounter acquiring the Silver Sword, I fought the Madman Warrior and broke through the Peak realm barrier in that clash.
My Master said that when the time comes, advancement in realm follows naturally—I shouldn’t rush it.
He also warned me to be careful, as carelessness could leave me a cripple.
The inner energy accumulated through the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art is inherently sharp, which means my blood vessels could actually tear from it.
I wanted to approach this new realm I was experiencing for the first time with utmost caution.
If I became a cripple without even getting my revenge on the Murim Alliance and Baekcheon Trading Company, I’d die with such bitter regret I couldn’t even close my eyes.
Maintaining this patient mindset as I devoted myself to daily training, I found myself adapting to the Peak realm far faster than expected.
Just as my Master said—when the time comes, you naturally break through the barrier.
Yet here I am, not even twenty years old, and I’ve already reached the Peak realm.
My Master instructed me to hide my strength as much as possible, warning that if others discovered it, excessive attention would focus upon me.
I share that sentiment entirely.
My martial prowess is a hidden claw aimed at the Murim Alliance.
The more I train in the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art, the more I understand why it’s called a divine art.
I’m beginning to grasp my Master’s words—that as my realm deepens, I’ll truly feel its power.
“Haaah…”
I exhaled deeply and opened my eyes.
The moment I finished my breathing exercise and rose from my seat, my Master entered.
It’s remarkable how he always arrives at precisely the right moment.
“Good morning, Master.”
“Yes, good morning indeed. Shall we begin training?”

* * *

Jin Yu Warrior asked his senior, Yeo Eung-am Warrior, a question.
“There is one thing I would like to ask, sir.”
“What is it?”
“Who is the master teaching martial arts to our lord?”
Yeo Eung-am Warrior answered that question.
“His name is Gwak Myung-hyun. He’s the head of the Changin Escort Agency, which has a cooperative relationship with our Eunhae Trading Company.”
“Is that so? Then, do you happen to know anything about his martial arts, senior?”
At the title “senior,” Yeo Eung-am Warrior smiled without realizing it, but quickly wiped the smile away.
“I don’t know much, but I understand it’s ice martial arts.”
“I see.”
Jin Yu nodded.
“For a man to master ice martial arts, his constitution must be special as well… our lord’s constitution… I understand now.”
“Are you planning to tell this to someone else?”
“If a situation comes where I must betray the one who gave me a second chance, I will take my own life.”
At that expression, Yeo Eung-am Warrior and Lee Pil Warrior said nothing, only observing his face.
“That aside, I’m warning you—never be reckless in your words or actions toward Gwak Pyo-du.”
“Yes?”
“I merely asked him to step aside for the martial arts instruction and watched from a distance… but my blood ran cold.”
At those words, Lee Pil Warrior trembled as well.
“It’s truly an experience I never want to have again.”
“I understand. I will be mindful.”
“That aside.”
Yeo Eung-am Warrior continued.
“Now that you’ve officially become a member of the Mungok Hall Guard Unit, I’d like to know Guard Yeon’s abilities.”
Lee Pil Warrior continued.
“For the sake of protecting our lord, we must know each other’s capabilities so we can respond to any emergency, shouldn’t we?”
“I agree as well.”
Jin Yu Warrior readily agreed.
“Then let’s get formal permission from our lord and test ourselves against each other.”
“Understood.”
The three warriors were guards.
That’s why they were stationed in a space overlooking the courtyard, protecting Eun Seo-ho.
Jin Yu’s gaze grew complex as he watched Eun Seo-ho rolling across the courtyard and Gwak Myung-hyun observing with an expressionless face.
‘When our lord was circulating his energy earlier, I felt a familiar aura…’
The moment he saw Han Ho-su, the pig spirit creature that Eun Seo-ho called Geumryeong, he suspected something.
That was the spirit creature that protected the master of Snowwind Palace.
Still, since the creature was so fond of money, he let it pass.
And today, he was greatly shocked.
When he saw Gwak Myung-hyun entering Mungok Hall, his legs nearly gave out beneath him.
‘So we meet this way.’
This meant that Heaven had not yet abandoned me, nor had it abandoned Seolpung Palace.
That I had survived and been granted a second chance was proof of this.
Once the training session concluded, Eun Seo-ho offered a respectful salute to Gwak Myung-hyun.
Gwak Myung-hyun then turned to leave Mun Gok Hall, but Jin Yu, witnessing this, spoke to the two guards.
“Might I be permitted to step away for a moment?”
“You may do so.”
With permission granted, he hurried toward Gwak Myung-hyun and called out to him.
“Pardon me, Gwak Pyo-du.”
Gwak Myung-hyun turned to look at him.
“You called for me?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe we’ve met before.”
“As of today, I am Jin Yu, a warrior who has become a guard for Lord Eun Seo-ho.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
“The honor is mine.”
“You called me merely to introduce yourself…?”
“It seemed to me that we might have met before.”
“…?”
Jin Yu drew upon his inner energy and grasped his sword.
Yet he did not unsheathe the blade from its scabbard.
“What is this?”
Bewildered by the sudden turn of events, Gwak Myung-hyun was at a loss. But Jin Yu was certain.
This would be a far clearer explanation than any words could offer.
Slowly, he unfolded a single sword technique from his scabbard, and upon witnessing it, Gwak Myung-hyun’s eyes widened as if they might tear open.
Once Jin Yu had completed the sword technique, he offered a respectful salute.
“Do you recognize it?”
“…How could I not know that swordplay?”
“It has been a long time… since we last met.”

* * *

I tilted my head in confusion.
What was that?
Suddenly, Jin Yu Warrior called out to my Master, then drew his sword from its scabbard and began displaying his sword technique.
Yet something about that technique felt familiar.
More surprising than that was my Master’s reaction.
The expression on his face was the same one he’d worn when he first saw my sword, the Silver Martial Blade.
In other words, Jin Yu Warrior had a deep connection to my Master.
Moments later, my Master spoke to me.
“Lord.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Would it be permissible for me to have a brief conversation with this warrior?”
I nodded readily at his request.
“Of course. Please do.”
My Master and Jin Yu Warrior left Mun Gok Hall. Watching them depart, I steadied my trembling legs.
Today had truly been exhausting.
“Coo! Coo-coo!”
Geumryeong emerged from my sleeve and perched on my shoulder, cooing softly in what seemed like consolation.
Yes, yes, thank you.
Palgap swiftly brought a towel and water.
For some reason, Palgap wore an expression as though he refused to lose to Geumryeong.
Palgap…
Geumryeong is a spirit creature and you’re a person. Why would a person feel jealous of a spirit creature?
Or perhaps not?
Should I call Palgap a bear?
Then Yeo Eung-am Warrior and Lee Pil Warrior approached me.
“Lord, we have something to report.”
“Yes, speak freely.”
“This evening, we wish to spar with Jin Yu Warrior. Please grant us permission.”
“Very well.”
“My lord?”
Surprised by my ready consent, both warriors exchanged uncertain glances.
“Each of you must understand one another’s capabilities, lest gaps form in my protection. That is my reasoning.”
“…That is correct. But how did you know our intent?”
At that question, I smiled faintly.
“I simply know.”
But what truly captivated me was the conversation between my Master and Jin Yu Warrior.
What could they possibly be discussing?

But I had no time to indulge in such thoughts.
I finished my meal quickly and headed to my office.
There was work piling up, after all.
.
.
.
Another day had vanished in an instant.
The Jamu Doll Company and the Workwind Device continued to draw tremendous popularity.
And the Self-Playing Zither we launched this time was phenomenally popular.
It wasn’t merely the promotional effect of gifting it at Eun Jung-ho’s wedding—the instrument itself possessed truly wondrous properties.
Even I was astonished.
In other words, my workload continued to accumulate.
People say such things are “reaping what you sow”….
But there was nothing to be done about it.
Our trading company needed to grow larger to compete against Baekcheon Trading Company.
Since becoming a salt retailer in Hubei Province, we had climbed from the lowest rank to sixtieth place among the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World by last winter solstice, and this time I could afford to have some expectations.
Seeing that Baekcheon Trading Company showed no particular movement yet, they must still be watching us with amusement, just as before.
They never anticipated that such complacency would become the dagger at their throat.

Returning to my separate pavilion and finishing dinner, I stepped out into the courtyard.
As the Yeo Eung-am Warrior had said, three warriors were scheduled to spar today.
To prepare for any contingency, I had invited a special guest.
“Haha! I am truly grateful for the invitation to your separate pavilion, Small Merchant Guild Leader.”
“I am the one honored by your visit to my humble pavilion, External Chief Manager.”
It was Go Il-pyeong, the External Chief Manager.

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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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