The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 111

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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 111

Chapter 111. The Benefactor of the Sichuan Tang Family (1)

November had arrived, and winter was gradually settling in.
After receiving Father’s permission to travel to Sichuan, I returned to my office when an unexpected visitor appeared.
It was Seo-woo Warrior, the husband of Lady Hong Geum-so.
“It’s been a long time. But what brings you here?”
At my question, Seo-woo Warrior knelt before me.
“Why are you doing this? Please, stand up!”
“Please accept me into your guard detail, Lord.”
“I beg your pardon?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Didn’t you return to the Daejeong Pyo Station?”
After returning from Yunnan with me, Seo-woo Warrior had rejoined the Daejeong Pyo Station and departed on an escort mission.
That was why he couldn’t accompany us to Uichang, and he had also missed Elder Brother Jin-ho’s ceremony as the new Small Merchant Guild Leader.
“That was because I had an unfulfilled contract. I have now completed that contract and formally ended my relationship with the Daejeong Pyo Station.”
Seo-woo Warrior continued.
“And I heard that you took a warrior named Jin Yu as your guard when you came back from Uichang. I too wish to become your guard.”
I tried to help him up.
“Please stand. Let’s talk about this calmly.”
“I won’t stand until you accept me into your guard detail.”
“….”
At those words, I simply dropped down and sat before him.
He looked startled at my action.
“Why that expression? Conversations should be held with eyes meeting. That’s why I sat down.”
“The floor is cold.”
“Since Warrior Seo won’t sit in a chair, there’s no help for it.”
“….”
At my words, Seo-woo Warrior sighed and spoke.
“I’ll sit in a chair. So please sit in a chair as well, Lord.”
That’s what I expected.
I stood and sat before the table, and Seo-woo Warrior also rose and took his seat across from me.
“Warrior Seo, is your desire to become my guard stemming from a wish to repay a debt of gratitude?”
At my direct question, he answered.
“Yes, that is correct.”
“If that’s the case, there’s no need. You’ve already repaid that debt simply by accompanying me to Yunnan to rescue my Second Brother. You were of tremendous help.”
“Please don’t make me a shameless person by saying that single act repaid the debt.”
He continued speaking.
“What you’ve given me, Lord, is far more than just my life. You’ve saved my very soul and existence. Had I closed my eyes that day, my spirit would have wandered the nine heavens in shame before Lady Hong Geum-so.”
I had merely repaid the kindness of Lady Hong Geum-so, who had helped me, and Seo-woo Warrior, who had saved my life.
Yet it seemed that entire sequence of events had carved itself far deeper into Seo-woo Warrior’s heart than I’d realized.
“I wish to dedicate the life and soul you’ve granted me to your service, Lord. Please, allow me to join your personal guard.”
“….”
I studied Seo-woo Warrior thoughtfully.
He was undoubtedly a talented individual.
A man who had earned the illustrious title “Hundred Strikes Blade” through his exceptional martial prowess.
Moreover, he was the Pyo Du overseeing the Yunnan Region.
When Elder Brother Jin-ho had gone missing before, I’d witnessed Seo-woo Warrior’s true value firsthand.
The moment rumors began circulating that Seo-woo Warrior had concluded his contract with Daejeong Pyo-guk, numerous escort agencies came forward with substantial contract offers.
Even the Changin Escort Agency, to which Master belonged, was eyeing him eagerly.
And yet he was willing to abandon all those lucrative opportunities to become part of my personal guard.
“If… if the matter is one of compensation, I’m willing to work without wages. I ask only to stand beside you and protect you, Lord.”
“Without wages? That’s absolutely out of the question!”
To employ such talent without compensation?
Only those with hearts as black as pitch would do such a thing.
“My hesitation stems from concern that there are others who also desire your services, Seo-woo Warrior.”
“Ah, about that….”
Seo-woo Warrior laughed somewhat sheepishly.
“Just as you mentioned, the Lord of Changin Escort Agency visited me last evening and presented a substantial contract offer.”
Indeed, he moves swiftly in recruiting talent.
He’d already made his move.
“But I declined. When I explained my intention to become your guard, he accepted it readily.”
I found his acceptance more surprising than Seo-woo’s refusal itself.
“He accepted it?”
“Yes. He said there was no point in forcing someone whose heart lay elsewhere.”
“….”
Seo-woo Warrior had clearly made his decision firm. The Lord of Changin Escort Agency’s acceptance and withdrawal spoke volumes.
“I understand.”
“Yes?”
“I’m the one who should be grateful that someone of your caliber wishes to join my guard, Seo-woo Warrior.”
Seo-woo Warrior rose from his seat with a bright expression and cupped his fists in salute.
“Thank you for accepting my request.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
To accept a member into my personal guard, I first needed Father’s permission.
I sought his approval immediately, and as I’d anticipated, Father granted it readily—unlike the situation with Jin Yu Warrior.
Though Seo-woo Warrior would still need to undergo training with the Eunpung Corps for half a month.
Since my departure for Sichuan would be after my birthday, Seo-woo Warrior would be able to accompany me.
.
.
.
A fortnight had passed.
My birthday had come and gone, and I was now eighteen years old.
The feeling was much the same as always. After all, this was my second time turning eighteen.
More important than aging another year was reflecting on what had transpired during this period.
It would aid the growth of the Eunhae Trading Company.
The Baekcheon Trading Company, currently backed by the Murim Alliance, stood at the apex.
Third among the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World.
That meant one could see the Baekcheon Trading Company anywhere, but those who managed its operations were rarely visible.
Suddenly, memories of my trip to Sichuan surfaced.
At that time, the Imperial Court was preparing new salt distribution regulations, and through the favor of saving Jin Woo-rim, the Eunhae Trading Company became a salt retailer in Hubei Province.
However, the Baekcheon Trading Company did not enter the salt retail business—Jin Merchant Lord had deliberately excluded them.
Likely because Jin Merchant Lord had seen through the true nature of the Baekcheon Trading Company.
To them, Jin Merchant Lord must be a thorn in their side.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
What if the Murim Alliance or the Baekcheon Trading Company had incited the Dong Merchant Guild to harm Jin Merchant Lord?
When the Emperor personally interrogated them, no such claim was made.
Certainly, they would not have instigated it so openly.
The Baekcheon Trading Company, as the world currently perceived it, was like a stone—steadfast and immovable.
A merchant guild that walked the righteous path of commerce no matter what obstacles arose.
But that impression was deliberately cultivated.
Behind closed doors, they employed every scheme imaginable, even resorting to force.
Once our Eunhae Trading Company began to threaten their position, they would make their move.
Therefore, I needed to cultivate as many allies for the Eunhae Trading Company as possible to defend against this.
Some might say the allies I had already cultivated were sufficient, but they were wrong.
It was still not enough.
.
.
.
Two days after my birthday.
My entourage and I set out for Sichuan.
The ostensible reason for my journey to Sichuan was to inspect the work-wind devices being sold there.
And there was another place I needed to visit while in Sichuan.
The Sichuan Branch, where my Uncle resided.
I arranged for the Sang Haeng Trading Company, which was also heading to Sichuan, to travel with us.
Traveling together meant reduced expenses, so naturally we should move as one.
When I had gone to Sichuan before, I had traveled separately to catch a rat.
But this time there was no such need, so I decided to take the direct route.
Taking a boat upstream along the Yangtze River would have been convenient, but only as far as Zhongqing.
Beyond that point, we risked being caught in the rapids, which would have been far more dangerous.
And even if we disembarked at Zhongqing to continue by land, we’d face another problem.
The roads leading into Sichuan were treacherous, making it nearly impossible for carts to pass through.
So it was better to take the longer route—easier on the body and easier on the mind.
The route was decided.
We would head to Uichang, pass through Shaanxi along the foothills of Wudang Mountain, and enter Sichuan from there.
My party consisted of Palgap, four guards, and Yeochang’s Deputy—six of us in total.
When I mentioned going to Sichuan, Yeo Vice-Commander began preparing for the journey without a word, which suggested he had grown accustomed to my sudden expeditions by now.
.
.
.
“You little beast! Today’s the day I’ll teach you some manners!”
“Squawk! Squawk!”
“Tch! Hitting me with your hind legs like a coward?”
“Squawk!”
Once again, Palgap was being thoroughly beaten by Geumryeong.
A hierarchy dispute, perhaps?
But why was a human fighting a spirit creature over rank…?
More than five days had passed since we departed from the Eunhae Trading Company, yet their hierarchy dispute showed no signs of ending.
In truth, these fights always started because Geumryeong would provoke Palgap.
One night, when Palgap was muttering something strange in his sleep, I had asked Geumryeong to wake him up, and it seemed the spirit creature had found the whole thing amusing.
Looking at it this way… perhaps I bore some responsibility?
No, that wasn’t it. Geumryeong was probably doing it because Palgap’s frantic reactions were entertaining.
Hmm.
Yet the more Geumryeong and Palgap bickered, the more noticeably Palgap’s movements seemed to quicken.
“We should be entering the foothills of Wudang Mountain soon.”
I nodded at Seo Woo’s words.
“That seems about right.”
At the mention of Wudang Mountain, my thoughts naturally turned to the Wudang Sect.
The martial arts of the Wudang Sect were about subduing strength through gentleness.
Their primary weapon was the sword.
Thus they were also called the Wudang Sword Sect.
But though the sword was their most famous technique, their other martial arts were equally formidable.
In particular, their signature footwork technique, the Cloud-Walking Method—which allowed one to walk as if treading on clouds—was renowned enough to rival the top ranks among the Nine Great Sects of the martial world.
I recalled that such a sect had declared its gates sealed.
It was something that happened before my death—when I was thirty-five years old.
And since then, no matter what happened in the martial world, they never opened their gates.
What could have happened to the Wudang Sect to cause them to seal themselves away?
I hadn’t known the reason back then, and even now, the time to learn it had not yet come.
That was still a distant future.
It seemed to stem from the Murim Alliance, and at this point, I found myself curious about the intentions of the Murim Alliance—or rather, the Murim Alliance Leader.
What exactly was he trying to accomplish by recruiting or eliminating the sects and families of the martial world as his supporters?
Then something caught my perception.
It seemed someone was approaching this place?
Noticing that presence, Jin Yu and Seo Woo drew their swords and approached me.
And Hong-im Pyo-du from the Changin Escort Agency raised his hand.
Seeing that, everyone moved in perfect unison. The warriors drew their weapons, and the Cart Laborers relocated near the cargo.
Soon, a group of people revealed themselves.
“Greetings to you all! Hahahaha!”
The one laughing so boldly was unmistakably a Green Forest Bandit.
“I am Heuk-du-gyeom, a subordinate of Nan-bal-gwang-geom, the Stronghold Master of Nok-a Mountain here. The Stronghold Master instructed me to come and introduce myself since we are meeting for the first time.”
Just a little further and we would enter the territory of the Wudang Sect.
That meant it was a place where the Green Forest Bandits could not conduct business.
So I had expected the bandits to come soon, and they truly did.
But there was a name that grated on my ears.
Heuk-du-gyeom?
Now that I thought about it, in my previous life, when I was not long past eighteen, there was someone who would prey on those trying to cross Wudang Mountain.
Since fighting would only result in losses for both sides, the escort stations and bandit gangs typically resolved matters smoothly by exchanging tolls.
Knowing this, Heuk-du-gyeom exploited the Green Forest Bandits’ name to extort tolls.
As a result, quite a few escort stations and trading companies suffered losses.
When the real subordinates sent by Nan-bal-gwang-geom clashed with him, blood was spilled.
Heuk-du-gyeom had to be careful and leave at the right time.
His tail was far too long.
Nan-bal-gwang-geom could not possibly tolerate Heuk-du-gyeom and his gang repeatedly intercepting the tolls they were supposed to receive.
Eventually, Nan-bal-gwang-geom set a trap, and Heuk-du-gyeom fell into it.
His end was miserable.
According to what I heard, Heuk-du-gyeom and his subordinates had their limbs’ meridians severed and were sold as slaves to the mines.
Knowing such a future, I could have simply let myself be deceived.
But considering the losses other escort stations and trading companies would suffer until the point when Nan-bal-gwang-geom dealt with him, it seemed not a bad idea to cut off the tail now.
“Ah, is that so? I was wondering when you would arrive.”
“I apologize for being late due to my timidity.”
“Here is the toll.”
Hong-im Pyo-du drew a money pouch from his bosom and offered it.
Whoosh.
But I snatched it away.
“…?”
Hong-im Pyo-du and Heuk-du-gyeom looked at me with puzzled expressions.
I shook my head and spoke.
“That is not the right time to give it yet.”
“Pardon?”
“I forgot to mention it earlier. The truth is, our Trading Company needs to have a discussion with Stronghold Master Nan-bal-gwang-geom this time.”
Hong-im Pyo-du’s expression showed complete bewilderment.
Naturally, this was the first he’d heard of it.
After all, I had merely fabricated an excuse on the spot.
I turned to Heuk-du-gyeom and spoke.
“So then, please guide us to the Stronghold Master.”

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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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