The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 119

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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 119

Chapter 119. The Puppet Master Was Always Close By (4)

“As it happens, I was thinking of spending time with Jo Ung as well.”
If that’s what Jo Ung wanted, I should reciprocate his goodwill.
I readily agreed.
“I’m grateful you would say such a thing.”
That was when it happened.
“Young Miss! Something terrible has occurred!”
An urgent voice from outside the room.
And the door burst open.
The one who opened it was Dang Su-bin’s Maidservant.
Her expression alone conveyed the urgency of the situation.
Dang Su-bin asked with a tense face.
“What is the matter?”
“The Punishment Assembly is being convened right now.”
.
.
.
The Punishment Assembly.
It was convened according to the internal laws of the Sichuan Tang Family whenever someone needed to be disciplined.
At such a gathering, the accused would present their defense, and an appropriate punishment would be meted out.
“I cannot believe it! The First Young Master and Second Young Master have leaked the family poison!”
Dang Su-bin was utterly bewildered.
I shared her bewilderment.
For the Sichuan Tang Family to be condemned by society and branded as the Black Path due to their poison spreading externally, it still seemed insufficient.
I had thought there needed to be a couple more poisons like the one that caused the plague in the Hyungmun Sect or the Mountain Poison that nearly ruined Jin-ho’s proclamation as the Small Merchant Guild Leader.
But they’re exposing it this quickly?
Hmm…
Now that I think about it, both of those are genuinely dangerous if they spread externally.
The Hyungmun Sect plague was contained only thanks to the antidotes provided by the Manjol Physician and myself; had it spread further, the entire Martial Arts World would have been thrown into chaos.
The Mountain Poison is the same.
Come to think of it, both cause minimal harm to ordinary civilians, but they inspire tremendous terror among martial artists.
This should be sufficient.
In truth, distinctions between the White Dao and Black Path are only made among martial artists themselves.
To ordinary civilians, both the Black Path and White Dao are dangerous entities wielding weapons.
“Pardon me, Miss Dang.”
“Yes, sir.”
“But isn’t the Punishment Assembly a family matter? As an outsider, am I really permitted to attend?”
“That’s fine. You’re carrying a special credential token, aren’t you? With that, attendance is permitted unless the Dongbaek Council unanimously votes to restrict it.”
“What is the Dongbaek Council?”
“It’s the assembly that decides important matters for the Sichuan Tang Family. The Grand Patriarch, the House Master, and the heads of each division and unit gather there to make decisions.”
So it’s the same as the Eunwol Society of the Eunhae Trading Company.
In that moment, I understood why Dang Yeon-chil, the commander of the squad, had rushed to expose this matter so urgently.
It was because of my existence.
I am an outsider.
Yet I have earned the Emperor’s trust, I am the leader of the rapidly expanding Eunhae Trading Company, and I am being treated as a benefactor to the family.
Could they possibly bury such an enormous incident while I am watching?
Therefore, the Sichuan Tang Family had no choice but to impose appropriate punishment on those who committed the crime.
Even if it meant severe punishment.
Since I had said I would leave tomorrow or the day after, they must have felt the urgency.
Dang Yeon-chil was perfectly orchestrating the removal of the First Young Master and Second Young Master from candidacy for House Master.

Soon we arrived at the place where the Punishment Assembly was being held.
It was the Training Ground south of the Martial Training Ground.
It was also the place where I had watched the Danhwa Guard’s public training yesterday.
Many people were already seated there, and others continued to arrive.
“This way.”
Dang Su-bin led me forward, and thanks to her, I was able to observe the Punishment Assembly from up close.
In the center of the Training Ground, a table and chairs were arranged, and twelve people were seated there.
The House Master and Dang Dae-jung, the commander of the Danhwa Guard, were both present.
Something seemed odd to me.
“But why isn’t the Grand Patriarch here?”
“Grandfather is currently away on a journey. But I have no idea where he is or what he’s doing….”
Then came the sound of knuckles tapping on the table.
Tap, tap, tap!
A signal for everyone to pay attention.
I looked ahead. House Master Dang Gyu-jeong was speaking to everyone.
“This morning, a request for a Punishment Assembly was made. Any person bearing the Tang surname may request a Punishment Assembly. Therefore, we are convening it now.”
“….”
“The person who requested the Punishment Assembly, come forward.”
At those words, murmurs rippled through the crowd, and someone stepped forward.
I had never seen this person before.
“I am the one who requested the Punishment Assembly.”
“State your affiliation and name.”
“My name is Dang In. I am a squad leader of the Tiger Step Squad.”
At those words, the House Master nodded while looking at the paper in his hand. That document appeared to be the petition requesting the Punishment Assembly.
“Why did you request the Punishment Assembly?”
“I hereby accuse First Young Master Dang Gu-bok, Deputy Master of Jisaeng Hall, in this assembly.”
At those words, the crowd gasped in shock, and the assembly erupted into noise like a swarm of bees buzzing.
Bang, bang, bang!
“Everyone, silence!”
At that command, the assembly fell quiet once more.
“Dang In Jo-jang, continue your statement.”
“Yes.”
“Additionally, I also accuse Second Young Master Dang Jin-su, Master of Dokwhwa Hall.”
I observed the First Young Master and Second Young Master.
Their expressions were utterly bewildered.
It made sense—they had never imagined they would become targets of accusation in the Punishment Assembly.
Beside me, Dang Su-bin’s expression was equally flustered.
Were the charges of the Punishment Assembly revealed on the spot?
It must be to deny them any opportunity to destroy evidence.
I glanced at Dang Yeon-chil. He feigned bewilderment, but I—who had once navigated the merchant world—could not fail to distinguish the truth.
It was unmistakable.
He had pushed others to the forefront in his stead.
No matter how grave the crime, accusing direct blood relatives—brothers, no less—would cast the family in poor light.
“The accused, First Young Master and Second Young Master, step forward.”
At the House Master’s words, the two young masters reluctantly came forward and took their seats on prepared chairs.
Dang In Jo-jang explained his reasons for the accusation.
“Several months ago, I witnessed the two young masters meeting. And the two young masters said in unison that the world must fear the Sichuan Tang Family for the family’s dignity to stand.”
“What?”
“That… that never happened.”
At the two young masters’ protest, the House Master cut them off sharply.
“Be silent.”
“…”
“The accuser, continue.”
“Yes.”
Dang In Jo-jang continued.
“I doubted my ears, but believing that these two young masters, the future of the Sichuan Tang Family, would find the righteous path, I withdrew from that place. However, that was my oversight.”
“…”
“Later, while on watch, I witnessed the two young masters meeting again. They said the Sichuan Tang Family’s fear must be demonstrated to the world by spreading the family’s poison, and they even devised specific plans.”
His words flowed with perfect eloquence.
Dang In Jo-jang asserted that the First Young Master bore suspicion regarding the poison that caused the epidemic in the Hyungmun Sect, and the Second Young Master regarding the Mountain Poison spreading throughout the realm.
“Do the First Young Master and Second Young Master have anything to say in response?”
“We are innocent.”
“We have never committed such atrocities.”
The House Master turned his head and asked.
“Does Dang In Jo-jang have evidence to support his claims?”
“I do!”
“…!”
At those words, the assembly fell silent.
“I witnessed the First Young Master and Second Young Master concealing materials that could serve as evidence regarding this matter.”
“Where did they hide them?”
“The First Young Master hid his in the Eagle Cage, and the Second Young Master hid his beneath the roof of Dokwhwa Hall.”
What?
The evidence that was supposed to be there is now in my pocket?
I left something else in its place instead.
I was grateful I’d made the right move yesterday.
If I hadn’t, things would have become truly difficult.

Shortly after,
two bundles were placed before them.
Warriors from the Sichuan Party Punishment Division had brought them.
“These are the items discovered at the locations Dang In mentioned.”
“They were hidden in places difficult to find without knowing the exact spots.”
“Moreover, since the Eagle Cage was a place even we couldn’t enter, we sought the Animal Trainer’s assistance.”
“You’ve done well.”
The House Master questioned Dang In Jo-jang.
“Are these what you saw?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
Dang In Jo-jang nodded with a confident expression.
At those words, the two Young Masters protested.
“These are items I don’t recognize.”
“I also don’t recognize these items.”
The House Master commanded the warriors.
“Open the bundles.”
The warriors unwrapped the bundles, and books were discovered in each one.
“Bring them here.”
At those words, the other members of the Dongbaek Council, who had been sitting in silence, spoke.
“House Master, forgive our intrusion, but we should examine those first.”
“Are you doubting me now?”
“Since those accused before the Punishment Assembly are your own sons, we thought there might be those who would raise objections, so we speak thus.”
“….”
The House Master nodded and stepped back.
“Very well.”
“And the leaders of the divisions where the First Young Master, Second Young Master, and this Dang In Jo-jang serve should also recuse themselves.”
At those words, the three men rose from their seats and withdrew.
Nearly half of the Dongbaek Council members withdrew.
The Warriors brought books to those who remained.
However,
their faces began to turn increasingly red.
And for good reason.
Because those books were erotic picture collections.

The reason they were in my pocket was that they had been mixed in with the books I purchased.
When I went to Beijing, I had visited a bookstore and given them a list of books I wanted, asking them to bring them to me.
But two volumes of erotic picture collections filled with embarrassing and scandalous illustrations had been mixed in by mistake.
It was clearly an ordering error, so I had kept them in my pocket to get a refund.
But due to lack of time, they had remained in my pocket.
I could have sent someone else to handle it, but it would most likely be Palgap, and that would be…
unbearable even to imagine.
In any case, thanks to this, I had put them to good use.
They were so embarrassed they didn’t know where to look.
Why are they reacting like that?
They should already know all about such things.
At their reaction, the House Master tilted his head in confusion.
“Why is something the matter?”
“Ahem, ahem…”
“My, my, ahem.”
An Elder spoke awkwardly.
“Now I understand why the First Young Master and Second Young Master so vehemently deny involvement with these things.”
At those words, the First Young Master and Second Young Master bit their lips. Meanwhile, faint smiles appeared on the faces of Dang In Jo-jang and the Third Young Master.
But the smiles on Dang In Jo-jang and the Third Young Master’s faces did not last long.
“How dare you use such things as evidence to slander the two Young Masters!”
“Do you truly wish to live?”
“…Pardon?”
Dang In Jo-jang wore a bewildered expression.
“What… what do you mean, sir?”
Thud!
They threw the two books in front of Dang In Jo-jang and spoke.
“See for yourself with your own eyes!”
At those words, Dang In Jo-jang hastily picked up the books and opened them.
“…!”
Shocked, he muttered in disbelief.
“How… how could this be? These were definitely those materials…”
He shouted sharply at the First Young Master and Second Young Master.
“Where did you hide them? The materials on Inner Energy Reversal Sickness and the Seven Treasure Mountain Poison!”
At those words, the House Master’s expression turned cold.
“How do you know that name?”
“…!”
“Even I do not yet know that name, and yet you possess this knowledge….”
Tap!
In an instant, the House Master’s form moved, striking my acupoint with swift and lethal precision.
The sheer mastery of it left my jaw agape.
“This means you acted under someone’s orders.”
With my acupoint sealed, I could not move at all, and fear flooded my eyes.
“We shall hear the details later. Take him away!”
“Yes, sir!”
The warriors of the Punishment Division dragged Dang In Jo-jang away.
I observed the Third Young Master.
His face bore the expression of relief, but I had seen it.
That visage that had twisted for but a moment.
The House Master spoke to the others of the Dongbaek Council.
“I see no suspicion falling upon the Second Young Master. What do you all think?”
“We concur with that assessment.”
The House Master addressed everyone.
“Someone orchestrated this to frame the Second Young Master. Therefore, I hereby declare the Second Young Master innocent of all charges.”
At those words, the Second Young Master exhaled with relief, and Dang Su-bin beside me likewise released a breath of gratitude.
“What a relief. Truly….”
Seeing tears glisten in her eyes, I offered her my handkerchief.
“You hold your elder brothers dear, it seems.”
“Yes. My two elder brothers are truly good men. But if they had been unjustly punished because of this…ugh.”
As the tension released, tears streamed down her face.
Should I comfort her?
But I could not afford to relax my guard.
The Third Young Master would surely attempt something else.
I had to stop him before he made his next move.
The best method would be to tear away that mask of his….
Then, a brilliant idea suddenly came to me.

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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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