The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 144

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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 144

Chapter 144. Clearing Out the Front Courtyard (4)

As the gathering drew to a close, In Kang-su, the Merchant Guild Leader who had organized the event, ascended the Ceremonial Platform.
“I hope you all have enjoyed your time here. With that, I shall conclude this year’s gathering.”
He then raised his fan and struck the drum beside him directly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
At that very moment, I heard a deflated sigh emanating from somewhere. I had a sense of what that sound was.
It must have been the sigh of the Thief who failed to steal the silver token.
Within that sigh was also mingled the sigh of Great Sword Chun-il, for my contest with him had ended in my victory.
.
.
.
On the path back to the Inn.
Father quietly asked me a question.
“By the way, I noticed you seemed to take an interest in one of the Dancers. Is that the sort of woman you prefer?”
Mother also turned her attention to us at this.
I had anticipated that he would ask about this, but to be so direct about it.
I chuckled softly and shook my head.
“Father, my preference is for women, not men.”
“Hm?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Both of them wore expressions of confusion.
Since I would need Father’s permission to employ Great Sword Chun-il as a security consultant, I explained the entire situation to him.
“So, you’re saying that Dancer is the one famous as the Great Sword?”
“Yes, Father.”
“And you challenged them to a contest, and you won.”
“Yes.”
At my answer, Father’s gaze turned toward the silver token hanging at my waist.
“Hmm, this is your first time attending the gathering, yet you managed to protect your silver token. How did you manage that?”
It was because I had conducted extensive research in my previous life.
Having lost my silver token in an instant at my first gathering, I became determined.
So I researched diligently and attended the next gathering, but I lost my silver token again.
However, from the next gathering onward, I did not lose my silver token.
While my diligent research played a part, the greatest reason, in my view, was that Great Sword Chun-il did not attend.
Rather, could not attend.
By the time I attended the gathering for the third time, it was already after he had been executed.
In other words, I had never defeated Chun-il in my previous life.
Could I have won on a third encounter?
No, it would have been difficult.
Only now, with the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art reaching its pinnacle, could I understand this with certainty.
Chun-il was no mere swordmaster.
He possessed divine-level talent.
That someone with divine-level talent harbored resistance to thievery yet remained ensnared by it—there was no greater paradox than this.
Which made it all the more impossible to leave him as he was.
Of course, I couldn’t tell my parents the truth of the matter, so I deflected vaguely.
“I simply noticed his technique.”
“Is that so?”
Fortunately, both of them accepted the explanation without pressing further.
I glanced at my Father and Mother’s waists, but saw no silver tokens.
Had Great Sword Chun-il taken them?
But he had focused solely on my token throughout the gathering because of our contest.
Then someone else must have stolen my parents’ tokens.
This time was unavoidable, but next year would be different.
I intended to offer them a sort of “warning.”
I hadn’t given them hints on how to prevent losing their tokens this time because it was my first attendance at such a gathering.
Offering unsolicited advice at one’s first attendance would appear strange.
Thus our carriage proceeded toward the Inn.

* * *

At that moment.
Chun-il, having returned to his hideout, collapsed onto his bed.
He seethed with frustration.
He couldn’t fathom how Eun Seo-ho had seen through his disguise, but this contest was an utter defeat.
Moreover, each time the boy struck him, he feigned accident, yet to Chun-il it was unmistakably deliberate.
Kicked beneath the table, then when he tried to slip past and steal, struck on the back of the head—
Disguised as a Shop Attendant and reaching for the token, only to have his leg swept out from under him—
What infuriated him more than failing to steal Eun Seo-ho’s token was being kicked, struck, and thrown down repeatedly.
“Sigh.”
He exhaled deeply.
No matter how he looked at it, his defeat was an unchangeable reality.
He examined the note Eun Seo-ho had left behind.

[Tomorrow night at the beginning of the Hour of the Boar, come to the private chamber of Daejin House without revealing your identity]

* * *

The next morning.
I completed my usual cultivation practice and descended to the first floor.
Father was already seated at the dining table.
“I apologize for the delay.”
“No matter. I’ve only just arrived myself.”
Mother came down shortly after, and we enjoyed the chicken congee served for breakfast.
As we sipped tea after the meal, Father spoke to me.
“So you’ve arranged to meet with him tonight?”
“Yes.”
“He may not come.”
“Then that would be all the better. It would simply mean he lacks integrity, allowing us to eliminate him from consideration beforehand.”
“Well, that’s true enough.”
Father was favorable toward employing Great Sword Chun-il as a security consultant.
“As you say, it takes a snake to know a snake’s ways, so hiring him isn’t without merit. But old habits—particularly those of the hands—aren’t easily broken.”
“Your words are wise, Father. I have already given this considerable thought.”
“Good. I trust you’ve prepared well for this. You have my confidence.”
Those words—that he trusted me—struck my heart with profound weight.
I bowed my head in gratitude.
“I will not disappoint you.”
Both my parents smiled warmly and nodded.
“There is one more matter I wish to discuss.”
“What is it?”
“I understand you plan to return to the Main Headquarters early tomorrow morning, but I would like to depart a few days later.”
“You wish to remain here a while longer?”
“Yes.”
There remained something I had not yet claimed.
The greatest treasure I would claim in Luoyang—the treasure that would become my true purpose for coming here—would be discarded two days hence.
To retrieve it, I needed to remain in Luoyang for several more days.
Father considered this briefly, then readily granted his permission.
“Very well. Do as you wish.”
“Thank you, Father.”
.
.
.
I had come to the Marketplace of Luoyang.
The reason I came to the marketplace was simple—Palgap had wanted to.

“I’ve always dreamed of visiting this place, but being cooped up in an inn the whole time feels rather depressing.”

Seeing Palgap’s drooping ears and bear-like expression, my conscience pricked me sharply.
That’s why I came out like this.
Well, yes. Sometimes a change of scenery is necessary.
Three guards followed closely behind me, maintaining their vigilance.
In particular, Seo-woo Warrior watched with a tense expression, alert in all directions.
“Seo-woo Warrior, you don’t need to be so tense.”
“That’s not so, sir. Luoyang is where martial artists from across the Central Plains gather. For your safety, I cannot afford to lower my guard for even a moment.”
Had Jin Yu Warrior come along, Seo-woo Warrior’s burden would have been lighter, but he remained at the inn.
He was an assassin secretly cultivated by the Murim Alliance Leader, and Luoyang was where he had dwelled.
For that reason, if someone were to recognize him, it could invite troublesome complications, so he had agreed to remain at the inn throughout this gathering.
I respected his judgment.
Yet I could not continue avoiding everything indefinitely—I needed to devise some countermeasure.
Since he had lived in Luoyang for so long, he provided useful information in lieu of accompanying me.
For instance, he mentioned that the spicy chicken noodle soup at Miji Restaurant was exceptionally delicious.
Miji Restaurant would later become so famous that one would need to wait in line to eat there.
For now, it hadn’t reached that point yet, so I planned to have lunch there later.
And I intended to visit Book Street.
Luoyang had its own Book Street, and I recalled it had a different atmosphere from the one in Beijing.
But first, I needed to give Palgap some fresh air.
Shortly after, we arrived at a magnificent pavilion.
“My! W-what is this place?”
Palgap blinked his eyes wide at the sight of the five-story Hwangho Tea House.
“Hwangho Tea House. They say if you’ve truly enjoyed yourself in Luoyang, you must come here.”
The lake in front turns golden as evening approaches, which is why it’s called Hwangho Lake.
At the same time, it was one of the most refined establishments in Luoyang.
It would be better to come in the evening, but since my parents would depart for the Main Headquarters early tomorrow morning, I needed to dine with them in the evening.
Just then, the Shop Attendant approached us.
“Welcome. How many are in your party?”
“Five of us.”
“Which floor shall I show you to?”
I smiled as I answered his question.
“The fifth floor.”
The Shop Attendant glanced at us briefly, then lowered his head and spoke.
“I shall show you the way.”
We ascended to the fifth floor of Hwangho Tea House.
As we climbed higher, the noise and clamor gradually subsided.
Upon reaching the fifth floor, I chuckled softly at the quiet and serene vista.
This place matches my memory perfectly.
We took a seat at an appropriate table, and the Shop Attendant presented the order slip.
“Biluochun tea for five, please.”
“Apologies, sir, but payment is required upfront at this establishment.”
At those words, I withdrew money from my pocket and handed it over.
“Thank you. I’ll have it prepared and brought right away.”
The Shop Attendant departed, and Palgap leaned close to me, speaking in a hushed voice.
“Serving you as your attendant seems to have been the right choice, young master. Getting to taste such fine tea in a place like this.”
Here at Hwangho Tea House, the tea prices on the order slip varied by floor.
The higher the floor, the more expensive the tea—a sort of seating fee concept.
The prices were exorbitant enough to make ordinary people blanch, yet Palgap accepted it without hesitation.
His unflappable demeanor prompted me to jest in return.
“Then see that you continue to serve me well from now on.”
“There’s no question of that, sir.”
When the guards seated around me all nodded in unison, I felt oddly embarrassed.
A moment later,
the five pots of Biluochun tea I had ordered arrived alongside pastries.
This green tea, produced in Jiangsu Province, is made from the youngest buds.
While it requires considerable effort to craft, the flavor and aroma are exceptional.
The subtle fruity fragrance suggested they had used premium leaves.
This must be from Dongting Mountain.
Among all Biluochun varieties, that produced at Dongting Mountain is considered the finest, commanding the highest prices accordingly.
There are unscrupulous merchants who sell counterfeit Biluochun at inflated prices, but this is genuine Dongting Biluochun.
It was worth the expense to savor such tea.
I glanced at Palgap.
Watching him sip the tea and nibble the pastries, I smiled.
I had brought Palgap here because memories of my past life had surfaced.

“They say Hwangho Lake in Luoyang is so magnificent. Will I ever get to see it?”

“Will I be able to visit Hwangho Lake this time?”

He had sung such longing to visit Hwangho Lake, yet that wish took a considerable time to be granted.
Whenever he tried to go to Hwangho Lake, something strange would always happen.
At that time, Palgap had said,

“I would have been more moved if I could have seen it when I was younger. But still, thank you so much for bringing me here like this.”

How could I ever forget Palgap’s expression as he spoke those words?
That’s why in my previous life, when Palgap yearned so deeply for this place, I brought him to this tea house where the Hwangho Lake could be seen most beautifully.
I would have preferred to take him to a tavern, but neither the attendants nor the guards could drink, so this was the alternative.
Palgap had served me faithfully until the very end in my previous life.
I regretted that this was all I could do for him, but I was grateful I could do even this much.

After we had our fill of the Hwangho Lake’s scenery at the Hwangho Tea House, we made our way back toward the Luoyang Marketplace.
“Where are we heading now, Young Master?”
“We’re going to Book Street.”
It was still an awkward time for lunch.
“Do you know where that is?”
I nodded at Palgap’s question.
“Jin Yu Warrior told me about it, so I know roughly where it is.”
As I retraced my memories to find the way, we soon arrived at Book Street.

[You can do it too. ‘Mastering Martial Arts in a Hundred Days’]
[Essential reading for martial arts beginners. ‘How to Survive in the Martial Arts World’]
[New edition of ‘Notable Figures and Factions of the Martial Arts World’ now in stock]

I chuckled softly as I read the promotional signs posted in front of the bookstore.
Unlike Beijing, where books were mainly for civil service examinations and poetry collections, this place seemed to have many books about martial arts and the martial arts world.
As I browsed through the bookstore, the moment I spotted a small used bookshop in one corner, I felt an irresistible urge to enter it.
It was a strange pull I had never felt before.
I stepped inside that small bookshop.
Seeing it filled with worn books bearing the marks of many hands, it was clearly a used bookstore.
The old man who appeared to be the owner simply went about his business, indifferent to our arrival.
The moment I entered, all other books faded from my sight—only one book captured my attention.
As if enchanted, I approached it and picked it up.
The cover had fallen off, so a makeshift cover had been fashioned, and the title wasn’t even written on it.
I opened the book.
[The beginning of Taiyin…]
But wait—this content feels oddly familiar.

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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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