The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 151

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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 151

Chapter 151. Treasures Must Be Stored in the Warehouse (2)

I called out to Master cautiously.
“Master, if I may… there’s something I wish to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
“The truth is, when I visited Luoyang this time, I stopped by an old bookstore. I was able to obtain a book there. The shop owner called it a secret manual.”
I withdrew the secret manual from my pocket and offered it to him.
“This is it.”
Master accepted the book with an impassive expression and began turning its pages.
“…!”
At first his face stiffened in shock, then his hands began to tremble.
I had never seen Master in such a state before, so I too was quite startled.
“What is the matter?”
“Where did you say you found this?”
“It was a small bookstore on Book Street in Luoyang. A place that sells old books…”
I continued.
“To be honest, I felt an inexplicable pull toward it, so I purchased the book. When I entered that bookstore, none of the other books caught my eye—only this one stood out to me.”
“….”
“I brought it to you because it appeared to contain content related to the Yin principle. Do you recognize what it is?”
Master exhaled deeply and paused for a moment before speaking.
“How could I not? It is a secret manual containing the insights left behind by the Ancestor of Snowwind Palace, whom I just mentioned.”
“What?”
Startled, I questioned Master.
“Did you not say that all the secret manuals of Snowwind Palace were burned?”
“Yes, that is correct. I never imagined anything like this would have survived.”
Master closed the manual and spoke with a trembling voice.
“Would it be acceptable if I took this with me to study?”
“Yes, please do.”
With my permission, Master carefully placed it in his robes.
“Master, there is actually one more thing I wished to consult with you about.”
“Speak.”
I withdrew another secret manual from my pocket and offered it to him.
“This is a secret manual the bookstore owner recommended to Palgap.”
Master accepted the book and read through it, then looked at me with an expression of utter bewilderment.
“Who exactly is the owner of that bookstore?”
“I am not entirely certain, but I am convinced he must have been someone of tremendous stature in his time. I held back from pressing too hard, as I feared he might disappear.”
“…You’ve done well.”
My Master nodded in acknowledgment.
“Jin Yu Warrior mentioned it before. He said that Palgap possesses the talent of Salwang.”
So Jin Yu Warrior had indeed noticed that.
My Master pondered for a moment before speaking.
“From what I can see, my Lord, your concern isn’t whether Palgap can master this technique, but something else entirely.”
“That’s correct. I feared that if Palgap learned this, he would no longer be the Palgap I know.”
“That’s an unnecessary worry.”
“Pardon?”
I questioned his response, and my Master returned the secret manual to me as he spoke.
“A person’s essence doesn’t change, no matter what martial art they learn. And Palgap’s essence is exactly as you well know it to be.”
“Ah….”
“If he masters this technique, Palgap will be delighted because he can serve his lord even better. His unwavering loyalty to you—that is the essence of Palgap that I perceive.”
My Master’s words struck me like a hammer blow to the head.
What was I even worrying about?
Palgap is simply Palgap, and he always will be.
“If you intend to teach him, you need only ask Jin Yu Warrior.”
“I understand.”

* * *

Gwak Myung-hyun emerged from Mun Gok Hall, the separate pavilion of Eun Seo-ho, and glanced back over his shoulder.
He pressed his hand firmly against his chest, where the secret manual was secured.
When Seolpung Palace was destroyed, he had spared no effort in searching for anything that might have survived.
But everything had been thoroughly burned and obliterated, leaving him with nothing to salvage.
So he had abandoned hope of finding the palace’s martial techniques and devoted himself solely to cultivating the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique.
Though that technique alone was formidable enough to bring him to his current level, the loss of other proven martial arts remained a source of regret.
Most of all, he deeply lamented the insights left behind by Seolpung Palace’s Ancestor.
But believing those too had been consumed by flame, he had resigned himself and moved on.
So one could imagine his shock when Eun Seo-ho presented him with this secret manual.
‘He said he felt a powerful pull from it?’
In truth, this insight was a secret teaching granted only to the Palace Master and Deputy Palace Master of Seolpung Palace.
He could recognize it because he had read it before.
He had been the Deputy Palace Master of Seolpung Palace.
But as Deputy Palace Master, he had only been permitted to see the first half of its contents, never the second half.
So when this complete manual suddenly appeared, it was beyond his wildest hopes.
‘The fact that this manual called to my Lord….’
He recalled the Silver Sword that Eun Seo-ho possessed and Han Ho-su, who was always at his side—Geumryeong.
Both were artifacts no different from sacred treasures of the Seolpung Palace Master.
‘Is this the third one?’
Still, he was reluctant to burden his disciple with such a heavy responsibility.
‘First, I must investigate that old man at the bookstore. And how such a thing came to be in his possession.’

* * *

Minjang Village.
About ten days had passed since Eun Seo-ho and his party departed.
Min Estate Lord gazed upon his second son, Min Yi-jun.
His complexion was healthy and vibrant, as though he had never been ill at all.
“So, you have something to tell me?”
“Yes, Father.”
The reason he was meeting with his son today was because the boy had sought him out with something to say.
“Very well. What is it you wish to discuss?”
“Father, I wish to learn martial arts.”
“Martial arts?”
“Yes, Father.”
In truth, it was gratifying that his second son, Min Yi-jun, wished to learn martial arts.
A great estate lord meant there was much that required protection.
And for such purposes, a certain degree of martial strength was necessary, and there were many occasions when one needed to rely upon the influence of others.
The most common method for this was to become an outer disciple of a powerful sect.
Much like how Min Estate Lord’s own brother served as an outer disciple of a certain sect.
Yet there were two matters that gave him pause.
One was that the surrounding attention had focused upon how Min Yi-jun had overcome his severed meridian condition.
And the other was the reason he gave for wishing to learn martial arts.
“Yi-jun.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Why do you wish to learn martial arts?”
“It is said that a man dedicates his life to those who recognize him. If one would give his life for those who acknowledge him, how could I not do everything for the one who saved my life? I wish to be of use to the one who saved me, but my abilities are insufficient.”
“So you wish to learn martial arts for this reason?”
“Yes, Father. That is correct.”
In truth, Eun Seo-ho had not given the Celestial Fragrance Dew Wine freely. He had agreed to receive one quarter of the harvest that came into Min Estate Lord’s hands for three years.
The Celestial Fragrance Dew Wine was undoubtedly a martial family treasure.
Had it been utilized properly, he could have obtained something of greater value than what he had promised to give.
Yet Eun Seo-ho had forsaken it and willingly saved his son’s life.
‘He used his sole bottle of Celestial Fragrance Dew Wine for the sake of my son.’
He suspected that Eun Seo-ho had requested grain not to ease his own burden, but for some other reason. And the amount and duration were reasonable.
He looked upon his second son.
The boy’s eyes gleamed with unwavering determination to achieve his purpose.
As for how the severed meridian condition had been cured, he could fabricate an explanation somehow.
He posed a question to Min Yi-jun.
“Good. Which sect do you wish to join?”
“I wish to go to the Huashan Sect.”

* * *

Before long, the eleventh month arrived, and my birthday drew near.
Which meant I would soon turn nineteen.
Yet I had no mind to dwell on such matters. There was simply too much work piled up from my trip to Luoyang.
I rose from the wooden table.
A brief walk seemed necessary to clear my thoughts.
Besides, those in the office needed some respite from their superior’s presence.
“I’ll step out for a moment.”
“Of course, sir. Please take your time.”
Yeochang’s Deputy answered promptly, and I suppressed an inward smile.
As I opened the door and stepped outside, the Seo-woo Warrior standing before it bowed his head.
So Seo-woo Warrior was on duty today.
“I’m going for a brief walk.”
“I shall accompany you.”
I walked slowly through the Merchant Guild Headquarters, and Seo-woo Warrior spoke.
“Palgap has been quite diligent in his training of late.”
“Indeed he has.”
The evening after I showed Master the secret technique, I had summoned Palgap to ask his opinion.

“Of course I should learn it, sir. It would allow me to serve you far better.”

Master had been right.
I had entrusted Palgap’s instruction to the Jin Yu Warrior, and these days while I attended to my duties, Palgap trained diligently.
And Geumryeong was also assisting Palgap’s training—though from what I could see, she seemed more intent on teasing him.

A familiar presence suddenly washes over me.
Hm?
I lift my head to gaze up at the tree, and soon spot a welcome face.
It’s Chun-il.
“What are you doing here?”
“Shh! Keep your voice down!”
“Pardon?”
“My target is approaching right now.”
At those words, I tilt my head and look ahead. Yeon Gak-ju is drawing near.
“Officer Yeon?”
“Today’s task is to steal the silver token hanging from the waist of Officer Yeon’s deputy.”
“I see. Do your best.”
Yet for some reason, Officer Yeon’s expression didn’t look particularly good.
“Ah, Guild Leader.”
“Is something the matter?”
“Actually, there’s been a problem at Sang-yu Hall.”
At those words, I smile inwardly.
I’d already prepared for this since I remembered this incident.
I cannot prevent it, but I can manage its aftermath.
I didn’t know the exact date, but I knew it would be around this time.
So it’s today.
I can’t miss this interesting spectacle.
“May I accompany you?”
“Please do.”
I glance at Chun-il in the tree and follow her toward Sang-yu Hall.

“My sincerest apologies! I’m truly sorry!”
“Where is your head? How could you be so careless!”

A grave atmosphere hung over Sang-yu Hall.
Voices of reproach and continuous apologies echoed through the space.
When Yeon Gak-ju entered Sang-yu Hall, those who spotted her quickly bowed their heads.
“We greet Officer Gak-ju!”
“What is the meaning of this? A ledger lost?”
“Well, you see…”
An officer hung his head low.
“I sincerely apologize!”
“Apologies come later. First, we must contain this situation. Report the full details.”
“That is…”
He steadied himself and explained everything from beginning to end.
The officer had accumulated pending work, and it fell to him to make a merchant expedition that day.
So he took the necessary documents and went on the expedition, but forgot to bring the ledger he had been referencing. Later, he hurried to Cha-jang to retrieve it, only to find that the warehouse staff had already sorted the goods and incinerated the remaining waste.
The ledger had gone up in flames with it.
The problem was that the ledger had been lost in the fire.
In my previous life, after this incident, the Trading Company instituted an absolute prohibition: original ledgers were never to be taken on merchant expeditions.
The reason was that the ledger lost at this moment…
“What documents did you say they were?”
“They were… this year’s ledger for silk transactions in Jiangsu Province.”
“…”
It was a ledger for silk, one of the Trading Company’s primary goods.
Once snow began to fall, travel to Jiangsu Province became difficult, so no one else would need the ledger. That’s why he had taken it.
Besides, today’s expedition destination was nearby.
Veins bulged across Yeon Gak-ju’s forehead. She was furious now, absolutely seething.
It looked like she might explode at any moment.
Yet Yeon Gak-ju somehow managed to exercise restraint.
Then an unnamed officer spoke up.
“Officer Gak-ju, word has come that silk will arrive from Jiangsu Province tomorrow.”
That meant without the ledger, the transaction could not proceed.
Yeon Gak-ju quickly assessed the situation and issued orders.
“Search through all other ledgers and records. Request documents from Sefung Division and Jaegyeong Pavilion to reconstruct the ledger. This is our highest priority—everyone must focus on this task.”
It was then.
A man approached, leaning on a cane and limping. It was Heo Un Scholar, or rather, Heo Un Officer, who worked at Sang-yu Hall.
He was the solution I had prepared in advance for this very situation.
“I believe I can resolve this matter.”
“What do you mean? You can resolve it?”
“You’re speaking of the Jiangsu Province silk transaction ledger, correct? For this year?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve seen that ledger.”
Yeon Gak-ju tilted her head in confusion, unsure what he meant, and Heo Un Officer continued.
“I remember everything I’ve seen, even just once.”

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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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