The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 17

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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 17

Chapter 17. An Unexpected Journey (5)

I turned my head toward the gaze I felt from beside me.
Master was watching me with a complicated expression in his eyes.
“There is no need for concern, Gwak Pyo-du. Jeong Jo-jang.”
At my confident words, the two men nodded despite their worry.
“Understood. We will wait.”
“Young Master, please take care of yourself.”
.
.
.
I followed Jang Chae-ju with Palgap at my side.
As I did, I recalled the words Jang Chae-ju had spoken to Palgap.
That a servant was such an existence.
Words that could only be spoken by someone who had actually kept servants.
And Jang Chae-ju had even discerned that I was stronger than Jung Chung.
In other words, he must be a master far superior in skill to myself.
It meant he was hiding both his true abilities and his status….
What circumstances could he be concealing?

Soon we arrived at the forest behind the Mountain Stronghold.
Jang Chae-ju stopped and turned to look at me, asking a question.
“So, what did you want to say? If you’re going through all this trouble to talk separately, it must be something important.”
“Of course. There’s something I wanted to ask you about, Stronghold Master.”
“Something you want to ask me?”
“Yes. About the spirit herbs scattered all over this mountain. I wanted to ask why you’re leaving them untouched.”
At my words, Jang Chae-ju tilted his head and asked back.
“What are you talking about? Spirit herbs?”
“Over there… Ghostly Breath Grass, White Tiger Marrow, and Threefold Snow are scattered everywhere…”
Jang Chae-ju’s expression showed complete bewilderment.
From that expression, I realized that Jang Chae-ju truly didn’t know.
“You really didn’t know?”
“I didn’t know. If I had, would I leave them alone? I would have sold them off long ago.”
“That makes sense.”
Indeed, even if someone has heard the name “spirit herbs,” if they haven’t actually handled them, they often don’t know exactly what they look like.
Jang Chae-ju is a martial artist, so he wouldn’t be completely ignorant of spirit herbs, but it seemed he had never handled them directly. Even with training, it’s difficult to recognize these plants growing wild as spirit herbs.
I could find them immediately because I had handled these spirit herbs directly and knew they existed here.
In the future I experienced, the real reason the Murim Alliance swept through this place was because of the spirit herbs scattered all over it.
To prevent that, I absolutely had to resolve this matter this time.
The fact that the incident occurred five years before my death meant the Murim Alliance still didn’t know much about the spirit herbs here.
If the spirit herb problem here was resolved, Jang Chae-ju and the people of this stronghold wouldn’t have to lose their innocent lives.
Besides, the time was approaching when I would need spirit medicine infused with yin energy.
Sensing my sincerity, Jang Chae-ju asked seriously.
“Is what you just said true—that spirit herbs are scattered all over this place?”
“Yes.”
“Can you stake your life on it?”
“No.”
“What?”
To him, slightly taken aback, I responded confidently.
“My life is worth far too much to stake it on something as trivial as the existence of spirit herbs.”
At my answer, Jang Chae-ju laughed with genuine delight.
“Hahahaha! You’re the real deal.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“So, what do you want from me?”
His eyes had changed completely.
“You must want something, which is why you called me out separately and revealed the existence of the spirit herbs. Do you want a portion of the spirit herbs here?”
“I would gratefully accept if you offered, but that’s not what I want.”
“Then what do you want?”
I looked directly at Jang Chae-ju.
“Would you consider doing business with the Eunhae Trading Company?”
“…A trade?”
I nodded.
“Yes. While it’s true that spirit herbs are abundant here, we cannot simply sell them as they are. If such a quantity floods the market in a short time, this place could become a target.”
Jang Chae-ju looked at me and asked.
“So that’s why you wanted to speak with me quietly? You’re worried the secret might leak?”
“Precisely.”
“You’re right… If word spreads that we have abundant spirit herbs, we’d have no shortage of vultures circling. Starting with the Black Path and going all the way up to the Murim Alliance.”
“….”
I was slightly startled when the Murim Alliance left his lips.
I hadn’t expected him to mention them so casually. Most people don’t invoke the Murim Alliance when worrying about losing something precious.
Moreover, when he spoke of the Murim Alliance, considerable anger flickered across his expression.
There was clearly a story there.
“So then, what do I gain from conducting business with your trading company?”
“Confidentiality and stable income. We’ll purchase at a fair price.”
“And if I refuse this trade?”
“Then you’ll have to find buyers elsewhere.”
“You’re saying you won’t reveal the secret?”
“Why would I reveal it?”
“…?”
“If I revealed the secret, this stronghold would disappear. Then I’d have to establish relations with whoever becomes the new master, wasting time and money in the process… That’s simply too troublesome.”
Jang Chae-ju, who had been studying me for a moment, burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahahaha!”
After laughing for quite some time, he finally stopped.
“You don’t fear me at all. You’ve got nerves of steel.”
“Without nerves of steel, how could I possibly conduct business with a figure of your stature?”
“Remarkable. I envy your father for having a son like you.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Very well. I’ll do business with the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“Thank you. Shall we draw up a contract?”
“Ha! Thorough, aren’t you?”
“Contracts are the foundation of any transaction.”
.
.
.
After reaching an agreement with him, I returned to the open ground, and everyone rushed toward me.
“Young Master!”
“Are you alright?”
I answered them with a smile.
“Yes, I’m fine. And I apologize for acting on my own. I’ll offer a proper apology later.”
It was then that Jang Chae-ju spoke.
“Everyone, pay attention!”
All eyes turned toward Jang Chae-ju.
“From this day forward, I have decided to treat Eun Seo-ho, the young master of the Eunhae Trading Company, as my benefactor.”
“…!”
Everyone’s eyes widened at those words.
In the martial world, the concept of a benefactor carried considerable weight. Because honoring such a debt could sometimes require bearing tremendous losses, one did not lightly bestow such a title upon just anyone.
Yet Jang Chae-ju, who held a substantial position within the Green Forest Bandits, had just spoken those words aloud.
He had declared himself my backer.
“If any of you wish not to follow my will, step forward before me now.”
He then drew his curved blade and drove it into the ground.
Thunk!
At the sharp edge of his declaration, the Green Forest Bandits of the mountain stronghold rushed to respond.
“There are none, sir.”
“I too shall serve the benefactor.”
“I shall follow the Stronghold Master’s will.”
And so, quite unexpectedly, I became the benefactor of the Odongsan Mountain Hideout under Jang Chae-ju’s command.
“So it is decided.”
Jang Chae-ju spoke, looking toward my Master.
“And I have no wish to become a shameless wretch who collects tolls from my benefactor. So please, pass freely.”
At those words, my Master glanced at me, and I gave a subtle shake of my head.
My Master nodded and spoke to Jang Chae-ju.
“That will not do. We have received your hospitality, and we cannot simply depart without acknowledgment.”
“Hah! Are you spurning my sincerity?”
“Not at all.”
My Master drew a purse from his robes and extended it, saying:
“This is not a toll. It is a gift from the benefactor. Please accept it.”
At those words, Jang Chae-ju cleared his throat.
“Ahem, then I shall gratefully receive it.”
Jang Chae-ju took it and placed it in his robes, then spoke.
“Well then, men! Our guests are in haste. Clear the snow quickly.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Clear the snow at once, and with the money we’ve earned today, let us feast on meat and wine to our hearts’ content!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Hiyah!”
“Let’s go!”
At the mention of meat and wine, the Green Forest Bandits’ eyes gleamed as they rushed forward, and the snow was cleared with remarkable speed.
The path that had vanished beneath the snow reappeared so quickly that everyone was left speechless.
Watching this, my Master spoke.
“It seems we shall reach our destination far more swiftly than anticipated.”
At those words, Jung Chung also nodded in agreement.
“It is thanks to you, Young Master.”
He looked at me and asked.
“What exactly did you do to convince Jang Chae-ju to escort us all the way to the Eunhae Trading Company? It seems like more than just presenting a solution to clear the snow from the mountain path.”
“Well, you see.”
I answered with a broad smile.
“That’s a trade secret.”
“You’re keeping secrets even from a fellow member of the company? That’s rather disappointing.”
There was nothing I could do about his disappointment.
I had promised to keep the secrets regarding the young talents in this place, and I couldn’t reveal them here.
Moreover, this was no trivial matter, so making excuses with careless lies wouldn’t be right either.
So it was easier on my conscience to simply declare it a secret.
‘Jung Chung wouldn’t take offense at something like this.’
Jung Chung spoke of being disappointed, but his face showed nothing of the sort.
He possessed an instinctive ability to sense danger.
That was how he had survived countless perilous situations.
This ability extended even to the small matter of distinguishing what he should and shouldn’t know, as in this moment.
I suspected it was precisely this ability that had elevated him to the position of Vice Commander of the Eunpung Corps.
That ability—I envied it.
At that moment, Jung Chung wrapped his arms around himself and shivered.
“What’s the matter?”
At Master’s question, Jung Chung answered with an awkward laugh.
“Ah, it’s nothing. I just felt a sudden chill.”
“Given the weather, you should be careful. Perhaps you should wear another layer.”
“Yes, I should.”
Master patted Jung Chung’s shoulder and spoke.
“Then let’s prepare to depart soon.”
“Yes, of course.”
Im Gyeong-bin Officer climbed back onto the carriage, and I followed Master and Jung Chung to approach Jang Chae-ju and clasped my fists in salute.
“Thank you for allowing us to rest so pleasantly.”
“I should be the one thanking you for indulging my whims. And more so for showing our hideout the path forward.”
Jang Chae-ju continued, looking at me.
“I’ll be waiting for your contact.”
“Yes. May you remain safe in the meantime.”
“May fortune bless your journey ahead.”
After exchanging farewells with the Stronghold Master, I climbed onto the carriage.
“Depart!”
“Yes!”
At Master’s command, our journey resumed once more.

* * *

Jang Dae-su, the Stronghold Master of the Odong Mountain Hideout, watched the procession of Pyo’s entourage disappear into the distance.
Then he let out a soft chuckle.
The bold demeanor of the young man who had secretly proposed a transaction to him came to mind.
‘So he was the youngest son of the Eunhae Trading Company Master.’
Even if he had just come of age, wasn’t he still a mere boy?
With my own blade energy and the momentum I unleashed, he should have trembled in fear.
But his reaction was entirely different.
He approached me with confidence and presented a clever solution to resolve this situation.
‘My words were enough to make him sigh. This fellow….’
I even felt a strange embarrassment.
Moreover, he had informed me about the spirit herbs of this hideout that even I didn’t know about, and had gone so far as to propose a transaction.
If I were to trade spirit herbs as he suggested, I could expand the hideout further and operate it more stably.
And I would be able to fortify my defenses even more solidly.
‘I was already feeling anxious about this, so things have worked out well.’
As hope kindled, various tasks I needed to accomplish began flooding my mind one after another.
Such as selecting personnel for the spirit herb trade.
‘This time, I must not allow betrayal.’
Jang Dae-su looked at his own blade.
He who had fled to survive after cutting the throat of his deputy who had betrayed him had abandoned his beloved weapon and instead wielded this curved blade that only the Black Path carried.
Without a weapon like this, my martial prowess would be completely exposed.
They must not yet know that I am alive.
Speaking of Eun Seo-ho, it reminded me of the fellow who had allowed me to escape.
That attendant of mine had possessed the same audacity and resourcefulness as Eun Seo-ho.
In any case, I found myself curious to see just how far this fellow named Eun Seo-ho could go.
That must have been why.
I, who must conceal my identity, decided to serve Eun Seo-ho as a benefactor.

* * *

After descending the mountain for some time, the accumulated snow had become sparse enough that it no longer needed to be cleared.
“We shall take our leave here. Please proceed with caution.”
The Green Forest Bandits who had cleared the snow up to this point spoke.
Beyond this point was no longer their territory, and there was no benefit in the Green Forest Bandits venturing so far from the hideout.

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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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