The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 201

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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 201

# Chapter 201. Jin-ho’s Spring (5)

Jin-ho tilted his head at my words.
“A performance? What do you mean?”
I finished eating my dumplings, sipped my tea, and then explained to Jin-ho.
“Brother, that celestial fragrance incense I gave you—it’s a counterfeit.”
“Of course it is.”
“But if word gets out that you obtained it, won’t rumors spread?”
“They will.”
As the saying goes, walls have ears. Somehow, rumors always find a way to spread quickly.
That’s why, to hide a tree, you hide it in a forest—you spread false rumors to conceal the truth.
Especially when it comes to Jin-ho’s affairs, people who love to gossip about others’ business find it the finest entertainment.
“So how do you think people will react to this?”
“They’ll be relieved that the spirit medicine was found quickly?”
Just as I expected.
His answer was far too predictable.
“No, there will definitely be people who grow suspicious.”
“Suspicious of what?”
“Think about it. You left home to find spirit medicine, and you claim to have found it in just one day. Do you really think people will believe that so easily?”
Only then did my brother nod in understanding.
“You’re right about that.”
“Of course, since it’s genuine spirit medicine, there won’t be any problem curing the illness. But people will definitely talk about how you obtained it.”
“They might think I already had the spirit medicine, or that our family possessed it all along?”
“That would actually be fortunate. There’s also the possibility that people will say we stole the spirit medicine from someone else.”
I sighed as I spoke.
“You know as well as I do, Brother. There are many people who resent how rapidly our trading company is growing.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
At first, people will think it’s “remarkable” that Jin-ho obtained the spirit medicine and saved Ha Young Lady.
But if those who harbor ill will toward the Eunhae Trading Company begin to raise suspicions—”Was it really obtained through legitimate means?” or “Doesn’t the Eunhae Trading Company have many spirit medicines hidden away?”—then things become truly troublesome.
People are always more captivated by “they had a terrible fight last night” than by “they’re living happily and well.”
There’s a saying that if three people gather, they’ll invent a dragon that never existed.
The power of rumors is far more frightening than one might think.
Remembering how the sales of Jamu Dolls plummeted because of rumors before, this is no laughing matter.
And once rumors take root like that, it takes considerable time and money to contain them.
“So we need a performance.”
I continued.
“A story so moving that anyone who harbored malicious thoughts about Elder Brother and Ha Young Lady would flinch and condemn themselves, thinking ‘I’m garbage!'”
Sigh.
Of course, if we had exchanged the Spirit Elixir in secret from the beginning, there would be no need for all this troublesome work.
The problem is that Jin-ho made such a spectacular mess of things.
With rumors spreading all over town, Jin-ho needs to return with the Spirit Elixir to avoid becoming a laughingstock.
And at the same time, we need to create a plausible narrative that makes it difficult for people to raise suspicions.
“So, what exactly do I need to do?”
“Right, just catch one crazed Spirit Creature.”
“…What?”
It might sound like a sudden suggestion, but I’d already thought of it while coming to find Jin-ho.
I’d even prepared an appropriate villain for the story.
If we’re going to put on a performance anyway, might as well make it spectacular.
But Jin-ho.
Why is he looking at me like that?
You’re hurting my feelings.
.
.
.
I had Geumryeong send a letter to Father.
It said that I’d found Jin-ho and would return the day before my birthday celebration, so there was no need to worry.
Most of the influential figures from the nearby region would gather at this birthday celebration.
If we cannot stop the rumors, then we must prevent them from being distorted.

The next morning.
We prepared to depart at the crack of dawn.
“So there’s a crazed Spirit Creature at the foot of Bok Ryong Mountain?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
We headed toward Bok Ryong Mountain. There was a Spirit Creature there.
That Spirit Creature would serve as the villain in the theatrical performance where Jin-ho was the protagonist.
We weren’t hunting down a Spirit Creature that was living peacefully by casting it as a villain.
It just so happened there was a Spirit Creature in the nearby region that needed dealing with.
The Blood Tiger.
A tiger that craved blood.
It possessed claws far sharper and longer than those of ordinary tigers, and was remarkably agile.
Until now, it had survived by hunting other animals, so there hadn’t been significant damage.
But in my previous life, after the Jegal Family was annihilated and the Murim Alliance ransacked Bok Ryong Mountain searching for the Ancestor, that beast devoured the warriors who entered its territory.
It swallowed the martial artists who ventured into its domain.
Having tasted human flesh for the first time, the creature seemed to develop a preference for it and began attacking the villages at the foot of the mountain.
Eventually, after nearly a hundred casualties, it was dealt with by the Murim Alliance.
It was absurd.
The Murim Alliance caused the problem, and then the Murim Alliance solved it.
The commander leading those martial artists gained the title Chamho Geom-ung from that incident.
Though it was later revealed that he had exhausted the other warriors’ strength before taking credit for the kill himself.
In any case, it was a dangerous creature that would cause casualties if it ever tasted human flesh again.
So by eliminating it beforehand, I could prevent future bloodshed and elevate Jin-ho’s reputation—truly killing two birds with one stone.
Besides, it was an appropriate opponent that wouldn’t be beyond Jin-ho’s capabilities.
“But how did you know there was a crazed Spirit Creature on Bok Ryong Mountain?”
I answered with a broad smile.
“Geum Ryung-i told me.”
“Ah, you mean that strange pig?”
At Jin-ho’s words, Geum Ryung-i squealed in protest from inside my sleeve.
I patted Geum Ryung-i and said.
“Still, it’s rather cute.”
“Sure, sure.”

After a full day of hard riding, I arrived at Bok Ryong Mountain and searched my memory for where the creature might be found.
Unlike ordinary tigers that prefer sun-drenched rocky terrain, the Blood Tiger favored the shadowy depths of the forest.
Fortunately, I spotted it quickly.
“There it is.”
At Seo-woo Warrior’s words, I nodded.
A single crimson-furred tiger stood before us, its gaze fixed upon our group.
“Jin-ho.”
“Hmm?”
“Do your best. And don’t worry—if things get too difficult, Seo-woo Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior will support you.”
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
Jin-ho gripped the spear I had gifted him, Chang Ryong-mu, with unwavering determination.
“I think I can handle this alone.”
Jin-ho’s face blazed with exhilaration at the prospect of facing such a worthy opponent as the Blood Tiger.
Indeed, Jin-ho was born to be a warrior.
“Roooaaarrr—!”
The Blood Tiger lunged at us, and Jin-ho swept Chang Ryong-mu through the air.
Clang—!
Sparks erupted as Chang Ryong-mu clashed with the Blood Tiger’s razor-sharp claws.
The shockwave was powerful enough to make the surrounding trees sway, yet Chang Ryong-mu remained pristine—Master Yeom truly had done excellent work.
For the price I paid, he had crafted it with meticulous care.
As I marveled at this internally, the battle between Jin-ho and the Blood Tiger intensified.
Seo-woo Warrior muttered with a hint of surprise.
“The Second Guild Master’s skills are quite formidable.”
“Better than I expected, actually.”
“At this rate… he should reach the Peak realm before long. He appears to be standing at the threshold between First-Class and Peak right now.”
Watching Jin-ho in actual combat rather than mere training, I could gauge his true capabilities.
From what I knew, Jin-ho had been in the First-Class realm for some time now.
Yet in real combat, he displayed prowess rivaling a warrior who had just entered the Peak realm.
Jin-ho was clearly formidable in actual battle.
Perhaps I should have arranged for a stronger spirit creature?
No, no.
This was merely part of the performance, and there was no need to overextend.
Wasn’t there a martial saying about this?
Hide one-third of your true strength.
“To reach this level before even turning thirty—that’s truly remarkable.”
Everyone nodded at Seo-woo Warrior’s words.
I suspected Jin-ho’s rapid growth stemmed from quickly finding a weapon suited to him and training accordingly—far swifter progress than in his previous life.
Boom—!
“Huff, huff… it’s over!”
After roughly an hour of combat, Jin-ho finally brought down the Blood Tiger.
“You’ve done well, Elder Brother. That’s impressive. You actually took it down alone!”
At my words, Jin-ho glanced toward Chang Ryong-mu and replied.
“It was just… a feeling, I suppose? I didn’t think I would lose.”
I chuckled softly and patted Jin-ho’s shoulder.
“Then let’s go now.”
.
.
.
The day before my birthday celebration.
I returned to the trading company early the previous day.
This was Jin-ho’s moment to shine, and my presence would only divide the attention.
Besides, I had a role to play as the wind-catcher.
I greeted the guests who had come for my birthday celebration and casually suggested.
“It’s a beautiful day for tea outdoors. Would you care for some tea in the garden?”
“That sounds wonderful.”
There was a pavilion right beside the Guest Reception Room, and from there, one could see the main gate clearly.
As expected, the Jegal Family had sent the Grand Patriarch and Jegal Yu-ah.
But the guests from the Sichuan Tang Family were slightly different from what I anticipated.
Not only the Grand Patriarch and Tang Jo-ung, but Dang Su-bin had come as well.
Has she finally given up her role as the Manjol Physician?
Seeing her in such fine clothes, having worn rags before, felt somewhat strange to me.
In any case, this was a gathering of the leaders of two great martial families—the Jegal Family and the Sichuan Tang Family.
Everyone welcomed the opportunity to make an impression on such distinguished figures.
Thus, I ascended the pavilion with the guests and shared tea and pleasant conversation.
Jin-ho should be arriving soon now…

“Good heavens!”
“What is that?”
“Eek!”
Cries of surprise and bewilderment echoed from the people gathered there.
He’s finally arrived.
I called out to Palgap with an expression of complete ignorance.
“What is all this commotion about?”
“I shall investigate at once….”
“No, there’s no need to go. They don’t seem alarmed—rather, they appear bewildered. It must be someone they know.”
The Jegal Family’s Grand Elder spoke while gazing toward the main gate, and I responded with barely concealed delight.
“Ah? It seems Second Brother has returned.”
“Oh! You mean that fellow who ran away to search for the spirit medicine?”
The elder had heard the rumors and immediately grasped the situation.
“Yes, that’s correct. I was quite worried when he left so suddenly….”
The Manjol Physician focused his inner sight on the gate, then tilted his head in puzzlement.
“His body appears unharmed. But… what has he brought with him? It looks as though he’s brought a tiger… Could it be a spirit creature?”
“A spirit creature?”
“Yes, rather than speculate, let us go see for ourselves.”
The Manjol Physician moved first, and everyone followed him toward the main gate.
I trailed behind them, smiling inwardly.
The Manjol Physician moved exactly as I anticipated.

Word must have reached Father as well, for he emerged just as we arrived.
Thump.
Jin-ho dropped to his knees before him.
“Father, your son has returned.”
“…What is the meaning of this?”
Jin-ho’s body was drenched in blood—though not his own, but that of the Blood Tiger.
“It is a spirit creature called the Blood Tiger. I have slain this creature and brought back the spiritual elixir it had monopolized.”
At those words, those gathered around began to murmur in admiration.
“What? He actually obtained a spiritual elixir?”
“Then it must be real! Look at that terrifying beast!”
“Impressive! The Second Small Guild Master managed to slay such a creature and recover a genuine spiritual elixir!”
The crowd’s reaction was as heated as I had anticipated.
Then the Jegal Family’s Grand Elder and Master Yeom, who had been slowly examining the spirit creature, spoke.
“The vital point was struck with remarkable precision.”
“Those wounds appear to be from a spear. It must have been quite the burden to handle alone.”
“Yet there are no signs of anyone else’s involvement…”
“Hmm… most impressive.”
The two exchanged glances and nodded in acknowledgment. With their approval, no one else would dare dispute it.
Besides, my brother had indeed handled it himself.
“Where was this creature captured?”
At Master Yeom’s question, Jin-ho answered, and I observed the Jegal Family’s Grand Elder.
“Whether it be a spiritual elixir or a spirit creature, the one who obtains it is its rightful owner, and the one who captures it is its rightful owner.”
“That is certainly true.”
That was the fundamental truth that governed the martial arts world.
From the gleam in Master Yeom’s eyes, it seemed he desired the creature’s corpse.
Well, how much should I ask for it?
But the other lead actor in this performance needed to make an entrance soon.
“Jin-ho, Small Guild Master!”
She appeared at precisely the right moment.
“Ha Young Lady!”
“Ah… Jin-ho, Small Guild Master. Truly, truly, for me…”
“It is only natural. A world without you holds no meaning for me.”
At the poignant sight of the two, everyone’s eyes grew moist.
In truth, Ha Young Lady had known all along.
I had returned early and given her advance notice, asking about her feelings.
She had confirmed her affection for Jin-ho and agreed to follow my plan.
I watched the two with a satisfied smile.
In any performance, the actors themselves were crucial.
I had managed to save Ha Young Lady’s life and preserve my brother’s honor and reputation, but this was only possible because he had not neglected his training all this time.
That is why I could devise such a plan in the first place.
Of course, I’d gone through unnecessary hardship, but I chose to think positively about it.
I offered a wry smile and rubbed my nose.
Winter was approaching and the air had grown crisp, yet for my Elder Brother, spring had arrived.

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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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