The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 225

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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 225

Chapter 225. Care for a Job? (4)

The Green Forest Bandits from the Mountain Stronghold bolted down the mountainside and concealed themselves in a suitable location.
Clatter, clatter,
The sound of cart wheels rolling along the mountain path reached their ears, and soon the merchant convoy came into view.
A smaller group than expected.
They should have questioned why the convoy was so lightly staffed.
But hunger and greed had clouded their vision—all they could see was the size of the cargo loaded on the carts.
‘Something that size… it must be grain!’
‘It’s definitely grain!’
Soon the merchant convoy drew near, and the Stronghold Master gave the signal.
Shrieeek—!
At that sound, the Green Forest Bandits rushed forward as one.
“Eek! N-no, bandits!”
“Run!”
“Abandon the cargo!”
“Just take the horses and supplies!”
At the sight of the Green Forest Bandits, the merchant convoy cleanly abandoned their cargo and fled like the wind.
It was nothing like their usual desperate struggle to protect their shipments.
Yet the bandits, intoxicated by their easy victory, gave little thought to why the merchants had surrendered so readily.
“Ha, you bastards! Look at them scramble like their tails are on fire.”
“Hahahaha!”
“Let’s see what this cargo actually is.”
“Yes, sir!”
At the Stronghold Master’s command, the bandits stripped away the burlap covering the cargo on the cart.
And then a profound silence fell among them.
“…”
What revealed itself before them was…
“What is this?”
“Uh, it looks like a block of ice, sir.”
“Ice? Frozen water?”
“…”
The bandits exchanged glances and began backing away cautiously. It was obvious the Stronghold Master was thoroughly displeased.
“Perhaps… there might be something valuable hidden inside that ice.”
At those words, the bandits perked up and rushed forward eagerly.
“Ah! Truly worthy of you, Stronghold Master!”
“That makes sense.”
“Go ahead and break it open.”
“Yes, sir!”
At the Stronghold Master’s command, the Green Forest Bandits drew their weapons and began striking the ice.
How many hours passed like this?
After hammering away at the solid ice again and again, we finally managed to break it all apart.
But… there was nothing inside the ice.
It was simply a massive block of ice from the start.
A grand migration of ice that had driven the Green Forest Bandits across the entire region to madness.

* * *

The work progressed smoothly.
I approached one of the Ice Workers who was taking a break and asked him a question.
“How does the liquor taste?”
“Ah! This is Myung Ju! Myung Ju!”
“Haha! We’re grateful that you praise our Eunhae Trading Company’s spirits as Myung Ju.”
With permission from the Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster to drink, I had the Yeo Eung-am Warrior and Seo-woo Warrior fetch our Eunhae Trading Company’s liquor.
There was an Eunhae Trading Company Branch in nearby Guizhou, and the spirits produced by the Eunhae Trading Company were distributed and sold throughout the region, so obtaining them was no difficult matter.
Thus, all the liquor the Ice Workers were drinking now came from our Eunhae Trading Company.
This was my true strategy.
Most drinkers, once they develop a taste for a particular spirit, continue seeking it out.
So by accustoming them to our Eunhae Trading Company’s flavor this way, they would become devoted enthusiasts of our spirits.
“Oh! The taste is truly excellent!”
“It clings to the palate so pleasantly—what a problem!”
Moreover, there were Golden Robe Guard Warriors here as well.
Then I saw a group trudging back from the distance.
Weren’t those the ones who had departed with the escort goods a few days ago?
“We… were robbed of the escort goods by the Green Forest Bandits on the way.”
“My, is anyone injured?”
“Fortunately, no one is.”
“Come here and have a drink to ease your mind. We have plenty of ice anyway, haha.”
That was true.
We had ice. Tremendous amounts of it.
We had anticipated the Green Forest Bandits would target the escort goods, but it mattered little to us.
‘Should I bring the Green Forest Bandits here and put them to work?’
I had briefly entertained such a thought, but soon shook my head.
They were rough-natured fellows, and employing them would likely bring more losses than gains.
.
.
.
Thus another fortnight passed.
During that time, we had cleared a considerable amount of ice, and with the Pyoguk’s assistance, it was transported to reservoirs and farmland across the region.
Though the Green Forest Bandits initially attempted to harass us a few times, once word spread of our work, they ceased to even glance at our convoys.
And so the “upstream ice removal operation” proceeded smoothly.
As we reduced the ice, the rate at which new ice formed began to slow.
One cannot deceive the seasons, after all.
It was now early March.
At that moment, the Ice Workers Chief approached Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
“Pardon me, Great Swordmaster. Seeing how the ice quality is beginning to deteriorate, I believe we must conclude our work soon.”
“Has it come to that already?”
“Yes. In my assessment, we should complete the operation and withdraw by tomorrow. Otherwise, the workers risk falling into the water.”
“That would indeed be a grave matter. See that it is done.”
“Thank you.”
Those words meant the work was finally ending.
Could it truly be that I would return home at last?
After receiving Han Jae-ik’s letter, I had spent considerable time in Taekyung County of Henan, then proceeded directly to Beijing, and from there came here—nearly two months without setting foot in my own house.
Ah, how I longed to see my family’s faces.
Surely Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon had not forgotten what I looked like.
I approached Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
“It seems this great undertaking is finally coming to a close.”
“Indeed it is. And thanks to it, the Emperor is being praised throughout the Central Plains, or so I hear.”
Farmers, being experts in agriculture, had been deeply concerned about the sparse snowfall that winter.
With ice now distributed to reservoirs across the land, their worries about drought had been considerably eased.
“I merely offered my thoughts. It was the Emperor and the Great Swordmasters who brought this plan to fruition.”
“Yet without your suggestion, this endeavor would never have begun, and considerable damage would have befallen us.”
I smiled awkwardly.
“I am grateful. And once this work is complete, I would prefer to slip away quietly and return home.”
“What are you saying? You are the primary architect of this success. The Emperor himself has spoken of his great commendation. Surely you must be present at that ceremony.”
“I cannot. As I mentioned before, I am of delicate constitution, and standing in such a position would surely bring on illness.”
I continued with a smile.
“Moreover, all credit should go to the Geumui Guard and those who labored so diligently.”
“You….”
“Please, I implore you not to refuse this request from a humble merchant.”
I clasped my hands and bowed deeply.
Having said this much, please understand and do not press me further.
I simply wish to return home with all speed.
I glanced at Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
His eyes had reddened with emotion, and it seemed tears might spill forth at the slightest touch.
“Yet we too have our pride….”
“From the beginning, I merely wished to offer my support so that the Emperor’s hands and feet—the devoted Great Heroes laboring so tirelessly—might see their loyalty rewarded.”
“Kugh! How can you be so genuinely kind? Very well. Shameless though it may be, I shall accept your consideration.”
Excellent!
“Thank you for indulging the Small Merchant’s unreasonable request. Once I confirm the work is completed tomorrow, I shall depart immediately.”
“Very good.”
I bowed respectfully to express my gratitude, then hurried toward Palgap and the Guard Warriors.
“Why do you seem so delighted, sir?”
Palgap asked quietly.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Others likely wouldn’t notice, sir.”
“Pack our things. We’re heading home the moment tomorrow’s work wraps up.”
“Ah, so that’s why you’re so pleased, sir.”
That was when it happened.
“…!”
A sharp, tingling sensation suddenly coursed across my entire body.
Some inexplicable sense of foreboding….
“Ahhh! Run, get away!”
“The ice is cracking!”
I quickly turned toward the source of the commotion. The ice had apparently receded far more than anticipated, unable to support the weight of the workers upon it.
Crack!
The ice fractured, and several workers standing atop it plunged directly into the water below.
Splash!
Chaos erupted in an instant.
“Evacuate!”
“Ahhhhh!”
The ice rose again due to buoyancy, but those who had fallen beneath it left no trace.
The Golden Robe Guard Warriors rushed desperately toward the ice, yet they too stood paralyzed with panic, unsure what to do.
Of all times for this to happen—the day before we leave!
I shouted urgently to Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
“Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster! Please melt the ice!”
“Eh? Ah, understood!”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster gathered his inner energy and unleashed a torrent of flame toward the ice.
The other Golden Robe Guard Warriors snapped to attention and began striking and breaking apart the ice.
But at this pace….
“We’ll have to go in there ourselves and retrieve them!”
“That seems necessary.”
Yet we had no way of knowing how deep the workers had sunk.
And no matter how skilled in martial arts one might be, one cannot remain underwater for long.
Water techniques exist for a reason.
Movement is severely restricted in water, and the use of martial arts becomes far less fluid.
Even Golden Robe Guard Warriors could drown if they weren’t careful.
“….”
But I possessed the ability to save those who had fallen into the water.
Of course, I needed to keep my martial arts secret as much as possible, but that couldn’t be an excuse to ignore people dying before my eyes.
Otherwise, what would be the difference between me and the Murim Alliance or Baekcheon Trading Company?
With that thought, I removed my outer robe and spoke to Palgap.
“Prepare warm bathwater so those who fell in the water can soak themselves!”
“Yes?”
I took a deep breath and dove straight into the water.
Splash!
My body sank deep beneath the surface.
And I began to employ the Ice Sea Water Severing Technique.
For some reason, I recalled the time when I had studied the water techniques of Seolpung Palace in depth under my Ancestor.
Thanks to that, I was able to quickly harmonize my body with the cold icy water using the Ice Sea Transformation Heart Method.
As I descended deeper, I could see laborers swaying about unconscious.
Huh?
At that moment, Geumryeong emerged from my sleeve—when had she come out?—and darted about, pushing the laborers toward me.
Thanks to her, I was able to quickly bring them to the surface.
Gasp!
As I broke through the water’s surface, I could see the Golden Robe Guard Warriors.
“Here, take them.”
“Uh, u-uh….”
The Golden Robe Guard Warriors, though startled, accepted the laborers I had rescued.
There were seven people in total that I had seen drowning in the water.
To save them all safely, I had to hurry, and Geumryeong had been of great help.
What a capable Geumryeong.
I’d have to give her a silver coin later.
Just to be sure, I asked Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
“Are there any more people in the water?”
“No. We’ve saved all seven!”
And he extended his hand, saying:
“Now come up.”
“Yes.”
I grasped Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster’s hand and climbed out. The Guard Warriors and Palgap rushed toward me.
“Here is a warm blanket for you.”
“Please have a cup of warm tea.”
“Thank you.”
I allowed myself to be led by them and sat obediently before the bonfire.
“Were you worried?”
“Not particularly.”
Seo-woo Warrior answered calmly.
“It’s been years since I’ve served my lord. Would I panic or worry over something like this? However….”
He turned his head to look at the Golden Robe Guard Warriors as he spoke.
“They’re different.”
Well, that was true….
“Ah, the ones I rescued….”
It was Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster who answered my question.
“They’re all safe. We got to them quickly, so there’s no danger to their lives.”
Not just Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, but all the other Golden Robe Guard Warriors approached me.
“What on earth possessed you to jump into the water like that without warning?”
“My apologies. But how could I simply stand by and watch people dying?”
I smiled as I continued.
“If we can save them, shouldn’t we do everything in our power to do so?”
“You really are….”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster shook his head in disbelief.
“In any case, thank you. Thanks to you, we were able to salvage this situation before it left a blemish on our record. I’m truly grateful.”
He bowed to me, and the others followed suit, bowing as well.
Ah, how embarrassing….
“It seems swimming is quite the specialty of yours. It was remarkable how quickly you pulled out those workers.”
To that question, I answered naturally.
“Since I was born and raised not far from a river, I’ve been confident in my swimming abilities since childhood.”
“I see.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster continued.
“Since things have come to this, we should finish the work now.”
“Then, as I mentioned earlier, I’ll quietly take my leave.”
“Are you certain about this? I’m asking once more just to be sure.”
“Yes. I only ask for your forgiveness in advance for disappearing without a word.”
“….”
There was something unsettling in the way he looked at me.
“You already gave your permission earlier. I hope you won’t take it back now.”
“Sigh… very well. Do as you wish.”
“Thank you.”
After they withdrew, the Ice Master and the workers approached me to express their gratitude.
Though the situation had begun because of my words, I was fortunate that there had been no casualties.
.
.
.
The next morning at dawn.
I left that place just as I had told Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster I would.
“My lord, your steps seem lighter.”
“Haha! Of course. We’re heading home, after all.”
Seo-woo Warrior laughed at my words.
“I miss my lady as well.”
Once home, I’d need to immediately begin preparations for Jin-ho’s wedding, but my spirits remained high nonetheless.
At last, we were going home!

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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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