The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 252

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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 252

Chapter 252. His Circumstances (1)

I stared at Yang Eun-jik, whose eyes had widened in shock and alarm.
His face was filled with both shock and despair.
It was exactly as we had intended.
Just moments before, we had located Yang Eun-jik and discussed how to deal with him as we moved into position.
“I believe…”
Surprisingly, it was Jin Yu Warrior who had offered his opinion first.
“I hope he experiences the same despair that the innocent people who lost their lives because of him must have felt.”
He offered a bitter smile.
“Of course, I understand I have no right to say such things. But leaving that man alive is dangerous. Yet to simply kill him cleanly… I cannot help but think of the innocent people who lost their lives because of him.”
I offered comfort to Jin Yu Warrior.
“Jin Yu Warrior, you acted without choice. But Yang Eun-jik—that is the problem with him. He acted by his own will.”
He nodded at my words.
Ah, now that I think about it, Seo-woo Warrior and Lee Pil Warrior don’t know what Jin Yu Warrior had said about Yang Eun-jik.
I explained it to them briefly.
Naturally, they were enraged.
“By the heavens! A man like that!”
“He deserves to die a hundred times over.”
What shocked the group most was the inn fire incident in Jiangxi Province that had occurred five years ago.
At that time, Green Forest Bandits from a nearby mountain stronghold had set fire to the inn, and countless people staying there had burned to death. That incident was said to be Yang Eun-jik’s first assignment.
“I learned of this from a former colleague at the time. Apparently, he incited the nearby bandits to eliminate a single person staying at the inn.”
He sacrificed so many lives just to kill one person?
It was utterly absurd.
“That is why I hope he experiences the same despair that those innocent people who died must have felt.”
“I agree.”
“I too wish to proceed in that manner.”
Thus Seo-woo Warrior and Lee Pil Warrior also consented.
Then what method could bring him the greatest despair…?
I recalled the time I had encountered Yang Eun-jik in my previous life.

“How did you reach the pinnacle, Great Hero? Is there perhaps a secret to it?”
“Hehehehe, a secret, you say….”
“My apologies. I suppose I’m simply rather curious by nature….”
“That’s not a bad thing. Well, the truth is, the League Master did pass down martial techniques to me… but I had my own shortcomings as well. The problem was that I had never experienced the desperation of life and death. Thanks to the League Master, I was able to overcome that barrier.”
“I see.”
“It was only natural that I reached the pinnacle. How much… how much time did I endure for this pinnacle state….”

From that conversation, I could infer that what he desired most was the pinnacle state.
And what he needed to reach the pinnacle was a life-and-death duel.
From what I heard, the League Master was a master of Hwagyeong.
So there was no way he wouldn’t have noticed Yang Eun-jik’s condition.
With his help, Yang Eun-jik went through a harrowing life-and-death battle, and thanks to that, he broke through the pinnacle barrier.
When I shared this analysis with everyone, they all agreed.
That’s why we overwhelmed him while making it feel like a fierce, desperate struggle.
To give him the experience of a life-and-death duel.
As I predicted, he reached the pinnacle.
But the moment he cried out in triumph, Seo-woo Warrior’s blade pierced through him.
Precisely where the dantian lay.
“Ugh! This… this can’t be….”
As his dantian shattered, he clenched his teeth against the immense pain. Though the anguish of despair cut far deeper.
The brilliant light of his sword was fading away.
“I… I achieved… this state…!”
To him, drowning in despair, I spoke coldly.
“You must be in despair.”
“Kugh!”
“But that despair—those innocent people you killed felt it too.”
“So what? They should… have considered it an honor… worthless… people… sacrificing for me….”
What?
They should have considered it an honor?
That worthless people could sacrifice themselves for him?
His very thoughts were rotten to the core.
“What matters is this: you die here. And no one will ever know or remember your death, nor that you were a pinnacle master.”
I continued.
“Because you’ll be dead less than half a month after becoming a pinnacle master.”
Of course, we intended to forget that he had ever been a pinnacle master.
Enraged by my words, he let out a wail.
“Dammmmiiiiit!”
And he swung his blade.
A final, desperate struggle.
But that blade could no longer be wielded.
Thud—!
The Jin Yu Warrior’s blade pierced straight through his heart.
Cough—!
“Go to the afterlife and apologize to all those you’ve killed.”
Thump.
And so Yang Eun-jik met his death years earlier than in my previous life.
Considering the innocent lives he would have claimed in the future, it was a good thing.
We burned his corpse.
But we didn’t burn it completely—only the areas where blade marks remained.
I’d considered subduing him and handing him over to the Imperial Palace, but I abandoned that idea.
No matter how powerful the Imperial Palace was, Yang Eun-jik belonged to the Murim Alliance.
They could force him to take his own life in prison or smuggle him out secretly to eliminate any loose ends.
If I wasn’t careful, things could become even more difficult than in my previous life.
So it was better to dispose of him here like this.
But if I burned or buried him completely, the Geumui Guard who lost track of him could face criticism, so I did it this way instead.
“Jin Yu Warrior.”
“Yes.”
“Please ask the Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster to come here.”
“Understood.”
And before the Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster arrived, we deliberately left traces scattered throughout the area.

“Huff! Huff huff!”
Shortly after, the Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster approached us, breathing heavily.
“I heard you found Yang Eun-jik’s corpse?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“My guards and I have been tracking Yang Eun-jik independently.”
“You’ve been tracking Yang Eun-jik?”
“Yes. As I mentioned before, Beijing won’t be at peace until we find him as soon as possible, will it?”
“You… you were serious about this.”
“Of course. I cannot tolerate Beijing becoming chaotic when the Eunhae Trading Company’s new branch is about to be established. So while searching the most likely escape route, I…”
I sighed.
“…discovered a corpse burning in the flames.”
“Ugh!”
The Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster frowned at the gruesome sight.
However, his face remained intact, so his identity was still recognizable.
“Based on the signs of combat left here, it appears he was eliminated.”
“I see it the same way. It seems the discovery of those documents must have triggered this.”
He clicked his tongue.
“What a shame. Now I can’t use this as leverage to interrogate the Murim Alliance…”
Hearing those words, I let out a bitter laugh internally.
Even if this man had lived, you wouldn’t have been able to press the Murim Alliance for answers anyway.
They’re not the sort of organization to be so careless.
“Still, I should make inquiries in that direction.”
I nodded.
Seeing what happened to Yang Eun-jik, I wondered what kind of reaction the Murim Alliance would have.
I was curious about that.
“Ah, speaking of which… what became of your meeting with Commander Great Hero?”
“The Imperial Guards have already been dispatched under the Emperor’s direct command.”
“Many more will die then.”
“…There’s no helping it.”
Every time a rebellion occurs, hundreds die as a matter of course.
“To be honest, I’m not satisfied with it. Of course, those who harbored treasonous thoughts against the Emperor deserve death, but what crime have those who merely followed orders committed?”
“That’s… true enough.”
“What if they were made to perform labor instead?”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, who had been thinking for a moment at my words, nodded.
“Not a bad idea. I’ll bring it up.”
“Thank you.”
I performed a respectful bow with clasped fists. Seeing me do so, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster spoke.
“Now I understand why they call you Seon Hyeop Mi-rang.”
“Pardon?”
“In any case, you’ve worked hard.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster instructed the subordinates who had followed him to collect Yang Eun-jik’s corpse.
With this, the Geumui Guard Great Heroes wouldn’t face any reproach.
And because the body was somewhat burned, they wouldn’t notice that we had intervened.
In fact, when we confronted Yang Eun-jik earlier, we had concealed our true strength precisely because we were mindful of leaving traces.
.
.
.
A fortnight passed.
The Imperial Guards and Geumui Guard Great Heroes dispatched under the Emperor’s command captured all the rebels.
Since they hadn’t prepared properly, they were easily apprehended.
The Emperor ordered poison wine for Chung Jin King.
I understood his circumstances, but the Emperor couldn’t afford to leave behind future troubles.
Chung Jin King, receiving a relatively merciful punishment, bowed three times to the Emperor and drank the poison.
However, the Minister of Treasury and Minister of Works, who had been dismissed, received no such mercy.

“Lingering execution?”
“Yes. I heard it was truly horrific.”
“….”
The Emperor must have been quite furious.
“What about the others?”
Palgap relayed what he had learned.
“Most of the ringleaders were executed, but those below them were mostly sentenced to hard labor.”
“Not execution?”
“No. They were merely following their master’s orders, which isn’t a capital crime. So it seems they’re assigned relatively lighter labor duties.”
That’s a relief.
The Emperor must have heeded the words of Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.

In any case, the matter regarding Yang Eun-jik was settled.
I thought Beijing would finally grow quiet… but I was wrong.
Beijing was entering its most bustling season.
The provincial examination, to be precise.
Because of it, talented individuals from across the Central Plains converged on the capital, leaving most inns fully booked.
Those without lodging in Beijing had to secure rooms at the inns.
While I was handling matters at the temporary residence, Palgap entered my chamber.
“Young Master, your eldest brother has arrived.”
“Eun Jung-ho?”
I rose from my seat and opened the door. Eun Jung-ho stood outside.
Eun Jung-ho and Grandfather were still staying at the Yeonjun Trading Company.
This place was merely a temporary residence, so space was limited.
“What brings you here, brother?”
“Are you busy?”
“….”
I fell silent at the ominous feeling, but Eun Jung-ho smiled and spoke.
“Busy or not, you’ll have to come. Let’s visit the Apricot Flower Academy together.”
“The Apricot Flower Academy?”
“Actually, Father wrote a letter for me. And he specifically said to deliver it just days before the examination….”
“Who is the letter for?”
“The academy students, of course. I need to read it aloud to them.”
“Ah….”
I understood the situation now.
Father had originally intended to come to Beijing himself, but circumstances prevented him from doing so.
He wanted to encourage the academy students personally, but since he couldn’t, he asked Eun Jung-ho to deliver the letter on his behalf.
“What about Grandfather?”
“He said he wouldn’t go to such a place, and told us to go without him.”
“Ah….”
If my Grandfather commands it, there’s no helping it.
No matter how busy things are, I have to go.
“Wait a moment.”
I quickly finished my preparations and came out.
In the meantime, Eun Jung-ho, who had been drinking tea, looked at me and chuckled.
“Why are you dressed up so elaborately?”
“I thought I should show at least some sincerity. What about you?”
Eun Jung-ho had also dressed quite impressively.
“I’m doing the same—showing sincerity.”
I laughed at his words and replied.
“Let’s go.”
“All right.”
Soon we headed toward the Apricot Flower Academy.
Behind us, my Guard Warriors and Eun Jung-ho’s Guard Warriors were conversing.
It seemed to be mostly information sharing.
Soon we arrived at the Apricot Flower Academy.
“Welcome.”
Thanks to having sent word ahead, the Academy Master greeted us warmly.
“You must be working hard.”
“Haha, not at all.”
After exchanging light pleasantries, we got down to business.
“May I perhaps look at that letter first?”
At Eun Jung-ho’s request, he readily handed over the letter.
“Hmm….”
The Academy Master, reading through the letter carefully, spoke cautiously.
“In my judgment, this section should be removed. It might unnecessarily burden the students.”
“I see.”
Though it pained me to do so against my Father’s wishes, we revised it with the Academy Master’s assistance.
“By the way, to think that fourteen successful candidates have come from this academy! Truly a remarkable achievement.”
“Haha, it is all thanks to the students’ diligent effort.”
Of course, it was impossible for so many successful candidates to come from a single province.
So the Apricot Flower Academy’s students had each returned to their hometowns to take the provincial examination.
As we were conversing, a voice came from outside.
“Excuse me, Academy Master. Something urgent has come up… may I come in for a moment?”
At those words, the Academy Master tilted his head and sought our permission.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
The one who entered was one of the academy’s instructors.
He greeted us and then spoke with a troubled expression.
“Man-suk has left this behind and departed.”
It was a letter of resignation.

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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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