The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 268

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 268

Chapter 268. The Noble Heir (1)

A sensation entirely different from when I encountered someone from the Black Path.
Faced with this unfamiliar feeling, I bit my lip and examined my surroundings, but found nothing unusual.
I would need to ask my Master about this.
My Master said he would attend the Martial Arts Tournament as well—but where was he?
Ah, now that I think about it…
My Master had said this:

“For personal reasons as well, the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament is a rather intriguing event, so I intend to observe it. However, should we meet again, we may not be able to exchange greetings. I ask for your understanding on this matter.”

That meant he would be watching from somewhere, but either disguised as someone else or hidden from view.
I found myself curious about where he might be.
Hm?
I blinked. The oppressive aura that had been bothering me moments before had vanished without a trace.
What was that?
Usually when such auras dissipate, they fade gradually, but this time was different.
It simply vanished in an instant, as if severed cleanly.
As I tilted my head in confusion, the League Master finished his words of gratitude.
“Then, let us begin! The main tournament of the thirty-sixth Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament starts now!”
“Roooaaarrr!”
“First, I present to you the one hundred and eight competitors advancing to the main rounds!”
At those words, the one hundred and eight competitors who had been waiting below ascended onto the martial arts arena.
Having apparently received instructions on how to stand beforehand, they lined up in orderly fashion and gazed out at the spectators.
“These are the one hundred and eight Noble Heirs who will lead this Murim forward! We ask for your enthusiastic applause!”
“Roooaaarrr!”
At the announcer’s words, the spectators shook their fists and cheered loudly.
I too cheered for Sister Hyang-ok, Jegal Yu-ah, Dang Su-bin, and Jo Ung.
One hundred and eight competitors, though…
From what I had heard, the decision to set the number of main tournament competitors at one hundred and eight came from the insistence of a certain Shaolin Master who was the League Master when the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament first began.
The idea being that they hoped for a hero capable of overcoming one hundred and eight afflictions, or so I was told.
In any case, because of this, determining the champion through a method where warriors fought each other, losers were eliminated, and winners advanced, became somewhat awkward.
When one hundred and eight fight and advance, fifty-six move forward.
When those fifty-six fight again, twenty-seven advance.
Because of this, there were inevitably competitors who advanced by default.
Since each competitor drew a numbered token to determine the bracket, with good luck one could advance once without fighting at all.
Of course, I had to win the first two matches to enjoy the blessing of a bye.
So even in a martial arts tournament that tests skill, the luck of the draw matters quite a bit.
“Then, please have the finalists come down from the Martial Arts Arena in order and draw their numbers.”
Following the announcer’s words, the finalists descended from the Martial Arts Arena and drew their numbers.
And on the large bulletin board beside it, the names of the warriors began to be written on paper.
Of course, since that paper could be damaged, three clerks recorded it separately.
Thus, the final matchup bracket was determined.
By the way, it was about time for the incident where a warrior’s sword energy flew toward the spectators to occur.
Just in case, I stayed by Mother’s side throughout the preliminaries, but that incident must have happened in the main tournament.
But then a thought suddenly occurred to me.
This martial arts tournament is very different from my previous life.
Most notably, Jegal Yu-ah and Jo Ung have made it to the main tournament.
With that, the matchup bracket must have changed significantly.
Then couldn’t it be that the incident from back then won’t happen?
Thinking so, I shook my head.
If I let my guard down and an incident occurs, I don’t think I could forgive myself.
Still, hoping that such a thing wouldn’t happen, I watched the tournament.
.
.
.
Fortunately, today’s tournament ended without major incidents.
Of course, since a martial arts tournament is a real sword match, it was natural for the participating warriors to sustain injuries.
From minor bruises caused by rolling on the Martial Arts Arena to cuts and stab wounds from blades.
Some even suffered internal injuries from forcefully drawing upon their inner energy.
So there were often cases of warriors being carried out on stretchers.
From my perspective, the reason warriors push themselves so hard is for honor.
Victory or defeat in the main tournament was also decided when someone surrendered or went out of bounds, or when the referee judged that continuation was impossible.
Continuation being impossible meant the opponent had lost consciousness or the warrior’s life was in danger.
It would be nice if they judged themselves and surrendered, but even a single victory builds that much reputation.
For warriors in the Murim, reputation was something far more tangible than one might think.
As reputation accumulates, one’s standing in their family or sect grows, and sponsorship follows.
Moreover, a declining family or sect could be revived.
Because of such reasons, everyone fights desperately, and that’s why there are far more injuries than in the preliminaries.
I wondered why they lacquered the wooden walls of the Martial Arts Arena… ah, it was so blood wouldn’t seep into the wood and become hard to clean.

I escorted my parents to the Inn and made my way to the Merchant Guild’s Temporary Shop.
But then….
“I’m terribly sorry. We’re currently out of stock….”
What? Out of stock?
What did that mean?
I hurried over to Yun Haengsu.
“Yun Haengsu. What’s happened?”
“Ah! Small Guild Master, you’ve arrived?”
“I heard we’re out of stock. Didn’t we just replenish our inventory with fresh goods recently?”
“That’s correct. Most other items still have sufficient stock, but we’re running low on fish bone powder and fish scales—the key ingredients for wound-sealing medicine.”
Wound-sealing medicine is used to stop bleeding from external injuries.
And fish bone powder is the most essential ingredient in premium wound-sealing medicine.
The next most important ingredient is lime powder.
From my memories of my previous life, I knew that fish bone powder and fish scales sold in considerable quantities, so I had stocked them accordingly—yet we were out of stock!
“There’s no help for it. Send an urgent letter to the main Merchant Guild to replenish our fish bone powder and fish scales.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll make the rounds of nearby merchant guilds to see if they have any surplus fish bone powder and fish scales.”
.
.
.
And several hours later.
I could only wear an expression of despair.
“…You don’t have any?”
“That’s right. We’ve picked our stores clean too.”
I visited several merchant guilds, but the answer from each was the same: “We don’t have any.”
And at this last merchant guild, I received the same response.
“What about fish scales?”
“We don’t have those either.”
What in the world was happening?
I returned to the Inn and reported the situation to my Father, then climbed the stairs to my guest room.
“Palgap, I’d like a cup of tea, please.”
“Of course.”
I sipped the tea Palgap had brewed and gathered my thoughts.
Hmm, Palgap’s tea-brewing skills improve with each passing day… no, that’s not it….
In my previous life, around this time I was too busy running the fabric shop with my ailing body to pay much attention to anything else.
That’s why I don’t know much about this Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament. I only heard rough details from Elder Brother Jin-ho, who went to Luoyang for the last tournament.
The reason Elder Brother Jin-ho went back then was that the External Chief Manager actively recommended it to broaden his horizons, since he had great interest in martial arts.
Our Merchant Guild’s standing was also lower than it is now, so the burden wasn’t great.
But the circumstances have changed considerably since then, which is why I’ve come this time.
In any case, according to what Elder Brother Jin-ho said back then….

“It seems there were quite a few injured during the preliminaries. The bone powder and fish meal we had prepared ran out completely.”
“So what did you do?”
“What could we do? I nearly died fetching more, but in a way, I’m grateful it happened.”
“Grateful? Why?”
“While I was out getting those supplies, a sword aura from one of the fighters flew into the spectator section. Fortunately, it landed in the premium seating area.”
“Ah… that was indeed fortunate.”
“Anyway, what we brought back sold out just as quickly. And it wasn’t just us—the same happened everywhere else. That’s why the prices for bone powder and fish meal skyrocketed. More than tenfold, in fact.”

Because I remembered that, I had brought far more supplies than originally planned.
But… thinking about it now, something felt off.
Over a hundred merchant guilds had come to set up temporary shops targeting the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament.
And bone powder and cheap fish meal, essential ingredients for wound salves, were standard inventory for all of them.
Combined, the materials we and the other merchants brought would be more than enough to treat the entire bodies of all one hundred and eight finalists.
We’d have plenty left over.
Yet… even if the main tournament was far more intense than the preliminaries, even if casualties mounted, how could bone powder run out after just one day of competition?
My eyes gleamed.
The cheapest fish meal was one thing, but bone powder cost four silver coins per measure.
The price of a chicken.
They said it sold for more than ten times that. Which meant they had purchased it at that inflated price.
When martial artists died in combat, sometimes it was due to fatal strikes to vital points like the throat or heart, but many also bled to death from wounds that could have been treated in time.
So what choice did they have?
To survive, they had to buy wound salve no matter how expensive.
Nothing in this world was worth more than one’s life.
But Jin-ho had clearly said it back then.

“What we brought back sold out just as quickly. And it wasn’t just us—the same happened everywhere else. That’s why the prices for bone powder and fish meal skyrocketed.”

If bone powder and fish meal had run out everywhere, where had people bought theirs?
Something smelled wrong.
I asked Palgap for indigo cloth and hung it across the window.
I needed to meet with Chun-il.
.
.
.
The next morning.
As I was eating breakfast, Palgap approached and spoke.
“Sir, a child just came by and left this.”
I unfolded the paper Palgap handed me.

I shall meet you at the early hour of the Serpent (9-11 AM) beside the Yumi Inn today.

If it’s the early Serpent hour, I can meet Chun-il and then head to the Martial Arts Arena.
After obtaining my parents’ consent and instructing them to go to the Martial Arts Arena first, I made my way to the Yumi Inn.
Standing beside the counter as if waiting to place an order, the Inn Keeper approached me with dumplings.
“Guest, your dumplings have arrived.”
Recognizing the familiar presence, I couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Ah, thank you.”
I accepted the dumplings and handed them to Palgap while speaking.
“There is a task I need you to handle.”
“What might that be?”
I briefly explained the situation to Chun-il and issued my instructions.
“…Please look into that matter.”
“Understood.”
I tried to leave, but Chun-il’s words forced me to stop in my tracks.
“Guest, that will be seven copper coins.”
…
Sighing, I rummaged through my purse and produced seven copper coins, which Chun-il accepted with a bright smile.
“Thank you. We look forward to your continued patronage.”
He was remarkably sincere about his disguise.

Having entrusted the task to Chun-il, I proceeded directly to the Martial Arts Arena.
Today’s matches were of utmost importance. Sister Hyang-ok was competing.
According to the bracket I had seen yesterday, she was scheduled for the fourth match.
“Did you complete your business successfully?”
“Yes, I have completed it successfully.”
“That is fortunate. The matches have not yet begun.”
At my parents’ words, I nodded and took my seat.
Just then, the announcer appeared.
“Now then, let us commence the main tournament of the second day! The first match is….”
Two Warriors ascended the martial arts stage.
They were disciples of the Huashan Sect and the Jongnam Sect respectively.
Since both sects were based in Shaanxi Province, they existed in a competitive relationship.
As a result, their relations were not particularly favorable.
“Truly, even if one tried to arrange such a matchup, it would be difficult….”
“Indeed.”
I heard murmurs from the crowd. Father also wore an expression of intrigue.
“The Huashan Sect and the Jongnam Sect… and they are the same age with equal skill levels….”
One thing was certain.
Whoever lost here would face a very bleak future.
This was a battle from which I could never retreat.
Boom—!
The martial bout began with the sound of the drum.
Normally, the early stages involved both fighters probing their opponent, but not this time.
It seemed they had fought each other far too often.
“Haaah—!”
The Huashan Sect disciple was the first to draw his blade, and a sharp sword aura streamed forth from it.
“Huh! Already using sword aura!”
In truth, even a first-rate warrior could manifest sword aura. The problem was maintaining it for any length of time.
So he wielded it in short bursts, and it resembled plum blossoms scattering in the wind.
Though only a handful of petals, their power was formidable.
Using sword aura from the start meant he intended to end this swiftly and decisively.
But the Jongnam Sect disciple would not yield so easily, unleashing his own sword aura in response.
The Jongnam Sect’s signature technique—the Thirty-Six Heavenly Strikes!
The moment their blades collided with ferocious force!
The sword auras from both warriors’ full power rebounded outward.
Someone once said it.
Unforeseen circumstances kill people.
This was exactly that situation. The sword aura ricocheting from both blades flew toward the spectator seating—directly toward us.
Damn it!
I hastily drew my blade.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————