The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 274

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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 274

Chapter 274. What I’ve Gained (2)

Today marks the final day of the first round of the main tournament. By today’s conclusion, fifty-four competitors have advanced to this round of the main tournament.
Dang Su-bin competed today and became one of the fifty-four.
I headed to the inn with my parents.
Everywhere we went, those who recognized me drew all eyes toward us.
To be honest, it was burdensome, but I endured it since it served as publicity for our Eunhae Trading Company.
That’s when I caught wind of a conversation that seized my attention.

“Did you hear? Apparently, Baekcheon Trading Company tried to set fire to the building where Eunhae Trading Company had stacked their goods?”
“Baekcheon Trading Company? Why would they do that?”
“I heard that because Eunhae Trading Company was selling golden wound salve materials at the same price as before, Baekcheon Trading Company suffered losses.”
“Losses? What kind of nonsense is that?”
“No! Eunhae Trading Company sells at the original price, but only a fool would buy from Baekcheon Trading Company when they’re charging ten times as much!”
“Exactly!”
“It’s not like they mixed in gold dust or anything.”
“Honestly, I’m disappointed in Baekcheon Trading Company after this.”
“Same here. From now on, I’m buying from other trading companies instead. If possible, I’d rather purchase from Eunhae Trading Company.”

I had to suppress the laughter threatening to burst from that conversation.
Last night, we had captured those who attacked the place where our trading company had stored goods, and I questioned them about who was behind it.
But they claimed they didn’t know.
They said they had received a substantial advance payment from an unidentified man wearing a black felt hat, and they carried out this job merely to raise travel expenses to return home.

“Aaaagh! Ugh! W-wait just a moment! Gasp! I-I remember something! Th-that is, the man who hired us had a cross-shaped scar on his collar! And he spoke with a Sichuan accent!”

From those words, I could guess who the culprit was.
One of Namgung Kang’s trusted subordinates.
And the same person who had been with Namgung Kang when I died.
In other words, he was also one of my targets for revenge.
Regardless, I was never the type to simply endure such things. So I commissioned Chun-il and Geun Seong with a task.
To spread rumors.
I had them spread word that because the Eunhae Trading Company sold wound-healing medicine materials at the original price, the Baekcheon Trading Company harbored resentment and attempted to raid the warehouse to burn the materials.
Through this, I could achieve two effects.
One was to damage the reputation of the Baekcheon Trading Company in people’s eyes.
The other was to plant seeds of suspicion in Namgung Kang’s mind toward his subordinate.
In essence, by tarnishing the Baekcheon Trading Company’s reputation, I weakened Namgung Kang’s position.
Once that happened, he would grow anxious, his suspicions toward his subordinate would deepen, and eventually he would eliminate the man himself.
This is what you call killing with a borrowed knife. Hehehehe.
As I listened to people’s conversations, the picture I desired seemed to be taking shape.
It wasn’t my preferred method, but it couldn’t be helped.
Honestly, the Baekcheon Trading Company brought this upon themselves.
If they hadn’t tried to monopolize bone meal and lime powder, I wouldn’t have resorted to such tactics.
So tonight, I had to make another trip all the way to the Eunhae Trading Company Headquarters in Hubei Province.
I needed to replenish the bone meal and lime powder.
In my previous life, Elder Brother Jin-ho had struggled to replenish the bone meal and lime powder….
This time, I’m the one suffering. Sigh.
.
.
.
Dawn broke.
I had barely managed to close my eyes for half a watch after using my lightness technique at full power all night to make the round trip to headquarters.
Just thinking about it irritated me.
If the Baekcheon Trading Company hadn’t caused such trouble, the Two Warriors and I wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.
Of course, thanks to it, I was earning considerable money and my reputation was improving.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel annoyed.
As I descended to the first floor, my parents were already waiting for me, fully prepared.
Knowing the situation, their faces were filled with concern for me.
“You must be exhausted. Why don’t you just rest?”
“No, it’s important to know the Noble Heirs who will emerge from the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament, isn’t it?”
“I suppose that’s true, but….”
“I’m fine, so please don’t worry. If it becomes too difficult, I’ll return midway.”
At my words, my parents reluctantly nodded their heads.
The reason I had to attend the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament was partly what I’d just mentioned, but there were also some people who would sulk if I didn’t show my support.
Today and tomorrow, the semifinals of the tournament would unfold.
The Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament was now heading toward its climax.
After this second round ends, roughly thirty competitors will remain, and they will become known as new Noble Heirs.
Merely advancing to the main tournament grants recognition, but those who progress through the third round of the main tournament are truly regarded as Noble Heirs.
Soon we arrived at the Martial Arts Arena.
We waited briefly before the Tournament Announcer took the stage.
“At last, the day of the second round of the main tournament has arrived. First, allow me to introduce the heroes who have advanced to the second round of the main tournament.”
Fifty-six competitors climbed onto the Martial Arts Arena.
Among them were Sister Hyang-ok, Jegal Yu-ah, Dang Su-bin, and Jo Ung.
“Waaaaaah!”
“Magnificent!”
The crowd greeted them with applause and cheers.
“Through the second round matches that will span today and tomorrow, twenty-eight competitors will advance to the third round. As you descend, please each draw a numbered token.”
The Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament uniquely drew matchups not only for the first round of the main tournament but all the way through the fifth round with eight competitors.
Those who had advanced to the second round of the main tournament drew their numbered tokens as they descended from the arena.
And… I shook my head in disbelief.
Just how lucky is that Jo Ung?
Normally, twenty-seven competitors would be selected through the second round matches, but that would leave an odd number.
Since a bye was inevitable, the tokens drawn now determined who would receive the bye in this round.
And the token Jo Ung had just drawn was precisely the bye token.
In other words, Jo Ung and one other competitor would advance to the third round without facing each other.
The lucky bastard.
Ah, so Jo Ung’s opponent is also fortunate.
That’s why the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament becomes increasingly dependent on drawing luck as you progress higher.
Normally only one competitor receives a bye, but due to the unique nature of the number one hundred and eight, they adopted a system of giving byes to two competitors, I heard.
“The matchups have been determined! Now we will begin the second round matches of the main tournament.”
.
.
.
Through today’s matches, Sister Hyang-ok and Jegal Yu-ah advanced to the third round of the main tournament.
Both of them demonstrated far greater skill than I had anticipated.
I could not help but marvel at Jegal Yu-ah’s prowess in particular.
In my previous life, she was known as the Jade Maiden Without Smile, and I knew she excelled at hand-to-hand combat, but I had never witnessed it firsthand.
Yet seeing her combat techniques directly, her reputation from that time seemed not at all exaggerated.
Is she truly a divine prodigy of the Jegal line?
At this level, I wonder how formidable she will become in the future…
I found myself grateful that I had grown close to Jegal Yu-ah.
As I was heading back to the inn, I suddenly felt something familiar about a man who had just brushed past me.
What was that?
I turned my head to look at the man who had passed me. There was something oddly familiar about his gait.
That light, wind-like footstep was…
Huh?
It’s a characteristic that appears in those who have mastered the Weightless Step Technique.
And to my knowledge, there is only one martial artist at a level where such a characteristic shows in their footsteps.
“Father, I’ve just remembered something I need to attend to. Please go ahead to the inn and have your meal.”
After asking Father for his understanding, I spoke to Seo-woo Warrior.
“Seo-woo Warrior, please follow only me.”
“Understood.”
Thus, I pursued that man together with Seo-woo Warrior.
The man wandered through the intricate alleys, finally stopping in a place devoid of people.
“Well, I never expected to be discovered so easily.”
As I suspected, it was my Master.
“Disciple greets Master.”
“It’s been a long time. I hear you’ve become a hero. And that movement you displayed to save the spectators was truly remarkable.”
“I’m embarrassed to accept such praise.”
I scratched the back of my neck.
“I merely acted for my parents and those around me.”
I continued speaking.
“And I must apologize, Master. When the League Master asked about the origins of my martial arts, I was forced to reveal my connection with you.”
“Did you speak as we discussed before?”
“Yes. I told him exactly as planned.”
At my response, Master smiled.
“Well done. And to think my disciple has become a hero… I am proud as a master.”
“In truth, I am a hero who received compensation in return. So I am not a true hero in the genuine sense.”
I revealed the truth to Master.
I did not disclose what I had agreed to receive, but that alone was explanation enough.
“The Small Guild Master said you were a hero with a price, but in reality, it is heaven that creates heroes. And what people see is simply that—a hero.”
Master smiled faintly.
“So, how does it feel to have become a hero?”
To that question, I gave the same answer I had given Father.
“It’s the best.”
At my response, Master laughed.
“I thought I had disguised myself perfectly. How did you see through it?”
True to Master’s words, his appearance now was completely different from what I knew.
It didn’t even seem as though he was wearing a face mask.
“In truth, I didn’t know even as I passed by you. But something felt familiar.”
I continued speaking.
“So I turned around, and recognizing that gait, I simply followed you.”
“My gait?”
“The light, wind-riding footsteps characteristic of one who has mastered the Weightless Step Technique.”
“Ah…”
Master let out a soft exclamation.
“I hadn’t realized that until now.”
“But Master, your face looks quite different. What technique did you use?”
At my question, Master touched his face and spoke.
“This is the Art of Transformation. It’s a technique that reshapes one’s face using inner energy.”
It seemed like a technique with many practical applications.
“However, at the peak level, one can only transform a small portion of the face. To use it properly, one must reach the transcendent realm or beyond.”
“It’s quite a demanding technique, then.”
“That’s why it’s become nearly obsolete. But thanks to learning it from my old friend, I’ve been using it well.”
“Your old friend? Are you referring to Yeom Jin-yeon, the School Master of Yangyang Martial School?”
“No. It’s someone else.”
Master seemed to read my desire to learn the Art of Transformation and spoke gently.
“I would like to teach you the Art of Transformation that I’ve mastered, Small Guild Master, but it would be improper to teach it without first obtaining permission from my old friend, so I’m afraid I cannot pass it on prematurely.”
“I’ve caused Master trouble. My apologies. If that’s the situation, I won’t be greedy about it.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Ah!
Now that I think about it, there was something I wanted to ask Master when I saw him.
“Master, there’s something I’d like to ask.”
“Please speak.”
“Actually, when the main tournament began, I experienced something strange. I felt an unsettling aura, as if I’d witnessed something that shouldn’t exist.”
I explained to Master what I had felt, and his expression grew increasingly grave.
Master closed his eyes for a moment, pondering, then opened his mouth.
“In truth, I had other matters to attend to when the main tournament began, so I couldn’t watch it.”
“I see.”
“To be honest, I don’t know much about what you felt, but I have a faint memory of hearing something from my father long ago. He said it was something not good.”
In Master’s expression, I sensed regret about this matter.
“Could it be the aura of the Demonic Cult?”
“No.”
Master shook his head.
“What one feels when encountering the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect is different from that.”
“….”
“It’s truly regrettable. It would have been good if there were books remaining with information about this.”
When Seolpung Palace was destroyed, all the books were burned as well.
But suddenly, a strange thought occurred to me.
Normally, when a sect is destroyed, those who burn the martial arts manuals are not the attackers but the sect being attacked.
To prevent their martial arts from falling into the hands of the attackers.
However, books don’t burn as easily as one might think, and it’s not easy to burn them while under attack.
But the fact that all the books were burned suggests that the attackers burned them.
In other words, the attackers had a reason to burn those books.
Was the purpose of those who destroyed Seolpung Palace related to martial arts manuals or books containing various information?
Hmm, that doesn’t seem to be it.
Completely eradicating Seolpung Palace just to destroy those texts would be excessive.
Then… was Seolpung Palace’s martial arts themselves the true objective?
Is that why they slaughtered not only the martial arts manuals but also everyone who had learned those techniques?
“What are you thinking about?”
At Master’s question, I quickly shook my head.
“Nothing at all.”
But that thought refused to fade from my mind.

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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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