The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 288

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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 288

Chapter 288. The Poem Thief (1)

“Yes, that would be most agreeable.”
What was he about to give me?
“Your combination with the Geumui Guard proved far more effective than anticipated. Therefore, I shall grant you the opportunity to master the Imperial Palace martial arts.”
“…Pardon?”
“Though you are a merchant, you are also a member of the Murim. I believe this constitutes a fitting reward.”
Not bad, he says?
Excellent. My jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
Honestly, I never expected he would offer this as compensation.
“What do you say? Does this reward satisfy you adequately?”
At the Emperor’s question, tinged with amusement, I cupped my fist and bowed deeply.
“I am so moved by Your Majesty’s benevolence toward this humble merchant that tears obscure my vision.”
“In any case, you certainly know how to speak.”
Working alongside the Geumui Guard’s great masters had sparked my interest in the Imperial Palace martial arts.
Typically, the initial choice of inner cultivation method is crucial because one cannot later study a conflicting technique without consequence.
Should two opposing energies collide within a single body, one risks falling into demonic cultivation or losing one’s life entirely.
Yet who was it that said human determination knows no bounds?
The Emperor desired a powerful military force to protect himself, and the most effective method was to recruit numerous Murim practitioners already versed in martial arts into the Imperial Army.
However, accepting such diverse martial artists created complications when coordinating their techniques, as each practiced different schools.
One could not teach new martial arts to those already trained—it was impossible.
It would be tantamount to ordering their deaths.
Thus, the Emperor issued imperial decrees to the various sects and martial families of the Murim, commanding research into martial techniques. The fruit of that research was the Imperial Palace martial arts.
Those already trained in martial arts could rebuild their inner cultivation without issue, and it was a superior technique that harmoniously combined the strengths of multiple schools.
With this foundation, the Emperor established a formidable imperial force.
In any case, the Imperial Palace martial arts were essential knowledge for any warrior loyal to the Emperor.
Yet studying the Imperial Palace martial arts without the Emperor’s permission was itself considered treason, carrying a bitter price.
So to finally have the opportunity to learn what I had only secretly desired!
One reason I wished to learn the Imperial Palace martial arts was that it left unmistakable traces.
With those traces, I could very effectively expose wrongdoers and—
Ahem, in any case, this was splendid news.
“I shall send word separately. You may withdraw now.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless. This merchant shall take his leave.”
At the Emperor’s dismissal, I withdrew with joy in my heart.
.
.
.
“Have you emerged, sir?”
As I stepped out of the Imperial Palace, the Seo-woo Warrior who had been waiting beside me spoke.
“Ah, yes.”
I had come to the Imperial Palace with Palgap, the Seo-woo Warrior, and the Yeo Eung-am Warrior.
I told the other two warriors to wash up first and rest for a while.
Having all four guard warriors follow me around together was far too inefficient.
Truthfully, even this arrangement of pairing them off in shifts to protect me felt burdensome and made me feel guilty.
They rotated through four-hour watches to guard me.
Honestly, if they work four hours, they should rest for eight hours afterward.
This wasn’t ordinary labor—they had to maintain constant vigilance the entire time.
Still, once Myeong-jong Warrior and Chang-un Warrior join in a few months, the burden on the guards should lighten considerably.
“Let’s go now.”
“Yes, I shall escort you, sir.”
We arrived back at my temporary residence in Beijing. By then, evening was already approaching.
“You’re back?”
At that voice, I turned to see Eun Jung-ho standing there, looking at me.
“You’ve had a difficult time of it.”
“Difficult? Not at all. The work you left behind was so well organized that it was hardly taxing at all.”
“Really? Then Elder Brother, you’ve been here….”
“Do you want a beating?”
Seeing Eun Jung-ho’s stern expression, I laughed heartily.
“You know I haven’t seen my children and my wife in months, don’t you?”
“Of course I know! I was joking.”
“That’s why I didn’t hit you—because I knew you were joking.”
“Haha.”
“Come on, let’s get something to eat.”
Elder Brother gestured toward the outside as he continued.
“I’ve found a decent inn for us.”
I nodded and gave Yeochang’s Deputy permission to leave for the day, along with generous severance pay for a company dinner.
Then I headed to the inn with Eun Jung-ho.
The dish Eun Jung-ho had chosen for me was Mandarin Duck Pot.
A type of hot pot, it’s a Beijing winter specialty where broth is simmered in a large, shallow pot, and thin slices of meat and vegetables are briefly blanched before eating.
The Mandarin Duck Pot gets its name from having a divider down the middle, with one half filled with spicy red broth and the other with mild white broth, both simmering together in a single pot.
“Winter is definitely the season for hot pot.”
At Eun Jung-ho’s words, I nodded in agreement.
Since hot pot is eaten while it simmers, it’s the perfect dish for the cold climate of Beijing.
Eun Jung-ho, myself, Palgap, and his attendant sat at one table, while the other guards divided themselves on either side.
“I’ve been here several times, and this place is the best.”
“I like this inn too.”
It was a place I’d frequented even in my previous life.
The meat quality was superior to other establishments, and the portions were generous.
When my energy flagged, meat was the cure.
As I savored the meal and sipped my tea, Eun Jung-ho asked me a question.
“What are your plans now?”
“About what?”
“Your schedule. Will you stay here much longer?”
I shook my head at his inquiry.
“No, that won’t work. Construction can’t proceed in winter anyway—it’s too cold.”
“True enough.”
Beijing was already a cold region, but this winter had been brutally harsh, following the same pattern as last year.
Because of that, conducting construction work in the depths of winter was inadvisable. Materials would freeze, potentially compromising the building’s integrity, and the workers’ safety would be at serious risk.
“So Father instructed me to wrap up matters here and return to Hubei with you.”
“I see. Then the affairs here…”
“Must be entrusted to Haeng-su.”
Of course, there was still the matter of learning the Imperial Palace martial techniques, but that wasn’t something that could be accomplished in a day or two…
“Oh! I nearly forgot to mention something.”
“…?”
“Happy birthday.”
At Eun Jung-ho’s words, I scratched my cheek sheepishly.
“I’ll give you your gift when we return home. I’ve already prepared something and left it at the house.”
“Understood.”
Just then, someone approached cautiously from beside us.
“Pardon me… aren’t you Seon Hyeop Mi-rang?”
At the question, I blinked before nodding.
“Indeed! It truly is you! To meet the hero of the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament! What an honor!”
At those words, the other patrons began murmuring among themselves.
“Really? That hero Seon Hyeop Mi-rang?”
“He’s quite handsome…”
My name had already spread to this place…
Eun Jung-ho gazed at me with a proud expression, so I couldn’t very well escape.
Damn.
I found myself exhausted offering blessings to all the people who had gathered.
It was because there was a saying that receiving blessings from a hero brought good fortune.
And not just any hero—it had to be one who had saved countless lives.

* * *

Jin Young made his way diligently toward the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor had summoned him.
Upon standing before the Emperor, he posed a question.
“Can you teach the Imperial Palace martial arts to someone?”
Jin Young answered immediately.
“Of course, Your Majesty. However, I believe this falls under the Instructor’s duties.”
“I am aware of that as well. It’s simply that the one who will learn the Imperial Palace martial arts this time occupies a rather special position.”
“…?”
“You shall teach him the Imperial Palace martial arts directly.”
Seeing the thick smile that crossed the Emperor’s face, Jin Young could guess who the subject was.
The Emperor was not one to smile often, yet for several years now, he had found reasons to do so.
Ever since meeting Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Trading Company.
Watching the Emperor from the side, Jin Young had thought more than once, “Will he not collapse from the strain?”
Yet on days when he met Eun Seo-ho, the Emperor appeared so delighted that Jin Young found it deeply gratifying.
He had come to the Imperial Palace as a child, following his father.
The current Emperor had been merely one prince among many at that time. Yet the moment Jin Young saw that prince, he sensed it instinctively.
That this was the one to whom he would devote his heart.
He became the prince’s guard as he desired, and now he was the hands and feet of the man who had become Emperor.
The Emperor often described Eun Seo-ho to Jin Young as “a bold fellow.”
But Jin Young knew better.
It was not merely boldness that made the Emperor smile at Eun Seo-ho.
His perception was extraordinary, his timing and execution flawless, but above all else… he delivered results.
Like a diligent bee bringing honey, he consistently brought matters of benefit to the Emperor.
‘That is why, in the Emperor’s eyes, the Small Merchant Guild Master Eun Seo-ho appears like a honeypot. But Imperial Palace martial arts, of all things….’
Yet to grant not gold or jewels, but the Imperial Palace martial arts to one so favored….
It might seem unusual to some, but Jin Young understood the Emperor.
When he gave something to those he favored, he did so with their future in mind.
“I accept your command.”
With that response, Jin Young reflected.
Soon, the Emperor would likely entrust Eun Seo-ho with something quite significant, alongside the Golden Robed Guards.

* * *

The next day.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster visited my temporary residence again.
“We meet again so soon.”
“Did you arrive home safely yesterday?”
“Yes, Great Swordmaster. Thanks to you, I returned without incident.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster glanced around my residence as he spoke.
“Is there a suitable place here to practice martial arts?”
As I’d anticipated, it seemed Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster had been selected as my instructor for the Imperial Palace martial techniques.
“Of course.”
“Then change your clothes and meet me there.”
“Yes.”
I asked Lee Pil Warrior to guide Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster to the training ground, then went inside.
With Palgap’s assistance, I changed into suitable attire and made my way to the training ground.
Though this was a temporary residence, I would be staying here for quite some time, so I’d had a reasonably spacious training ground prepared for my practice.
Not only I, but my other guards and Palgap also trained here regularly.
Upon arriving at the training ground, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster was examining the floor.
From this, I could tell he intended to conduct proper instruction.
“Earthen ground.”
“Yes. Ordinary earthen ground.”
“Surprising. I would have thought someone as wealthy as you would have laid blue stone.”
“True, it’s easier to maintain, cleaner, and doesn’t kick up dust, so one’s clothes don’t get covered in dirt.”
I smiled.
“But most actual battlefields are just ordinary earthen ground, are they not?”
When employing martial techniques—or engaging in combat with someone—the most crucial element is understanding one’s surroundings.
And the foundation of nearly all martial techniques lies in the ground itself.
Unless one reaches an exceptionally high level of mastery, most combat occurs on solid earth.
When employing footwork techniques, one must adapt appropriately to the terrain, and the same applies when wielding weapons.
“Training only on blue stone seemed likely to lead to mistakes in actual combat.”
“Haha, you’re absolutely right. Honestly, I think the great sects of the Murim laying blue stone in their training grounds serves no purpose beyond ostentation.”
Our thoughts aligned perfectly.
“Before we begin proper training, let me explain the Imperial Palace martial techniques.”
“I’m listening.”
“The formal name of the Imperial Palace martial techniques is ‘Imperial Palace Heaven-Revering Ten-Thousand Generations Protection Martial Art.'”
A martial art that reveres the Imperial Palace as heaven and protects it for ten thousand generations… quite a grandiose name.
“But honestly, it’s far too long. So we simply call it the Imperial Palace martial techniques.”
“I see.”
“The Imperial Palace martial techniques are divided into internal cultivation methods, lightness techniques, fist forms, leg techniques, sword techniques, formation techniques, and pursuit techniques.”
I understood everything except pursuit techniques—what was that?
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, sensing my curiosity, offered an explanation.
“You probably know the rest, but you’re wondering what pursuit techniques are, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You can think of it as a tracking technique. Honestly, while the Imperial Palace martial arts primarily serve to protect His Majesty the Emperor, their secondary purpose is to pursue and apprehend criminals.”
“Ah!”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster continued his explanation.
“…That concludes the instruction. Do you have any questions?”
“Yes. I’ve heard that the Eunuch Officials practice a separate martial art.”
“Ah, that? You’re right. However, due to physical circumstances, only the Eunuch Officials can master it. Why? Are you interested?”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster’s gaze drifted pointedly toward my lower body, and I responded firmly.
“I’m not interested. I was merely curious.”
Hmm… this Great Swordmaster was saying something rather awkward.

The training session ended.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster arranged to visit every other day, and today he assessed my basic physical condition.
He muttered something about being able to “proceed with the formal training soon”….
I was now at the Beijing Branch construction site.
I came at night because I hadn’t found time to inspect it during the day.
But… what is that?
As I quietly examined something visible in the distance, I cried out in alarm.
“You there! What are you doing on someone else’s construction site?”

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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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