The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 310

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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 310

Chapter 310. The Emperor’s Errand (1)

I took a brief respite to stroll through the back garden.
Of course, I trained in martial arts every morning, but spending the entire day poring over documents left my vision swimming and my entire body feeling stiff and rigid.
So I made it a habit to walk through the back garden like this and loosen up my body.
“The weather has certainly cleared up now.”
I nodded at Yeo Eung-am Warrior’s words.
As if to prove that spring had arrived, plum blossoms were beginning to bloom.
Last winter had been bitterly cold, but thanks to the Boyun Root that Geumryeong had found, everyone at the trading company had made it through safely.
I slipped my hand into my sleeve and gently stroked Geumryeong.
– Coo-ee?
What a remarkable creature.
It was time to head to Beijing soon.
I needed to complete the Beijing Branch building quickly so I could begin operations there within the year.
And the start of spring also meant that the lean season—the spring hunger—was not far off.
After dismantling the largest rebel bandit groups in the region by entrusting them with tenant farming of the farmland, no threatening factions had appeared.
That made sense, as winter was not a season conducive to travel.
Even Escort Masters and merchants accustomed to the road found it grueling, let alone common folk.
If they didn’t freeze to death on the journey, they were fortunate.
But now that the weather was warming, the movement of wandering refugees would become easier, and the spring hunger would likely create new waves of displaced people.
Though the state was providing relief, there were limits to what it could do.
So I needed to get to Beijing quickly before things got worse.
.
.
.
That evening, after finishing my duties, I visited Father and told him I intended to leave for Beijing.
“Will you be alright? We keep receiving reports that public sentiment is growing increasingly unsettled….”
“That’s precisely why I must go now. The longer I wait, the more difficult travel will become.”
“That’s true enough.”
Father pondered for a moment before asking.
“When do you plan to depart?”
“I’m thinking of leaving within ten days.”

With my father’s approval secured, I was handling the arrangements when an unexpected visitor sought me out.
It was Gyeong In-juk, whom I had recently freed from the Rebel Bandit Group and brought into the Merchant Guild.
“What brings you here? I heard you’ve been quite busy lately.”
“No matter how busy I am, I could never be as occupied as the Third Sub-unit Leader.”
“Ha ha ha.”
Now that I thought about it, that was true enough.
Gyeong In-juk and the young men who had come with him were each fulfilling their duties with diligence.
The supervisors spoke highly of how faithfully and well they performed their work.
If they continued laboring earnestly like this for a few more years, they would become apprentice supervisors without any resistance.
“I heard you’re going to Beijing this time.”
“Yes, that’s how it’s been arranged.”
Word of my departure to Beijing spread throughout the entire Merchant Guild in no time.
This was hardly surprising—since I might not return for quite some time once I went to Beijing, everyone who would be accompanying me was bustling about making thorough preparations in advance.
That must be how Gyeong In-juk had heard about it.
“When you go this time, when will you return?”
“I cannot say for certain. Perhaps half a year or so?”
“I see.”
Gyeong In-juk nodded and extended what he had been holding toward me.
“Please accept this.”
“What is this?”
“It’s something we’ve gathered together by saving a little from each of our first wages.”
I opened the pouch with mild surprise.
Inside were a fire keeper and a water canteen.
“Isn’t this a fire keeper and a water canteen?”
“When traveling long distances, aren’t fire and water among the most essential things one could have?”
“Indeed.”
A fire keeper to preserve embers and a water canteen to carry water.
Feeling the sentiment behind their wish that I never go cold or thirsty, my heart swelled with emotion.
“This will prove most useful. Thank you.”

Time passed in this manner.
After completing my breathing exercises, I rose from my seat. My Master entered my separate pavilion at precisely that moment.
“Good morning.”
“Yes, Master. Good morning.”
When my Master acknowledged the guards, Seo-woo Warrior bowed lightly and departed with Myeong-jong Warrior.
Initially, both Myeong-jong Warrior and Chang-un Warrior had questioned the practice of leaving their posts during my martial training.
But after witnessing my Master’s piercing gaze, they ceased their objections and withdrew without complaint thereafter.
It seemed my Master had simply overwhelmed them with his presence. Was inner cultivation truly the pinnacle of all things?
“Then, shall we begin?”
“Yes.”
At my Master’s words, I drew my blade. In that instant, his form surged toward me with devastating speed.
I quickly raised my sword to intercept his assault.
Clang!
Clang-clang!
Our blades collided dozens of times in succession.
Not long ago, my Master had told me he would teach me a new sword technique, and that a preparatory process was necessary for this.
Thus, all he had asked was that I respond to his attacks and counterattack using both the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique and the Seolhon Sword Technique that I had learned thus far.
“Huff, huff…”
As I moved frantically, Palgap struck the bell.
Dong!
A quarter hour had elapsed.
“Your movements have become more natural than last time. However, the transitions between techniques remain awkward. This is likely because you are calculating each movement before executing it.”
“Then I should not calculate my movements?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Did you not say before, Master, that when facing an opponent, one must analyze and calculate their movements to fight efficiently?”
“That is correct.”
My Master nodded.
“This prevents wasteful expenditure of inner cultivation. However, even when fighting through calculation, one can ascend to a higher level only upon reaching the state of absolute emptiness—mushin—where all thought vanishes.”
At those words, I recalled days past.
When I faced the Madman Warrior in a life-or-death duel to obtain the Eun Moo-geom, I had unknowingly entered that state of absolute emptiness.
And in that moment, I had been able to reach the pinnacle of martial prowess.
“Truthfully, the higher one’s level, the rarer the opportunity to fall into such a state. The more one can calculate, the less likely such a condition becomes.”
“That is true.”
As my Master said, I had not entered that state of absolute emptiness since then.
That was likely because my guards ensured I never found myself in such circumstances.
Should I perhaps venture into the Kangho for a year without my guards?
A thought so absurd that my guards would be astounded crossed my mind, and I found myself chuckling involuntarily.
But such a thing was impossible.
With so many people depending on me, how could I abandon them and venture into the Kangho?
For me, martial arts were merely a means of self-defense—a tool to protect myself.
What matters most to me is the Eunhae Trading Company.
“Then, this time, please come first, Small Guild Master.”
“Yes!”
I drew my sword and rushed toward my Master.
“Haaah!”
Clang—!
My Master deflected my blade with ease, and our exchange of moves began anew.

A short while later.
“Hah, hah….”
I lay sprawled across the courtyard, gasping for breath. This was truly exhausting.
These days, I would exchange blows for about an hour, receive guidance from my Master, and then continue the exchange—repeating this cycle over and over.
After filling a full two-hour period like this, I lacked even the strength to stand.
To be honest, this was far more grueling than my previous training.
“You have worked hard.”
I barely managed to rise and performed a respectful bow to my Master, cupping my fist.
“Thank you for your instruction.”
“You depart for Beijing early tomorrow morning, I hear?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Travel safely.”
“I will. Please take care of yourself as well, Master. But will I learn the new sword technique after I return from Beijing?”
My Master pondered my question for a moment before responding.
“I wish that were the case.”
What did he mean by that?

* * *

Gwak Myung-hyun stepped out of the Mun Gok Hall, Eun Seo-ho’s separate pavilion, and glanced back over his shoulder.
There sat Palgap on the ground, drinking water that he had offered him.
The sword technique he had mastered through the Ancestor’s profound insights, obtained with Eun Seo-ho’s help, was a sword technique meant for the Palace Master of Seolpung Palace.
To transmit that sword technique to Eun Seo-ho, there was something that had to be done first.
That was to reach the realm known as the Pinnacle.
For one who had not reached the Pinnacle realm, learning it would be quite dangerous.
Thus, he was now concentrating on elevating Eun Seo-ho’s realm.
At that moment, a middle-aged man appeared before him.
“Gwak pays respects to the External Chief Manager of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
It was Go Il-pyeong, the External Chief Manager.
“It seems you are overseeing the Third Sub-unit Leader’s training before departing.”
“Yes.”
Go Il-pyeong spoke with a faint smile.
“I personally wish to express my gratitude to Gwak Pyo-du. The martial arts I have learned are of the extreme yang school, you see….”
“They would not suit the Third Sub-unit Leader.”
He nodded in agreement.
“So, since we have met like this, there is something I wish to ask.”
“What might that be?”
“Has the Third Young Master truly reached the Pinnacle?”
After a moment of consideration, he nodded.
The fact that he was asking in such a manner meant he already held some certainty. What use would there be in denying it?
Moreover, the Go Il-pyeong he knew was a man of considerable integrity. Trustworthy, in other words.
“Indeed! So it is true!”
His expression confirmed Gwak Myung-hyun’s suspicion.
An ominous thought suddenly struck him, and he asked Go Il-pyeong.
“Could it be that you intend to make the Third Sub-unit Leader your successor as External Chief Manager?”
At that question, Go Il-pyeong shook his head.
“No, that is not it. I have already settled upon the Second Sub-unit Leader as my successor.”
Then, at least that was a relief.
He continued speaking.
“This position must be held by someone steadfast. The Third Sub-unit Leader’s abilities are not suited for the External Chief Manager’s role.”
The External Chief Manager quickly continued.
“Ah, I do not mean the Third Sub-unit Leader lacks steadfastness. Rather….”
“I understand what you wish to say, External Chief Manager. You mean he is versatile and excels at adapting to circumstances.”
“Ahem, that is precisely what I mean.”
“I share that view as well.”
Go Il-pyeong continued speaking.
“Hmm, in Gwak Pyo-du’s assessment, what do you think are the chances of the Third Young Master rising even higher than he is now?”
At that question, Gwak Myung-hyun let out a soft laugh and gazed down at his hands.
Still tingling with sensation.
The lingering aftershock from my exchange with Eun Seo-ho still reverberated through my hands.
Which meant it wouldn’t be long now.
But I had no intention of telling him outright. With a playful glint in my eye, I spoke to Go Il-pyeong.
“That is a secret.”
“….”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
I offered a respectful bow to the slightly bewildered Go Il-pyeong and turned to continue on my way.
In truth, a truly exceptional master required perfect balance between inner force and enlightenment.
But based on my experience thus far, the higher one’s realm, the more critical enlightenment became.
The higher the realm, the faster inner force accumulated. Yet there existed a ceiling beyond which no more could be accumulated.
Because the dantian itself had limits to its size.
To expand that dantian required a process of complete rebirth and transformation.
Yet simply possessing abundant inner force or practicing martial arts for decades did not guarantee one could achieve such transformation.
Otherwise, anyone who diligently practiced superior martial arts could achieve it, but clearly that was not the case.
In this world, some spent their entire lives mastering martial arts yet remained trapped between first and second rank, while others reached their peak despite their youth.
In other words, only through enlightenment could one achieve true rebirth and transformation, expanding the dantian to genuinely ascend to the next realm.
Of course, one could become a master instantly through miraculous elixirs.
But such elixirs were extraordinarily rare, and even if one was fortunate enough to consume one, accepting that power required endurance beyond human limits.
It was the process of forcibly transforming an unprepared body into that of a master.
Enduring it with full consciousness was unbearably agonizing, and roughly eighty percent failed to survive the ordeal.
In other words, those who became masters through elixirs were among the most exceptional of the exceptional. Or extraordinarily fortunate.
Yet one could say that even they did not gain enlightenment without struggle.
For there was no greater catalyst for enlightenment than standing at the threshold between life and death.
In any case, precisely because of such danger did prestigious clans exercise caution in using elixirs.
In truth, Eun Seo-ho had overcome the suffering inflicted by the Blue Ice Snow Plum Chamber and crossed the threshold of death to transform his constitution, but Gwak Myung-hyun only knew that inner force had accumulated from it.
Regardless, I hoped Eun Seo-ho would achieve rebirth and transformation through enlightenment.
His body was already sufficiently prepared for the next realm, so the process would bring little suffering.
I simply wished for my cherished disciple to become a master without such agony.
In any case, Eun Seo-ho was now prepared, and should the moment of enlightenment arrive, he could become a supreme master.
And from my experience, the only path to such enlightenment was to wield the sword again and again.
Yet on the other hand, I also hoped such a moment of enlightenment would never come to Eun Seo-ho.
Though enlightenment brought no physical suffering, it demanded spiritual anguish no less severe.
I simply wished for my precious and beloved disciple to see only good things and walk only righteous paths.
‘Ah, so this is the heart of a master?’

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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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