The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 320

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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 320

Chapter 320. What Must Be Done (1)

After finishing my duel with the Stronghold Master, I dragged him back to the mountain stronghold.
“My lord!”
My guards, who had been helping others clean up the area, rushed toward me before suddenly stopping short.
Did I look that terrible?
Seo-woo Warrior asked in a trembling voice.
“Are you injured? Did you sustain injuries?”
“Ah….”
I nodded.
“My martial prowess was superior, but this Stronghold Master employed poison techniques and even a collaborative strike. I simply took some damage due to my lack of experience.”
“No! You were hit by poison techniques? That’s dangerous!”
With that, they sprang into action.
Before I could protest, a bed was set up in the mountain stronghold’s courtyard, and I was laid upon it.
When did my guards become so perfectly coordinated with one another?
I could understand the others, but why were even Myeong-jong Warrior and Chang-un Warrior working together so seamlessly?
“Shouldn’t we wake the Stronghold Master and find out what poison it was?”
“Hmm, you’re right. For now, I’ll need to use the antidote I have on hand.”
At their words, I sighed and rose from the bed.
“Tell me—why did I ask you all to stand back earlier?”
Palgap answered my question.
“Wasn’t it to keep us from being caught in the poison techniques?”
“Exactly. So why did I step forward to face him myself?”
“Wait? Now that you mention it, that is strange. Our young master is incredibly protective of his own life and never does anything that results in a loss.”
Was that a compliment…?
“Right, you understand well. It’s because the martial techniques I’ve mastered can neutralize most poisons.”
I spoke to my guards.
“So I’m fine. Just a few scratches….”
“Just a few scratches, you say?”
I flinched involuntarily at Seo-woo Warrior’s intensity.
“A few—well, quite a few cuts, actually.”
“I understand why you gave such an order. But the truth is, we have more experience dealing with such opponents than you do. And we can withstand ordinary poisons.”
“….”
“You care for us too much, my lord. Of course, we’re grateful for that, but I fear it may lead to our own mistakes.”
“….”
“I wish you would rely on us more.”
At those words, I fell into contemplation for a moment.
Why had I tried to face that man myself instead of letting the Guard Warriors handle it?
Was it truly only because I had the strongest resistance to poison?
It was likely due to memories from my previous life.
Back then, Palgap and the Guard Warriors alike had thrown their lives away to protect me.
The debt and remorse I felt toward them then still lingered within me.
Though six years had passed since I returned to the past, such feelings could not easily fade.
Yet I understood their concerns as well.
The Guard Warriors’ duty was to protect me, but the roles had become inverted.
Sometimes, consideration becomes poison.
This was precisely such a case.
“In truth, I dislike seeing anyone die before me. It is especially unbearable if they are people I cherish.”
“….”
“So it seems I acted that way without realizing it. But it appears my actions became a burden to you all. I apologize. Going forward, I will rely on you more.”
“We too shall strive to become more dependable to our lord.”
It was then that Lee Pil Warrior spoke.
“However, is your wound at the ribs not troubling you?”
“This much will heal in a fortnight with wound salve.”
At my words, Palgap produced a small vial.
“Anticipating this, I had set aside a bit of that miraculous essence.”
“Hmm?”
That miraculous essence—could it be Geumryeong’s saliva?
Palgap laid me on a simple cot and began applying the liquid from the vial to my wound at the ribs.
Watching the wound seal itself in an instant confirmed it.
Yet knowing it was Geumryeong’s saliva, I could not help but wear an uncomfortable expression.
“Does it pain you?”
“It is fine….”
This is why preconceptions are so fearsome.

Finally, Chung Gwan, who had been suffering in the cave, was rescued, and the San-chae bandit gang was dismantled.
By order of the Geumui Guard Great Heroes, Chung Gwan was bound again after receiving basic treatment.
Now the problem was the kidnapped children.
They had to be returned to their homes.
From the clothes the children wore and their accents, it was clear they were from the tribes of Northern Gansu, so returning them shouldn’t be difficult.
“Then, Great Heroes, will you depart for Beijing first with Bang Minister?”
“Us first?”
“Yes. I will escort the children home and follow you to Beijing afterward.”
At my words, Jingyeong Great Swordmaster’s expression became awkward.
“I apologize. This was originally our responsibility.”
“Not at all. There’s no such thing when it comes to returning children to their homes.”
I continued.
“Moreover, since there are those who have been tracking us, it would be best if you departed first.”
“That’s true.”
The Emperor’s request through his letter was to bring Bang Nosa to Beijing and to rescue the Geumui Guard Great Heroes.
Their safe arrival in Beijing should be the priority.
“But will you be alright? By your own words, you’re saying you’ll become bait for us?”
At Bang Nosa’s words, I smiled broadly.
He was right.
But sending them ahead like this was also because there was something I needed to do in Gansu besides this.
“The Emperor’s command takes precedence over my safety. And you needn’t worry about me. I’m quite good at escaping when I need to.”
I said with a smile.
“So please return and quickly apprehend those who are pursuing me.”
“Understood. I shall certainly do so.”
Thus Bang Nosa and the Geumui Guard Great Heroes departed for Beijing, taking Chung-gwan Duke and those captured here.
To travel faster, they decided to take a boat, and after seeing them off, I headed to the mountain foothill house I had purchased.
Palgap was playing with the children.
“Now let’s depart as well.”
“Yes!”
We boarded the carriage I had prepared in advance. Since there was no coachman, Palgap drove the carriage.
It would be a waste to abandon the house like this.
So I contacted the Eunhae Trading Company’s Gansu Branch and asked them to maintain it.
It seemed I might need it again later.
The carriage we rode began to move.
“Are we going home now?”
One of the five children asked me.
This was the child who had asked more than half of all the questions the children had posed to me. Was his name Gil Sung?
“Yes.”
At my answer, the other children became very happy.
“But we don’t even know where our home is?”
At Gil Sung’s question, fear welled up once more in the children’s eyes, and their shoulders drooped.
“Those clothes you’re wearing—you’ve had them since the beginning, haven’t you?”
At my question, the children exchanged glances and nodded.
“The clothes you wear and the ornaments in your hair are unique markers of the tribe you belong to. With those, I can deduce which tribe’s children you are.”
“Really, sir?”
“So there’s no need to worry.”
“Um… Seon Hyeop Mi-rang Great Swordmaster.”
“Cough!”
At the name that escaped Gil Sung’s lips, I found myself choking involuntarily.
I never expected to hear that name here as well.
“Where on earth did you hear that name?”
“From the Geumui Guard uncles, and from the Attendant uncle.”
“…”
My body trembled slightly.
“Just call me Elder Brother. Haha.”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
Gil Sung and the children bowed their heads to me as they spoke.
“Thank you so much.”
At their gratitude, I smiled warmly.

Being able to return the children to their homes was honestly only possible because of my experience in my previous life.
During my dealings with various tribes in Gansu Province, I had carefully observed their clothing and ornaments, memorizing which tribe each belonged to.
“Is it this way?”
“Yes. Just keep going straight ahead.”
Thanks to those memories, I even knew where each tribe was settled.
The Guard Warriors found me remarkable, but I brushed it off casually.
After riding in the carriage for about four days from Lanzhou, we soon arrived at a tribal settlement.
It was a tribe whose men and women alike wore their hair braided with colorful threads—a striking sight.
When the tribe came into view, the eyes of the child wearing the braided hair ornament grew red.
“Whoa!”
The carriage stopped.
As we entered the tribal settlement, the tribespeople tensed at the arrival of outsiders and watched us warily.
And sturdy young men took up their weapons in alert.
I opened the carriage door and descended, then lifted the tribe’s child and carried him down from the carriage.
At the sight of the child, a sharp cry like a wail came from across the way.
“Se-jung!”
“Mother!”
The child rushed toward his mother running toward him and was embraced in her arms.
“Se-jung! My son! Where on earth have you been?”
“Mother! Mother!”
“Se-jung? Se-jung has returned?”
“Father!”
I watched the family reunion unfold with a contented expression.
At that moment, an Elder approached me.
“Have you come to return Se-jung to us?”
I quickly bowed in response to his question.
“Yes, it is my first time meeting you. I am Eun Seo-ho. While acting under imperial orders, I discovered and rescued kidnapped children.”
“Then Se-jung was truly kidnapped?”
“Unfortunately, that is the case.”
“But you mentioned children?”
“There are several more inside the carriage.”
At my words, the Elder tilted his head in curiosity.
“But how did you know that Se-jung belongs to our tribe?”
I tapped my own hair with my fingers as I answered.
“The hair ornaments. Braiding hair with colored threads—and specifically, braiding with three colors of thread—is not a distinctive characteristic of your tribe?”
“That you could recognize such a detail! Remarkable!”
“It is because I work within the Merchant Guild.”
At my words, the Elder smiled warmly and introduced himself.
“I am Ho Chung, the Tribal Chief of this tribe.”
“Ah, so you are the Tribal Chief.”
I had already known. He bore the markings of a tribal chief. And this tribe would not reveal their name to someone unworthy of trust.
That he revealed his name to me—did that mean I could be trusted?
At that moment, the child brought his parents to me and bowed his head.
“Thank you so much for rescuing me and bringing me home.”
“Though you have endured hardship, live courageously and well.”
“Yes. Thank you so much.”
I smiled lightly and turned to greet the Tribal Chief.
“Then I shall take my leave now.”
“Already? You are too hasty to depart without allowing us to repay your kindness.”
“Though I wish to stay, there are other children waiting in the carriage. How long must their parents wait for them? I ask for your understanding.”
I spoke of putting oneself in another’s position.
Understanding my sentiment, both the Tribal Chief and the parents saw me off with reluctant expressions.
“Since you speak so, I cannot insist further.”
“Please, do visit us again next time.”
Thus we departed from that tribe and headed toward the next.
In truth, until we arrived at this tribe, there had been a hint of anxiety in the children’s eyes.
It was likely born from doubt and worry about whether I truly intended to take them home.
But now, witnessing a child returned to his home, hope began to shine in the children’s eyes.
It took one day to reach the next tribe.
That tribe was easily recognizable—the clothes they wore were slightly different.

By the time we arrived at the next tribal settlement, evening had fallen.
As we approached, sturdy young men rushed out with bows in hand.
Unlike the previous tribe, which had merely held their weapons in caution, these warriors actually drew their bowstrings taut, ready to fire.
They were that hostile to outsiders, that insular.
“Oh… you shouldn’t do that to your benefactor.”
I spoke gently to the flustered child.
“They’re only doing that to protect their tribe, so it’s only natural.”
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
“But please don’t misunderstand. Everyone in our tribe is kind and good-hearted. And they’re not usually like this either.”
“Of course, I understand.”
I descended from the carriage with the child, took his hand, and approached them.
Then I bowed respectfully with cupped fists.
“It is an honor to meet you. My name is Eun Seo-ho. I have brought back a child of your tribe.”
At that moment, the child looked ahead and cried out.
“Lower your bows! You can’t do that to my benefactor!”
“What? Kang Yong? Is that you, Kang Yong?”
The one who appeared to be their commander raised his hand and issued an urgent order.
“Stand down! Lower your bows immediately! All of you!”
“Tell the Tribal Chief at once! Kang Yong has returned!”
Then he approached me and asked.
“How did this come to pass?”
I recounted the entire story, and after hearing my account, he turned to the child called Kang Yong and asked.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. This person saved me.”
“Is that so!”
Then a man came running from within the settlement.
“Kang Yong!”
“Father!”
“Good heavens! What is the meaning of this?”
“Tribal Chief. This is the person who brought Kang Yong back to us.”
Only then did I realize that the child called Kang Yong was the Tribal Chief’s son.
And now that I thought about it… a vague memory from my previous life surfaced.
It was said that this place had not originally been so insular, but became closed off after the Tribal Chief’s child went missing.
They had ultimately never found the child.
That child was… this one?

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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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