The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 342

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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 342

Chapter 342. Things Gone Awry (5)
I knew this habit intimately.
Il-mun.
The man who had been my Guard Warrior.
There was no doubt about it.
How many times had I crossed blades with him?
In my previous life, I had sparred often with my Guard Warriors and fought alongside them, so I could not fail to recognize that habit.
But he was the Second Son of the Honam Province Administrator?
It was only natural that I had not recognized him at first glance.
First, his name was different.
My Guard Warrior’s name was Il-mun, but the Second Son sparring with me now was named Yeon Ju-hyuk.
Furthermore, when he became my Guard, his face was terribly scarred by fire.
That was why he wore a mask.
His vocal cords were damaged, and his voice was not particularly pleasant to hear.
Yet his skill was exceptional, and his resolve was steadfast, which is why he became my Guard Warrior.
On the day I died, he died as well.
Let me recall my memories of him….
Now that I think about it, according to what Palgap told me back then, there had been an enormous fire at the Honam Province Administrator’s residence.
As a result, the Second Son’s family and the Fourth Son, who happened to be home at the time, perished.
Then….
The Second Son had not died then, and had barely survived to become my Guard Warrior?
I could only gaze at him with complicated eyes.
* * *
In the courtyard of the Guest Reception Room, the sparring between Yeon Ju-hyuk, the Second Son of the Honam Province Administrator, and Eun Seo-ho continued.
Blade met blade.
Yeon Ju-hyuk’s realm was first-rate.
In truth, for him to be a first-rate Warrior in his early thirties was a respectable achievement.
Considering that even the elders of most sects were merely at the pinnacle realm.
Eun Seo-ho was fighting him at an equal level.
The Honam Province Administrator watched this and thought.
‘Surely… his realm must be the pinnacle, yet he is matching Ju-hyuk’s level?’
But something strange caught his eye.
“…!”
It was Eun Seo-ho’s footprints.
Since the back garden was nearby, the ground was dirt, and Yeon Ju-hyuk’s footprints were scattered chaotically across it.
‘Why are there no footprints from him?’
Soon he noticed what the others had not.
‘Gasp! If my eyes aren’t deceiving me, that marketplace merchant hasn’t moved a single step since earlier!’
From what he knew, to accomplish that against a first-rate warrior would be impossible even at the pinnacle realm.
Which meant Eun Seo-ho had transcended the pinnacle realm entirely.
‘Was he concealing his true level?’
His eyes gleamed with intensity.
‘How fortuitous.’
The sparring match was drawing to its conclusion.
“I believe this would be an appropriate place to stop.”
Yeon Ju-hyuk answered Eun Seo-ho’s words while gasping for breath.
“Quite sufficient—huff—I was able to broaden my horizons considerably. Thank you for indulging my insistence.”
“Think nothing of it.”
* * *
“Father has instructed me to bring back his reply.”
In response to Hangsu Gongja’s words, the Honam Province Administrator said he would write a letter if he waited.
But it didn’t seem like he would provide it anytime soon. He would have much to deliberate.
When I returned to the Separate Pavilion, Hangsu Gongja asked me a question.
“Were you able to use your martial arts?”
I answered with a light laugh.
“Otherwise, how could I have brought back eyes from the Northern Sea?”
“That’s true enough.”
He simply nodded and entered his room.
How callous.
After all, since I had accompanied him and even participated in the sparring match, couldn’t he have offered at least a word of gratitude for my efforts?
He spoke quite eloquently before the Honam Province Administrator, yet in my presence he becomes cold and indifferent.
Well, it doesn’t matter. Once this affair is resolved, there will be no further need to see him.
I gazed at the sky. The sun had completely set by now.
Surely no one else would come looking for me?
I intend to infiltrate the Fourth Young Master’s quarters tonight. No matter how I think about it, something about him seems highly suspicious.
Entering my room, I spoke to Palgap.
“Palgap, if anyone comes looking for me, tell them I’m sleeping.”
“Where are you going, sir?”
“I need to investigate something.”
I waited for the night to deepen before changing into light traveling clothes that would allow me to move freely.
Truthfully, night clothes would be least conspicuous, but they would look far too suspicious if I were spotted.
And it would be troublesome to change if someone called for me.
So I changed into traveling clothes of the darkest hue possible.
That was when it happened.
“Master, a servant has come looking for you outside.”
“…?”
I tilted my head in confusion and left the room.
An attendant I’m seeing here for the first time?
“Are you… Seon Hyeop Mi-rang the Great Hero?”
I nodded.
“The young master instructed me to bring you.”
“Which young master?”
“The Second Young Master, Yeon Ju-hyuk.”
What is this about?
I wanted to refuse honestly, but I changed my mind and agreed.
Being summoned by him meant I could enter the inner quarters boldly and without question.
A moment later.
I followed the attendant into the inner quarters.
“But is it really acceptable for an outsider like myself to enter the inner quarters at such a late hour?”
Normally, outsiders weren’t admitted to the inner quarters at night.
The attendant answered my question graciously.
“There’s no need to worry. If you’ve been invited by someone residing in the inner quarters, there’s no problem.”
“I see.”
Soon I arrived at… a training ground?
This looks like a training ground?
It was spacious enough to give that impression. Moreover, the floor was laid with blue stone.
They certainly spared no expense here.
And standing there was Yeon Ju-hyuk.
“You’ve arrived? Great Hero.”
“The title ‘Great Hero’ embarrasses me. Please simply call me the Small Guild Master.”
“That is…”
“I ask of you.”
At my request, he reluctantly nodded.
“If you insist, I understand.”
He continued.
“The reason I’ve summoned you, Small Guild Master, is because I have a request. I sincerely hope you’ll grant it.”
And the way he looked at me suggested he wanted me to ask what that request was.
“…”
I had no choice.
“What is this request?”
“Please spar with me.”
“I recall we sparred earlier. Are you asking for another match?”
At my question, he nodded.
“Yes. I understand that earlier, you held back to preserve my dignity in front of my family.”
“…”
The truth was, I hadn’t fully displayed my abilities earlier because of the suspicious Fourth Son.
But Yeon Ju-hyuk had misunderstood it as me deliberately letting him save face.
Well, misunderstandings are free to have.
“This time, I would appreciate it if you did not hold back. I wish to know my true capabilities.”
His eyes were serious.
In my previous life, they overlapped with the gaze of Guard Warrior Il-mun, who had sacrificed his life for me.
“Sigh….”
I exhaled and consented.
“Very well. I agree.”
“Thank you!”
“However, let us use wooden swords rather than real blades.”
He looked flustered at my proposal.
“Wooden swords? But I wish to spar with real blades.”
I shook my head.
“Whether real or wooden, the danger is much the same—so why insist on real blades?”
“Well, one must use real blades to become accustomed to actual combat, must one not?”
“A master calligrapher does not blame the brush.”
“….”
“If you will not accept my proposal, then this match shall not take place.”
My insistence on wooden swords was honestly to spare us both from difficulty.
First, I had only recently reached the pinnacle realm.
Should I make a mistake while wielding real blades, it would be most troublesome.
Earlier, I had deliberately held back, so it was fine, but since my opponent is now in earnest, I cannot predict what might happen.
Moreover, no matter how much the participant insists it is acceptable, real blade sparring is easily misunderstood by others.
But with wooden swords, it would generally be treated as instructional sparring.
At my words, he finally nodded.
“Understood.”
“Let us borrow wooden swords.”
He instructed his Attendant, who brought two wooden swords.
I picked up a wooden sword to test it.
It was heavy yet firm, with what felt like an iron core, and perfectly balanced.
“A fine wooden sword.”
“It is crafted from Tiangang wood.”
“Ah! As expected.”
I nodded and spoke.
“Take your sword. You said not to hold back, yes? There will be no yielding of the first three moves.”
“Understood.”
We assumed our stances.
Silence descended around us. Even our breathing was cautious.
As tension settled in.
Whoosh—!
Yeon Ju-hyuk took the first strike.
It was certainly an incredibly fast speed, but to my eyes, it appeared slow.
So this is the difference between transcendent mastery and first-rate skill.
When I was at the peak, I hadn’t felt such a disparity.
I raised my wooden sword to parry Yeon Ju-hyuk’s strike as it came down from above.
“Ugh!”
He didn’t lose his grip on the wooden sword and pressed down again with renewed force.
As I’d felt before, Yeon Ju-hyuk’s current skill was quite respectable.
Even for a first-rate warrior, it wasn’t easy to maintain one’s grip and immediately counterattack after receiving such a blow.
I parried his wooden sword once more.
But this time, unlike before, I infused it with the essence of Song Jeol Seol.
One of the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique and a middle technique at that.
“…!”
His expression showed bewilderment. The energy embedded in my wooden sword blocked his further movement.
And then,
Whoosh—
I brought my wooden sword to his neck as naturally as flowing water.
“I’ve lost.”
At his declaration, I lowered my wooden sword.
Our sparring match had actually been a brief exchange lasting only the count of five.
Seeming regretful that it had ended so quickly, he bowed his head with an earnest expression.
“Please, just one more time.”
But I knew he wouldn’t stop at just this once.
The Il-mun I remembered was a man of relentless perseverance who knew no surrender.
So I needed to settle this matter with a clear answer here.
“Five more times. No more than that.”
His face brightened.
“Thank you.”
We sparred, and in all four subsequent matches, Yeon Ju-hyuk attacked first, and I won each time.
Of course, they were all brief exchanges lasting only seconds.
“This is the final one.”
“….”
“A promise is a promise.”
“I understand.”
I spoke to him, who was clearly reluctant.
“This time, I’ll make the first move.”
He nodded with a tense expression and gripped his wooden sword firmly.
I rushed toward him.
Whoosh!
“…!”
And unlike before, I infused my attack with genuine killing intent.
At that very moment, sensing my killing intent, a figure burst forth from the side.
Just as I thought.
The reason I used a wooden sword was partly because of him. Judging by how he had been hiding so discreetly, he appeared to be Yeon Ju-hyuk’s Guard Warrior.
Yeon Ju-hyuk likely knew of his presence. That’s why he had the audacity to request a real sword duel with me.
He rushed toward me urgently, attempting to draw his blade.
But.
Tap.
Before he could act, my wooden sword lightly tapped Yeon Ju-hyuk’s head.
“Uh….”
He stared at me with a dazed expression, and I chuckled softly before continuing.
“If this had been a real fight, you’d be dead.”
“Uh….”
Still wearing that bewildered look. His Guard Warrior hadn’t even finished drawing his sword, his face flushed with panic.
“What were you thinking just now?”
“Uh….”
He barely managed to swallow before speaking.
“I couldn’t think of anything.”
“Exactly right. When you face a master’s killing intent like that, your mind goes blank. So tell me—what could possibly save your life in such a moment?”
“….”
I continued immediately.
After all, I wasn’t really expecting an answer.
“Be honest with me. When you train in swordsmanship, you don’t place much emphasis on foundational practice, do you?”
“…How did you know?”
“Because you couldn’t properly respond to my attacks. If you had been diligent with foundational training, you could have blocked my strikes. They weren’t even that fast.”
He looked down at his own hands.
“I’ve heard you’re an outer disciple of the Hengshan Sect. I understand that not just the Hengshan Sect, but all sects begin their daily routine with foundational practice for their disciples.”
“That’s correct. The Hengshan Sect was no exception.”
“Honestly, repeating the nine fundamental sword forms—the very basics of swordsmanship—hundreds of times is painful and tedious. But it’s not meant to torment the disciples. It’s so that in a moment of crisis, you can instinctively wield your blade.”
I continued.
“So before you seek out masters and engage in perilous duels, focus on foundational training. If you never neglect your daily basics, even when facing someone stronger than yourself, you’ll be able to block one or two of their attacks.”
I turned to look at the Guard Warrior beside me and continued.
“Then your master’s Guard Warrior wouldn’t have to arrive too late.”
In my previous life, he had said it.
That he regretted neglecting the fundamentals.
That if he hadn’t made such a mistake, he could have protected those dear to him.
That he wouldn’t have lived such a hateful life….
“I was arrogant, relying only on my own talent.”
Recalling his expression as he said those words, I smiled bitterly.
In this life, I used rather drastic methods, hoping he wouldn’t come to regret such things.
“Well then, we’ve completed five duels as promised, so I shall take my leave.”
I said this and handed the wooden sword to the Attendant beside me. I was about to turn and leave when it happened.
“Master!”
“Hmm?”
When I turned around, he was on his knees, bowing to me. And he cried out.
“I shall serve you as my Master!”
Wait, why are you doing this? You’re older than I am…
This is bewildering.

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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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