The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 349

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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 349

Chapter 349. A Solution (4)

Palgap smiled and answered my question.
“The Dong Family’s prized daughter has died, it seems.”
“Is that so?”
Of course, it wasn’t exactly a matter to discuss with a smile, but Palgap understood as well.
That death was a false death.
And it meant our operation was proceeding smoothly.
“She was walking along the path when a rat suddenly jumped out, startling her. She fell and unfortunately struck her head against a garden stone, resulting in sudden death, they say.”
The three of us had deliberated carefully to ensure no one could be held responsible.
“So the family came to purchase a pig, it seems.”
This region had the custom of conducting funerals as lavishly as weddings. And by slaughtering the pig and sharing its meat, they would share their grief.
“When does the funeral begin, then?”
“In two days, sir.”
Now was the time to move.
I looked around at my Guard Warriors and spoke.
“This matter is confidential. You understand?”
“Of course.”
At Seo-woo Warrior’s words, everyone nodded. Myeong-jong Warrior and Chang-un Warrior also nodded.
“I swear it on my very life.”
Well, there was no need to go that far…
Still, it showed just how seriously they would guard this secret.

The funeral being in two days meant Lady Zaling’s body would arrive around tomorrow.
Only once the deceased’s body was placed behind the funeral screen would the ceremony truly begin.
Which meant I had to slip in secretly tonight.
Since this was a task where being discovered was unacceptable, only Seo-woo Warrior and I would move.
The higher one’s martial skill, the lower the risk of discovery.

When deep night fell and darkness enveloped the surroundings.
Seo-woo Warrior and I made our way toward the Dong Family Main Residence.
True to their status as an imperial branch family, the estate was remarkably expansive.
Rustle.
We scaled the wall and slipped inside, then headed toward the location the Guizhou Provincial Governor had mentioned.
It was the chamber where Lady Zaling’s body would be laid to rest.
Upon arriving there, we discovered a small door near the ceiling of the room.
We had infiltrated this place to directly witness the Murim Alliance’s confirmation of Lady Zaling’s death.
We had discussed this with the Provincial Governor, and he had indicated an appropriate vantage point.

“Lady Zaling’s body… it sounds strange to say it that way. In any case, there’s a small door near the ceiling of the room where the coffin will be temporarily placed. It was made for storage purposes, so from there you’ll have a clear view of everything below.”

That door was exactly the one he had described.
The height was difficult to reach without a ladder, but for us it posed no challenge.
Whoosh!
I leaped lightly upward, pressed myself against the wall, opened the door, and slipped inside.
We closed the door behind us, leaving only the smallest crack to observe the room below.
As the Provincial Governor had said, the interior was quite spacious.
However, dust had accumulated heavily from years of disuse.
Still, it was far better than hanging from the main beams or rafters for four days straight.
And dust was something I could handle.
Whoosh.
I drew upon my inner energy to gather the dust and sweep it into a corner.
Now it was much more pleasant.
And with that, the time of waiting began.

Creak.
The next day, the door opened and people entered.
They spread cloth across a wide table and placed a coffin upon it.
“Check the condition of the deceased.”
“Yes.”
They opened the coffin.
Lady Zaling lay inside, looking every bit like a truly dead person.
I carefully examined her vital energy using only the faintest amount of inner power so the others wouldn’t notice.
Her heart was beating so faintly that I could barely detect it—she was definitely alive.
Baek Bal Hwa-ui’s skill was truly remarkable.
It was fortunate that I had hidden myself here beforehand, for among those who just entered, I sensed the aura of someone from the Black Path.
As the people moved busily to carry away the coffin, he quietly withdrew a needle from his sleeve.
What? That bastard?
At the same moment, I felt someone’s energy stir nearby.
It was Jin Yu Warrior’s aura.
I had left him at the Guizhou Provincial Office to ensure Lady Zaling’s safety and to observe whether anyone would approach her to verify her death.
So he had followed Lady Zaling here.
I quickly sent a transmission of voice.
– Simply observe.
I said this because I detected no poison in that needle.
Even if poison were present, I could detoxify it as long as enough time hadn’t passed.
I thought he might check her pulse, but to use such a method instead.
Well, that might actually be the most certain way to confirm whether she’s truly dead.
And this opportunity would only present itself now.
He pricked Lady Zaling’s leg with the needle.
But she didn’t move at all.
Moreover, there was almost no bleeding, and the small amount that did flow was the blood of the dead.
I wished her body would remain unmarked, but this was an unavoidable sacrifice.
After confirming these reactions, he wiped the blood away with his sleeve and returned the needle to his pocket.
Everything happened in an instant.
I committed his face to memory.
For now, I could only watch, but after he reported to his superiors… I would have him declare her dead.
I sent a transmission to Jin Yu Warrior.
– I will issue additional orders. Surveil the marketplace.
– I acknowledge the command.

Four days had passed since then.
During that time, I heard wailing from outside, but no one came to verify Lady Zaling’s body again.
Creak.
The door opened and a group entered, preparing Lady Zaling’s body for burial and closing the coffin lid.
Then they carried the coffin away.
Now it was time to move again.
Taking advantage of the moment when everyone had left, Seo-woo Warrior and I emerged from our hiding place.
And we quickly made our way to the cave that Pojeongsa had shown us.
The Dong Family Main Residence practiced a burial custom called cave burial, where coffins containing the deceased were left inside caves.
Since the area was humid, placing bodies in well-ventilated caves was the best method.
My plan this time was made possible precisely because of this custom.
The cave was located on a rather steep mountain path, but we had no difficulty entering it.
After waiting there for a moment, we soon heard the sound of people approaching with considerable noise.
Those carrying the coffin entered and placed it to one side.
They sprinkled alcohol around the area, lit candles, and recited the funeral rites, and among them I could see the one who had pricked Lady Zaling with the needle.
That means Jin Yu Warrior is nearby….
Ah, there he is.
– Do you have anything to report?
– Yes. I confirmed that the Marketplace Owner sent a letter somewhere.
– So you reported it to headquarters.
– That’s correct.
Hmm?
– I intercepted the letter in transit and confirmed its contents—it stated that Miss Dong’s death had been verified and that she was certainly dead.
– You confirmed that?
– Yes, he was using the same method that a man named Im Do had used before to send letters. That’s how I was able to confirm it.
Ah… so he means hiding letters in that tree and having birds carry them to headquarters.
– However, I was unable to confirm where exactly the letter was sent. I apologize.
– That letter must reach safely to those above. Only then can we say this operation is half successful. You’ve worked hard. Please come to the appointed meeting place at the hour of the dog. We’ll depart as soon as Jin Yu Warrior arrives.

Those who had finished reciting the funeral rites began to leave the cave.
Lady Zaling’s older brothers all had vacant expressions on their faces.
And the Young Lady’s mother could barely support herself in her grief, while Pojeongsa wore an expression of deep sorrow.
Of course, Pojeongsa’s sorrow was not because Lady Zaling had died, but because he had to make his living daughter appear dead.
That anger and resentment toward the Murim Alliance would be of great help to me.
There’s a saying, after all.
The enemy of my enemy is my ally.
But separate from that, my heart ached seeing that sight, and it felt unbearably heavy.
I will surely resolve that anger and resentment for you.

Two hours passed after they left.
Once I was certain no one was nearby, I opened the coffin, cut the bindings around Lady Zaling with a dagger, and lifted her out.
Looking around the cave, I saw skeletal remains stacked neatly in rows.
When the bones placed in coffins here dried sufficiently, they would be removed and stacked beside the others.
Otherwise, this cave would reach capacity.
I bowed respectfully to them first.
My apologies.
But since this is to save my descendant, I ask for your cooperation.
Now I needed to place suitable remains in the coffin in Lady Zaling’s stead…
Clatter.
As if answering my words, one of the skulls from the stacked remains rolled and bounced into the coffin.
You’re granting permission for what I’m about to do, aren’t you?
I placed those remains in the coffin, then poured poisoned liquor over them and set it ablaze.
Whoosh!
The flames roared up as the poisoned liquor caught fire.
This would destroy all evidence.
“Let’s go!”
“Yes.”
I carried Lady Zaling and made my way out of the cave, heading toward where Palgap and the others waited.

“Young Master!”
Palgap was waiting as if he knew exactly when I would arrive.
“She’s here!”
When I opened the carriage door, a woman was inside.
She was a maidservant from the Dong Family Main Residence.
A person whose life had been saved thanks to Lady Zaling in the past.
Apparently, a precious ornament had disappeared from the main house, and she had been accused of stealing it.
At that time, Lady Zaling had found the lost ornament for her, allowing her to be proven innocent.
So I sought her help for this task, and she readily agreed.
Using a maidservant would have been ideal, but that would have drawn too much attention.
Maidservants are always closely attached to their mistresses.
But handmaidens had no presence, making them suitable candidates.
I had specifically hired this maidservant because I needed someone to care for her and change her clothes.
Everyone in our party was male, after all.
Besides, I couldn’t travel all the way to Beijing wearing the clothes of a corpse. We would need to stop at inns along the way.
“Good heavens!”
When I carried her into the carriage, the maidservant was startled.
“Young Lady!”
I spoke to her in a calm voice to reassure her.
“Don’t be alarmed. Though she appears dead now, she will open her eyes in about two days.”
“Is that really true?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“Then please change into the clothes we’ve prepared.”
“Understood.”
“I believe my attendant has already informed you about what comes next.”
She nodded.
“From now on, you must never reveal Lady Ja-ryeong’s true identity to anyone.”
“I heard that too. It’s to protect the young lady’s life.”
“Precisely. But someday, Lady Ja-ryeong will be able to reclaim her true identity. I promise you that.”
This is a promise I make to myself.
For Lady Ja-ryeong to reclaim her identity means the Murim Alliance can no longer threaten her life.
Just then, Jin Yu Warrior joined us, and we set out immediately.
We traveled swiftly downriver toward Beijing, the opposite direction from our journey here.
.
.
.
About ten days passed, and we were still aboard the boat.
“Are you managing the seasickness well?”
At my question, Lady Ja-ryeong nodded.
“Yes.”
“That’s surprising. I thought you’d suffer from it.”
She laughed at my words.
“I didn’t know I wouldn’t get seasick either.”
Two days after the day I brought her out of the coffin, she opened her eyes, just as Baek Bal Hwa-ui had said.
Then she immediately coughed up blood.
She was expelling the stagnant, dead blood that had accumulated in her body.
Once the blood began circulating again, vitality returned to her body, and now she moved about quite normally.
Baek Bal Hwa-ui is truly remarkable.
“We should be arriving in Jinan soon.”
To avoid the Murim Alliance’s attention as much as possible, we planned to disembark at Jinan and continue to Beijing by land.
“It’s getting cold, isn’t it?”
At my words, she shook her head.
“It’s fine. The cold means I can finally see real snow.”
“That’s true. You did want to see snow, after all.”
“I… where will I be living from now on?”
“I will arrange a quiet place for you to stay. You will live there under a different name and different identity.”
I had already sent word through Geumryeong to ask my Master for his cooperation in advance regarding her new identity.
Currently, my Master is known to others as a descendant of Gwak Hoon.
And because Gwak Hoon’s descendant has lived in hiding, people no longer remember him—which is perfectly suitable.
That way, she’d be in a position that no one would dare to touch carelessly.
Fortunately, Master had also readily approved.
“I… have a request to make.”
“What is it?”
“If it wouldn’t be a burden, would it be alright if I helped with the Trading Company’s affairs?”
“Pardon?”
“The truth is… I’ve studied various things to help with Father’s work.”
This was entirely unexpected.
I decided to assess her capabilities.
“Can you do arithmetic?”
“Yes.”
“Have you perhaps studied the Four Books and Three Classics as well?”
“Yes. I’ve learned all of them. And…”
She explained the books she had studied.
I couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised by what she said.
At this level, she could take the imperial examination right now?
She’s only nineteen years old, yet she’s mastered all of this?
Now that I think about it… Lady Zaling’s father was someone who passed the highest civil service examination.
She inherited only the best from both her father and mother.
I posed a test problem, and after thinking for a moment, she gave the correct answer.
I had only focused on her ability to see the future, but even without that, she was an exceptional talent.
I smiled.
“Then would you work as my Deputy Officer? I was just in need of one, after all.”

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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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