The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 383

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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 383

Chapter 383. The Ghost Market (2)

We arrived in Liaoning shortly thereafter.
It was a place we always stopped at before heading to the Northern Sea, though we typically stayed for only a day or two.
This time, however, we planned to remain for several days as there was business to attend to.
While delivering provisions to the Northern Sea Ice Palace was urgent, our primary purpose was to gather evidence against the merchant who had defrauded the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
If we didn’t act now, we would lose the opportunity to find that evidence.
Rather than seeking lodging elsewhere, we made our way directly to the Gwangjun Trading Company.
We needed information from them, and besides, it was the only suitable place for our group to stay in this city.
As soon as we arrived in Liaoning, I sent Jin Yu Warrior, the most skilled in lightness martial arts, to request their cooperation.
I could have sent a letter through Geumryeong, but it was best to keep her existence secret.
If anyone caught sight of Geumryeong, they would certainly covet her.
The reply Jin Yu Warrior brought back contained a warm acceptance.
He even said he would have been disappointed if I hadn’t asked for his help.
Bok, the Small Merchant Guild Leader, was truly a good old friend.

When I revealed my identity to the Gate Keeper at the Gwangjun Trading Company, one of them hurried inside.
Moments later, a familiar face came rushing out.
“Eun Small Merchant Leader!”
“It’s good to see you looking well, Bok Sub-leader.”
He bowed deeply and clasped his fist in salute to Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, at my side.
“I am Bok Yun Sub-leader of the Gwangjun Trading Company. I have the honor of meeting the Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
“Please, rest comfortably. Come inside.”
Bok Yun Sub-leader instructed an attendant to guide our party to the quarters.
While Ha Pyo-doo and Elder Brother Jin-ho, as those responsible, oversaw the transport of goods into the warehouse, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, and I proceeded with Bok Yun Sub-leader to the Guest Reception Room.
As we sat and discussed recent events, refreshments were brought out.
I had been feeling slightly hungry, so I eagerly partook of the offerings.
“This is truly delicious.”
“I’m glad it suits your palate.”
Bok Yun Sub-leader continued with a smile.
“But traveling with the Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace—is there some serious matter at hand?”
I shook my head at his question.
“Nothing so serious, really.”
Only matters beyond resolution are truly serious. If something can be resolved, it hardly qualifies as serious.
“As you’ll see from the provisions I’ve brought, we were in the midst of transporting supplies to the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“I see.”
Bok Yun Sub-leader, who had been nodding, tilted his head in confusion.
“But why would the Eunhae Trading Company need to help? From what I understand, the Northern Sea Ice Palace procures food with the money earned from selling spiritual medicines from the Northern Sea. Even in a severe famine, considering the value of the spiritual medicines the Northern Sea Ice Palace supplies, obtaining food shouldn’t be difficult.”
Indeed, Bok Yun Sub-leader immediately sensed something was amiss with this situation.
“That’s true. However, there are certain circumstances that led to this.”
“Circumstances, you say….”
Bok Yun Sub-leader furrowed his brows as he spoke.
“Actually, I’ve heard some strange rumors. There was talk that the Northern Sea Ice Palace attempted to sell counterfeit spiritual medicines.”
At those words, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, asked with a chilling expression.
“Do you believe that rumor, Small Guild Master?”
The chill in her voice drained the color from Bok’s face. After all, it was precisely because of that incident that Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, was currently quite upset.
However, Bok was an ordinary merchant who had not trained in martial arts.
“Young Palace Master, please compose yourself. Otherwise, an innocent person might get hurt.”
“Ah! I apologize for my rudeness.”
Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, instantly reined in her aura.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Only then did Bok’s complexion ease as he wiped away his sweat.
“Rumors come in two varieties. Those that speak only of what is visible on the surface, and those that speak of hidden truths. In my assessment, I believe this falls into the former category—rumors about what is merely visible on the surface.”
“I see….”
I observed Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master.
She appeared cold and detached, yet her instincts seemed to be something else entirely.
Now that I thought about it, wasn’t it said that when coldness reaches its extreme, it actually feels like heat?
“A more detailed explanation would be necessary regarding this matter.”
I continued.
“I’ve heard there is a man named Im Cheong-mil among those who buy and sell spiritual medicines in this place.”
“Ah, I know of him as well. He leads the Cheongmil Trading Company, the largest spiritual medicine merchant establishment in this area.”
“That man is the source of this entire incident.”
I explained the circumstances I had learned from Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master. After hearing my explanation, Bok Yun Sub-leader spoke.
“If what you say is true, that man is quite suspicious indeed.”
“Exactly. That’s why I sought you out.”
“I feel the same way.”
“Two possibilities come to mind. Either the Northern Sea Ice Palace Disciple who transported the spiritual medicines switched them for counterfeits, or Im Cheong-mil, the merchant, switched them for counterfeits while appraising them.”
I nodded, but Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, shook her head as if she couldn’t believe it.
“There’s no way our disciples would do such a thing!”
“Yes, I understand. Of course, there’s no way they would do such a thing. I know well how much the Northern Sea Ice Palace cares for one another. But you see…”
I continued.
“When greed enters a person’s heart, nothing else can be seen.”
“….”
“And there is nothing more foolish than making absolute statements about all matters in this world.”
I concluded gently.
“So, I’m simply considering this as one possibility among many.”
“I understand.”
She nodded with a complicated expression.
“The Palace Master commanded that I follow your judgment entirely in this matter, Eun Small Merchant Leader.”
The Palace Master issued such an order?
I’m hardly someone of such significance… yet this burden feels considerable.
I spoke to Bok Yun Sub-leader.
“In any case, the spiritual elixirs brought from the Northern Sea Ice Palace are undoubtedly authentic. After reviewing the list of elixirs the Lesser Palace Mistress provided, they are indeed rare—not easily obtainable in the Central Plains. Moreover, merely possessing them serves no purpose; they will inevitably be sold somewhere.”
“Indeed, that is so.”
“However, I believe that even with considerable audacity, no one would brazenly trade those elixirs while the Northern Sea Ice Palace watches with keen vigilance.”
Bok Yun Sub-leader’s eyes widened at my words.
“Are you referring to… that place?”
“Yes, precisely.”
I nodded.
“We must investigate the Ghost Market.”
“Where is that?”

The Ghost Market earned its name from its nature—a marketplace of spirits and phantoms, as the name suggests.
It blazes open at night and withdraws before the rooster crows at dawn, vanishing entirely as daylight breaks.
This ephemeral quality, as if bewitched by spirits and phantoms, gave rise to its name.
Night belongs to spirits and phantoms, but for merchants like us, it carries a different meaning.
The hour when the disreputable is revealed.
In other words, the black market.
I offered a suitable explanation to Bing Hae-rin’s question.
“Such a place exists!”
“You were unaware?”
I had assumed she would know of it, as it was a fairly renowned location among those in the know, but it seemed otherwise.
“To be honest, since we don’t maintain a permanent presence here, we cannot be privy to such clandestine matters.”
She continued.
“And we endeavor to avoid actions that might invite trouble.”
“I understand your meaning.”
I continued.
“If the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s spiritual elixirs are to be traded, they will certainly be traded there.”
“But the transaction may already be complete.”
“That will not be the case. The yin-aspected spiritual elixirs the Ice Palace put forth for trade this time are absolutely not common.”
“Precisely. With so many desiring them, wouldn’t they sell quickly?”
“That would be amateurish thinking.”
“…?”
I lifted my teacup and set it before me as I spoke.
“Suppose this teacup were an extraordinary treasure, and thousands upon thousands desired it. In such circumstances, the seller would naturally wish to maximize their profit.”
“That would be true.”
“So if the first person you met offered ten gold taels, would you simply accept?”
“I would meet with several more buyers first.”
“Precisely. Even the Lesser Palace Mistress would think the same, yes?”
“Are you saying that because such a process is necessary, one would not sell immediately even at a high price?”
“Simply put, that reasoning is sound, but meeting with thousands of people is impractical. However, with a sufficiently spacious venue, one can raise prices through bidding without such tedious effort.”
I smiled knowingly.
“An auction, precisely.”
“Ah!”
At my words, Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master’s eyes widened. And Bok Yun Sub-leader continued.
“And while the Ghost Market opens once every seven days, auctions are held once monthly. That day draws the greatest crowds.”
“As it happens, the fifteenth falls the day after tomorrow.”
This was why, upon hearing of this matter from Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master in Beijing, I had hastened our departure and traveled with such urgency.
Those elixirs would certainly be traded at the Ghost Market’s auction.
.
.
.
I returned to my quarters.
Bok Yun Sub-leader, apparently pleased that our entire party would lodge together, had provided two separate quarters buildings for our exclusive use.
A most generous gesture.
Upon returning to my quarters, I washed, took my evening meal, and ventured out for a brief stroll.
The Gwangjun Trading Company primarily dealt in horses, so their grounds were exceptionally vast.
While our Eunhae Trading Company was spacious in its own right, this place was several times larger.
Thus, there was even a forest suitable for walking.
Bok Yun Sub-leader had wished to dine with me, but prior commitments forced him to depart unavoidably.
Still, with his wedding approaching in summer, he seemed rather excited.
Was it truly so wonderful?
Since I had yet to experience such feelings, I found myself curious.
Come to think of it, in both my previous life and this one, I had devoted myself entirely to the company, never once contemplating marriage.
Of course, in my former life, my marriage had been arranged.
But various incidents arose, and it fell through.
In this life…
I myself am uncertain.

The next morning.
After rising from my chamber, completing my morning cultivation, and conducting physical training within my room, Geumryeong squeezed through the slightly open window, carrying an enormous bundle on his back.
I quickly received Geumryeong.
“You’re back?”
“Chirp!”
“What’s in this bundle?”
“Chirp! Chirp!”
Geumryeong wagged his tail, and a letter dangled from it.
I unfolded it.
It was a reply from the Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Yesterday I had sent a letter to the Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, and this was their response.
I had made two requests.
First, I wanted to see the actual spirit elixir that had been rejected as counterfeit.
Second, I requested the dispatch of disciples.
The reason for requesting disciples was to facilitate the smooth transport of grain to the Northern Sea Ice Palace and to punish whoever orchestrated this affair.
The Palace Master wrote that they would dispatch disciples separately and send the actual spirit elixir through Geumryeong.
Ah, so that enormous bundle Geumryeong was carrying was it.
“Chirp!”
Geumryeong stepped back slightly and tapped the ground with his front paws.
“Chirp! Chirp!”
Ah, so because the bundle was heavy, he was saying he deserved an additional silver coin?
Sigh.
The Palace Master sent it, but I’m the one giving silver coins to Geumryeong.
Well, there’s nothing to be done about it.
I made the request, after all.
I offered Geumryeong two silver coins, and his eyes gleamed brilliantly as he swallowed them whole.
Meanwhile, I unwrapped the bundle.
Inside was a fairly large pouch, and within the pouch lay spirit elixirs.
I examined them carefully.
Hmm? These aren’t genuine?
But those who appraised them said these were counterfeit, didn’t they?
I inspected them slowly and soon could tell they were indeed counterfeit.
But how were these even made?
This is such a waste of talent.
I understood now why the disciples of the Northern Sea Ice Palace who received these counterfeits hadn’t noticed the substitution at all.
And the disciples of the Northern Sea Ice Palace were also at fault for being so confident that the spirit elixirs they had harvested were genuine.
Just then, Palgap entered.
“Did you call for me, sir?”
“Yes. I woke up earlier.”
I handed the counterfeit spirit elixirs to Palgap and asked him a question.
“Palgap, does this look real or fake to you?”
Palgap answered my question.
“It’s fake, sir.”
“Hmm? How did you know?”
His eye for detail was better than I expected.
Palgap answered my question.
“Well, if it were real, there would be no reason for you to ask me whether it’s genuine or counterfeit, would there?”
“….”
Heh, impressive. Palgap is sharper than I gave him credit for. He truly is Palgap.
Now that I think about it, they did say the bear was intelligent.
“And if it were real, would Geumryeong just sit there quietly like that? Wouldn’t he be drooling and coveting it?”
That’s true enough.
The fact that Geumryeong remained calm was itself proof that these elixirs were counterfeit.
“But why did you ask about them, sir?”
I explained the elixirs to Palgap in response to his question.
“Still, they’re remarkably well made. If someone told me these were genuine elixirs and gave them to me, I’d probably fall for it.”
Palgap was a member of the Eun Hae Trading Company and had received attendant training since childhood to become my servant.
Part of that training included education on elixirs and medicinal ingredients. After all, medicinal materials were one of the Eun Hae Trading Company’s primary products.
“Ice Lotus Essence, Snow Plum Marrow, Snow Ginseng… at this level, this wasn’t the work of just a day or two.”
“I think the same.”
Looking at the counterfeit elixirs the Palace Master had sent, I was certain of one thing. There was someone behind this.

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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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