The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 39

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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 39

Chapter 39. The Jegal Family Estate (1)

My father interjected gently at those words.
“I understand. Since these individuals hold important positions within the company, I find it difficult to provide an immediate response. I shall endeavor to reply as swiftly as possible, so please rest for now. I will have a comfortable chamber prepared for you.”
“I am grateful for your consideration.”
The emissary from the Jegal Family Estate followed the deputy my father had summoned and departed.
A brief silence fell over my father’s office.
“Yu Chief Manager, so that letter… was an invitation?”
“Yes.”
He too answered with a bewildered expression.
“A person named Jegal Hyun-ri from the Jegal Family Estate has invited both myself and the young master. He wishes to discuss poetry and literature upon our arrival, and he earnestly hopes for your acceptance. He mentioned that should you agree, he will send a carriage and guards.”
“Oh!”
My father rejoiced as though it were his own fortune.
“Then we must accept!”
“But my poetry is rather humble…”
“What are you saying! You are far too harsh in your self-assessment! If your poetry were truly so humble, would the Jegal Family Estate send a carriage and guards to invite you?”
“…”
“And to be honest, I was disappointed upon reading your work.”
“Sir?”
“That you would conceal such a talent for composing beautiful verse.”
“That was…”
“In any case, you must accept! You absolutely must!”
In truth, this was an invitation that could not be refused.
The Jegal Family Estate—what a place it was!
A great martial arts clan situated on Yung Jung Mountain, or as it was also called, Bok Ryong Mountain, in the western reaches of Hubei Province.
Located on Wudang Mountain, one of the three sacred sites of Taoism, it was one of the Nine Great Sects that formed the pillars of the martial arts world—a force absolutely not to be disregarded, comparable only to the Wudang Sect itself.
To fall out of their favor would make one’s activities as difficult as being marked by the Government Authority.
In other words, it meant that one must forge connections with them by any means necessary.
Yet here, unexpectedly, such an opportunity for connection had arrived.
.
.
.
That afternoon.
After leaving work and returning to my quarters, I stood by the window and exhaled deeply.
The Jegal Family Estate…
Though the Jegal Family Estate’s current prestige was formidable, something about it felt ambiguous to me. In my previous life, the Jegal Family Estate had been nearly annihilated.
And if my memory serves me correctly, Jegal Hyun-ri is the previous Family Head of the Jegal Family—in other words, the Grand Patriarch.
The reason Father and the others failed to recognize that he was the Grand Patriarch upon seeing the name Jegal Hyun-ri was quite deliberate.
Jegal Hyun-ri was merely an alias he used when concealing his true identity.
In any case, knowing what lay ahead, I felt unsettled by the fact that I had been invited to the Jegal Family Estate.
Yet I could not refuse the invitation either.
The Jegal Family was still standing firm for now.

Several days passed in this manner.
Whether Jegal Hyun-ri—the previous Jegal Family Head—was eager to speak with Yu Chief Manager at the earliest opportunity, he immediately sent a carriage and guards.
Before our departure, Father gave me his counsel.
“I find comfort in the fact that you’ll be accompanying him. As you know, Yu Chief Manager lacks eloquence, which could actually work against him in negotiations.”
“Haha.”
“Please look after Yu Chief Manager.”
“Yes. I shall do my utmost to assist him.”
Thus, Yu Chief Manager and I set out for the Jegal Family Estate.

* * *

In a certain quarters of the Jegal Family Estate.
Someone was reporting to a middle-aged man present there.
“…That concludes my report.”
“Very well. Is there anything else of note?”
“Ah, Hyun-ri has invited guests.”
“Guests?”
“He has invited the author of the Small Evil Poetry Collection that has been causing quite a stir recently. They should arrive tomorrow.”
“I see. That old man is truly peculiar. An elderly scholar fond of poetry in a martial arts family, no less….”
“Shall we proceed with our plan as scheduled? If the guests should notice anything….”
“It matters not. How could outsiders perceive what even our own family members have failed to notice? And even if they did, what could they possibly do about it?”
“Understood.”
“Is there anything else?”
“Ah! Regarding Jegal Yu-ah….”
“What? Has she been beating the trainees again?”
“…Yes.”

* * *

The carriage came to a halt.
“We have arrived.”
The door opened, and Yu Chief Manager and I stepped out of the carriage.
Before us stretched a magnificent array of grand buildings in succession.
Our Eunhae Trading Company is quite prosperous in its own right, but this was incomparable.
Yu Chief Manager’s eyes wavered slightly at the sight.
But I felt little awe.
In the future, the Eunhae Trading Company too would begin to construct pavilions as grand as these.
Yet such a place…
Damn the Murim Alliance! Cursed Baekcheon Trading Company!
The moment those thoughts surfaced, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck.
“The journey seems to have exhausted you greatly, sir.”
Palgap asked with concern upon seeing my condition.
“Ah, well, yes, I suppose so.”
“Then you should rest at once…”
“First, I must pay my respects to our host.”
I glanced at Yu Chief Manager, but he still seemed lost in thought.
Even for someone lacking in social grace, this was unusual.
Had the shock of the Jegal Family Estate been that overwhelming?
I would take the initiative myself.
“I would like to pay my respects to the one who has invited us. Could you guide us to them?”
Those who had come to greet us responded to my inquiry.
“Yes, I shall inform them at once. Please proceed to your quarters for now.”
“Thank you.”
We made our way to the quarters they indicated.
Thinking of the future when this building, so overwhelming in its grandeur, would be reduced to ash and ruin, I felt a sudden bitterness settle within me.

The guest quarters were quite impressive.
Better, even, than my own chambers at the Merchant Guild Headquarters.
The Jegal Family Estate eschewed ostentation as a matter of principle, so nothing here was gaudy, yet refinement emanated from every corner.
“Truly, this is the Jegal Family Estate!”
Palgap spoke with barely contained excitement.
“My goodness! Is that not a brushstone inkwell carved from jade? A jade brushstone in a guest chamber, no less! This place is extraordinary!”
“Wait, really? How did you know about jade brushstones?”
“You explained it to me before, sir. I still remember.”
Now that he mentioned it, I recalled purchasing a jade brushstone inkwell from the Gui-myeon-po Elder’s Miscellaneous Shop.
I hadn’t had the chance to use it yet, though.
Judging by the refinement of this chamber, it was clear we were being treated as honored guests.
It’s true that all guests deserve respect and attentive service.
But in reality, even that attentiveness comes in grades.
If they turned us away at the door, they’d face criticism, so some guests are merely given basic lodging—the lowest tier.
Those who are subordinates of important or useful guests receive middle-tier treatment.
And those connected to truly vital figures of the family receive the highest tier.
Guests understand this hierarchy, so there was no resentment.
By this standard, we were clearly receiving the highest tier of hospitality.
Was it because we were guests of the Grand Patriarch?
As I unpacked my belongings and sipped the tea provided, a maidservant arrived.
“The Grand Patriarch has granted you an audience.”
.
.
.
Yu Chief Manager and I followed the maidservant toward the Grand Patriarch’s chambers.
Yu Chief Manager spoke to me in a hushed voice.
“So Jegal Hyun-ri is the Grand Patriarch… This is quite surprising.”
“Indeed it is.”
I wasn’t surprised.
I’d already known.
“Then I truly do have talent for poetry composition?”
“Yes. So why won’t you believe me?”
“It’s just… difficult to accept.”
The path to the Grand Patriarch’s residence was quite long.
Likely, in the customs of martial arts families and sects, guest quarters were deliberately situated far from the inner sanctum.
After all, outsiders couldn’t be lodged at the heart of the estate.
In any case, as we walked, we passed the dormitories of the disciples.
Then,
Thud! Thud!
“Aaahhh!”
“Someone else, come out!”
A girl’s sharp voice rang out, and I found myself turning my head without thinking.
A girl dressed in white martial robes, her hair tied back tightly, held a wooden sword raised high.
Ah…
I knew this girl.
At her appearance, the Maidservant guiding us let out an awkward laugh and spoke.
“The trainees are simply brimming with enthusiasm.”
From the Maidservant’s expression, it seemed this wasn’t a rare occurrence.
But had this young lady always possessed such a temperament?
She was so different from the girl I knew that for a moment I wondered if I’d misread the situation.
But it was undoubtedly her.
Unlike other martial sects, the Jegal Family Estate was composed of blood relatives. That meant these trainees were all descendants bearing the Jegal name or those connected to the Jegal Family Estate.
Or perhaps descendants of those with ties to the Jegal Family Estate.
I smiled and spoke.
“It seems she is a young lady of a cadet branch.”
At my question, the Maidservant’s face stiffened slightly. In the great families, the distinction between main and cadet branches was particularly strict.
So in other words, this reaction meant…
“She is Jegal Yu-ah, the daughter of the Family Head.”
“Ah! My apologies. I was quite rude.”
“It is no matter.”
So it was indeed the girl I knew.
We resumed our steps.
In the future, among the Ten Great Trading Companies, the Yu-kang Merchant Guild had two most famous individuals.
One was the Merchant Guild Leader.
And the other was the Merchant Guild Leader’s guard, Yu A.
In particular, the Merchant Guild Leader’s guard, despite being a woman, earned her name among the hundred greatest masters under heaven.
Beautiful yet seemingly devoid of emotion, she was called the Jade Maiden Without Smile for her expressionless face.
But that Jade Maiden Without Smile was the daughter of the Jegal Family Head!
This was information I hadn’t known in my previous life.
If she were the daughter of the Jegal Family Head, many would have known her face, so why had her identity remained hidden?
That was when it happened.
“You there!”
Thud thud thud thud!
I heard the sound of rapid footsteps approaching from behind.
“Wait just a moment!”
With that cry, she blocked our path.
We were taken aback by her action, but she paid no mind to our bewilderment and looked at me.
“Who are you?”
The Maidservant quickly restrained her.
“Young Miss, these individuals are guests of the Grand Patriarch. Please conduct yourself with proper courtesy.”
“A guest of my grandfather’s?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
The proper response when a maidservant says such a thing is to apologize and step back.
But it seemed this girl lacked such common sense.
“It’s fine! My grandfather likes me!”
“….”
She looked at me and spoke.
“You! You’re strong, aren’t you? Let’s spar!”
From the way she said it, she had clearly noticed that I had trained in martial arts.
But that was only if one had reached a certain level of proficiency.
The fact that this young girl had detected it stirred something peculiar within me.
In any case, I could not cross blades with her here.
She was the daughter of the Jegal Family Head, one of the Eight Great Families Under Heaven, while I was merely the son of a merchant guild leader from Hubei.
If I were to accidentally wound her, how could I ever atone for such a thing?
I have always been good at facing reality.
“I beg your pardon, but I am merely a merchant. I have studied martial arts only to the level of self-defense. To spar with the precious jewel of the Family Head—such a proposal is utterly unreasonable.”
“It’s fine!”
“I cannot accept such words. Please withdraw this request.”
“I’m telling you it’s fine!”
I could see that not only Yu Chief Manager but those around us were bewildered.
Yet this headstrong girl would not relent.
From what I understood, all members of the Jegal Family were supposed to be composed and measured in temperament….
Was she truly a daughter of the Jegal Family?
In any case, by this point, my patience was wearing thin.
I was exhausted and wished only to meet with the Grand Patriarch and rest, yet I was being obstructed.
“It appears you do not comprehend what consequences your actions might bring about.”
“Do I need to know that?”
“Allow me to ask first. Are you truly of the Jegal Family?”
“Yes, of course! I am Jegal Yu-ah! I bear the Jegal name, so I am of the Jegal Family.”
“That one bearing the Jegal name shows no concern for what the Jegal Family must bear as a result of your actions—that is a contradiction most glaring.”
I continued.
“If you bear the Jegal name, you must deeply consider the weight that name carries. The Jegal name is a privilege, but it also demands corresponding responsibility.”
“I don’t like all that.”
“Then you should abandon the Jegal name.”
Something flickered across Jegal Yu-ah’s face at my words.
Had I misread it?
But there was no mistaking it—her expression held sorrow.
What was that?
I was puzzled, but my questions could not continue.
“So if I abandon the Jegal name, then you’ll spar with me?”
Her continued words still carried the clarity of a madwoman devoid of reason.
So I wondered if I had misread the situation.

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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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