The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 419

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 419

Chapter 419. A Wedding Gift (1)

The night before departing Hangzhou.
Geumryeong returned.
This time, he had visited three different places.
First, he informed the Northern Sea Ice Palace and my Master about the relocation of Yangyang Martial Hall, delivered a letter to Father confirming the successful acquisition of the businesses and mentioning my plans to visit Beijing and Liaoning, and returned.
“Squeak! Squeak!”
Yes, yes, you’ve worked hard.
Sitting atop the wooden table, Geumryeong tapped the surface with his front paws.
He was demanding payment for his diligent errands.
I withdrew three silver coins and held them out to Geumryeong.
“Here, your reward for the errand.”
“Squeak!”
The moment he saw the silver coins, he rolled left and right—he clearly loved them.
Watching Geumryeong scurry over and devour the coins, I couldn’t help but smile.

The next morning.
We set out at the crack of dawn.
The employees of the businesses we had acquired were deeply reluctant to see us go.
But I couldn’t remain in one place forever.
And so we departed Hangzhou, leaving it behind.
.
.
.
“It’s not hot here,” Palgap observed.
I nodded in agreement.
We had arrived at the outskirts of Liaoning, and I could distinctly feel how much the weather had changed.
It was now the seventh month.
In Hubei or Hangzhou, we would be drenched in sweat, but here in Liaoning, the air was pleasantly cool.
“That’s why the wedding takes place at this time of year.”
Exchanging such remarks, we continued riding.
Only Seo Hyang remained at the Beijing branch among our party.
Since this was a personal matter, there was no need for her to trouble herself.
The journey to Liaoning was quite arduous, and there was much work to be done at the Beijing branch.
Such as organizing the documents for the businesses we had acquired in Hangzhou.
As we continued riding, we arrived at an inn.
“We’ll rest here for the night.”
Everyone nodded at my words.
As we approached the Inn’s entrance, the Shop Attendant came running over.
“Welcome! Um, are you perhaps looking to stay the night?”
I nodded at his question.
“Yes. We’re planning to stay one night.”
At my words, the Shop Attendant lowered his head with an apologetic expression.
“I’m terribly sorry, but we have no rooms available today.”
“No rooms… available?”
“That’s right. There’s a wedding for a rather prominent Small Merchant Guild Leader from Liaoning. So we have far more guests than usual.”
Even so, it was remarkable that this massive eight-story Inn had no rooms to spare.
I could truly appreciate the influence of the Gwangjun Merchant Group in Liaoning.
Well, there’s nothing to be done about it then.
“Then would a meal be possible?”
“Yes. A meal is certainly possible.”
Since it was well past lunch time, there appeared to be seating available.
“Then we’ll have a meal and be on our way.”
We entered the Inn and ordered food.
“Looks like we’ll have to sleep under the stars tonight.”
Seo-woo Warrior nodded at my words.
“Indeed we shall.”
“Still, the Gwangjun Merchant Group truly lives up to its reputation.”
“They’re one of the Top Hundred Merchant Guilds, and among the most prominent in Liaoning.”
And given the poor circumstances brought on by crop failure compounded with civil unrest, this was the situation—otherwise, there might have been even more guests.

After finishing our meal, we left the Inn. We needed to hurry to secure a place to spend the night.
That was when it happened.
I felt the sensation of something falling from above.
Startled, I quickly looked up and locked eyes with a child.
What? A child?
Why would a child be…
But there was no time to ponder further, and I immediately threw myself forward to catch the child.
Thump!
“Phew…”
I caught my breath, and the child in my arms, clearly startled, burst into tears.
“Waaaaah!”
At least the child was crying—that was a good sign.
If a child who’d been that frightened didn’t cry and their face turned pale, that would be truly dire.
“Now, stop crying. Your throat will hurt if you cry too much.”
The child, who had been wailing pitifully, suddenly stopped crying when they saw my face.
And stared at me intently.
A look of surprise on their small face.
And then… they broke into a bright smile.
Palgap muttered beside me.
“Even infants are drawn to pretty faces. What a filthy world.”
“Hm? What did you say?”
“Nothing at all, sir.”
Now that I thought about it, Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon had reacted the same way back then.
Just then, someone came rushing toward us.
“You there! What are you doing with my nephew?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Tell me the truth! Where are you trying to take my nephew?”
What was he suddenly going on about?
“Are you trying to kidnap my nephew?”
Escalating absurdly, he even drew his blade and pointed it at us.
While I stood there bewildered, a man beside us stepped forward with his hand raised.
“I’m not sure what’s happened, but you seem to be greatly mistaken. This person is your nephew’s benefactor—they saved his life.”
The others around us nodded in agreement.
“I saw it too. The child fell from up there, and the Great Hero here caught him.”
“If not for this Great Hero, this child would likely not be of this world anymore.”
“Not only should you offer thanks, but this… tsk tsk.”
At the crowd’s response, the young man’s expression grew sheepish as he sheathed his blade and asked.
“Is what they’re saying true?”
“Yes. It is true.”
I continued speaking.
“As I was leaving the Inn, this child fell. It seems they must have tumbled through a window while playing in their guest room.”
“Ah….”
At my explanation, the man seemed dazed, unable to form proper words.
Just then, The Woman rushed toward us with a pale, anxious face.
“Gyeong-i!”
The child responded to her voice. Turning his head in her direction, he reached out both hands.
“Ma! Ma!”
I handed the child over to her.
“Here, take him.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Cradling the child tightly in her arms, she bowed repeatedly to me in gratitude.
“I’m so relieved the child is safe.”
“How can I ever repay such kindness….”
“Think of it simply as fate bringing us together. So please, don’t burden yourself with debt.”
“But….”
“If the child grows to become someone who can help others as I do, that would be repayment enough.”
With those words, I turned away. In the meantime, Palgap had prepared the horses.
We mounted and rode away from the Inn.
Though I had noticed the Child’s Mother’s clothing suggested a rather wealthy household….
Well, that hardly matters now.
Finding shelter for the night is the priority.
“Shall we head to that place where we stayed before?”
He must be referring to where we had lodged when we traveled to Northern Sea Ice Palace with provisions.
I nodded readily.
“That would be best.”
Fortunately, the place was empty.
We quickly prepared for the night and laid our weary bodies to rest.
Today had been quite exhausting as well.
.
.
.
Morning arrived.
After sleeping soundly, I rose from my bedding with a stretch.
Having traveled to so many places, I had long since reached a state where sleeping on bare ground barely bothered me.
“You’re awake?”
Turning my head, I saw Myeong-jong Warrior approaching me.
“Yes. You took the final watch, I see.”
“Indeed. Yeo Warrior said she would scout the surroundings.”
“I see. Then I’ll cultivate my energy while you stand guard, if you would.”
“Of course.”
I sat down and began my breathing exercises.
A cold, pure energy filled my body completely. After finishing my breathing exercises, I rose from my seat.
And I began my training.
Starting lightly with push-ups….
As I trained, I noticed that Myeong-jong Warrior’s gaze toward me had changed somewhat from before.
It was less like he was guarding me and more like… respect or awe.
Hmm, that’s a bit distracting.
I paused my training and asked Myeong-jong Warrior.
“Is there something you wish to say?”
“Ah, no. I apologize for being distracting.”
He hastily shook his head in denial.
But I didn’t let it pass and gazed at him intently.
Unable to withstand the pressure of my eyes, he scratched behind his ear and spoke.
“In truth, I thought it was remarkable.”
“You mean me?”
“Yes.”
He nodded his head.
“Most would grow lax in their training upon reaching such a realm, yet my lord continues to train harder than anyone else.”
“I cannot speak for others, but I myself feel unsettled if I do not train to this degree.”
I said this while wiping away my sweat with a towel.
Whether due to my constitution or my martial arts, I rarely perspired.
That I was sweating at all must be because of the intensity of my training.
I need to train hard enough to sweat to feel truly refreshed.
This is because of my Master.
And the reason I train so diligently is because my goals are lofty and difficult.
To take revenge on the Murim Alliance and protect my family, I must reach a far greater height than I am now.
Myeong-jong Warrior marveled at my words.
“Indeed, it seems my lord’s achievement of that realm was not merely by chance or good fortune. It may have been inevitable.”
“Haha. Is that so? I’m not entirely sure, but I believe that fortune itself can become either good luck or misfortune depending on the one who receives it. So I strive to ensure that the fortune coming my way becomes good luck.”
At my words, Myeong-jong Warrior lowered his head and spoke.
“Hearing your words and reflecting, I realize I have grown arrogant at some point. I was always the center of attention in the Huashan Sect….”
I think I understand what he means.
Whether in the Huashan Sect or anywhere else, what martial arts sects value most is martial prowess.
Naturally, those with greater skill receive better treatment and enjoy more privileges.
Myeong-jong Warrior was a talent who received all the expectations of the Huashan Sect. Chang-un Warrior was likely no different.
“If I had not possessed that arrogance, if I had trained even a little more….”
Deep regret seeped through his words.
He hasn’t let go of that matter yet.
Well, I wouldn’t easily let it go either.
But if it becomes a heart demon, that would be troublesome.
“There is a saying like this: if my past self had known the regrets I carry now, then I would not exist as I am today. What do you think that means?”
He fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
“Whatever mistakes I made in the past, whatever regrets I carry now—they have all shaped who I am in this moment.”
Myeong-jong Warrior nodded slowly, and I continued.
“I have not lived long enough to claim my words are absolute truth. However, I hope you will not torment yourself so much over what happened in the past. What has already occurred cannot be undone, no matter how much we regret it.”
Unless one encounters an opportunity as rare as a thousand-in-one chance, that is.
I did encounter such an opportunity, but it is truly a difficult thing.
And even when one encounters such an opportunity, undoing one’s regrets is truly… extraordinarily difficult.
Undoing my greatest regret—the events of the day I died—is…
I offered a bitter smile and continued speaking.
“Sometimes a tree stands still, yet the wind shakes its branches violently. But what can the tree do about the wind?”
“That is true.”
“So I hope you will not dwell too much on that matter. There are many things in this world beyond our control. Therefore, we must think positively. For instance, be grateful that your dantian was not sealed because of it.”
At my words, Myeong-jong Warrior touched the area where his dantian lay and nodded.
“That is… true. If it had been, then I would have…”
Because of memories from my previous life, I could only smile bitterly once more.
“In truth, I do not intend to keep you and Chang-un Warrior as my guards forever. Someday you will return to the main organization.”
“Is such a thing possible?”
“The fact that you ask such a question suggests I have not yet earned your trust.”
“No, that is not it! Rather…”
A flustered expression crossed his face.
I chuckled softly and continued.
“Ah, Yeo Eung-am Warrior is arriving. When unwanted thoughts arise, intense training is the best remedy. Would you care to join me?”
Did Myeong-jong Warrior’s pupils waver at my question, or was it merely my imagination?
.
.
.
After finishing morning training and eating the breakfast Palgap had prepared, we tidied up and set out on the road once more.
Thanks to our diligent riding, we arrived at Gwangjun Merchant Group as the sun was setting.
Visitors were already lined up at the main gate of the merchant company.
We too joined the queue, when suddenly someone came rushing over.
“Surely you are not Eun Seo-ho, the Small Guild Master?”
“Ah…”
A face I had not seen in a long time.
It was Bok Young Gongja, the younger brother of Bok Yun Sub-leader, who was studying at Apricot Flower Academy.
“It has been a while.”
“Yes, it has been long since we last met. But why are you standing in line here?”
“Well, we are guests too, after all.”
At my words, Bok Young Gongja’s expression showed sudden realization.
“Oh my. It seems my elder brother did not explain in detail. I too learned while studying in Beijing that such a custom exists only in our family.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Didn’t you receive a wedding invitation directly from my elder brother?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
“And that invitation was quite elaborate, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
As I nodded, he smiled and explained.
“That means the Small Guild Master is asking my elder brother to attend his wedding as a true friend.”
A true friend?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————