The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 426

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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 Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 426

Chapter 426. A Risk Factor (2)

In the end, I dragged my weary body outside.
As a guest, I couldn’t refuse when the host’s son called for me.
The moment I opened the door and stepped out, an Attendant bowed to me.
“I shall escort you.”
“Very well.”
Following the Attendant, I arrived not at the Guest Reception Room, but elsewhere.
“Where is this?”
“It is one of the gardens of the Moyong Clan, known as Imil Garden.”
Imil Garden—a name meaning “densely forested.”
True to its name, trees were planted so thickly they seemed to form an impenetrable wall.
“I’ve never seen a garden with so many trees before.”
The Bomanlim Forest of the Sichuan Tang Family was also dense with vegetation, but honestly, that couldn’t be called a garden.
The Attendant nodded at my admiration.
“It cannot be otherwise. This garden has a specific purpose.”
“Is it for conducting confidential conversations?”
He nodded at my question.
“Precisely. Countless trees have been planted to prevent sound from escaping to the outside.”
“However, with so many trees, wouldn’t it be possible for someone to hide and eavesdrop on conversations?”
“Such concerns do exist, but could anyone who overheard such secrets leave this place alive?”
“Pardon?”
“I mention this merely as a precaution, but this place cannot be entered carelessly. Formation arrays are installed throughout, designed to trap intruders in an eternal maze.”
“A frightening place indeed.”
As we exchanged these words, we ventured deeper into Imil Garden.
Upon our arrival, Small Patriarch Mo Yong Tae-gyeol rose from his seat to greet me.
“Welcome.”
“Thank you for inviting me to such a magnificent place.”
“Please, be seated.”
He offered me a seat, and I sat down.
Facing each other like this, memories of my past life suddenly surfaced.
I had complained a bit about being tired, if I’m being honest….
Yet seeing his face again, I felt genuinely glad.
“The reason I invited the Great Hero here is… I believe you have already surmised.”
Thanks to what the Attendant told me on the way here, I was certain.
There was no benefit in anyone else knowing about our meeting at the Ghost Market.
“Today, when I encountered the Great Hero in the Guest Reception Room, I was quite startled.”
“Did you recognize me by my voice?”
“Yes. Seeing you speak that way confirms you are indeed the person I met back then!”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
Having deduced this much, I couldn’t very well deny it.
“Ah…”
He rose abruptly from his seat and clasped his fists in salute, bowing deeply before me.
“I thank you once again. Had you not shown me such kindness back then, I would have…”
“Lost your position as Small Patriarch.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then, have you ascertained how that sword ended up in such a treacherous place?”
“…”
At my words, he bit his lip.
He clearly understood how the sword had disappeared.
Since I had helped him recover that sword, the circumstances of its disappearance would serve as a cautionary lesson for Mo Yong Tae-gyeol.
It would instill in him a sense of vigilance.
For a successor in such a position to lack vigilance meant he could be eliminated without anyone knowing—by rat or bird alike.
“It seems difficult for you to speak of who was responsible.”
“That is so.”
“Tsk, tsk.”
He tilted his head in confusion as he watched me click my tongue.
“Why do you do that?”
“You still have much to learn. If you cannot even conceal yourself properly, how can you possibly lead such a great family? In fact, there is a considerable risk that your position will be stolen from you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I just asked whether you had ascertained how that sword ended up in such a treacherous place. And you did not answer.”
“Yes. So what?”
“Silence is affirmation. And when I asked if it was difficult to speak of who was responsible, you confirmed it the same way.”
“So what is the problem with that?”
“Responding in such a manner is tantamount to confessing that the culprit is family.”
“…!”
His eyes widened at my words.
“And had I harbored ill intent, I could have used this to manipulate the Small Patriarch.”
“…”
“For those in martial families, boldness and directness are certainly important qualities. However, if one becomes the leader of a martial family, blind boldness and recklessness alone can destroy that very house.”
I continued.
“The world is a world of serpents, and to discern their true nature and avoid falling prey to their schemes, one must become a serpent oneself.”
“Ah!”
At my words, his expression shifted to one of profound realization.
Now that he understood he had nearly been driven from his position as Small Patriarch by his own brother, my counsel would resonate all the more deeply in his heart.
I offered him this advice because of memories from my previous life.

“Now that I think about it, there’s something I truly regret.”
“Regret? Isn’t life itself a succession of regrets?”
“True. But among those regrets, some stand out more than others. In my case, it’s that I lived far too foolishly in my younger days.”
“From what I observe, you strike me as quite intelligent.”
“That’s not what I mean. I was too naive. I regret trying to face those jackals head-on with honor and integrity—those who would stop at nothing to tear me down. But that’s not how one rises above others.”

This time, I didn’t want him to harbor such regrets.
And the reason I was advising him wasn’t merely because of our connection from my past life, but also to prevent Moyong Seong-geol, the Third Son, from seizing control of the Moyong Clan.
My true objective was revenge against the Murim Alliance and the Baekcheon Trading Company.
Naturally, I had to prevent the Murim Alliance’s influence from growing stronger.
He looked at me seriously and asked.
“Then, how should I proceed?”
“From now on, it won’t be free.”
“Pardon?”
“Learning without cost holds no meaning, in my view.”
At my words, he reached into his garment and placed a pouch on the table.
“Will this suffice? It’s all the money I currently possess.”
I opened the pouch and examined its contents.
I withdrew three silver coins and returned the rest to him.
Seeing this, he asked with bewilderment.
“Truly, is that enough?”
“Of course not.”
I shook my head.
“This is merely a deposit of sorts. Should what you learn from me prove beneficial, you need only repay me as generously as you wish in the future.”
“That shouldn’t be difficult.”
“Don’t take this lightly. This could become quite a heavy shackle. Still, will you learn?”
“I humbly request it.”
At that resolute gaze, I nodded.
Good, he’s ready to learn.
But honestly… I’ve brought this trouble upon myself again.
Wasn’t it I who proposed to advise and teach Mo Yong Tae-gyeol, the Small Patriarch?
I’ve truly trapped myself.
I’m exhausted.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Ah, something must have gotten in my eye.”
.
.
.
When I returned to the Separate Pavilion assigned as my quarters, it was already time for breakfast.
“Did you just arrive?”
I nodded at Palgap’s question.
“It seems you had quite a substantive conversation.”
“Well, if it was substantive, then it was substantive.”
I replied firmly.
“Today I’ll just do my evening breathing exercises, wash up, and go to bed. And don’t wake me for breakfast tomorrow.”
“Understood.”

After sleeping deeply and waking, the sun had already begun to set.
“Ah, I feel refreshed.”
Palgap, seeing me like this, asked with a smile.
“Are you feeling that good?”
“Of course! I rarely get to sleep this soundly.”
Now that I think about it, it’s rather remarkable.
I’ve barely slept this deeply in the past few years.
As my cultivation level has risen, even the slightest disturbance awakens me from sleep.
“Now that you’ve rested, you should prepare for the banquet.”
“The banquet? Oh!”
Only then did I remember.
The welcoming banquet was supposed to be held yesterday, but the House Master was busy, so it was postponed to today.
“You should get up and wash quickly.”
“Got it. I’ll go wash right away.”
After getting up and heading to wash, I gazed at my reflection in the mirror with admiration.
The power of sleep truly is magnificent!
My face gleamed with a lustrous sheen.
.
.
.
Evening arrived.
Bok Yun Sub-leader, his wife, and I were guided by a maidservant toward the banquet hall.
The members of the Moyong Clan who had been seated rose to greet us.
Rising from one’s seat is a sign of welcome and respect.
“Welcome.”
Bok Yun Sub-leader cupped his fist in gratitude.
“Thank you for inviting us to such an occasion.”
“What’s this? I wanted to prepare an even finer spread, but I’m afraid I couldn’t manage it.”
“Not at all. In times like these, this is more than sufficient.”
“I appreciate your understanding. Then let me introduce my family.”
The House Master introduced the Small Patriarch and his sons and daughters.
The eldest and Small Patriarch, Mo Yong Tae-gyeol.
Second daughter Mo Yong Yeon-gyeol.
Third child and second son Mo Yong Jun-gyeol.
Fourth child and third son Moyong Seong-geol.
So there were four children in total. And there were two wives, with the second and fourth sons appearing to be children of the second wife.
I observed each of them in turn.
The third child, second son Mo Yong Jun-gyeol, was the man who had become Lady In Jung-yeon’s husband in my previous life.
He was watching Moyong Seong-geol’s expression carefully.
Moyong Seong-geol was observing us with sharp, calculating eyes.
He was clearly deliberating how to use us, how to exploit this situation to his advantage.
The eldest daughter Mo Yong Yeon-gyeol was blushing as she looked at me.
We introduced ourselves to one another.
“Then please, sit.”
“Yes.”
We took our seats and began the meal.
Whatever their true intentions, the banquet proceeded with apparent warmth and conviviality.
But the attention directed toward me was considerable, and that warmth meant many were speaking to me.
Particularly, Moyong Seong-geol spoke to me most frequently.
What could he possibly be so curious about?
But a person has only one mouth.
Which meant that engaging in conversation prevented me from eating much.
Having skipped breakfast and lunch, I was famished, and now he kept addressing me—I needed to actually eat properly.
Conversation is pleasant enough, but at a banquet, shouldn’t one also enjoy food and drink?
My irritation was beginning to rise when—
“I have heard much of Great Hero Seon Hyeop Mi-rang’s exploits, and it inspired me to aspire toward becoming such a hero myself. Therefore, I wish to learn the way of the hero’s sword from Great Hero Seon Hyeop Mi-rang.”
His words were honeyed, but what Mo Yong Jun-gyeol truly meant was that he wanted to test himself against me.
The House Master, catching the implication, gently remonstrated.
“Hmm, what are you saying?”
“Father. As a martial artist of the Moyong Clan, isn’t it natural to be curious about the hero’s sword? You’re curious as well, aren’t you?”
“Hmm, hmm.”
Sigh—this too was Moyong Seong-geol’s scheming.
I had seen him whisper to Mo Yong Jun-gyeol moments before.
They thought I hadn’t heard, but I caught every word.
He urged him to test himself against me, saying if he defeated me, he could become a hero.
That fool actually fell for such absurd goading.
Even this roundabout way of requesting a martial contest was something Moyong Seong-geol had taught him.
I exhaled quietly and looked toward the House Master.
His eyes were gleaming with interest.
It seemed the House Master was curious as well.
Already frustrated at being prevented from eating properly, this worked out well enough.
I rose from my seat.
“Since you put it that way, how could I refuse? I’ll be your opponent.”
At my words, the House Master spoke as if apologizing.
“Thank you for indulging my son’s thoughtless request! I’m truly grateful.”
At least manage your gaze a little.
You’re looking at me with eyes that show just how much you’re anticipating this.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The House Master struck the Dining Table three times.
“Open the Training Ground.”
“Yes, sir!”
Immediately, one side of the space where we’d been dining swung wide open, revealing the Martial Arts Arena.
Wow…
A Martial Arts Arena right next to the Banquet Hall!
Now that’s what I call a true martial family.
Mo Yong Jun-gyeol and I climbed onto the arena and stood facing each other.
Wow, the floor is blacksteel wood?
A martial family that takes martial arts seriously indeed.
The House Master spoke.
“Then I’ll explain the rules. If you look at the floor, you’ll see white lines. If you cross those lines, you lose.”
Ah, so there’s an out-of-bounds area.
“Other than that, the rules are the same as the Murim Alliance’s martial competitions.”
“Understood.”
“Then let’s begin.”
I spoke to Mo Yong Jun-gyeol.
“I’ll concede the first move to you.”
At my words, he shook his head.
“That’s not necessary.”
I couldn’t help but blink at that response.
What kind of nerve does he have?
His level is barely second-rate.
If a young master of a prestigious family is only second-rate at his age, he’s truly a dull-witted fool.
He should have reached first-rate by now.
I let out a sigh.
“It seems you’re misunderstanding, but my offer to concede the first move means you should at least try swinging a sword, considering this is a martial competition.”
“Don’t insult me! Do I look like such an idiot that I can’t even swing a sword?”
I glanced at the House Master.
He placed his hand on his head and shook it, then nodded at me.
That must mean I should handle this as I see fit.
“Very well.”
I drew upon my inner energy and fixed Mo Yong Jun-gyeol with a cold stare.
“Gasp!”
He couldn’t even withstand my killing intent, his hands trembling violently.
And soon after, he dropped his sword.
Clang.
I took one step, then another, moving toward him.
With a frightened expression, he stumbled backward until he finally crossed the white line.
I knew he would.
“Hah.”
I withdrew my inner energy and spoke.
“Train harder.”
“Damn it!”
That was when it happened.
Creak.
I turned my head at the sound of someone rising.
“Come spar with me.”
Ah, no. House Master! Why are you doing this again?

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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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