The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 429

—————
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 429

Chapter 429. A Risk Factor (5)

As I pondered the matter, a memory surfaced in my mind.
The incident when Jin-ho went to Yunnan Province and vanished.
The cause had been the Muchul Musan phenomenon created by Eun Moo-geom.
At the time, everyone in our party had been deceived by that phenomenon and failed to find the correct path, but I alone remained undeceived and discovered the true way.
Later, I came to understand that it was because of the martial arts I had cultivated and my constitution.
The Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art possessed the ability to prevent one from falling into any delusion, and my Xuanwu Constitution—my body’s nature—rejected external influences on the mind.
Like Muchul Musan, a formation array likewise twists nature through the arrangement of surrounding objects, deceiving the five senses.
That is why one experiences hallucinations as if drowning in the sea while standing on land, and why one continues to circle the same location endlessly.
But since the formation array could not interfere with my five senses, I felt no disturbance and arrived without incident.
This is rather advantageous.
Regardless, how should I retaliate to ensure they are thoroughly dealt with?
Such schemes must be repaid in kind, or my heart will find no peace.

* * *

Moyong Tae-geol headed toward Eun Seo-ho’s residence.
The previous night, his father had instructed him to speak with Eun Seo-ho about a marriage proposal concerning his younger sister.
“May I speak with Seon Hyeop Mi-rang and the Great Hero at this moment?”
At his question, the Attendant Palgap blinked his eyes twice.
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“What do I mean? What are you saying?”
“A warrior came earlier and said the Sub-family Head ordered him to summon our young master, so he departed.”
“What?”
He was taken aback.
“I issued no such order. That is precisely why I have come here myself, is it not?”
“What? Then who on earth summoned the young master?”
His expression grew grave.
“It seems something has occurred. Do you happen to know where he went?”
“Yes. He went to Imil Garden. I have just come from there.”

Moyong Tae-geol immediately headed toward Imil Garden, where he could see two Warriors standing at the entrance.
“Did Seon Hyeop Mi-rang perhaps enter and wait inside?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“It has been about two hours since they entered… but they were not waiting inside?”
At that question, Moyong Tae-geol bit his lip.
“I never instructed anyone to summon Seon Hyeop Mi-rang.”
“Pardon?”
“Then why did that Warrior tell such a lie!”
“Is that Warrior also inside?”
“No. Claiming it was the Sub-family Head’s errand, they left Imil Garden and headed elsewhere.”
“What did they look like?”
At that question, the two Guard Warriors described the Warrior they had seen.
Moyong Tae-geol asked his own Guard Warrior.
“Have you seen such a Warrior?”
At that question, the Guard Warrior’s brow furrowed.
“I don’t recall seeing them… I cannot be certain based on description alone.”
Then something flashed through Moyong Tae-geol’s mind, and he immediately commanded his Guard Warrior.
“By the Sub-family Head’s authority, I command you! Seal all entrances to the Main House immediately!”
“I obey your command!”
And Moyong Tae-geol entered Imil Garden alone.
He had a suspicion of who had deceived Eun Seo-ho into coming here.
‘Moyong Seong-geol… why do you keep doing this?’
It was likely that summoning Eun Seo-ho to Imil Garden was meant to trap him using what lay within.
What lay there was a formation array.
The formation array there did not directly harm anyone, but unless someone released them, it would cause them to wander endlessly in the same place.
Moreover, it was a vicious formation array that distorted the passage of time, making a single day feel like a year.
To escape the formation array by one’s own strength, one had to either find the life path or destroy the formation array itself.
But finding the life path was extremely difficult, and destroying the formation array was only possible at the realm of Hwagyeong.
Since Eun Seo-ho had entered more than two hours ago, he must be suffering considerably.
I had to hurry and extract him from the formation array.
As I headed toward the inner chamber, I realized what Moyong Seong-geol had done.
He had deliberately curved the entrance path that was originally straight, forcing one to step into the formation array.
An outsider could not detect the incongruity and had no choice but to step into the formation array.
“Damn it!”
To temporarily halt the formation array, I had to reach the inner chamber, so I cursed lowly and rushed toward it.
But…
Upon arriving at the inner chamber, I could only be taken aback.
“Huh…”
“…”
Eun Seo-ho, whom I had thought was suffering while lost in the formation array, was peacefully asleep in the inner chamber.

* * *

Huh?
The sudden sound of someone rushing toward me made me open my eyes and lift my head.
Moyong Tae-geol (Sub-family Head) was looking at me with a flustered expression.
Oh no, this is awkward.
I’d been caught sleeping.
As I pondered how to dispose of Mo Yong Seong-geol, who intended to harm me, and sketched out a rough plan, I realized something.
This Imil Garden was a place where hardly anyone ever came.
In other words, it was a place where I could rest undisturbed by others.
Since my plan required the Sub-family Head to come here anyway, what was I to do alone in this place?
Training didn’t seem quite appropriate either.
Despite it being July, the climate here—or perhaps the shade of the trees—created the perfect temperature for sleep.
So I’d been enjoying an afternoon nap stretched out on a long chair, but the Sub-family Head had arrived sooner than expected.
I rose naturally from the chair as if I hadn’t been asleep at all.
In truth, I’d been able to rest so leisurely because I knew only the Sub-family Head would come looking for me.
I spoke to him with a pleased expression.
“You’ve arrived earlier than I expected.”
“How can this be?”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you would be suffering from the formation’s effects in this place. Yet….”
I smiled broadly and replied.
“I have my own methods. I cannot reveal what they are, but in any case, I am unharmed.”
“In any event, I am truly relieved. And I must apologize to you.”
I stopped him as he began to bow.
“No. The Sub-family Head bears no fault. Why would you apologize?”
“My younger brother is also a member of the Moyong Clan, and I am the Sub-family Head of the Moyong Clan.”
“He is old enough to be beyond the care of his elders. And since he committed these acts of his own judgment, he must bear the responsibility himself.”
At my words, he sighed and nodded.
“True, that is the way of it.”
He continued.
“First, before entering here, I restricted access to the Main House. The warrior who guided the Great Hero here might attempt to flee.”
In truth, even if he did flee, I had Geum Ryung-i, so I could find him anywhere. That’s why I remained here quietly.
But the Sub-family Head had taken such measures for me, which saved me considerable trouble.
“I am truly grateful that you would do such a thing for me.”
I cupped my fist in salute and asked him with a serious expression.
“That matter of losing the precious sword before—was that the doing of Young Master Mo Yong Seong-geol?”
At my question, he flinched.
“I told you not to reveal your emotions so easily.”
“I apologize. I spoke without thinking, caught off guard….”
I continued calmly.
“From what I can see, Moyong Seong-geol is chasing hollow dreams. Dreaming itself isn’t the problem, but the issue is that those around him suffer because of it.”
In my previous life, Moyong Tae-geol was one of those victims. In this life, he nearly became one as well.
The House Master was likely another victim.
The fact that he suddenly passed the position of House Master to Moyong Seong-geol speaks volumes.
“Ultimately, if the Moyong Clan becomes swayed by his whims, it would be a truly lamentable situation.”
“….”
“I believe external forces are pulling strings with Moyong Seong-geol.”
How else could he have handed over that precious sword to the Guimae Antique Shop?
Registering items for sale at the Guimae Antique Shop requires quite rigorous procedures.
That’s why the Guimae Antique Shop has such a stellar reputation, and it’s the pride of those who operate it.
From the Sub-family Head’s reaction, he already knew this.
He must have learned it while investigating the whereabouts of the sword.
So he couldn’t dismiss my words lightly.
“If you don’t rage against the reality of external forces treating the Moyong Clan with contempt, then you lack not only the qualifications to be a Sub-family Head, but also the qualifications to be a member of the Moyong Clan.”
At my words, he clenched his fists and spoke.
“I am enraged as well! But I have no suitable method….”
“A method, you say…. By the way, you arrived faster than expected.”
Moyong Tae-geol hesitated briefly before explaining the full story.
“Actually, last night Father told me to seek you out and inquire about your intentions.”
“Intentions? What kind of intentions are you referring to?”
“A marriage with my younger sister.”
“Cough!”
Ah, that came completely out of nowhere!
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes. I’m fine. And while I appreciate the offer, the truth is I already have a young lady in mind….”
“I see. My apologies for the presumption.”
I had gleaned one crucial clue from what he just said.
“Does anyone else know that the House Master told you to seek me out?”
“No. Only Yeon-gyeol and I know. Ah, and my mother as well.”
So Moyong Seong-geol doesn’t know.
That explains why he resorted to such methods.
It would become the very noose that binds him.
“I’ve thought of a good method.”

* * *

Moyong Seong-geol asked the Attendant who entered his chamber.
“Well, how did it go?”
“As planned, Young Master Eun Seo-ho entered Imil Garden. He mistook it for an entrance and will inevitably fall into the formation.”
“Hehehehe, he’ll suffer quite a bit.”
“However, if the warrior we instructed reveals that all of this was ordered by Young Master, what shall we do?”
“Is there evidence?”
“There is none.”
“Right. Besides, he’s already fled with the payment I gave him, yet you worry so much. And he will never dare speak carelessly.”
“I was perhaps too cautious.”
“And since there are those who heard that Elder Brother called for him, Elder Brother will be blamed as the culprit.”
The Attendant asked with a worried expression despite those words.
“True, but doesn’t he lack motive?”
“Motive? If they met before at Imil Garden, they must have plotted something together. We can frame it as him doing this because that scheme fell through.”
He continued.
“So go to them and request their support. Ask them to fabricate evidence that can firmly bind those two together.”
“Understood.”
It was then.
Something stirred outside, and the Attendant, wondering what had happened, went out.
He returned moments later with a panicked expression.
“What is it?”
“A grave matter, sir!”
“Speak plainly!”
“Young Master Eun Seo-ho has been found unconscious in Imil Garden.”
“What?”
He had thought the young master would merely suffer a bit before emerging, yet unconscious?
“According to the testimony that Young Master Eun Seo-ho was summoned to Imil Garden, the separate pavilions of those with access rights to Imil Garden have been sealed. Our pavilion has been sealed as well.”
“What is this…?”
Moyong Seong-geol could not help but be flustered.

* * *

“Oh my, Young Master. What on earth has happened?”
I lay in the chamber of my quarters, while Palgap beside me kept uttering exclamations of distress.
“Palgap.”
“Yes?”
“You can stop now. There’s no one else around.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Palgap cleared his throat and spoke.
“My throat was hurting so badly I nearly died from it.”
I let out a quiet laugh watching Palgap.
By now, rumors had spread throughout the Moyong Clan that I had fallen into a coma.
“But is this really necessary?”
At the words of Moyong Tae-geol, the Sub-family Head sitting beside me, I nodded.
“Yes. This way, it provides justification for why you sealed off all the entrances and exits of the Moyong Clan, does it not?”
I was grateful for what he had done for me, but it would be troublesome if he faced censure because of it.
“That is true, but…”
“And only if I appear to be in a coma can we properly punish the true culprit.”
No matter how malicious the other party’s intentions were, if I were unharmed, it would become ambiguous to hold them accountable.
“And though we haven’t found them yet, it will become easier to pressure the warrior who guided me to Imil Garden.”
There was an enormous difference between conspiring to humiliate Seon Hyeop Mi-rang and conspiring to put Seon Hyeop Mi-rang into a coma.
If he took all the blame here, he would bear the stigma of being one who harmed a hero of the Murim, and face execution.
If he wanted to avoid that, he would confess willingly.
I didn’t particularly care for the title “Seon Hyeop Mi-rang,” but it was certainly useful in times like this.
In any case, the separate pavilions of those with authority to use Imil Garden were now sealed off.
If I was going to work, I might as well do it spectacularly.
That way, the effect would be maximized.
Earlier, Bok Yun’s Spouse had come to visit, and after taking a quick look at me, they said:
“So, what can I help you with?”
Truly, my old friend lived up to expectations.
He immediately grasped the situation, and I asked him to lodge a protest with the House Master.
At the same time, I asked him to secure a promise that all authority would be stripped from whoever had put me in this predicament.
The House Master was going to have quite the headache.
Just then, I heard the Sub-family Head’s Attendant shouting from outside.
“Sub-family Head! That warrior has been captured!”
We exchanged knowing smiles.
Things were about to get much more interesting.

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