The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 432

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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 432

Chapter 432. My Maternal Grandfather’s Home (1)

Back in Beijing, I was diligently affixing my seal to documents.
Despite working for four straight days, I still hadn’t cleared all the accumulated paperwork.
But I couldn’t simply rush through the sealing process either.
Affixing my seal meant I had reviewed the document and found nothing amiss, authorizing its progression, yet the seal of the final decision-maker carried a deeper significance.
It meant taking responsibility.
That’s why I had no choice but to examine each one meticulously.
Moreover, if I made a single mistake in sealing, dozens or even hundreds of people could suffer the consequences.
Thud.
“Young Master, didn’t you mention having an engagement this evening?”
“An engagement?”
“You said you were meeting with Seon-il Elder Brother and his wife.”
“Ah!”
At Palgap’s words, I lifted my head.
This evening I was supposed to visit the Yeonjun Trading Company, having received an invitation from Seon-il Elder Brother and his wife.

A short while later.
I arrived at the Yeonjun Trading Company.
“Welcome.”
Seon-il Elder Brother came to the door and greeted me warmly.
“I hear you’ve just returned from Liaoning?”
“Yes, I went there for my old friend’s wedding.”
At my words, Seon-il Elder Brother smiled lightly.
“Now you’re probably thinking… no, never mind.”
“Pardon?”
“From my own experience, being told to marry soon is quite a bit of pressure. So I decided not to say such things.”
“I appreciate that.”
“If I dislike something, the other person likely dislikes it too, yet I nearly forgot this principle.”
That’s Seon-il Elder Brother for you.
Always striving to live righteously—a truly good man.
“You’re a clever fellow, so you’ll manage well on your own.”
“Thank you. But where are Uncle and Aunt?”
“Ah, they’ve gone to a couples’ gathering.”
“I see.”
“Well then, let’s go inside.”
I headed to the Banquet Hall together with Seon-il Elder Brother.
Today’s banquet was being held as a gesture of gratitude for the assistance provided during the marriage with Princess Sinaa.
Upon entering the Banquet Hall, Princess Sinaa—or rather, my Elder Brother’s Wife—was waiting for us.
“Welcome.”
“Thank you for the invitation.”
“It’s been quite some time. Please, make yourself comfortable.”
I exchanged greetings with her and took my seat, and soon dishes began appearing one after another.
“There isn’t much prepared.”
“Not much? If you eat all of this, your stomach will burst!”
So many dishes were being laid out that I couldn’t help but break into a hearty laugh.
As I conversed with her, I felt a subtle awkwardness.
Her appearance seemed somehow different from before.
Ah… that’s right.
In time, as years pass, she would become so beautiful that she would be called the jewel of the Marae Seo Kingdom.
When that time came, the two Imperial Princes who lost her would surely writhe in agony.
But there was nothing they could do about it.
The marriage between Seon-il Elder Brother and Elder Brother’s Wife had been personally overseen by the Emperor himself.
After spending such a warm and pleasant time together, I returned to the Beijing Branch.
Yet despite the late hour, an unexpected person was waiting for me.
“It’s been a long time!”
“Ah! Great Hero!”
It was Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
“I didn’t know you had arrived.”
“You were at Seon-il’s residence? I prevented him from informing you.”
“I see. But what brings you here at such a late hour…?”
To my question, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster replied curtly, as if it were obvious.
“He summons you. Prepare yourself and come.”
Ah…
The Emperor is calling for me.

A moment later.
After tidying my appearance, I set out for the Imperial Palace alongside Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
But why would he summon me at such a late hour?
As I entered the Imperial Palace, my curiosity only deepened.
Even accounting for the late hour, there were remarkably few people about, and the corridors I traversed were practically empty.
As if by design.
I hoped this wouldn’t turn into something troublesome.
Soon I arrived before the Emperor’s Office.
“Eun Seo-ho, Small Merchant Guild Leader, has arrived.”
The door opened immediately, and I entered, performing the highest courtesy.
“Your humble servant, Eun Seo-ho, pays respects to Your Imperial Majesty. Long live the Emperor! Long live! Long live!”
“Raise your head.”
I lifted my gaze to behold the Emperor—still appearing vigorous and commanding.
“You must be curious why I summoned you at this late hour, and why I cleared the Imperial Guards from your path.”
How did he know?
Then again, the Emperor is one of the few people I truly respect.
In other words, he is formidable in every sense.
No, he is genuinely terrifying.
A single word from him and the Eun Hae Trading Company would scatter like dust—it’s only a matter of time.
“Your humble servant is merely honored by Your Imperial Majesty’s summons.”
“Hmph, you speak well.”
At the Emperor’s scoff, I bowed my head quietly.
“So, did your journey to Liaoning go well?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“How does it feel to have swallowed the Zhujiang Horse all by yourself?”
“….”
He truly is terrifying. He already knows even that!
I quickly prostrated myself before him.
“Your Imperial Majesty! Please forgive your humble servant for failing to present the Zhujiang Horse to Your Majesty! This is because….”
“Tsk tsk, do I not know you well? If there were profit in presenting it to me, you would have done so the moment you returned to Beijing. So what is it? A defect?”
“That is… the horse only obeys my commands. Should another rider mount it, I cannot guarantee their safety.”
Since falls from horses resulting in crippling or death were more common than one might expect, the Emperor nodded in understanding.
“That is indeed a significant problem.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“But when did you prostrate yourself again? Tsk tsk, rise.”
I quickly got to my feet.
“Your reaction makes me want to tease you all the more.”
So that question about swallowing the Zhujiang Horse all by myself was merely his way of teasing me.
Your Imperial Majesty!
Your teasing words make my heart race so!
But I couldn’t very well complain openly about it. Sigh.
“Regardless, it hasn’t been long since I returned, but with the Zhujiang Horse, I should be able to make the journey quickly. I’ll need to visit Gansu Province.”
“Pardon?”
I found myself questioning before I could think.
G-Gansu Province?
You mean Gansu Province, next to Shaanxi Province?
The Emperor continued.
“Of course, if you don’t wish to go, you need not. If you complete this task for me, I intend to compensate you generously… but I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Well, this man truly knows me far too well.
– Squeak!
And seeing Geumryeong react this way, I suppose I must go.
“I will consider it positively.”
“Good. Then let me explain. Recently, through Dongchang, I received intelligence that a Sword Tomb has been discovered at Yanzhi Mountain in Gansu Province.”
A Sword Tomb? Yanzhi Mountain?
Ah! Could it be that one?
I recall something about a Sword Tomb discovered at Yanzhi Mountain in Gansu Province.
A Sword Tomb is, quite literally, the grave of swords.
However, it’s rare for actual swords to be resting within, and even when they are, most have rusted and decayed beyond recognition.
Yet whenever a Sword Tomb is discovered, countless factions from the Murim converge upon it, seeking to claim it through bloodshed.
This is because Sword Tombs often contain not only blades but also treasures of gold and silver, along with supreme martial techniques of legendary caliber.
The Sword Tomb of Yanzhi Mountain belonged to the Blood Staff Star Monk, the hero who had cornered the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect approximately five hundred years ago.
According to legend, having lost his family to the disciples of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, he was taken as a disciple of Shaolin Temple by one of its monks.
And with a single staff, he struck down every member of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect he encountered.
His martial prowess was so formidable that even the Heavenly Demon himself could not withstand him, causing the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect’s influence to wane.
After his death, with the resolve that even his spirit would continue fighting the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, he created a Sword Tomb and entered nirvana within it.
However, the Sword Tomb of the Blood Staff Star Monk had never been discovered until a humble herb gatherer found it.
By common sense, since it was the Sword Tomb of a Shaolin monk, Shaolin should rightfully claim authority over it.
But there were complex circumstances involved.
In his final years, he had become stained with blood, and Shaolin had excommunicated him for it.
Therefore, even Shaolin could not definitively assert ownership.
Moreover, rumors spread that the secret to the Blood Staff Star Monk’s reign as the greatest master of his era lay within the Sword Tomb, drawing not only orthodox sects but also the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect to covet it.
And when rumors added that it contained considerable treasures of gold and silver, even heterodox sects and Black Path criminals gathered.
It was quite literally a place destined for chaos, and indeed it had become one.
You’re sending me to a place where fighting breaks out constantly?
Your Majesty.
Are you in your right mind… or rather, isn’t this too much?
Why must you send me specifically?
The Emperor, sensing my confusion, spoke.
“In fact, the Gold Robe Guard Warriors have already departed for that location. According to reports, the reason the Blood Staff Star Monk was able to display such extraordinary martial prowess was because he had obtained something from the Imperial Palace.”
Ah… now I understand why you summoned me so secretly.
“Surveillance… is that it?”
The Emperor smiled. My suspicion had been correct.
After all, surveillance is most effective when entrusted to someone completely unexpected.
“I trust you’ll handle the rest as you see fit.”
“….”
.
.
.
I arrived at the Beijing Branch.
According to Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, I had to depart within at least four days.
In other words, I would have to leave immediately after finishing the paperwork without any rest.
Damn it.
If I went to Gansu Province without any reason, I would certainly be suspected.
I needed a plausible excuse….
Ah!
A good idea suddenly came to me.
The Yingxuan Family, a martial clan in Gansu Province, was my mother’s ancestral home.
In my previous life, I had rarely visited my maternal grandfather’s house, and I had come to regret that.
Since things had come to this, why not visit my maternal grandfather’s home?
I immediately wrote a letter and sent it to Father through Geumryeong.
The next day.
Geumryeong returned with Father’s letter.

[So you’re visiting your maternal grandfather’s house—something must be going on. I hear various martial forces are gathering in that region these days. Will you be alright?]

That is precisely why I’m going to Gansu Province, Father.

[Hmm, if you investigate even a little, you’ll understand that the situation in Gansu Province is turbulent. If you’re going despite that, you must have your reasons. Travel safely. And give my regards to your maternal grandfather, grandmother, and uncle.]

Yes, Father.
I murmured thus and burned the letter. There was some rather sensitive information in it, after all.

Two days later, the time came to depart for Gansu Province.
“I entrust this to you.”
“Don’t worry and have a safe journey.”
Seo Hyang and the people of Hyun Pung Pavilion saw me off. This time as well, Seo Hyang would remain at the Beijing Branch.
Gansu Province was a place where numerous factions were locked in fierce struggle.
I could not possibly take Seo Hyang to such a dangerous place.
And so we set out for Gansu Province.

Zhu Jiang Ma was damnably fast.
Had the Emperor given us a four-day grace period before departure precisely because he knew Zhu Jiang Ma could move with such speed?
In any case, he was truly someone one could never let their guard down around.
In any event, we traveled at a pace several times faster than originally planned, and found ourselves camping in a forest in Shanxi Province.
The preparations for camping proceeded smoothly.
While Palgap kindled the campfire, the warriors divided into three groups—one procured provisions, another surveyed the surrounding area.
The remaining group stood guard close by me.
Soon the camp was ready, and we gathered around the fire.
Our destination was Gansu Province.
Since we were traveling on horseback this time, we decided to use the northern route.
The path that led through Shanxi and northern Shaanxi to Lanzhou in Gansu Province.
Thanks to this route, despite it being the height of summer, we could travel without suffering the worst of the heat.
Well, except for me, of course.
I never felt the heat no matter where I went.
Crackle, crackle.
The sound of sparks flying from the wood in the campfire reached my ears.
“It’s ready, sir.”
Palgap held out a fish skewered on a stick, perfectly cooked to the right degree of doneness.
The roasted flatbread paired with the grilled fish made for quite a palatable meal.
After finishing my meal, I gazed at the fire and spoke.
“Do you know the reason we’re traveling to Gansu Province this time?”
Palgap answered my question.
“Aren’t we going to the young lady’s family home?”
“That’s right. We’re going to my maternal grandfather’s house. But if that were the only reason, I wouldn’t be asking.”
At my words, everyone’s attention focused on me.
“In truth, I received orders from the Emperor.”
The real reason I was going to Gansu Province was, of course, strictly confidential. But still, I owed it to my traveling companions to give them some hint of what lay ahead.
It would be a betrayal to send them into danger without any understanding of the situation, merely because they had to escort me.
Besides, these weren’t the type of people to have loose tongues about classified matters.
“The place we’re heading to is Yanzhi Mountain, where the sword of the Blood Kun Saint Sage was discovered.”
At my words, Myeong-jong Warrior asked as if something had just occurred to him.
“You mean that hero who crushed the Demonic Cult?”
“That’s correct.”
“Heaven above….”
In truth, this was the sort of matter that made Myeong-jong Warrior exhale in something like a sigh.
Seo-woo Warrior spoke with a grave expression.
“This is a dangerous situation. It’s clear that numerous factions will clash.”
“That’s true. However, I have no intention of approaching that place closely.”
The Emperor’s instruction to me was surveillance, not to retrieve something from that location.
I intended to carry out my orders from the safest possible distance.
“Speaking of Geumryeong, isn’t that supposed to be a place where something extraordinary exists? I don’t know who’ll end up getting their hands on it, but I’m terribly envious.”
At Palgap’s words, I let out a soft chuckle.
There was a reason I hadn’t made a move despite knowing about the Blood Kun Saint Sage’s sword collection on Yanzhi Mountain.
If there were truly remarkable treasures as the rumors suggested, I would have gone there already.
That’s right.
There’s… nothing there at all.

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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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