The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 438

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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 438

Chapter 438. The Unexpected (1)

Even after a considerable time had passed, the chaos showed no signs of subsiding.
I exhaled quietly.
If it had settled so easily, that catastrophe wouldn’t have occurred in my previous life.
One of the reasons the damage was greater than expected in my previous life was precisely this.
The leadership suffered injuries due to the pride clashes among those gathered for the meeting.
Had they simply refrained from their foolishness during the gathering, I could have saved dozens more—no, hundreds more.
As I quietly observed them fighting amongst themselves with such intensity, someone called out to me.
“Seon Hyeop Mi-rang Great Hero! Why are you just standing there watching? Come help us strike down these villains!”
At those words, I shrugged.
“What benefit would that bring me?”
“What?”
“If I simply observe like this until everyone is exhausted and lacks the strength to move, then I act and sever their heads—wouldn’t that be more advantageous?”
At my words, everyone’s movements froze instantly. Then, exchanging glances, they slowly withdrew.
“What? Why are you stopping already? You should continue fighting. Isn’t a proper fight supposed to go to the bitter end?”
Everyone coughed awkwardly at my words.
“We were indeed lacking in shame.”
“What use is wasting our strength here?”
“Ahem, let us continue the meeting.”
Thus the discussion resumed.
However, they could not reach a conclusion on who should enter first.
Each faction’s position was sharply opposed.
I glanced at Gyeongsan Elder. His eyes grew increasingly anxious.
One must always be wary of anxiety in anyone facing an important decision.
Anxiety causes mistakes that need not be made.
In my previous life, one reason the Murim Alliance suffered such heavy casualties might have been due to Gyeongsan Elder’s ‘mistake.’
And that anxiety was surely born from concern about results.
Surely the Sect Leader of the Gongtong Sect was quite elderly now.
An age when his ascension could come at any moment.
And factional struggles among the Gongtong Sect’s elders over the position of next Sect Leader had reached their peak.
In my memory, Gyeongsan Elder barely survived, but it might have been better had he perished here.
Judging by the life that followed.
In any case, I cannot drag out time here.
I must swiftly carry out the Emperor’s command and return. There are so many accumulated matters waiting.
No matter how much Seo Hyang handles affairs in my stead, I cannot leave everything to her alone.
I raised my hand and asked.
“Is the space inside Geom Chong narrow?”
“Not particularly. About five people could enter side by side.”
At Gyeongsan Elder’s words, I proposed a compromise.
“Then let’s do it this way. All three factions enter at once.”
“All at once?”
“Yes. Each faction takes one column, forming three lines as you enter. That way, each faction gets to be at the front, in the middle, and at the rear—no one has grounds for complaint, do they?”
“What about the spoils?”
At the Black Sword Sect Member’s question, I chuckled softly.
“That should be left to fortune.”
“Fortune?”
“Yes. Those standing on the left claim the spoils on the left, those on the right claim the spoils on the right. The center works the same way.”
At my words, the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect Member murmured.
“So you’re leaving it to fortune. Then how do we decide who stands where?”
“Isn’t there a traditional method?”
“A martial contest, then?”
Ah! Really! These martial fanatics are obsessed with fighting!
I barely suppressed the complaint threatening to burst out.
Honestly, drawing lots was an option, but no matter what, someone would cry foul.
I was annoyed just now, but in a situation like this, a martial contest might actually be the most reliable method.
Suddenly, a good idea came to me.
“Do you happen to know of grass pulling?”
“It’s been ages since I’ve heard that name. It was a game we used to play as children.”
Grass pulling is a children’s game.
Long blades of grass are woven together, and players pull on them—whoever’s breaks first loses.
Hearing it from this burly Black Path warrior felt a bit strange. Though even now, despite being an unrefined martial expert of the Realm, he must have had a pure childhood once.
In any case, they all nodded, indicating they knew the game.
“Let’s use grass pulling to determine positions.”
“Not a bad idea. I agree.”
“So do I.”
The leaders of each faction would participate in the grass pulling.
In other words, a single match with pride on the line.
Each brought a blade of grass, and after weaving the three together carefully, each grasped their own blade.
“Begin!”
With my shout, the grass pulling commenced.
Whoosh!
The grass pulling of Murim masters was different from that of children.
Each protected their grass with their inner energy.
But they couldn’t simply pour in unlimited power.
It was such fragile grass, after all.
Otherwise, the internal energy would snap under the strain and break.
In other words, this is a contest that can only be won by controlling one’s internal energy with extreme precision.
Since higher cultivation typically grants finer control over qi, this method itself serves as a way to determine the superior level of mastery.
What an elegant solution—without a drop of blood spilled!
“Nngh…”
“Grrrgh!”
“Haaah!”
The three faction leaders stood close enough to feel each other’s breath, sweat pouring down like rain.
Watching three massive men grip a single slender blade of grass with such concentration, I found myself wishing I could summon Hwaseo to capture this scene as a painting.
Everyone around them watched with bated breath.
No one dared make a sound, fearing it would shatter their concentration. How much time had passed in that suffocating silence?
Snap.
Finally, the first to fall was eliminated—the Black Path representative.
And moments later.
Crack.
Another blade of grass snapped, and the final victor was decided.
The champion was Gyeongsan Elder.
The Gongtong Sect’s emphasis on internal cultivation over external strength had proven itself.
“Uaaaah!”
“We won!”
“Wooooh!”
Could they possibly be more delighted?
The righteous faction’s people erupted in cheers, regardless of age.
By contrast, the Black Path leader, who had fallen first, hung his head in shame before them all.
“Then, which position shall you take—left, right, or center?”
“Obviously the center!”
And so it was decided: the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect would take the left, the Murim Alliance the center, and the Black Path the right.
“Let us set the entry date for two days hence!”
“Should anyone break their word and enter first, we will show no mercy!”
“And you—refrain from any treachery!”
I watched the exchange and felt a hollow laugh rising within me.
I questioned the meaning of their quarrel.
They wouldn’t be entering anyway.

With the meeting concluded, we made our way back to our camp.
I walked ahead, lost in contemplation.
I hadn’t anticipated the Geumui Guard being aligned with the Murim Alliance.
I’d assumed they would establish and operate as an independent force.
Thanks to the Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, I’d mastered the Imperial Palace martial arts, and through various incidents, I’d worked alongside the Geumui Guard.
Because of this, even if the Geumui Guard tried to conceal their identity, I could deduce their nature to a considerable degree.
The Emperor likely ordered surveillance of the Geumui Guard precisely because he considered my abilities.
It was undoubtedly an order to monitor whether the dispatched Geumui Guard had become entangled with the Murim Alliance.
The Emperor despises the Murim Alliance.
They overstep boundaries they shouldn’t and prove troublesome.
Could it be that His Majesty intends to use this opportunity to identify the Murim Alliance’s collaborators within the Imperial Palace?
Hmm… that’s certainly possible.
At that moment, my eyes met with one of the Great Heroes.

Evening had fallen.
Tonight’s meal was noodles again, but I ate with relish.
Given that this region was renowned for noodles, the variety was fascinating.
In the distance, Hae Jun was eating.
After being scolded harshly by me, he’d abandoned his habit of complaining about meals and was quietly eating his noodles.
When you’re carrying fifty pounds of metal on your entire body, your appetite becomes quite fierce.
My intention was for him to eat whatever was given without complaint, and fortunately, he was eating well.
The only problem was that the weight on his wrists made his hands tremble as he held the chopsticks and the noodle bowl.
That was his own concern.
At that moment, two people approached me.
Both appeared to be Geumui Guard.
If they were from the Geumui Guard, they couldn’t possibly not know about me.
They’d likely come to investigate why I was here.
“Would it be alright if we joined you?”
“Of course.”
With my permission, they settled onto the rocks beside me.
“We’re finally introducing ourselves. Pleased to meet you. I’m Kwon Jik of the Guizhou Kwon Family.”
“I’m Kwon Eul.”
The fact that they were using their martial family identities suggested they were concealing their true status as Geumui Guard.
“The Guizhou Kwon Family—isn’t that the family famous for spearmanship?”
“Oh! You know of our main house.”
“Though I currently lead the Yeong Seon Min Family, my primary occupation is as a Small Merchant Guild Leader of the Eun Hae Trading Company. Since Guizhou Province produces many precious medicinal herbs, I visit there regularly. And any merchant traveling through Guizhou would be foolish not to know of the Guizhou Kwon Family.”
I continued.
“You are the steadfast protectors who shield us from the ruffians of Guizhou.”
“Haha! That’s right.”
“Just as you say.”
Of course, as befits a martial family, we receive protection fees from the Merchant Guild.
But there was no need to mention it and spoil the mood.
“Still, aren’t you busy with the Merchant Guild’s affairs right now? For the Eun Hae Trading Company, summer should be the busiest season with matters concerning the work-wind mechanism.”
At those words, I exhaled deeply.
“As the Great Hero says, it is indeed a very busy period. However, I could not turn a blind eye to my maternal family’s difficulties, so I came here.”
“Ah, so you said the Yeong Seon Min Family was your maternal family?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“I visited my maternal family with a letter from my mother, and it happened that a support request came from the Murim Alliance. However, since my second maternal uncle entered closed-door cultivation, there was no one particularly suited to lead the reinforcements.”
“So that’s why you came.”
“Correct. Though I am a merchant guild member, I also have the reputation of Seon Hyeop Mi-rang, so it seems they believed I would at least not be disrespected here.”
“You certainly have your hands full.”
“In any case, I intend to finish this matter as quickly as possible and return.”
“Ah, so that’s why you acted that way during the earlier meeting.”
They readily accepted my explanation.
“If I overstepped my bounds, I apologize.”
“Not at all. You did well.”
I pushed aside my empty noodle bowl and cupped my fists to them.
“In any case, please help me complete this matter quickly so I can return to the Merchant Guild.”
“Don’t worry.”
Glancing at them, it seemed their suspicions about me had completely vanished.
It was a good decision to bring the warriors from my maternal family.
“By the way, will the Great Heroes also enter the Sword Tower in two days?”
“A strange question to ask.”
Of course they would.
I’m sorry, but you won’t be able to enter the Hyeol Gon Fortress’s Sword Tower.
.
.
.
That night.
I quietly rose from my chamber bed.
Then Seo-woo Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior, whom I had given advance notice to, also quietly rose from their places.
It was indeed a good choice to select the bed right in front of the entrance.
I had chosen this spot for convenience in coming and going secretly.
However, the Guangfeng Sect Warriors were misunderstanding it of their own accord, thinking I had done it to protect them.
But I didn’t bother to clear up that misunderstanding.
Somehow, the more I tried to clear it up, the more they would misunderstand.
Since this was a barracks within the Murim Alliance Camp, there were no dedicated night sentries.
Only those assigned to duty patrols adequately.
A group like ours could slip out quietly.
– Let’s go.
At my signal, they nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Our movements were swift and decisive.
We arrived at Hyeol Gon Fortress’s Sword Tower.
Today, we would enter this tower and blow it to pieces.
After all, there’s nothing inside but those cruel mechanical traps.
A complete waste of effort.
I know all too well how horrifically those who enter die, and I cannot simply stand by and watch.
Someone would surely argue otherwise.
Why not push the Black Path and Heavenly Demon Divine Sect members in first?
Yes, that’s possible.
But I lack the conviction to bear the weight of those lives.
Even though they belong to the Black Path and Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, not all of them are treacherous villains stained with blood.
In my previous life and this one, I’ve lived as a villain, yet I’ve witnessed countless who were not truly evil.
Conversely, I’ve known many who lived as righteous people but were anything but righteous in truth.
So for now, this is the best path forward.
Of course, my actions may alter the future, but what of it?
The moment I began struggling to change my own fate, the waves of destiny already began to crash.
What I do now is merely one wave among many.
And haven’t I already created and overcome countless waves?
Who knows?
Perhaps this will aid my revenge.
If problems arise, I will solve them as I always do.

Twelve guards stood watch before the entrance to Hyeol Gon Fortress’s Sword Tower.
But that is not where I intend to enter.
I learned of it by chance in my previous life.
The Sword Tower had more than one entrance.
So we slipped through the narrow second entrance and made our way inside.
But then…
– Squeak!
Geumryeong’s reaction was strange.

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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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