The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 448

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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 448

Chapter 448. Enlightenment (1)

I spun around in shock.
“….”
Yeo Eung-am Warrior stood motionless in the exact same posture as before, his gaze fixed upon Hyeol Gon Seong Seung Master.
A fierce torrent of energy swirled around his body.
Yeo Eung-am Warrior had also reached his moment of enlightenment.
But what in the world was this Hyeol Gon Seong Seung Master’s enlightenment that it could plunge not only the monks of Shaolin Temple but even Yeo Eung-am Warrior into such transcendent bliss?
At that moment, the Abbot Master approached me and bowed deeply with clasped hands.
“Amitabha Buddha! I am truly grateful. Thanks to you, our Shaolin Temple has received an immense blessing.”
“What have I done to deserve such praise?”
“Excessive humility is not courtesy, as they say. I shall have a chamber prepared for you—please rest. It will be difficult for us to converse properly at this moment.”
At his words, I glanced at Yeo Eung-am Warrior and nodded in agreement.
“I understand completely.”
The Abbot Master issued instructions to the other monks before ascending the stone stairs.
It seemed his quarters lay somewhere above.
Then one of the monks approached me.
“I am Jong-o from the Guest Hall. I shall guide you to your quarters so you may rest.”
“That won’t be necessary for me. Please guide my attendant instead.”
I shook my head slightly and turned to Palgap.
“Palgap, go get settled in our lodgings and organize our belongings.”
“Very well.”
At my words, Jeongmyeong Monk asked me.
“Will you not be going as well, benefactor?”
“I’m afraid I shall need some time.”
Understanding my meaning, he smiled gently.
“You are truly a noble master.”
“I’m hardly that… worthy.”
I answered with a wry smile, then spoke to my guards.
“Anyone who is tired may follow Palgap and rest.”
All the guards shook their heads in unison.
“Yeo Warrior requires our protection as Dharma Protectors.”
“We are not that fatigued.”
In truth, the moment of transcendent bliss was the most dangerous. A sudden external shock could cause one to fall into demonic possession.
If that happened, one would either perish or become a cripple.
“But master, why do you not retire to your quarters?”
When Seo-woo Warrior asked, I stepped beside him and replied.
“Simply, the view from this place is quite pleasant.”
At my words, the Guard Warriors exchanged glances and chuckled softly.
“Why do you laugh?”
“The fine weather brings joy to the heart.”
We all laughed together.
“Since it’s come to this, let’s divide into groups and take turns standing Dharma Protector watch. This won’t be finished in a short time, after all.”
The Guard Warriors nodded at my words.
“That seems wise. I’ve heard there was someone who remained in a state of oblivion for seven days and nights.”
“Thinking of such things, we absolutely must take turns.”
Of course, since this was happening within Shaolin Temple Grounds, the monks of Shaolin would gladly help if I asked them to stand watch.
But with sufficient manpower, there was no reason to incur a debt.
We divided ourselves into three groups.
Seo-woo Warrior and Lee Pil Warrior, Jin Yu Warrior and Myeong-jong Warrior, myself and Chang-un Warrior. These were our three groups.
Since I needed to converse with the Abbot Master tomorrow, I took the watch tonight.
.
.
.
Even as morning arrived the next day, Yeo Eung-am Warrior had not regained consciousness.
I relieved the other Guard Warriors and headed to the Guest Quarters to take breakfast.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes.”
“Has Yeo Warrior not yet returned?”
“No, not yet.”
“When do you think she will finish and awaken?”
“Who knows? No one can say. I’m hungry. Bring me food.”
“Understood.”
I received breakfast from Palgap and ate heartily, then rested while sipping tea.
Sigh…
Protecting someone demands complete focus, making it an exhausting and tiring task.
Guard Warriors truly are remarkable.

“Young Master. You must wake up now.”
Palgap roused me from sleep.
“Hmm?”
When had I fallen asleep?
“The Abbot Master is calling for you.”
“The Abbot Master?”
I rose quickly and asked.
“Now?”
“The Young Novice Monk said he would return after half a watch.”
“Did you tell him I was sleeping?”
“No, sir. The Young Novice Monk said so first.”
It seemed the Abbot Master had noticed my brief rest and given instructions accordingly.
“I should freshen up and present myself properly. Prepare some clean clothes for me, and bring a cup of tea.”
“Very well, sir.”
After drinking the tea Palgap brought, my mind felt considerably clearer.
Once I finished the cup, I changed into fresh clothes, groomed myself, and retrieved the box I had stored in the Secret Vault.
By then, half a watch had passed, and the Young Novice Monk arrived to escort me.
The Young Novice Monk was quite handsome, and if he continued to grow as he was, he would surely become a rather striking Buddhist Monk.
Not all who enter Shaolin Temple remain here for life as monks.
Only those with aptitude for Buddhist scripture study or martial prowess could stay.
I had heard that fewer than half of those who entered remained.
Moreover, not all who stayed became true disciples of the temple.
Only the most carefully selected among them could become the caliber of talent needed to form the Eighteen Arhats or the Four Vajras.
Still, this Young Novice Monk seemed to have some aptitude?
Was that why he became the Young Novice Monk serving the Abbot Master?
Perhaps because I had reached the pinnacle of transcendence, I had begun to sense whether someone possessed martial aptitude whenever I encountered them.
Ah, so that was why masters of old would wander the Kangho and, upon spotting a child with promise, ask, “Would you not become my disciple?”
At that moment, Jin Yu Warrior, who was still awaiting his turn at watch, spoke.
“I shall guard you, my lord.”
“This is Shaolin Temple, so moving alone should be safe enough.”
“But….”
“Your watch change is coming soon, is it not? This time, please protect Yeo Warrior instead. I shall go with Palgap.”
I walked with Palgap, following the Young Novice Monk.
The Abbot’s Quarters were situated quite deep within the temple grounds.
It took about a quarter watch to arrive.
Then I sensed the presence of guards in my perception.
Could this be the place?
“Master, I have brought the patron Eun Seo-ho.”
“Please enter.”
Ah, so this was where the Abbot Master resided.
It was a modest building, merely a Separate Quarters, far simpler than the residences where the House Masters of other Three Great Families or the Sect Masters of other sects dwelt.
As I opened the door and stepped inside, the Abbot Master sat waiting, his gaze settling upon me.
I clasped my fist in salute and offered a proper bow.
“I am Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Trading Company. I am honored to meet you, Abbot Master.”
“Welcome, welcome. Have you recovered from your fatigue?”
“Thanks to your gracious consideration, I have rested well.”
At my response, the Abbot Master smiled warmly.
“First, I must thank you for assisting my disciples in retrieving Hyejin Master’s remains.”
“It was only possible because of karmic connection.”
This was no mere modesty. Had Hyun Ro-do not shown me that path, I would never have encountered Jeongcheong Monk and his companions.
In that case… the remains of Hyeol Gon Seong Seung Master would have suffered a tragic fate once more in this lifetime.
Thinking about it that way, shouldn’t Hyeol Gon Seong Seung Master be immensely grateful to me?
He smiled at me twice, surely he wasn’t trying to settle the matter with just those smiles.
The Abbot Master continued speaking.
“Jeongmyeong Monk told me that on the way to Gansu, you helped those who had fallen into difficulty.”
“How could I turn away from those suffering before my very eyes? Besides, I offered it as a donation, yet they actually returned that substantial sum to me.”
“A donation, you say?”
“Yes. However, if I had called such a large amount a donation, I feared the monks would feel burdened, so I simply presented it that way.”
I produced the promissory note and extended it toward him.
“Thus I have brought it back in this manner.”
Upon seeing the note, the Abbot Master’s expression grew troubled.
“To refuse this would be to disregard your sincerity, so I must accept it. However, we receive many other donations and lack for nothing in sustenance.”
“Is that not all due to the reputation and benevolence Shaolin has accumulated over the long centuries?”
“I appreciate your kind words.”
The Abbot Master pondered for a moment, then presented me with an unexpected proposal.
“I shall gratefully accept your donation. In exchange, might I impose a request upon you?”
“Please, speak freely.”
“I would ask that you use what you have donated for the benefit of those who struggle to make their living.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Surely you encounter far more such people than we do in your travels. So I make this request of you.”
“Ah… yes.”
I found myself compelled to accept the note once more.
Dealing with someone so utterly free of greed is the most difficult thing of all.
Perhaps it is because I am a merchant by nature and have grown accustomed to dealing with those who harbor desires for something.
“And I am also grateful for the counsel that Jeongmyeong Monk conveyed. Through a disciple stationed with the Murim Alliance, I learned the general circumstances. To think we nearly entered Geom Chong without knowing of such hidden intent!”
“In the end, we did not enter. Geom Chong has collapsed. I suspect it was Hyeol Gon Seong Seung Master who brought it down, as he seemed reluctant to see others harmed.”
“That may well be true.”
The Abbot Master continued.
“Thus I wished to express my gratitude directly, and so I extended this invitation. In my heart, I would have preferred to travel to Beijing myself, but that would have placed too great a burden upon you. This old monk, it seems, has drawn considerable attention from many.”
“I am merely grateful for your consideration of me.”
What a relief.
I’d prefer to avoid drawing the attention of the Murim world.
“I apologize for troubling such a busy person with this visit.”
“Not at all.”
I shook my head.
“Please don’t concern yourself. As it happens, I also had reason to visit Shaolin Temple and meet with you, Master.”
The Abbot Master tilted his head at my words.
“You had reason to see me?”
“I was entrusted with an item to deliver to Shaolin Temple. It seems fate arranged for me to fulfill this role.”
“Could that item be the box you brought with you?”
“Yes, it is.”
I lifted the box I had set beside me and placed it before him.
“What is this?”
“It is something the Hyeol Gon Seong Seung Master left for Shaolin.”
The Abbot Master’s eyes widened at my words, and with trembling hands, he opened the box.
Inside were a single book, a letter, and a gold ingot.
“May I ask where you obtained this?”
“Yes. I was also at Geom Chong in Gansu Province’s Yanzhi Mountain.”
I briefly explained the circumstances that led me there, and then described what happened afterward.
“And as I was returning after completing everything, I discovered a rare herb. When I lifted a rock to excavate it, I found this box beneath it.”
Of course, that was a lie.
I couldn’t very well tell him I went to Geom Chong to collapse it and found it in the process.
Surely the Buddha would forgive this much.
“….”
The Abbot Master, who had been silently observing me for a moment, nodded his head.
“Does it matter where you found it? What matters is that you brought it here to Shaolin. I am grateful.”
Hmm… did he see through my lie?
“By the way, does anyone else know about this?”
“Only my guard who discovered it with me, and now you, Master.”
I continued speaking.
“And since I didn’t know what this was, I read the letter. But I didn’t read the book, thinking it best to deliver it as is.”
“I see.”
The Abbot Master read the letter. After folding it away, he caressed the book several times before speaking to me.
“It seems you have some connection to Shaolin. Otherwise….”
I smiled.
I think so too. But I’d prefer to avoid any further troublesome entanglements.
Yet if I’m to receive Shaolin’s assistance in the future… I suppose I must endure the inconvenience?
The Abbot Master removed the gold ingot from the box and offered it to me.
“This is yours. You have more than earned the right to possess this gold ingot, having fulfilled the letter’s wishes.”
This time, I did not refuse.
Because I can confidently say this is mine.
“Thank you.”
Even as the Abbot Master handed over the gold ingot, there wasn’t a trace of greed or regret in his eyes.
Was such a thing even possible?
“And….”
Did he still have more to say?
“I heard that it was largely thanks to you that Hyejin Master’s remains were able to return safely this time. It was because you persuaded everyone.”
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
“In any case, our Shaolin has received tremendous kindness from you. We will never forget this debt of gratitude.”
“There’s no need to mention gratitude, truly.”
“No, that won’t do. Originally I had prepared a modest reward, but seeing this, it seems such a reward would be insufficient. So please stay a bit longer.”
“Understood. Besides, one of the Guard Warriors is still in a state of profound meditation, so I was about to request to stay a few more days anyway.”

I withdrew from the Abbot’s Quarters. Then, guided once more by the Young Novice Monk, I made my way back to my quarters.
Upon returning to my quarters, I entered the room and pulled Geumryeong from my sleeve.
Geumryeong, who had been chirping insistently since earlier, gazed at me with sparkling eyes.
“Chirp! Chirp!”
It was saying that since it was thanks to him that the jade pendant was discovered, I should hand over a reward.
“Didn’t I give you something before?”
At my words, Geumryeong shook his head, clearly remembering that I hadn’t.
What excellent memory! Tsk!
I thought I could slip past this somehow.
Still, since Geumryeong had done something praiseworthy, I should give him praise.
I held out a gold coin to Geumryeong, and he rolled across the table, licking the coin.
Watching him, I recalled what the Abbot Master had just said to me through sound transmission.

– I sense the chill of winter emanating from you.

Could it be… he noticed?

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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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