The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 477
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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 477
Chapter 477. Gung Shin (4)
After entrusting the Assassination Group’s work to Ak Dae-in, I headed back toward Gung Shin’s house.
Originally, she had come with me, but her expression showed such deep concern for Father that I sent her back partway.
Of course, I had left the Myeong-jong Warrior and Chang-un Warrior as guards, but her worry seemed beyond remedy regardless.
Upon entering Gung Shin’s house, I spotted Seo Hyang fanning herself while decocting medicine.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Ah, Gwak Vice-Manager. What are you doing there?”
“I’m steeping Heavenly Root.”
In truth, Heavenly Root works best when consumed raw, but Gung Shin’s Spring Commander was in such poor condition that chewing it raw was beyond his capacity.
Over five years, he had survived on nothing but thin rice gruel that his son spooned into his mouth—barely sustenance.
Honestly, only because he was a martial artist did he still draw breath; had he been an ordinary man, it would be no surprise if he had already passed.
That was precisely why I had given him the Heavenly Root.
It was the only miraculous medicine capable of restoring the Spring Commander within a short span of time.
Of course, other miraculous medicines existed, but their effects were not centered on recovery.
And acquiring other medicines would consume time awkwardly.
Geumryeong had not gifted me the Heavenly Root for my own consumption.
Because Geumryeong knew well that I was healthy enough to have no need for it.
The proof was when Geumryeong nodded when I said I would use it where it was most beneficial.
Suddenly, I wondered if Geumryeong had known in advance that I would need the Heavenly Root and given it to me for that reason.
If Father recovered quickly, then his son Gung Shin would work earnestly for me without reservation.
Asking to learn the archery techniques of Gung Shin’s family was no different from asking him to reveal his martial arts.
So I had to establish such a debt of gratitude that he would not refuse my request.
The archery techniques of Gung Shin’s family were precious martial arts that would save countless members of the Eun Hae Trading Company and protect hundreds of millions in wealth, and Gung Shin was the precious talent who could transmit those techniques.
But… could Seo Hyang actually decoct medicine?
Decocting medicine was more intricate than one might think.
“Have you experience decocting medicine?”
“Ah, yes. In fact, the families of high officials find themselves needing to decoct medicine more often than one might expect.”
“Why is that? Don’t servants usually do it for you?”
“When the Emperor or other imperial family members bestow tonics, we cannot have servants prepare them.”
“Ah… I see.”
Indeed, doing so would invite accusations of disrespecting imperial grace.
“So I learned how to decoct medicine from my mother. I’ve even prepared Father’s medicine myself before.”
“I see.”
Chun Bu-jang, who had drunk the tonics personally prepared by Seo Hyang, fell into a deep sleep.
There was no need to worry—he was resting to recover.
I turned my head and spoke to Gung Shin.
“The matter has been resolved well. Ak Dae-in will eliminate that assassination group, and Chun Bu-jang will make a full recovery soon.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“By the way, what is your name?”
“Pardon?”
“I haven’t yet heard the Young Master introduce himself.”
“Ah!”
Startled by my words, he quickly knelt before me.
“I apologize for the late introduction, my benefactor. My name is Man Jung, and I am a descendant of the Yoon Kang Man Family.”
“I see. As you may know, I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“Yes.”
“Please accept this.”
I handed him a pouch.
“What is this?”
“Open it and see.”
At my words, he carefully opened the pouch, and his eyes widened in astonishment.
It contained a considerable sum of silver.
“It was discovered in the Fraudulent Physician’s house. It’s likely money he embezzled while bleeding your family dry all this time.”
“Ah….”
“This money belongs to you and Chun Bu-jang. Please take it.”
“Thank… you.”
His eyes reddened, and eventually tears streamed down his face.
He seemed to remember the days when he had rushed about desperately seeking treatment for his father’s illness.
“You have endured with such steadfast resolve. Truly admirable.”
“Sob, sob….”
It was only natural that his weeping sounded heartbreaking.
Two days had passed.
Chun Bu-jang, who had been lost in sleep for nearly those entire two days, opened his eyes and rose.
His complexion was incomparably improved compared to two days prior.
Moreover, he could now rise and move about for brief periods.
Indeed, Heavenly Root truly lives up to its reputation—the effects are genuinely remarkable.
I should give some gold coins to Geum Ryung-i as a token of gratitude.
“This Man Gongja has received great kindness from Dae-in.”
As Chun Bu-jang attempted to prostrate himself before me, I quickly stopped him.
“No, please—there is no need for such formality.”
“But the debt of gratitude I owe to Dae-in is immense.”
“This is all merely the result of a fair transaction.”
“A transaction, you say?”
At this, Gung Shin Man-jeong stepped forward.
“Father, I have agreed to offer my skills to Dae-in.”
And he explained the entire matter from beginning to end.
“Thus, in exchange for Dae-in taking my revenge upon my behalf, I have offered my skills.”
“I see.”
“Therefore, please honor my resolve in this matter.”
Then I added my own explanation to Chun Bu-jang.
“In truth, there is something for which I must seek your permission.”
“What might that be?”
“The Eun Hae Trading Company does not intend to remain confined to this empire alone. We mean to venture forth across the Great Sea and spread the name of Eun Hae Trading Company far and wide. However, the problem lies with the pirates.”
“….”
“To prevent the loss of countless lives and fortunes to these pirates, I intend to establish and operate an archery unit. In doing so, there is an unavoidable risk that your family’s archery techniques may be exposed. Therefore, I humbly request this: please permit the archery techniques of the Yoon Kang Man Family to be learned by the unit under my command.”
And I knelt before him.
At this, Chun Bu-jang was startled and jumped to his feet.
“No, no! Why do you do this? How can you kneel before this humble old man?”
“I beg your permission.”
“Very well. Please, rise at once.”
“Then you grant your consent?”
“Of course.”
As I rose from my position, Chun Bu-jang released a sigh of relief.
“Ah, I possess some small skill in reading faces. And the bearing I see in Dae-in is that of a Hyun Ryong who commands the Realm itself.”
Well… I am indeed a Hyun Ryong physique…
Quite perceptive of him.
“Not only have you given me the opportunity to walk alongside such a person, but you have also saved both me and my son. How could I possibly refuse?”
He continued.
“Moreover, to eliminate pirates is to uphold the legacy passed down through our family line—what reason would I have to hesitate?”
“A legacy of the family, you say?”
At my question, he nodded.
“That’s correct. Our family’s archery technique, the Heavenly Wave Bow, was developed to protect ourselves from pirates.”
Ah, I see.
No wonder it seemed perfectly suited for use against pirates.
And Shandong, jutting out into the sea as it does with its thriving maritime trade, has long been plagued by pirates.
“However, as those who coveted our archery technique manipulated us time and again, one of our ancestors grew so weary of it that he decided to relocate inland and establish our family anew.”
“I see.”
He spoke to me then.
“My son spoke of his own talents, but in my judgment as the House Master of Yoon Kang Man Family, this is a matter that requires entrusting our entire family to you.”
Chun Bu-jang bowed deeply to me.
“Please, take this family under your wing.”
I had intended to take only the son with me, but unexpectedly, I found myself acquiring the entire family.
With this turn of events, I could envision delivering a satisfying blow to the pirates who had plagued our Eun Hae Trading Company so relentlessly in my previous life.
Excellent.
“Very well. I, Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company, shall accept you all as my retainers.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
I spoke to them then.
“Focus on recovering your strength. We’re heading back to the Eun Hae Trading Company’s Main Headquarters in Hubei, so travel with us.”
“Understood.”
The House Master of Yoon Kang Man Family, Chun Bu-jang, was named Man Juk.
He used the character for bamboo in his name, and indeed, he seemed to embody the meaning perfectly.
While Man Gajoo recovered, his son repurchased the house they had previously sold.
“It seems you’ve spent quite a considerable sum. Are you certain about this?”
“Yes. Father said that even if we spent all the money he received back from our lord, we absolutely must reclaim the house.”
Why?
Was there some reason behind it?
Man Gongja returned and informed his father that the house had been repurchased.
“That’s a relief. So, when can we vacate the house?”
“They said they would vacate it tomorrow. Apparently, the Manor Lord who bought it didn’t purchase it to live in, but rather to use it as a summer villa because of its beautiful scenery.”
“Then let’s move the day after tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
And the moving day they had set arrived.
My Guard Warriors helped with the move. There wasn’t much to transport, but a move is a move nonetheless.
Thus I came to what had originally been the Yoon Kang Man Family’s house for the relocation.
Hop.
Then Geum Ryung-i leaped down into the courtyard and began scampering about playfully.
“What are you doing?”
“Chirp.”
“You’re getting in the way of the move. Come back here at once.”
“Whimper…”
What’s that? Is there a nugget of gold buried down there?
Still, there’s nothing I can do about it right now.
By the time we finished moving, the day had grown completely dark.
“Jung-a.”
“Yes, Father.”
“We’ll need to prepare three or four shovels and hoes.”
“Understood.”
Man Gongja nodded and brought the shovels and hoes.
Are they planning to dig up the ground?
Ah, surely not!
Man Gajoo spoke to me.
“My lord, might we have the assistance of your warriors?”
“Of course.”
I nodded and had my guards take up the shovels and hoes.
“Please excavate this section here.”
The spot Man Gajoo indicated was exactly where Geum Ryung-i had been sniffing and circling about earlier.
Everyone began digging earnestly at the center of the courtyard that Man Gajoo had pointed out.
How deep had we dug into the earth?
It was when we had excavated nearly to waist depth.
Thunk!
A different sound echoed. Everyone’s eyes sharpened, and we carefully excavated around that spot.
What finally emerged was a wooden chest treated with preservative.
It was a long box, coffin-like in shape.
Man Gajoo descended personally with a crowbar and opened the wooden chest’s lid.
He had recovered enough by now to manage such tasks.
Inside the box he opened were several smaller boxes, and he opened one of them.
Then he retrieved an old manuscript and handed it to me.
The manuscript bore the title [Heavenly Wave Palace].
“This is the secret manual of our Yoon Kang Man Family’s archery technique, the Heavenly Wave Palace. I present it to you, my lord.”
I could not help but be startled.
“You’re giving this to me? Isn’t this a family secret?”
“Yes, because you saved our family. This is our sincerity and our heart.”
To think the secret manual of the Heavenly Wave Palace had been hidden here all along!
I was genuinely grateful those Eun Sa Dan dogs hadn’t discovered it.
But I gazed at it silently before shaking my head.
“I cannot accept this.”
“Wh-why not?”
Man Gajoo’s face filled with bewilderment.
“Your sincerity is deeply appreciated, but having both of you as my retainers is already more than sufficient. However, how could I accept the family’s secret techniques? They belong to the Yoon Kang Man Family.”
I continued gently.
“Please pass those techniques down through your descendants for generations to come. They will become the strength that protects the Yoon Kang Man Family.”
I smiled and gently wrapped my hand around the Manor Lord’s hand as he held the secret techniques.
“This is my request.”
“Sob! My lord….”
Man Gajoo burst into tears.
Had my words truly been so moving?
I had merely spoken what seemed obvious.
What if my descendants turned out to be villains? And if someone else coveted the Yoon Kang Man Family?
The difference between the family possessing those techniques and lacking them would be immense.
I had only offered such counsel for those who chose to trust and follow me….
If they were later abandoned like a worn-out tool, I would feel terribly guilty.
I felt somewhat embarrassed.
“Ahem, truly, Young Master, you embody Seon Hyeop Mi-rang itself.”
“What are you talking about?”
I gently rebuked Palgap. At that moment, Seo Hyang smiled softly.
Now that I thought about it, when Seo Hyang came to help with the move, she had worn a slightly surprised expression….
It must have been because of this.
She likely hadn’t mentioned it beforehand because she knew I wouldn’t be in danger.
Or perhaps she wanted to see my surprised reaction.
“But Father, what are those boxes?”
Inside the large, elongated box were several smaller boxes, and Man Gongja asked about them.
Man Gajoo spoke.
“Open them.”
“Yes.”
Man Gongja opened the boxes and was so startled he fell backward on his rear.
“Gasp! Ah, Father! What are these?”
Each box was filled to the brim with gold and silver treasures.
Earlier, I had wondered if there might be gold ingots when I saw Geum Ryung-i bustling about there, but there really were gold ingots.
Truly, it was Geum Ryung-i.
“These are what our ancestors brought when they came here. We had no need for them all this time, so we never opened them.”
There was a reason why Man Gajoo remained unmoved even when the Eun Sa Dan offered him a substantial sum to betray and assassinate Ak Dae-in.
It wasn’t just conviction—there were practical reasons as well.
Man Gajoo spoke.
“I offer these to you as well, my lord.”
I shook my head.
“I cannot accept those either. They too belong to the family.”
“But they would surely aid your great endeavor.”
“Of course they would. However, I have more than sufficient wealth. And I am not so lacking in ability that I must accept my retainers’ money to realize my dreams.”
At my words, Man Gajoo nodded in agreement.
“I understand. Pressing further would only amount to an insult to my lord.”
“Thank you for understanding my heart.”
Once again, I was grateful that the Eun Sa Dan remained ignorant of this.
With that sum of money, there was no chance he would be bought off and betray me.
So I could push the plan forward just a bit more than originally intended… couldn’t I?
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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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