The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 481

—————
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 481

Chapter 481. A True Misunderstanding (4)

Seo Woo and Jin Yu quickly caught Eun Seo-ho as he collapsed from Gwak Myung-hyun’s punch.
Yet neither of them showed anger, nor did they draw their swords.
“Thank you.”
Instead, they only offered their gratitude.
Gwak Myung-hyun clicked his tongue as he looked at the limp Eun Seo-ho.
“Tsk, tsk. Why do you push yourself so hard and worry others like this?”
Of course, Eun Seo-ho couldn’t hear those words.
Seo Woo smiled bitterly and spoke.
“I’ve wanted to do this for some time, but as you know, your cultivation level is higher than mine, and besides….”
“A Guard Warrior cannot lay hands on his master.”
“I appreciate your understanding.”
In the meantime, Palgap approached and lifted Eun Seo-ho into his arms.
“Then I shall place him on the bed.”
“Please do. He’ll probably sleep soundly for about three days.”
That was why I had asked Eun Seo-ho about his schedule beforehand.
Then I spoke to Seo Woo.
“By the way, you’re quite remarkable.”
“Sir?”
“You’ve only recently entered the Peak realm, yet you’re already facing a bottleneck.”
“….”
Seo Woo flinched.
He hadn’t expected me to discern his situation so accurately and effortlessly.
“In truth, facing a bottleneck is something to celebrate.”
“Something to celebrate?”
He couldn’t help but question this.
The Gwak Myung-hyun he had observed thus far was not someone who mocked others.
“Facing a bottleneck means you know there’s a next realm beyond it. Compared to those who don’t even know where the wall is, you’re far ahead.”
“…I see.”
“But don’t become too impatient. The opportunity of a lifetime that you’ve already seized cannot be obtained again. Remind yourself of your true purpose.”
Seo Woo, who had been staring blankly into the void for a moment, bowed to me.
“Thank you for your precious words.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s only natural. Our future shines bright when my cherished disciple is safe.”
I continued, looking toward the room where Palgap had carried Eun Seo-ho.
“If you ever think of pushing yourself like this again, tell me anytime. I’ll put you to sleep soundly.”
“I won’t refuse.”
Gwak Myung-hyun nodded at Seo Woo’s words. Then, as if nothing had happened, he left the Separate Pavilion.

* * *

I opened my eyes.
“Ugh…”
I was lying in my chamber.
Wait? When did I lie down in my chamber? I have no memory of getting into bed.
Moreover, I wasn’t wearing my outdoor clothes.
Did Palgap change my clothes?
As I blinked and regained my senses, the details of what had happened began returning to me one by one.
Master had told me to send for him once he finished his urgent matters, so I sent Geum Ryung.
And then Master came to the Separate Pavilion…
Ah…
I lifted my undershirt and examined my abdomen.
There wasn’t even a bruise.
In truth, there are sleeping draughts to put someone to sleep, and there are pressure point techniques to render someone unconscious.
However, the reason Master chose such a forceful method was because my mastery of the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art had reached such a pinnacle that those methods wouldn’t work on me.
Still, I couldn’t even react to Master’s speed.
That means during my usual training, Master has been holding back.
Sigh, I still have a long way to go.
Just then, the door opened and Palgap entered.
“Oh? You’ve woken up, sir?”
At Palgap’s grinning face, I let out a sigh.
“So, who asked you to do it?”
“Do what, sir?”
“Force me to sleep.”
“Who would ask me to do that?”
“…”
Then Master must have decided to do it when he came to find me at dawn.
“Ah! He said that from now on, whenever you try to overexert yourself, I should ask him anytime.”
“Huh?”
I was startled despite myself at those words.
But…
Isn’t Geum Ryung a spirit creature protecting me? Then she should have been able to block Master’s fist.
“Geum Ryung, come out.”
“Chirp?”
Geum Ryung poked her head out from inside my sleeve.
“Why didn’t you block when Master threw his fist at me?”
“Squeak! Squeak!”
“You say there was no killing intent?”
“Squeak!”
“You understood I meant you no harm and stayed still?”
“Squeak squeak!”
“You’re claiming to be the clever Han Ho-su who knows what it means to serve his master?”
Damn it, they were all in on it together.
But I couldn’t say anything against it.
Even I could see that I’d been pushing myself too hard lately.
In other words, I had brought this upon myself.
“Squeak! Squeak!”
Geum Ryung-i tapped my knee repeatedly, squeaking insistently.
She was demanding compensation for the errand of fetching Master.
“Fine, fine. I’ll give you something, just wait a moment.”
I descended from the chamber, stumbling slightly.
“How long was I actually lying here? My body feels stiff.”
“It has been four days, sir.”
“Ah….”
I’d mentioned having about four days to spare, and they’d truly forced me into a deep sleep for all four of them.
Somehow, I was beginning to understand the feelings of those sailors who’d been put to sleep by imperial decree.
With Palgap’s assistance, I washed my face and dressed before leaving my quarters.
“Are you feeling better, sir?”
Lee Pil Warrior and Myeong-jong Warrior offered me their respects.
“Yes. Thanks to you all, I’ve had excellent rest.”
At my words, they laughed.
Just then, something touched the bridge of my nose. When I opened my hand, snow was falling.
Indeed, it was already mid-December.
Snow, snow….
“Ah! Where is Gwak Vice-Manager?”
“She is currently handling matters in the office, sir.”
“I see.”
I nodded and headed toward the office.
My office was located in the Silver Dragon Pavilion, the same building as my father’s office.
It had originally been the Silver Dragon Hall, but once the Emperor’s attention focused on it, we quickly changed the name to Silver Dragon Pavilion.

Upon arriving at the Silver Dragon Pavilion and entering my office, Seo Hyang greeted me.
“Welcome back.”
“Yes, please rest a moment.”
“The Small Guild Master will begin working the moment he awakens, so shouldn’t it be my duty as Deputy Officer to ensure everything is prepared for him to start at any time?”
“I was wrong.”
At my words, she laughed softly.
“Still, after sleeping soundly for about four days, your complexion looks much better.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You look far healthier.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s lunchtime now—would you care to step out for a while?”
“Shall we?”
I made my way to my separate pavilion with Seo Hyang, our eyes meeting as we walked.
She gazed at the snow falling from the sky with a smile. I couldn’t quite understand why the fragrance of plum blossoms emanating from her seemed so much more vivid.
“Do you still enjoy the snow?”
“Yes. It’s truly wondrous and beautiful.”
“Didn’t you see enough of it when you visited the Northern Sea Ice Palace before?”
“Of course I did. Yet I still find it lovely.”
Then she truly loves it.
True affection means that even after experiencing something to the point of satiation, one’s heart remains unchanged.
“Do you miss your family?”
Rather than answer my question, she gazed at me quietly.
“I will surely return you to your family’s embrace.”
“Yes. I trust you.”
Why does her trust feel so reassuring?
If the opportunity arises, I must invite the Guizhou Provincial Governor and his wife to visit. I should show them that their daughter is well and thriving.

The next day.
I met Gong Mil for the first time in a while.
Now a proper young man, he remained practically glued to his research laboratory, yet his complexion appeared remarkably healthy.
“You look well.”
“Sigh, Hyung-jin and Il-song drag me out every morning to the training grounds… there’s no way I can help but become healthy.”
I laughed heartily at his words.
Those fellows had truly accomplished something remarkable.
“But are you alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard you collapsed from overwork? The people at the Merchant Guild are quite worried about you.”
What? Collapsed from overwork? Me?
That’s not right… I simply lost consciousness after being struck by my Master.
Why did such a rumor spread?
Now that I think about it, the way the Merchant Guild members looked at me was indeed strange, and this was the reason.
But correcting and explaining it felt awkward, so I simply smiled sheepishly and changed the subject.
“By the way, what are you making? It looks like some kind of ornament.”
“Ah, this is for Gong Rae. Lately there have been many men pestering her.”
And he explained the object he was creating.
“When you turn this part of the ornament, the powder inside shoots out, preventing the other person from opening their eyes.”
“Oh! So it’s for Gong Rae’s safety!”
“Exactly.”
Then I heard someone’s voice from behind.
“Ah! Small Guild Master!”
I turned to see a beautiful young girl standing there.
“Gong Rae?”
“Yes!”
She had grown unrecognizably in the time since we last met. I spoke to Gong Mil.
“Now I understand why you worry so much.”
“Right? Still, thanks to you, Small Guild Master, no one dares treat her carelessly.”
Gong Rae asked with a concerned expression.
“Are you alright? I heard you collapsed from overwork?”
That’s a misunderstanding….
“Please take care of yourself.”
“Yes, I will.”

After exchanging a few words with Gong Mil and Gong Rae, I turned toward my next destination and asked Palgap a question.
“About that rumor that I collapsed from overwork—why did you explain it that way?”
“Then how should I have explained it, sir?”
“There are other excuses, aren’t there? So….”
I trailed off. Upon reflection, no other explanation would have provided a valid reason for why I had been confined to my chamber for four consecutive days.
Damn.
Palgap added his explanation.
“If Gwak Pyo-du hadn’t acted as he did, you truly would have collapsed from overwork, sir.”
“I apologize.”
This time, I had nothing to say.
I quickly backed down.

My next destination was where Captain Yong and his family were staying.
“How are things here?”
“Have you all been well?”
Captain Yong Eung-wan answered with a smile at my inquiry.
“Of course.”
“The others are all in good health as well?”
“Yes.”
Then Captain Yong’s family emerged from inside and spoke in halting but clear Imperial tongue.
“Greetings.”
“Please come inside and have some tea.”
“I shall not refuse.”
I entered the house. The position of captain in the Eun Hae Trading Company was nearly equivalent to Chief Manager.
Father had taken care to provide him with a quite respectable residence, complete with a guest reception room.
There, I drank tea while exchanging pleasant conversation.
“By the way, what of your elder brother?”
“He is currently with the Eun Pung-dae. He wished to work as a member of the Eun Pung-dae Corps.”
“I see.”
Indeed, Captain Yong’s elder brother was also a warrior and a former battle slave—the Eun Pung-dae would be the finest place to put his talents to use.
As he mingled with the warriors there, he would quickly master the Imperial tongue.
“In fact, I have a request to make of the Captain’s mother.”
“What might that be?”
“Please teach me and my companions the Dae-Wol Kingdom language.”
“The Dae-Wol Kingdom language?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
“Eventually, my companions and I will need to travel directly to the Dae-Wol Kingdom. When that time comes, I do not wish to rely solely on interpreters.”
I continued with a smile.
“No matter how many interpreters I employ, there is a difference between being able to speak the Dae-Wol Kingdom language myself and not being able to, is there not?”
“That’s correct. I understand. I’ll ask Mother about it.”
He spoke to his mother beside him in the Dae-Wol Kingdom tongue, and she nodded with a smile, speaking in return.
“She says she’ll be delighted to do so. She’s pleased that she can repay even a small portion of the favor.”
“What do you mean? Of course I must provide compensation.”
“Pardon?”
“This is legitimate work, after all. I must naturally offer payment. The favor your mother speaks of is something Captain Yong should repay.”
“Haha, I see.”
He nodded and spoke.
“But are you feeling well? I heard you collapsed from overwork.”
That’s a misunderstanding.
“Of course. I’m perfectly fine. Haha.”
That day, I had to endure hearing whether I was alright all day long. But that wasn’t all.
I also had to receive armfuls of medicinal herbs said to be excellent for recovering from fatigue.

Evening arrived.
I headed toward the guest quarters beside my separate pavilion. The Yungang Manor Lord and his young master were staying there.
Though it appeared modest on the outside, the interior was quite different.
The facilities were arranged as neatly as any high-class inn worth boasting about.
As it happened, they were out in the courtyard.
“Are you feeling well? I heard you collapsed from overwork…”
I’m hearing this again.
It’s a misunderstanding, a real misunderstanding.
“I’m fine. In any case, are you prepared?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go.”
I headed with them toward the open ground within the Eun Hae Trading Company.
Today I had arranged to demonstrate archery before Father.
While waiting briefly at the open ground, Father and Go Il-pyeong approached.
“I bow before the Merchant Guild Leader.”
“Be at ease.”
Father waved his hand in response to the greeting.
“Then, without further ado, let’s see this skill of yours.”
“Understood.”
Go Il-pyeong spoke from behind.
“I’ve prepared targets in advance. Do you see that red target over there?”
Wow, he really set them up quite far away. He means to examine this carefully.
“I see it.”
“Simply shoot arrows at that target.”
Man Gongja took his stance and released his bow.
Wait, it seems like more than one arrow was released?
Bang!
It seemed like I had fired carelessly, but the result was astounding.
Five arrows had struck their respective targets perfectly.
Moreover, it went beyond simply hitting the targets—the targets were completely destroyed.
“….”
Silence fell over the gathering, and shortly after, Father broke into a hearty laugh.
“Remarkable. Now I understand why you sought their strength.”
“Haha.”
Of course. There’s a reason for everything I bring along.
That’s why he was called Gung Shin.
Both men praised Man Gongja with satisfied expressions.
“Truly impressive!”
“Such archery skill! This will be a tremendous asset!”
“Please, lend that strength to our Eun Hae Trading Company.”
“Of course.”
Thus, the first step toward establishing an archery unit for the Eun Hae Trading Company was taken.
It was then.
Someone came rushing from a distance. Hmm? Isn’t that one of Father’s guards?
He should be off duty now—what’s the matter?
Father asked the man who had arrived gasping for breath.
“What is it?”
“Just now, a messenger arrived from Ming Ming Trading Company. But… it seems something has happened.”

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