The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 491

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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 491

Chapter 491. The Liquor Appraisal Gathering (1)

I headed straight to my quarters in the Separate Pavilion.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster was staying in a building constructed right beside it.
Since he was my guest, it seemed I had offered him that space.
I had only just returned home, but I could not keep the Great Swordmaster waiting.
I summoned Lee Pil Warrior to escort Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster to the Guest Reception Room, and with Palgap’s assistance, I quickly tidied my appearance before heading to the reception hall.
“I greet you, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.”
“It has been a while. Please, sit.”
“Yes.”
I took my seat before him.
“You must be curious about why I’ve come.”
Not at all. I’m not curious in the slightest.
I concealed my true thoughts and simply offered a smile. To this, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster spoke.
“We intend to hold another Poetry Competition this time as well.”
“I see.”
“We’re planning to postpone it somewhat and hold it in spring. Naturally, the Sebin Merchant Guild and the Eun Hae Trading Company will be the pillars of this event.”
It seems the Imperial Court profited quite handsomely from the last Poetry Competition.
Indeed, even the Emperor was able to obtain the talent he desired.
Yet not all my questions had been answered.
For a matter of this magnitude, it would suffice to simply send an edict through a messenger.
This was not an issue significant enough to warrant the Great Swordmaster’s personal visit.
Then why did he come?
I remained tense, my attention fixed on the Great Swordmaster’s next words.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster withdrew something from his sleeve and extended it to me. It was an elongated, very small box.
“This belongs to you. Open it.”
I accepted the box respectfully and opened it.
I could not help but be startled.
“This is… a hidden weapon?”
“Correct. A hidden weapon called Guizhuhua—the Flower That Returns to Its Master.”
A flower that returns to its master…
True to its name, the hidden weapon was shaped like a flower. Seeing this reminded me of the hidden weapons of the Sichuan Tang Family.
The Sichuan Tang Family possessed a butterfly-shaped hidden weapon.
“This hidden weapon will return to its master within five counts, no matter how it is thrown.”
“But how does the hidden weapon recognize who its master is?”
“You need only smear your own blood on the hidden weapon and keep it on your body for five days without removing it.”
“I see. But why are you giving this to me?”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster replied.
“His Majesty has not forgotten how you ensured that those returning from trade missions were kept deeply asleep to prevent information leaks, nor has he overlooked your resolution of the incident where the grain shipments were nearly seized during transport to Beijing.”
Ah… so this is a reward for that.
Truth be told, I was slightly disappointed that no reward was given for those matters.
But receiving such a precious artifact as the Guizhou Flower, my disappointment melted away like snow.
“Since it is a rather precious item, I came personally to deliver it.”
“I am deeply grateful that you would go to such trouble for me.”
“Think nothing of it. I merely stopped by on my way elsewhere.”
“Pardon? Where are you headed?”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster spoke as if I had forgotten.
“Is it not time to break the ice upstream on the river?”
“Ah, of course!”
Still, there is not much time remaining.
If we can endure just until next year, winter’s temperatures will return to their normal levels.
And then the era of abundant harvests will follow.
From that point onward, we will need to transport goods other than grain through trade.
Only then did my heart find peace.
Now that I think about it, Geumryeong had stopped me when I was considering fleeing.
Did she react that way knowing I would receive this weapon?
She is someone who can even smell the scent of future fortune, so it is entirely possible.
Well, I am fortunate I did not flee.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster turned his shoulders and spoke.
“I have delivered my message. Shall we have a match?”
“Pardon?”
“A duel using the martial arts of the Imperial Palace.”
“….”
Should I take back what I said about being fortunate not to flee?
.
.
.
A moment later.
We stood facing each other in the courtyard of my separate pavilion, swords drawn.
We had already been exchanging moves for half a double hour.
Truthfully, this duel was not particularly difficult for me. However, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster was breathing heavily, searching for an opening in my defense.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster’s current level was first-rate.
Thanks to the ascending martial art of Imperial Palace technique, he could display power approaching the peak, but he had not yet reached the true pinnacle.
“You are stronger than I expected.”
“You are too kind, sir.”
I expressed humility.
I didn’t hide my cultivation level from Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster. After all, the Emperor would already know my level.
During the banquet held for those who achieved excellent results at the Poetry Competition, the Jegal Family’s Grand Elder mentioned it to me.
That among the Emperor’s Guard Warriors, there was one who had reached the Hwagyeong level.
Given that, the Emperor would already know my level. Of course, there was a possibility he might not know for certain due to the unique nature of the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art, but the Emperor is the Emperor.
Eventually he would find out, and being interrogated about why I hid it would be frightening in every way.
Moreover, seeing that he gifted me the Heavenly Silkworm Sword suggested he already understood my inner power to some degree.
“Haaah!”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster rushed toward me, and I drew my sword to block his attack.
Clang!
When I first learned the Imperial Palace Martial Art, I was clumsy and lost sometimes, but not anymore.
I lightly twisted my blade and pushed away Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster’s sword.
Whoosh!
I couldn’t use Assassin techniques against Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, but this wouldn’t end like this.
His persistence was relentless and terrifying in its obsession.
I seized an opening and rushed toward him.
“Huh!”
Startled by my attack, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster inhaled sharply and quickly raised his sword to strike at me.
Swish!
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster’s blade grazed my arm.
“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to….”
“It’s fine.”
Drip, drip.
Blood fell to the ground, and seeing it, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster’s expression became even more apologetic.
It really was fine. I had gotten injured on purpose.
“Isn’t sparring supposed to assume the possibility of injury? So please don’t worry about it.”
With that, I lightly pressed an acupoint to stop the bleeding.
“I’m truly sorry.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster cupped his fist and bowed his head to me.
“I’m sorry for pushing you to spar when I knew you had just arrived today and were tired.”
Ah, so he knew I was tired.
And he knew that!
For a moment I felt a surge of emotion, but I quickly calmed myself. I thought I understood why Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster was acting this way.
“Could it be that you’re growing impatient because your cultivation level isn’t advancing?”
“…!”
A direct hit.
I smiled and spoke.
“From my humble perspective, it seems the Great Swordmaster shouldn’t need to feel impatient.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“When I went to Lanzhou before, I nearly died, and the fact that I cannot be of greater help to the Emperor is because my skills are insufficient.”
The realm of the first-rate is hardly insufficient.
It is merely relatively weaker compared to the pinnacle or supreme pinnacle, but first-rate warriors are not so common in the Murim either.
Why would one speak of the highest as first-rate?
But such words would offer little comfort to the Great Hero.
So I decided to offer him some simple counsel.
I think I understand what the problem is.
“It seems the Great Hero thinks quite a bit when wielding the sword.”
In other words, he fights with cunning.
I share a similar tendency.
“That’s right. I do tend that way.”
“You mentioned going to break the ice this time, didn’t you? How fortunate.”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“When you go to break the ice this time, try swinging your sword at it without thinking at all.”
“Without thinking?”
“You won’t be calculating against the ice while wielding your sword, will you?”
“That’s true.”
“Exactly. For once, forget everything and just swing your sword recklessly without any thought.”
At my words, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster wore a puzzled expression before nodding.
“I understand. I’ll try that. Thank you for the advice.”
“Think nothing of it.”
“I would like to continue sparring, but my injuries make it difficult.”
“I’m truly sorry about that.”
And so Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster returned to his quarters, and I made my way back to the Separate Pavilion.
And then…
“Ow! It stings… Palgap. I’m hurt.”
“Sigh… Was there really no other way?”
At Palgap’s question, I grinned sheepishly.
He had already figured out why I deliberately got injured. The Yeo Eung-am Warrior beside us let out a sigh.
“Do you know how frightened we were?”
“I apologize.”
“Next time, at least give us some warning.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Palgap opened the lid of a medicine bottle and poured the transparent liquid onto cloth, then applied it to my arm.
The wound healed instantly.
Could this be….
“What is that medicine?”
“It’s the leftover Clarity Water that you used before, Young Master.”
That’s still around?
Wait, that means it’s been over a year?
“Why do you ask?”
“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”
Geumryeong’s needle seemed to have no expiration date—its effects were so remarkable it was almost heartbreaking.
– Squeak?
.
.
.
The next morning.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster departed early on his journey.
The previous night, I had informed Father of the details of my negotiations with the Mingming Trading Company, and this had set him bustling about with activity.
Eun Jung-ho, who had collapsed from the release of tension, quickly regained consciousness and found himself surrounded by his wife and their two children.
It seemed they wouldn’t separate for some time, but Eun Jung-ho had quite a bit of work to attend to.
“Father, you must take care of your health.”
“I understand.”
“Father, if you make the young girl sad again, the young girl will hate you!”
“Oh no! That won’t do.”
I sat in Georyangdang sipping tea with my sister-in-law, watching Eun Jung-ho being scolded by his two children.
In my sister-in-law’s hair was a new hairpin.
It was the very hairpin my brother had shown me before—the one that had saved his life.
“The hairpin suits you beautifully.”
“Oh? Does it really?”
“Yes, it appears Eun Jung-ho gave considerable thought to selecting it.”
“So this is what saved his life.”
“Yes, I heard about it.”
I nodded as I spoke.
“It’s truly a precious hairpin.”
“That’s what makes it all the more special.”
It was then.
As I lifted my teacup, I felt a tremor at the approach of an aura drawing near to Georyangdang.
Hmm? What is this aura?
“Huff! Huff! Brother! What’s going on? Are you alright?”
The one who rushed in urgently was Jin-ho.
“Oh? You’re back?”
“Brother, you’re here?”
I had heard that Jin-ho was supposed to return from Sang-haeng today, and it seemed he had learned of the recent circumstances from my Second Sister-in-law.
He had already changed into fresh clothes.
“Are you really okay?”
At Jin-ho’s question, Eun Jung-ho nodded.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Then why are you lying in bed?”
“The Physician told me to rest for a while. I’m perfectly well aside from being a bit fatigued, so don’t look at me with that expression.”
“Still… do you have any idea how terrified I was?”
Tears welled up in Jin-ho’s eyes, and seeing this, Eun Jung-ho turned his head away in embarrassment.
“The boy… cries easily.”
Though Jin-ho presented himself as a man of spirit and bravado on the surface, his heart was remarkably tender.
Just then, the sound of a drum echoed through the air.
“I should be going now.”
I smiled as I continued speaking.
“It’s time for my Dae-Wol Kingdom language lessons.”
At my words, Eun Jung-ho asked with curiosity.
“The Dae-Wol Kingdom language?”
“Ah, well, you see….”
I explained the matter to him. After hearing my explanation, Eun Jung-ho spoke to me.
“I’d like to learn it too.”
“You as well?”
“Yes. You know our Eun Hae Trading Company has climbed to the twentieth rank, right?”
“Of course I know.”
“For our company to rise even higher, we need to focus on trade with other nations, just as you said. But how can I, as the Small Guild Master, not know the language of the Dae-Wol Kingdom, our most important trading partner?”
“That’s true.”
I turned to look at Jin-ho and asked.
“Would you like to learn with us too, Jin-ho?”
At my question, Jin-ho burst into loud laughter.
“Hahaha! Now that I think about it, I just remembered something I forgot! Let me head out first. Hahaha.”
I knew he would say that.

A moment later.
Eun Jung-ho and my group entered one of the Eun Hae Trading Company’s conference rooms.
It was one of several conference rooms in the company that anyone could use.
Shortly after, Yong Eung-wan’s Elder Brother’s mother entered.
“Greetings.”
“Thank you for your assistance.”
She had come with Captain Yong Eung-wan, and it seemed she was there to help since her command of the Empire’s language was still lacking.
“My name is Ho Su-eon.”
Captain Yong Eung-wan provided further explanation.
“My mother’s family name is Ho, and her given name is Su-eon.”
“Then, Captain Yong Eung-wan, what about you?”
“Actually, Yong Eung-wan is my family name, but it has become my name here in this place.”
“Then what is your true name?”
“Yong Eung-wan Gong Heung. But since the name is quite long, please just call me Yong Eung-wan.”
“Understood.”
I bowed respectfully to her.
“Then, we look forward to your guidance, Ho Hundo.”

Several days passed, and the number of people learning the Dae-Wol Kingdom language from her began to increase.
Some of the staff members who learned that we were studying the Dae-Wol Kingdom language requested to learn it as well.
So I told them this.
“Learning without cost tends to become lax. Therefore, I will set two conditions. First, pay the tuition fee. Second, those who abandon their studies midway will have it reflected in their evaluations.”
As a result, of the roughly hundred applicants, only about thirty remained.
Indeed, the threat of evaluation consequences was decisive.

Time passed in this manner, and winter ended.
Spring was arriving.
Master’s business trip is taking quite long. There are things I wish to discuss with him.
Now that the weather had cleared, I needed to head to Beijing. And the time had come to execute my planned endeavors.
However, the problem was that our studies of the Dae-Wol Kingdom language had not yet concluded.
But if I took Ho Hundo with me, those here would be unable to continue their studies…
I deliberated for several days, but ultimately there was only one solution.
I would take Yong Eung-wan’s Elder Brother to Beijing with me.
After all, I could not take his younger sister along.
Having decided thus, I immediately headed to the Training Ground.
“Oh, it seems an official sparring match is underway.”
“Indeed it is.”
I stepped between those engaged in the match.

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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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