The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 492

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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 492

Chapter 492. The Liquor Tasting Competition (2)

Two Warriors had just begun their martial arts duel.
And Yong Eung-wan’s Elder Brother was easy to spot. He was one of the two Warriors engaged in combat.
Yet he carried no weapon whatsoever.
His opponent, on the other hand, wielded a sword.
Could they be deliberately handicapping him?
“Min, are you certain about fighting barehanded?”
“I am.”
“You’re truly comfortable without a blade?”
“I am.”
The Instructor serving as referee and the Warriors questioned him multiple times about whether barehanded combat was acceptable, but he insisted it was.
So they weren’t deliberately handicapping him after all.
But then why refuse a weapon?
Could he have mastered some form of unarmed martial technique?
Crack!
The wooden signal clapper sounded, and the duel commenced.
The two Warriors began circling each other slowly, each probing for openings.
Then, in an instant.
Whoosh!
The sword-wielding Warrior lunged forward and brought his blade down toward Min.
Slip.
I couldn’t help but gasp.
Min had slipped past the blade with a graceful glide, burrowed inside his opponent’s guard, and struck the man’s right wrist with his left hand, sending the sword tumbling free.
Then he immediately swept the opponent’s rear leg.
“Oof!”
The opponent crashed backward with startling ease.
Whoosh!
Min’s fist stopped mere inches from the fallen opponent’s face.
Everything had transpired in a heartbeat.
Everyone wore expressions of stunned disbelief. Even I, having reached the pinnacle of martial mastery, found myself in awe of such fluid movement—the other Warriors must have perceived it as nothing more than a blur.
Yet those movements… they were unmistakably the footwork of a swordsman.
After all, there’s a distinct difference in how sword-masters move compared to those who specialize in unarmed combat.
Had Min wielded a blade in his hands, I could only imagine the outcome. Now I understood why this Warrior named Min had chosen to fight barehanded.
“M-Min Warrior wins!”
“Roaaaaar!”
The warriors watching the martial arts tournament cheered.
“Magnificent!”
“Truly incredible!”
And praise for him continued to pour forth.
I was grateful for their magnanimity—they did not discriminate against him for not being an Empire citizen, but rather acknowledged his excellence for what it was.
Only when the Eun Pung-dae moved as one could our Eunhae Trading Company rise higher still.
“Ah!”
Several warriors who recognized my arrival were startled and offered me their respects.
“We greet the Third Sub-unit Leader!”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
The Instructor hurried over to me with a question.
“What brings you here, sir?”
“I came to see Min. Might I take him with me for a moment?”
The Instructor nodded readily.
“Fortunately, Min’s turn has just ended, so you may take him.”
“Thank you.”
I approached Min and introduced myself.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Third Sub-unit Leader of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“I am Min. It has been some time.”
“Might we speak for a moment?”
“Of course.”
I led him to the Guest Reception Room of my Separate Pavilion.
Captain Yong Eung-wan was already there, having answered my summons.
The two exchanged greetings with evident warmth.
My command of the Dae-Wol Kingdom language was still insufficient, so I could not grasp all the details, but Min seemed curious about why he had been brought here.
By the way, I had just learned that Yong Eung-wan was not a given name but a family name.
When I suggested calling him Captain Yong Eung-wan instead of Captain Yong, he insisted I continue calling him Captain Yong as before.
“Please, sit and let us talk.”
“Yes.”
Soon Palgap brought tea, and we conversed while sipping it.
When I spoke hesitantly in the Dae-Wol Kingdom tongue, Min’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
“Remarkable. You can already speak at this level.”
“I still have much to learn. But what is your full name, if I may ask? I have heard others call you Min.”
“My name is Yong Eung-wan Gong Min.”
Since Yong Eung-wan was his family name, Gong must be something like a middle name.
“What would you prefer to be called?”
At my question, he listened to Captain Yong Eung-wan’s explanation before answering.
“Then please call me Yong Min.”
“Very well, I shall do so.”
I began to broach the main subject.
“I’ve called upon you, Yong Min Warrior, because I wished to make a request of you.”
“A request, you say?”
“I’ve been assigned to Beijing this time.”
I explained the entire situation to him.
That Beijing was my primary posting, that I had stopped by the Main Headquarters briefly on urgent business, and that I now needed to return to Beijing.
“However, I find myself in the midst of learning the Dae-Wol Kingdom language, and it troubles me that my studies must pause. Yet there are others here continuing their lessons, and I cannot very well bring Ho Hundo all the way to Beijing.”
“I see your point.”
“So I’m asking this of you, Yong Min Warrior. Would you accompany me to Beijing and continue teaching me the Dae-Wol Kingdom language?”
I continued.
“Beijing, being the capital of this Empire, is a place where one can gain invaluable experience—I believe it would be far from a poor proposal.”
He closed his eyes in contemplation upon hearing my offer.
After a moment, he opened them and gazed at me, his eyes gleaming with keen intensity.
“Very well. However, I have one condition.”
“What might that be?”
“I wish to spar with you.”
“…Pardon?”
“From what I sense, you are exceptionally strong. The strongest person I have encountered in this place.”
His intuition was remarkably keen.
Even among martial masters, most fail to perceive my true strength.
“And to have the opportunity to test myself against such a formidable opponent would be both an honor and a joy as a martial artist.”
In truth, I too was curious about his precise capabilities, so I accepted his request.
“Very well. However, this must remain private. And you must not speak to others of what you learn regarding my martial arts.”
“Understood.”

We stepped directly into the courtyard.
The courtyard of my separate pavilion was spacious enough to accommodate martial bouts without issue.
After all, I had sparred with the Jingyeong Great Swordmaster here before.
I removed my long robe and stepped forward. Then Yong Min Warrior took his position across from me.
Upon hearing that I would be sparring with Yong Min Warrior, even the Guard Warriors who should have been resting came out to the courtyard.
“Were you truly so curious?”
“You ask despite knowing the answer.”
Seo-woo Warrior answered on their behalf.
If there was something to be learned from watching my bout, I welcomed it as well.
Besides, they all knew my capabilities anyway.
We stood facing each other in the center of the courtyard.
“You will not take up a weapon?”
“No.”
“Then I shall also fight without one.”
At my words, he asked with a puzzled expression.
“Is it acceptable to fight without a weapon?”
“Yes. Do not worry and come at me.”
I clenched my fists and took my stance. What I intended to use was the Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique.
My primary weapon was the sword, but with the Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique, I would have more than enough to face him.
He likewise had his own primary weapon.
Seeing my stance, he too took a serious posture, and the bout began.
Moving slowly, we searched for openings in each other’s defense. And I realized that he had fewer openings than I had anticipated.
Even what appeared to be an opening was not truly one.
The warrior who had sparred with Yong Min Warrior earlier must have mistaken that for an opening and rushed in.
In any case, we could not end this by merely standing at a stalemate—I needed to initiate some change.
Then a response came immediately.
He charged toward me. And simultaneously, he leaped high and attempted to strike my shoulder with his heel.
Whoosh!
With that movement clearly visible, evading was not difficult. Counterattacking was equally simple.
Tap-tap-tap-tap!
Crack-crack-crack!
Our hands and feet clashed in a frenzy. I could see Yong Min Warrior growing increasingly fatigued.
Comparing Yong Min Warrior’s skill to the martial artists of the Empire, he would be roughly first-rate.
Perhaps similar to Myeong-jong Warrior or Chang-un Warrior.
With a weapon, he appeared capable of contending even with peak-level masters.
Remarkable.
To have reached such heights using only external martial power without internal cultivation!
Martial arts encompass both internal and external cultivation.
Internal cultivation involves building inner strength through meditation techniques, while external cultivation focuses on physical refinement without accumulating inner power.
Truthfully, one cannot claim superiority over the other.
I’ve heard that those who reach the pinnacle of external martial arts can even suppress masters of Hwagyeong.
However, tempering the body through external martial arts is far more arduous and difficult than cultivating internal energy.
That is why I admire Yong Min Warrior’s skill.
I could scarcely fathom how many trials and tribulations he must have endured to reach this level.
And this tenacity, this perseverance.
Even though he must have realized he was no match for me, he refused to yield and attacked me with relentless determination.
I rather like that.
Still, it’s time to bring this to an end.
I’ve seen enough of his skill and character, and if we continue much longer, Yong Min Warrior might sustain injury.
I drew a deep breath and drove my fist toward him.
Thud!
My fist struck Yong Min Warrior’s abdomen, and he collapsed where he stood.
One of the opening techniques of the Extreme Yin Soul Ice Technique—it drains the strength from the body.
“Hah, hah hah….”
He seemed to understand my intention and, trembling, rose to his feet without pushing himself further.
Then he performed the Empire-style fist salute.
“It was an honor to face a master.”
“Think nothing of it.”
“But why did you not fight with your full strength?”
So he had indeed noticed that I was holding back.
“When you sparred with the Eun Pung-dae Warriors earlier, why did you not draw your sword?”
I answered his question with a question of my own, and he hesitated.
“Your sword must be specialized for actual combat. So you likely refrained from drawing it in the tournament for fear of injuring your opponent.”
“…!”
A faint look of surprise crossed his face.
Just as I suspected.
“I am the same. Does that answer your question?”
“Yes.”
“Then you will grant my request?”
“I understand. I will follow you.”
The light in his eyes as he gazed at me was different now—so intense it seemed to burn, and I found myself turning my head away without thinking.
It was too much to bear.

My departure to Beijing had been set, and preparations were progressing smoothly.
One morning, just days before I was to leave.
Gwak Hyung-jin visited my separate pavilion.
“What brings you here?”
“Master has returned, sir.”
“Is that so?”
“He said he would visit you at dawn tomorrow.”
My Master had finally returned. At last, I would be able to ask him about what happened when I went to Sichuan last time.

The next dawn.
As I rose from my seat after completing my morning cultivation, Master entered the pavilion as if he had been waiting.
“Welcome, sir.”
“Good morning.”
“This journey took quite some time.”
“I had gone to Beijing, and passing through several places took longer than expected.”
“To Beijing… you say?”
“Yes. This time I undertook the task of transporting grain brought by merchant guilds who trade with foreign lands.”
“Ah, I see.”
So that’s why you passed through so many places.
“Then, shall we begin training?”
“Yes.”
And so I trained with my Master after a long time.
My Master’s training intensity remained formidable. Yet what was sorrowful was that I could now endure it.
Have I grown stronger?
Before, I would collapse to the ground after training ended, but now I could stand firmly on both legs.
Seeing this, my Master’s expression showed satisfaction.
Yet the sword technique my Master was teaching me still lacked clear definition.
I didn’t even know the name of the sword technique I was learning.
But I felt as though I was beginning to grasp something, however faintly.
Of course, much time would be needed to understand and fully comprehend this.
“You have worked hard.”
“Thank you for your instruction.”
My Master gazed at me intently before dropping a remark.
“The Lesser Palace Mistress is quite unusual.”
“Pardon? You mean me, sir?”
“By now, you should at least ask the name of the sword technique you are learning… yet you do not.”
At this, I wiped the sweat from my brow with the towel Palgap had provided and answered.
“I trust you completely, Master.”
“What?”
“Surely you would not teach your precious disciple anything harmful?”
“….”
“Master has his own thoughts on the matter, so I simply trust and follow you.”
“….”
Master’s eyes glistened with tears as he gazed at me. Flustered by this, I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
“I will repay that trust.”
I smiled sheepishly. The Master I know is quite a reasonable man.
So there must be a reason he hasn’t told me the name of the sword technique.
That’s why I didn’t ask about it either…
Wait! This isn’t the time for that.
“Actually, Master, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Not long ago, Eun Jung-ho went missing, so I traveled to Sichuan to find him.”
Then I explained the events of that time in detail.
Master’s expression grew increasingly grave as he listened to my account.
“So his eyes changed to red and then returned to normal?”
“Yes.”
“And you felt no trace of the Black Path’s aura from him after he died?”
“That’s correct.”
Master closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and asked.
“Did the Black Path’s aura not carry the scent of blood?”
“…!”
I was slightly startled and asked in return.
“How did you know?”
Master sighed deeply and spoke slowly.
“They are disciples of the Blood Sect.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Blood Sect disciples specialize in martial arts that utilize blood. That is why they carry the scent of blood.”
“I see.”
“Have you mentioned this to anyone else?”
“No.”
“Good. You must never speak of this to anyone.”
“Why is that?”
Master answered my question.
“Only those trained in the martial arts of Seolpung Palace can detect the blood-scented Black Path aura they possess.”

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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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