The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 493

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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 493

Chapter 493. The Liquor Appraisal Gathering (3)

Through my Master’s words, I came to understand something I had overlooked until now.
When one cultivates the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art, a phenomenon called sensory rejection emerges.
It is a repulsion toward impurity, and also evidence that one stands on the threshold of the peak realm.
I heard that the one who aided in establishing the Seolpung Palace possessed such an ability, but there is no record of such power in their descendants.
This sensory rejection is the defining characteristic of the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art, and according to my Master, there is currently no other martial technique as sensitive to the aura of the Black Path.
“Then… the reddening of the eyes was…?”
“That is a characteristic of the Blood Eye Art, a martial technique cultivated by Blood Sect members. When one reaches a certain level, the eyes turn crimson with blood.”
“However, it is said the eyes only reddened occasionally. And the moment he died, that foul Black Path aura vanished as well.”
My Master fell into contemplation with a low murmur, then shook his head and spoke.
“I am uncertain about that matter. I shall investigate it separately.”
“Please do. But do not overexert yourself. If anything were to happen to you, Master, I would be truly devastated.”
At my words, my Master’s expression brightened, and he patted my shoulder affectionately.
“Merely hearing such words brings me joy and reassurance. Especially since the Lesser Palace Mistress has become the Small Guild Master.”
“This disciple remains inadequate.”
“You are not inadequate in the slightest. And I shall be cautious, so do not worry. I am well aware that I must be more careful than anyone.”
“Yes.”
“By the way, I heard you will be heading to Beijing soon.”
“That is correct. Beijing is now my primary station. Ah, and there is something I must tell you.”
I continued with a somewhat awkward expression.
“Please tell those who guard me not to overexert themselves. Since I travel in all directions and have been riding the Ju Gang Ma recently, it must be exhausting for them.”
The individuals my Master assigned to protect me.
Yet they have never needed to intervene.
Both my Guard Warriors and I are sufficiently strong.
Moreover, since obtaining the Ju Gang Ma, merely keeping pace with us would be grueling.
At my words, my Master chuckled softly and nodded.
“…Indeed.”
.
.
.
After seeing my Master off, I returned and fell into contemplation.
Blood Sect members…
When I visited the Wudang Sect before, the Blood Sect leader who was imprisoned there died absurdly after consuming poison.
Whenever I encountered Black Path members connected to the Murim Alliance, I frequently sensed that foul stench—did that mean they were all Blood Sect members?
Officially, the Blood Sect was said to have been exterminated.
Yet the fact that I spot so many Blood Sect members suggests the Blood Sect was never truly annihilated?
No, more importantly—what scheme is the Murim Alliance running that it would employ the Blood Sect?
But I cannot reveal this to the world.
There is no clear evidence beyond the scent of blood I can detect through the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art.
I cannot expose the existence of the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art itself, and if I’m careless, I could be branded as a Blood Sect member or enemy of the Murim.
The Murim Alliance has the power to make such accusations stick.
So I must approach this matter with utmost caution.
This is also why I’m cultivating my strength for vengeance—with power, I cannot be wronged.
That’s what I conveyed to my Master earlier, my concerns about this.
My Master understood what I was implying.
As I continue to deal with these blood-reeking Black-Clad Criminals, I’ll surely uncover more.
With my thoughts settled, I washed myself, changed into fresh clothes, and made my way to the dining hall.
It was breakfast time.

* * *

Gwak Myung-hyun turned back just as he was leaving the Eun Hae Trading Company to return to the Pyoguk.
‘Blood Sect members….’
His father’s words from before echoed in his mind.
That he must be cautious of the Blood Sect.
And the Heavenly Stream Ice Sword, the martial art the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master had passed to Eun Seo-ho, came to mind as well.
Geuk Cheon Sword Gwak Hoon, the master of that technique, was a hero who had earned great merit in the war against the Blood Sect two hundred years ago.
It occurred to him that perhaps it was no coincidence that this art had been transmitted to Eun Seo-ho.
“Ilseol.”
At his call, a man appeared before him and bowed respectfully.
In truth, Ilseol did not refer to just one person, but rather the organization he led as its commander.
The group consisted of five members, including himself.
“You called for me?”
“Yes.”
Now that he thought about it, Ilseol’s face had grown noticeably gaunt since the beginning. It was a sign of how much hardship he endured.
It had been roughly five years since he had ordered Ilseol to protect Eun Seo-ho.
Though it had become observation rather than protection in practice, even that had begun to strain them several years ago.
“You’ve all suffered greatly.”
“Please don’t say such things. He is the future of our Seolpung Palace, is he not?”
Unlike when Gwak Myung-hyun had first given the order, he now genuinely recognized Eun Seo-ho as the next Palace Master.
“I say this not out of courtesy, but because I truly believe you must be enduring real hardship.”
“….”
“The Lesser Palace Mistress mentioned it. She said not to push yourselves too hard.”
“…!”
A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he lowered his head. At Eun Seo-ho’s level, he must have already realized they were there.
“So let’s change the order. You need only protect them without overexerting yourselves.”
“But….”
“Make your own judgments and act accordingly.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll be honest—you may harbor doubts about whether they’ll truly be of help. But in a thousand chances, there’s one. That single chance will determine the future of our Seolpung Palace.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. By the way… thanks to this, our lightness martial arts have improved considerably. With the Lesser Palace Mistress pushing us to the brink so often….”
“….”

* * *

By the end of the second month, the day arrived for me and my companions to depart for Beijing.
This winter had been quite eventful indeed.
The entire family came out to see us off.
“Travel safely. Please take care of yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Uncle, I’ll see you next time.”
“Come play with us again.”
“Of course, of course.”
I bowed to the elders and paid my respects to my two elder brothers and my sister-in-law.
Finally, I exchanged farewells with Geon-hyuk and Bo-yeon.
Then I approached my father.
“Father, you remember what I told you, yes?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll see you then.”
With that, I turned toward Yong Min Warrior.
He had been listed among those rotating in to replace the Eun Pung-dae Warriors in Beijing this time.
“Please look after my son.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him.”
“Elder brother, I’m in your debt.”
“Rather, I should ask the same of you for this voyage.”
“That’s only natural.”
“Looking after Captain Yong’s elder brother is equally natural, so please don’t worry yourself.”
The Lord of Yungang Manor also decided to travel with us this time.
He had decided to return to the main house of Yungang Manor in Shandong Province.
His son, Gung Shin Man-jeong, remained here to oversee the training of the archery corps.
And so we set out toward Beijing.
Though we traveled by the Zhu River, we moved slowly and leisurely since we had companions with us.
During the journey, I made time each day to learn the language of the Dae-Wol Kingdom from Yong Min Warrior.
Midway, we stopped at Shandong Province to escort the Lord to Yungang Manor, then departed again for Beijing.

“Welcome.”
“We have been expecting you.”
As we arrived at the Beijing Branch, the Eun Branch Manager and the staff of the Beijing Branch greeted us warmly.
“Was your journey comfortable?”
“There were some obstacles, but overall it was quite pleasant.”
At my response, the Branch Manager asked with a puzzled expression.
“Pardon? Obstacles, you say?”
“We encountered a band of bandits.”
“My goodness! Were there any casualties?”
“None whatsoever.”
As I spoke, I glanced at the Eun Pung-dae Warriors behind me.
Bandit gangs are ruthless creatures, so the method of dealing with them was simple.
We simply had to respond with equal ruthlessness.
My guards performed admirably, and among the Eun Pung-dae Warriors, Yong Min Warrior’s performance was particularly brilliant.
I could confirm once again that when he drew his blade to kill, he could unleash his full capabilities.
And as I suspected, with sword in hand, his skill was comparable to that of a Peak Martial Master.
The other Eun Pung-dae Warriors who witnessed this came to understand Yong Min Warrior’s true prowess.
“You must be exhausted. Please, do come inside and rest.”
“Very well.”
I headed to my quarters, but instead of resting, I washed quickly and proceeded directly to Hyun Pung.
Yeochang’s Vice-Lord came to greet me.
“Lord, you have arrived?”
“Yes. You have all worked hard in my absence.”
“You are too kind. Shall we begin work immediately?”
“Yes.”
“I shall bring the documents requiring your approval to the office.”
I nodded and headed toward the office.
As I entered, Gal Hyun Deputy, who had been busily writing documents at the wooden table beside my seat, quickly rose from his chair.
“Oh! Small Guild Master, you have arrived?”
“Yes. Thank you for your diligent work.”
With those words, I sat down before the wooden table.
Soon, Yeochang’s Vice-Lord entered, pulling a cart laden with documents.
“Is all of this… something I must review?”
“Yes, sir.”
At that moment, Gal Deputy spoke.
“Ah, Lord. There are more matters requiring your attention beyond these.”
“This is quite a burden.”
“Sir?”
“I have two additional matters that require my direct oversight.”
First, the Poetry Competition.
At least this is something I’ve done before, so it’s not a major problem.
The real issue is the new venture I’m about to undertake.

I sent a letter to Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster’s residence—a request to meet with the Emperor.
Of course, with my permanent palace pass, entering the Imperial Palace posed no difficulty.
But meeting the Emperor himself was another matter entirely.
Unless the Emperor summoned me, I couldn’t simply visit him whenever I pleased.
I sent the letter through Lee Pil Warrior, and the very next day.
“Welcome, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.”
“It’s been a while.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster visited the Beijing Branch.
Yet his bearing seemed somewhat different from when he’d visited the Eun Hae Trading Company Headquarters previously.
Ah!
I clasped my fists and offered him congratulations.
“Congratulations on your achievement.”
“As expected, you grasp it immediately! Haha, how embarrassing.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster had become a Peak Martial Master.
“Breaking through that barrier was entirely thanks to your counsel. Didn’t you tell me to think of nothing and simply wield my sword toward the ice?”
I had indeed offered such advice.
Fortunately, my guidance had proven timely.
“After obtaining permission from the others, I took charge of one section and focused entirely on breaking the ice without thought, which led me into a state of no-self, and I gained enlightenment.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster continued.
“I’m truly grateful. When I think about it, there’s so much I owe you. You elevated the standing of the Geumui Guard by allowing them to earn merit, you saved my life in Lanzhou before, and now you’ve elevated my realm as well… I don’t know how to repay such kindness.”
“You’re too kind. Haven’t I also been indebted to you in many ways, Great Swordmaster?”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster needed to remain grateful toward me.
That way, he’d continue to provide various conveniences.
Honestly, having someone within the Geumui Guard who supports me is incredibly reassuring and convenient.
And if that person holds a high position within the Geumui Guard, all the better.
Of course, the Emperor stands behind me, but truthfully, that frightens me somewhat.
“Ah, we shouldn’t delay. The Emperor is waiting for us.”
“Yes, let’s depart at once.”

I headed to the Imperial Palace alongside Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
Upon entering the Imperial Palace, I was able to meet the Emperor promptly.
I offered the Emperor the highest courtesy, and he spoke in a voice brimming with majesty.
“Raise your head.”
“Your Imperial Majesty’s grace is boundless.”
I quickly offered my gratitude once more.
“I am deeply grateful for what you bestowed upon me through Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster previously.”
“Good. Use it well.”
The imperial seal of Guizhou that the Emperor had granted me established my authority as its master.
“So what brings you to seek an audience with me? It seems you didn’t come merely to offer thanks for that.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
I continued speaking.
“Before the Poetry Competition is held, I would like to host an event.”
“What sort of event?”
“A liquor appraisal gathering, Your Majesty.”
“A liquor appraisal gathering? You mean an evaluation of spirits?”
“Yes, precisely.”
I continued my explanation.
“By imperial decree, I have been permitted to produce spirits for foreign trade. However, would it not be better to sell them at a higher price?”
“I see—you wish to elevate their value by holding a competition to discern the finest spirits.”
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
Truly, the Emperor is remarkable. He grasps matters instantly.
“And you wish to bestow upon the winner the honor of imperial recognition?”
“In this empire, is there not a greater honor than receiving the recognition of Your Imperial Majesty?”
“Then, what benefit returns to me?”
“Entry fees and the goodwill of the people.”
“You mean to collect entry fees and allocate them to the imperial treasury?”
“Truly, you are the Emperor.”
I continued speaking.
“A considerable quantity of spirits is produced throughout the empire, so the entry fees alone should be substantial.”
“Hmm, this is not a bad endeavor.”
Through the liquor appraisal gathering, we merchants would benefit by selling spirits at higher prices, while the imperial court would gain revenue from the entry fees.
“But the goodwill of the people? Ah, you clever one…”
The Emperor regarded me with a pleased expression.
“Very well. Proceed with this plan.”
The Emperor’s permission had been granted.
“However, you wouldn’t wish to work alone, would you? Tell me, do you have a suitable merchant guild in mind?”
“Yes, I do.”
I answered immediately.
After all, there existed the most renowned merchant guild when it came to spirits.
It was the Qingshui Trading Company in Guizhou Province.
The very name of the merchant guild meant clear water.
Yet they found themselves in considerably dire straits due to the liquor prohibition edict.
This opportunity would be like rain breaking a drought for them.
In my previous life, they were merely used to fill the coffers of the Murim Alliance, but this time would be different.
Now I could finally repay the debt of gratitude.

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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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