The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 503

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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 503

Chapter 503. The Critic’s Murder Case (2)

What is the Namgung Family?
A prestigious martial clan that produced the current Murim Alliance Leader.
Moreover, being a martial family with considerable historical prestige, the Namgung Family holds an exceptionally high standing in the current martial world.
So the son of such a distinguished Namgung Family Head is now a suspect.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster withdrew a piece of paper from his pocket and showed it to me.
“This poem was written on the wall.”
The poem certainly rebuked the deceased poet Na Jung-su for his harsh criticism of others’ works.
And it stated that the price for this would be death, torn to shreds.
“The victim was found with both wrists severed and his entire body torn apart, leaning against the wall where this poem was inscribed.”
“….”
I found myself frowning involuntarily—the method was extraordinarily brutal.
“Among those who discovered this, some even lost consciousness.”
“That would make sense.”
“Moreover… the greater problem is that he was murdered in a place called Otongga in Beijing.”
Otongga, meaning a street with five intersecting paths, is famous in Beijing for its complexity.
One can easily slip away onto another route, which is why it’s also called the Labyrinth of Five Ways.
“What? In Otongga?”
My surprise stemmed from the fact that it was within the Inner City.
Beijing has both an Inner City and an Outer City.
The Inner City, where the Imperial Palace stands, maintains exceptionally strict security.
For such a horrific crime to occur in such a place—it cannot simply be overlooked.
“His Majesty has ordered a thorough investigation of this matter. The culprit must be apprehended by any means necessary.”
The deceased, though his criticisms were rather harsh, was neither a criminal nor a martial artist.
And the fact that someone who came to Beijing to participate in the Poetry Competition held under the Imperial name was murdered within the Inner City—that is the problem.
As Emperor, he cannot possibly ignore this.
“But why has the Namgung Family’s young master become the primary suspect?”
“The greatest reason is that the traces left on the victim match the martial techniques of the Namgung Family. Additionally, he was also a target of the victim’s criticism, and there are testimonies that he once said he would kill the victim because of it.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster continued.
“Furthermore, his whereabouts last night are unclear. He refuses to give a proper account of where he was.”
Certainly, that much is enough to identify him as the culprit.
“Yet he absolutely denies having killed the man.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster sighed and rubbed his head.
“This is truly headache-inducing. He is indeed the most likely suspect, but if the real culprit is revealed after he’s punished, what will the Namgung Family do?”
“Ah… that would certainly be a headache.”
From my perspective, the Emperor seemed intent on using this incident as a pretext to suppress the influence of the Namgung Family and the Murim Alliance Leader.
However, if things went awry, the Emperor himself could suffer considerable losses.
Could Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster emerge unscathed from such circumstances?
It was a pointless question either way.
“So here’s the thing… would you be willing to help me out?”
“Surely there are others more suited to this matter than I am?”
“You mean the Hyungbu Sangseo Official?”
“Yes.”
Wasn’t Bang Hyo-myung, the Hyungbu Sangseo Official known as the Meat-Loving Duke, renowned for his specialty in uncovering criminals?
“Of course, I sought him out first. However…”
“…?”
“He said he’s occupied with other matters and asked me to request your assistance instead.”
“What?”
“He said you’d be more than capable of resolving this.”
“…”
Sigh, Bang Official… why would you do this?
I’m extraordinarily busy, and I have no desire to involve myself in matters concerning the Namgung Family.
Yes, that’s my honest sentiment.
In my previous life, Namgung Kang, the merchant who killed me, and the Murim Alliance Leader both belonged to the Namgung Family.
Perhaps for that reason, I harbored no inclination to involve myself in affairs related to the Namgung Family.
“Please, I’m begging you.”
Yet I couldn’t simply ignore Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster as he earnestly pleaded with me.
Beyond the matter of conscience, destroying the trust I’d painstakingly built over years would constitute an enormous loss.
“I’m asking this of you.”
“Sigh, very well.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
“Though my abilities are limited, I shall lend my hand to this matter.”
“I’m truly grateful.”
“Then first, may I ask—why did the Namgung Family’s young master come to Beijing?”
The Namgung Family is located in Anhui Province. There should be no reason for one of their members to visit Beijing.
“Apparently, he came to participate in the Poetry Competition.”
A member of the Namgung Family participating in the Poetry Competition?
While it’s uncommon for martial family members to attend such competitions, it’s not unheard of.
After all, the Jegal Family’s Grand Elder is also fond of poetry.
When he was invited as a judge for this competition, he readily accepted.
“In that case, I shall first examine the scene, then view the victim’s remains, and afterward meet with the Namgung Family’s young master.”
This was to prevent my judgment from wavering during conversation with the Namgung Family’s representative.
In such matters, one must view the situation objectively.
I continued speaking.
“However, as you know, with the Poetry Competition taking place in just a few days, I cannot devote my time entirely to this matter.”
Jin Young Great Swordmaster responded to my words.
“Ah, you needn’t worry about that. The Crown Prince has already agreed to explain the situation to In Gye-sung Lord of the Sebin Merchant Guild.”
“….”
Thorough, indeed.

A short while later.
After preparing to go out, I followed Jin Young Great Swordmaster and soon arrived at Otongga.
Golden ropes cordoned off the area, and Imperial Guards stood watch over it.
The lingering metallic scent of blood told me there had been considerable bloodshed.
The fact that Imperial Guards—not ordinary constables—were guarding this place made it clear how seriously the Emperor took this matter.
“Ugh. This is quite gruesome.”
Palgap’s assessment was accurate.
Blood had splattered across the poem written on the wall, and the ground before it still bore vivid bloodstains that hadn’t been cleaned.
The Yeo Eung-am Warrior behind me spoke.
“Given this extent of blood loss, it appears the victim was deliberately inflicted with non-fatal wounds and left to die in agony.”
“I concur with that assessment.”
The wrists were cut first, and as the victim writhed in pain, they bled out and died.
This indicated the work of someone harboring intense hatred.
I lifted my gaze to examine the characters written on the wall.
While studying the dried ink, I discovered something.
“This is… a wood fiber fragment.”
“A wood fiber?”
“Yes. They pounded wood fiber and used it as a brush to write this poem.”
“Why would they use wood fiber of all things?”
“To conceal their handwriting.”
It’s difficult to write proper strokes with such a rough implement, and the rigidity prevents the handwriting from appearing clearly.
“Notice how the characters are broken and jagged like this?”
“So that’s why.”
But this poem on the wall is crucial evidence.
Poems typically contain a hidden signature of sorts.
That’s why, two years ago, when Chu Il-gong stole a poem by Song Rok, the audience found it suspicious.
But the original author of the poem wouldn’t know about that signature.
Even if the person who wrote this poem didn’t commit the murder themselves, the one who composed it must be the culprit.
And they will definitely participate in this Poetry Competition.
I thoroughly examined the surroundings with my guards and spoke to Jin Young Great Swordmaster.
“Then, shall we go see the body now?”
“It’s this way.”
Jin Young Great Swordmaster led me to the County Office of Beijing. As we approached the annex building prepared there, the metallic scent of blood grew stronger.
But a peculiar fragrance was mingled with it.
“There’s quite a strong fragrance here.”
“It has the effect of slowing the decay of the corpse. And by mixing in the roots of the threefold herb, it eliminates the stench.”
I turned around at the voice coming from behind, and a man was standing there.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster introduced me to him.
“This man is Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company. He’s come along to lend his assistance.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Cheon O-jak-in, the examiner of this county office.”
O-jak-in are specialists who handle corpses, responsible for collecting bodies and determining causes of death.
“Show me the corpse of Na Jung-su.”
“Yes.”
He nodded and looked at me, asking a question.
“It’s rather gruesome—will you be all right with that?”
It was probably because my appearance seemed frail.
“I’ll be fine.”
“This way, please.”
He led us into a chamber.
A corpse lay on a long wooden table there.
Wow…
They really did exactly what was written on that wall.
“May I touch it?”
At my question, Cheon O-jak-in flinched. He hadn’t expected me to say such a thing.
“Ah, yes.”
Unlike ordinary people, for martial artists, touching a corpse is nothing particularly unusual.
I am a merchant, but I am also a martial artist.
“Hmm… This is definitely the martial technique of the Namgung Family.”
I can confidently say I know the martial techniques of the Namgung Family very well.
Why?
Because I was killed by someone from the Namgung Family.
The martial technique of the Namgung Family is one of overwhelming force. And the Namgung Family’s technique can be described as thunder.
It combines the speed and destructive power of lightning striking down from the heavens with an ornate elegance—that is the martial technique of the Namgung Family.
The Namgung Family’s sword technique blends both heavy and swift strikes.
Therefore, those struck by the Namgung Family’s technique tend to bleed considerably.
And it’s difficult to treat as well.
For an orthodox sect technique, it’s rather brutal.
I turned my gaze from the wounds to examine the face.
The grotesquely contorted expression vividly revealed how agonizing death must have been.
Cheon O-jak-in spoke.
“Before this man died, he was likely pursued for about an hour. When a person runs, their heart beats rapidly. In such a state, blood loss increases as well.”
“You mean it was done deliberately?”
“Yes.”
Cheon O-jak-in continued.
“And as you can see, it appears both hands were severed first before the body was cut. The reason is unclear, but I believe that too was meant to inflict suffering.”
“Why is that?”
“When a person is injured, don’t they instinctively wrap their hand around the wound?”
“Ah….”
“Without considerable resentment, one wouldn’t do such a thing.”
My thoughts aligned with his.
But could the Namgung Family Head’s son harbor such deep animosity?
I needed to meet him in person now.

Moments later.
I made my way to the interrogation room attached to the County Office.

“No! Really! I didn’t kill him!”
“The investigation will reveal everything.”
“Then investigate! Please! Investigate first, then ask me anything!”

Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster explained at the sound of that voice.
“It seems they’re still interrogating. Wait a moment.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster stepped inside, then emerged and gestured to me.
“You can go in.”
“Yes. Would it be possible for me to enter alone?”
“Do that.”
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster readily accepted my request, and I entered alone.
I entered alone to disarm his vigilance.
This is when you use your face.
The interrogation room was exactly as I imagined it.
A rigid chair and a wooden table.
And before it, a suspect bound to a chair.
As I entered, he looked at me and immediately brightened.
“Oh! I know who you are. You’re Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster, aren’t you?”
“That’s what I’m called. But I don’t know who you are. What is your name?”
Though I already knew, exchanging names properly was important when establishing a relationship.
“My name is Namgung Yang.”
“Then shall I call you Young Master Namgung Yang?”
“Yes.”
“First, would it be alright if I examined your inner energy?”
“My inner energy?”
He hesitated, his expression troubled.
And rightfully so—one doesn’t allow another to examine their martial power unless they trust them.
In such situations, the other could launch a sudden attack, and one’s true strength would be exposed.
“Why do you hesitate?”
“That is…”
“Perhaps you might be cleared of suspicion. And though it shames me to say it myself, I am called Seon Hyeop Mi-rang… and I do not commit wrongdoings under that name.”
At my words, he sighed and nodded.
“Then do as you see fit.”
I approached him and grasped his wrist to gauge his inner energy.
Huh…
Is what I’m sensing right now correct?
I released my hand and asked him.
“What is the Young Master’s age?”
“Nineteen.”
Nineteen years old and already at the peak realm?
No matter how many peak martial artists the Namgung Family possesses, there would be scarcely any who reached the peak at nineteen.
– Is the Young Master truly at the peak realm?
At my telepathic transmission, he flinched before responding through the same means.
– Yes.
– Remarkable.
– Your surprise shows that the Embroidered Uniform Guard Master truly failed to perceive it correctly yesterday.
Though Jin Young Great Swordmaster has reached the peak realm, it was only recently.
Measuring inner energy this way requires one’s own realm to be relatively high for accuracy.
His telepathic transmission continued.
– Could you please keep it secret that I’m at the peak realm?
– Why would you ask that?
– I would prefer that the people of the Three Great Families not know of my peak realm.
– Then, if you tell me where you were and what you were doing last night, I shall keep it secret.
– That is…
At my question, he merely lowered his head.
Where on earth was he and what was he doing that he cannot speak of it?
Just then, Jin Young Great Swordmaster entered.
“Ah, is the interrogation proceeding well? I came in since I heard no sounds.”
“My apologies. We were in the midst of psychological tactics.”
“Ha! My goodness! I’m sorry.”
“It is no matter. Rather, I have a request for you, Great Swordmaster.”
“What might that be?”
“I need a list of those whom the deceased criticized.”

I returned to the Beijing Branch.
Having met with him, I could now say with certainty: Namgung Yang was not the culprit.
If he truly stood at the pinnacle of martial mastery, the wounds on the victim could never have been so shallow.
The true perpetrator was someone at a lower level of cultivation.
I couldn’t fathom why he’d asked me not to reveal his true realm, but to clear his name without exposing his inner strength, I needed to uncover his whereabouts from last night.
Only then could I find the real killer.
I would need to summon the Information Bureau.

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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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