The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 537
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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 537
Chapter 537. Establishing an Academy (3)
First, I needed to find Old Man Mae’s son.
To do that, I would need something that belonged to him.
As I pondered how to obtain such an item, a door caught my eye.
“Then, could that room perhaps be your son’s chamber?”
“…Yes, it is.”
“Would it be alright if I took a quick look inside?”
“Feel free to do as you wish.”
I gently opened the door.
The room was immaculate despite having been empty for nearly fifteen years.
Yet there were no signs of daily life within it.
This meant Old Man Mae cleaned it every day—a testament to his genuine belief that his son would return.
I sent a telepathic message to Geumryeong.
– Geumryeong, go into that room and smell his clothes or something similar.
– Understood.
Then I closed the door.
Since Geumryeong was half-corporeal, passing through walls posed no difficulty.
Yet I couldn’t fathom why he insisted on fluttering about and entering through the window whenever I asked him to run errands.
“It’s remarkably tidy. You must clean it frequently.”
“So that whenever he returns, he can rest comfortably without worry.”
“I see. Then, is there anywhere you suspect he might be?”
“If there were, I would have gone searching long ago.”
Fifteen years was certainly enough time to have searched every conceivable place.
I returned to the Beijing Branch.
At my request, Geumryeong departed to search for Old Man Mae’s son.
The likelihood he was already dead was high, but I desperately hoped he was still alive.
Old Man Mae could only move away once his son returned; if he were already dead, proving it would require considerable effort.
And given how earnestly he wished for this, his hope absolutely had to be fulfilled.
As usual, I woke up in the morning, completed my energy cultivation exercises, finished my training, and was about to begin my work.
“Chirp! Chirp!”
I saw Geum-ryeong fluttering as it came through the window.
I quickly ran over and caught Geum-ryeong.
“You’re back?”
“Chirp!”
“Well? Did you find him?”
At my question, Geum-ryeong nodded with a triumphant expression.
“Chirp!”
At that response, my expression brightened as well. It meant he was still alive.
I immediately called for Palgap.
“Palgap!”
“Yes!”
“Prepare to depart! We’re going to find Old Man Mae’s son.”
Preparations for departure were completed quickly.
Since I had given advance notice, everyone was already prepared.
This time, we needed to move swiftly, so I took only Palgap and the Guard Warriors with me.
“Master, I hope it’s not presumptuous to ask, but….”
Chang-un Warrior trailed off.
“Please feel free to ask.”
“Yes, truthfully, if this were anywhere else, I would have already forcibly torn down Old Man Mae’s residence. From what I’ve observed so far, those with power tend to do exactly that.”
“You’re saying I’m inviting unnecessary trouble.”
“Haha.”
“Simply put, this is for the sake of the Eun Hae Trading Company.”
I continued.
“Grievances, when accumulated one by one, become a poison capable of toppling even the most fortified fortress. For the future of the Eun Hae Trading Company, I have no desire to accumulate such poison from the start.”
“Ah….”
“And who knows? My actions might even elevate the reputation of the Eun Hae Trading Company.”
“So you’re saying it’s for the sake of the company.”
“Yes. Which means I’m not doing this troublesome work because I’m a good person.”
At my words, the gazes of Palgap and the Guard Warriors became strangely subtle.
“What, what is it? Why are you suddenly looking at me like that?”
At my question, Seo-woo Warrior let out a quiet laugh.
“It’s nothing.”
“Chirp!”
At that moment, Geum-ryeong, perched on the head of the Zhu River horse I was riding, pointed in a direction.
Currently, we were traveling under Geum-ryeong’s guidance.
This was the southern direction… but how far would we need to go?
“Geum-ryeong. What region are we heading toward right now?”
“Coo?”
“So, among the things you saw there, anything that left a deep impression….”
“Coo! Coo!”
“Ah….”
I was momentarily flustered.
“Sugarcane? Mae’s Son was in an incredibly vast sugarcane field?”
There were plenty of places that simply grew sugarcane, but an incredibly vast sugarcane field….
Could it be Guangxi Province?
That’s really far down south.
Damn, it’s incredibly distant.
Seeing how late Geum-ryeong returned, I should have considered the distance might be considerable….
Sigh, why didn’t I think of that?
But there’s no turning back now.
And for some reason, I had a gut feeling that I needed to go there myself rather than send someone else.
I spoke to my Guard Warriors.
“It looks like I’ll need to go to Guangxi.”
I would be away for quite some time, but I wasn’t particularly worried since Eun Jung-ho was at the Beijing Branch.
If it’s Guangxi Province, that’s south of Guizhou… Should I have brought Seo Hyang along?
That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I shook my head.
Making a swift round trip to Guangxi Province would be too demanding for her.
So for this journey, it was better for her to remain at the Beijing Branch.
“Geum-ryeong.”
“Coo?”
“From now on, we’re moving at full speed, so stay inside my sleeve.”
“Coo!”
Geum-ryeong nestled into my sleeve, and I spoke to my entourage.
“Then, let’s ride.”
“Yes!”
We moved swiftly.
Since everyone was riding the Zhu River horses, we arrived in Hubei within days.
I considered stopping by home briefly, but time seemed too precious, so we pressed on.
After several more days of hard riding, we reached Guangxi Province.
Without the Zhu River horses, this journey would have taken several times longer—and the hardship would have been immense.
I found myself grateful to Geum-ryeong for bringing these magnificent creatures to me.
“Screech!”
Grateful? Then pay up in silver?
That’s Geum-ryeong for you—never disappointing in character.
With such thoughts, we rode on a bit further and came upon vast sugarcane fields stretching endlessly before us.
“Wow!”
Palgap exclaimed in wonder.
“Is all of that sugarcane?”
“Yes.”
…
Palgap fell silent, and I chuckled softly.
“Why do you think this place is the greatest sugar production area?”
“Yet, Young Master, it seems this is not your first time here. If I recall correctly, this is your first visit to Guangxi Province.”
Sharp observation.
Well, I had visited Guangxi frequently in my previous life.
Though I am now the Lesser Palace Mistress of Chuk Yung Palace, back then it was thanks to Maeng Cheon, a ronin, that our Eun Hae Trading Company was able to distribute sugar.
I suddenly recalled my first visit to this place.
Even I had been astonished by the tremendous scale of the sugarcane fields back then.
And this place—I had visited it in my previous life as well.
Nothing has changed between then and now.
A thought suddenly occurred to me, but I set it aside for now.
Finding Mae’s Son was the priority.
“So, Geum-ryeong.”
“Screech.”
“Where exactly is Mae’s Son?”
“Screech!”
Geum-ryeong pointed ahead with its tail.
“It’s not far, is it?”
At my question, Geum-ryeong nodded. Thank heavens.
To think—tracking someone by scent alone from Beijing all the way to Guangxi Province.
Geum-ryeong truly is remarkable.
Just then, a warrior approached us.
“This is the sugarcane field of the Yeochang Trading Company. Where have you come from?”
“We are from the Eun Hae Trading Company.”
“What business brings the Eun Hae Trading Company here?”
“Is there perhaps someone named Mae Jeong here?”
Mae So-gun’s son’s name was Mae Jeong.
I hadn’t heard this directly from the old man—I’d discovered it through separate investigation.
The warrior paused in thought, as if recalling someone, then spoke carefully.
“Do you perhaps mean Hawk Manager? The manager’s name is Mae Jeong.”
What?
Manager?
.
.
.
A short time later.
I found myself facing a man presumed to be Old Man Mae’s son in the Yeochang Trading Company’s guest reception room.
I sent a telepathic message to Geumryeong hidden in my sleeve.
– Geumryeong, is this the right person?
– Kwee!
It’s him? Don’t doubt it?
– Kwee! Kwee!
Make sure I get proper silver?
Fine… I understand.
When Geumryeong spoke with such conviction, it meant I could be certain.
Then Hawk Manager Mae Jeong asked me a question.
“You’re the Small Guild Master Eun Seo-ho from the Eunhae Trading Company?”
“Ah, yes. That’s correct.”
“May I ask why someone from the Eunhae Trading Company would be looking for me?”
I set down my teacup and spoke.
“Your father is waiting for you.”
“…What?”
His expression grew bewildered, and he asked carefully.
“Do you… know something about my father?”
“What?”
No, that question only confused me further.
“What more do you know about your father?”
“His name is Mae So-gun. I understand he’s in his mid-sixties this year. He currently lives farming outside Beijing.”
“Is that all?”
“I haven’t known him for very long, so I don’t know much. But I do know that fifteen years ago, his son left home saying he would make something of himself, and a year later, all contact was lost.”
His eyes remained filled with suspicion.
I sighed and asked.
“I’m asking just in case, but surely you haven’t lost your memory?”
“…!”
Hawk Manager Mae Jeong flinched.
As I thought.
Geum-ryeong had insisted that the man before me was indeed Old Hawk’s Son, yet he was asking me if I knew his father.
And when I asked him to explain his father in detail, I sensed something like a vague longing in his expression.
“…Didn’t you already know before coming here?”
“I didn’t know beforehand. I came searching because I had reason to find Hawk Elder’s son.”
“How did you know I was his son and come looking for me? Don’t you think there’s a contradiction in what you’re saying?”
“I suppose it could seem that way. Then, to clear up the misunderstanding, I should explain this first.”
“What is it?”
“I possess an artifact capable of locating people.”
Since I couldn’t reveal Geum-ryeong’s existence, I had no choice but to attribute it to the artifact’s power.
“Pardon? An artifact, you say?”
“Yes. Thanks to that artifact, I discovered that Hawk Manager is Hawk Elder’s son and came searching for you. Please keep this matter confidential.”
“Hmm, I understand for now. But then, why did you go to such lengths to find me using such an artifact?”
Suspicion still lingered in his expression.
I spoke honestly.
“Our trading company intends to establish a Martial Hall with the Imperial Court. Old Hawk’s residence sits on that land, but no matter how generous a compensation we offered, he wouldn’t budge. When I asked why, he said that if he moved, his son would have no place to return to.”
I continued.
“That’s why I went to find Hawk Manager. Once I reunite you with your father, he’ll be able to move with peace of mind, won’t he?”
“…”
Apparently not expecting my honesty, he let out a dry cough.
“Judging by your reaction, Manager, it seems quite a few swindlers have troubled you.”
“Ah… yes, that’s true.”
No swindler is good, but those who prey on the amnesiac deserve divine punishment.
Being unable to know oneself is no different from walking a dark night without a single lantern.
How desperately one must crave that light.
These people trample upon such desperation.
“You must have endured much hardship.”
“Yes, well… I suppose so.”
After a moment of contemplation, he spoke.
“So, may I ask a favor?”
“What is it?”
“If you truly are the Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company, and if your reason for finding me is genuine, please stay here for a few days. I’ll investigate you as well.”
“Very well.”
.
.
.
We unpacked our belongings in the quarters within the trading company.
I had considered securing a guest room at a nearby inn, but he had requested that we stay within the trading company grounds.
To think he arranged quarters for our entire party so readily!
Manager or not, he certainly wields considerable influence.
Typically, managers aren’t allowed to stay inside the Merchant Guild even when guests arrive.
We headed to the stable to retrieve the luggage from the horses.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
I said this to the stable hands as I entered.
As we unloaded the baggage from the horses, an elderly-looking warrior beside me asked cautiously.
“Excuse me… is that horse perhaps Ju Gang Ma?”
“You recognize it.”
“Indeed! So it really was Ju Gang Ma!”
“But how did you know our horse was Ju Gang Ma?”
The warrior answered my question.
“Well, I’ve always had a great fondness for horses. So in my younger days, I studied every breed of horse there was. Thanks to that, I was able to come across records about Ju Gang Ma.”
“I see.”
“But to actually see Ju Gang Ma like this! My wish will come true.”
Suddenly, I became curious about what that warrior’s wish was.
“May I ask what that wish is?”
“Well, it’s no secret. I simply wish for our Merchant Guild Leader to recover from his illness.”
.
.
.
I returned to my quarters and lay down on the bed after removing my outer robe.
I did find Mae’s Son, but he had lost his memory…
Is that why he couldn’t return?
At least he’s alive, which is fortunate… but even so, his circumstances were tragic.
Just then, Geum Ryung-i emerged from inside my sleeve and tugged at my hair with its mouth.
“Squeak! Squeak!”
“Alright, alright. I’ll give it to you.”
I took out silver coins from my pouch and handed them to Geum Ryung-i, who rolled around on the bed clutching them.
Watching this, I fell into thought.
The Yeochang Trading Company’s Merchant Guild Leader is bedridden with illness…
When I came to the sugarcane fields here earlier, a memory surfaced.
I heard he was a good man, yet he won’t recover and will pass away.
The medicine that could cure him is right within reach, but he doesn’t know of it.
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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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