The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 546

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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 546

Chapter 546. The Tal-myeong Guest (6)

“Gasp! What in the world is this?”
Palgap cried out in shock upon seeing our party return to the camp.
“Wait, there wasn’t just one person?”
“It’s a long story. First, could you prepare some rice porridge?”
“Of course.”
Palgap hurried to fill a pot with water and set it over the campfire.
He gathered the remaining ingredients and began preparing the porridge.
Meanwhile, we seated or laid down those we had rescued in front of the campfire.
The Tal-myeong Guest, meanwhile, remained kneeling before my Master, who had not yet regained consciousness, his expression etched with anguish.
I quietly approached Jeok Ui-hwa-ta and asked.
“Sir, did you say earlier that he was poisoned?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I’m much younger than you, so please feel free to speak casually with me.”
At my words, Jeok Ui-hwa-ta nodded readily.
“Understood.”
“And since the others are also your seniors, please treat them comfortably as well.”
Everyone nodded in agreement at my words.
I asked Jeok Ui-hwa-ta again.
“But what kind of poison was he poisoned with?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself. Since I’m not an expert in poisons, I could only tell it was something that attacks the muscles. When we brought him to the Prison, he seemed quite difficult to handle, but it appears they barely managed to subdue him with that poison and bring him along.”
“Is there perhaps an antidote…?”
“I asked the Thunder Prison Guards, but they seemed equally ignorant of the antidote.”
Well, what would mere foot soldiers guarding that place know anyway?
In any case, detoxification is possible.
But having brought everyone here like this, I cannot simply administer an antidote.
If it became known that I could detoxify poisons, it would cause considerable trouble.
It wouldn’t merely be annoying—it could endanger both myself and the survivors of Seolpung Palace.
I had discovered that the Blood Sect was responsible for the destruction of Seolpung Palace, but I had no idea where or in what form the remnants of the Blood Sect were operating.
Still, it seems I’ve grown quite fond of the Tal-myeong Guest, as they say affection grows even from dislike.
Seeing him suffer like this tugs at my heart.
Continuing to watch such a sight feels cruel, yet turning away leaves me deeply unsettled.
Sigh, I suppose I have no choice. Making excuses is my specialty, after all.
Tap, tap.
Just then, Geumryeong struck my arm with her front paw from inside my sleeve.
Huh?
Now that I think about it, it wasn’t here just a moment ago—when did it come back?
– What’s wrong, Geum-ryeong?
– Chirp! Chirp!
– Hmm? You have something to give me?
I tilted my head and slipped my hand into my sleeve.
What is this?
I withdrew my hand clutching whatever I’d grasped, and I couldn’t help but be startled.
What Geum-ryeong had given me was a spiritual herb called the Antitoxin Grass.
It’s a spiritual herb capable of neutralizing virtually any poison, earning it the epithet “King of Antidotes.”
Because consuming it eliminates even existing toxins, it bears the name Antitoxin Grass.
– How on earth did you obtain this?
At my question, Geum-ryeong displayed a satisfied expression.
– Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!
Ah… so you’re saying you’re Han Ho-su, who even earns his own keep?
That’s right, that’s right.
You certainly earn your keep well enough! Yes!
– Chirp! Chirp!
So this time I should give you a Gold Coin instead of a Silver Coin? You’re saying your body’s been feeling weak and you need some nourishment?
– Yes, I understand.
After such a commendable deed, naturally I can provide at least that much.
I approached Jeok Ui-hwa-ta with the Antitoxin Grass.
“Master Jeok. Will this be sufficient for detoxification?”
“Gasp! Isn’t this the Antitoxin Grass?”
As expected of Master Jeok Ui-hwa-ta.
Even though poison isn’t your specialty, you recognized the Antitoxin Grass immediately.
“Yes.”
“How does someone like you possess such a precious thing?”
“I’ve been keeping it in reserve for emergencies.”
“It looks as though it was just harvested, though?”
How perceptive you are.
“Our trading company specializes in medicinal herbs. Preserving them in such pristine condition is standard practice for us.”
I continued speaking.
“And I believe that with my Master hovering at death’s door, this qualifies as an emergency.”
The Tal-myeong Guest, having heard our conversation, widened his eyes and asked.
“H-hey, Elder Brother. You mean to say you’re using something so precious for our Master?”
I nodded.
“No matter how precious something is, it cannot be more precious than a human life.”
“Elder Brother!”
I patted the Tal-myeong Guest as tears streamed down his face.
“Now is not the time for tears. We must channel that strength elsewhere. Weeping can wait for later.”
Jeok Ui-hwa-ta nodded at my words.
“You speak truth. If you wept, it would trouble your Master’s heart.”
“Sniff… I understand.”
Soon after, Jeok Ui-hwa-ta transformed the Wudoku herb into liquid form and administered it to the Tal-myeong Guest’s Master.
While trauma treatment was his specialty, that merely meant he excelled in that particular field—it did not render him ignorant in others.
After checking the pulse moments later, he nodded.
“The poison has been neutralized. It was indeed the Wudoku herb.”
Truly, it lived up to its reputation as the supreme antidote herb.
Thanks to this, I was able to save the Tal-myeong Guest’s Master without resorting to the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art.
– Chirp!
– Yes, it’s thanks to you. I’ll give you gold coins next time. The situation is a bit complicated right now. You understand, don’t you?
– Chirp chirp!
Speaking of which, Geum-ryeong said something earlier.
That there was a scent of money wafting from beneath the ground.
I carefully examined the faces of those we had rescued.
First, regarding Yun Gongja—he was the son of a renowned family, with a reward of five hundred silver taels.
The others were similarly distinguished individuals, so they would not leave empty-handed.
The Tal-myeong Guest’s Master was also said to possess considerable wealth.
So that’s why Geum-ryeong smelled money.
“It’s all done!”
At that moment, Palgap announced that the rice porridge was complete. He then ladled it into bowls and distributed them.
“It’s hot. Please eat slowly.”
“If you eat too hastily, you’ll burn the roof of your mouth, and if you suffer indigestion, it will be serious. You’ve been rescued from the Prison—how unfortunate it would be if you couldn’t see your families’ faces?”
Everyone nodded at Palgap’s words.
“We eat with gratitude.”
“We eat with gratitude.”
They began to eat the porridge slowly, and tears started streaming down their faces.
Only now did it truly sink in that they had been rescued from the Prison…
“Hah! This is delicious!”
“Damn it! Why is this so delicious? It’s just porridge!”
Ah, so they were weeping because the porridge was delicious.
After tasting a spoonful myself, I understood why they shed tears.
“Palgap. Why is this so delicious?”
“W-well? Hehe.”
Truly, Palgap is incomparable.
I really don’t know what I’d do without Palgap.

After finishing our meal and resting for a moment, the Yeo Eung-am Warrior came galloping from afar.
“My lord! I have completed the task you commanded.”
“You have worked hard. How did matters proceed?”
“An emergency meeting was convened, and the Tiger Correction Squad of the Murim Alliance is now rushing here.”
“Excellent.”
I smiled wickedly.
The Tiger Correction Squad.
They were one of the Murim Alliance’s many martial forces, named for the decisive manner with which they eliminated evil—as resolute as a tiger.
And the commander of the Tiger Correction Squad was the League Master’s trusted confidant.
Then someone spoke from behind me.
“Sending the Tiger Correction Squad against the Black Cat Sect? Isn’t that excessive?”
“It is evidence that the League Master views this matter with utmost gravity.”
And proof of considerable urgency as well.
They needed to be eliminated swiftly.
Indeed, mentioning in my letter to the League Master that I had also requested support from the Imperial Palace proved most effective.
In truth, I had made no such request to the Imperial Palace.
I simply wrote it that way.
I mobilized the Murim Alliance because while this was clearly their doing, there was no evidence.
I could search for evidence, but the risks I would have to bear far outweighed what I could gain.
And I had no desire to deal with the Black Cat Sect directly myself.
So I devised a scheme to have the League Master clean up the mess he had made.
He must have invested considerable time and money into this, only to see it all slip away like this—his heart would surely ache.
But the League Master had no choice.
The Emperor was constantly watching for any opportunity to suppress the Murim Alliance.
Giving the Emperor any leverage would be most undesirable.
How fitting.
I chuckled inwardly.
And there was another reason I orchestrated this affair.
Fractures.
The sight of the League Master ruthlessly disposing of one he had favored would surely create rifts.
A single ant can breach a dam, they say.
No matter how vast and solid an iron fortress, cracks are a fearsome thing.
Dust accumulates to form Mount Tai; small grievances pile upon one another until they become great vengeance.
.
.
.
Moments later.
The Tiger Correction Squad came galloping toward where we stood.
“Whoa, whoa!”
A man dismounted from his horse.
It was the Tiger Correction Squad Commander I had seen before.
I approached him and bowed respectfully.
“I am Eun Seo-ho. It is an honor to meet a hero of the Murim Alliance.”
“Haha! A hero, you say! Aren’t you yourself the hero of the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament?”
“You are too kind. Compared to your name, I am but a firefly before the sun.”
“Excessive humility is also discourteous. But tell me, are these the people you rescued?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“How did you come to rescue them?”
I could see tension in his gaze. It mattered whether I had sought them out knowing they were imprisoned, or had discovered them by chance.
“In truth, this entire matter began with this mushroom.”
“A mushroom, you say?”
“Yes.”
I showed him the mushroom as I spoke.
“This mushroom grows on ancient willows—a species that thrives near abundant water. However, my attendant found this mushroom in a place where water is scarce, which aroused my curiosity.”
I recounted the facts as they were.
“So while searching for where this mushroom was gathered, I heard groans and cries for help. How could I ignore such pleas? While searching the surrounding area, I discovered a rocky formation.”
“A rocky formation?”
“Yes. Smoke was seeping from a crevice in the rocks.”
That was a lie.
There had been no smoke at all, but I could not explain that Hyun Ro-do had shown me the way.
“So I ventured inside and found suspicious individuals holding people captive in a prison. I subdued them and upon their rescue, discovered these were the very people reported missing.”
“So that is how it came to pass.”
“Yes. To imprison innocent people in such a cave and deprive them of proper sustenance—such villains are beyond contempt. Would you not agree?”
“Ahem, yes, quite so.”
The Tiger Correction Squad Commander cleared his throat and nodded.
“That such criminals walk freely in the Empire—it is truly infuriating.”
“….”
His expression grew uncomfortable.
Of course it would, since his superior was the one who had orchestrated this.
“In any case, worry not. We shall handle the Black Cat Sect.”
“Thank you.”
“By the way, I would like to ask those you rescued a few questions.”
“Please do so.”
He approached the rescued captives.
“I am Geon Man-seok, Commander of the Tiger Correction Squad. You have endured much hardship. We have come to suppress the Black Cat Sect. So I must ask—does anyone know why you were imprisoned?”
They all shook their heads.
“I apologize. I myself have no idea why I was being held.”
“That is precisely what puzzles me.”
“If we at least knew the reason, we would not feel so wronged!”
Their grievances left the Tiger Correction Squad Commander visibly flustered.
I let out a smirk.
In truth, this was partly because I had already hinted at it.

“The Ho Jung Great Master will certainly inquire into the details with all of you. If you happen to mention something there, you might end up being summoned to the Murim Alliance.”
After all, they could resort to destroying evidence once more.
“Hmm… that makes sense.”
“Beyond that, I simply don’t wish to cooperate with them at present.”
The others nodded in agreement as well.
From the way they spoke, it seemed they had all grown somewhat suspicious of the Murim Alliance through what they had heard while imprisoned in the Thunder Prison.
After all, surviving to that age in the Murim world meant possessing insight that set one apart from others.
“So in my view, it would be best to claim ignorance. What can they possibly say when you insist you don’t know?”
“That’s true.”
“You must be eager to see your families right now, and it would be unfortunate to waste time on such an investigation, wouldn’t it?”
“You’re right.”

Thus we all agreed to maintain complete silence.
Wow! Their unity was impressive.
“I understand. I will do my utmost to investigate the reasons for your imprisonment.”
“We appreciate it.”
And the Ho Jung Great Master turned toward his men with a somewhat disgruntled expression.

* * *

That afternoon.
Everything at the Black Cat Sect was burning.
“Those shameless and vicious Black Swordsmen! Show them no mercy!”
“Yes, sir!”
At Ho Jung Great Master Geon Man-seok’s command, the squad members roared in response and wielded their weapons without hesitation against the Black Cat Sect disciples.
“P-please, spare me! Cough!”
“Ahhhhh!”
The Tiger Correction Squad was relentless, and the Black Cat Sect’s very existence was being systematically erased.
Then Ho Jung Great Master headed toward the Black Cat Sect Master’s office.
Crack!
The door shattered in a single blow, and he kicked his way inside.
“Gasp!”
The man, caught in the act of gathering valuables, spun around in shock. His expression twisted with fury.
“You bastard! You deceived me! You said the prisoners from Thunder Prison had escaped and told me to stay put and do nothing!”
“My apologies.”
Ho Jung Great Master smiled coldly and drove his blade straight through the Sect Master’s heart.
“Gack!”
“It’s far more convenient for us if you remain silent. That way, we can destroy the evidence without interference.”
“You… you bastard…”
Thud.
The Black Cat Sect Master could say no more, collapsing to the floor, while Ho Jung Great Master gazed upon him with a contemptible smile.
Yet no one there realized it.
That someone hanging from the ceiling above was witnessing everything.

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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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