The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 558

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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 558

Chapter 558. The Test (6)

At my question, the Sect Leader responded with a look of surprise.
“What! That golden Buddha statue is a fake? Ha! How could such a thing happen!”
“Sect Leader, you shouldn’t go around acting like that elsewhere.”
“…I appreciate the advice.”
The Sect Leader, accepting my words without resistance, glanced behind him and whispered his question.
“Is it possible that the condition affecting my companions who came with me is your doing?”
“Yes. They’re simply asleep.”
I answered without concealment, and he sighed before speaking.
“I see. Do you wish to hear the reason why I did such a thing?”
“You may interpret it that way.”
“Let’s talk for a moment. Follow me.”
I followed the Sect Leader.
He led me not within the sect grounds, but to a mountain beside it.
The Sect Leader, who had been advancing without hesitation along the rather treacherous mountain path, suddenly glanced back.
And he wore a slightly surprised expression.
“Why do you ask?”
“You climb mountains better than I expected.”
“It seems I have a talent for mountain climbing.”
“I see. Let’s continue.”
We arrived at a peak behind Guam Sect.
The entire view of Guam Sect spread before my eyes.
“Truly a magnificent view.”
It was far more spectacular than the scenery I had witnessed last night.
– Chirp!
Hmm? You like this place too?
“Whenever I face a dilemma, I come here to gaze upon that sight.”
At the Sect Leader’s words, I quickly focused my attention on him.
“Does that resolve your troubles?”
“To some extent, a conclusion emerges.”
“Those conclusions must be ones you reach that favor Guam Sect.”
“Well, of course. What is a Sect Leader’s role? Isn’t it to make decisions that benefit the sect?”
Then the Sect Leader burst into hearty laughter.
“But you’re quite fearless. I might have attempted to silence you regarding the fake golden Buddha statue, yet you followed me without hesitation. What were you thinking?”
“You didn’t seem like that sort of person.”
The aura emanating from him was remarkably pure and untainted.
Of course, the Sect Leader’s words were correct.
In this situation, following the Assassin alone would not be a wise choice.
However, there was Seo Hyang’s advice to consider.
The advice I hadn’t fully grasped at the time was precisely this: “You must trust the Sect Leader, and treat the Small Guild Master with sincerity as well.”
So I decided to trust the Sect Leader, following her counsel.
Moreover, the pure aura I consistently felt from him suggested he harbored no malicious intent.
That’s why I ensured no one followed me.
Otherwise, I would have secretly instructed Jin Yu Warrior or Seo-woo Warrior to tail me.
The Sect Leader understood this and remarked that I showed no fear.
I proceeded to the main matter.
“So, what is the reason?”
….
The Sect Leader exhaled deeply and opened his mouth.
“A very long time ago, before I became Sect Leader, our Guam Sect faced quite dire circumstances.”
I was inwardly puzzled by this sudden account from decades past, but I listened quietly.
“Green Forest Bandits defeated in a territorial conflict with neighboring forces launched an assault, intending to make this Guam Sect their new residence. At that time, we received aid from the League Master.”
Now that I think about it, Won Chief mentioned this when I arrived.
That the Sect Leader received a favor from the League Master and was entrusted with safeguarding the Golden Buddha Statue.
This must be that story.
“At that time, the League Master was not yet the League Master. He was one of the Noble Heirs of the Namgung Family, leading one of the Murim Alliance’s Martial Force Divisions. He was returning from completing a mission in Shandong.”
….
“At that time, the previous Sect Leader sent me to seek help from anyone who could provide it. Having just descended from Mount Tai, I encountered the then-Alliance Chief, who would become the League Master. I pleaded with tears, and without hesitation, he stepped forward and saved our Guam Sect.”
The sound of leaves rustling in the wind reached my ears.
“The previous Sect Leader, who had suffered grave injuries at that time, passed away, and I succeeded him as Sect Leader. Not long after, before he became League Master, he sought me out and entrusted me with the Golden Buddha Statue.”
“Then you’ve been safeguarding it for quite some time.”
“Over ten years.”
But then, why did you hand over a counterfeit Golden Buddha Statue?
“Do you know why the Murim Alliance desires that Golden Buddha Statue?”
“I understand it will be used during this Martial Arts Grand Conference. To amplify the power of the formation array protecting the spectators.”
The Sect Leader nodded and spoke.
“That’s right. However, the Golden Buddha Statue’s function is not limited to that alone.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“When the League Master gave me the statue, he said this: it was a treasure he happened to acquire, and it possesses the function of amplifying all forms of power.”
“When you say all forms of power?”
“Literally all forms of power.”
Wait, if it amplifies all forms of power… that’s far more tremendous than I initially thought.
And such power encompasses not only good forces but also malevolent ones.
“If this Golden Buddha Statue falls into the hands of a Buddhist disciple, it can amplify Buddhist power. In the hands of a Daoist, it can amplify Daoist power. Similarly, if it falls into the hands of a Demonic Cult member…”
“It could amplify demonic energy.”
“Indeed.”
He nodded slowly.
“It depends on how it’s used. And at that time, the League Master said this: it is a demonic artifact that must be sealed away forever.”
I couldn’t help but voice my confusion.
“Does that mean the League Master entrusted the golden Buddha statue to the Sect Leader as a request to seal it away?”
“Indeed.”
“Then why not simply destroy it instead of going through the trouble of keeping it?”
“If it could have been destroyed, it would have been long ago. But there was no method that could destroy it.”
“….”
“In any case, when such a person suddenly demands the golden Buddha statue, I cannot help but harbor suspicions.”
“It is certainly strange.”
The golden Buddha statue is dangerous.
To use something so perilous in a place where countless people gather….
And if it were stolen, that would be an even greater catastrophe.
There’s no telling into whose hands such a dangerous artifact might fall.
No matter how thoroughly the Murim Alliance guards it, ten constables cannot stop a single thief.
“I cannot fathom why the League Master issued such an order, but I could not bear to see the Murim descend into chaos because of it. According to the League Master’s own words, it should never leave this place!”
Ah….
A sudden realization struck me, and I bit my lip.
“Could it be that you intended to take your own life if we descended the mountain with a counterfeit?”
If I delivered a false golden Buddha statue, the League Master would surely notice.
And only the Sect Leader knows where the true golden Buddha statue is kept.
“….”
His silence confirmed my suspicion.
Sigh….
This is indeed the League Master’s test.
The League Master anticipated that I would grow suspicious of whether the golden Buddha statue was truly a demonic artifact, and through interrogating the Sect Leader, I would learn the truth.
If I were to leave the genuine artifact behind and take the counterfeit, the League Master would be certain that I had seen through his dark intentions.
Then he would use the counterfeit as a pretext to eliminate me.
I must take the genuine artifact no matter what.
The problem is that if I take the genuine one, it will certainly be used for something terrible.
I’m caught between a rock and a hard place. Damn it.
This ordeal is simultaneously a test of me and a test of the Guam Sect’s Sect Leader.
Perhaps the Sect Leader has already sensed something suspicious about the League Master.
If I take the counterfeit, the Guam Sect will also disappear.
In my previous life, the Guam Sect was a tragic sect destroyed by the Green Forest Bandits.
At the time, I thought little of it, but now it was clear that the Murim Alliance had orchestrated it.
There are no Green Forest Bandits on Mount Tai capable of confronting the Guam Sect, and even if there were, it would require considerable sacrifice.
I still cannot fathom what scheme is being orchestrated that requires identifying and eliminating suspicious individuals.
This is truly difficult.
The League Master himself ordered me to seal it, and he asked for the Golden Buddha Statue—that alone was suspicious.
Could it be that the League Master is no longer himself?
That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I quickly dismissed it.
No, people simply change.
People don’t change easily, but if something happens, they can change in an instant—that’s human nature.
“Sect Leader. Please give me the real Golden Buddha Statue.”
“And what of mine would you trust?”
“You trusted me enough to reveal the truth, didn’t you?”
“You believe what I said is the truth?”
“Yes. You went through the trouble of bringing me all the way here to tell me such a story. Why would you go to such lengths to lie?”
….
“Since you’ve spoken truthfully to me, I will do the same.”
I turned my head to face the Sect Leader as I spoke.
“I despise the Murim Alliance.”
“Yet you travel alongside the Murim Alliance’s Jo Jang….”
“Because the League Master commanded it. If I refuse his orders, I fear I’ll die, so I simply obey.”
The Sect Leader’s face darkened at my words.
“Are you being coerced?”
“It’s less coercion than a test. As I’ve traveled from place to place, I’ve come to know of the deeds the League Master has committed. They were far from virtuous.”
I continued.
“And the League Master assigned me this task to see whether I would notice his true intentions.”
….
“If I don’t bring back the real statue, it means I’ve seen through the League Master’s scheme. Then I’ll be in grave danger.”
The Sect Leader bit his lip at my words.
“And Guam Sect will face the same fate as I.”
The Sect Leader spoke with a heavy expression.
“I’ve already prepared myself for death.”
“Have your disciples done the same?”
….
The Sect Leader’s eyes wavered.
Of course they hadn’t.
“They haven’t, have they?”
….
“You say you’ve prepared yourself for death, but surely you must protect your disciples, whose futures lie ahead of them?”
“But how can I know where and how that Golden Buddha Statue will be used if I hand it over?”
“Sect Leader. I’m not acting recklessly. I have a plan.”
“A plan?”
“Yes.”
I spoke with conviction.
“I intend to ensure that Golden Buddha Statue is never used for evil. So please, trust me and give me the real one.”
“….”
“The Sect Leader said he made his decision here for Guam Sect. So please, I ask that you make a decision for the sect.”
I bowed respectfully.
I could feel the Sect Leader’s gaze fixed on the back of my head.
Time passed, and the Sect Leader who had been deliberating finally spoke to me.
“Your aura is remarkably pure.”
“….”
“I will trust in that aura.”
Success!
I lifted my head and asked.
“Where is the real golden Buddha statue?”
At my words, the Sect Leader pointed his finger at the ground.
“Pardon?”
“It’s here.”
“Here, you say?”
“Beneath your feet. You’ll probably need to dig down about two feet.”
He truly had it sealed away.
So that was why Geumryeong had taken a liking to this place.
“Then I shall call the warriors and have them dig up the ground.”
“No. Who would you trust with such a task? You’ll dig it yourself.”
“Me, you say?”
“Or shall I dig? Making this old man do manual labor! Tsk, tsk….”
“I will dig it myself.”
I sighed and dug earnestly at the ground, eventually succeeding in unearthing the golden Buddha statue.
Alas, such is my fate.
.
.
.
Several days had passed.
Those I had put to sleep opened their eyes with refreshed expressions.
“Fortunately, it does not appear to be a contagious illness. Did you perhaps go outside at night?”
“Ah, yes.”
“It seems I took a brief walk.”
“Most likely, you fell asleep due to the pollen of a rare herb that grows only on Mount Tai.”
At my words, Won Chief nodded.
“Then we are fortunate. We must depart with haste. Much time has already been lost.”
“Indeed.”
We promptly took our leave from the Sect Leader and began descending the mountain.
Tied to Won Chief’s back was a bundle.
The false golden Buddha statue.
If by any chance the golden Buddha statue were stolen on the way, my entire plan would fall apart.
So I’ve kept the real golden Buddha statue in my secret vault.
It’s irreplaceable, after all.
Of course, the fake golden Buddha statue is also part of my plan, so I need to guard it carefully.
“Travel safely.”
“Yes, I’ll take my leave now.”
“Please stay well.”
The Sect Leader sent me a transmission.
– Please do your best.
– Yes, I won’t let you down.
And so we descended Mount Tai once more and arrived in Jinan.
From Jinan, I planned to take a boat to Luoyang.
Going upstream along the Yellow River would be far faster than traveling by land.
“It seems we should rest at an inn before departing.”
“No.”
I responded firmly to Won Chief’s suggestion.
“The longer we linger here, the more trouble will find us. We must board the boat immediately.”
“But surely a boat can’t be arranged so quickly, can it?”
“I’ve already arranged one.”
“What?”
“It should be waiting now. Let’s go.”
We arrived at the ferry terminal and made our way to the dock that handled transport for the Baek Yeom Merchant Guild.
“Ah! Young Master Eun Seo-ho!”
The dock manager recognized me immediately.
“We’ve been waiting for you. This way, please.”
What I had asked Ho Gyeong Prince to arrange previously was precisely a boat heading to Luoyang.
So the moment we arrived in Jinan, we were able to board and depart for Luoyang.
“Huh….”
Won Chief wore a bewildered expression.
“So things can work out like this.”
“That’s what preparation means. And I’ve been quite busy, you see.”
I exhaled slowly and gazed ahead.
At last, I would meet the League Master.
Just thinking about striking the League Master from behind made me a bit nervous.

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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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