The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 562
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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 562
Chapter 562. Divine Beast Transformation Technique (1)
Upon my return, I found myself immediately buried under a mountain of work.
The unexpected detour to Luoyang had cost me considerable time, and the consequences were substantial.
Honestly, the Murim Alliance has done nothing but complicate my life!
I was cursing the Murim Alliance internally while attending to my duties.
“Seo-ho!”
The door swung open, and Eun Jung-ho entered.
Since my return, my elder brother’s expression had brightened noticeably with each passing day.
“What is it?”
At my curt response, he chuckled softly and extended a letter toward me.
“A letter has arrived for Father.”
“Hmm? For Father?”
Ah, so that was the reason.
After returning from Luoyang this time, I had sent a letter to Father through Geumryeong.
The matter of the right to choose any location in the Merchant District that I had received from the League Master was far too significant to overlook.
This was likely Father’s official response regarding that matter.
I accepted the letter and unfolded it.
[Seo-ho, listen well. As I told Eun Jung-ho, the Martial Arts Grand Conference will be held in Luoyang this autumn. And our Eun Hae Trading Company will conduct business in the Merchant District there.]
I smiled wryly.
I already knew this from the reply Geumryeong had brought back, so there was nothing particularly surprising about it. Yet I could feel Father’s excitement radiating from every word of the letter.
It was as though he were saying: Let’s make a substantial profit from this Martial Arts Grand Conference!
[Furthermore, since I must travel to Luoyang myself this time, I cannot leave this position vacant. Thus, it appears Eun Jung-ho must return to the Main Headquarters for the time being.]
Ah, so that’s the real point.
I can’t help it.
Things have been convenient up until now.
“What is it? Why that expression?”
At Eun Jung-ho’s words, I laughed awkwardly.
“What do you mean?”
“You look disappointed that you can’t work me harder anymore?”
Ugh, I’ve been caught.
So Eun Jung-ho is quite perceptive after all.
“Come on, that’s not fair. I’m not shameless enough for that.”
“Really?”
I laughed sheepishly and changed the subject.
“So when are you heading back?”
“About a month from now?”
“That’s a relief.”
At my words, Eun Jung-ho gave me a sharp look.
“What do you mean, a relief?”
I grinned widely.
Through this incident, I had come to realize something.
It was that I needed to master the art of disguise.
Jin Yu Warrior and Seo Hyang needed to keep their identities hidden.
There were times when I had to conceal my distinctive face.
And so I recalled the disguise technique my Master had used during the last Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament.
The disguise technique he had learned from an old friend was truly remarkable.
It could even alter one’s inner essence.
Of course, the fundamental clarity of the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art could not be hidden from those who had mastered the same technique.
That day, I sent a letter to my Master, and Geumryeong returned with his reply.
“Coo! Coo!”
Geumryeong fluttered through the window, and Palgap quickly caught him.
“Coo?”
Using Palgap’s hand as a stepping stone, Geumryeong leaped and nestled snugly into my arms.
I chuckled softly and stroked Geumryeong’s back.
“You’re back?”
“Coo!”
Watching him, I finally understood why Geumryeong always insisted on entering through the window.
“So you wanted to hear my praise? That’s why you always come through the window?”
“Coo?”
“What? That’s not it?”
“Coo! Coo! Coo!”
“Ah… so passing through walls makes you hungry faster, is that it?”
“Coo!”
“If I gave you more money, you’d be willing to pass through walls to come back?”
I laughed as I spoke.
“Just keep coming through the window.”
“Coo…”
Geumryeong’s ears drooped, and I chuckled as I untied the letter fastened to his tail.
[As it happens, I encountered an Old Friend during the last trading expedition and received permission from him to teach the Art of Transformation. I shall head to Beijing and instruct you in it. It seems I will arrive in Beijing in a few days.]
When I heard that my Master was coming to Beijing in person, a smile bloomed across my face.
That meant I wouldn’t need to leave my post.
Eun Jung-ho would be pleased about this.
“Squeak!”
“Yes, I understand.”
I gave Geumryeong a silver coin.
Last time, I had forgotten to give Geumryeong three gold coins, partly because Geumryeong hadn’t pressed the matter.
So when I gave Geumryeong the three gold coins, I asked him a question.
Why hadn’t he urged me this time?
Geumryeong replied that he had intended to collect interest once the due date had passed.
I watched Geumryeong sitting before the table, licking the silver coin with relish, and contemplated.
This creature Geumryeong was no ordinary beast.
.
.
.
Not long after.
My Master arrived at the Beijing Branch.
Seeing that only a few had come with him, it appeared he had undertaken a swift and covert merchant expedition.
Those who accompanied him were all exceptionally skilled individuals.
I bowed respectfully and greeted him.
“Your disciple pays respects to Master.”
“It’s good to see you.”
“Are you returning after completing your merchant expedition?”
“Indeed.”
My Master nodded.
“This merchant expedition’s destination was Beijing.”
“I see.”
I continued speaking.
“I have prepared comfortable quarters within the branch for you to stay.”
“I won’t decline.”
“Had you declined, your disciple would have been quite disappointed.”
At my words, my Master laughed.
I personally guided my Master to his quarters.
“Please make use of this place.”
My Master’s quarters were located where the old residence near the Beijing Branch had once stood before it collapsed.
After that, we began reconstruction and now connected it to the branch office.
It was meant to accommodate family members, employees dispatched to Beijing, and guests.
I could have offered it to Won Chief and his party, but I simply didn’t want to, so I didn’t.
“Please use this place.”
The location I guided my Master to was a separate pavilion-style building.
It was well-furnished with household items, spacious and comfortable—a place reserved only for distinguished guests.
“Such fine quarters! Thank you.”
“Please don’t mention it. As your disciple, this is only natural. Don’t feel burdened, Master.”
“I understand.”
“Rest comfortably. I’ll send word when it’s time for dinner.”
When evening arrived, I made my way to the Banquet Hall.
I had prepared a banquet for my Master and his party.
I sent Palgap to fetch my Master, and soon his entire entourage arrived at the Banquet Hall.
“I’ve brought them.”
“Well done.”
I greeted my Master respectfully.
“You must have had a difficult journey from such a distant place. I’ve prepared a modest banquet and hope it suits your tastes.”
“Don’t worry. We eat anything without complaint.”
Why did those words sound so melancholy?
Indeed, they must have had no time to be choosy about food.
They had to sustain themselves by eating whatever was available.
We took our seats at the table and began our meal.
“It’s wonderful having a disciple who is wealthy.”
“I’ll earn even more and provide you with greater comfort.”
The fact that I was my Master’s disciple was now known throughout the world, so there was no need to hide it.
After we all finished a satisfying meal, I arranged a separate space where my Master and I could converse privately.
“I was quite startled when I received your letter last time. I had suspected Hyung-su might be connected to the Murim Alliance, but to think it was actually true.”
At that time, after learning the full details from Jegal Family’s Grand Elder, I had immediately sent a letter to my Master.
“Had you already suspected this, Master?”
“Yes, I had.”
My Master nodded.
“When traveling merchant routes, one hears and sees far more than expected. Through this, I’ve come to know of the Murim Alliance’s movements, and their actions seemed suspicious, so I’ve been investigating them.”
My Master continued speaking.
“Thanks to you, I no longer need to poke around here and there trying to uncover Hyung-su’s identity.”
“However, Master, the problem is the reason. If we cannot discover why they targeted Seolpung Palace, we cannot guarantee the palace’s safety.”
“I share that concern.”
Why did the Murim Alliance feel compelled to annihilate the Seolpung Palace? And to burn everything in the process?
Why such total destruction?
“Still, I’m grateful to the Lesser Palace Mistress for turning my suspicions into certainty.”
“I’m embarrassed. I didn’t do anything significant.”
“How could you say that?”
My Master smiled and spoke.
“My fist nearly flew out just now, so please be careful with such false modesty.”
Yikes!
I can’t block my Master’s fist.
“Yes, I’ll be more careful.”
My Master took a sip of tea and broached the main topic.
“But I knew you wanted to learn that transformation technique—why now?”
“Didn’t you tell me before? That at the peak level, one can only transform a single part of the face, and to use it properly, one must reach the transcendent level or beyond?”
“You remember well. Though I suppose your memory is exceptional.”
“Now that I’ve adapted to my current realm and it feels stable, I made this request.”
I continued.
“And this time, I acted under the League Master’s orders….”
“What? The League Master’s orders?”
Ah….
I hadn’t told my Master about this yet.
“The circumstances were urgent at the time, so I couldn’t inform you beforehand. Please forgive your unworthy disciple.”
“No, if the Small Merchant Guild Leader did so, there must have been good reason. It seems there were no major problems regardless.”
“I returned in good health.”
I continued.
“In truth, from the moment I first met the League Master, I sensed something unsettling. And having heard certain things from Jin Yu Warrior, I’ve been even more cautious of the League Master.”
Jin Yu Warrior is an assassin specially trained by the League Master, after all.
“I’m aware of that matter.”
Then there’s no need for complicated explanations.
I explained this incident in detail.
How Won Chief visited with the League Master’s letter, and how it was actually a test from the League Master.
And my conversation with the Guam Sect Master on Mount Tai, and even how I stole the Buddha statue.
I mention stealing the Buddha statue because my Master is someone I can truly trust.
And he and I are bound by a shared fate.
“…And that is how it came to pass.”
“That was dangerous.”
“Yes. But I didn’t deviate too far from my original plan, so I was able to resolve it safely.”
“Still, you must be careful. No matter how much suspicion fades, once you’ve suspected someone, you can suspect them again.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
I continued.
“That’s why I requested to learn the transformation technique this time. To prepare for future entanglements with the Murim Alliance.”
“Then you intend for the Small Merchant Guild Leader and the Guard Warriors to learn the Transformation Technique?”
“Yes, and Seo Hyang must also learn the Transformation Technique, but….”
I trailed off.
Seo Hyang had only recently begun studying the Heavenly Stream Technique, and her proficiency was still quite limited.
My Master nodded and spoke.
“Since we’ve decided to address my niece informally, I’ll simply call her by her name.”
“Of course. Please feel free to do so.”
“What is Seo Hyang’s current level?”
“Second-rate, approximately.”
“How long has it been since she began studying the Heavenly Stream Technique?”
“About two years….”
“Second-rate after merely two years of studying the Heavenly Stream Technique…. Hmph! You yourself are a genius and don’t seem to realize it, but for someone who began martial training as an adult, that level of progress is truly remarkable.”
“Ah….”
Now that he mentioned it, I hadn’t realized it because my own level and that of my Guard Warriors were quite high, but that degree of progress could indeed be called genius-level.
“However, no matter how talented one is, such speed is unusual… Have you perhaps consumed any elixirs?”
“No.”
I shook my head and a possibility came to mind.
Could it be that she possesses the Ice Jade Eyes, making her particularly compatible with ice-based martial techniques?
Moreover, Seo Hyang herself has exceptional talent, and she is extremely diligent and conscientious.
The combination of these factors must have led to her current achievements.
However, I cannot mention this to my Master.
I would need the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master’s permission to discuss the Ice Jade Eyes.
“I look forward to seeing her future progress.”
“Yes.”
“In any case, at that level, major alterations would be difficult, but changing the shape of the lips or ears slightly, or adding a mole, should be possible.”
“That would be sufficient.”
“And Jin Yu Warrior… his level appeared to be at the peak, is that correct?”
“Yes. That is my understanding.”
My Master, who had been thinking for a moment, spoke.
“I should meet Jin Yu Warrior.”
I called for Jin Yu Warrior, and he soon arrived at our location.
“You called for me?”
I spoke to him.
“Master wished to see Jin Yu Warrior, so I made this request.”
“I see.”
Master gazed at Jin Yu Warrior for a moment before speaking.
“It appears you’ve made considerable progress in your spiritual cultivation recently.”
Perhaps because they had known each other from the beginning, Master spoke to him comfortably.
“!”
At Master’s words, Jin Yu Warrior flinched and readily explained the situation.
“In truth, when my lord recently traveled to Mount Tai and Luoyang, I was granted leave. During that time, I devoted myself to meditation.”
“A wise choice. Thanks to that, you’ve achieved harmony between martial prowess and enlightenment.”
Master, who had been speaking thus, suddenly moved.
Thud! Crack! Thud! Smack! Thud!
Master struck Jin Yu Warrior’s body repeatedly with his fists, and finally, Master’s fist drove deep into Jin Yu Warrior’s abdomen.
“Hack! Cough!”
Jin Yu Warrior coughed up blood and collapsed, losing consciousness.
The speed was so swift that even I couldn’t react properly.
“M-Master!”
Why was he doing this all of a sudden?
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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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