The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 576

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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 576

Chapter 576. How to Make Someone Eat Crow (1)

I poured the carefully brewed Cham Ho Chang-woong medicinal decoction into a bowl.
Glug, glug, glug.
The dark liquid pooled in the vessel.
Ugh! Just the smell alone was bitter.
I carried it toward the backyard.
“Nine thousand nine hundred and five!”
“Nine thousand nine hundred and six!”
The ten thousand sword forms I had ordered were nearly complete.
I waited until they finished the full count, then approached with the decoction in hand.
“You’ve worked hard. Drink this down in one go.”
“Gasp, cough—what is this?”
“A medicinal decoction I brewed myself.”
They looked startled at my words.
“Did the Great Hero brew it personally?”
“Yes.”
I smiled faintly.
“This is expensive medicine. It uses a secret formula and will rapidly elevate your lacking stamina.”
At my words, they expressed their gratitude and drank the decoction down.
“Ugh!”
“Blech!”
“Yes, it’s terribly bitter. But as they say, bitter medicine is good for the body. So don’t even think of spitting it out—drink it all down. Every last drop!”
“….”
“For every drop of decoction you spill or leave behind, you’ll do ten sit-ups per drop.”
At my words, though their faces twisted in agony, they drank every last bit without wasting a drop.
“C-could we at least drink some water?”
“Absolutely not. For the next three days, you may consume nothing but this decoction. Nothing else.”
“….”
Their expressions grew despondent, but I remained firm.
“Jog around the open ground while you digest it.”
At my command, they began circling the grounds, and I explained the decoction to them.
“…So endure for just three days. As they say, hardship precedes joy. Three days of suffering will give you results equivalent to three months of stamina training.”
“Gasp, pant—but why do we need stamina training?”
“An excellent question.”
I nodded thoughtfully and continued.
“The martial techniques you’ve learned draw out your full potential when you’re angry. However, the price is that your energy depletes rapidly. Do you remember when I checked your pulse and asked you to cultivate anger?”
“Yes.”
“I remember.”
“At that time, both of you were already in a state of anger because of the Black Path gang members, so you quickly signaled from your abdomen. Even if you become stronger, it’s useless if you can’t sustain it for long.”
“That’s true.”
“That’s why physical conditioning is necessary. First, to extend the duration of drawing out your latent power through anger, and simultaneously to resolve the imbalance between mental imagery and physical stamina.”
“Huff, huff… I see. But…”
Dae-nok Warrior asked with a contorted expression.
“It feels like my entire body is being squeezed. Is this alright?”
“Didn’t I mention it earlier? You’ll have severe muscle soreness. And because you’re moving your body right now, it’s only this bad. Try stopping.”
At my words, they stopped moving, and shortly after.
“Ughhhh!”
Their entire bodies twisted in agony.
“If you keep moving, you’ll be able to endure it somewhat.”
At my words, they gritted their teeth and began running across the open ground.
Seeing this, Myeong-jong Warrior and Chang-un Warrior became interested in the medicinal decoction and dipped their fingers into the bowl to taste it.
And…
“Blegh!”
“W-water!”
They rushed frantically toward the inn.
.
.
.
It was the second day of the friendly martial arts competition.
I instructed the two warriors in their training and then headed toward the martial arts arena.
Physical conditioning was something they had to do on their own anyway.
Seo Hyang and Palgap didn’t need to watch the matches, so they stayed at the inn to keep watch.
All the guards came with me.
Perhaps witnessing diverse and high-level martial arts matches would bring them enlightenment.
On the way, I encountered Bok Yun Sub-leader and we traveled together.
“These days, Sakang Branch Master seems absolutely delighted.”
I recalled his affectionate interactions with Jeong Ryeon and let out a quiet chuckle.
“Isn’t it natural to be happy?”
“That’s true. By the way, when are you planning to marry, Eun Small Merchant Leader?”
“Pardon?”
“You don’t intend to remain unmarried, do you?”
“…I haven’t really given it much thought.”
Marriage felt like a distant matter to me.
The Guiju Castle Fortress Commander had mentioned that I should marry his daughter, which did give me some pause…
My foremost objective was to take revenge against the Murim Alliance and Baekcheon Trading Company.
To do so, I felt it was honestly unfair to drag even the Lady into this path of hardship.
“By any chance, is there a Young Lady nearby whom you observe, and for some inexplicable reason, you feel a parching sensation when looking at her?”
“….”
His words did bring someone to mind, but….
Sigh, I’m not entirely sure myself.
That was when it happened.
“…!”
A familiar gait caught my eye.
A man was walking toward me, and he passed right by.
His appearance was unfamiliar, yet the feeling was not.
Could it be Master?
Has Master come to this place as well?
I realized this fact belatedly and quickly turned around, but Master was already out of sight.
Did he come here after bringing Eun Jung-ho to the Main Headquarters?
“Why do you ask?”
At Bok Yun Sub-leader’s question, I shook my head.
“It’s nothing.”
I had no way of knowing where the Murim Alliance’s eyes might be, so I needed to be cautious with my actions.
For now, I would simply keep the knowledge that Master had come to myself.
Soon we arrived at the Martial Arts Arena, and each of us made our way to our seats.
My parents had left the inn first, so they were already seated and waiting.
Beside them sat Go Il-pyeong and Eun Jin-ho.
“Ah, you’ve arrived?”
“Yes.”
I nodded and asked Eun Jin-ho.
“Are you nervous?”
“No. I was a bit nervous on the first day, but not so much now.”
There was confidence evident in Eun Jin-ho’s answer.
He must have felt it too.
That the level of those participating in the friendly martial competition was not as high as expected.
Originally, the friendly martial competition was where highly skilled masters would test their martial prowess and share insights, but it had degenerated into a battle of pride among the younger heirs.
As a result, martial artists of standing no longer participated for the sake of face.
Officially, there was no age restriction.
There is a saying that stagnant water with no fresh flow becomes corrupted.
The Murim Alliance, and this event as well, had become corrupted from standing still for so long.
“Fellow practitioners of the Murim!”
Hong Woo-geom Geum Yeon-hwa was now standing on the Martial Arts Arena.
“We shall now begin the second day of preliminary matches for the Martial Arts Grand Conference friendly competition!”
“Waaaaaaah!”
The crowd erupted in cheers.
“I shall now reveal the matchups for the second day of martial arts competition!”
At those words, an assistant removed the wooden cover hanging over the bracket board.
“Eon Seung-yeon of the Jin Zhu-eon Clan! And his opponent is Yeom Woo of the Yeom Clan!”
Upon hearing their names called, Eon Seung-yeon Warrior and Yeom Woo Warrior ascended to the martial arts arena.
At the mention of the Yeom Clan, memories surfaced of my Maternal Uncle’s affairs and the shameful match-fixing that had occurred at the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament.
However, the friendly matches of the Martial Arts Grand Conference were far more difficult to manipulate than those at the Yongbong tournament.
The Yongbong tournament allowed such corruption because the competitors’ abilities varied wildly and the matches themselves weren’t particularly significant, but the friendly matches were different.
Most of the participants possessed comparable skill levels, and the honor of their respective families and sects hung in the balance.
To attempt match-fixing in such circumstances would be….
Well, I’ll spare the further explanation.
Boom—!
With the sound of the drum, Eon Seung-yeon Warrior and Yeom Woo Warrior assumed their ready stances.
Soon they drew closer, and sparks flew as Eon Seung-yeon Warrior’s iron armor clashed with Yeom Woo Warrior’s blade.
Clang! Clang clang! Clang!
Generally in combat, the fighter wielding the longer weapon gains the advantage.
Thus swords typically dominate over fists, and spears over swords.
Yet the Jin Zhu-eon Clan was renowned for their martial arts of the fist.
They possessed techniques powerful enough to overturn such conventional wisdom.
One of those techniques was precisely what I was witnessing now.
Iron Body Technique.
Also called Iron Corpse Technique, though in recent times it has been referred to as Iron Body Technique instead.
It was a method of hardening one’s own body like a lump of metal to deflect the attacks of long-bladed weapons.
Eon Seung-yeon Warrior’s body drove forward toward Yeom Woo Warrior.
Screeeech!
Yeom Woo Warrior’s blade scraped across Eon Seung-yeon Warrior’s body, but instead of the sound of cloth tearing, the screech of metal grinding against metal echoed through the arena.
Indeed, those who competed in the friendly matches were on a different level.
The Iron Body Technique of the one I had faced against Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master at the Yongbong tournament was nowhere near this refined.
“Ugh!”
Yeom Woo Warrior hastily tried to create distance, but Eon Seung-yeon Warrior pressed forward as if anticipating the move.
Paradoxically, long weapons become disadvantageous when the distance between opponents closes.
Yet the Yeom Clan was indeed a prestigious martial family, so they surely had prepared countermeasures.
Whoosh!
One such measure was the supplementary leg technique they trained in.
With Yeom Woo Warrior’s kick, the marker that had been attached to Eon Seung-yeon Warrior’s abdomen fell to the ground.
After such back-and-forth exchanges that left spectators gripping their seats, the first match ultimately concluded with Eon Seung-yeon Warrior’s victory.
“Waaaaah!”
“Splendid!”
“The Iron Body Hero! The Iron Body Hero!”
A hero of fist techniques with an iron body—it was indeed a fitting epithet.
Assistants came out and swept the martial arts arena floor clean.
The match had been quite fierce, which is why a considerable amount of blood was spilled.
It looks like the trauma salve will sell well again this time.
“Now, let me announce the second match!”
The assistants removed the covers from the name plaques.
“Jo Un, disciple of the Jongnam Sect! Facing him is Eun Jin-ho of the Eun Hae Trading Company!”
At that, my Elder Brother Eun Jin-ho rose from his seat.
Finally, it’s Elder Brother’s turn.
He removed the long robe he was wearing, picked up the Azure Dragon Blade, and bowed respectfully to Father and Mother.
“I apologize for not informing you beforehand. I will accept your scolding later.”
Mother sighed in response, while Father smiled wryly and spoke.
“Heh heh heh, since you’re going out there, make sure you win.”
“Yes!”
“But don’t get injured. If you lose without injury, I won’t scold you, but if you win while injured, I’ll give you quite the earful.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Elder Brother made that promise and then turned his head toward me.
I chuckled and spoke.
“Elder Brother.”
“Hmm?”
“Stop trying to look cool and get going. Don’t you see the audience waiting?”
“Ahem, ahem ahem.”
Elder Brother climbed onto the martial arts arena with an embarrassed expression at my words.
Trying to look cool at his age—how ridiculous.
The two of them each wore seven markers on their bodies.
Boom—!
With the sound of the drum, the match began.
The Jongnam Sect disciple made the first move.
“Do you happen to know him?”
At my question, Chang-un Warrior nodded.
“Yes. He is my senior brother. Among us, he possessed outstanding skill—a cut above the rest—and the elders called him the future of Jongnam.”
Chang-un Warrior’s face was filled with pride.
“I see.”
I nodded.
“What is his specialty?”
“Pardon? Are you perhaps thinking of sending him a secret message?”
At that question, I let out a quiet laugh.
“Chang-un Warrior, you of all people should know that’s impossible.”
The martial arts arena has a formation deployed that prevents secret messages from being transmitted.
It’s to block people from offering guidance through secret messages or interfering with the match.
He seemed to realize this and lowered his head.
“I was careless. My apologies.”
“It’s fine. That’s a reasonable assumption given the circumstances.”
“Yes. To explain briefly, Senior Brother Jo Un’s specialty is the Heavenly Speed Sword.”
Among Jongnam’s signature martial techniques, the Heavenly Sword refined to maximize speed.
Because of this, each individual strike lacks overwhelming power, but the relentless barrage of attacks flowing seamlessly is exceptional.
Those caught off guard by such indiscriminate assaults find themselves helplessly defending until defeat comes.
“It may prove to be a formidable opponent for the Second Small Merchant Leader.”
“Is that so?”
I let out a quiet chuckle.
Well, Chang-un Warrior doesn’t know Jin-ho well, so he’s saying such things.
Jin-ho’s martial prowess is nothing to scoff at, and I’ve never seen him unleash his full power in earnest.
Taaht!
Jo Un Warrior’s opening strike.
An ordinary Heavenly Speed Sword. Is he testing the waters?
Taaht-!
Clang!
Clang-clang!
Elder Brother parried the attack effortlessly, then immediately launched a counterattack.
“Hah!”
The Azure Dragon Spear danced, and in an instant, six exchanges of blows had passed.
Clang! Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!
“Huff, I concede.”
Jo Un Warrior spoke.
“I apologize for underestimating you because you’re from a merchant guild. Now let me fight properly.”
Shasak!
Before his warning even finished, Jo Un Warrior’s form vanished.
No—it was the Heavenly Speed Sword.
Truly worthy of being called Jongnam’s future.
Most Peak Martial Masters wouldn’t be able to follow that speed.
But.
Kakang!
Jin-ho’s Azure Dragon Spear blocked the attack. Jo Un Warrior’s shocked expression was worth seeing.
One of Jin-ho’s greatest advantages is his wide field of vision and lightning-fast reflexes.
That’s why he’s so perfectly suited to spear techniques.
Tuk.
Jin-ho’s performance didn’t end with merely blocking Jo Un Warrior’s attack.
He blocked the strike and immediately counterattacked, destroying the mark on his shoulder.
“Waaaaaah!”
“It’s truly Cham Ho Chang-woong!”
Our Merchant Guild members were cheering for Jin-ho, calling out his name.
“I’m not finished yet!”
“Please, continue! I’m not done yet!”
At Jin-ho’s words, Jo Un bit his lip and launched another attack with his Swift Blade technique.
He must be getting frustrated.
His carefully planned assault was being blocked too easily, and he was even allowing counterattacks.
Truth be told, Jin-ho hadn’t been able to respond to the Swift Blade with such composure and precision before….
Through sparring with me, he’d adapted to my speed and movements, and his skills had improved accordingly.
If Jo Un loses, would that be because of me…?
I glanced subtly at Chang-un.
His expression growing increasingly tense.
Yes, I should just stay quiet.

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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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