The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 591

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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 591

Chapter 591. Everything Has Its Reason (1)

Father seemed absolutely delighted by my victory.
“Hahaha! Two members of our family advancing to the second round of the main tournament at the same time—how could this not be the glory of our house?”
“You’re truly that pleased?”
“Of course!”
Father nodded repeatedly, his enthusiasm undiminished.
“The exhilaration one feels when those who once scorned us as mere merchants now bow and scrape before us—it’s beyond words.”
I smiled and nodded in agreement at his words.
After all, I too had experienced my share of contempt for being a merchant.
“If not for your tournament tomorrow, I’d take you to the gathering, but I suppose I must restrain myself.”
“Hahaha. Please bear with me just a little longer. The tournament isn’t finished yet.”
Tomorrow would see the conclusion of the main tournament with the third and fourth rounds of the Ji-jo competition.
I watched my parents and Elder Brother Jin-ho head toward the banquet hall, then made my way to the Yeon Pung Inn.
“I should go rest for a bit.”
At my words, Palgap asked in disbelief.
“Young Master, place your hand on your heart and tell me truthfully—are you lacking in stamina right now?”
“….”
“Are you perhaps craving nourishing food?”
“….”
“Are your limbs trembling and your eyes twitching?”
“….”
I quickly covered Palgap’s mouth.
“Stop, stop! I understand! We’ll go to the commercial district!”
“One should not postpone duties.”
I knew that well enough.
“But not today. If I go to the commercial district right after the tournament, I’ll be exhausted. I appreciate the congratulations, but receiving greetings from everyone is more draining than the tournament itself.”
“I would think that’s better than having stones thrown at you while being called a dead man.”
“W-well, that’s true.”
But why was his example so extreme?
I sighed and headed toward the commercial district, where—as expected—countless people approached me.
Small Merchant Guild Leaders I was friendly with, as well as Merchant Guild Leaders and senior merchants from other companies.
I must have offered thanks over five hundred times just walking to the temporary shop.
After inspecting the temporary shop, I began surveying the commercial district.
After all, checking for any issues was quite an important task.
With the friendly martial arts tournament finals drawing near, the time was ripe.
With such thoughts in mind, I observed the temporary shop that Baekcheon Trading Company was operating.
The most coveted location in the Murim Grand Conference Commercial District.
Yet I had willingly surrendered that prime spot and obtained two temporary shops instead.
And soon enough, the reason for that decision would become apparent.
As I walked while contemplating this matter, I heard a familiar voice.

“You were right about this. I should have done it from the start.”
“Back then, I was honestly hesitant. And I didn’t want my Teacher to have to apologize to someone else because of me.”

That voice… In-bong Warrior?
He seemed to be conversing with someone, yet I couldn’t hear the other person’s voice.
I tilted my head in curiosity and made my way toward the source of the voice, discovering him sitting on a nearby rock, gazing into empty space with a smile as if engaged in conversation with someone.
Now that I thought about it, I recalled rumors about him.
They said he learned martial arts from a ghost and commanded spirits—perhaps this very scene was the source of such tales.
“Hmm! Is he really, really, really talking to a ghost?”
Palgap’s expression turned fearful.
The others wore tense faces as well. Though I felt the tension too, I took a slow, deep breath.
No matter the situation, composure always reveals the path forward.
– Squeak! Squeak!
At that moment, Geumryeong sent me a telepathic message.
Hmm? There’s an incredibly powerful person right ahead?
That meant In-bong Warrior was conversing with a person, not a ghost.
Since Geumryeong had identified them as an incredibly powerful ‘person’.
I examined that direction using the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art and soon smiled.
So that was it.
While others hadn’t noticed, I had detected it thanks to the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art.
There was indeed someone standing before In-bong Warrior.
Such concealment techniques were at the Hwagyeong level.
Without the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art, even I would have believed it was truly a ghost.
Now I understood.
The rumor that In-bong Warrior learned martial arts from a ghost must stem from learning it from this merchant.
And from the perspective of those who witnessed it, since they couldn’t see the conversation partner, they naturally assumed he was speaking with a spirit.
But who was this merchant that he refused to reveal his identity?
He seemed to be from the Cheongseong Sect, so why was he hiding himself?
Questions piled upon questions.
Yet I had to set those questions aside.
I couldn’t interfere in their affairs.
And I needed rest for tomorrow’s martial competition.
I didn’t explain what I had discovered to my companions.
There must be a reason for how they were conducting themselves, and revealing it would be discourteous.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll hurry along.”
Palgap quickened his pace, and we returned to the Yeon Pung Inn.
After dinner, I washed up and headed to my chamber.
Just as I was about to sleep for the night ahead, the window suddenly opened.
Creeeeak.
– Chirp?
I heard Geumryeong’s mental transmission, sensing something amiss.
Then another voice reached my mind.
– Sorry to startle you.
“Who are you?”
– Didn’t you see me watching your conversation with In-bong earlier?
“….”
So he had indeed noticed that I was observing him back then.
“Ah, it was you, sir. So-sang Eun Seo-ho greets the Great Hero.”
I rose from my bed and bowed with a fist salute toward where I sensed his presence.
– Ha! So you really did notice me! How on earth did you detect my presence? Even the martial artists of Hwagyeong rarely manage that….
“I simply have rather keen senses. But what brings you here on such a late night?”
– First, I wanted to express my gratitude.
“I’m not sure I’ve done anything worthy of the Great Hero’s thanks….”
– Thanks to you, In-bong has found peace. This morning, he formally challenged the senior brothers who had been tormenting him, and he defeated every last one of them. Now no one dares to disrespect In-bong. Hehehehe.
He continued his mental transmission.
– He was able to do that because you dealt with someone named Geumbong. That boy had been hesitant, worried his teacher might suffer retaliation.
“I see there was such a circumstance.”
I continued speaking.
“But you needn’t thank me for it. It was merely compensation for deceiving In-bong Warrior.”
At my words, he laughed heartily.
– You mean hiding your true abilities?
“Indeed, you’ve seen through it.”
I answered with a calm smile, but my mouth had gone dry inside.
If he revealed my true strength to others, it would be a disaster.
While it was unlikely given that I was concealing my identity, one could never be too careful.
“I must ask as a precaution. Please refrain from mentioning this to anyone else.
– If you don’t speak of me to others, I shall likewise keep your secret.
A conditional agreement, then.
But I had no intention of revealing his existence anyway, so it posed no difficulty.
“Very well. Let us proceed on that understanding.”
I readily agreed.
“Since you’ve come all this way, might I ask you a few questions?”
– I’ll answer what I can.
“Why do you not reveal yourself? And why do you concern yourself so much with In-bong Warrior?”
This time, no answer came immediately.
A moment of silence stretched on, and finally a voice transmission reached me.
– Because he is my son.
…What?
It was not quite as shocking as when I learned that Geumbong’s father was the Cheongseong Sect Leader, and that his son had poisoned my own father.
It was one of the scenarios I had considered.
– But he does not know yet. I have not told him.
“….”
– And right now, I am in no position to reveal myself before him.
Why could he not speak of being a father?
“Perhaps you struck him while drunk?”
– How could that be!
“Then perhaps you starved him and drove him out to earn money?”
– No!
“You are not such a wicked father, so why do you hesitate to reveal yourself and speak of being his father?”
His voice transmission carried a bitter tone.
– Because I essentially abandoned my son to the Cheongseong Sect.
“….”
– I left the Cheongseong Sect and wandered the Kangho, where I met a woman. But when I returned to find her, I learned from a Black Swordsman that she had lost her life. Even in those dire circumstances, she bore my child, and I left that infant with the Cheongseong Sect and set out for revenge—a rather unremarkable tale.
“In the end, you completed your revenge and returned.”
– Yes. But so much time had passed that the boy was already over twenty years old. Yet my body had become utterly broken….
“….”
– There are rumors that In-bong converses with ghosts. Hehehehe, my appearance is truly no different from that of a ghost, so it is not entirely wrong.
Complex emotions resonated in his voice.
After completing his revenge, he must have returned to the Cheongseong Sect and entrusted his body to their care.
Though he had been gone from the sect for a long time, his martial prowess was such that they could not refuse to accept him.
Having returned to the Cheongseong Sect in this way, he found his son and approached him, teaching him martial arts and offering counsel like a kind uncle.
“So that is the story behind it all.”
– Still, it eases my heart to unburden myself to you like this.
“You trust me.”
At my words, he let out a soft laugh.
– We both have something to hold over each other, do we not?
He was colder than I expected—truly the bearing of one who had survived the carnage of the Kangho.
– I came at this late hour to express my gratitude, and also to warn you to keep my identity hidden. But there is something even more important than that.
What could be more important than that?
– Information about who Geumbong obtained that miraculous elixir through. I suspect the Sect Leader will not reveal this to you.
He was right.
In truth, this was a shameful secret of the Cheongseong Sect.
No matter how much I had aided the Cheongseong Sect Leader, he would not reveal anything beyond that.
It seems callous, but that’s the nature of Murim.
– I heard someone spotted a man with a red leaf-shaped tattoo.
“…!”
– And I myself have seen such a red leaf-shaped tattoo before.
I’ve heard mention of that as well.
The superior of the one who orchestrated the plan to destroy the Northern Sea Ice Palace had such a tattoo, or so I was told.
And from my suspicion, they are the Blood Sect.
It seemed that those of considerable rank among the Blood Sect members bore that tattoo.
“I ask out of caution. Do you know anything about their identities?”
– I don’t either. But what’s certain is that they definitely had some purpose.
“….”
– Be careful. If those who restored the Sect Leader to his senses—if they learn your identity, it could prove dangerous.
His concern and admonition for me.
I could tell that was his true purpose.
– Then, I shall take my leave. Forgive the intrusion at this late hour.
Whoosh.
A sound like wind rustling reached my ears, and soon his presence vanished.
At the same moment, I felt the qi barrier that had enveloped my space dissipate.
He had prevented any sound from leaking outside.
“Sigh….”
I collapsed onto the bed.
Ah, really.
I lost the entire night’s sleep.
How am I supposed to react when you omit the most crucial information?
Could this be revenge for making his son, In-bong Warrior, forfeit?
I had no choice but to grumble.
.
.
.
Dawn broke.
After spending the night lost in various thoughts, I ultimately got little sleep.
Fortunately, as I began my breathing cultivation, my mind gradually grew clearer.
The Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art truly is remarkable.

My family and I had a hearty breakfast before heading to the Martial Arts Arena.
Along the way, I received encouragement from many people as I took my seat.
Sigh….
Last night, Father and Mother returned quite late. They were surrounded by many people offering their congratulations.
Though I feel sorry to disappoint Father and Mother who are so pleased, I intend to lose this martial arts tournament.
I’ve already come far enough.
I am a merchant, not a martial artist. What use is it if I win the Friendly Martial Arts Tournament?

Soon the martial arts tournament began.
Geum Yeon-hwa took the stage and announced the first competitor.
“The first to compete today is Sister Hyang-ok of the Ami Sect, who has earned the new title of Swift Wind Immortal!”
“Waaaaaaa!”
“Swift Wind Immortal! Swift Wind Immortal!”
Hearing the crowd’s cheers, I also cheered as I watched Sister Hyang-ok ascend the stage.
“Facing her is Lightning Blade Wanderer Seo Mun Il-shin!”
“Waaaaaaa!”
A young master of the Seo Mun Family ascending to face Sister Hyang-ok.
Dressed in the blue robes symbolic of the Seo Mun Family, his Three Saber Technique is renowned as exceptional.
Hm?
I sensed something inexplicably strange about him.
Was that really Young Master Seo Mun Il-shin? Something about his aura feels off?
That was when it happened.
His lips twisted upward, and he swung his blade at Sister Hyang-ok, who was defenseless while adjusting her robes.
Screeeech!
Everyone froze in shock at the sudden turn of events, unsure how to react.
Clang!
When I came to my senses, I found myself blocking his blade.

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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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