The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 594

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 594

Chapter 594. Everything Has Its Reason (4)

I felt somewhat bewildered, but I faithfully followed Father’s advice.
“Ugh… this pain is quite… severe…”
I collapsed.
And soon feigned unconsciousness.
“My lord! My lord!”
“Oh no! Quickly, take him to the inn!”
“Yes!”
Thus, I was carried to the inn by my guards.
– My lord, it seems people will see you being moved. What shall we do?
– All the better.
So I was carried on a stretcher to the Yeon Pung Inn, feigning collapse.
Upon arriving at the guest room, Palgap’s voice reached my ears.
“You may open your eyes now, sir.”
I relaxed and opened my eyes, rising from the bed. Then I asked Palgap.
“How did you know I was fine?”
Indeed, Palgap had made a fuss when he saw me being carried into the inn, yet now he was perfectly calm.
Had my guards sent a secret message?
“Actually, Gwak Vice-Manager informed us beforehand, sir.”
“Ah…”
I chuckled softly.
And I asked the two guard warriors who had brought me.
“How well did the people seem to believe it?”
At my question, they nodded.
“Yes.”
“Perfectly.”
“We apologize for the unintended trouble we’ve caused you.”
At my apology, Seo-woo Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior waved their hands.
“Not at all. Please don’t say such things.”
“This too is part of protecting you within a broader scope, is it not?”
“That’s true enough.”
“We are simply grateful to be of service in protecting you this way.”
“I appreciate you saying so.”
I turned my head and spoke to Palgap.
“Then, let’s move quickly.”
“Yes, I understand.”
I washed and changed into a patient’s robe. That’s when the Physician entered.
“The Merchant Guild Leader told me about it. So which leg is broken?”
I answered awkwardly to his question.
“The left one.”
The Physician retrieved a splint, applied it to my left leg, and deliberately spoke in a loud voice.
“When you regain consciousness, please let me know. I’ll prepare medicinal broth for you.”
Palgap answered to this.
“Yes, I understand.”
Thus, I had perfectly become a patient with a leg injury.
After the Physician left, Father and Mother entered the guest room.
“Since it’s only me and your mother here, you can open your eyes now.”
I opened my eyes, rose from the bed, and bowed my head.
“I apologize for this sudden situation.”
“Sigh, I had already anticipated this much.”
Father spoke with a bitter smile.
“Fighting against Sister Hyang-ok must have been quite burdensome for you.”
“….”
“And the External Chief Manager mentioned it—your realm of cultivation… is at the pinnacle.”
“…!”
I looked at Father with a startled expression.
My realm of cultivation is not something easily discerned.
The characteristic of the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art is that one’s realm doesn’t reveal itself outwardly.
Yet the External Chief Manager had noticed it….
I once saw Master and the External Chief Manager conversing, and I wondered—could that have been when the External Chief Manager asked Master about my realm of cultivation?
“That’s why, while I was pleased with your winning streak, I was inwardly anxious. If your realm were revealed, it would truly become a troublesome matter.”
I bowed to my parents.
“I apologize for concealing my true abilities.”
Mother shook her head.
“There’s no need to apologize for such things. From ancient times, those who walk the path of martial arts do not carelessly reveal their true strength.”
Indeed, this was an answer befitting Mother, who had been called the Misty Stream Sword.
“Still, you won’t be able to move about properly for several days—won’t that be frustrating?”
“It’s fine. I needed rest anyway. Rather, I’m sorry that you must attend gatherings on my account and receive condolences.”
At my response, Father shook his head.
“It’s alright. The important gatherings are all finished now, and only those I don’t need to attend remain. I was wondering how to gracefully decline, and this works out perfectly.”
Ah, there were still those gatherings where the Merchant Guild Leaders fawned over the senior figures of the Murim Alliance.
Those were the events I most despised attending.
“I’ll use your excuse to skip and rest as well.”
“However, Seo-ho.”
Mother spoke with a serious expression.
“Next time something like this happens, give me a heads-up beforehand. Your mother’s heart nearly stopped.”
“I’m truly sorry.”
“Still, when I think about everything you’ve done lately, this seems almost mild by comparison.”
“….”
I found myself at a loss for words.
Father noticed my embarrassment and gave my shoulder a light pat before rising to his feet.
“Rest easy now.”
“Yes.”
After my parents left, I called for Seo Hyang and made a request.
“Could you bring me the accumulated documents? Since I’m here anyway, I should handle some business matters.”
But instead of moving immediately, she smiled and replied.
“Bringing the documents wouldn’t be difficult, but do you really have time to look through them?”
“What do you mean?”
She continued in response to my confusion.
“You’ll have quite a few visitors coming to pay their respects.”
“How many are we talking about?”
Seo Hyang merely smiled instead of answering.
Why are you smiling so ominously?

Seo Hyang’s words proved prophetic.
The first to visit were those staying at the same inn.
Our Merchant Guild’s manager and all the Eun Pung-dae members and staff.
Even with just them, the numbers were considerable, but then Dae-nok Warrior and Su-am Warrior arrived.
The next visitor was Sister Hyang-ok.
“Hey! Eun Seo-ho!”
“S-Sister….”
“Who told you to recklessly damage your body right before a martial match?”
Sister narrowed her eyes and asked me.
“You didn’t do this on purpose because you didn’t want to fight me, did you?”
She was sharp.
But if I admitted it, Sister would definitely beat me senseless.
I put on the most aggrieved expression I could muster and replied.
“Sister, what are you saying? That hurts my feelings.”
“Right, that couldn’t be it. Sorry for the misunderstanding, even if just for a moment.”
“It’s fine. Your suspicion was understandable from your perspective.”
I asked Sister Hyang-ok.
“So, how did the martial match turn out?”
“How did it turn out? Since you couldn’t compete, I had no choice but to become the champion of my bracket.”
“Then you’ll be facing Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master for the championship?”
“Yes, that’s how it stands.”
Sister Hyang-ok let out a sigh.
“Somehow it’s come to this. But it’s a bit embarrassing. Even the Seo Mun Family’s Young Master is stronger than me.”
As Sister said, Seomun Il-sin Young Master’s martial prowess was indeed higher than hers.
“But because of Yi Myeon-eum Ma, he was eliminated and I advanced… and because of the fire, you were eliminated and I advanced again…”
A sudden thought occurred to me.
Perhaps heaven favored Sister Hyang-ok and was showering her with good fortune.
Well, that wasn’t really the important part.
“Ah, speaking of which, what happened to that Yi Myeon-eum Ma fellow? What could have driven him to risk his life, infiltrate the Martial Arts Arena, and attempt revenge?”
At my question, Sister Hyang-ok sighed again.
“Ugh, that bastard really…”
“…?”
“Actually, while subduing him, I severed his manhood.”
“Ah…”
Those called Saek Ma or Yin Ma typically possessed an almost bizarre obsession with their own manhood.
So that’s why he was willing to risk his life for revenge.
How utterly pointless.
Especially when he brought it upon himself in the first place.
But how did he manage to enter Luoyang, the very heart of the Murim Alliance?
No matter how skilled he was, slipping past the Patrol Guard’s surveillance, kidnapping Seomun Il-sin Young Master, and impersonating him to participate in the martial tournament was no small feat…
He definitely had someone backing him.
“By the way, you saved those Baekcheon Trading Company people, didn’t you?”
“Ah… yes.”
I nodded.
To be honest, I despised Baekcheon Trading Company as my enemy, but the servants working in the warehouse bore no fault.
And by saving those Baekcheon people, I wanted to dispel any notion that I was acting out of malice toward Baekcheon Trading Company.
Logically speaking, would anyone think that someone who risked their life to save Baekcheon’s people harbored vengeful feelings toward them?
“Congratulations. Thanks to that, you’re now the center of attention in Luoyang.”
“What?”
“News that Seon Hyeop Mi-rang has performed another act of virtue has spread throughout all of Luoyang.”
“…”
“Anyway, take care of yourself. I have the finals tomorrow.”
“Yes. I wish you luck.”
With that, Sister Hyang-ok left, and I let out a sigh.
“Why the sigh, sir?”
At Palgap’s question, I laughed awkwardly.
“Did you know I’m the center of attention in Luoyang right now?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
At my question, Palgap replied.
“If I had told you, you would surely have said, ‘That wasn’t my intention! How did this even happen! Performing virtuous deeds isn’t even my hobby!’ wouldn’t you, sir?”
“….”
I had nothing to say.
“I thought it might be better not to know such things.”
“I see, I understand.”
Shortly after, Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master and the House Master came to visit me.
They offered their simple condolences.
Though they seemed inclined to speak longer, since tomorrow was the final of the martial arts tournament, they kept their visit brief and departed.
For me, it was a relief.
And so the night fell.
Finally, I could rest a little.
Just as I thought that, the window opened.
Creak.
“Chirp?”
Geumryeong showed signs of delight. If Geumryeong reacted this way, then….
“Master.”
My Master, who had entered through the window, approached me.
“I heard the story. You broke your leg while rescuing people from the fire today. I was worried, so I came to check on you.”
“Haha.”
I laughed awkwardly and got down from the bed.
Seeing me standing perfectly fine, my Master smiled.
“So you’ve employed some stratagem.”
“Yes, that’s correct. I apologize for not informing you beforehand.”
“Not at all.”
My Master shook his head.
“As the saying goes, to deceive the enemy, one must first deceive one’s own allies.”
My Master immediately saw through that I had employed this deception to avoid revealing my true abilities and martial prowess.
“Seeing you in such good health is enough for me.”
Ah, since he’s come all this way, I should ask him about something I’m curious about.
“Master, I have something I’d like to ask you.”
“What troubles you?”
“Did you escort my elder brother Eun Jung-ho to the Hubei Province Headquarters and then come directly to Luoyang?”
At my question, my Master nodded.
“That’s roughly how it was.”
“I apologize. Because of my request, you’ve gone to unnecessary trouble….”
He shook his head at my words.
“Not at all. I was already heading back after having business at the Pyo Bureau anyway. I stopped by Luoyang because I had matters to attend to there, and I took the opportunity to watch the martial arts tournament as well.”
Business in Luoyang….
“Could it be related to the Imperial Court?”
This time, he did not answer.
But silence, as they say, is consent.
That means there’s someone in Luoyang through whom the Emperor secretly sends letters….
I wonder who it could be?
As if sensing my thoughts, Master approached me and patted my shoulder.
“There’s no need to wonder. You’ll learn of it in time.”
“Haha.”
“Then, I’ll see you next time.”
“Yes, Master.”
I cupped my fist in salute.
“Please, take care of yourself.”
Master chuckled softly and vanished through the window.
My Master truly is a master of appearing and disappearing without a trace.
Well, I suppose I should finally get some sleep now.
.
.
.
Dawn broke.
It was the second day since I’d been confined to my sickbed.
Finally, the Baekcheon Trading Company’s manager came to see me.
“I am Jang Eul-ju, manager of the Baekcheon Trading Company. The Merchant Guild Leader sent me. How is your condition?”
I had been injured while rescuing those people from the Baekcheon Trading Company—shouldn’t Namgung Seok, the Merchant Guild Leader, have come himself?
This place isn’t that far away.
The fact that he sent only his manager meant he had judged that my injury wasn’t serious enough to warrant his personal visit.
“Thanks to your concern, I’m doing well. But how are those people I rescued?”
Jang Eul-ju, the manager, answered my question.
“Of course. They all escaped safely without sustaining serious injuries.”
“That’s truly fortunate.”
“The Merchant Guild Leader asked me to convey his gratitude.”
“Please tell him I’m grateful as well.”
But why did he come this morning instead of yesterday?
Perhaps he suspected I might have started the fire and delayed his visit while investigating.
The Namgung Family would certainly be capable of such caution.
But the fact that he came to visit me, even if late, meant his suspicions of me had been cleared.
“By the way, why did you suddenly order us to spray water on the tents and gather water before the fire broke out yesterday?”
Hmm, so his suspicions haven’t been fully resolved?
I calmly delivered the answer I had prepared.
“It’s simply because the weather has been extremely dry. In such conditions, fires can start from the ropes securing the tents rubbing against the wind, or from sparks flying in from the surroundings—wouldn’t you agree?”
“…Now that I think about it, there were potential causes everywhere.”
“Yes. Since we can’t know what might cause a fire, we must be thorough with prevention.”
I continued.
“Still, it seems most merchant guilds didn’t suffer major losses, which is fortunate. I believe I also sent word to the Baekcheon Trading Company through a manager….”
“….”
Jang Eul-ju fell silent at my words.
And well he should have—for he was the very one who had ignored the messenger I sent.
“I hear the damages are considerable. I do hope matters are resolved swiftly.”
Heh, heh, heh—his pride must be stinging quite badly.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————