The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 629

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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 629

Chapter 629. A Will Passed Down (1)

At my words, Kwon Jik’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
“What do you mean? You’ll attempt it yourself?”
“Since I offered the suggestion, I believe it’s only natural that I should be the one to execute it.”
I firmly believe that one must take responsibility for the opinions they propose.
To shirk that responsibility is to admit that one speaks and decides carelessly.
And such carelessness inevitably leads to wasted resources.
Those who squander money through reckless decisions waste far more than those who simply idle away their days.
One of the things I despise most is throwing money into thin air.
With such thoughts in mind, I spoke to Kwon Jik.
“Please do not worry.”
In truth, I harbored no concerns whatsoever.
While I am confident in my abilities, had I sensed any danger, Seo Hyang would have sent Palgap to assist me.
And selecting the horn of Bak as wood was nearly a certainty.
I approached the stone statue and carefully grasped the horn with my hand.
A smile of satisfaction crossed my face.
Just as I anticipated.
The horn was not fixed in place; it seemed it could be pressed.
Carefully, I pressed the horn, and it yielded smoothly, sinking inward.
Grrrrk.
Simultaneously, the ground resonated with a deep sound, and before us, a doorway leading downward into the depths below materialized.
“We’ve solved it!”
“We finally solved the riddle!”
“Huzzah!”
The people erupted in cheers, and Kwon Jik spoke to me.
“Thank you. We’ve solved the riddle thanks to you.”
“It is the result of everyone’s combined efforts.”
“I knew you’d say something like that. But make no mistake—your contribution is undeniable.”
Cha Chief approached me.
“The Great Master speaks truly. Now that we’ve come this far, the real trial begins. You must steel yourself.”
“Of course.”
I nodded and examined the doorway leading downward.
Upon the stone door, some form of inscription had been carved.
“There appears to be something written here.”
“From this point onward, you may leave it to us.”
“I would appreciate your assistance.”
I stepped back obediently and recalled the inscription I had read.

[You who have come this far, I wonder who you might be.
Are you our enemy?
A passing traveler?
An old friend?
Or perhaps our descendant?
If you pressed the horn of Bak to reveal this door, then you are either an enemy or a passing traveler.
If you are an enemy, I warn you—turn back.
Within lies such an abundance of obstacles that would seem like mere trifles compared to what you cannot endure.
Traveler, you too must turn back.
What rests within holds no value for you, and you will only lose your life in vain.
You who came here following Bak’s guidance, bearing the token and trust of an old friend.
Aid my descendant.
Descendant who came here following the guidance through bloodshed.
What remains within is our will—realize our will through it.]

I pondered deeply.
In truth, the inscription’s meaning was not difficult to grasp.
It was a warning and plea left by whoever created this Geom Chong.
It told enemies and travelers to turn back.
It asked old friends to aid the descendant, and commanded descendants to realize the will.
Yet there was no particular warning for old friends or descendants.
That detail troubled me.
It meant that if one were a friend or descendant of the creator, they could enter without any difficulty whatsoever.
[The token and trust of an old friend]
And [bloodshed]
As I contemplated further, a sudden thought flashed through my mind.
Could it be… that?
I approached Kwon Great Master at once and made a respectful request.
“There is something I wish to verify. Would it be acceptable if we stepped outside to rest briefly and then returned?”
“Step outside and come back in?”
“Yes. So if you could persuade Cha Chief for me…”
Cha Chief was reading the inscription carved into the stone door with a serious expression.
Kwon Great Master observed him and seemed to fall into brief contemplation.
Just as I wondered if I should explain further, he let out a soft chuckle and spoke.
“Very well. Cha Chief!”
“Yes, you called for me?”
“Let us step outside for a moment and clear our heads.”
“Now? You mean right now?”
“The Geom Chong isn’t going anywhere, is it? Besides, the air circulation here is poor—staying too long could be dangerous.”
“That’s true. In places with stagnant air, people sometimes experience hallucinations.”
Fortunately, Cha Chief complied without resistance to Kwon Great Master’s words.
“Stop work! Everyone head outside!”
The work ceased, and the entire Exploration Team moved toward the exit.
“Hmm. So what made you suggest we take a break?”
Cha Chief approached me quietly and asked.
“I’m sorry, what do you mean?”
“Do you think I lack perception? I’ve survived this long on nothing but that.”
His perceptiveness was truly sharp.
There’s a reason the old saying goes that aged ginger is spicier than fresh.
I nodded.
“There’s something I wanted to verify outside. Do you remember what was inscribed on that Stone Door earlier?”
“I remember it.”
“That’s why. If we could show proof of being an Old Friend or demonstrate that we’re descendants, we might be able to enter without difficulty.”
“That makes sense. So you’ve already thought of something?”
“Yes. I wanted to test that theory. And there’s also a personal matter.”
As I said this, I glanced briefly behind us.

As we emerged outside, the sun was setting in the distance.
Evening had already arrived.
Those who had been waiting rushed over to us with questions.
“What’s the matter?”
“Has the exploration ended?”
Kwon Great Master replied.
“Not quite. We’re taking a brief rest and plan to return tomorrow. The lack of air makes it hard to think clearly.”
“I see.”
“I’d like to rest for a while.”
“We’ll prepare everything at once.”

* * *

Late into the night.
Figures moved covertly toward Geom Chong, slipping through the darkness.
They wore shoes with animal fur attached to the soles—a technique to erase footprints and the sound of their steps.
Among them were those who had worked as laborers, so they could navigate without getting lost.
“Halt!”
A Guard Sentinel on duty stopped them in their tracks.
“What brings you here?”
“We left something inside and came to retrieve it.”
“Careless lot. Go fetch it quickly.”
“Thank you. By the way, has anyone else entered before us?”
“No one’s inside.”
“We appreciate the information, Great Hero.”
They passed through without obstruction into Geom Chong.
“How convenient now that all the mechanisms have been dismantled! We should have spread word of this earlier. Then we could have explored Geom Chong so easily.”
“Exactly. When I think of all the trouble we went through just to find this place…”
“It was harder to manipulate the Geumui Guards stationed here.”
They whispered softly as they walked through Geom Chong, soon arriving before a stone door.
“Is this it?”
“That’s right.”
The one who had worked as a laborer spoke.
“This entrance appeared after solving the riddle.”
“Then we should report this to headquarters first. After that, you and I will enter.”
“Actually, I think it’s better to wait for headquarters’ response. There’s a warning inscribed here.”
“We could always intercept whatever is excavated and brought out.”
That was when it happened.
“Who dares disturb our slumber!”
A thunderous command suddenly echoed through the darkness.
At this, they froze in terror.
“W-where is that voice coming from?”
“Who else is here besides us?”
“You said no one was inside!”
But that resounding voice continued to reverberate.
“Those who recklessly awaken us shall not escape our curse!”
“Ahhhhhhh!”
In the pitch-black Geom Chong, devoid of any living soul.
At the sound of that voice, their legs gave way and they collapsed where they stood.
Human imagination knows no bounds, and fear amplifies exponentially through such imagination.
“Kyaaaaahhh!”
They barely managed to rise and scrambled desperately out of Geom Chong.

* * *

I watched those fleeing in terror and spoke.
“Thank you for your efforts, Yeo Warrior.”
“Think nothing of it.”
The one who had startled them with that voice was the Yeo Eung-am Warrior.
And Jin Yu Warrior was pursuing them from behind.
There was a reason I hadn’t taken their lives here.
I needed to discover where their superiors were located.
I had known their identities from the beginning. And the identity of the one working as a laborer as well.
With such a thick bloodstained aura of the Black Path emanating from them, there was no way I couldn’t sense it.
Of course, ordinary people wouldn’t be able to tell.
My companions and I quietly left Geom Chong and returned to our quarters.
It was far too late for anything else today.
.
.
.
As soon as dawn broke, after completing my morning cultivation, I ate breakfast and headed toward Yeon Yu-mun.
It was somewhat early, but I had already arranged an appointment, so there was no real problem.
However, I encountered an unexpected person there.
Seo-im Grand Coordinator—or rather, the Imperial Princess.
She had discarded her male disguise and was dressed in garments befitting a princess.
I quickly bowed respectfully.
“The merchant Eun Seo-ho pays his respects to the Imperial Princess.”
“Raise your head.”
“Yes.”
I asked her a question.
“What brings you to this place?”
“Since arriving here, I have been staying at this residence. We are now husband and wife—what could possibly be wrong with that?”
“…You have married?”
“We have already completed the wedding night.”
“…”
Remarkably swift.
I could only be startled by such speed.
This must be the Emperor’s will rather than the Princess’s own.
Since the wedding night has already been consummated, this marriage cannot be undone.
“I see. My congratulations to you.”
“Thank you. But hold your congratulations for now, and offer them formally when we hold the proper wedding ceremony.”
“At that time, I shall offer my formal congratulations as well.”
“Yes. If you wait a moment, my husband will be coming out.”

A moment later.
Yeon Yu-mun emerged after finishing his preparations, and we headed toward Geom Chong.
“Are you pleased with the marriage?”
“Haha. Yes.”
“Just days ago you were full of worries, but now you’re completely transformed.”
At my words, he gazed upward at the sky and spoke.
“Being manipulated by the Emperor is a concern for my future self, is it not? So for now, I’m simply savoring the present moment.”
He continued.
“And as for my wife, I’m satisfied. No, she’s far more than I deserve.”
“Everything in life comes with a price. What we call compensation, in other words.”
“…That’s true.”
He smiled wryly and nodded, then asked me.
“But why did you ask me to come to Geom Chong with you?”
“I have a request to make. But first, I’d like to ask—how long has this Chungyeongseong existed?”
He pondered for a moment before answering.
“Quite a long time. I’d say several hundred years at least.”
“Then are you a descendant of those who lived here?”
“Yes. My family has lived here for generations, or so I’ve been told. One of the ancestral commands passed down through our line is never to abandon this place.”
“I see.”
So my suspicion was nearly correct.
We arrived at the entrance to Geom Chong, and I withdrew a needle as I spoke.
“Forgive me, but would you allow me to draw some blood from your hand with this?”
“My blood?”
“Yes. There’s something I’d like to test in relation to Geom Chong.”
He readily extended his hand.
“It’s no trouble.”
I pricked his palm with the needle to draw blood, then spoke.
“Now, bring your bleeding hand to the door of Geom Chong here.”
Following my instruction, he brought his hand to the door of Geom Chong.
At that moment,
Clatter, clatter, clatter.
The sound of some structure moving echoed. And then.
Whoosh, click!
The sound of the structure ceased, and the door opened of its own accord.
Just as I thought! My hypothesis was correct.
I spoke to Seo-woo Warrior.
“Immediately summon Kwon Great Master and Cha Chief. Tell them it’s urgent and to hurry.”
“Yes.”
After a brief wait, they came rushing over.
“What is the matter?”
“What’s so urgent about it?”
Instead of answering, I pointed toward Geom Chong.
“Look here.”
“Huh?”
“Hmm?”
They quickly noticed the change.
At the entrance of Geom Chong where the door had opened, there was no trace whatsoever of the debris from the shattered rock that had fallen there.
“How is this possible?”
I offered them a simple explanation.
“I believed the descendants mentioned in that inscription referred to Yeon Yu-mun’s household here in Chungyeongseong. They have lived in this fortress for hundreds of years, generation after generation. So when I used his blood to open this door, this passage was created.”
I had deduced this from the inscription I saw inside Geom Chong: [Descendants who have shed blood and followed Bak’s guidance to arrive here].
Blood was the element required for Geom Chong to recognize that its opener was a descendant of its creator.
In my previous life, all those who carried the blood of the Lord of Chungyeongseong were dead.
Considering their methods that I experienced, they likely forced their way into Geom Chong.
I suddenly grew curious.
Did they actually succeed in exploring Geom Chong?
After eliminating all the bloodline of the Fortress Lord—the crucial key to exploring Geom Chong—they entered it, so perhaps they realized their mistake upon seeing that inscription.
In any case, the situation is entirely different now.
“Then let us enter.”
I instructed the Guard Warriors to guard the entrance and proceeded inside.
And we gasped in astonishment.
“Wow….”
“Incredible….”
It was because not a single trap—truly not even one—that had tormented us was visible.
The path stretched straight ahead without obstruction.
And we reached the Stone Door with Inscriptions that had taken us a day and a half in just a brief moment.
“Phew, now that we’re here, it feels rather anticlimactic.”
My sentiments exactly.
I spoke to Yeon Yu-mun.
“Then, please open this door.”
“Yes.”
He opened the door.
But the reactions of the others, excluding myself, were strange.

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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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