The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 630
—————
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 630
Chapter 630. A Will Passed Down (2)
Yeon Yu-mun was the first to speak. He sniffed the air and said,
“There’s quite a pleasant fragrance here.”
“Indeed. Is it the scent of flowers?”
“It seems to be coming from inside?”
But I could only tilt my head in confusion.
What fragrance were they talking about? All I could smell was the musty, stale odor peculiar to an underground chamber sealed for a long time.
“Let’s go inside.”
We entered and descended the stone stairs.
“Is this… Geom Chong?”
“So that’s why you mentioned the flower scent.”
“What a remarkable harmony this is!”
The three of them—excluding me—looked either startled or amazed.
“What’s the matter?”
“Can’t you see that flower garden?”
“A flower garden?”
“Haha! It’s truly a beautiful flower garden.”
“I’ve never seen such a flower garden in Yunnan Province before.”
From their reactions, it seemed a remarkably beautiful flower garden was spread before them.
But since I couldn’t see it… it was likely an illusion created by a formation array.
Because of the pure essence of the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art I had cultivated, nothing could interfere with my consciousness.
Yeon Yu-mun was either a descendant or old friend of whoever created Geom Chong.
But why create such a flower garden to hide the true appearance of this place?
Perhaps it stemmed from a desire to make it seem more impressive.
After all, this place was merely a rectangular space built from crude bricks.
Or perhaps it was meant to soothe a weary mind and body.
Then a sudden question occurred to me.
I was unaffected by illusions created by various formation arrays, but how did the Ancestor’s arrangement apply to me?
I had heard that my ability to meet the Ancestor was due to a formation array created by the Ancestor’s old friend…
Well, I could ask the Ancestor about it later.
“I cannot see the flower garden.”
I spoke the truth.
It seemed better to inform them that what they saw was an illusion rather than pretend to see the flower garden.
“It’s likely due to the Kimul I possess. It has the function of protecting me from the effects of illusions.”
“So the flower garden we’re seeing is an illusion, then.”
“Yes. It’s likely an illusion created through formation techniques. Is there anything unusual in that flower garden?”
“Something unusual… Ah! There’s something like a stone monument here.”
The stone monument standing in the center of that space seemed visible to their eyes as well.
Then Yeon Yu-mun spoke.
“There’s something carved here. It reads: ‘Yeon, the items within this box are left for our descendants. Through these, realize our will.'”
“And there’s a box behind the monument.”
Just as Kwon Great Master said, a box could be seen sitting atop a stone platform behind the monument.
“That’s the box.”
“Hmm? You can see the box?”
“Yes. I can see both the box and the monument.”
“Open the box then. Yeon, I’m counting on you.”
“Yes.”
Yeon Yu-mun approached and opened the box.
Inside were several scrolls.
“Hmm? What are these documents?”
“Let me take a look.”
I picked up the thickest of the scrolls and unrolled it.
“This is…”
The characters written on the paper were not in the Imperial script.
But they weren’t unfamiliar either.
I had a memory of seeing them in my previous life—apparently they were used by a certain tribe long ago.
However, I couldn’t comprehend the content well enough.
At that moment, Yeon Yu-mun stepped forward.
“Ah, these characters are ones our tribe has used since ancient times.”
“Can you read them?”
“Yes, of course I can. As the heir to this fortress, I naturally learned them.”
Indeed, these were the characters of the tribe dwelling in Chungyeongseong.
“I’ll read it. Ahem… If you are reading this, it surely means my descendants face grave peril. This is an arrangement so that my descendants who have settled here can continue for generations to come.”
Yeon Yu-mun continued reading.
“First, there is a token of betrothal made with the Emperor who rules this realm. I recommend using it to form a marriage alliance with the Imperial Court.”
Yeon Yu-mun’s expression became awkward.
“Well… I’ve already married the Imperial Princess. Haha.”
“I see.”
That meant the betrothal token had become useless.
The founder of Geom Chong couldn’t have foreseen that far.
Because my intervention resulted in the Current Emperor being quite capable yet ambitious, creating the present situation.
“I’ll continue reading.”
Yeon Yu-mun resumed reading the scroll.
“Second, there is a seal of authority received from the Palace Master of Chuyong Palace in Yunnan Province. Through this, you can ensure your personal safety.”
Hearing this, Cha Chief pointed inside the box.
“There’s a divine seal here.”
“Indeed.”
“Third, there is a notarized document received from the Empire’s Emperor. This is a certificate guaranteeing that we will not be driven from this land, and with it, we can assert our legitimacy here.”
One of the two scrolls must be that one.
“Finally, fourth, seek out the man born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution.”
“…!”
I flinched involuntarily at those words.
Did he just say a man born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution?
I think I know who that is.
It’s me.
In my previous life, the Black Flute Physician told me this.
The probability of a man being born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution is so infinitesimal it might as well be nonexistent.
Meanwhile, Yeon Yu-mun continued speaking.
“A man born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution is destined to become the center of the world. He will become the sharp blade that corrects the natural order gone awry and cuts down those who stain the heavenly mandate with blood. If we can gain his aid, we will surely be able to revive our family.”
I’ve heard these words before.
Where did I hear them?
Ah… I heard this from the Black Flute Physician as well.
“According to the legends passed down, a woman born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution becomes a prodigy of the realm, while a man becomes the center of the world.”
I thought it was meant to comfort me, but was it actually true?
Yeon Yu-mun finished reading the scroll.
“And for this purpose, I leave travel funds, hoping you will use them wisely.”
Inside the box was an old pouch that appeared to be made of silk.
Yeon Yu-mun picked it up and emptied its contents.
Clatter.
About fifty gold rings.
Barely equivalent to two gold ingots.
So that’s why Geum Ryung-i didn’t react particularly.
It’s not a small amount, but hardly something to covet desperately.
“Is that all the contents?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Yu-mun nodded at Kwon Great Master’s question.
“Hah! So this entire place was built for this arrangement?”
Cha Chief then sighed and spoke.
“I had high hopes given the quite diverse and sophisticated mechanisms and traps, but this is rather anticlimactic.”
I offered them consolation.
“Still, we should acknowledge the heart behind it—built for the sake of descendants.”
“Your words have merit, I must admit.”
Yunnan here is not such a peaceful region.
The Empire’s center was far away, so this region and its surroundings frequently erupted into warfare between competing powers.
Yunnan Province had several factions, with Chuyong Palace, Namman Wild Beast Palace, and Mandok Sect being the most prominent.
Since the Empire’s control didn’t properly extend here, the local indigenous forces naturally grew stronger.
For an ordinary place like Chungyeongseong to maintain its existence among such powers was truly an arduous struggle.
That’s why the founder of this Geom Chong must have created this place and preserved the Anbae, worried about his descendants’ future.
The complexity of its design was surely meant to protect the Anbae from invading forces.
Moreover, if outsiders had invaded this place, it meant the descendants had been slaughtered, so the founder might have intended for vengeance to be taken.
I spoke to the other three.
“And regarding what we’ve seen and heard today, I think it would be best if we kept silent about it for the rest of our lives. Even though it may seem trivial, this is something left behind by the ancestors of Chungyeongseong’s residents, so we shouldn’t carelessly make it a topic of conversation.”
“True enough.”
“Don’t worry. We’re not thoughtless enough for that.”
Yeon Yu-mun spoke with a moved expression.
“We’re grateful that you think of us that way.”
My request to them was partly for Chungyeongseong’s sake, but also for my own safety.
The fourth thing Yeon Yu-mun had said earlier.
It was because of the words that one born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution becomes the center of the world.
But the center of the world refers to the Emperor.
So if this information somehow leaked out and it became known that I was born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution, there was a possibility I could be accused of treason.
The Emperor had granted me limited immunity, but being accused of treason would be troublesome.
Wait. Hold on.
If the Blood Sect had searched for this Geom Chong, and after countless sacrifices discovered and deciphered it….
[He shall become a sharp blade to set right the scattered natural order and cut down those who stain the heavenly secrets with blood, and with his aid, the family may well be revived.]
This passage must have been quite grating to them.
Staining the heavenly secrets with blood likely referred to the Blood Sect.
And from the circumstances so far, the Blood Sect and the Murim Alliance seemed to have some connection.
Then did they kill me because they discovered I was born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution?
I still remember it.
What Namgung Kang said when I died in my previous life.
“But I wonder if you know this. The reason the Higher Authorities destroyed the Eun Hae Trading Company was actually because of you.”
If that’s truly the case….
Does my very birth represent a calamity for the Eun Hae Trading Company?
“Are you alright?”
Kwon Great Master asked with concern, noticing my complexion had darkened.
“I’m fine. It seems the air circulation in this place is rather poor.”
“That’s true enough. Let’s organize this place and leave.”
That’s when Cha Chief spoke.
“Ah, but do you all remember the inscription written on that stone door we saw when entering?”
“I remember.”
“It said that what was left here represents our will, and we should realize our will through it. But what exactly is this will?”
“Hmm?”
“That’s what troubles me.”
“It is survival.”
The answer to that question came from Yeon Yu-mun.
He spoke while examining the scroll.
“According to the words left here, all four methods concern ways for the tribe to survive.”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
“I believe the will that our Ancestor wished for was for us to survive in this land.”
“I share that thought. Then let us depart from this place.”
Kwon Great Master said this and personally lifted the box.
It was small enough for one person to carry.
“Wait? There’s something here.”
But there were characters engraved on the floor where the box had been placed.
“What does this inscription say?”
Yeon Yu-mun approached and read the characters.
“Remember this always. The strong are not the victors—those who survive until the end are the victors. And remember this too. Do not look upward, but downward. We have always been at the bottom, and that place is where true comfort dwells.”
“…!”
In that moment, I understood something.
Those who survive until the end are the victors.
I was born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution, and because of this, the Eun Hae Trading Company was destroyed.
So what?
Did I choose to be born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution?
I’ve suffered tremendously because of it too.
Would I be a villain for being born with the Hyun Ryong Constitution?
Those bastards who killed my family and me, living well and thriving—they’re the scoundrels of the realm.
In my previous life, they killed me, but this time it won’t happen.
I will desperately claw my way to survive until the very end.
Yes, just as those words say—the victor is the one who survives to the end.
In this life, I will be the victor.
“However, if only this came out from inside… what if they suspect we’ve smuggled out the treasure?”
Cha Chief’s words made sense.
Normally, when you explore Geom Chong, numerous treasures emerge. And among the horns of the Stone Statues of Baek scattered throughout, there’s plenty of gold and silver too.
But we’re taking only this with us?
There would definitely be talk about it.
What would be the best approach….
After pondering for a moment, I sensed something odd.
He used gold and silver so lavishly to lure out his enemies, yet for his descendants who would carry on his will, he left behind only about fifty gold rings?
That couldn’t be right. There had to be something more.
– Geum-ryeong.
– Chirp!
– Are you absolutely certain there’s no treasure in here?
– Chirp! Chirp!
– No treasure, but you’re saying there’s something that smells like money? What is it?
– Chirp! Chirp!
What Geum-ryeong was referring to was the box.
More specifically, the bottom of that box.
I respectfully asked Kwon Great Master.
“Great Master, might I examine that box more closely?”
At my words, Kwon Great Master unhesitatingly handed the box to me. He trusted me since I’d helped him reach this point without incident.
I removed the box’s contents and examined the interior carefully.
“This box has a double bottom.”
“Let me see!”
Cha Chief also inspected the box, and soon let out an exclamation.
“Oh! You’re absolutely right!”
“Can you disassemble it?”
“Of course! What do you take my skills for?”
Cha Chief confidently rolled up his sleeves, and the box’s bottom was soon separated.
Between the wooden planks that made up the box’s bottom was a piece of silk.
What was drawn on that silk was a map.
Seeing the inscription “[This is a gift left for my descendants]”….
“This is a genuine treasure map.”
But why make such a difficult riddle? How would the descendants who actually need this ever find it?
Of course, he might have done this to leave it only for descendants clever enough to figure it out….
In any case, thanks to Geum-ryeong, I found it. But,
– Chirp? Chirp?
Hm? There’s a problem?
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————