The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 64

—————
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 Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 64

Chapter 64. Journey to Beijing (2)

The following morning.
I met my Master for the first time in a while.
“I trust you have been well, Master?”
My Master nodded at my greeting.
“Nothing of note has occurred on my end, though it seems you have been quite active, Young Master. The rumors have been circulating widely.”
“I merely did my best. I’m embarrassed by all the attention.”
After exchanging such pleasantries, we began our formal sword training in earnest.
“Let me see the progress you’ve made during your training.”
“Yes, Master.”
I demonstrated Kangseol, the first form of the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique, before my Master.
As my Master’s expression grew increasingly grave, I lowered my sword and asked.
“Master, is something wrong?”
“Ah, no, nothing is amiss.”
“Then why do you look so troubled? Is there perhaps a flaw in my swordwork?”
“That is not it.”
My Master hesitated for a moment before asking me.
“Truly… have you never learned the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique before?”
“I have not.”
“Then how could you… embody the true essence of the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique in Kangseol, something only understood after mastering all twelve forms? It makes no sense…”
At those words, I felt a pang of guilt.
Yet I could not reveal that I had traveled back through time.
I apologize, Master.
“I’m afraid I cannot explain that myself, Master.”
“Hmm, I see. In any case, let us proceed to the next form.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Palgap, bring me what I mentioned earlier.”
At last, the time had come to learn the second form of the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique.
In truth, I had learned it before.
The Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique, Second Form.
Jukseol—Accumulated Snow.
Just as snow accumulates and eventually breaks a mighty tree, this form layers attacks upon one another to ultimately break the opponent’s will.
Jukseol is primarily used when facing an opponent stronger than oneself.
Therefore, the most crucial element is the distribution of one’s stamina.
One must attack the opponent multiple times, but if exhaustion sets in before they fall, the movements become meaningless.
Thus, when training in the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique, I first underwent relentless drills—swinging the blade without pause.
Starting from a quarter hour, eventually extending to nearly two hours.
Without mastering this foundation, one cannot truly grasp the technique.
So for a time, the muscle soreness in my arms became quite the ordeal.
Thud!
“Here it is, sir.”
At that moment, Palgap brought a massive log and set it before me.
Palgap, no—that’s not what I meant.
Quickly, take that back.
But those words never left my lips.
“Then, from now on, I shall have you swing the blade until I command you to stop.”
Will my arms hold up?
Sigh… I haven’t the faintest idea.

* * *

Gwak Myung-hyun headed toward the Changin Escort Agency.
His daily routine was fixed: each morning he would visit Eun Seo-ho’s residence to instruct him in swordplay, then proceed to the Changin Escort Agency.
Should he or Eun Seo-ho have pressing matters, Eun Seo-ho would need to practice swordplay alone.
In truth, practicing swordplay without supervision is a dangerous endeavor.
Thus, he had commanded his two sons never to practice swordplay in his absence.
That he had instructed Eun Seo-ho to practice swordplay independently was because trustworthy individuals surrounded him.
The External Chief Manager Go Il-pyeong, for instance, and other warriors skilled in martial arts.
‘And… his talent is simply extraordinary.’
The saying “teach one, awaken ten” fit him perfectly.
Even the First Form of the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique—the most basic of all forms—embodying its true essence was something only those who had mastered the entire technique could accomplish.
Frankly, Eun Seo-ho’s current state was somewhat abnormal.
His inner strength rivaled that of even the most accomplished masters.
Yet his swordplay—he had barely grasped the second form among the twelve.
‘Truthfully, with such inner strength, two forms alone would be sufficient to neutralize most adversaries.’
But he had no intention of accelerating the instruction.
Rather, he could not afford to accelerate it.
The Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique was a family transmission.
And according to the family precepts passed down through generations, one must follow the righteous path when mastering the Jinseol Twelve-Form.
Those who defied this principle had always paid a price, and Gwak Myung-hyun knew what that price was.
Obtaining great power requires endurance; those who ignored this truth met a fate that was…
…horrific.
Fortunately, Eun Seo-ho never pestered him to accelerate his progress in swordplay.
He simply pursued each assigned task with quiet diligence.
‘But surely he truly doesn’t know the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique, does he?’
The sword technique called “Red Snow” that he had taught Eun Seo-ho today was a method for toppling powerful adversaries, requiring a relentless barrage of attacks.
To accomplish this, striking and withdrawing swiftly was paramount.
Remaining in one place and attacking continuously would inevitably expose one to the enemy’s counterattacks.
Thus, footwork was the crucial element.
In truth, the Shadowless Footwork was scarcely an exaggeration to call the very foundation of this technique.
By preventing the opponent from perceiving one’s movements, the likelihood of the next attack succeeding increased dramatically.
When first learning “Red Snow,” most practitioners struggle with footwork.
Unfamiliar with the footwork, they typically flounder considerably.
Thus, among the twelve forms, “Red Snow” is the most difficult to master.
But Eun Seo-ho was different.
‘It’s truly unbelievable, but the young master… he used footwork. And naturally at that.’
From what he understood, before studying swordplay with him, Eun Seo-ho had received only minimal instruction from External Chief Manager Go Il-pyeong and had no other exposure to the art.
He recalled the constitution of Eun Seo-ho he had pondered moments ago.
‘Could it truly be that prophecy Father once spoke of?’

* * *

The carriage swayed rhythmically as it pressed forward.
It carried Eun Gil-sang, Eun Jung-ho, and Eun Seo-ho.
In truth, Eun Jung-ho had intended to remain at the Merchant Guild Headquarters.
But the previous Merchant Guild Leader, Eun Ji-bong, had forcibly sent him along.

“You would pass up such a tremendous opportunity? Come along at once! This Merchant Guild Headquarters was one I oversaw. Are you disrespecting this old grandfather now?”
“No, no, Grandfather.”
“Then why aren’t you heading to Beijing immediately?”
“I haven’t even packed yet…”
“I’ve already had that done.”
“…”

And so Eun Jung-ho came to accompany them.
Today marked the fourth day since their departure for Beijing.
Currently, Eun Jung-ho was absorbed in reviewing documents.
And Eun Seo-ho was asleep.
Eun Gil-sang gazed quietly at his sleeping son’s handsome face.
‘As he grows, he resembles me more and more.’
He recalled a conversation he had shared with Eun Seo-ho over a month ago, before the young master departed for Sichuan.

“I hear there’s an epidemic spreading through Gansu Province these days.”
“That’s concerning.”
“Fortunately, salt is said to be quite effective against it.”
“…The price of salt will skyrocket, won’t it?”
“It certainly will.”
“Father, are you perhaps planning to purchase salt beforehand and profit from the price difference when it becomes more expensive?”
Eun Seo-ho’s gaze held something subtly unfamiliar as he posed the question.
I sensed he already knew what I was thinking.
“No. We will not do such a thing.”
Truthfully, if we did, we would reap enormous profits. But I had no desire to do so.
Salt is an essential commodity for people’s survival.
Truthfully, people can survive without candy, but they cannot survive without salt.
To purchase salt at inflated prices and resell it at even higher rates in such circumstances would be to abandon the common people’s livelihood.
Since the distant ancestors who founded the Eunhae Trading Company, there has been a principle passed down through generations.
To value people.
Those ‘people’ were the company’s employees, the master craftsmen under the company’s employ, and the common folk who purchased our goods.
For Eun Gil-sang, who had heard and learned such principles, profiting from salt prices was distasteful.
It would surely cause great harm to the common people.
I stated my position slowly and with unmistakable clarity.
“Such an act harms the people and contradicts the principles passed down through the Eunhae Trading Company. Moreover, personally, it does not sit well with me.”
Along with these reasons, my instincts were warning me.
Danger.
At my answer, Eun Seo-ho smiled broadly.
“Hearing Father’s response, I am reassured.”
At that smile, I chuckled softly. He had indeed anticipated my answer.
“You rascal, were you testing your father?”
“Testing? How could I test Father? I was merely curious about your intentions.”
“Then why were you curious about my intentions?”
“Because it appears as sweet as honey, but in truth, poison lies within.”
“Poison lies within?”
“The price of salt will rise further.”
“As you say, the price of salt will rise further and become extraordinarily expensive.”
“Salt is an essential commodity for sustaining life. Will the Imperial Palace merely watch from the sidelines?”
“Ah!”
“I believe the Imperial Palace will certainly take action.”

It was exactly as Eun Seo-ho had anticipated.
The Imperial Palace had moved, and the result was none other than the salt distribution law.
Amid the rise and fall of countless merchant guilds, the Eunhae Trading Company had gained profits it had never even imagined.
When the salt distribution law was implemented, I had anticipated it through my conversation with Eun Seo-ho, so I remained composed.
However, I could not remain composed upon hearing that the Eunhae Trading Company had been selected as the salt retailer for Hubei Province.
The salt retailer of Hubei Province.
What that signified was far greater than I had thought.
‘At the very least, everyone within Hubei Province would now watch the Eunhae Trading Company’s every move.’
In other words, it meant there were many who would be wary of the Eunhae Trading Company’s actions.
‘Still, it’s unexpected. I never thought Yu So-ak cared for our Seo-ho so deeply.’
When I said I would grant Eun Seo-ho the qualifications of a Small Merchant Guild Leader, Yu So-ak unexpectedly opposed it.
When I asked for his reasons, Yu So-ak answered.

“If unnecessary attention were to fall upon the Young Master because of that, I fear it would cause him considerable exhaustion.”
In Yu So-ak’s words, his concern was evident.
“However, attention is already being directed toward Seo-ho, so that worry is meaningless.”
“I see.”

In the end, the decision to grant Eun Seo-ho the qualifications of a Small Merchant Guild Leader was made unanimously.
‘Even I can see that talent is truly talent.’
It was then that Eun Seo-ho, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly opened his eyes.
“…!”
Eun Gil-sang, startled, asked.
“What is it? You were sleeping so well.”
“It’s just….”

* * *

Inside the carriage heading to Beijing, I dozed off for a moment.
Ordinarily, carriages transmitted every bump from the road directly through one’s body.
But this carriage was different.
Thanks to the abundance of plush cushions piled so thickly that my backside disappeared into them, I felt no such jolting whatsoever.
As my body settled into comfort, drowsiness began to creep over me.
While reviewing documents I needed to examine before arriving in Beijing, I felt the weight of exhaustion.
It was likely the accumulated fatigue from the journey from Hubei Province to Sichuan Province that had yet to dissipate.
Or perhaps it was the newly learned swordsmanship.
That seemed most probable.
In the end, I succumbed to fatigue and fell asleep.
While I slept soundly, something brushed against my senses.
The Black-Clad Criminals?
And I felt something sharp pricking at me repeatedly.
Killing intent.
Someone ahead of us was targeting us.
I opened my eyes immediately.
Seeing me like this, Father asked.
“What is it? You were sleeping so peacefully.”
“That is…”
As I paused to choose my words, the carriage window opened.
The face of Yun Chung-jin, Vice Commander of the Eunpung Corps, appeared.
He was the most skilled warrior in the Eunpung Corps after Go Il-pyeong.
In fact, Go Il-pyeong had intended to accompany us.
But as External Chief Manager, he had much work to attend to, and he could not neglect preparations for the Main Headquarters.
Fortunately, the Imperial Palace sent the Geumui Guard and Golden Army to us.
This was because Jin Woo-rim had previously been attacked.
Thus, with safety reasonably assured, Yun Chung-jin decided to go.
He too seemed to sense something and spoke.
“It appears we will not pass through quietly.”
“An attack?”
“Yes. Please wait safely inside the carriage. It should not take long.”
Shortly after.
The sound of cold steel clashing fiercely rang out. I felt no concern.
From what my senses perceived, our side would handle it swiftly.
But they attacked us despite the Golden Army guarding and waving flags?
That meant they had a specific reason to target us.
The most likely reason would be the salt retail monopoly rights.
Suddenly, something felt wrong.
How did they think they could do anything to us with merely that force?
With the Golden Army and even Gold Robe Guard Warriors present?
‘Ah!’
This is a diversion.
What they truly seek is our lives.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh—!
Something came through the carriage window.
Damn! This is a thunderclap bomb!

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