The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 646

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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 646

Chapter 646. The Ghost Spirit’s Identity (2)

Dang Su-bin and Tang Jo-ung went to meet the Sect Leader, while I headed to my quarters.
Upon arriving, I wrote a letter to Father and asked Geumryeong to deliver it.
I’d have to give him a silver coin, but it was worth the expense.

As evening fell, we gathered before the campfire in the military camp.
Everyone was busy with reconstruction efforts, yet the atmosphere wasn’t particularly grim—perhaps because there had been no deaths within the sect grounds.
I felt oddly satisfied hearing that the earthquake’s damage was less severe than expected.
Of course, there was no avoiding some loss, but it was far better than my previous life.
After dinner, I took a walk through the Cheongseong Sect grounds.
It was both a stroll and an opportunity to assess the sect’s condition.
That way, I could identify what the Eun Hae Trading Company could do to repay—no, to assist—the Cheongseong Sect.
As I always say, I’m not a philanthropist; I’m a merchant.
The reason I move about so busily is because it benefits me and the Eun Hae Trading Company.
Indeed, the Eun Hae Trading Company’s reputation in Sichuan Province had risen considerably, and Uncle and my elder brothers were quite pleased.
It was then that I spotted someone sitting alone in the distance.
Why was Inbong Master sitting out there by himself?
I tilted my head curiously and approached him.
“What are you doing out here alone?”
“Ah! Great Hero!”
“Everyone else is enjoying a modest dinner together, so why aren’t you joining them?”
“Well… I just had some things on my mind.”
“I see.”
Since I had no intention of intruding, I was about to continue on my way.
“Um… Great Hero.”
If only Inbong Master hadn’t called out to me from behind.
“Did you call for me?”
“Yes.”
He nodded and spoke.
“I… would like to consult with you about something.”
A consultation, was it…
I wanted to avoid getting entangled in troublesome matters, but how could I turn away from that look in his eyes?
Sigh, my heart really is too soft.
– Squeak?
Geumryeong, be quiet…
– Huh? When did you arrive?
– Chirp. Chirp!
Just now?
I was amazed that it had returned and nestled inside my sleeve so quickly, barely any time having passed since I sent a letter to Father.
Could it be because of all the money it’s been eating?
I settled onto a rock beside it and asked.
“So, what is it? You wanted to consult about something.”
“It’s about Father.”
What?
My mind snapped to attention in an instant.
“I heard that I was entrusted to the Cheongseong Sect when I was two years old. And that Master raised me as his own, so they say.”
From what I’d heard, Inbong Dojang’s Master was Han Qing.
A disciple of Qingzai Bai, and currently second only to the Sect Leader.
“Until not long ago, I believed I was an abandoned child. So I tried not to be curious about my parents.”
That phrase—tried not to be curious—struck me as heartbreaking.
Where in this world could one find a person who wasn’t curious about their own birth?
“Then one day, someone came to me and introduced themselves as a wandering ghost spirit of the Cheongseong Sect.”

* * *

Inbong was training alone in the Repentance Hall.
It was where disciples who caused trouble were typically sent—a place with only a single small thatched hut.
Since it was the Repentance Hall rather than the Poongyeon Pavilion, he could not carry weapons, so the only martial arts he could practice were those executable without arms.
Whoosh!
His body moved with fluid grace.
The Three Willow Palms—the pride of the Cheongseong Sect.
He should have displayed movements as free as willow leaves dancing on the wind, but….
Thud!
“Ugh!”
His feet tangled, and he tripped over his own legs, falling forward onto his face.
“Ow… that hurts.”
He rubbed his nose with the back of his hand and realized blood was dripping from it.
“Why am I such an idiot? I can’t even properly execute the Three Willow Palms… This is exactly what they mean when they call me a worthless fool.”
Without meaning to, sorrow washed over him, and tears began to fall.
That was when it happened.
– Who are you calling a worthless fool?
“…!”
A voice suddenly transmitted directly into his mind.
He turned his body to look, but no one was visible.
“Huh? W-who are you?”
– Are you talking about me?
I clearly heard the voice transmission in my mind, but since no one was visible, a sudden fear gripped me.
“Gasp! A g-ghost! A s-spirit! I need to chant an exorcism….”
– Stop that. Your exorcism chants won’t work on me anyway.
“Why, why not?”
– Because I’m… ahem, an incredibly powerful ghost spirit.
“….”
– You don’t seem to believe me.
“Isn’t it true that such claims should come from others, not from oneself? My Master Han Qing said that boasting about yourself like that makes you a braggart.”
– Who said that?
“My Master Han Qing.”
– That bastard Han Qing…
“Don’t insult my Master! He’s like a father to me! If you insult my Master, I won’t let it slide!”
-…I understand.
In-bong sensed sadness in the ghost spirit’s voice transmission.
I couldn’t understand why.
– But what were you doing here? This is the Repentance Hall, isn’t it?
“What else would I be doing in the Repentance Hall? I’m being punished.”
– Punished? What did you do wrong?
“I fought with Geumbong.”
– Then did this Geumbong also come to the Repentance Hall?
“No. Only I came.”
– Why is that?
“Because Geumbong’s father is the Sect Leader. And the Sect Leader treasures Geumbong greatly.”
– Huh? That pe… wait, the Sect Leader shows favoritism to his son?
“Yes. Everyone knows this. Shouldn’t an incredibly powerful ghost spirit know such things?”
– Ahem, well, that’s because I haven’t been here very long. But did you perhaps provoke him first?
At that question, In-bong shook his head urgently.
“No! That couldn’t be! Those bastards harassed me first… I….”
-…
“It’s just my own fault. I’m already fifteen years old, yet I still can’t properly deploy the Three-Stream Technique.”
– Let me see. Your nosebleed seems to have stopped, so try deploying it again.
“Hee… will you be able to tell if I deploy it?”
– Ahem, I didn’t want to say this, but before I became a ghost spirit, I was actually a Cheongseong Disciple.
“Really? But then why did you become a ghost spirit instead of ascending?”
– That’s… probably because of lingering attachments.
The voice sounded even sadder than before.
In-bong quickly apologized.
“I’m sorry for asking such a difficult question.”
– It’s fine. Now, deploy the Three-Stream Technique.
At this, In-bong unfurled the Seryuphyo and tumbled across the ground once more.
Crash!
“Ugh…”
– My, are you alright?
“Yes. I’m fine.”
– Hmm, I think I understand what the problem is.
“Really?”
– Yes, it’s the distribution of your vital energy. Try doing it my way once.
In-bong found the presence of this figure suspicious, to be honest, but decided to hear him out first.
He seemed frightening, but there was no malice in his intent to harm me.
After enduring harassment from Geumbong’s gang for so long, I had become quite adept at discerning hostile intent in others.
– First, step forward with one foot while forcefully pushing your vital energy from the upper dantian down to the lower dantian…
In-bong moved according to his instructions.
“Huh?”
He couldn’t help but be startled.
The part that had been continuously blocked until now was resolved as if by magic.
“It works! It actually works!”
– How is it?
“Incredible!”
– Haha. Right?

From that day on, every evening, the Ghost Spirit came to find In-bong.
“Um, Ghost Spirit sir.”
– About that form of address. Even though I am a ghost spirit, couldn’t you call me by a different title?
“What? Do you dislike it?”
– Would you prefer it then?
“Well, I suppose you have a point.”
In-bong pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Then, I’ll call you mister.”
-…Well, that’s much better. But what are you eating?
“Dried persimmons.”
– You’re eating something quite precious.
“Um-bong is my fellow disciple. He brought these for me. Even though there are children who bully me, there are still good ones like Um-bong, so…”
– I see. A good friend indeed. Then, today I shall teach you about the Heartpiercing Palm.
“Yes.”
The Heartpiercing Palm was the most representative palm technique of the Cheongseong Sect, a martial art that only true mountain disciples could learn.
It was that powerful and advanced a palm technique.
True to its name, when it struck the heart, it would stop the heart and bring about death.
– In my younger days, I killed quite a few of those Black Path bastards with this technique.
“I think I understand why you couldn’t ascend. You shouldn’t do that. No matter how evil someone is, they deserve a chance for redemption.”
-…Ugh! You speak like a stubborn Taoist with no sense of practicality.
“But, I am a Taoist?”
– Ahem, in any case, don’t use this unless you’re absolutely serious. People will actually die. Honestly, I don’t want to see you use it to kill others.
“Yes.”
For some reason, I could sense the concern woven into those words.

And so, after three months of punishment in the Repentance Hall, In-bong returned to his original position.
Then, during the group training at dawn, he received praise for the first time.
“That’s a very clean Three-Stream Sword technique! Well done.”
“Thank you.”
But that achievement seemed to have irritated Geumbong and his gang, for they secretly surrounded In-bong and tormented him, beating him mercilessly.
In-bong did not resist and accepted the blows without complaint.
He remembered how his Master had apologized on his behalf the last time he had stood up to them.
His Master, who had raised him since infancy.
He didn’t want to make him bow his head because of him.
That was when it happened.
– I’ll help you. These bastards!
“No!”
In-bong cried out urgently.
“I’m, I’m fine.”
At this, Geumbong’s gang blinked. In-bong had suddenly said something strange.
“What? This guy?”
“Has he finally lost it?”
“Hey! Let’s go. Madness is contagious.”
“Hehehehe.”
And so Geumbong’s gang left with mocking laughter, and In-bong rose to his feet, brushing the dirt from his clothes.
– Are you alright?
“I’m fine.”
– But why are you crying?
“….”
In-bong gave no answer to that question. He only clenched his fists tightly.
After a long while, In-bong spoke.
“Was my very birth a mistake?”
– Don’t say such things.
“But why is living so difficult?”
– I’m sorry.
“Why are you sorry? Honestly, it’s my parents who should be sorry for abandoning me here at the Cheongseong Sect.”
– …There must have been circumstances. And you too were born from your parents’ love.
Sensing deep sorrow and anguish in that voice, In-bong asked with puzzlement.
“Why do you think that?”
– You’re truly overflowing with talent and promise.
“Please don’t jest with me.”
– I’m not jesting. I’ll prove it to you.
“How?”
– Within the next five years, I’ll elevate you to the Peak Martial Master realm.
“But I’m still only third-rate…”
– Trust only in me.

* * *

I listened silently to Inbong Dojang’s story.
“Thanks to your help, I was able to become a Peak Martial Master.”
“I see.”
I recalled what Sister Hyang-ok had told me about Inbong Dojang.
He’d reached the peak in just one year.
It was all thanks to his father’s guidance.
Of course, his own talent must have been exceptional as well.
“And not long ago, my Master told me who my parents were.”
“Not long ago?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“He said he didn’t tell me until I turned twenty because he was worried I might do something reckless in my youthful foolishness before then.”
“I see.”
“My father was a disciple of the Main Organization. While traveling the Kangho, he met a woman and married her. But the Green Forest Bandits, who had a grudge against my father, kidnapped my mother. However, she escaped and gave birth to me while hiding in a cave.”
“….”
“When my father learned of this and found my mother, she was already beyond saving, or so I was told.”
“Did you also hear about your father?”
At my question, he nodded.
“I was told he entrusted me to the Main Organization and departed to avenge my mother.”
“I see.”
Then he withdrew something from his bosom.
“This mirror is something my father left behind, which my Master gave me this time. Notice how unusual the knot on it is?”
“Now that you mention it… yes, indeed.”
It was a knot I’d never seen before.
“My father’s specialty was knot-tying, and this knot was made by him. It’s so difficult that no one else can replicate it, or so I was told.”
Then he withdrew something else from his bosom.
A simple pouch made of plain cotton cloth.
“When I was isolated, the provisions that you delivered to me were contained in this.”
Now that I think about it, that’s what Inbong Dojang’s Father did.
He climbed the cliff to deliver provisions to his son.
I pretended ignorance and asked, “Is that so? But why….”
“The knot on this sack—isn’t it the same as the knot on the mirror?”
“….”
Inbong Dojang spoke with a complicated expression.
“It was my father.”
“Pardon?”
“The one who comforted me, who taught me martial arts, who climbed that cliff to bring me food so I wouldn’t starve to death… he was my father.”
At those words, I sighed inwardly.
So Inbong Dojang claims not to know his father is alive, yet he leaves such unmistakable evidence behind….
Inbong Dojang continued, “Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster. I wish to see my father. So… please persuade him to stop hiding and show himself before me with confidence.”
If you leave such clear evidence behind…
Inbong Master continued speaking.
Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster. I want to see Father. So please… convince him to stop hiding and show himself confidently before me.

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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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