The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 651

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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 651

Chapter 651. Wrapping Up (4)

Shortly after, the forces led by the Inspector descended from the mountain.
“Inspector Censor.”
I approached him and cupped my fist in salute as I reported.
“As you commanded, I have successfully rescued all those who were being held captive.”
“You’ve done well.”
“And….”
I spoke with a cold gaze, gesturing toward Baek Ho, who was bound beside me.
“I have also brought the one who was the cause of this entire incident.”
“I’m truly grateful. If the Merchant had died, I would have been at a loss as to how to resolve this crisis.”
He issued an order to the soldiers.
“Gag him and lock him up so he cannot take his own life.”
“Yes, sir!”
Then, looking at those I had rescued behind me, he spoke.
“You have all endured much hardship. Now rest assured and focus on recovering your strength.”
At that moment, Sister Hyang-ok, who had been with Hae Cheong-shin, stepped forward.
“I am Hyang-ok, a disciple of the Ami Sect.”
“Ah! So you are the one called the Swift Wind Immortal. What is it you wish to say?”
“Please grant me the opportunity to wash away the shame of failing to suppress those Green Forest Bandits.”
I looked at Sister Hyang-ok.
Her face was filled with indignation.
Now that I thought about it, Sister had such a strong competitive spirit that she could not bear to lose.
Moreover, this opponent was not even from the Orthodox Martial Arts World, but merely Green Forest Bandits.
Her pride must have been considerably wounded.
The Inspector looked at the Crown Prince with a troubled expression.
His eyes asked how to proceed.
If he granted Sister Hyang-ok’s request, others would also come forward claiming they wished to wash away their shame alongside her.
Yet if he refused her request, he could not predict how their resentment might manifest, which troubled him greatly.
The Crown Prince, receiving the Inspector’s gaze, also wore a troubled expression before looking toward me.
Me? You’re asking me?
Are you telling me to resolve this?
There’s no one left to pass this to… Damn it.
I sighed inwardly and spoke to the Inspector.
“Inspector Censor. In my humble opinion, it would be wise to grant Sister Hyang-ok’s request.”
“Is that so?”
“However, there are certain conditions that must be met.”
“What conditions are those?”
“First, anyone the Physician deems unable to fight must not participate in the suppression. Second, personal grudges or emotions must not take precedence. If they do, the result will be worse than not participating at all.”
“I’ll do as you say. Besides the Wind Sage, are there others who wish to participate in the suppression?”
“I will join as well.”
“I will also participate.”
Several martial artists stepped forward.
The Inspector then called for his Deputy Officer and gave an order.
“Go and bring the Physician here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Soon, the Physician of the Sichuan Tang Family arrived.
But then…
“Eh? Elder?”
It was the Grand Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family.
“Oh! I’ve heard the news. You rescued those who were being held captive?”
“Yes. We were fortunate, and many people helped us.”
“Heh heh, I knew you’d say something like that.”
“But why have you come here?”
“They said they needed a physician, so I came.”
His name was Manjol Physician.
Being called a physician of such renown, it made sense he would come when hearing that a physician was needed, but…
The Inspector, seeing him, quickly offered a respectful greeting.
“This humble one, Geum Young, greets the Grand Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family.”
“Oh! Geum Young, you’re here too!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, good.”
His manner was like that of someone doting on a child.
I could once again feel just how great the standing of Manjol Physician was in Sichuan.
“Elder, this is the Crown Prince.”
“Ah!”
The elder offered a respectful bow before the Crown Prince.
“This old body greets the Crown Prince.”
“It is an honor to meet the legend of the Sichuan Tang Family.”
The Crown Prince continued speaking.
“In fact, the reason I summoned a physician was…”
At the Crown Prince’s explanation, Manjol Physician nodded and consented.
“I understand. Leave it to this old one.”
And Manjol Physician then addressed Sister Hyang-ok and the rest of the party.
“Those who wish to have their physical condition examined, form a line!”
“Yes!”
Soon they lined up in perfect order, one after another. And the elder began examining them one by one.
First was Sister Hyang-ok.
“Hmm… you pass.”
“Thank you.”
The elder didn’t even check their pulse—he simply swept his gaze across their entire body and reached his conclusion.
“You need treatment.”
“Why? I’m perfectly fine.”
“Your left arm has a fracture.”
“No, that’s not—”
When someone tried to protest, he pressed his finger firmly against the spot he’d identified as injured.
“Really, I’m fine… GYAAAAGH!”
“Tsk! And you call that a lie?”
In that manner, he examined dozens of people in rapid succession, and the result was that only fifteen passed, including Sister Hyang-ok.
The Inspector spoke.
“You lot will follow me.”
“Yes.”
At that moment, I stepped forward and said.
“We suffered minimal damage, so we will participate in the suppression.”
“Much obliged.”

A short while later.
I was in the conference room with the Inspector.
It was a meeting to plan the suppression of the Green Forest Bandits led by the Blood-Eye Sword Demon.
The Inspector’s Deputy Officer unrolled a map before us and began his explanation.
“The Blood-Eye Sword Demon is known to be a Peak Martial Artist. At that level, our current suppression force shouldn’t have much difficulty, but the problem lies in this man’s abilities.”
Tap!
He struck the map with his pointer and continued.
“According to testimonies from those who participated in previous suppression efforts, when this man’s eyes glow red, he suddenly exhibits power beyond the Peak realm—reaching the Hwagyeong level.”
At those words, something surfaced in my mind.
The Extreme Martial Pill that the Maengxian Prince had consumed when I visited Chuyong Palace before.
Taking that would allow a Peak Martial Artist to display Hwagyeong-level strength.
Could the Blood-Eye Sword Demon have consumed one as well?
And there was another thing that troubled me—the title “Blood-Eye Sword Demon” itself.
His epithet became the Blood-Eye Sword Demon because of his crimson eyes.
Red eyes… that reminded me of something.
There was a time when I saw a woman named Hwang Min at the Mingming Trading Company whose eyes turned red, and Eun Jung-ho had saved me from being pushed overboard by Sung Yu-jin, the Merchant Guild Leader’s grandson, to silence him.
Her ability was soul-stealing through her crimson eyes.
If so, there was a possibility that the Blood-Eye Sword Demon possessed the same ability.
“Inspector, might this humble merchant offer a word?”
“Granted.”
“I will take the vanguard in this suppression campaign.”
“You?”
The Inspector tilted his head for a moment before asking.
“Could it be that you harbor ambitions for military merit?”
“That is not the case.”
“Then why do you wish to lead the vanguard?”
“I have grown suspicious that the Blood-Eye Sword Demons might be employing sorcery.”
“Sorcery?”
“Yes.”
I nodded in agreement.
“From what I understand, those who employ sorcery have eyes that glow with an unnatural color.”
“But what does that have to do with you taking the vanguard?”
“It is because I have mastered the Heavenly Stream Ice Sword.”
“The Heavenly Stream Ice Sword?”
“Yes. Those who have mastered the Heavenly Stream Ice Sword possess exceptionally pure vital energy and are naturally immune to most forms of sorcery. This is why I wish to lead the vanguard.”
“I see. Then you shall take the vanguard.”
“I will do my utmost.”
In truth, I am not the sort to willingly court danger.
– Squeak?
What was that sound?
What have you been witnessing all this time?
Geumryeong, be quiet.
Yet the reason I stepped forward as vanguard this time was because I hoped to glean information through the Blood-Eye Sword Demons.
After all, they seemed likely to be members of the Sura Blood Sect as well.

* * *

A mountain stronghold in the northwest of Sichuan.
The Stronghold Master there, Blood-Eye Sword Demon, was in quite a foul mood.
All the hostages he had lured into the cave and detained had escaped.
The financial loss from this wasn’t the real concern.
What mattered was failing to properly execute orders from above.
There was a reason he had merely confined the suppression force to the cave rather than slaughtering them outright.
It was because of orders from above.
As the Stronghold Master of the Green Forest Bandits, Blood-Eye Sword Demon naturally had the Green King above him, but he had another superior as well.
Those who had supported him in becoming a Stronghold Master of an otherwise unremarkable bandit gang.
He didn’t know their identities.
They had issued instructions several times over, and from those directives, he could only infer they hadn’t supported him for any noble purpose.
But it didn’t matter.
He only needed to look after his own interests.
Yet this time, his superiors had issued a peculiar order.

“What? A suppression force over a mere pittance stolen? What am I to do?”
“Do not worry. We have already devised countermeasures for this.”
“Truly?”
“Simply follow what is written here. Since the Crown Prince has come, the Current White Tiger will surely step forward as commander. Being a man of limited ability yet boundless ambition, he will fall into the trap easily.”
The visitor continued.
“Lure them into the nearby cave and trap them there. Then your stronghold’s forces alone will be more than sufficient to detain them.”
“Then should I demand money or grain using them as hostages?”
“No. There is something else you must demand.”
The visitor smiled as he spoke.
“Demand slaves and autonomy.”
“Pardon?”
Blood-Eye Sword Demon asked with a puzzled expression.
“They would never agree to such terms, would they?”
“Precisely why you must demand it. Their refusal is inevitable.”
The visitor laughed coldly.
“Then execute those you’ve confined in the cave.”

Though I couldn’t fathom why such an order was given, I had no choice but to comply.
These were the ones who had elevated me to this position.
So I sent a letter to the Imperial Inspectorate as they demanded, and quietly slipped in thirty thousand stone of grain as well.
But then….
Today, suddenly, soldiers led by the Inspector came charging toward the stronghold with great clamor.
So I immediately ordered those confined in the cave to be executed.
Yet.

“This is grave news. The prisoners we confined in the cave have escaped.”
“What? Damn it!”

A whistle sounded immediately, and I could only grit my teeth watching the Inspector Censor’s Forces suddenly retreat.
I had realized their sudden, clamorous advance was meant to allow those inside the cave to escape.
My chest felt heavy.
I had no idea how to report this to my superiors.
I knew better than anyone how terrifying these people were.
They were the ones who had elevated me from merely the Peak realm to the Hwagyeong level.
In other words, if their support disappeared, I might revert to my former state.
It was then.
“Stronghold Master! Stronghold Master!”
One of my subordinates rushed in urgently.
“What is it?”
“Look at this! There’s a letter tied to this arrow!”
And indeed, the arrow he presented with both hands had a letter bound to it.
“Moreover, this is the same arrow we used before to send our negotiation terms.”
“….”
I bit my lip and untied the letter attached to the arrow to read it.

[Blood-Eye Sword Demons, listen well.
We have nothing to give you, so accept your fate and move on.
I won’t waste words.
Surrender by tomorrow at the end of the Hour of the Horse (11 AM to 1 PM).
We will confirm your surrender by having one hundred of your weapons hung on a pole.
If you do not surrender, do not blame us for what comes after.
You have brought this upon yourselves.
And since having this arrow on our side is unlucky, we return it to you.]

The Blood-Eye Sword Demon tore the letter to shreds, screaming.
“Arrrrrgh!”
The instruction to hang a hundred weapons on a pole meant: ‘Do not resort to the cowardly trick of feigning surrender to lure us in, then turning treacherous and attacking.’
In other words, it was mockery—a declaration that no matter what underhanded schemes they employed, it would be futile.
Moreover, each phrase in the letter was deliberately infuriating.
“Stronghold Master, what letter was that?”
“What was written in it?”
The Green Forest Bandits, every last one of them illiterate, asked cautiously.
The Blood-Eye Sword Demon suppressed his rage and surveyed them.
Fury was one thing; duty was another.
He recalled the words of the one who had sought him out.

“You’ve been at this Mountain Stronghold far too long, haven’t you?”
“…Why do you ask?”
“It’s time for you to venture into the wider world. Should the Suppression Force threaten this stronghold, simply flee to the safe house I mentioned.”

Recalling those words, the Blood-Eye Sword Demon spoke.
“The letter contained words mocking us.”
“Sir?”
“It called us the vilest scoundrels in all the Realm.”
“What? What have we done to deserve such insults?”
“We cannot let this stand!”
“I heard they’re stationed in the Temporary Camp below. Let us show them our strength!”
“With you leading us, Stronghold Master, we fear nothing!”
Hearing their words, the Blood-Eye Sword Demon grinned wickedly.
“If you speak thus, then I too shall move.”
“We follow the Stronghold Master!”
“We follow!”
Observing them, the Blood-Eye Sword Demon thought to himself.
‘Indeed, I have lingered here far too long.’
As they said, the time had come for him to venture forth into the wider world and establish his reputation.
For this, those troublesome few who knew of his past had to disappear.
The escape of the hostages weighed on his mind, but such matters could be weathered.
The deadline for surrender mentioned in the letter was tomorrow at the Hour of the Snake.
He surveyed his subordinates and spoke.
“In two days’ time, that shall be the day of final battle.”

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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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