The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 652

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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 652

Chapter 652. Wrapping Up (5)

I wiped the Eun Moo-geom with cloth inside the military camp.
In truth, the Eun Moo-geom maintained its sharpness without sharpening, and blood never clung to its blade.
So there was no real need to wipe it—this was merely an action to organize my thoughts.
Swish, swish.
Sitting on a simple cot and wiping the Eun Moo-geom, I continued to ponder what had been nagging at me.
It concerned the conditions the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost had demanded for releasing the hostages.
Thirty thousand stones of grain—that much I could understand.
But demanding one hundred slaves and autonomy? That I could not fathom.
Having traveled merchant caravans across the entire empire for decades and encountered bandits from every region, I prided myself on understanding them well.
They were far shrewder and more calculating than most realized.
They never made demands that had no chance of succeeding.
With one exception.
When they sought to provoke conflict or manufacture justification for war.
Consider this.
It was certain we would not accept their demands.
Then our only option remained.
Organize a rescue team to extract those imprisoned in the cave.
Had I failed to safely evacuate those trapped in the cave using Hyun Ro-do?
Even if the rescue team succeeded in approaching the cave, they would not have saved those inside.
Then even annihilating the bandits here would be a pyrrhic victory.
Among those detained there were many from the prominent sects of Sichuan.
If such people were wiped out during the bandit suppression?
Their grief would be immense, and their feelings toward the government would be anything but favorable.
After all, they had come at the request of the Inspector and the Crown Prince, deployed under Baek Ho’s command, and died in the operation.
Moreover, the Cheongseong Sect had already suffered considerable losses from this earthquake, and losing such a large number of Noble Heirs again would weaken the orthodox martial forces of Sichuan itself.
If the orthodox Murim of Sichuan weakened and relations with the government and imperial court grew cold….
I did not wish to contemplate it.
And I could confirm once more.
This was absolutely not the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost’s thinking.
To demand such negotiations when the bandit gang could be annihilated?
It made no sense.
Surely this was the instruction of someone who had bestowed a kind of ‘favor’ upon him.
With very high probability, the Sura Blood Sect.
And the Sura Blood Sect must have presented the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost with some form of compensation to entice him.
What exactly could they have offered him?
“What occupies your thoughts, sir?”
I stirred from my reverie and glanced to my side.
Seo-woo Warrior, having finished inspecting his weapons, was sheathing his blade.
I shook my head and replied.
“Ah… I simply have much on my mind.”
“I see. I hope I haven’t intruded upon your thoughts.”
“Not at all. Actually, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“Please, speak freely.”
Since my guards already knew of the Sura Blood Sect, I spoke without reservation.
“My suspicion is that this affair was not the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost’s independent action. It’s highly likely the Sura Blood Sect orchestrated the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost from behind the scenes.”
“Them again.”
“Yes. They surely knew the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost’s stronghold would be suppressed, yet they made such a proposal regardless. If so, they must have offered him sufficient compensation to accept.”
“That would make sense.”
“What troubles me is this: what exactly did they propose to the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost?”
Seo-woo Warrior, who had been pondering this, then spoke.
“I’ve heard of the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost before. In fact, he was once a Green Forest Bandit under the command of Tang Dun, who led one of the strongholds in this region.”
“Now that you mention it, I recall hearing that. He earned that name because he had an extraordinary fondness for sweets.”
“Yes, that’s correct. But he was killed by the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost, who then became the new Stronghold Master.”
The Green Forest Bandits operated under peculiar rules.
If a subordinate wished to become Stronghold Master, he had to challenge the current master and kill him.
Then, carrying the head of the slain master to the Green King, he would be recognized as the new Stronghold Master.
“And by absorbing nearby strongholds and gathering followers, he reached his current strength.”
“I see.”
“Before my body deteriorated, I once traveled through Yunnan on a trading expedition and encountered an old acquaintance. He had served under Tang Dun but fled when the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost became the new master, seeking a new life. From him, I learned much about the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost.”
“Please, continue.”
“The Blood-Eye Demon Ghost possesses an extraordinarily strong desire for honor. His nature differs greatly from typical bandits.”
A strong desire for honor, then…
“Particularly, he is obsessed with his reputation and title.”
Indeed, a title is a form of honor.
I began to understand what they might have proposed to the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost.
“Thank you for the valuable insight. I believe I’m beginning to grasp the situation.”
“I’m glad it proved helpful. I felt I had heard something about this before, but only just now did it come to mind. I was about to mention it.”
“That information was most useful. My thanks.”
I continued.
“He is a man who sacrificed even his own subordinates to lure the suppression force. And he surely took the arrows we fired earlier.”
“Yes, he must have.”
“And the Sura Blood Sect offered him adequate compensation as well. So then, how do you suppose he will act?”
Lee Pil Warrior, who had been quietly listening to our exchange, answered.
“Why, he would flee, of course.”
“I share that sentiment.”
I rose from my seat as I spoke.
“Then, shall I take the vanguard role?”

* * *

The surroundings were pitch black in the dead of night.
The Blood-Eye Demon Ghost quietly left his quarters.
“Ah! Stronghold Master!”
“Where are you going?”
At the question from those standing guard, the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost replied coldly.
“Must I announce my destination to everyone I pass?”
“Gasp! N-no!”
“We apologize!”
As they hurriedly bowed and apologized, the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost spoke with a benevolent expression.
“I was too harsh. Forgive me.”
“We overstepped our bounds.”
“In truth, I intend to scout their temporary camp.”
“Sir?”
“Is the Stronghold Master personally conducting reconnaissance?”
“Indeed. This is a dangerous task, and only by seeing it myself can I devise an accurate strategy.”
“S-Stronghold Master….”
The Blood-Eye Demon Ghost waved his hand at the moved sentries.
“Then, carry on.”
“Yes!”
“Ah, and tell no one that you saw me leave.”
With that solemn instruction, the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost departed the mountain stronghold. The sentries watching him tilted their heads slightly.
It was because of the large bundle he carried on his back—it looked quite heavy.
But they soon assumed it was equipment necessary for reconnaissance.
Meanwhile, the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost chuckled softly.
‘How easily they believe.’
He had no intention whatsoever of scouting the temporary camp where the Inspector’s suppression force was stationed.
He planned to head straight for the safe house.
The bundle on his back contained gold, silver, and treasures he had carefully accumulated.
If they did not surrender by tomorrow at dawn, the suppression force would attack, but those remaining in the mountain stronghold had no way of knowing this.
So his subordinates left behind would be suppressed without knowing anything.
But he had no intention of saving them.
‘Forgive me. But I shall ensure your sacrifice is not in vain by elevating my own reputation.’
He crossed the mountain and arrived at the safe house.
The safe house was cleanly maintained, and it appeared there would be no inconvenience in staying there for some time.
“Are you here?”
At that moment, a voice reached his ears.
“…!”
In an instant, he tensed and his body went rigid.
The only people who could find him in this place were them.
But he had been clearly told to wait here for a few days, so there was no way they could have found him already.
Thus, he cautiously tried to examine the courtyard.
“Are you here?”
The voice continued to call out.
“I know you’re inside. I’ve come because I have something sent from above.”
At this, he flinched. It was because of those words—’something sent from above.’
So he opened the door and stepped into the courtyard.
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
From the darkness, someone offered him a respectful salute. When he raised his head, the figure wore a smiling mask.
Thus, only the white mask was clearly visible.
“Hmm, who are you?”
“I’m afraid I cannot reveal anything about myself.”
“Then how am I to trust you?”
“Why would you need to trust me?”
“What?”
“You should trust the person who sent me, not me.”
“….”
He retrieved something from the bundle on his back and offered it forward.
“Please accept this.”
“What is this box?”
“The person who sent me said that preparation would be necessary.”
“Preparation?”
“Yes. I myself don’t know the details. I was only instructed to tell you to prepare yourself by consuming these while you stay here.”
With that, he opened the box to show its contents.
Inside were six elixir pills.
“Take one pill every two hours.”
Click.
He closed the box and offered it forward.
“Please accept this.”
The Blood-Eye Demon Ghost took it and, after a moment of consideration, spoke.
“Look at me for a moment.”
“Yes.”
In that instant, a crimson light emanated from his eyes. Under that glow, the man’s gaze grew clouded.
“Who sent you? Who is that person?”
“That person is someone whose name I cannot reveal.”
“Is this elixir truly from them?”
“Yes.”
“Can I trust it?”
“Of course. They never speak falsehoods. To be chosen by them is an immense honor.”
“I see. Now clear your mind and forget that I placed you under soul-binding magic.”
“Yes.”
Thud!
As the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost stamped his foot, the clouded gaze of the Smiling Mask Wearer returned to clarity.
“Ah… have I made some mistake, perhaps?”
“No. You haven’t.”
He shook his head and issued the order to leave.
“Since I’ve received it well, convey my gratitude to them.”
“Yes.”
With that, the masked one departed, and the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost smiled wickedly.
The inner power achieved through the elixir that elevated one from the peak to the Hwagyeong realm had its limits.
If he wielded that strength for more than a moment, his body would begin to collapse and crumble.
Thus, they had promised to provide a remedy for this in the near future.
The elixir they had given him.
It was undoubtedly a solution to compensate for his unstable power.

* * *

“Phew…”
I removed the mask and exhaled lightly.
“How did it go?”
“Fortunately, it seems to have gone well.”
I answered Jin Yu Warrior’s question and placed the mask inside the secret vault.
That’s right.
I had just returned from giving the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost the elixir pill that Man Gyeol Elder had created for me this time.
There were several reasons why I was able to stop Maeng Hyun, who had grown rapidly stronger after consuming the Extreme Martial Pill at Chuk Yong Palace.
First, I had recently learned the Extreme Frost Sword through the Ancestor’s arrangement.
Second, I had experience fighting against the Hwagyeong Master.
Third, it was due to the side effects of the Extreme Martial Pill.
Because of those side effects, he couldn’t sustain prolonged combat, which is also why he lost to me.
In fact, in my previous life, once the Extreme Martial Pill became known, research into it progressed.
It was research led by the Sichuan Tang Family, not by the Murim Alliance itself.
From what I learned, there exists a spiritual herb that nullifies the efficacy of the Extreme Martial Pill’s core ingredient. And if one consumes it, those who have taken the Extreme Martial Pill experience problems in drawing out the inner energy accumulated through elixir pills.
Of course, those who haven’t taken the Extreme Martial Pill face no such problems.
That spiritual herb is Baek Ho Herb.
It was one of the spiritual herbs scattered around the Odong Mountain Hideout previously.
And through Geumryeong, I obtained the Baek Ho Herb from Father, then asked Man Gyeol Elder to craft elixir pills from it.
Six elixir pills in total.
Even one would be sufficient in effect, but I prepared six to avoid suspicion.
Since I already have experience subduing Maeng Hyun, who had grown rapidly stronger after consuming the Extreme Martial Pill, there’s no reason I couldn’t subdue the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost.
But if there’s a method that allows me to exert less effort and face less danger, why wouldn’t I use it?
One could call using medicine cowardly, but what do I care?
If I’m not careful, I could die, so what does cowardice matter?
And the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost, who consumed such medicine to artificially elevate his realm through shortcuts, is far more cowardly.
Yeo Eung-am Warrior spoke.
“Going in person caused us great worry.”
“It was unavoidable. There was a high possibility he would use the Soul Searching Technique.”
I continued.
“And just as I suspected, he really did use the Soul Searching Technique.”
“Is that true?”
I nodded.
Anxious that a stranger had come to his safe house, he cast the Soul Searching Technique on me to extract the truth.
So I deliberately pretended to be affected by the Soul Searching Technique.
My acting must have been convincing enough, for he believed my words.
“Tomorrow is something to look forward to.”
.
.
.
Dawn broke.
And the promised hour of five arrived.
As expected, not a single weapon hung from the poles at the Mountain Stronghold, just as our letter had promised.
The Inspector General rose from his seat upon hearing the report.
“The time for suppression has come.”
Those present lit up with fervor at his words.
The Inspector General called upon me first.
“Eun Seo-ho.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You said you would lead the vanguard.”
“That is correct. But I have something to say first.”

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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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