The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 653

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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 653

Chapter 653. Wrapping Up (6)

At my words, the Inspector General questioned me in return.
“What do you have to say?”
“I will not be going to the Mountain Stronghold.”
“What?”
At my statement, the Inspector General’s expression went blank for a moment. He clearly didn’t understand what I was saying.
But soon he regained his composure and asked in an irritated tone.
“What do you mean! Didn’t you yourself say you would lead the vanguard! And now you’re backing out! I didn’t take you for that kind of person! I must have misjudged you!”
At this, the Crown Prince who was seated nearby restrained the Inspector General.
“Calm yourself. The Eun Small Merchant Leader I know is neither someone who speaks carelessly nor a coward. There must be a reason for this.”
The Crown Prince looked at me and spoke.
“Tell me why you suddenly refuse to go to the Mountain Stronghold.”
“Because there are no Blood-Eye Sword Demons at the Mountain Stronghold we are about to suppress.”
“…What?”
“No Blood-Eye Sword Demons?”
The Crown Prince, the Inspector General, and everyone present were taken aback.
“That is correct. No matter how I thought about it, the Blood-Eye Sword Demons’ movements made no sense, so I was troubled. Then I heard about the Blood-Eye Sword Demons from my Guard Warrior.”
I continued.
“When I combined that information, it seemed unlikely that the Blood-Eye Sword Demons would remain at the Mountain Stronghold even after hearing of this suppression. So last night I investigated near the Mountain Stronghold and discovered the Blood-Eye Sword Demons fleeing in secret.”
“Is that truly the case?”
The Inspector General, forgetting his earlier outburst, focused intently on my words.
“Yes. I followed them and discovered where they are hiding. So I and my Guard Warriors planned to move separately to subdue the Blood-Eye Sword Demons.”
“Ah… I see.”
The Inspector General apologized to me.
“I was angry with you without understanding the full circumstances. My apologies.”
The way he apologized cleanly showed he was a decent person.
In truth, someone of his position rarely apologizes to subordinates.
“It is no trouble. I simply failed to explain beforehand.”
“No. I was hasty.”
He continued.
“If we took others along, control might not be properly maintained, so you planned to move separately with just your own people.”
“Exactly.”
“I understand. I will permit the Special Detachment to move independently.”
Then Sister Hyang-ok spoke.
“In that case, I shall take the lead in the suppression of that Mountain Stronghold.”
As expected of Sister Hyang-ok.
You never miss an opportunity.
“Then let it be so.”
Having obtained permission to command the Special Detachment, I departed the temporary military camp with my Guard Warriors.
.
.
.
Shortly after.
I arrived at the location where the Blood-Eye Sword Demons was staying.
We surrounded the house and slowly tightened our encirclement. Given the Blood-Eye Sword Demons’s level of cultivation, he could sense our approach and attempt to flee.
The Peak realm is hardly a trivial level of power, after all.
I wondered if he had consumed the elixir.
By my estimation, he must have consumed at least one.
That was when it happened.
Boom!
The main gate burst open and the Blood-Eye Sword Demons revealed himself.
As expected, he had sensed our approach.
“Damn it! Who the hell are you bastards?”
“What shall we do?”
“No need for lengthy words. Let us fight.”
At my command, the Guard Warriors rushed toward him.
Clang!
Clang-clang!
He managed to block several attacks, but was quickly forced into a defensive position.
It was inevitable—both Jin Yu Warrior and I had reached the Transcendent Peak realm.
“Ugh!”
The Blood-Eye Sword Demons was driven backward, groaning, and soon began to provoke us.
“Isn’t this cowardly? I’m alone while you have five people?”
“There is no cowardice in matters of life and death.”
I replied thus and swung my sword toward him.
Slash!
My blade grazed his arm, drawing blood.
“Tch! This won’t do. Let me show you the power of the strength I’ve newly acquired!”
He said this and raised his sword.
But soon his eyes wavered.
“What? Why isn’t my inner energy responding properly?”
“…!”
The emotion that appeared on his face was shock.
“You bastards! What have you done to me?”
“Who knows?”
I played dumb.
If I explained so easily, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore.
Even if we could suppress him, there was no reason to spell it out.
“Did you perhaps eat something spoiled?”
“Damn it!”
He spat out a curse and struggled to block my blade.
That’s when his eyes turned crimson red.
As expected.
Unable to use the power of Hwagyeong, he was resorting to his trump card—the soul-seizing hand seal technique.
I immediately unleashed the aura of the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art.
If my Guard Warriors fell victim to that soul-seizing technique, it would be catastrophic.
One of the reasons I brought only my Guard Warriors was precisely because of that technique.
If our own forces attacked us after being possessed by the soul-seizing technique, there could be no greater headache.
And I shouted to the Guard Warriors.
“Fall back immediately!”
Even at my command, Myeong-jong Warrior and Chang-un Warrior hesitated before retreating.
Seeing this, Seo-woo Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior grabbed the back of their necks and pulled them backward.
“Elder Brother!”
“Why must we retreat?”
To their resistance, Seo-woo Warrior answered firmly.
“Do you refuse to obey the master’s command?”
“But we are Guard Warriors! We cannot abandon the master!”
“I feel the same way. However, this is a special circumstance where we could become a hindrance to the master. We must trust him and wait.”
Thus the Guard Warriors fell back, forming a wide perimeter around me and the Blood-Eye Sword Demon.
I drew upon my inner strength and pressed the Blood-Eye Sword Demon hard.
So long as he couldn’t use the power of Extreme Martial Wheel Return, the gap in our abilities was stark.
Just before I could subdue him.
Whoosh!
I sensed something flying toward me and quickly swung my blade to deflect it.
Clang!
Turning around, I saw a Masked Black-Robed Figure watching us.
I hadn’t noticed anything at all…?
Then there could be only one answer.
A being of higher cultivation than myself.
And from him, I sensed the aura of the Black Path mixed with a thick blood scent.
That proved he was absolutely not an ally.
“I, I’m saved!”
The Blood-Eye Sword Demon spoke with delight.
“You’ve come to rescue me!”
I furrowed my brow and asked.
“Did you come to rescue the Blood-Eye Sword Demons?”
At my question, he burst into laughter.
“Hahaha.”
A light laugh, yet the energy contained within it pressed down upon the space itself.
My grip tightened on the sword’s hilt, and blood seeped from my lips.
The other Guard Warriors, save for Jin Yu Warrior, were clearly struggling to even stand properly.
This Merchant was a true master of Hwagyeong.
Not a counterfeit Hwagyeong created through something like the Extreme Martial Wheel, but genuine Hwagyeong mastery.
A tense moment.
A short blade shot forth from his hand.
I thrust my sword forward to block the blade. But….
Clang!
Instead, my sword was deflected, and the blade embedded itself directly into the Blood-Eye Sword Demons’ chest.
Thud!
This was what his laughter had meant.
“Why… how could this….”
The Blood-Eye Sword Demons, his expression one of disbelief as he stared at the blade lodged in his chest, fell backward.
“You intended to use the Blood-Eye Sword Demons from the start.”
He did not answer, merely regarding me before appearing before me in the blink of an eye.
I instinctively swung my sword toward him.
Clang!
“You have good instincts.”
“Ugh!”
Had I not reflexively raised my blade, I would have truly perished.
Merely blocking his sword was overwhelming, yet I could not yield.
To falter was to die.
“To think one weaker than I would block my blade… you’re an amusing one.”
Whoosh!
He retreated, sheathing his sword as he spoke.
“I’ve changed my mind. I won’t take your life here today.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a premonition we’ll meet again. By then, you’ll be stronger than now. At that time, I’ll claim your life.”
“Why?”
“I dislike boring fights.”
“Then why did you kill the Merchant?”
“That was an order.”
His eyes brightened.
Though his mask obscured all but his eyes, I could sense his smile, and a chill ran through me.
“But it seems wasteful to simply withdraw. This is a gift.”
In that instant, an identical short blade shot forth.
The short blade wasn’t aimed at me, but at the Guard Warriors.
They should have dodged, but his overwhelming momentum had paralyzed them into inaction.
I was the only one who could move properly.
“Haaaah!”
I pushed off the ground and launched myself forward.
Was I too late?
That’s when it happened.
Thud!
Something suddenly appeared and blocked the short blade.
A… a shield?
But why did a shield suddenly appear…?
I didn’t know what it was, but thanks to it, the force behind the blade weakened, allowing me to deflect it in time.
I brushed off my chest and turned to look behind me.
“Phew…”
The Masked Black-Robed Figure had already vanished.
He must have thrown the short blade at the Guard Warriors to prevent me from pursuing him.
“Young Master! Are you alright?”
“Huh? Palgap? What are you doing here?”
I couldn’t help but be startled.
I had clearly left him at the Cheongseong Sect to protect Seo Hyang, so why was he here?
“Gwak Vice-Manager sent me. She said that when the masked one fled, he would throw a short blade that would be directed at the Guard Warriors, and that you would be injured while blocking it.”
Palgap rubbed his nose as he spoke.
“So I obtained the sturdiest shield available and hid in advance.”
“I see.”
I should thank Seo Hyang for this.
But still… that means even the Hwa Kyung Master didn’t notice Palgap’s presence?
Sal Wang’s talent truly was remarkable.
“Master. Are you unharmed?”
“We were insufficient… and caused you difficulty.”
I waved my hand at their words.
“It’s fine. I nearly died because my skills were lacking as well.”
I steadied my trembling legs and approached the Blood-Eye Demon Ghost.
It was already too late.
The wounds were fatal, and the bleeding was severe.
Even Geumryeong’s needles wouldn’t help at this point.
“Listen here, Blood-Eye Demon Ghost.”
“Ugh… ugh…”
“This is what happens when you trust someone you shouldn’t. Bitter, isn’t it? I can help you get some revenge, so how about you provide me with some information?”
I continued.
“Trapping the Suppression Force in that cave—what was your real purpose? And what were those ridiculous negotiation terms?”
“I, I didn’t do it… They ordered me to….”
So it wasn’t his own will—he was acting under their instructions.
“The, the reason is, I don’t, don’t, don’t know….”
So they hadn’t told him the reason either.
He soon breathed his last.
But the moment he died, the Black Path aura mixed with the thick scent of blood vanished completely.
Now that I think about it, when that woman Hwang Min from the Ming Ming Trading Company died before, her aura disappeared completely in the same way.
What they had in common was that they both had mastered the soul-capturing technique.
Then what secret does the soul-capturing technique hold?
I’ll need to investigate this matter.
“Young Master. What should we do with this short sword?”
“A short sword?”
“Yes.”
Palgap pointed to the short sword lying on the ground.
It was the one I had knocked away earlier.
On the blade of that sword was engraved a single snake.
“The One-Snake Sword!”
Jin Yu Warrior cried out upon seeing it.
“The One-Snake Sword? Do you know of it?”
“Yes.”
Jin Yu Warrior nodded.
“It is one of those we investigated previously. A master of Hwagyeong who wields a weapon engraved with a single snake, he is an assassin who accepts contracts only out of interest. A most dangerous individual.”
“I see.”
“To face the One-Snake Sword and yet remain alive! It is divine fortune!”
“Ah, truly so.”
I exhaled a long breath and looked down at my hands.
My palms were torn and bleeding.
It was proof of how tense I had been, unable to feel even this pain.
Had I died like this, I would have closed my eyes in bitter resentment.
I thought we had gained nothing, yet we obtained information that the One-Snake Sword is connected to the Sura Blood Sect.
I suppose I should count this as a gain.
“Then, let us return now.”
“Yes.”
.
.
.
Shortly after.
When we returned to the Temporary Military Camp and were catching our breath, the Suppression Force returned.
They had bound the Green Forest Bandits with rope like dried fish and brought them back.
They had completely lost the will to fight.
Upon seeing Sister Hyang-ok, I rushed toward her with genuine delight.
“Sister Hyang-ok!”
“Seo-ho! You’re safe!”
“Yes.”
I glanced at the Green Forest Bandits and spoke.
“What happened here?”
“Well….”
Sister Hyang-ok explained the situation.
“He suddenly startled as if doused with cold water, gasping for breath, then collapsed to the ground and began crawling about, desperately begging for his life.”
“Ah… I see.”
The Blood-Eye Demon Ghost had cast a soul-binding technique before departing, and it shattered when he died.
“What about you? Your expression doesn’t look good—did you miss him?”
“No, I didn’t.”
I shook my head.
“I severed his neck and brought his head as proof.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried seeing your expression.”
“I simply pushed myself too hard today and feel exhausted.”
“That’s understandable.”
“Where is the Inspector General?”
“Over there.”
I approached the Inspector and reported the situation.
He regarded me with satisfaction and offered his commendation.
Thus, the large-scale suppression of the Green Forest Bandits came to a close.
With reconstruction from the earthquake nearly complete, it was time to return to Beijing soon.
I would handle matters there, then depart for Nanking for the trading expedition.
I recalled the One-Snake Sword I had encountered today. While others might feel their pride wounded at having their lives saved by him, I did not.
Instead, my fighting spirit burned all the brighter.
It is good to steel one’s resolve.
When we meet again, I will emerge victorious by any means necessary.

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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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