The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 679

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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 679

Chapter 679. Killing Two Birds with One Stone (2)

I asked Hwangbo Seon-yu, the Great Hero.
“I’m not entirely sure what you mean. Why are you suddenly asking whether the Lady could become an instructor at the Martial Hall?”
“Ah, don’t misunderstand. This is something In-ah asked me to inquire about on her behalf.”
“I’m not misunderstanding.”
“It seems In-ah doesn’t want to merely waste away her time in the family anymore. She heard something about the Martial Hall and made this request of me.”
“I see.”
However, I preferred that the instructors at the Martial Hall be no older than forty years of age.
This wasn’t out of disrespect for the elderly, but for the continuity of education.
I wanted the instructors we were recruiting now to shoulder the teaching responsibilities for as long as possible.
Moreover, if the instructors were too old, conflicts with the deputy director of the Martial Hall could arise, making it difficult to mediate and resolve such issues.
Yet it would be a shame to refuse someone as remarkable as Hwangbo In-ah.
Her martial prowess and experience would be invaluable.
As I pondered this briefly, a good idea came to me.
“In that case, I would like to request a different role instead.”
“A different role?”
“I would like her to serve as the dormitory supervisor.”
“Dormitory supervisor?”
“Yes. In the Martial Hall we’re building, all students will live in the dormitory.”
“I see.”
“Therefore, the dormitory supervisor must excel in many ways and possess strong judgment. It’s a position that requires caring for the students while also strictly disciplining and correcting any misconduct.”
Hwangbo Seon-yu, understanding my meaning immediately, let out a soft chuckle.
“So she’d also need to catch and punish those who sneak out at night.”
“You seem to have experience with such matters.”
At my words, he quickly waved his hand.
“Experience? No, I’m just speaking hypothetically.”
His sudden flustered response only made me more suspicious.
“In any case, it’s a good suggestion. I’ll mention it to my In-ah.”
“I appreciate it.”
“Well then, my apologies for the late visit. Rest well now.”
With that, Hwangbo Seon-yu left my quarters, and I scratched the back of my neck.
Now I could finally sleep, couldn’t I?
Notably, he said nothing about Hwangbo Uk, which suggested that only the House Master knew of that matter so far.
Given that things remained quiet, it appeared he was gathering evidence to handle it decisively.
He was moving with careful deliberation.
Perhaps that is why the world calls the Hwangbo Family by another name—the Tiger’s Den.
Tigers move with deliberation, never recklessly.
But why did Hwangbo Uk act as he did?

* * *

At that very moment.
Someone slipped quietly away from the Hwangbo Family.
A black bamboo hat concealed his face, and a black long robe allowed his form to dissolve into the darkness.
His secretive movements led him to a small tavern in Jinan.
Of course, since the alcohol ban had not yet been lifted, it remained closed.
Knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock.
He rapped upon the door as agreed.
“Are you there?”
“Come in.”
He entered. Inside the darkened tavern sat a man.
A man with a blue blindfold over one eye.
“Welcome, Young Master.”
“Forgive my lateness.”
“Not at all. I understand.”
“Please, sit.”
The late arrival removed his bamboo hat as he took his seat.
His identity was none other than Hwangbo Uk.
“This is grave news. Whetstones have been delivered to the Hwangbo Family.”
“What do you mean?”
The Blue-Eyed Man poured tea into his cup.
“We clearly exerted pressure to ensure whetstones could not be supplied to any place the Main House did not approve. Naturally, we denied approval to the Hwangbo Family.”
He slid the teacup forward and continued.
“I am curious—who dared to defy the Namgung Family and accomplish such a bold feat?”
Hwangbo Uk shook his head.
“Such pressure proved useless. It came from a place we never anticipated.”
“…?”
“A man named Eun Seo-ho from the Eunhae Trading Company purchased a mountain this time. It turned out to be a stone quarry that produces the stone needed to make whetstones.”
The Blue-Eyed Man’s brow furrowed at these words.
“Of all the misfortune….”
“What do you intend to do now? Our contract cannot proceed as matters stand.”
The Blue-Eyed Man pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Then I shall require your further assistance. We must seize that quarry for ourselves if our contract is to succeed.”
The Blue Blindfold Man paused for a moment before opening his mouth.
“Then you’ll need to help us a bit more. We won’t be able to complete our contract unless we get that Stone Quarry into our hands.”
“Very well. How may I be of service?”
“Please investigate the exact location of the stone quarry and gather information about how much stone can be extracted from there.”
“Understood.”
“But are you truly comfortable with this?”
“Comfortable with what?”
“Your grandfather bowing his head to the Main House. It must wound the pride of a patriarch to bow before another great family, no?”
“It matters not. My grandfather bowing once to the Namgung Family won’t destroy our clan, and if I receive the sacred contract and strengthen my martial prowess, isn’t that the better outcome?”
“Haha, that is a fair point indeed.”
“I care little for such things if it means I can grow stronger. So all I need do is gather information about the stone mountain that Eun Seo-ho purchased?”
“Yes. We shall handle the rest ourselves.”
The Blue Blindfold Man asked carefully.
“By the way, it seems you harbor quite a bit of resentment toward this Eun Seo-ho.”
“Of course. That merchant treated me like a mere porter.”
“Ah… I’ve heard of that incident. It was quite the talk in the marketplace.”
“Hmph, I’m barely restraining my fury as I recall that humiliation.”
“Leave it to us. If all goes well, we shall repay that insult for you.”
Crash!
It was then.
The ceiling shattered, and a group of figures landed on the floor below.
“Gasp!”
Hwangbo Uk could not help but be startled at the sight of them.
The emblem of Mount Tai woven into their garments was proof of their allegiance to the Hwangbo Family.
And the three characters “Taepo Squad” inscribed on their left chests.
They were the personal guard of the Hwangbo Clan Head.
‘Damn it! Why are they here…?’
Their appearance meant his grandfather had grown suspicious of him.
He had told no one of this agreement.
He had always moved in secret, and since he had given no one cause for suspicion, he never imagined he would be discovered.
He quickly raised his hands in protest.
“U-Uncle! This is… that is to say…”
The Taepo Squad Commander spoke in a low voice.
“Do not bother with excuses. We have heard everything that transpired here.”
He issued orders to the Taepo Squad warriors.
“Arrest everyone in this room. Not a single one is to be spared. Including that one.”
“Yes, sir!”

* * *

After Hwangbo Seon-yu, the Great Hero, departed, I lay down on my bed.
Perhaps now I could finally sleep with a peaceful mind?
But the moment I tried to drift off, I could only sigh and rise from my resting place.
The tumultuous commotion I sensed through my qi made it impossible.
Crash!
Palgap burst through the door and rushed in urgently.
“Young Master! Young Master! This is terrible! The Hwangbo Family has been thrown into complete upheaval!”
“What happened?”
“The Hwangbo Clan Head’s personal guard has arrested those who were plotting to harm the Hwangbo Family. And apparently, Young Master Hwangbo Uk is among them.”
Ah….
So they finally obtained concrete evidence.
“Well then, I suppose I should go take a look.”
I nodded slowly and descended from my bed, then donned my outer robe.
“So where is everyone gathered right now?”
“They’re assembled at the Great Training Ground.”

I arrived at the Great Training Ground with my Guard Warriors.
Despite the late hour, countless people had gathered there.
“The fact that Young Master Hwangbo Uk was colluding with the Namgung Family could be called a disgrace to the clan, yet they’re revealing it so openly to everyone. Truly, this is the Hwangbo way.”
Indeed, the Hwangbo Family valued righteousness and integrity in their family traditions.
But that wasn’t the only reason.
“There’s merit to that, but there’s another reason as well.”
At my words, the Chang-un Warrior tilted his head in confusion.
“Is there another reason?”
Having lived as disciples of the Orthodox Sects—the Huashan Sect and the Jongnam Sect—both the Myeong-jong Warrior and the Chang-un Warrior tended to view the world with perhaps too much righteousness and honesty.
Of course, that wasn’t necessarily a flaw.
In a way, being able to see the world that way could be considered a blessing.
I nodded and explained.
“Yes. By conducting this interrogation publicly and revealing all the details, the Namgung Family won’t be able to make excuses.”
“Ah….”
“Fairness and integrity are admirable, but you must also understand how to recognize and exploit schemes. If you’re only fair and upright, those who prey on others will take advantage of you.”
“That’s a wise observation. But… it’s also a sad reality.”
“Indeed.”
We stood among the crowd at the Great Training Ground, observing the Training Ground within.
Young Master Hwangbo Uk sat bound to a chair.
He had been dragged here quite roughly—one side of his face bore bruises, and his lip was split, bleeding.
“Oh no! Uk!”
At that moment, a woman rushed forward.
“Mother!”
“What is the meaning of this? Why are you in this state, in this condition, in this place?”
“Mother! I am innocent!”
Ah… so that woman is Hwangbo Uk’s mother.
“Release my son at once! My son is the Small Patriarch’s son! There is no reason for him to be in such a state!”
She shrieked in fury, but those wearing robes emblazoned with the Taepo Squad insignia remained unmoved.
“Step back.”
“Hwangbo Uk is currently a criminal.”
At this, she turned to appeal to the Small Patriarch standing beside her.
“My lord, he is our son. Our son!”
“Sigh… There is nothing I can do about this.”
“My lord!”
“If you are a woman of the Hwangbo Family, then conduct yourself with dignity.”
At that moment, the Hwangbo Clan Head appeared, and their conversation could not continue.
“How disruptive.”
“Ah, Father!”
She rushed toward the Clan Head and fell to her knees before him.
“My son has done nothing wrong. Please, I beg you to understand.”
“Daughter-in-law.”
“Yes, yes. Father.”
“Be silent and compose yourself.”
The Hwangbo Clan Head said nothing more to her and declared, addressing the assembly.
“I shall now begin the public interrogation.”
All eyes turned toward the Hwangbo Clan Head.
“I have sensed that Hwangbo Uk’s recent conduct has been unusual, and thus I ordered my trusted subordinates to observe him.”
Fortunately, he is keeping my involvement hidden.
“Through this, I discovered that Hwangbo Uk has been in collusion with members of the Namgung Family.”
He looked at Hwangbo Uk and asked.
“Hwangbo Uk! Do you have any rebuttal?”
Hwangbo Uk shook violently and cried out in desperation.
“G-Grandfather! Your grandson is innocent. I merely engaged in friendly exchanges with the Namgung Family!”
“This is not a meeting between grandfather and grandson, but between a Clan Head and a criminal. Address me properly!”
“Ugh!”
At that stern authority, Hwangbo Uk gasped for breath.
“Friendly exchanges, you say? Then why did you sneak out in dark robes to meet with them?”
“That was… I thought you would oppose it if I revealed that I was exchanging with members of the Namgung Family.”
At his answer, those around him nodded their heads.
“Indeed, given the poor relations with the Namgung Family, he could not have revealed it.”
“That makes sense.”
With the surrounding reactions, Hwangbo Uk’s complexion began to improve slightly.
“What nonsense you speak so readily.”
The Hwangbo Clan Head clicked his tongue as if exasperated.
That statement means you possess concrete evidence, then.
“Tae Bo Chief.”
“Yes!”
“What did you hear there?”
The Tae Bo Chief answered the question.
“Hwangbo Uk provided the people of the Namgung Family with detailed information about the Main House’s circumstances. He also entered into some form of contract, and I heard confirmation of it being established.”
“What sort of contract was it?”
“After interrogating the Namgung Family member present at the scene, the contract’s contents were as follows: in exchange for assisting the Hwangbo Clan Head in bowing to the Namgung Family, Hwangbo Uk would receive eternal elixir from the Namgung Family.”
“…!”
Everyone gasped in shock at those words.
“No, no! That’s a lie! I never entered into any such contract!”
Young Master Hwangbo Uk protested.
At that moment, the Taepo Squad Commander withdrew something from his robes and presented it.
“And here is the contract I obtained after interrogating the Namgung Family member.”
The Clan Head received the contract and examined it carefully, then sighed and handed it to the Small Patriarch.
“Look at it.”
The Small Patriarch and the other household members passed it around to examine.
And finally, it was thrust before Young Master Hwangbo Uk.
“Here is the evidence—do you still deny it?”
“That is not my signature!”
At this, the Hwangbo Clan Head cried out.
“Enough!”
“….”
“Truthfully, I could have ordered your immediate execution on the spot. Yet I did not, and created this gathering instead, because I held certain expectations for you.”
“….”
“Had you acknowledged your crime, I would have considered forgiving you once. But your conduct has only disappointed me.”
The Clan Head spoke to all assembled.
“I render my judgment. The criminal Hwangbo Uk, as a member of the Hwangbo Family, conspired with outsiders to scheme the destruction of our family’s honor. Therefore, I order the sealing of Hwangbo Uk’s inner force and his confinement.”
It was then.
“What the hell! Who do you think you are to pass such judgment on me?”
What…?
“Did I ask to be born into this damn family? And if the Namgung Family offers eternal elixir and money just for bowing once, how is that so wrong?”
“….”
“I hate this rigid family! The Namgung Family is far superior to this one!”
“….”
The Great Training Ground fell silent in an instant.
Wow… that idiot just caused a catastrophic scandal.

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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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