The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 694

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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 694

Chapter 694. The Road to Deliver the Wedding Invitation (4)

I asked Ma Sun-bok Warrior a question.
“Then who do you think did such a thing?”
“I believe I’ll need to examine this more carefully.”
Fair enough, that was a reasonable point.
We drew closer to the site, and only then did things invisible from afar begin to reveal themselves.
Specifically, the traces of combat.
More precisely, scattered sword marks crisscrossed around the snow wall where someone had gouged out a deep depression.
It hadn’t been visible from a distance, but once I noticed the irregularity and examined it closely, it became unmistakable.
And then.
“This is blood.”
While the blood on the ground had been erased by the snow, the blood seeping into the sword marks on the snow wall remained.
I examined the gouged-out traces.
It appeared to have been carved out by repeated strikes from something resembling an axe. And embedded in the snow wall were white feathers.
They gleamed faintly in the light, so similar to the snow that they were nearly indistinguishable.
Seeing those feathers brought back what I had heard from Heuk Cheol the Hunter earlier.

“Your timing was unfortunate. I was about to warn you—there have been reports of the Agok Sungjo’s cries heard nearby recently.”
“It’s a bird that produces cries identical to a child’s wailing. It possesses white feathers that resemble snow.”

I nodded and spoke.
“So Agok Sungjo was hiding here. This feather is the proof.”
I continued.
“After it excavated this place, it disguised itself as part of the ice wall from within. Then it mimicked a child’s cries to lure prey.”
“So the Branch Manager and his party came here after hearing those cries?”
“That’s my assumption. And upon realizing Agok Sungjo was present, they engaged in combat.”
Yet I sensed no human presence in the surrounding area.
What had become of that battle, and if there were survivors, where had they gone?
Just then, Jin Yu Warrior cried out.
“Look at this!”
What he pointed to was a snow-white tree nearby.
Nature was truly remarkable—even in this harsh Northern Sea, plants adapted and thrived.
One such plant was the snow-white tree.
True to its name, it was a snow-covered white tree, distinguished by its white-colored leaves.
It generated its own heat to melt the surrounding snow, then fed on that melted water.
Thus, if one became lost in the Northern Sea while holding a snow-white tree, one would not freeze to death.
Among the lush foliage of the snow-white tree Jin Yu Warrior indicated, a long strip of torn cloth was bound to a branch.
Cloth stained with blood.
And the knot binding that cloth was a marker used by the Eun Hae Trading Company.
Its meaning was clear.
“Fleeing. Rescue requested.”
“And the direction is that way.”
Through that marker, they had also indicated the direction of their movement.
“What should we do?”
“This isn’t a decision we should make alone. Let’s discuss it with the Squad Leader.”
We weren’t simply moving as my party—we were operating as part of an organized search unit.
And finding the Branch Manager’s party was equally important to the Squad Leader.
We rejoined the search party.
“Squad Leader.”
“How did your investigation go?”
“We found traces of the Branch Manager.”
His expression brightened at my words.
And upon hearing my explanation, he immediately rose to his feet.
“Then we have no time to waste.”
“But the sun will set soon….”
At someone’s concern, Heuk Cheol the Hunter spoke with resolve.
“If they’re being pursued by Agok Sungjo, we must hurry.”
“Won’t that be dangerous?”
“If we move together, it should be manageable. Besides, the moon is bright tonight, so it won’t be too dark.”
Heuk Cheol the Hunter’s words could be trusted—he was most familiar with the geography and climate of this region.
We immediately began our search.
– Chirp!
That’s when I heard Geumryeong’s mental call.
– Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!
Hmm? You’re saying you can track the scent of blood?
Truth be told, I’d initially tried to have Geumryeong catch the Branch Manager’s scent to locate him, but it had failed.
According to Geumryeong, ordinary scents were obscured by the snow, making tracking difficult.
And she’d been quite disappointed about missing out on her reward for the errand.
Yet she’d been remarkably adept at tracking the scent of money buried in the snow before….
– Chirp! Chirp!
Don’t misunderstand—you’re not some ordinary beast that craves blood.
I hadn’t harbored such a misconception in the first place.
In any case, if Geumryeong could track the scent of blood, this task became far simpler.
So we just need to head toward where the blood is, then?
– Chirp! Chirp!
Ah, you’ve already picked up on that scent?
Good. Go ahead.
Geumryeong immediately bolted forward, vanishing into a speck in an instant.
Though she was small to begin with.
Meanwhile, we continued moving forward.
Just as Heuk Cheol the Hunter had said, the night remained surprisingly bright, and searching posed no difficulty.
“Agok Sungjo is reportedly more tenacious than one might expect. Once he selects prey, he pursues it relentlessly to the end.”
“Quite the vicious creature, then.”
Such a beast cannot be left alone.
As we continued our search while exchanging words, it happened.
Thump.
Geumryeong landed against my chest.
– Chirp chirp chirp! Chirp!
Hurry and follow? There’s a battle happening now, and many are badly wounded?
I glanced around as if searching, then pointed toward one direction.
“There appears to be some trace over there.”
Then I walked ahead, subtly sending my energy forward to leave footprints.
“Indeed. Then the direction we should head is….”
“This way.”
As I created markers for myself in this manner, we headed toward where Geumryeong was guiding us.
Sounds reached us from the direction we were heading, and we approached toward them.
“Ugh! Wounded, fall back!”
“Damn! This thing’s relentless!”
“Ahhhhh!”
And mixed among it all was the sound of a baby crying.
“You little bastard! Where do you think you’re going!”
“Please, do something about that sound!”
We hurried toward the commotion, and I could see a fierce battle unfolding before us.
Upon spotting us, the Squad Leader shouted.
“Provide support!”
“Yes, sir!”
But those ahead of us waved their hands frantically and cried out.
“Don’t come!”
“No! Stay back! Don’t come any closer!”
“Damn it! If you hear that Agok Sungjo’s cry, you’ll be entranced!”
What?
“Screeeee!”
Then came the cry of Agok Sungjo once more.
At that sound, the eyes of some Search Party members who had been charging ahead glazed over, and they turned their blades toward us.
Damn, so that’s why they told us not to come.
The fortunate thing was that my Guard Warriors remained unaffected by that voice.
It seemed the enchantment only worked if you entered within a certain distance.
So what should I do about those already entranced?
I pondered briefly, but the answer was simple.
Knock them out cleanly.
The problem was that to knock them out, I’d have to approach them, and in doing so, more of us might fall under the spell.
– Squeak!
Hm? You’ll help?
– Squeak!
You’re confident you can handle it, so just worry about collecting the silver coins?
I nodded.
– Very well.
At my approval, Geumryeong moved instantly.
Moving at a speed invisible to the eye, she rammed her body into their abdomens.
Thud!
“Gahhh!”
Smack!
“Ugh!”
Remarkably effective.
Search Party members collapsed one by one, knocked unconscious with each blow.
I turned my gaze toward the Agok Sungjo still attacking those ahead of it.
If I could eliminate that Agok Sungjo, the root problem would be solved.
“Very well, I shall go.”
At my words, Jin Yu Warrior asked.
“But… will you be alright?”
“I should be fine.”
If I were in danger, Seo Hyang would have warned me.
I approached Agok Sungjo.
“Waaaaaah!”
The child’s cry echoed again, but as expected, it had no effect on me whatsoever.
The Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art, the martial technique of Seolpung Palace, protected me from sorcery and illusions.
That’s why Agok Sungjo would never have dared approach this place while Seolpung Palace still stood.
In any case, today this Agok Sungjo had found me.
Found the day I would die.
Shing.
I drew Eun Moo-geom and rushed at him.
Agok Sungjo hesitated upon seeing me.
Or was it because of Geumryeong, not me?
Either way, this was my chance.
I surged forward toward Agok Sungjo and swung Eun Moo-geom.
Scrape!
But the cut was shallow—I had only wounded his neck, not severed it.
“Kiiiieeeeek!”
Agok Sungjo shrieked in agony.
A different cry than the child’s wail from before.
Now he truly felt the danger.
Flap!
Agok Sungjo’s wings beat furiously, and a violent wind erupted.
It seemed he was trying to escape.
The wind knocked the surrounding people to the ground, and Agok Sungjo soared into the sky.
Heh.
That creature still didn’t understand.
The true meaning of Seolpung Palace’s name.
I would show him what it truly meant to command the snow wind.
I raised my blade and drew upon my inner energy, then applied the fourth form of the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique—Snow Wind—to artificially conjure a blizzard around us.
Whoooosh!
Soon the snow wind raged fiercely, engulfing both me and Agok Sungjo.
Even Spirit Creatures flee when the snow wind blows.
That alone speaks to the terrifying power of the snow wind.
The snow wind had no effect on me, but it was far different for Agok Sungjo.
“Kiiieeeek!”
Caught in the snow wind, Agok Sungjo was hurled to the ground. He attempted to flap his wings again, but it was futile.
Crack!
His wings snapped backward, and the agony drove Agok Sungjo to cry out in torment.
“Kiiieeeek! Kieeeek!”
Shall we wrap this up now?
Ah, but there’s something I need to do first.
“Geum-ryeong. Ask that creature how many Agok Sungjo are in this area.”
“Kwui!”
Geum-ryeong nodded and questioned the Agok Sungjo.
“Kwui. Kwu? Kwui.”
“Kkeee-ek. Kkeeuruk.”
Geum-ryeong relayed the answer to me.
Three of them in this area? Ha! They’ve descended quite far.
In any case, I’ll need to dispose of those as well.
Well then, my business here is finished.
I drew my blade and severed the Agok Sungjo’s neck in one motion.
“Kkeeuruk!”
The Agok Sungjo convulsed several times before going limp.
Phew, this incident is resolved.
As I withdrew my inner energy, the Snow Wind that had obscured my vision began to dissipate.
I had conjured the Snow Wind not only to prevent the Agok Sungjo from escaping, but also to block their vision and muffle their sounds from those outside.
“My lord!”
Seo-woo Warrior and the Guard Warriors rushed over and knelt before me.
“We apologize for being of no assistance.”
“Of no assistance?”
I shook my head and spoke.
“You made the correct judgment for the situation. I cannot express how grateful I am that you followed my orders. You may have saved all your lives.”
Had they fallen under the Agok Sungjo’s enchantment and drawn their blades, it would have been catastrophic.
“My lord….”
“So please, do not blame yourselves.”
I comforted them thus, then withdrew a vial containing Geum-ryeong’s saliva from my possession and distributed it among them.
“Then, I ask that you tend to the wounded.”
“Understood.”
At my request, they sprang into action at once.
Evading the Agok Sungjo’s attacks while fleeing was no simple feat.
The wounds they bore testified to that.
Meanwhile, I roused those whom Geum-ryeong had rendered unconscious.
I could awaken them simply by channeling a small amount of my energy into their bodies.
It must have felt like a cold water treatment.
Cold water treatment on a snowy day—I felt somewhat apologetic, but there was no helping it.
After rousing everyone, I spoke.
“Well then, the situation is concluded. Now, assist them in preparing for the night’s rest.”
“Gasp!”
“Yes! Ah, understood.”
And I approached the Branch Manager.
“I’m so relieved you’re alive.”
“Thank you so much for saving us. You are our lifesaver, Small Guild Master.”
“No, that’s not right.”
I shook my head.
“I was able to save you all because of Ma Warrior here.”
At my words, Gu Pyo Row Leader beside him cried out in surprise.
“Wait, what? Aren’t you Sun-bok?”
“Uncle… *sniff*.”
“You brat! Why are you crying?”
“Because you’ve been working so hard, *sniff*, and supporting me like this, *sniff*…”
At those words, Gu Pyo Row Leader let out a soft laugh.
“What a sentimental fool.”
I spoke to Gu Pyo Row Leader.
“Ma Warrior has accomplished great merit this time. He discovered crucial clues that allowed us to find you all.”
Thanks to the traces he found, Geum-ryeong was able to catch the scent of blood left there and lead us to this place.
“So please give him plenty of praise.”
“Of course.”
Gu Pyo Row Leader nodded and called Ma Sun-bok Warrior over.
“Sun-bok! Come here.”
At his call, Ma Sun-bok Warrior approached him, and he suddenly slapped him hard on the back.
Thwack!
“Ow! Ah, that hurts! Uncle!”
“That’s encouragement! Am I dead? I’m still fine! So why are you sniffling like that? Be more confident! Live boldly!”
He continued.
“You may not have parents, but you have me, don’t you?”
“Uncle…”
“If you understand, go build a fire. It’s cold.”
“Yes.”
He quickly moved about to start a fire.
“Ugh, this is killing me.”
Having sent Ma Sun-bok Warrior away, Gu Pyo Row Leader let out a groan.
Looking closely, his shoulders and back bore rather deep wounds.
Then Lee Pil Warrior approached and applied Geumryeong’s salve to the wounds.
Seeing the wounds heal in an instant, they were astonished.
“What is this?”
I answered casually to their question.
“Ah, it’s a healing elixir.”
“What? A… healing elixir?”
“Gasp! It must be incredibly expensive…”
Of course it’s expensive.
To make Geum-ryeong drool, you need to dangle Gold Coins in front of her.
But instead of saying such things, I urged her to recover quickly.
“Just get well soon. That’s how you’ll justify the cost of this spirit medicine.”
Still, Geum-ryeong performed quite admirably today.
Sigh, how much should I give her so she doesn’t feel shortchanged?
I suppose I need to negotiate with her.
Ah, but this isn’t to give Geum-ryeong less money.
It’s to develop her negotiation skills….
Squeak?
Am I the Emperor?
“….”
I have nothing to say. Tsk.

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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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