The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 70

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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 Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 70

Chapter 70. Becoming a Small Merchant Guild Leader (1)

Before long, the Main Headquarters of the Merchant Guild came into view.
I pointed toward it and spoke to Seok Il-song.
“Do you see it up ahead?”
“Yes, there’s a very large building.”
“That’s the Eunhae Trading Company. It’s where you’ll be living and working from now on.”
“It’s magnificent.”
Seok Il-song exclaimed with genuine admiration.
His eyes sparkled as he spoke.
“If I can be of any help, I’ll work hard.”
Father nodded with a satisfied expression at his words.
When I first told Father that I intended to bring Seok Il-song along and put him to work, he expressed his concerns.
He worried that I was being overly compassionate.
But I spoke to him firmly.

“Father, I am also a member of the Merchant Guild.”

At my words, Father tested Seok Il-song and granted permission for him to accompany us.
I knew Father had an eye for talent.
In truth, compassion is one of the most dangerous sentiments a merchant must guard against.
Extend payment deadlines out of pity, overlook delayed deliveries out of sympathy—indulge these habits too often, and it’s the merchant himself who faces ruin.
That said, I’m not suggesting one should purge compassion entirely.
It’s a fundamental aspect of human nature; to eliminate it would be to strip away one’s very humanity.
Rather, one must remain vigilant against it.
Our carriage soon arrived at the Eunhae Trading Company.
We descended and made our way inside.
“Welcome.”
Having heard of our arrival, Yu Chief Manager and all the senior executives of the company had come out to greet us.
“Why are you all out here?”
At Father’s words, Yeon Gak-ju of the Sang-yu Hall spoke.
“You’ve returned from Beijing with remarkable achievements—naturally we must offer you a proper welcome.”
“If I’d returned empty-handed, you wouldn’t have bothered?”
“Correct.”
“Hm….”
“I jest, of course. Hehehehe.”
Yeon Gak-ju continued.
“Your family awaits in the back garden. But this child here…?”
As Yeon Gak-ju looked at Seok Il-song and asked, I answered.
“His name is Seok Il-song. He’s thirteen this year. I intend to place him at the Jae-gyeong Pavilion.”
At my words, Yu Chief Manager asked with a puzzled expression.
“At the Jae-gyeong Pavilion, you say?”
“Yes.”
“But why the Jae-gyeong….”
I quickly cut off Yu Chief Manager’s words.
“Yu Chief Manager, have I ever disappointed you?”
“….”
Yu Chief Manager, after a moment’s thought, replied.
“Never.”
“Then trust me and put him to work. Later, every time you see me, you’ll thank me.”
“Young master… rather, Merchant Guild Leader, if you say so, then I understand.”
I handed Seok Il-song over to Yu Chief Manager and headed toward the back garden. It was time to see my family.

* * *

At that moment, in Beijing.
People were looking at a notice that the Imperial Guards had just posted.
It stated that all members of the Dong Merchant Guild who had attacked Jin Woo-rim, the Merchant Guild Leader who had been acting under the Emperor’s orders, had been arrested, and that further pursuit would cease.
It also expressed hope that those involved would refrain from reckless actions in the future.
Among those people stood a man wearing a bamboo hat.
“What a relief, sir.”
He nodded at the words of the man beside him.
“Now we can return home without worry.”
“Yes.”
They were Haeng-su, who served Dong Woo-yeok, the second son of the Dong Merchant Lord, and one of his subordinates.
“Young Master Eun Seo-ho kept his promise.”
“Yes, he did.”
Eun Seo-ho had kept his word.
Truthfully, I had not been confident that he would.
It was a matter that required moving the Emperor himself, after all.
Yet since that was all I could rely on, I fled with a thread-thin hope.
And in turn, I hid myself in Beijing.
I exploited the psychology that no one would flee to Beijing after committing a crime.
Now that the Emperor’s proclamation had been posted, my fugitive life had come to an end.
“What do you plan to do from now on, Haeng-su?”
Haeng-su answered with a bitter smile at the question.
“What else would a man who’s been trading his whole life do? I have some capital saved up, so I’ll start trading again.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“Why would you?”
“Because I’ve only ever learned how to trade. And I think if I’m with you, I won’t end up destitute.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“It is.”
“Good then, let’s go. Though you’ll have to endure some hardship.”
“I’ll accept it as my fate, even if I come to regret it.”
And so they left Beijing.
.
.
.
And before Jin Woo-rim’s Residence.
A man stood listening to the Gate Keeper’s words with a dazed expression.
“Is that… truly so?”
“Yes, it is.”
The man was a messenger from the Sichuan Tang Family. He had gone to the Eunhae Trading Company searching for Eun Seo-ho, heard that he had gone to Beijing, returned to the Sichuan Tang Family to report, and then set out for Beijing again, arriving just now.
But he had just learned that Eun Seo-ho and his party had already returned to Hubei Province ten days ago.
He had no choice but to turn back.
The Sichuan Tang Family Messenger sighed and muttered to himself.
“Ah, our House Master struggles so much with repaying kindness.”
The messenger’s tone was one of resignation.

* * *

The Eunhae Trading Company bustled with activity.
It was due to preparations for my announcement as Small Merchant Guild Leader, which had been postponed because of the Beijing trip.
This morning too, I trained early.
Watching me, my Master nodded approvingly.
“You learn remarkably quickly. I believe you’ll be ready to advance to the Third Form soon.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
My Master responded to my words.
“But why don’t you pressure me to accelerate your progress?”
“Pardon?”
“To be honest, the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique progresses more slowly than other sword arts. So when students learn this technique, they often complain about the slow pace. However.”
My Master continued, looking at me.
“You do not do such a thing.”
At that question, I scratched my cheek.
In fact, in my previous life, I had heard about this from Gwak Jun-ha, my Guard Warrior and my Master’s Second Son.

“To be honest, our family’s sword technique is somewhat tedious to learn. But if you rush through it, you’ll suffer consequences.”
“Consequences?”
“Yes. The inner energy accumulated through our family’s cultivation method is formidable. That’s because we gather the essence of extreme yin.”
“That much is true.”
“In other words, because that powerful inner energy cannot be controlled through the cultivation method alone, the Jinseol Twelve-Form Sword Technique was created. But because we’re dealing with such powerful inner energy, the progression is necessarily slow.”
“So if you don’t learn the sword technique slowly and methodically, you can’t control that inner energy, is that it?”
“Exactly. If the inner energy rebels, you suffer severe injury. Having your meridians freeze and rupture is actually the lighter outcome. In severe cases, your entire body freezes and shatters.”
“Really?”
“Yes, truly.”

That’s why I didn’t ask directly.
And in this life, my Master remains my Master.
I trust and entrust myself to him because I know he would never do anything to harm his disciple.
Yet my Master’s questioning of my actions left me somewhat bewildered.
Should I have asked questions?
But I’m not one to ask unnecessary questions.
I couldn’t share what I’d heard from Gwak Jun-ha, so there remained only one reason.
“I simply trusted you, Master.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Don’t you wish for your disciple’s success? So I merely trust and follow you.”
My Master gazed at me in silence after my answer.
“Why do you look at me that way?”
“Young Master, you’ve moved me.”
“How can you be moved by something like this?”
“From now on, I shall guide you with even greater devotion. So starting today, I’ll extend your training time by another half hour. You’ll need to wake up half an hour earlier.”
What?
That’s not what I meant!
“Do you remember the sword form I taught you? Let’s practice it again.”
In that moment, I saw it.
Wait.
My Master was smiling.
It was the first time I’d seen my Master smile across both my past and present lives.
So my Master could smile after all.
.
.
.
That afternoon.
I headed toward Silver Dragon Hall.
I had been summoned by Jeok Byeong-chul Officer of the Sefung Division.
After waiting about half an hour in front of Silver Dragon Hall, Jeok Gak-ju approached me with his deputy officer.
“I greet you, Jeok Gak-ju.”
“I greet you, Small Merchant Guild Leader.”
“It’s not official yet.”
“You’ll be officially appointed as Small Merchant Guild Leader soon enough, so there’s no harm in using the title early. Hehehehe.”
Jeok Gak-ju smiled warmly.
“Then let’s go. I’ll guide you to the Separate Pavilion.”
“What?”
“When you become a Small Merchant Guild Leader, you’re given a separate pavilion.”
How could I have forgotten this!
Upon becoming a Small Merchant Guild Leader, one receives a personal separate pavilion—recognition as an independent member of the Merchant Guild.
And it is a long-standing tradition of the Eunhae Trading Company for the Sefung Director to personally guide a Small Merchant Guild Leader to their Separate Pavilion.
I followed Jeok Gak-ju along a familiar path.
It was the same route to the Separate Pavilion I had received when I became a Small Merchant Guild Leader.
When I first returned to this life, I had intended to go this way.
Remembering that time filled me with fresh emotion.
Nine months had already passed, and I had accomplished much.
But it still wasn’t enough.
I had the goal of avenging myself against the Baekcheon Trading Company and the Murim Alliance.
And I had to make the Eunhae Trading Company the greatest merchant guild in the Realm.
Soon we arrived at the Separate Pavilion.
Seeing the Separate Pavilion where I once lived after so long, a smile naturally bloomed across my face.
“Isn’t it wonderful?”
At Jeok Gak-ju’s question, I nodded.
“Yes, it’s excellent. I feel good knowing that I’m finally recognized as someone who contributes to the guild.”
At my words, Jeok Gak-ju spoke.
“Please don’t say such things. We have been watching you closely ever since you began practical work at the Jae-gyeong Pavilion.”
“Haha, is that so?”
In response to Jeok Gak-ju’s words, the Deputy Officer beside him explained the structure of the Separate Pavilion one by one.
The Separate Pavilion consisted of my quarters, quarters for attendants and servants, quarters for the Guard Warrior, a storehouse, a kitchen, and so forth.
Even though I would be living in the Separate Pavilion, breakfast was eaten with the entire family gathered together.
But there were times when we ate separately, so a kitchen was necessary.
And the servants and attendants had to prepare their own meals here as well.
“These are the servants and attendants you will employ in the Separate Pavilion.”
I was introduced to my personal servants and attendants.
The servant’s name was Gyeong-sam, and the attendant’s name was Young-young.
So I would be spending this life with them as well.
“You may move here starting today.”
“Understood.”
“And if you give the Separate Pavilion an appropriate name, we will reflect it accordingly.”
“Yes.”
A Separate Pavilion uses the name given by its master.
By calling the Separate Pavilion’s name, one also refers to its master, and the name of Elder Brother Eun Jung-ho’s Separate Pavilion was given by Grandfather.
He gave it the name Georyangdang, meaning to become a great talent of the guild.
Thus, Georyangdang also referred to Elder Brother Eun Jung-ho.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Yes, please do look around.”
Jeok Gak-ju and his Deputy Officer left my Separate Pavilion, and I looked around once more.
“Hmm! At last our young master has received his own Separate Pavilion! How moving!”
At Palgap’s words, I laughed heartily.
“Indeed.”
“You’re allowed to say you’re happy if you are! Then I’ll start moving in starting today!”
Palgap was delighted, just as he had been in his previous life.

I returned to my quarters.
This time, a Deputy Officer arrived carrying a message from the External Chief Manager, waiting for me.
“Small Merchant Guild Leader, the External Chief Manager is looking for you.”
Now that I had received the Separate Pavilion, I could guess why the External Chief Manager wanted to see me.
Shortly after, I arrived at Go External Chief Manager’s office.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes, I came because you called for me.”
“The reason I called for you is that now that you’ve become a Small Merchant Guild Leader, you must select a Guard Warrior.”
Just as I had anticipated.
As a Small Merchant Guild Leader, I would need to conduct much business independently, and a personal Guard Warrior was necessary.
Usually, one selects a Guard Warrior before becoming a Small Merchant Guild Leader.
Like Jeon Woo-jin, who serves as Eun Jung-ho’s Guard Warrior.
I had become a Small Merchant Guild Leader at an exceptionally rapid pace, so I had not yet selected a Guard Warrior in advance.
“The Small Merchant Guild Leader announcement ceremony is in three days, so please make your selection and inform me by tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
I answered and left the office. The External Chief Manager’s voice echoed from within.
“Ugh, is there still more to handle?”
“This must be handled as well.”
Hearing Go External Chief Manager’s grumbling, I spoke to Palgap.
“Let’s head to the Training Ground.”
“Understood.”
As I made my way to the Training Ground, I recalled the Guard Warriors I had selected in my previous life.
They were skilled enough with sword and spear.
But I would not choose them this time.

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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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