The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 722

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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 722

Chapter 722. Mirage Bookstore (3)

Palgap clutched his stomach and groaned, while Jin Yu Warrior laughed beside him.
“Why did you have to bring that up?”
The book titled [The Thirty-Sixth Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament: Emerging Heroes] contained information about me.
There was also information about Seo-woo Warrior, but showing it to Seo Hyang felt somewhat embarrassing.
– Squeak!
He was demanding silver coins for having silenced Palgap’s mouth.
Right. I should pay him.
I quickly changed the subject.
“Still, this is quite pleasant for a walk, isn’t it?”
Recognizing my effort, she answered with a smile.
“Yes, it is.”
Now that I thought about it, that strange bookstore where I had previously purchased martial arts texts from Seolpung Palace and a book called [Path of the King Slayer] by Palgap was located here.
When I returned the next day to search for it, neither the strange old man nor the bookstore appeared.
I wondered if it had been a dream, but the books I had purchased there were proof that I had visited.
I glanced at the location where the bookstore had been in my memory, but still, there was no bookstore visible there.
“That bookstore has an antique charm unlike the others. It seems to have been operating for quite a long time.”
But Seo Hyang gazed at the place I was looking at and marveled.
“Pardon?”
I questioned her in return.
“Can you see the building over there?”
“Yes.”
“We cannot see it.”
That meant the bookstore was hidden in that location.
Seo Hyang possessed the Icy Jade Eyes, an ability to perceive hidden things.
Then it happened.
I heard the voice of an old man I had heard before.
“Tsk tsk, this too is fate, so it cannot be helped.”
And like mist clearing, the bookstore gradually revealed itself.
Standing before it was the taciturn old man from before, looking at me.
“Why aren’t you coming in?”
I asked in confusion.
“Pardon?”
“Will you just stand outside? It seems there are those who need this place, but if you, their lord, do not enter, they cannot enter either.”
“I shall enter.”
By the way, there are people who need this place?
As we stepped inside, the Old Bookshop Owner asked me a question.
“Did you find the martial arts manual you purchased here before to your liking?”
“Yes. It proved quite helpful.”
“Well, that wasn’t a book I selected for you, mind you.”
That’s true enough.
I had come following the guidance of Seolpung Palace’s secret techniques.
The Old Bookshop Owner glanced at Seo Hyang and nodded knowingly.
“I wondered why you’d come to this place, but now there’s a reason.”
Had he noticed Seo Hyang’s Icy Jade Eyes?
The Old Book Shop Owner swept his gaze across our group, then moved toward the bookshelves and retrieved a volume, which he handed to Lee Pil Warrior.
“This should suit you well.”
Lee Pil Warrior looked at me with questioning eyes, uncertain whether to accept.
“Please take it.”
“Thank you.”
Lee Pil Warrior accepted the book. The cover read “Green Hand Daily Record.”
“And…”
The Old Book Shop Owner ventured deeper between the shelves, rummaging through the books.
Beyond the volumes arranged on the shelves, a considerable quantity of books lay stacked on the floor.
“Let me see, it should be around here somewhere? Ah! There it is!”
The old man found a volume and wiped away the dust with his sleeve before presenting it to Myeong-jong Warrior.
“Take it.”
“Thank you.”
The title of that book was “Flower Garden Amusement.”
Next, the old man picked up another volume and handed it to Chang-un Warrior.
“What are you doing? Won’t you take it?”
“Thank you.”
The book given to Chang-un Warrior was a martial arts manual titled “Water Rock Technique.”
Then he turned to me and spoke.
“That comes to ten silver taels in total.”
“Is it truly acceptable to receive them at such a low price, as before?”
The Old Book Shop Owner answered my question.
“Didn’t I tell you? Books left here only rot away.”
“That’s true. Here you are.”
As I nodded and extended the payment to him, the three warriors who had received the books spoke from beside me.
“No, we should purchase them.”
“These are our books, so it’s only right that we pay.”
“It’s fine.”
I declined gently.
“I’ll purchase them as a gesture of goodwill toward your welfare.”
The Old Book Shop Owner accepted the money from me and set it aside carelessly.
“But this place sells used martial arts manuals, doesn’t it? Are those first two books martial arts manuals as well?”
The titles “Record of Green Water” and “Flower Garden Play” didn’t seem to fit martial arts manuals at all.
“What’s so special about martial arts manuals? If it contains anything related to martial arts, it’s a martial arts manual.”
So they were a type of martial arts manual, then.
“Are the book recommendations limited to just three volumes?”
“That’s all there is, so off you go.”
“May I browse around a bit more then?”
“Suit yourself.”
With that, as if he had no further business with us, he sat down and began repairing a damaged book.
He’d mentioned earlier that there were people who seemed to need this place, and it appeared those were Lee Pil Warrior, Myeong-jong Warrior, and Chang-un Warrior. He’d only recommended books to those three.
I began to slowly examine the bookshelves.
Since I’d previously discovered a book here that was said to have been lost from Seolpung Palace, I wondered if such fortune might smile upon me again this time.
But I soon realized there was a problem.
I couldn’t discern what I needed simply by looking at the titles of the books.
The reason this mysterious bookshop owner said he had nothing more to sell was likely because the other books had no connection to me.
Perhaps the reason this place had appeared to my eyes before was because the Seolpung Palace book I’d discovered then had called out to me.
It seemed today was not my day.
I stopped examining the bookshelves and approached the Old Book Shop Owner to ask.
“Elder, what is the name of this bookshop?”
“Hmm?”
“I became curious about this place.”
“This is the Mirage Bookstore.”
“Pardon?”
Mirage—a shimmering illusion in the sky.
It referred to an ethereal pavilion suspended in air, created by the aura emanated by a Spirit Creature named Shen.
In other words, it signified something illusory.
“This is a place where entry is granted only to those bound by fate.”
“I see. Does that mean we originally had no connection to this place today?”
“Well, that’s right. But fate comes in two kinds—the fate Heaven ordains and the fate people create. Like today.”
As he spoke, he looked at Seo Hyang.
That meant Seo Hyang had created a connection by seeing this place.
“So you should be grateful to the young lady here.”
At this, the three Guard Warriors offered a slight bow of respect to Seo Hyang.
“As a word of caution, it would be best not to speak of this place to others. Unless you wish to be thought mad.”
“It would certainly be better to keep silent about it.”
“Then off you go now.”
At his courteous dismissal, I cupped my fist and bowed respectfully.
“Then I shall hope to visit again another time.”
“Eh? Visit again? Well, with this young lady around, there’s no point in hiding this place.”
“Then, farewell to you.”
With that, we departed from the Mirage Bookstore.
As I turned back after leaving, the bookstore we had entered had vanished without a trace.
“Does the bookstore still exist?”
At my question, Seo Hyang nodded.
“Yes.”
The three warriors holding the martial arts texts then bowed respectfully to Seo Hyang and expressed their gratitude.
“We are truly grateful.”
“Not at all. I’m delighted to have been of service.”
From their expressions, it was clear they were eager to return to their quarters and examine those martial arts manuals.
“Then let us depart.”
.
.
.
The next morning.
After breakfast, I made my way to the Branch Manager’s office.
Though I trust the Branch Manager, I must still inspect the ledgers whenever the opportunity presents itself.
I may discover oversights even the Branch Manager has missed, and such inspections serve to keep the staff vigilant and aware.
Moreover, this is Luoyang.
Jackals circling the Eun Hae Trading Company are drooling with anticipation, so I must remain all the more cautious.
Fortunately, my escorts today are Seo-woo Warrior and Lee Pil Warrior.
I turned to Lee Pil Warrior with a question.
“Did you finish reading that martial arts manual yesterday?”
“I have not yet completed it.”
“The title was rather unusual. It was the Green Water Record, was it not?”
“Green Water is a pen name of the Sichuan Tang Family’s ancestor.”
A pen name is a title one chooses for oneself.
“Within the Sichuan Tang Family, the term ‘Green Water’ signifies one of exceptional martial prowess, a meaning derived from that very ancestor I just mentioned.”
Lee Pil Warrior continued.
“It is said that due to poison, his hands turned a jade-green color, which he greatly admired. He claimed his two hands were proof of his devotion to the Sichuan Tang Family.”
The symbol of the Sichuan Tang Family is jade-green.
And only those of direct bloodline or those recognized for service to the family may wear garments of that color.
For an unauthorized person to wear jade-green within the Sichuan Tang Family would be a challenge to the House Master’s authority.
“And that manual was his personal journal.”
“I see.”
“The deeper insights contained within it are beyond measure. Thus, I have managed to read only a small portion.”
The Old Bookkeeper had made an excellent recommendation indeed.
Through that manual, Lee Pil Warrior would grow rapidly.
Soon I arrived at the Luoyang Branch Manager’s office, and after a perfunctory courtesy, I began examining the documents.
I could feel the tense gazes of those watching me.
Since it was intentional on my part, I didn’t pay much attention to it.
After examining the documents carefully, I found nothing amiss.
Ever since the Physician’s betrayal last time, Eun Jung-seon, the Luoyang Branch Manager, seemed to be exercising even greater care.
Indeed, he was worthy of managing the Luoyang Branch.
“Is there perhaps some problem….”
I shook my head.
“Not at all. The documents are absolutely flawless. It’s rare to achieve such perfection—you’ve done excellent work.”
“Your kind words leave me at a loss for how to respond.”
“There’s no need to be so self-deprecating.”
“Please don’t say such things. The Small Merchant Guild Leader saved my life—you are my benefactor and one of the heroes of the Murim. How could I presume to be anything but humble?”
He continued with a smile.
“By the way, I heard you’re meeting with the League Master tomorrow. Have you prepared a gift?”
Since we were going to announce our marriage, it was only proper to bring an appropriate present.
“I was just deliberating on what would be suitable.”
“Then what about tea sets? We recently received some fine tea sets from the Mudong Merchant Guild at this branch—they’re quite exceptional.”
“I’d like to see them.”
I followed his guidance to the warehouse and examined the tea sets stored there.
The Mudong Merchant Guild’s specialty was crafting cups.
Whether wine cups or tea cups, their colors were beautiful, and the paintings adorning them added a lingering charm.
“These are premium grade.”
“Indeed. We ordered six sets of premium grade.”
“I see.”
Cups are typically arranged in sets of six, eight, or ten pieces.
The number four is avoided as it evokes thoughts of death, so sending four of the same item carries the meaning of a curse toward the recipient.
The six sets of premium tea cups we ordered this time contain ten pieces each.
The number ten symbolizes completeness.
However, while examining them, I discovered a flaw.
“This tea cup has a crack in it.”
“Oh no! You’re right. I’m sorry for not inspecting it properly. I must immediately lodge a complaint with the Pyo Bureau and the Mudong Merchant Guild.”
“No, it’s difficult to hold them accountable for such a minor crack, isn’t it?”
I paused to think, then spoke.
“I’ll use this as a gift for the League Master.”
“Pardon? You mean this one?”
“Excluding this cracked cup, there are nine left. Isn’t that a perfect number for a gift?”
“That’s true. Nine is indeed an auspicious number.”
The number nine symbolizes health, longevity, and the desire for relationships to endure for a long time.
“We can fill the empty space by packaging premium tea leaves.”
I continued.
“And I’ll pay for this cup.”
“No, how could you pay for a defective item?”
“I am the Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company. Therefore, should I not set an example? If I simply took this away, others who know nothing of the circumstances would point fingers at me from behind.”
“If that is your wish, I understand.”
Thanks to that, I had resolved my concerns about the betrothal gift.
My reason for choosing this flawed teacup as the betrothal gift was simple.
For some reason, I did not wish to present the Sect Leader with ten perfect teacups, which carried the meaning of completeness.

The next day.
Seo Hyang and I made our final preparations to meet with the Sect Leader.
We decided that Seo-woo Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior would serve as our guards.
Jin Yu Warrior declined, saying that drawing too close to the Sect Leader might create complications.
Therefore, excluding him, the two strongest martial artists took on the duty of protecting me.
After breakfast, as I waited briefly, Palgap announced that someone from the Murim Alliance had arrived.
“Wang Jo-jang from the Murim Alliance has come.”
When we stepped outside, I saw a familiar face.
It was Wang Gu, the Jo-jang of the Murim Alliance Guard Division.
He was the one who had brought the golden Buddha statue that had been kept in the Guam Sect, and when it disappeared from the Sect Leader’s sleeping quarters, he came to take me in for questioning, suspecting me of involvement.
His manner had been overbearing at the time, so I deliberately made him step on the Sect Leader’s handwritten document, forcing him to become more respectful.
“This humble merchant greets Jo-jang Wang.”
“Oh, no! How could I accept such courtesy from someone of your standing? I should be the one greeting you first!”
So he now understood my true position.
Indeed, with the Sect Leader summoning me like this, he could hardly be ignorant of it.
“The Sect Leader has called for you. I have come to escort you.”
“Thank you.”
As I proceeded with Seo Hyang, Wang Jo-jang tilted his head and asked.
“Is the young lady also accompanying you?”
“Yes. She is to be my wife. We are preparing for our marriage, and I have come to inform the Sect Leader of this.”
“I see! Please forgive my earlier rudeness.”
Wang Jo-jang spoke.
“Then let us depart.”
I muttered inwardly.
Ah… I do not wish to go.

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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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