The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 744

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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 744

Chapter 744. Tamseo Martial Arts Tournament (5)

At my response, the Lady gazed at me with an expression of genuine emotion.
I smiled back at her, then glanced toward Palgap, who quietly averted his gaze.
Palgap, what was the intent behind that question just now?
You’re pretending not to know, but your cheeks must be stinging quite a bit.
– Squawk!
You’re going to scold me?
It’s fine. Thanks to you, I earned some points with the Lady.
And since this is my own form of retaliation for all the times I’ve teased Palgap, I suppose I should let this slide.
– Squawk! Squawk.
You think I’m being magnanimous?
Not quite. It’s because I need to let him off the hook now so I can tease him again later.

My carriage departed Chongyang County and continued northeast toward Bok Ryong Mountain, and before long, I began to see crowds of people gathering.
This place was never so crowded before, yet here they are swarming about.
While many were young men in their twenties, I could see plenty of others as well—it seemed many had come simply to watch.
Indeed, the name of the Jegal Family carries considerable weight.
Now I must not let my guard down.
Surely among them are members of the Sura Blood Sect.
Anticipating the crowds that would gather in Bokryong Mountain Lower Village, the Jegal Family had devised several measures.
First, concerned that public order might temporarily deteriorate, they organized patrol units from the clan’s martial artists.
And in cooperation with local officials, they prepared contingencies to handle any unforeseen incidents.
Furthermore, they provided support for those among the villagers who wished to stay in nearby villages for the time being.
Of course, given the sudden influx of so many people, they had also arranged lodging facilities for them.
The Jegal Family certainly has their hands full.
They’re enduring hardships they shouldn’t have to face, all because of the stone the Alliance Leader threw.
The House Master and the other leaders must be grinding their teeth over this.
The Alliance Leader’s ears must be burning intensely.
It was then.
Whoosh!
A single blade flying toward us.
Since I happened to be looking out the window, I could see it.
Clang!
And all of my Guard Warriors are at the pinnacle level or beyond.
Therefore, they easily deflected the incoming blade.
Clang!
A sword fell to the ground.
The commotion silenced the surroundings.
It was a situation that could have ended badly with a sword flying in so suddenly.
Besides, the carriage I rode in bore the emblem of the Eun Hae Trading Company.
“Are you unharmed?”
The Jegal Clan Patrol Unit, witnessing this, rushed toward us.
“Ah, I’m fine.”
That was when it happened.
“I, I’m so sorry! Truly, I apologize!”
A young man rushed over and bowed repeatedly toward me.
Who was this?
I stepped down from the carriage.
Whatever the circumstances, it would be discourteous to remain in the carriage when someone was apologizing so earnestly.
I approached him and offered a greeting.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company. And you are?”
“Ah, my apologies for the late introduction. I am Jin Bok-ju, hailing from Western Uichang of Hobok Province.”
“I see.”
I glanced at the fallen sword beside us and asked.
“Does that sword belong to you, Jin Warrior?”
“Ah, yes. It does.”
“Then might you explain why you threw your sword?”
He bowed deeply and spoke.
“I, that is… it was unintentional. I was engaged in a quarrel with some others, and while dealing with them, my sword was knocked from my hand by another’s blade.”
“And those others?”
“Fearing the matter would escalate, they fled.”
I asked him.
“Why didn’t you flee as well, Jin Warrior?”
He answered my question.
“Regardless of the circumstances, the sword flying away was my responsibility. Had I gripped it firmly, this would never have occurred. I am truly sorry.”
Jin Warrior bowed once more.
Though I hadn’t heard the full details, his age suggested he had come to participate in the Tamseo Martial Arts Tournament.
If he were to lose his eligibility to participate in the tournament because of this incident, his journey here would have been in vain.
Looking at his clothing—made from coarse fabric of poor quality—he didn’t appear to have much means.
Coming all this way for the Tamseo Martial Arts Tournament must have required considerable resolve, so he couldn’t afford to lose this opportunity and was seeking my mercy.
“I have one curiosity.”
“Yes, please ask.”
“First, there’s no need for such excessive courtesy. I’m not particularly senior in years, nor am I someone deserving of such extreme deference.”
At my words, he waved his hand.
“How can you say such a thing! There is no one in Hobok Province who has not benefited from your kindness, Small Guild Master Eun Seo-ho.”
Hm?
“When a plague swept through Uichang long ago, I owe my life to the Small Guild Master.”
“Ah… I see.”
“Therefore, the Small Guild Master is my benefactor, my savior. Of course, I must show proper respect to such a person.”
Then what in the world….
“So, what exactly caused this conflict?”
“They insulted Jegal So-gaju, and I couldn’t restrain myself—I drew my blade against them.”
“What exactly did they say to provoke you?”
“Ah… that is….”
Jin Bok-ju Warrior’s expression grew troubled.
What words could he have heard that made him hesitate like this?
That’s when it happened.
“Oh my, Warrior! So you’re here!”
I looked up to see a middle-aged man.
I’d seen him somewhere before….
Ah! He was the inn owner where I’d stayed when I had business at the Jegal Family Estate.
But what brings him here?
The inn owner approached me and spoke.
“Oh, Small Guild Master! This warrior is innocent. It’s all because of those wretched fellows!”
“Did you witness the conflict between Jin Warrior and the others?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Please tell me exactly what happened.”
The inn owner then explained the entire sequence of events.
According to his account, Jin Bok-ju Warrior had been dining at the inn.
Most inns operate a dining hall on the first floor, after all.
Then a group of men came in and ate while exchanging jokes.
The problem was that their jokes targeted Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master, and the content was insulting to her.
“Those bastards spouted such filth about our Minor Clan Master! If this warrior hadn’t stepped in, I would have grabbed a kitchen knife and cut them down myself!”
“What exactly did they say to provoke such reactions from both of you?”
“Something about her pretty face and what happens at night… Sigh, my apologies. If I say more, I fear my mouth will rot away.”
Ah….
Now I understand the situation.
They had made sexually degrading remarks about Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master, and Jin Warrior, outraged, had stepped in—leading to this incident.
How dare they insult my old friend….
That’s when Seo-woo Warrior approached me and spoke.
“My lord, you mustn’t release your killing intent.”
“Ah! I nearly made a mistake in my excitement. Thank you.”
Even now, when I see Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master, I recall the cold, piercing gaze of those days when she was called the Jade Maiden Without Smile, serving as the Yu-kang Merchant Guild Leader’s guard.
But now she has grown into a spirited and resolute minor clan master.
In any case, perhaps because I changed the course of her life, my feelings toward her were somewhat different from others.
A trusted old friend and someone I cherished like a younger sister.
“How audacious—to insult the Jegal Family’s Minor Clan Master right before their eyes.”
“Indeed.”
“We must apprehend them without fail.”
“However… they’ve already fled, so it will be difficult to find them.”
“Don’t concern yourself with that. How many of them were there?”
“Ah, there were three of them.”
“I see.”
I made my declaration to the crowd that had gathered around us.
“I, Eun Seo-ho, hereby place a bounty on those who insulted the Jegal Family’s Minor Clan Master and crossed blades with Jin Warrior here. I offer three hundred silver taels per person.”
I continued.
“Apprehend them and bring them to the Jegal Family Estate.”
At my words, greed ignited in the eyes of those around me.
Three hundred silver taels could purchase a tile-roofed house.
With three of them, capturing all would yield three such houses.
Placing such a substantial bounty for their apprehension also served as a warning.
A warning that I would not tolerate anyone who dared mock Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master.
With a bounty of this magnitude, no matter how far they fled, they would be caught swiftly.
And since this was done for the Jegal Family, there was a high likelihood they would reimburse me.
Moreover, this action benefited the Eun Hae Trading Company as well. Through this incident, people would once again recognize the deep bond between our Eun Hae Trading Company and the Jegal Family.
Even out of fear of the Jegal Family, no one would dare treat the Eun Hae Trading Company carelessly.
But what were those fools thinking, insulting Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master right in the Jegal Family’s front courtyard?
If they were caught by the Jegal Clan Patrol Unit, they’d face flogging—so perhaps they’d left their brains somewhere else entirely.
But that wouldn’t excuse their crimes.
At my words, people began dispersing one by one.
They were likely going to hunt down those men.
I didn’t know who they were, but those bastards wouldn’t have an easy time ahead.
Now I needed to wrap up the matter regarding Jin Warrior.
I made a request to the Jegal Clan Patrol Unit.
“Please overlook Jin Bok-ju Warrior’s actions this once.”
“Understood. After all, he acted out of righteous indignation at the insult to our Minor Clan Master. It’s only proper.”
That was fortunate.
The man who appeared to be the patrol unit’s commander spoke.
“Then, would you help us sketch their appearances for the wanted notice?”
“Of course.”
After concluding these matters, I climbed back into the carriage.
“You’ve worked hard. Hwi.”
“It was nothing. Shall we depart again?”
“Yes.”

A moment later.
We soon arrived at the Jegal Family Estate.
“Welcome.”
The one greeting us was Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master.
I descended from the carriage and returned her greeting.
“It has been a long time.”
“Yes. I apologize for not being able to attend the wedding ceremony.”
“Not at all. The Grand Patriarch explained your circumstances to me. I understand you were busy with a major event ahead—how could I possibly feel slighted?”
“Hearing you say that, it seems you were indeed disappointed.”
“Oh, I’ve been caught. Haha.”
I continued with a laugh.
“This is my wife.”
I introduced her formally. Before, we had not yet been married, but today was our first meeting after the ceremony.
At this, my wife bowed respectfully to Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master.
“It is an honor to meet such an esteemed member of the Jegal Family.”
“It is a pleasure to see you again.”
Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master exchanged greetings with my wife and then spoke to me.
“Please follow me. Father and Grandfather are waiting.”
We walked the same path we had taken before and arrived at the Great-grandfather’s Residence.
My wife and I observed proper courtesy with our bows, and the two of them offered us seats.
As we settled into our seats, tea was prepared.
Mmm, the tea from the Jegal Family is truly delicious.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Go ahead.”
Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master bowed to the Grand Patriarch and the House Master, then departed.
After all, since she was the main figure of this event, she must have much to attend to.
The House Master spoke to me.
“Well, you must have had a tiring journey.”
“It was only a day’s travel. There is nothing to speak of as hardship.”
At this, the Grand Patriarch smiled and spoke.
“True enough. For someone like you who travels to Beijing as casually as eating, it must not feel like much.”
I wouldn’t quite say that much.
“By the way, before you arrived, I received word from the Patrol Guard.”
The House Master continued.
“Is it true that someone dared to speak ill of our Yu-ah?”
“Yes. They were truly hopeless individuals.”
“And I also heard that you placed a bounty of three hundred silver taels per person on them.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
I set down my teacup and spoke.
“Those who dared to insult Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master must be found and made to pay the price. That is what I believed necessary.”
“We share the same thoughts, it seems.”
The House Master nodded and continued.
“So I discussed it with Father, and we’ve decided to provide the reward you offered on our behalf.”
Just as I expected—the Jegal Family would step forward.
I felt pleased, having secured the benefit without spending a single coin.
But I concealed that sentiment and spoke carefully.
“That’s not right. Since I made that promise, I should bear the responsibility myself.”
“I understand your sentiment, but dealing with one who has tarnished the honor of our Main House is our burden to bear. Please yield to us in this matter.”
I pretended to be persuaded.
“I understand. I shall respect the House Master’s wishes.”
At that, the Grand Patriarch nodded and spoke.
“In return, we shall handle their punishment ourselves.”
“Of course.”
Exactly what I wanted.
“And regarding your role as judge for this Tamseo Martial Arts Tournament—we’re counting on you.”
“I shall do my utmost.”

After leaving the Grand Patriarch’s residence, we were shown to our guest quarters.
Thanks to my appointment as judge, our quarters within the Jegal Family Estate were quite comfortable.
I shared the evening meal and conversation with my wife.
“I suspect Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master’s heart is not at ease. After all, she must marry a complete stranger.”
I had been fortunate enough to marry my wife, but in a sense, Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master was entering into a political marriage much the same.
Moreover, since the groom’s identity had yet to be decided, she must have steeled herself somewhat, but surely she felt anxious and uncertain.
“Indeed.”
I asked her a question.
“Have you perhaps seen anything regarding Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master’s future?”
My wife nodded at my question.
“I’m grateful that Hwi has come to this place.”
That remark meant, in other words, that there would be some hardship to endure this time as well.
“But that Jin Bok-ju Warrior we saw earlier—it seems he and Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master are not meeting for the first 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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