The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 749

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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 749

Chapter 749. As Expected (5)

At the Jin Yu Warrior’s words, I could only ask again.
“What do you mean by that?”
“In other words….”
He spoke as if exhaling a sigh.
“It seems to be someone who trained together with me.”
“Ah….”
The Jin Yu Warrior had said that he was forcibly brought by family members in his childhood and trained to become part of the League Master’s personal guard.
That meant the person who executed this incident would likely be connected to the League Master.
“And… the poison smeared on the hidden blade I saw earlier is a poison that only one person can use.”
“I see.”
Someone connected to the Jin Yu Warrior had appeared, but I had no concern about my identity being exposed because of him.
This was because the Jin Yu Warrior’s face was currently so transformed through the use of facial transformation techniques that he could pass for a completely different person.
The Jin Yu Warrior bowed his head to me and spoke.
“I earnestly beseech you to show leniency regarding that fellow’s circumstances. I am well aware of how shameless it is to make such a request….”
He continued his words with difficulty, as if burdened by guilt.
“That fellow did not choose that path of his own volition either, so I humbly ask that you show him mercy.”
Because I sensed sincerity in the Jin Yu Warrior’s plea, I accepted his request.
“I understand.”
At my words, he lifted his head with a relieved expression.
“I cannot promise with certainty that I will do so. Circumstances can change in ways I cannot foresee. However….”
I continued.
“I will do my best to show consideration for his circumstances.”
“That alone is enough to be grateful for.”

* * *

At that moment.
Someone sat atop a tree deep within the forest.
Despite the height that ordinary people could never reach, the way he sat so stably revealed that he was no ordinary person.
He recalled the conversation of those who had given him his orders.

“I can’t stand the thought of that Jade-Faced Libertine becoming the Jegal Family’s son-in-law. If he succeeds, how insufferably will he strut about? He might even steal my position as Village Chief.”
“Yes, that would be troublesome.”
“So why don’t we just cancel the martial arts tournament altogether?”
“Cancel the tournament?”
“That’s right.”
“A sound idea. But how?”
“We could issue a warning to someone who appears to be important.”

And so the mission came down to him: halt the Jegal Family’s Tamseo Martial Arts Tournament.
In truth, this was no simple task.
With so many masters gathering in one place, the likelihood of capture, torture, and death was considerable.
That they would dispatch him on such a perilous mission suggested they harbored thoughts of disposing of him as well.
With a soft rustle, the man in black removed his mask.
There was no one here to see his face.
The visage revealed was covered entirely in scars.
Because of that face, he could not move openly and confidently among people.
Weary of life as of late, such thoughts came to him often.
What purpose remained in living with such a face, such a body?
Thus, the more likely a mission was to cost him his life, the more readily he accepted it.
He withdrew a small vial from his garment and drank the liquid within, biting his lip against the searing pain that rose in his chest.
It was a poison that transformed his blood into toxin.
That was a drug that turned his blood into poison.

“At this rate, I don’t think he could endure that poison we tested before, could he?”
“At this level, don’t you think he wouldn’t be able to withstand that poison we tested before?”

When I was barely twelve years old, I was bitten by a centipede that carried a poison capable of killing a man in seven paces, yet I did not die.
Because of this, those driven by curiosity and expectation transformed me into a Poison Master, and I had to drink medicine at intervals of several days to maintain the toxicity in my blood.
Thanks to this, my hidden weapons stained with my blood became the finest weapons.
The drawback was that the medicine was quite expensive, and my blood lost its toxicity an hour after leaving my body.
‘Perhaps they’re thinking of discarding me now because the maintenance costs are so high. Not that it matters—I don’t have much time left anyway.’
There was a reason why Poison Masters had short lifespans.
Unless one reached a level where they could control the poison themselves, the toxin would attack their own body.
The medicine I drank now maintained the toxicity of my blood while preventing my body from deteriorating.
I found it rather absurd that I drank medicine to stay alive when I wanted to die.
But there was good reason for it.
If I died, the financial support sent to my family would cease.
The reason I willingly accepted dangerous missions was because of an exception clause.
It was when I lost my life during a mission.
I no longer wanted to live painfully as a Poison Master, and I didn’t want to see my blood steal the lives of innocent people.
“Please… whoever it is, find me quickly. So you can kill me quickly….”
As I muttered this, I let out a bitter laugh.
“If that bastard saw me like this, he’d kick my ass.”
I had an Old Friend.
Whether he deserved to be called an Old Friend, I wasn’t sure, but we endured that hell together and shared a bond deeper than mere colleagues, so Old Friend seemed fitting enough.
“Yeon Gye-seung….”
I hated that name, but….
“You never even told me your real name, so what am I supposed to call you?”
But there was no one to scold me for saying such things.
Six years ago, he was dispatched on a mission to Hubei Province and never returned.
I heard it was supposed to be a simple mission, but various complications arose, and it ended that way.
Yet somehow, tears wouldn’t come.
“You bastard, is hell comfortable?”
I had killed countless innocent people, so the Pure Land was beyond my reach.
All that remained was hell.
Yet even that hell seemed better than this.
At least I wouldn’t have to kill someone on orders there.
Whoosh.
I pulled the mask over my face.
It was time to move again.

* * *

Dawn broke.
I performed my morning cultivation exercises, practiced briefly, then washed and dressed.
“Young Master. It is time for breakfast.”
“Very well.”
Soon the door opened and servants and handmaidens entered carrying food.
“Thank you for your continued service.”
“It is our duty.”
“What is the current situation in the Marketplace Street?”
I asked because of yesterday’s attack on the Shaolin disciples.
“Ah, there should be little cause for concern.”
“Thanks to the Jegal Family’s swift response, there appears to be minimal chaos.”
“That is fortunate.”
The Martial Arts Tournament would begin the day after tomorrow.
This morning, my task was to inspect the Martial Arts Arena where the tournament would be held alongside the other judges, and to examine the drawing lots that would determine the match order for the tournament.
It was quite an important duty, as I would need to step forward personally to explain that there was no impropriety should anyone protest with suspicions of foul play.
In any case, judges had quite a bit of work to do.
That was likely why they offered such generous compensation.
Soon breakfast was laid out, and the servants and handmaidens withdrew.
Ah, chicken porridge this morning.
While I ate, the Lady spoke.
“Today I plan to go leaf-viewing in the nearby valley with the other ladies.”
“I see. Yet it was not cancelled despite yesterday’s incident.”
“It seems they believe the assassins will not target us.”
When I thought about it, that made sense.
The assassins’ attack on the Shaolin disciples yesterday was likely aimed at disrupting the tournament with sufficient impact.
In that case, they would not appear where women were simply taking a leisurely outing.
Targeting them would only strengthen security and fail to cancel the tournament.
“Have a pleasant time.”
I briefly considered going to see them off, but as a judge myself, it seemed unwise.

After breakfast, I headed to the Guest Reception Room where we had been before.
Arriving first and taking my seat, the other judges began to arrive one by one.
Once everyone had gathered, the House Master spoke.
“What you judges must observe carefully today is….”
After hearing the explanation of today’s tasks and conducting a brief meeting, we stepped outside and made our way to the Martial Arts Arena.
The Martial Arts Arena was constructed within the Jegal Family Estate’s Training Ground.
Since a direct path had been opened from the outside to the Training Ground, we could enter without going through the family estate itself.
The Martial Arts Arena, guarded rigorously by some twenty warriors.
As we approached, a martial artist who appeared to be the security commander of the arena greeted us respectfully.
“We’ve come to inspect the Martial Arts Arena.”
“Of course. Please proceed.”
We approached the arena and examined its height, materials, and other details.
The primary reason judges inspect the Martial Arts Arena is not only to prevent disputes over rulings, but also to prevent dangerous situations that might arise during the competition.
There was always the possibility that someone might deliberately damage the arena and use the broken pieces as weapons to harm their opponent.
It wasn’t an absurd concern.
It had actually happened before.
“This wood is blacksteel timber, isn’t it?”
“They’ve spent considerable money on this.”
“Hmm… but these protruding nails should be removed.”
I inspected the arena thoroughly.
“It would be good to test it directly with some techniques.”
Mujin Master said this while looking at me.
Me? Why was he looking at me?
“….”
His gaze seemed to say, ‘Should this old man do it?’
Ah, so he was asking me to test it directly.
– Caw! Caw!
Listen well to what Old Friend says?
When did you become friends with Mujin Master?
It seems you had quite a bit of fun yesterday.
But if Mujin Master is your friend, what does that make me?
– Caw!
You don’t even know that?
The most magnificent, reliable, capable, handsome, and intelligent friend and master in the world.
Something in the middle seemed off….
Well, shall we move on?
Anyway, the younger one should do it, so what can I do? Sigh.
I took my stance on the Martial Arts Arena and began moving against an imaginary opponent.
Whoosh! Swish!
Of course, without revealing my true level.
Those present here might be able to gauge my abilities, but with utmost caution, the nature of my martial arts makes it possible to conceal them to a certain degree.
The Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art doesn’t reveal its energy openly on the surface.
That’s why most people don’t know my true capabilities.
In any case, I moved diligently.
Whoosh—! Thud!
I spun through the air and landed, catching my breath as I straightened my posture.
“Indeed, youth certainly grants such fluid and powerful movements.”
“If I were just ten years younger, I’d be soaring about like that too.”
“But now my joints ache constantly….”
No, these elders really are something!
How could masters capable of dominating their surroundings with mere profound inner strength alone say such things?
“Well then, how is it?”
I answered Mujin Master’s question.
“There don’t appear to be any major issues, but….”
“What is it?”
“This section of the floor feels slightly softer compared to the rest.”
I pointed to a specific area, and Jin Jeong Elder pressed down on it.
“Hmm… indeed it does.”
“I’d like to examine this section more closely.”
The carpenter who had installed the Martial Arts Arena was summoned, and he removed that section of flooring.
We discovered the reason.
“The support structure in this area is missing.”
“Gasp! I-I’m terribly sorry!”
“Repair it at once and carefully inspect the rest of the arena for any other abnormalities.”
“Yes.”
The Jegal Family Head expressed his gratitude to me.
“Thank you.”
“Please don’t mention it. It was simply my duty as an arbiter.”
Good.
I’d accomplished something here.
In truth, this was my first time attending a martial arts tournament at the Jegal Family Estate in this life.
In my previous life, the Jegal Family was annihilated before such an event could ever occur.
So while I couldn’t predict what might happen, I wasn’t worried.
It wasn’t the first time that changes I’d made returned to me as unforeseen consequences.
“Then while the arena is being repaired, let’s examine the tool for drawing the match order.”
“Yes.”

The morning schedule had come to an end.
The problem was that the afternoon schedule still remained.
The afternoon schedule involved reviewing the list of participants and their self-introductions.
Self-introductions were a distinctive feature of the Tamseo Martial Arts Tournament, and they were quite important.
By examining them, I could discern a person’s background and other details.
Suspicious candidates were filtered out from the very beginning.
After lunch, I headed to the Guest Reception Room, which was being used as a conference room.
When the others had gathered there, the Jegal Family’s staff members entered carrying stacks of documents and placed them on the table.
Thump!
“Phew! Are we supposed to review all of this?”
The staff member answered the Jin Jeong Elder, who looked rather exhausted.
“Haha. Of course not.”
“Hmm?”
“There’s more.”
More documents came streaming in one after another.
Thump! Thump!
From the sound of the documents being placed, I could gauge their weight.
In total, ten stacks accumulated.
“Then we’ll do our best.”
“Original Heavenly Worthy….”
“Amitabha Buddha….”
The Jin Jeong Elder recited a Daoist invocation with a hollow face, while the Mujin Master chanted a Buddhist prayer.
Even the Inspector General, who reviewed quite a few documents regularly, looked utterly deflated.
“Sigh….”
I picked up one of the documents and spoke.
“Let’s begin.”
“Aren’t you feeling overwhelmed? We have to get through all of this by tomorrow?”
I spoke with a sorrowful expression.
“What can I do? I’ve already been summoned as a judge.”
“Hmm… That’s true.”
Did they know?
That my specialty was document processing.
Of course, this level of work was routine for me.
It was just unfortunate that I had to review documents here as well.
But I couldn’t let it show. If I did, they would surely say, “Then why don’t you handle more of it?”
That’s why I deliberately put on a sorrowful expression.
As a general rule, when there’s work I don’t have to do, it’s virtuous to do as little as possible.
But when it’s my responsibility, I must give my all….
As we all continued reviewing the documents.
Hmm?

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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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