The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 752
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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 752
Chapter 752. The Story Behind It (2)
With the martial tournament just ahead, I had hoped to find a moment to rest, but here I was again. When would I ever get to rest? I sighed.
Still, if I could strike a blow against the Sura Blood Sect through this man Yu Chul, it would be worth it.
A short while later.
Palgap arrived with Baek Bal-hwa.
Fortunately, he lived not far from the Jegal Family Estate.
“Welcome. It’s been quite some time since we last met.”
“Indeed. You’ve grown even more refined in my absence.”
“Thank you.”
“So, why did you seek me out? When I asked what the matter was, your man here refused to say a word.”
It seemed Palgap had chosen discretion and told Baek Bal-hwa nothing about the situation.
That was just like Palgap.
I cupped my fist and bowed slightly.
“I apologize for the secrecy—it was my instruction. If word of this were to leak out, it would serve no good purpose. Please, let us step inside.”
“Of course.”
I led him into the chamber.
Upon seeing the figure lying on the bed, he turned to me with a question.
“Is this the patient I’m to examine?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
I gave him a rough explanation of the situation.
I omitted the details about the Jin Yu Warrior and focused instead on Yu Chul’s physical condition.
“His blood is poisoned, you say?”
“Yes.”
“Indeed, this is a situation where discretion is absolutely necessary.”
Baek Bal-hwa retrieved a medicine bottle from his medical case and applied the oil within to his hands.
Then he grasped Yu Chul’s wrist, took his pulse, and began examining him carefully.
“Hm…”
He exhaled a heavy sigh.
“The fact that this man is still alive is, frankly, nothing short of a miracle.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Jin Yu Warrior reacted before I could.
It made sense—Yu Chul was his old friend, after all.
“Everything inside his body has already collapsed.”
The Jin Yu Warrior pointed with trembling eyes at the small medicine bottles arranged beside the bed.
The Jin Yu Warrior spoke, pointing with trembling eyes at the small medicine bottles placed beside him.
“That’s impossible. I’ve been taking these medicines all along. They maintain the toxicity of my blood while preventing my body from collapsing.”
At this, Baek Bal-hwa examined the medicine in the bottle using various reagents, then shook his head slowly.
“As I thought… I’ve been wondering what was done to this body… but it was this medicine that was the problem.”
“Pardon?”
“No matter how the Black Path method was used to create a Poison Master, the body shouldn’t have deteriorated this badly already.”
So he’s realized that the Black Path method was used to create a Poison Master.
“This medicine is neither a toxin-maintaining agent nor a body-preservation agent.”
“Then what exactly…?”
“This medicine is a drug designed to control the subject’s actions.”
Jin Yu Warrior asked as if unable to comprehend.
“A drug to control actions?”
Baek Bal-hwa explained calmly.
“In my assessment, it appears this patient was given this medicine to prevent them from using their toxin to harm the one who administered it. They were deceived into believing they needed to take it to maintain their toxicity and prevent bodily collapse.”
“….”
“Whether this patient possessed an ambitious nature or not, they would drink this medicine. Even if they didn’t wish to die, they would drink it.”
Baek Bal-hwa continued.
“Yet this medicine, meant to control their actions, actually accelerated the body’s deterioration. Each time they drank it, it must have caused considerable pain…”
I paused to think, then asked.
“You said it’s a miracle this patient is still alive. So why have they managed to survive until now?”
“It’s likely due to strong willpower, and their internal energy being sufficiently robust to sustain their body plays a significant role.”
Internal energy….
So Yu Chul, being at the peak level, has endured until now through sheer cultivation.
“But now they’ve reached the limit of what they can endure. At most three months remain—within that time, their body will dissolve and they’ll perish from their own blood.”
Essentially, a death sentence with a time limit.
I looked at Jin Yu Warrior.
His expression was one I couldn’t quite describe in words.
Despair, regret, sorrow, rage, and more.
It was an expression mingled with countless such emotions.
“Is there… no way?”
“A way….”
Baek Bal-hwa, who had been thinking for a moment, answered.
“There is a way, but it’s practically impossible.”
“Please tell me regardless.”
“To become a true Poison Master.”
“Pardon?”
“What… do you mean by that?”
Both Jin Yu Warrior and I questioned him, and Baek Bal-hwa spoke.
“Currently, this patient is not a true Poison Master. A true Poison Master must be able to control their own toxin independently.”
He continued.
“The one who created this patient was likely a charlatan. Fearing retaliation from the Poison Master they created, this coward deceived them into taking medicine that controls their actions.”
You certainly speak without hesitation.
“At this point, it’s simply toying with a person. To satisfy one’s own amusement and curiosity. Whoever did this to this patient deserves to be torn limb from limb.”
Well, that’s true enough.
I’m angry myself right now, but from Baek Bal-hwa’s perspective, seeing the patient’s condition so clearly, his fury was only natural.
“Please… calm yourself.”
“Ahem, I apologize for my outburst.”
“Not at all. I understand completely. But what must one do to become a true Poison Master?”
“That’s something that should have started from the moment this patient became a Poison Master, but now it’s far too late.”
“Then… you’re saying there’s no way?”
“No. If there were no way, I would have told you so from the beginning.”
He continued.
“A special medicinal compound is needed. Even now, if this patient’s body is immersed in that compound, they can become a true Poison Master. Of course, they would have to endure tremendous suffering.”
An expert in detoxification is, in other words, an expert in poison itself.
Therefore, they also know how to create Poison Masters.
“The medicinal compound used initially to make this patient a Poison Master must have been difficult to create, but the compound needed to complete them as a true Poison Master would have been even more difficult.”
He continued.
“That’s why they gave up and created only a half-finished version.”
“…”
“And currently, the medicinal compound needed to make this patient a true Poison Master is even more difficult than that.”
“Please tell me what materials are needed. I will procure them.”
At this, Baek Bal-hwa took out brush and ink from beside him and began writing down several materials.
“These are the materials originally needed.”
Looking at that list, I could only shake my head.
“Certainly, with this much required, it makes sense that the incompetent fool gave up.”
“Yes. And there are additional materials that must be added to make this person a true Poison Master.”
And Baek Bal-hwa wrote down several more materials.
The difficulty has increased considerably.
But I cannot simply give up here.
“Sigh, I understand.”
I continued.
“I have a question, but would it not be possible to detoxify all the poison in this person’s body?”
When it comes to detoxification, my Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art is particularly effective.
At my question, Baek Bal-hwa shook his head.
“Absolutely not. This person’s body is currently poison itself, so that would actually be an act of killing them. In the process of detoxification, they would either become a puddle or powder.”
Phew… I’m fortunate I didn’t attempt detoxification hastily.
“The only path to survival for this patient is to become a complete Poison Master.”
“I see.”
“Then for now, I will only provide temporary measures today.”
“Yes. I’m grateful.”
Baek Bal-hwa inserted needles at various points on Yu Chul’s body, then withdrew them again.
“In about two days, his condition should improve considerably.”
“Thank you.”
I rose from my seat.
“Allow me to see you out.”
I glanced briefly at the Jin Yu Warrior and Yu Chul before stepping outside with Baek Bal-hwa.
* * *
After Eun Seo-ho left with Baek Bal-hwa.
Jin Yu looked at Yu Chul lying on the bed and sighed before speaking.
“Hey. I already know you’ve regained consciousness.”
“….”
“Drop the act and get up, will you?”
“…Tch.”
At those words, Yu Chul opened his eyes and sat up to face Jin Yu.
“How is your body?”
Rather than answering, Yu Chul posed a question in return.
“You’re Yeon Gye-seung, aren’t you?”
A blunt inquiry.
“I realized it when we fought. There are very few who can employ such swordsmanship. And among those who have survived my blood, there is only one.”
“….”
“That fool who did something foolish for the stupid reason of wanting to look after me, pitying me for being alone.”
At this, Jin Yu let out a quiet laugh.
He recalled the telepathic message Eun Seo-ho had sent as he left the chamber.
– I will save your friend, the Jin Yu Warrior.
-…
– Therefore, I may reveal your identity.
– However, if they learn that I am alive, everyone will be in danger.
– Of course. But the Yu Chul Warrior has likely already discerned your identity.
– !
– Well, you can rest assured. The Yu Chul Warrior will not reveal your whereabouts to them.
A voice brimming with certainty.
Yet for Jin Yu, there was no way to avoid worry.
– But still, one can never be too careful, can they?
– Problems may arise, but it will be fine. If problems arise, we simply resolve them, do we not?
It had always been that way.
My lord Eun Seo-ho was always composed and brimming with confidence.
It wasn’t arrogance.
He was someone who actually possessed the ability to realize those words.
Because of that, Jin Yu could trust him and speak to Yu Chul.
“You fool. Did you only realize it now?”
“You were alive.”
“Yes.”
“You were alive.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been living so happily all by myself.”
* * *
At that moment.
I returned to the Jegal Family Estate once more.
We had agreed to gather in the conference room this evening.
The area where the Martial Arts Arena stood had already been cleaned up neatly.
“Sigh…”
As I exhaled a breath, I sensed a presence approaching from behind.
Turning my body, it was Mujin Master.
“It seems you’ve just returned from somewhere.”
“Yes. I’ve been investigating the surroundings to find the one who threw a hidden weapon at the Jade-Faced Libertine earlier.”
“I see. Did you find any traces?”
“Unfortunately, I found nothing. Where is the Jade-Faced Libertine’s body?”
“It’s currently being kept inside the Punishment Division of the Jegal Family Estate.”
“I see.”
I had expected as much. Why would they place such a martial arts achievement in a nice room?
“Then let’s head to the conference room.”
A moment later.
I arrived at the conference room with Mujin Master.
“Welcome.”
Jin Jeong Elder was already inside.
“My apologies for being late.”
“No matter. I simply arrived early. Please, be seated.”
As we took our seats, Inspector General entered shortly after.
Once everyone had gathered, Jegal Family’s Grand Elder and the Jegal Family Patriarch entered.
After exchanging greetings, the Grand Elder spoke.
“First, I wish to express my gratitude to all of you. Thanks to your meticulous review of the documents, we were able to prevent someone like the Jade-Faced Libertine from stepping onto the martial arts arena.”
Jin Jeong Elder responded.
“There is no need to thank us. It was Eun Seo-ho, the Small Guild Master here, who filtered him out.”
“Ah, I see.”
I quickly offered a modest bow.
“I merely did what was necessary. Without the Jegal Family’s comprehensive records covering all the prefectures of the Empire, I would have had no choice but to let it pass.”
“I appreciate your words.”
Though that was what he said, had it not been for those records, I would have found some other pretext to disqualify that application.
After all, the cleanest way to prevent problems is to eliminate the source from the beginning.
Such as, for instance, rejection during document screening.
“The problem is that we still do not know who killed the Jade-Faced Libertine.”
“Based on the hidden weapon used when he was killed, it appears to be the same person who targeted other Shaolin disciples when Mujin Master was at the marketplace previously.”
I nodded in agreement as well.
In truth, I knew who that assassin was, and I was currently protecting them.
But I could not speak of this now.
“Therefore, we are concerned whether we can proceed with the martial arts tournament as scheduled tomorrow.”
I spoke carefully in response to the Jegal Family Patriarch’s concern.
“However, if we were to cancel the tournament now, would that not cause considerable inconvenience to many people?”
“….”
I sent a transmission of spiritual energy.
– If we continue like this, the situation will simply unfold as the Alliance Leader desires.
He nodded at my transmission.
“Then what do you suggest we do?”
“I believe we should proceed with the tournament.”
I continued.
“If we provide modest accommodation stipends to those who passed the document screening, a delay of a day or two should not pose a significant problem.”
“Do you mean to postpone the tournament by a day or two?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Why is that?”
“From what I can see, the assassin’s true target may have been the Jade-Faced Libertine.”
Everyone turned to look at me at my words.
“What if the Jade-Faced Libertine committed some transgression, and as a result, the Assassin Order received a contract to eliminate him?”
“Then what about targeting the Shaolin disciples at that time?”
“Perhaps the Jade-Faced Libertine simply happened to be nearby?”
“Hmm… that’s a plausible theory.”
“So my thought is this: we postpone the schedule somewhat, and in the meantime, we invite skilled performers or theatrical troupes to provide entertainment, then have us move about various parts of the village. If nothing unusual occurs during that time, it would mean the assassin has accomplished their objective and departed.”
“But this could result in innocent people being harmed.”
“Is there anyone among those present here who cannot prevent that level of harm?”
“You make a fair point. We’ll proceed as you suggest.”
Well, I’ve bought us time—now shall I gather medicinal herbs?
– Squeak!
You’re going to help?
Wait, Geumryeong…
Isn’t accepting payment just working, not helping?
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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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