The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 760

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 760

Chapter 760. Happiness Is All That Matters (5)

Jin Bok-ju Young Master was training against an imaginary opponent.
Whoosh—! Crack—!
He pivoted lightly and kicked at a branch suspended from the tree ahead.
Unlike before, his internal energy circulation had become natural, which enhanced his movements, allowing him to execute techniques with remarkable agility.
As he spun his body, leaves fell from the tree.
Jin Bok-ju’s eyes gleamed as he swung his sword toward the falling leaves.
Slash—!
It appeared as though he had swung once, yet the leaves scattered into countless fragments.
Clap clap clap!
The Attendant beside him applauded and spoke.
“Remarkable, Young Master!”
“It’s nothing….”
Jin Bok-ju scratched his head bashfully.
“But it’s truly astounding. How did you suddenly become so strong? Forgive me for saying so, but it seemed you had made little progress until now.”
“I know, right? I’m amazed myself.”
Jin Bok-ju shrugged and feigned ignorance.
He recalled the warning Eun Seo-ho had given him.

“Until the time comes, do not tell anyone—not a soul—that I have broken through the Poison Meridian blocked at the Vital Gate of Pursuit and Blood.”
“Not even Father?”
“Correct.”
“But….”
“I did not say never to speak of it. I said until the time comes, did I not?”
“I understand. But when will that time arrive?”
“You will know soon enough.”

As Jin Bok-ju recalled Eun Seo-ho’s technique, his entire body bristled and cold sweat poured down his skin.
The pain of Eun Seo-ho’s method had been that intense.
He could confidently say he had never endured such agony in his life.
Many times he had wanted to flee, but each time such thoughts arose, Eun Seo-ho’s words anchored him in place.

“If you run away just because you’re in pain, even when an opportunity to change your life has arrived, you’ll continue living as a loser for the rest of your days.”
“….”
“Your feelings for Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master were false, then. Were they merely honeyed words? Don’t you know that Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master despises such people above all else?”
“….”

Hearing such words, I couldn’t flee. I endured the Chasing Blood and Vein technique in its entirety before losing consciousness.
Even I had to admit—I was truly admirable and magnificent.
“Young Master, why are you suddenly crying?”
“I’m not crying. The wind got in my eyes.”
Starting tomorrow, the main tournament of the Tamseo Martial Arts Tournament would begin, and today was a day of rest before it.
It was meant to be a time to rest well and display proper skill.
“Young Master!”
At the sound of someone calling me, I turned to see one of the warriors who had come with me.
“What is it?”
“The House Master and his lady are said to arrive this afternoon.”
I felt somewhat embarrassed, yet I longed to see them both soon.
I had always wanted to be a son they could be proud of, but I had failed to be.
Yet this time, I would finally be able to show them something to be proud of.
“And the Yeo Eung-am Warrior has come to visit.”
“Senior Yeo? Please bring them in at once.”
.
.
.
After the Yeo Eung-am Warrior’s visit and departure, as evening fell.
At last, the long-awaited guests arrived at the inn where Jin Bok-ju was staying.
“Father!”
“Bok-ju! You’ve advanced to the main tournament? How did this come to pass?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself.”
“You are truly admirable and magnificent!”
Beside him, the House Master’s lady also smiled warmly and spoke.
“Bok-ju. Your mother is so proud of you. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Jin Bok-ju continued with a smile.
“It is thanks to you, Mother, for not giving up and supporting me.”
“What did I do that was so remarkable….”
Her hands trembled faintly as she spoke, but Jin Bok-ju did not notice.
“Please, come inside.”
“Yes.”

After sharing a leisurely meal with warm conversation, Jin Bok-ju Young Master returned to his guest room to rest when the Lady of the House came to find him.
“Bok-ju, are you in there?”
“Yes, Mother.”
He opened the door gladly, and there stood his mother holding a tray with medicinal broth.
“I brought this for you to drink and regain your strength.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Jin Bok-ju Young Master smiled and took the broth.
“Drink it all down, every last drop.”
He lifted the bowl to his lips and drank it in one go, and she laughed watching him.
‘Drink it all down, and die quickly. Hehehehe.’
Clatter.
“That was delicious… *cough cough*!”
In that instant, Jin Bok-ju Young Master coughed up blood and collapsed.
“Gasp! Young Master!”
“The Young Master has collapsed!”
Chaos erupted in moments, and the Jin Family Head who rushed over saw the Lady of the House standing before him and bellowed.
“What is the meaning of this!”
“What? I… I… I only gave him a tonic.”
At her words, the Jin Family Head ground his teeth.
“Take Bok-ju to the Physician at once! And confine this woman to her quarters.”
“Yes!”
.
.
.
The Lady of the Suak Jin Family Head bit her nails in agitation.
‘How did this happen? There was no mention of him coughing blood and collapsing immediately!’
As she paced the room cursing him, the door opened and the Jin Family Head entered.
“G-Ga-gun! I am innocent!”
To her desperate pleas, the Jin Family Head spoke coldly.
“Do you think I did not know you visited the Persimmon Tree Valley Pharmacy?”
“…!”
She could only gasp in shock.
The Persimmon Tree Valley Pharmacy was the place she had sought out to obtain medicinal ingredients to block Jin Bok-ju Young Master’s meridians.
Realizing all was lost, she cried out in desperation.
“This is all because of you, Ga-gun!”
She lashed out bitterly.
“Back then, when that woman bore Bok-ju, why did you go to her instead of me? Why!”
“Do you not remember?”
“What are you talking about?”
“That night I came to your bridal chamber. But when I heard you were drunk and sleeping, I simply left.”
“What?”
She spoke in confusion.
“I… I never did such a thing…”
“At that time, your maidservant clearly said so.”
“…”
“Looking at that expression, it seems your maidservant said it deliberately. Why didn’t you cultivate a gentler disposition in your daily conduct?”
“Ah…”
She collapsed to the ground.
Because of that incident, she had harbored hatred for Jin Bok-ju and his biological mother her entire life.
Yet it turned out the maidservant had committed the act out of resentment because of her own actions.
“So you poisoned Bok-ju? And you intended to make the Second Young Master the Minor Clan Master.”
“That… that is…”
Unable to deny it, the Jin Family Head sighed and spoke.
“I had a conversation with Bok-ju before dinner earlier.”
“What?”
“According to the main family’s clan laws, if one marries into a more powerful household for the family’s prosperity, even if one becomes a son-in-law, one need not relinquish the position of Family Head.”
She knew that as well.
“But that boy said that if he wins this tournament, he intends to pass the position of Minor Clan Master to his younger brother.”
“Why…?”
“He said he never wanted to become Family Head from the beginning.”
“What?”
“He said he merely tried to fulfill that duty because he was born as the eldest son, and worked for the family’s prosperity. If he need not become Family Head, he would relinquish the position. Now that an opportunity has come before him to catch two rabbits—both the family’s prosperity and love—he cannot let it slip away.”
“…”
“So you have done something futile.”
The Jin Family Head spoke to her with a blank expression.
“I will decide your punishment later. For now, treating Bok-ju is the priority. I pray that Bok-ju does not die.”
Slam—!

The Jin Family Head closed the door forcefully behind him.
“Sigh….”
Though I exhaled sharply, something weighed heavily on my chest.
It all felt like my own fault.
‘Was the problem taking such a woman as my wife? Or was it knowing about her and doing nothing?’
With such laments, I made my way to the bridal chamber where Jin Bok-ju lay.
Jin Bok-ju, lying there as if dead.
Looking at him, the Jin Family Head asked the Physician.
“How is Bok-ju?”
“I’m still uncertain, sir.”
“Sigh… Do your very best.”
“Yes, sir.”
Just then, the Jin Family Head’s Attendant spoke.
“Sir, we have a visitor. It is the Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster.”

* * *

I made my way to the inn where Jin Bok-ju Young Master was staying and was shown to a guest room.
There was a reason I visited so openly.
Paying respects to the parents of those who advanced to the main tournament was also part of the Judge’s duties.
Shortly after.
The door opened and a middle-aged man entered.
Judging by his attire and bearing, he appeared to be the head of the Suak Jin Family.
“Eun Seo-ho, Small Merchant Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company, greets the Family Head.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Jin Seo, head of the Suak Jin Family. Please, sit.”
“Thank you.”
I took my seat.
“Well, first, thank you for coming to visit us like this.”
“You’re too kind. You have a remarkable son. However… your expression doesn’t look good. Is something the matter?”
“Sigh… Truth be told, Bok-ju may not be able to participate in the main tournament.”
“I’m aware.”
“…What?”
“He likely drank herbal medicine and collapsed while coughing blood.”
At my words, he asked with a startled expression.
“H-how do you know that? Did you perhaps harm my son?”
At his sharp tone, I smiled and replied.
“Why would you say that? I’m the one who saved the Jin Young Master.”
“What do you mean?”
“Were you aware that the Jin Young Master’s poison meridian was blocked?”
“His poison meridian was blocked?”
Indeed, you remain unaware of it.
To perceive such a thing, one would need to possess the realm of Hwagyeong or possess keen energy sensitivity like myself—and you possess neither, House Master.
According to Geun Seong’s account, that Physician swallowed poison and took his own life the moment he was discovered by the House Master’s Guard Warriors.
His lips were far heavier than expected.
Therefore, the House Master certainly knows that the Lady used poison, but he clearly does not know precisely which poison she employed.
“For some reason, the poison meridian was blocked. So I unblocked that poison meridian for him.”
“How so?”
“That is a secret.”
I spoke with a smile.
“In any case, it would truly pain me if you treated this way the benefactor who painstakingly unblocked the Jin Young Master’s poison meridian and enabled him to excel in the martial tournament.”
“Ahem. My apologies. But what good does that do? Right now, because of that foolish Lady, Bok-ju is wandering at death’s door.”
“Ah, do not worry, sir. I visited not only out of duty as a Judge, but also to tell you not to worry.”
“Not to worry, you say?”
Thump.
I placed a medicinal pouch upon the wooden table.
“It looks familiar, does it not? You likely discovered this when searching through the Lady’s belongings.”
“…That’s right.”
“I have made a considerable investment in the Jin Young Master. Thus, to ensure a sound investment, I was investigating anything that might prove harmful to him—and that is when I discovered it.”
I continued.
“That poison is called Xiaojin Mingfen. It rapidly depletes a person’s vital essence, causing sudden death.”
“Did Bok-ju consume this?”
“Indeed he did, but it did not become poison to the Jin Young Master.”
“What do you mean by that?”
He’s about to lose his breath.
I spoke with a smile.
“I had previously administered a certain medicine to the Jin Young Master. When that medicine met with this poison, an entirely different effect manifested.”
“…?”
“The poisonous qi that remained trapped within his body—the very qi that had blocked his poison meridian—was expelled through coughing up blood.”
This was the medicine I had requested from Baek Bal Hwa-ui.
And I had asked the Yeo Eung-am Warrior to administer it to the Jin Bok-ju Young Master.
“Ah….”
“By dawn tomorrow, he will likely rise from his bed feeling refreshed.”
“Is that… truly so?”
“I do not jest about such matters.”
“Phew, what a relief.”
I spoke seriously to him as he relaxed.
“And I have a few requests for the House Master.”
“What might they be?”
.
.
.
A short while later.
I was guided to a guest room.
The door opened and I stepped inside. A woman seated in a chair looked up at me, her expression shifting to one of shock.
“Who… who are you?”
“It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady. I am Eun Seo-ho. The world knows me as Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster.”
“I… I see. But why have you sought me out?”
“I came to inquire about your son’s wellbeing.”
“Why would you ask me about Jin Bok-ju’s wellbeing?”
“Not him—your biological son.”
“…!”
I smiled faintly and took a seat before her.
“Rest assured, Lady. The poison you administered will never claim Jin Bok-ju Young Master’s life. If anything, he will flourish far more than before.”
I continued.
“And the current Jin Family Head does not know that you are the one who blocked his son’s poison meridian. But should he ever discover this truth, you will not survive.”
“….”
“Would the Second Young Master not grieve then?”
Yes, this is coercion.
Coercion orchestrated with the Family Head.
“So… what is it you wish to say?”
“Nothing much. Simply that for the next ten years, you will brew medicinal decoctions for Jin Bok-ju Young Master every single day.”
“What?”
“This time, not the sham decoctions—genuine ones. And should Jin Bok-ju perish from those decoctions, I suspect your own son would not fare well either, would he?”
“….”
For this to work, the Lady must remain within the Jegal Family Estate.
Brewing decoctions every day while sitting on thorns—that is the punishment she must endure.
It is no light sentence, but it is the cleanest resolution.
Of course, the truth being revealed would be the most righteous outcome, but that truth might not bring happiness to all.
If the truth came to light and the innocent Second Jin Young Master suffered anguish for the rest of his life, that too would be a problem.
Only if the Second Young Master safely becomes the Minor Clan Master and lives happily can Jin Bok-ju Young Master also find peace and happiness within the Jegal Family.
Thus, I reached an agreement with the Jin Family Head.
I first asked Jin Bok-ju Young Master if it was acceptable that he would not become the Minor Clan Master, and he nodded readily.
He said he would be satisfied to become the Jegal Family’s son-in-law and contribute to the family’s prosperity.
Well, happiness takes many forms, and such matters cannot be dictated by anyone.
I rose from my seat and turned back as I moved toward the door.
“And please, be sure to attend the main gathering tomorrow.”
When I face Jegal Yu-ah Minor Clan Master, it should prove quite entertaining.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————