The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 78

—————
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 Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 78

Chapter 78. The Shaanxi Scorpion (1)

I gazed out the window.
The verdant foliage deepened into rich jade.
As I observed my reflection in the mirror, Palgap spoke.
“Young Master, we all know you’re handsome. There’s no need to be so self-absorbed.”
“Self-absorbed? I was merely inspecting my appearance. You know how crucial one’s outward presentation is to merchants.”
“Yes, yes, I understand. I’ve heard it so many times now that I’ve memorized it.”
I should hold my tongue.
Two years had already passed since I returned through time.
I had become seventeen years old.
The Eunhae Trading Company’s salt retail operations in Hubei Province were proceeding smoothly.
And my work at the Hyun Pung Bureau was also flowing without difficulty.
“By the way, have you heard the news?”
“What news?”
“They say that Master Il-shim from Shaolin Temple has ascended Hwagyeong.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Master Il-shim was of a higher generation than Master Se-yeon, the current abbot of Shaolin, and had reached Hwagyeong with only the Five Shaolin Techniques.
However, believing that wielding power carelessly would not aid his cultivation, he had voluntarily entered Chamhoe Cave.
Even at my death, I had not heard that he had entered nirvana. He was already over a hundred years old by then.
In any case, now that rumors of Master Il-shim’s ascension to Hwagyeong had begun to spread, the time had come.
.
.
.
I headed toward the Hyun Pung Bureau.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes.”
The Hyun Pung Bureau where I worked was not far from Father’s office.
Originally, we had used a separate quarters, but due to the abundance of important documents, we relocated it inside the Silver Dragon Hall for security purposes.
I sat at my desk in my office and tapped the wooden table with my fingers, thinking for a moment.
Then I called for Palgap.
“Palgap!”
“Yes! You called for me, Young Master?”
“Bring Lady Hong Geum-so here.”
“Understood.”
Shortly after, Lady Hong Geum-so entered my office.
“I heard you summoned me.”
“Yes, please sit.”
Lady Hong Geum-so bowed lightly and took a seat across from me at the wooden table.
Soon Palgap brought tea and set it before us.
“Please, help yourself.”
“Thank you.”
We exchanged pleasantries over tea, and after setting down my cup, I broached the main subject.
“How is your husband’s condition?”
“Ah… he still remains bedridden. But he is improving steadily. His periods of consciousness are growing longer, and he can now express himself. I’m grateful that you arranged for his treatment at the Medical Pavilion and have helped us earn so much.”
Lady Hong’s expression darkened momentarily, but she quickly brightened again as she answered.
Her memory remained intact, as I recalled.
Then I could proceed as planned.
After offering her comfort and exchanging a few more words, I sent her on her way.
Then I sat quietly, reflecting on events from my previous life.

In my past life, Lady Hong Geum-so was so skilled at needlework that she was called Cheon Ui-mu-bong.
Because she had been of great help to me, I asked the Black Flute Physician to treat her husband as a way of repaying her kindness.
At that time, the Black Flute Physician gave the following diagnosis regarding Lady Hong’s husband:

“It’s too late. The malevolent qi has already invaded his marrow. That he’s still alive is truly a miracle. He won’t last more than a month. Had proper medicine been administered five or six years ago, he could have recovered.”

At that time, I was twenty-four years old.
That was seven years from now.
There was still ample time.
The physician who had been treating Lady Hong’s husband was frankly incompetent.
Yet her husband had survived this long because of his own will to live.
Despite his lack of skill, the physician’s greed kept him from abandoning or stopping treatment of her husband—a profitable patient.
So in this life, when I formed a connection with her, I arranged for her husband’s treatment at our company’s Medical Pavilion.
Since the justification was sound, the other physician offered no significant resistance.
After receiving proper treatment, his condition began to improve gradually.
But this could not be a fundamental cure.
When the Black Flute Physician said “he could have recovered,” he meant to a degree that wouldn’t threaten his life.
Lady Hong’s husband is a warrior.
Even if I saved his life, he would continue to suffer self-loathing.
For he had become a body incapable of martial arts.
If one had lived as a chicken from the start, they would be content with a chicken’s life.
But could a bird that once soared through the sky be happy living as a chicken again?
That is why I intend to give Lady Hong’s husband an entirely new life.
There is a miraculous elixir obtainable around the time Il-shim arrives at Hwagyeong.
The name of that elixir is the Fruit of Restoration.
It resembled a cherry in appearance, but possessed the efficacy to restore a human body ravaged by time and ailment.
Consuming a single Temporal Restoration Pill alongside the Restoration Elixir could reverse ten years of deterioration.
My intention was to obtain that Temporal Restoration Pill and administer it to Lady Hong’s Husband.
Ten years prior would have been when the lady’s husband still enjoyed robust health, so that should suffice.
The Temporal Restoration Pill, capable of reverting a ravaged body to its state from a decade past, was an elixir of extraordinary potency.
It was equally difficult to procure.
As for why I would undertake such arduous efforts to aid Lady Hong’s Husband, the reason was simple.
I owed him my life.

At that time, with the Black Flute Physician’s assistance, Lady Hong’s Husband had recovered some measure of vitality, though death remained inevitable.
After regaining the ability to speak over the course of roughly a fortnight, he shared with his wife words he had long left unspoken.
Apologies.
Gratitude.
And apologies once more.
He urged her to remarry and find happiness should he pass.
Having spoken thus, he indicated he had words for me as well.
He expressed his gratitude to me.
He thanked me sincerely for recognizing his wife’s talents and for caring for her with such attentiveness.
Then, his expression growing grave, he spoke to me.

“My wife tells me everything that has transpired. Through her words, I have come to know this: there is an assassin I once knew who now stands at your side.”

At those words, I immediately summoned the Guard Warrior and had the employee working at the Pomok Shop apprehended.
Between that employee’s teeth was found a poison pellet, and in his possession, a dagger smeared with venom.
He was an assassin sent from a rival Pomok Shop operated by the Black Path.
Had Lady Hong’s Husband not informed me of this, I would have suffered grievous wounds or death.
It was true that because I had employed Lady Hong Geum-so and had her examined by the Black Flute Physician, her husband was able to warn me of this threat.
Yet I could not deny that I owed him a debt of gratitude.
I do not forget my enemies, but neither do I forget those to whom I owe debts.
A life saved must be repaid with a life.
In my previous life, he died before I could repay him, but in this life, he still lives.
Therefore, it was only right that I repay this debt.
But if I went to Father and explained, “Actually, I died and came back to life, and there’s this debt from that time…” would Father say, “Very well, go and return safely”?
He would immediately summon a Physician with a worried expression.
Summoning a Physician was one thing, but I could not bear to see my parents’ worried faces.
So I needed a plausible pretext to go to Shaanxi Province.
To obtain the Bok Ryong Flower, I had to travel to Shaanxi Province.
I pondered for a moment on what would serve well.
Soon, a suitable pretext came to mind.
.
.
.
That afternoon.
I reported the day’s events to Father.
“I see, so that’s how it was.”
“And Father, I understand there is a merchant expedition heading to Shaanxi Province.”
“That’s right. We must go to fetch the Bok Cha from Shaanxi Province.”
“I wish to accompany them and make the journey to Shaanxi Province as well.”
I continued.
“I intend to verify how well the Wuyi Merchant Guild in Shaanxi Province is managing the sales of the Jak Poong Devices.”
“Must you go in person?”
“I received a divine decree from His Majesty the Emperor to personally oversee and manage the sales of the Jak Poong Devices. How could I neglect such a command?”
“That is true.”
“And by moving directly like this, should any matter arise, I can avoid responsibility issues.”
At my words, Father gazed at me intently.
“Why do you look at me so?”
“That sounds like your true intention.”
“Hahaha.”
I laughed.
“But won’t that merchant expedition take considerable time?”
“It should be safer than traveling separately.”
“That is so.”
After a moment of thought, Father readily gave his consent.
“Make sure everything is in order so there are no disruptions in my absence.”
“Understood.”
I had received permission.
Father seemed to think that moving with Sang-haeng’s group would be better in many ways than me acting alone.
Returning to my office, I spoke to Palgap, who was organizing documents.
“Palgap, pack our things.”
“Sir?”
“We’re heading to Shaanxi Province.”
“Sir?”
The overland route from Hubei Province to Shaanxi Province was honestly not favorable.
Wudang Mountain and Zhongnan Mountain stood squarely in the way.
If we were to take a detour instead, we would have to make a long circuit around Bok Ryong Mountain, Songshan Mountain, and Huashan Mountain.
Or we could use the narrow and dangerous plank roads.
But the waterway was different.
We could travel directly from Hubei Province to Shaanxi Province via the Han River.

Bok Tea is called by that name because it is made during the three periods of summer heat.
A famous tea produced in Shaanxi Province, it is a dark tea with a distinctive fragrance, a gentle aroma, and a beautiful reddish-brown luster.
Drinking it settles the stomach, and I quite enjoy it myself.
At that moment, Yeochang’s Officer—or rather, Yeochang’s Deputy—spoke to me.
“Small Merchant Guild Leader, does that mean I’m going with you as well?”
Yeochang’s Officer, who had been assigned as my assistant when I handled practical affairs at Jaegyeong Pavilion, was brought along as my deputy when I took charge of Hyun Pung Bureau.
Thus, he has now been greatly promoted and holds the rank of deputy.
Yeochang’s Officer is the first person I saved by returning to the past. In my previous timeline, he had died in a fire caused by the Hwa Yeon Pavilion master’s scheme.
His abilities were truly valuable, and now that he lives, I keep him by my side and use him effectively.
“Of course you must go. Deputy Yeo will have quite a lot to handle there.”
“Ah… understood.”

Preparations for the journey to Shaanxi Province were proceeding smoothly step by step.
My purpose in going to Shaanxi Province was not to conduct trade in Bok Tea.
That meant I had nothing to do with Sang-haeng’s commercial operations.
I focused on handling Hyun Pung Bureau’s affairs so that things would run smoothly for a while even in my absence.

* * *

Eom Sam-taek was one of the chief managers of the Eunhae Trading Company.
He had worked for over a decade in the division responsible for tea procurement within the Eunhae Trading Company.
Because of this, he took immense pride in his work.
He was also the director of this commercial expedition to Shaanxi Province to trade in fermented tea.
And as he bustled about preparing for this expedition, unexpected news reached his ears.
“What? The Hyun Pung Bureau Chief is accompanying us this time?”
“Yes, sir.”
Two years ago, Eun Seo-ho had become a Small Merchant Guild Leader, and simultaneously, he had become the Bureau Chief of a place called Hyun Pung Bureau.
It was quite different from the usual practice of entrusting him with one of the subsidiary shops to gain proper experience.
According to what he’d heard, Jeok Byeong-chul Officer of the Sefung Division had given his active support.
‘How on earth did that old man manage to pull this off…’
Those who held the rank of chief manager in the trading company understood.
Unlike his seemingly approachable appearance, Jeok Byeong-chul Officer was as impenetrable as an iron fortress.
To be honest, Eun Seo-ho had accomplished much during this time.
However, that had little to do with Eom Sam-taek.
There had been neither direct harm nor benefit to him from it.
‘Now that I think about it, the Eun Chief Manager was pleased that thanks to the Hyun Pung Bureau Chief, we could distribute Tieguanyin without the scheming of middlemen…’
But since his monthly wages weren’t increasing because of it, that matter was quickly pushed out of his mind.
In any case, he was not particularly pleased about accompanying Eun Seo-ho on this journey.
Eun Seo-ho was the son of the Merchant Guild Leader.
Just thinking about how much he might meddle in the commercial expedition gave him a headache.
He had heard from other trading company chief managers about the troublesome incidents that occurred when the Merchant Guild Leader’s son accompanied an expedition.
They said he would greedily interfere with this and that, complicating the work.
So it was inevitable that his head ached.
The day after that news was delivered, Eun Seo-ho came to find him.
In recent years, Eun Seo-ho had grown considerably.
He had become taller, and his physique had become more masculine.
And whenever he saw his face, he found himself thinking—though it wasn’t a word suited to a man—that he was beautiful.
‘Well, his true nature hasn’t gone anywhere, after all.’
He spoke to Eun Seo-ho with courtesy.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
Eun Seo-ho sat down before the wooden table.
“Since we’re both busy, I’ll speak directly to the point.”
“I prefer it that way as well.”
“I have business to attend to on the way to Shaanxi Province, and I’ve become indebted to Chief Manager Eom’s commercial expedition.”
“I’ve heard the details.”
“I ask for your care on the journey.”
“Rather, I should be asking for your care. Ha ha ha.”
“And I should mention beforehand—I have no intention of interfering in any aspect of this commercial expedition.”

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