The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 84

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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 Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 84

Chapter 84. The Shaanxi Scorpion (7)

Even at my words, they would not yield their position.
“We can live off the money we’ve saved.”
“You must have saved that money for a reason. In any case, I find it difficult to accept.”
Offering black tea for free was certainly an enticing proposal.
But if I did that, these men before me would surely struggle through the year with insufficient funds.
They said it would be fine since they had saved money, but there was no guarantee that some unexpected major expense wouldn’t arise.
“But if we don’t do this, we’ll have no face to show.”
The Old Man’s Two Sons were equally stubborn.
“Then let us do it this way.”
I presented them with a new proposal.
“We’ll purchase the quantity we need at the price you sell to middleman merchants.”
I continued quickly.
“Even that alone would be a tremendous help to us.”
At my words, Eom Manager nodded as well.
I spoke to the Old Man’s Two Sons.
“I ask this of you.”
When I bowed my head instead, they reluctantly nodded.
“Understood. We shall do as you say.”
“At what price did you sell to the middleman merchants?”
I could hardly believe my ears at the price the Old Man’s son quoted.
“Pardon?”
At that price, we could have purchased twice the quantity we had anticipated.
These thieving bastards.
Just how much have they been making?
In that moment, I realized this was an opportunity.
It was precisely the situation where three merchant guilds in this region were coming under the Eunhae Trading Company.
And no matter what contracts existed elsewhere, whoever claimed it first would own it.
“How many catties of tea can you produce?”
“We can produce up to five thousand catties at maximum.”
The production volume was greater than I had anticipated.
“Then, would you engage in direct trade with us? We’ll offer you more than the amount you just mentioned.”
They answered without hesitation.
“It is a matter we must discuss with Father, but he will surely accept gladly.”
“If we could do business with such a distinguished establishment as your company, we would be most pleased.”
And so they departed.
But why have I felt someone’s gaze upon me since earlier?
As I turned my head, I spotted a group of women standing beside the Inn.
Among them were not only Courtesans, but also women from respectable households.
“Oh my! He’s so impressive.”
“Ah….”
“He’s truly handsome.”
Why are even the grandmothers looking at me like that?
I should refrain from going out for a while.
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.
The next day.
The Old Man’s Two Sons agreed to contract with the Eunhae Trading Company.
The Middleman Merchants who had been dealing with them decided to say nothing more.

“Your Excellency has been a great benefactor to our guild. How could we object when the Eunhae Trading Company, who saved such a person, has secured this contract? Moreover, since they’ve also captured the swindler who corrupted the merchant circles of Shaanxi Province, we shall withdraw with grateful hearts.”

As they say, blessings follow hardship?
Good fortune continues to unfold.
And several more days passed.
Nok Il, whom we surrendered to the Inspector—or rather, the Shaanxi Scorpion—was sentenced to death and beheaded.
During the investigation, it was revealed that he had murdered innocent people.
Compared to his previous death, where his skin was flayed from his living body, this was a relatively merciful end.
And unlike the past life I experienced, the countless people who died because of him are now alive and well.
Of course, this incident may change much of the future I foresaw.
But I do not regret it.
If I can prevent the tears and blood of countless merchants and the suffering of exploited Courtesans, then I must.
Father sent a reply through the express messenger.

[I’m relieved you caught the swindler and recovered compensation. I wish to meet the Merchant Guild Leaders of the three guilds.]

I spoke to Eom Manager.
“Has the tea been prepared?”
“Yes, it has been prepared.”
“Then go to the Main Headquarters with the three Merchant Guild Leaders from the three guilds tomorrow or the day after. Father wishes to see all three of them.”
“Understood, but what about you, Young Master?”
I answered his question.
“I have matters to attend to here.”
Originally, while Eom Manager and his party were conducting the tea trade, I had planned to make a brief visit to the Wuyi Merchant Guild to accomplish my original purpose.
And how convenient it would have been to return together!
But the Shaanxi Scorpion deceived our guild, and things went awry.
“So, Captain Yun.”
“Yes.”
“Could you leave behind two of the warriors?”
“Of course we should.”
“Thank you.”
I rose from my seat and spoke.
“Then I would like to select which warriors will remain here. Is that acceptable?”
“Yes, please do so.”
I left the guest room with Captain Yun Ji-shim.
Captain Yun assembled the warriors, and I examined them.
Hmm…
Conveniently, those two are standing at the very back. How fortunate.
I pointed at those two and spoke.
“The two warriors at the back will do.”
“Understood.”
Thus, Bae Cheol and Go Ju-sang, who had betrayed me in my past life, remained here to follow me.
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The guild led by Eom Manager was set to depart tomorrow.
I came out to the courtyard behind the inn and gazed quietly at the moon.
It was only possible to venture outside the inn like this at night because of the women flocking to the inn.
Since we were near the inn, there was no guard escort—only Palgap stood beside me.
“I would prefer if you covered your face when traveling to other places.”
“Why?”
“While the tale of fruit filling a carriage is pleasant enough, I worry we might become the tale of women gathering to gaze upon you until death itself.”
The tale of fruit filling a carriage refers to the anecdote where the exceptionally handsome Ban An appeared, and women threw fruit at him in such abundance that his carriage overflowed.
And the tale of women gathering to gaze refers to the anecdote where a man named Wei Jie, beautiful as jade, appeared, and women swarmed around him like clouds, so startled was he that he ultimately met his death.
“I am not so weak-hearted. But can you write characters?”
“I studied writing a bit under my father.”
After all, Palgap’s father is the Chief Manager of the Eunhae Trading Company. He wouldn’t have assigned just anyone to serve as my attendant.
Before my rebirth, I’d heard compliments about my appearance, but nothing to this extent.
Was it because the Hyun Ryong Constitution established itself early?
Or did I undergo a complete transformation by absorbing the inner energy of the Blue Ice Snow Plum Chamber with Hyun Ryong’s help?
Especially recently, as my martial prowess has grown, I’ve been hearing such compliments with increasing frequency.
Regardless, it’s an unfamiliar experience.
In any case, just how wondrous is the Taiyin Ice-Sea Divine Art as a cultivation method?
It prevents practitioners from falling victim to sorcery, and can even shatter curses already placed upon others.
In my previous life, I never knew this ability could extend to others.
That was likely because my cultivation level wasn’t high enough then.
At that moment, someone approached me.
It was my Master.
“You haven’t retired for the night yet?”
At my question, my Master chuckled softly and handed me a gourd bottle.
Now that I looked, there were two gourd bottles.
“Please, have some.”
“Ah, yes.”
My Master opened the stopper of his gourd bottle and took a sip.
Could it be alcohol?
Pop.
I opened the stopper of the gourd bottle my Master had given me and took a sip.
Hmm? This is…
“Is this honey water?”
“Yes.”
“I thought it was alcohol.”
“Drinking alcohol too early harms the body. You should wait until you’re past thirty to drink.”
“I understand.”
“And you’re still in the midst of your journey. Alcohol is one of the things forbidden during travel.”
As expected, he was thorough in matters entrusted to him.
I sipped the sweet honey water slowly.
“We depart tomorrow.”
“I know.”
“Take care of yourself. If anything happens, prioritize survival and act accordingly.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
“If you die… everything becomes meaningless.”
My Master’s eyes seemed somehow sorrowful as he spoke those words.
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The next morning.
From dawn, the inn bustled with activity.
It was the day Eom Sam-taek and his entourage were departing.
By the early hours of the morning—around seven or eight o’clock—all preparations for departure were complete.
The Merchant Guild Leaders from the Yu Merchant Guild, Baek Merchant Guild, and Im-yul Merchant Guild accompanied them.
“Then we shall take our leave.”
“Travel safely.”
“Yes.”
Eom Manager, who had been watching me for a moment, clasped his fists in gratitude.
“Thank you. Because of you, we were able to complete this trade mission successfully when it seemed destined to fail.”
“Please, spare the formalities.”
I smiled and continued.
“I shall accept your thanks after you return safely to the Main Headquarters in Hubei Province.”
“Understood.”
Since we would see each other again once we returned to the Main Headquarters, our farewells were brief.
Besides, with Master present, the journey would be safe.
“We depart!”
“Yes!”
At Master’s signal, the merchant caravan began to move.
Watching them fade into the distance, I spoke to Palgap.
“Then let us depart as well.”
“Understood.”
When I emerged from the inn with our belongings, the courtesans approached me—the very ones who had aided me in capturing the Shaanxi Scorpion.
“You are leaving.”
“Yes.”
I bowed respectfully to them. Though they were courtesans of the Realm, they had been of great help to me.
Thanks to my plea and subtle coercion of Ji Hyeon Dae-in, they had fortunately escaped any punishment.
They were victims, controlled by sorcery as they were.
“Thank you for everything.”
“No, we should thank you.”
A courtesan named Ju-wol asked me.
“Will you return?”
“I cannot promise.”
I might stop by on the return journey, but I did not wish to give them false hope.
That would be cruel.
Yet I could offer them a smile.
I smiled at them and mounted my horse.
“Then, farewell.”
We headed toward the Wuyi Merchant Guild, a salt retail merchant company of Shaanxi Province.
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It didn’t take long to reach the Wuyi Merchant Guild.
We arrived after riding for about a day or two on horseback.
But we didn’t go directly to the Wuyi Merchant Guild.
We needed to verify whether the wind-chasing mechanism was being sold at the price the Eunhae Trading Company had set, and whether it was being sold properly.
To do that, the most accurate and fastest way was to go directly to the place selling it and check.
I came up with an excuse, but this is still my responsibility.
Since I’m doing it anyway, I should handle it thoroughly.
Palgap had asked around and found out where the wind-chasing mechanism could be purchased.
“If you walk straight from here, you’ll see it.”
“Is that so?”
As we headed there, I soon understood why Palgap had said that.
A long line of people had formed, all waiting to buy the wind-chasing mechanism.
I tried to join the line myself, but Palgap stopped me.
“Young Master, you stand out too much. Word will spread quickly.”
“I see.”
Lee Pil spoke with a smile.
“I’ll go and check.”
“Ah, would you do that?”
I gave Lee Pil the money, and he took his place at the end of the line.
We decided to sit in a nearby pavilion and wait.
Sitting in the pavilion and gazing at the street, I noticed people constantly fanning themselves against the heat.
Ah…
Now that I think about it, I had a fan.
I remembered the items I had bought from the General Store Elder before.
A fan, a mirror, and Bi Eun-si.
I had given Bi Eun-si as a gift at Eun Jung-ho’s inauguration as Small Merchant Guild Leader.
Now that I think about it, there was also a single-step lotus diagram that came as a bonus.
The reason I only remembered now was that I hadn’t had any particular use for them until now.
Among other things, there was one item that would be useful to me at present.
It was the fan.
It was a white folding fan with orchids painted on it, and when held in front of the face, it had the property of obscuring the wearer’s features from proper recognition—a magical artifact.
In my past life, a Black Path martial artist had even used this very fan to hide their identity and escape leisurely after causing a blood calamity.
But now that it’s in my hands, such a future won’t come to pass.

After waiting for half a shichen, Lee Pil returned with the fan mechanism.
Lee Pil arrived at the study carrying the fan mechanism he had just purchased.
“I have returned.”
“You’ve worked hard. Please, sit.”
“No, thank you.”
Lee Pil shook his head and placed the newly purchased fan mechanism on the table.
“It was being sold at the same price as what the Eunhae Trading Company offers.”
“I see.”
I began to examine the fan mechanism carefully.
The person who knows the most about fan mechanisms right now is Gong Mil.
That was only natural—it was a device he had conceived.
I could confidently say I was the second most knowledgeable about it.
I had offered advice on what I found lacking in my previous life, and to reflect those improvements, I had spent countless nights researching with Gong Mil.
So the fan mechanism currently flooding the market was somewhat different from the one I had known in my previous life.
In my previous life, the fan mechanism had been rushed to market, plagued by safety issues and instability among other problems.
But the fan mechanism before my eyes now had addressed those flaws.
I examined the fan mechanism slowly and intently.
They had manufactured it according to the blueprints the Eunhae Trading Company had provided.
But the most crucial element here was the core component.
That was manufactured and supplied by the Eunhae Trading Company.
While we had allowed other merchant guilds to handle the sale of fan mechanisms, we had not revealed the core technology.
After all, spies existed everywhere.

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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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