The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 87

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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 87

Chapter 87. Bok Si-ryeong (3)

Scholar Mun looked startled at my words and asked in return.
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“To be precise, I’m saying I’ll use that as collateral and lend you business capital.”
“I’m not entirely sure what you’re suggesting.”
“There’s no need to overthink this.”
I continued.
“What is your true goal, Scholar Mun? Is it to become the leader of Deuk Haeng Trading Company, or is it to live happily with your mother?”
He paused at my question before answering.
“To live happily with my mother.”
Yet in his previous life, he had failed to achieve that.
His mother had died when the disciples of the Blood Sect’s masters seized Bok Si-ryeong during that fateful event.
For his wishes to come true, he must not leave with the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower.
Though it was the Blood Sect before, this time the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect would reduce Deuk Haeng Trading Company to ruins.
No.
The Murim Alliance would also covet it, given its power to suppress the demonic energy of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
“If you take the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower, you may become the leader of Deuk Haeng Trading Company. But you will never be able to live happily with your mother.”
“Why is that?”
“From the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect’s perspective, it’s something that must be eliminated. From the White Path Martial World’s perspective, it’s something that must be obtained at any cost. Can Deuk Haeng Trading Company truly survive in a conflict between such massive powers fighting over this object?”
“Ah….”
“Tremendous blood will be spilled. Your mother’s blood, or perhaps your own, could be mixed among it.”
“….”
“But if you entrust this Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower to me, you can live happily with your mother. Someone with the fortune to find this treasure will surely be blessed with equal fortune in business.”
“How can you guarantee such a thing?”
“Because I witnessed you finding it with my own eyes.”
And in his previous life, Moon Ju-sung Scholar before me had rebuilt his devastated trading company.
With each venture he undertook, unexpected fortune blessed his endeavors, until he became one of the Eight Great Trading Companies of the World.
Knowing such a future, I spoke thus.
“But what of you and your trading company, Scholar? Will you be safe?”
“As long as you don’t reveal to anyone that I have this, there will be no problem.”
“If I take this from you, how much will you give me?”
“I’ll give you one thousand silver taels.”
“…!”
“In truth, I could simply give it to you. But by using the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower as collateral, Scholar Mun won’t feel burdened by debt.”
At my words, the light in his eyes shifted as he considered the matter.
And with that, he seemed to have made his decision.
He held out the Five-Colored Ice Jade Flower to me and spoke.
“I understand. I will do as you say, my benefactor.”
He continued.
“To be honest, if you coveted this, you could have killed me and taken it without issue. But you did not. And I sensed concern for me in your words.”
“Haha.”
“The truth is, the only person who has ever worried about me is my mother, so I’m rather sensitive to such things.”
I took the Five-Colored Ice Jade Flower in my hand.
I was relieved that my persuasion had worked.
I persuaded Scholar Mun partly out of concern for him, but also to prevent the merchant markets of the Central Plains from freezing over due to what happened back then.
Our trading company had struggled considerably at that time.
.
.
.
We descended from Zhongnan Mountain.
And the time came to part ways with Scholar Mun. I spoke to him.
“Do you remember everything I told you?”
“Yes.”
Scholar Mun nodded.
“I will return home and leave with my mother. It is better to leave on my own terms than to be driven out, as you said.”
“And after that?”
“I will find suitable work and save money while earning, then build a house in an appropriate place. But during construction, what do you know! Money is discovered hidden away! I use that as capital to start a business.”
“Excellent.”
I nodded.
“Do you remember the one additional request I made?”
“Of course.”
Scholar Mun said.
“You instructed me never to reveal any connection to you, nor anything about the Five-Colored Ice Jade Flower, unless you speak of it first.”
“You must absolutely keep this promise.”
“I understand. I will guard it with my life.”
Thus Scholar Mun returned to his family.
Though his hands were empty, his shoulders appeared remarkably unburdened.
“Then let us return to the inn.”
“Understood.”
.
.
.
Upon arriving at the inn, Palgap came rushing out.
“Young Master!”
“You’re not overjoyed to see me, are you?”
“Of course it is. Do you have any idea how worried I was when you arrived later than expected?”
“I apologize.”
At that moment, Bae Cheol Warrior and Go Ju-sang Warrior emerged. I deliberately smiled brightly and spoke.
“A business contact insisted I stay the night, so here we are.”
The official reason for my absence was that I had met with a nearby business partner at Father’s request and delivered a letter on his behalf.
Apart from my Guard Warrior and Palgap, everyone believed this account.
“But where is the female Deputy Officer?”
“She’s sleeping at the moment.”
“Hmm?”
“She said there wouldn’t be another chance to rest properly if not now, so she took the opportunity.”
“Wise of her.”
That kind of self-reliance, taking care of one’s own needs—I appreciated it greatly.
“Still, while you’re away from the estate…”
“It means she trusts me.”
At my words, Palgap flinched slightly.
“What is it?”
“I trusted you as well.”
“Yes, yes, I understand.”
And so the day faded into evening.
.
.
.
Night had fallen.
A quiet night with everyone asleep.
I descended to the first floor of the inn.
The Shop Owner was gazing out the window, drinking alone. There was something deeply sorrowful about her appearance.
This was because I already knew the circumstances of Pa-du Pa-pa, the inn’s proprietor.
“Are you drinking alone?”
At my words, she turned to look at me, her expression startled.
“Oh my! I apologize.”
She was feigning surprise, though she had already noticed me.
“Shall I pour you a drink?”
“No, thank you.”
I waved my hand gently.
“My Master once told me there is no good that comes from drinking alcohol.”
“That’s true.”
She nodded in agreement.
“There is no good in it. However…”
“There are nights when it’s difficult to endure without it.”
At my words, she stared at me intently.
“I heard your husband has been quite ill.”
At my words, she sprang to her feet and in an instant pressed a sharp dagger against my throat.
“Who are you? Who sent you?”
I gently pushed the dagger away from my neck with my finger.
“I simply happened to learn of it. I’m afraid I cannot disclose my sources—it’s a matter of professional discretion.”
In one of the guest rooms of this inn, Padu Papa’s Husband lay confined.
He was bedridden, consumed by the Demon’s Descent, and she operated this inn to care for him and protect him.
Moreover, she used an age-concealing technique to appear as a young woman, hiding both her husband’s identity and her own.
In a way, her situation resembled that of Lady Hong Geum-so.
Five years later, her husband would breathe his last.
To avenge him, Padu Papa would set the inn ablaze and emerge into the world.
Her husband had fallen into the Demon’s Descent because of machinations by the Yeom Clan, one of the families belonging to the Murim Alliance.
Padu Papa’s signature weapon was an axe.
She earned the name Padu Papa—the grandmother who cleaves her enemies’ skulls with her axe.
And it was then that people learned the truth.
That Padu Papa was a master of the highest caliber.
She completed her vengeance.
And then quietly vanished from the world.
When I saw Bok Si-ryeong and two pills in that windswept place atop Zhongnan Mountain, I thought of Padu Papa’s Husband.
If I could save that husband, could I not bring her to my side?
But soon I exhaled a long sigh.
No matter the vengeance against the Murim Alliance and Baekcheon Trading Company, what was I doing holding a sick person hostage?
I must not let myself become so base.
I decided instead to simply save someone I could save.
Was it wasteful?
Perhaps there would come a time when I needed the Bok Si-ryeong family—was it wise to use it here?
It was fine.
Time was not so pressing, and there would be other miraculous pills to obtain in the future.
I sat before Padu Papa.
Then I withdrew a small box from my robes and placed it on the table.
A small box I had prepared beforehand, containing one Bok Si-ryeong pill.
“Please, open it.”
“…?”
She carefully opened the box.
“…!”
Her eyes widened.
She recognized it as a Bok Si-ryeong pill.
“What is the price?”
Indeed, she bore the demeanor of a master who had lived long in the martial arts world. The way she did not hastily accept another’s kindness spoke volumes.
“If I said I was simply moved to pity, you would not believe me, would you?”
“Am I pitiful to you?”
“Yes.”
She studied me for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
“If there’s something you want, tell me. I’ll grant it, except for a few things.”
Those few exceptions were likely anything that would harm her husband, or perhaps drawing weapons against the martial world’s benefactor.
“First, please use this three days after we depart.”
“Why is that?”
“It relates to the second condition. Do not connect this to me. I dislike others knowing about it.”
“Understood.”
“And third, I wish for you to take in someone. And protect them for five years, if you will. Of course, this too must remain secret from others.”
Since things had come to this, I intended to have Moon Ju-sung Scholar remain here.
.
.
.
The next day, we departed from the inn.
Now it was time to return home.

* * *

Several days later.
On a rural road in Shaanxi Province.
A young man pulled a cart upon which sat a middle-aged woman.
“Is it difficult, my son?”
“No. It is not difficult. I…”
“What is it?”
“I’m sorry, Mother.”
“Sorry for what?”
“I’m sorry for everything.”
They were Moon Ju-sung Scholar and his mother.
After parting with Eun Seo-ho, Moon Ju-sung Scholar returned to the Deuk Haeng Merchant Group.
Naturally, having returned empty-handed, he faced considerable ridicule. And his father spoke to him in a cold voice.

“As expected, you have no fortune. You are useless to the merchant group.”
“I apologize.”

It was the contempt and disdain I had anticipated.
But I did not speak a single word about finding the Five-Colored Ice Crystal Flower.
It was a promise with Eun Seo-ho, and I had sworn an oath regarding it.
If one is human, an oath must be kept.
And I too am a merchant.
For a merchant, trust is as vital as life itself.

“Father, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I gave it much thought while at Zhongnan Mountain. If my unlucky existence brings harm to the Merchant Guild, I believe leaving as soon as possible would be the greatest service I could render to the company.”
“You wish to leave?”
“Yes. After all, I would have to depart eventually, would I not? I came to realize that leaving now, rather than later, is the proper way to repay the Merchant Guild for having fed and clothed me all these years.”
“Very well. Do as you wish. And since you have renounced the position of successor of your own accord, I shall add more to the wealth I originally intended to give you, so you may take it with you.”
“Thank you.”
“However, do not expect my aid hereafter. From the day you leave this Merchant Guild, you are no son of mine. Furthermore, your mother is no wife of mine.”
“…Yes.”

I withdrew from my father’s presence.
I had already consulted with my mother, and she had agreed to follow my wishes.
My mother too welcomed my decision, saying it was better to leave early rather than endure such contempt and disdain any longer.
Thus we prepared our belongings.
On the day we were to depart, Mun Ju-sung’s Father sent a cart.
It meant we were permitted to take as much wealth as could be loaded upon it.
Originally, we could only take what fit on a single carrying frame.
Mun Ju-sung loaded the wealth onto the cart.
‘It was just as my benefactor said.’
Eun Seo-ho had told me that if I were to leave of my own volition, saying I would no longer burden the Merchant Guild, they would provide me with even more.

“One must gather what one can.”

The image of Eun Seo-ho saying those words came to mind, and I couldn’t help but let out a quiet chuckle.
After packing my belongings, I turned toward where my Father was and offered a final farewell.
I wasn’t even permitted to visit him.
Then I loaded my Mother onto the cart and departed from Deuk Haeng Trading Company.
I could hear whispers and mockery from those around us, but I paid them no mind.
In fact, my heart felt considerably lighter.
And so I walked, and walked, and walked again.
On the third day, when we entered the deep forest, it happened.
“Hey, you there.”
“…!”
“Leave the cart and get out of here, or die by my blade. What’ll it be?”
Green Forest Bandits.
I gripped the sword at my waist and felt regret wash over me.
‘My benefactor asked me to request an escort from the Pyo Bureau….’
How could I have forgotten that?
But what’s done is done.
I made a quick decision.
No matter how valuable the goods, my life and my Mother’s life were worth more.
So this cargo….
“Hey, kid? Who exactly are you pointing that blade at?”
Then a voice called out.
I turned to see a woman standing with an axe slung across her shoulder.
Though she carried that massive axe and appeared to be in her twenties, her tone of voice was that of an elderly grandmother.

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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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