The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 98

—————
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 98

Chapter 98. Eun Jin-ho Disappears (6)

I recalled my past life.
How the Imperial Palace had sent an investigation team to resolve the Muchul Musan, and during their inquiry, the Fogless Mountain had vanished.
How the Murim Alliance Master had received the Silver Blade from the Emperor.
These events shared a common thread—the Imperial Palace.
So a master from the Imperial Palace had obtained this blade, and when they sheathed it in its scabbard, the Muchul Musan disappeared.
And later, this blade was bestowed upon the League Master.
The claim that one lacking qualification would go mad wielding this sword seemed to be a lie.
After all, I held it without any ill effects.
That would explain how a master from the Imperial Palace could wield it.
So it appeared that in the hands of the unqualified, only its power would be limited.
I had never heard of the Murim Alliance Master displaying any extraordinary prowess with this blade.
At that moment, the creature poked its head out from my left sleeve.
“Squeak.”
Seeing the Silver Blade in my hand, it let out a pleased chirp.
“Did you bring me to this cave so I would take this blade?”
The creature nodded at my question.
“Well, regardless, I’m grateful.”
I wondered if this was repayment for the silver coins I had fed it.
In any case, I had confirmed that holding this blade caused me no adverse effects, and now it was in my possession.
I would have to use it well.
Better that I wield it than let it fall into the League Master’s hands, where innocent blood would be spilled.
I retrieved my broken sword.
In doing so, I understood why my blade had shattered.
My sword had been too weak to withstand the full force of my sword qi at its peak.
The fact that the fractured blade was frozen solid was proof of this.
As for the Madman Warrior’s corpse…
Now that I thought about it, he had said something before his death.
That the letter in his bosom was atonement for his sins.
I approached the Madman Warrior’s body and searched his clothing.
I wondered if he might somehow revive, but nothing of the sort occurred.
From his bosom, I retrieved an identification plaque and a letter.
Thanks to the plaque being in his right breast pocket, the Silver Blade had not pierced through them.
Should I call that fortunate?
The identification plaque bore the name Yu Deok-jin of the Seolpung Palace.
The letter had already been opened.
Since it belonged to a dead man anyway, I unhesitatingly withdrew the letter and read it.

[Bring me that sword, as I told you before.
Then I will acknowledge you as my son.]

There was no sender’s name written.
However, from the contents of the letter, I could infer that the sender was this man’s biological father.
But Seolpung Palace?
Wasn’t that place annihilated over a decade ago?
In the north, there still exists a faction boasting formidable power.
It is none other than the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
The family known to protect that place was Seolpung Palace, which was annihilated over a decade ago.
No one knows by whom it was destroyed or what transpired.
Rumors abound—that the Northern Sea Ice Palace annihilated Seolpung Palace to conceal their own shame, or that some faction targeting the Northern Sea Ice Palace destroyed the palace that guarded it.
In truth, it was a place of unclear substance, a mysterious martial family said to command the northern winds and snow with a single blade.
So now, this man called Yu Deok-jin must have encountered this situation while carrying that sword.
Honestly, I don’t know exactly what happened.
But I sensed this letter was important, so I placed both the identity tablet and the letter in my pocket.
As I tried to leave the cave, the corpse of the Madman Warrior—no, Yu Deok-jin Warrior—caught my eye.
Thus, I gathered some dry wood and cremated his body.
I bowed my head slightly before him.
Though it was self-defense, he died by my blade.
I felt I owed him at least this courtesy.
After a brief moment of silence, I emerged from the cave.
The thick mist had completely dissipated.
When I sheathed the Silver Void Sword earlier, it must have absorbed the mist.
“Hey.”
As I called to it, the creature poked its head out from my sleeve.
“Where should we go now? You know the way, don’t you?”
At my question, the creature emerged from my sleeve.
But how did this creature survive inside my sleeve during the fight with Yu Deok-jin?
Well, there must have been a way.
“I need to meet my companions.”
Its tail pointed left, and I followed the creature down the path.

* * *

Palgap and his group began searching for Eun Seo-ho, and by the next day, they were already on the move.
They needed to descend below the cliff, but no matter how long they tied the ropes together, it seemed impossible to rappel all the way down to the bottom.
The only remaining option was to circle around the mountain and descend from another route.
They rested during the night since they couldn’t move a single step in darkness, but none of them could fall asleep easily.
Most of those who had decided to stay behind and search for Eun Seo-ho believed he was already dead.
That’s why they were thinking they at least needed to recover his body.
But for some reason, Palgap didn’t think Eun Seo-ho was dead.
There was no evidence for it.
There was no reason for it.
It was simply a feeling he had.
As soon as dawn broke, they set out on the road again.
As they walked and walked, it happened.
At some point, they realized the mountain had changed somehow.
The mist that had been thickly blanketing the lower slopes of the mountain vanished in an instant, without a trace.
“The mist has… disappeared.”
They couldn’t understand what kind of phenomenon this was.
But thanks to the mist clearing, they could now see that the cliff where Eun Seo-ho had fallen was extraordinarily deep.
That meant there was no longer any possibility of Eun Seo-ho’s survival.
“Let’s go.”
At the words of So Gun-deok, who had decided to stay here and lead the group, they moved forward once more.
After walking for half a day, it happened.
So Gun-deok raised his hand—a signal to stop.
Soon after, about a dozen figures emerged from the grassland.
Their mismatched weapons made it obvious they were Green Forest Bandits.
Though they seemed oddly amateurish.

* * *

After following the creature’s guidance for about an hour’s journey, I heard the distant clash of cold steel.
Upon hearing this, the creature quickly burrowed into the left sleeve of my robe and disappeared from sight.
As I approached the source of the sound, I was taken aback.
What in the world were they doing here?
It was Yeo Eung-am Warrior, Lee Pil Warrior, So Gun-deok, four Eun Pung-dae Warriors, and Seo-woo Warrior.
Among them, So Gun-deok and Seo-woo Warrior stood out most prominently.
I began to understand why Seo-woo Warrior’s reputation was so renowned.
He truly fought with exceptional skill.
With movements as light and graceful as a butterfly in flight, he dispatched the Green Forest Bandits with ease.
So that was why he earned the title of White Butterfly Swordsman?
Yet the battle showed no signs of concluding.
The forces were merely evenly matched.
But why were they fighting here of all places?
So Gun-deok’s group must have remained behind because of me.
However, the dozen or so men they faced were dressed like Green Forest Bandits, yet they were not truly of the Green Forest.
There was something distinctly amateurish about them.
I hesitated to employ my Assassin techniques.
Upon closer inspection, their swordplay bore distinctive characteristics.
The trajectory of their blades traced the shape of the character 乙.
I knew of a sect that wielded swords using such a technique.
The battle entered a lull, and I hastily stepped forward.
If this continued, someone would surely fall, and the matter would become far more complicated.
“The peculiar curvature of your blade trajectories suggests the Snake-乙 Sword Technique, which belongs to the Eulmyung Sect in the Yeo River Region. Why then do members of the White Dao martial world masquerade as Green Forest Bandits?”
At my words, they looked toward me in considerable shock.
As expected.
“W-who are you?”
At their question, I smiled faintly.
“My name is Eun Seo-ho. I am the Country Lord of the Eunhae Trading Company’s Hyun Pung Bureau.”
“Squeak!”
I tapped my left sleeve sharply.
Be quiet.
At that moment, someone came rushing over from the side, moving like a charging bear.
“Young Master! Oh my! Young Master! Is it truly you? How are you alive?”
Palgap embraced me and wept bitterly.
Seeing Palgap in such a state, I felt a pang of guilt and gently patted his back.
“I’m sorry. There’s much to explain.”
First, I needed to settle matters with these people.
So I calmed Palgap and turned my attention back to them.
“I asked why you are impersonating Green Forest Bandits here?”
“I asked why you were acting as a member of the Green Forest Bandits here, but?”
At my question, they hesitated.
Their expressions betrayed them—struck at the heart of the matter—confirming they were indeed disciples of the Eulmyung Sect.
“Perhaps you are in need of funds?”
“…!”
Their bewilderment deepened.
I had anticipated as much.
I knew of the Eulmyung Sect.
They had borrowed money from the Murim Alliance out of desperation, were exploited because of it, and ultimately were driven to ruin—branded as the Black Path and annihilated.
I observed one warrior among them.
A man wearing a half-faced mask.
So this is the Half-Faced Swordsman.
In time, a wanderer who would become known by that name would reveal the excellence of the Eulmyung Sect to the world.
Indeed, since his blade was formidable, the Murim Alliance had exploited them.
“So then, what is the reason you need funds?”
At my question, they hesitated once more.
“I happen to possess considerable wealth. Should you wish it, I could lend it to you. But if you disregard my goodwill, the Eulmyung Sect will fall from the White Dao to the Black Path.”
“….”
“Is that what you desire?”
Then one of the warriors spoke from beside me.
“Elder Senior Brother! Even with one more person added, we still hold the advantage. And did he not say he possesses much wealth?”
“….”
“It is mere bluster. If we kill them all, no one will ever know.”
“….”
“Elder Senior Brother! Will you truly stand idle and watch our sect master perish?”
I observed the warrior beside me, his voice grating.
Sigh….
I had sensed a repugnant aura from the start….
Yet now that I had reached the pinnacle, as my Master had said, enduring such a repugnant aura was no longer difficult.
In any case, seeing that peculiar expression each time he made certain sounds, it was unmistakable.
He wore a Human Skin Mask.
I approached him using the Shadowless Step and tore the mask from his face.
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, he was stunned.
But the others were even more shocked.
Beneath his mask, another face had been revealed.
“….”
Realizing his true face was exposed, he attempted to flee.
But the attempt failed.
The Half-Faced Swordsman’s blade severed his arm.
“Krraaaagh!”
“Who are you?”
“We can discuss that when we return.”
“Ugh, ugghhh….”
The one called Elder Senior Brother examined his blood vessels with a piercing gaze, stanched the bleeding, and then struck his vital points.
Then he cupped his fist toward me.
“I am Yun Eul, eleventh-generation disciple of the Eulmyung Sect. I have caused great offense to you, honored one.”
“It is fortunate that we have rooted out the spy lurking within your sect.”
He bowed respectfully to each of my companions as well.
“You may blame us as the Black Path if you wish—we have no words of defense. We did indeed commit acts as the Green Forest Bandits. However, all fault lies with me alone. I humbly ask that you report only my crimes and bring this matter to a close.”
He knelt before me.
“I beg of you.”
At his words, the other disciples knelt as well.
“No! It is our failure for not speaking truth even as Elder Senior Brother was swayed by the marketplace gossip.”
“We are equally guilty of these crimes.”
“Please, punish only us, and do not inform our sect.”
“If the Sect Master learns of this… *chokes*!”
I looked at them and spoke.
“How much do you need?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked how much you need. You mentioned earlier that your Sect Master is unwell.”
The one called Elder Senior Brother hesitated before answering.
“Around one hundred silver taels….”
I withdrew a gold note from my pocket and extended it.
“Please accept this.”
At my words, he looked at me with a bewildered expression.
“Is that not a gold note?”
“It is.”
“I cannot accept such a large sum.”
As Elder Senior Brother waved his hand in refusal, I chuckled softly.
“Who said it was free?”
“Pardon?”
“All money comes with a price, and this money too has its price.”
At my words, he asked me with cautious eyes.
“What is that price?”
“You will come under the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“…I do not understand your meaning.”
“There is no need to overthink it. I have helped you, so when our company faces difficulties, you help us in return.”
“That is a duty we owe you naturally. To present it as a price would only shame us.”
“How can you know what troubles may befall the Eunhae Trading Company in the future? The task I ask of you may be quite difficult.”
“It does not seem you are the sort to ask for such things, honored one.”
“Hahaha.”
I laughed heartily.
“I’m quite a harsh employer, wouldn’t you say?”
Palgap sniffled as he answered my question.
“You are indeed a harsh employer, sir. Throwing me off a cliff and then appearing unscathed… you should have come sooner instead of burning my heart out like this… sniff.”

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