Chapter 107
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 107
Chapter 107. A Gift for Jin-ho (1)
It was October, just a few days after I returned from Uichang.
The biggest event of the month was Jin-ho's birthday, but this year was special.
It was finally Jin-ho's turn to become the captain.
I had to get him a nice gift.
I tried to remember what happened at Jin-ho's announcement ceremony in my previous life.
Nothing particularly memorable came to mind... No, wait.
Something did happen.
An assassin attacked during Jung-ho's announcement ceremony.
At my announcement ceremony, Hyung-nim Jung-ho and Young Mistress Jin So-mi confirmed their feelings for each other, and soon after, Young Mistress Jin So-mi became my sister-in-law.
To be honest, I didn't expect that to happen.
I became the Captain three years earlier than in my previous life.
In my previous life, when I was announced as the Young Master, there was a famine, so the government imposed a prohibition on alcohol, and we had no choice but to hold a very simple banquet.
It was really unfortunate that something happened every time there was an announcement ceremony for the Young Master.
I got up from my bed.
It was time to start the day.
When I opened the door, the warrior standing in front of it bowed his head.
He asked me to call him by a name other than Yeon-gye-seung.
He said that Yeon-gye-seung was the name given to him by the Alliance Leader, and if anyone found out, it would cause trouble.
“What would you like me to call you?”
“Please call me Jin-yu.”
“Did you choose that name yourself?”
“No.”
“...?”
“It is my original name, which has been forgotten by the world.”
And so, Yeon-gyeong became Jin-yu.
The warrior Jin-yu now stayed with me at Mungokdang.
He belonged to my personal bodyguard unit.
A captain could have a bodyguard unit that he could use for personal purposes, and the bodyguards assigned to him also belonged to that unit.
Operating them personally means that their salaries must be paid personally.
Eunhaesang Trading Company provided enough money to hire two bodyguards, but no more than that.
“Thank you for all your hard work.”
Jin-yu bowed with his hands clasped together in response to my words.
“Not at all. It was a time when I learned a lot.”
Until yesterday, Jin-yu Musha had been training at Eunpungdae and returned last night.
The bodyguards of the Trading Company's family members often had to move together with the warriors of Eunpungdae.
Therefore, there were quite a few things he needed to know to avoid any mistakes when moving with them.
In order to learn that, he had to train with Eunpungdae for about half a month.
This is a necessary procedure for accepting outsiders as bodyguards.
In my opinion, spending about half a month with the Eunpungdae was to confirm whether they were trustworthy.
My father, who had expressed concern about Jin-yu, who was an assassin, said to me on the day Jin-yu returned to the Moon-gok Hall after completing his training, “I have decided to respect your choice.”
I also believed in my decision to add Jin-yu to my bodyguard team.
This was because, even though Jin-yu had worked as an assassin, I did not sense any awkwardness from him.
On the contrary, I felt a strange familiarity.
And there was something familiar about his sword skills.
“Welcome to becoming my official bodyguard.”
“Thank you for giving me a second chance. I will be loyal to my liege.”
“You should express your gratitude to the Sect Leader of the Hyungmun Sect. Just show me your loyalty.”
I smiled and said to the three warriors.
“Then I will begin my breathing exercises. Please watch over me.”
Upon hearing that, the warrior Yeo Eung-am said to Jin-yu.
“Just do as I told you yesterday.”
“Yes, sir.”
Soon, they took their positions, and I sat in the middle of the courtyard and began my breathing exercises.
When I do breathing exercises, I feel that the colder it gets, the more effective they are.
It seemed to be because the martial arts I was learning were ice-based.
Last time, while obtaining the Silver Sword, I fought against a mad warrior and surpassed my limits.
My Master told me not to be impatient, saying that I would reach the next level when the time came.
He also told me to be careful, saying that I could become a cripple if I wasn't careful.
The inner arts I had accumulated through Tae-eum Byeonghae Shinkong were so sharp that they could tear my blood vessels.
I wanted to be as careful as possible when reaching this realm I had never experienced before.
If I wasn't careful, I would become a cripple without being able to take revenge on the Martial Alliance and the Baekcheon Trading Company, and I would die with regret.
With that in mind, I took my time and devoted myself to training every day, and perhaps because I had reached the peak of my abilities, I was able to adapt more quickly than I had expected.
As my Master said, when the time comes, you will overcome the wall.
But I'm not even 20 years old, and I've already reached the peak of my abilities.
My master told me to hide my abilities as much as possible so that others would not focus too much attention on me.
I agree with him.
My martial arts skills are my hidden weapon against the Martial Alliance.
By the way, the more I practiced the Taeum Byeonghae Shin Gong, the more I realized that it was truly a divine skill.
I understood what my master meant when he said that the higher my level, the more I would feel its power.
“Hoo...”
I exhaled deeply and opened my eyes.
As soon as I finished my breathing exercises and stood up, my master entered the room.
It was amazing how he always arrived at exactly the right time.
“Good morning, Master.”
“Good morning. Let's begin training.”
* * *
The warrior Jin-yu asked his senior bodyguard, Yeo Eung-am.
“I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Who is the master who taught martial arts to our Liege?”
Yoo Eung-am replied to his question.
“His name is Kwak Myeong-hyun. He is the head escort of the Changin Escort Agency, which has a cooperative relationship with our Eunhae Trading Company.”
“Is that so? Then do you know anything about his martial arts, senior?”
Yoo Eung-am smiled unconsciously at being called “senior,” but quickly wiped the smile off his face.
“I don't know much about it, but I've heard it's called Bing Gong.”
“I see.”
Jin-yu nodded.
“In order for a man to master Bing Gong, he must have a special constitution... Your Liege's constitution... I see.”
“Are you planning to tell that to someone else?”
“If I ever find myself in a situation where I have to betray the person who gave me a second chance, I will kill myself.”
Seeing his expression, Yeo-eung-am and Lee Pil just stared at him without saying a word.
“By the way, I warn you not to speak or act recklessly in front of Head Escort Kwak.”
“What?”
“When I asked him to step aside so I could teach you martial arts, he just stared at me... It felt like my blood froze.”
At those words, Lee Pil also trembled.
“It was an experience I never want to repeat.”
“I understand. I will keep that in mind.”
“By the way.”
Yeo Eung-am continued.
“Now that you are officially a member of the Moon-gok-dang escort, I want to see how skilled you are.”
Lee Pil replied.
“Even if it's just to protect our liege, we need to know each other's abilities so we can respond to any situation that may arise, right?”
“I agree.”
Jin-yu also readily agreed.
“Then let's get official permission from our liege and have a spar.”
“Yes, sir.”
The three warriors were bodyguards.
That is why they were escorting Eun Seo-ho in an open space where they could see the courtyard.
Jin-yu's eyes were complicated as he looked at Eun Seo-ho rolling around in the courtyard and Kwak Myeong-hyun watching him with an expressionless face.
“The energy I felt when my liege was practicing breathing earlier seemed familiar...”
The moment Eun Seo-ho saw Han Ho-soo, the pig spiritual beast he called Geumryeong, he knew.
It was the spiritual beast that protected the Palace Head of Seolpung Palace.
Still, he thought it was only natural since he loved money so much.
And today, he was very surprised.
When he saw Kwak Myeong-hyun entering the Moon Hall, his legs went weak and he almost collapsed.
“So, we meet again.”
This meant that heaven had not yet abandoned him or Seolpunggung.
It also meant that he had not died and had been given a second chance.
When the training was over, Eun Seo-ho gave Gwak Myeong-hyun a clasped hands greeting.
Gwak Myeong-hyun was about to leave the Moon-gok Hall. Seeing this, Jin-yu said to his two bodyguards, “Excuse me, may I step aside?”
“May I leave for a moment?”
“Go ahead.”
With permission, he hurriedly approached Kwak Myung-hyun. Then he called out to him.
“Excuse me, Head Escort Kwak.”
Kwak Myung-hyun turned his head and looked at him.
“Did you call me?”
“Yes.”
“I don't think I've seen you before.”
“I am Jin Yu, a warrior who has become the bodyguard of Liege Eunseoho starting today.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
“I look forward to working with you as well.”
“You called me over to greet me...”
“It's because you look familiar.”
“...?”
Jin Yu gathered his energy. Then he raised his sword.
However, he did not draw the sword from its sheath.
“What?”
Gwak Myeong-hyun was confused by the unexpected situation. But Jin-yu was certain.
He knew that this would be a more convincing explanation than any words.
He slowly performed a sword technique with his sword still in its sheath, and when Kwak Myung-hyun saw it, his eyes widened in shock.
After finishing the sword technique, Jin-yu bowed politely with his hands clasped together.
“Do you recognize it?”
“...How could I not know that sword technique?”
“It's been a long time... It's good to see you.”
* * *
I tilted my head.
What is going on?
Suddenly, Jin-yu called out to my master and performed a sword technique with his sword still in its sheath.
That sword technique looked familiar.
What was even more surprising was my master's expression.
It was the same expression he had when he saw my sword, Eunmu.
This meant that Jin-yu Musha had a deep connection with my master.
After a moment, my master spoke to me.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes, Master.”
“May I speak with this warrior for a moment?”
I nodded readily in response to his question.
“Yes, please do.”
Master and Jin-yu left the Moon Hall. Watching them, I forced my trembling legs to stand firm.
Today was really hard.
“Koo! Koo!”
Geum-ryung came out from my sleeve and sat on my shoulder, chirping. It seemed like he was trying to comfort me in his own way.
Yes, yes, thank you.
Pal-gap quickly brought a towel and water.
For some reason, Pal-gap looked as if he couldn't lose to Geum-ryung.
Pal-gap...
Geum-ryung is a spiritual beast, and you are a human. Why are you jealous of a spiritual beast?
Isn't that right?
Should I call Pal-gap a bear?
At that moment, the warriors Yeo-eung-am and Lee Pil approached me.
“My lord, we have something to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
“We would like to have a duel with Jin-yu this evening. Please give us your permission.”
“Go ahead.”
“What?”
The two warriors looked puzzled, not expecting such a quick response.
“Isn't that because you decided that you need to know each other's abilities so that there won't be any gaps in your guard?”
“...That's right. But how did you know?”
I chuckled at their question.
“I just know.”
More than that, I was curious about the conversation between my Master and Jin-yu.
What on earth were they talking about?
But I didn't have time to dwell on such thoughts.
I quickly finished my meal and headed to my office.
I had a lot of work to do.
.
.
.
Another day passed in the blink of an eye.
The martial artist dolls and writing brushes were still very popular.
And the newly released self-playing zither was a huge hit.
This was not so much because it was given as a wedding gift to Jung-ho and promoted as such, but because it was such an amazing instrument.
Even I was surprised.
In other words, it meant that I had more and more work to do.
People say that you reap what you sow, but...
Still, I had no choice.
In order to compete with the Baekcheon Trading Company, our company had to grow bigger.
After becoming a salt retailer in Hubei Province, we rose from the bottom of the 100 trading companies in the country to 60th place last winter, so I think we can expect good results this time.
Judging from the fact that there has been no particular movement from the Baekcheon Trading Company, I think they are just watching us “for fun” as before.
They don't realize that their carelessness will eventually become a dagger at their throats.
After returning to my private quarters and eating dinner, I went out into the courtyard.
As the warrior Yeo-eung-am had said, three warriors were scheduled to have a duel today.
In case of an emergency, I invited a special guest.
“Hahaha! Thank you very much for inviting me to your private quarters, Captain.”
“It is my honor to have the Chief Administrator visit my guest house.”
It was none other than Chief Administrator Go Il-pyeong.