Chapter 114
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 114
Chapter 114. The Sichuan Tang Clan's Benefactor (4)
I responded to the Sichuan Tang Clan Head's words with a clasped hands greeting.
“Thank you.”
“Don't thank me. It's the least I can do to repay you for saving my son.”
Honestly, it was a burden for our family.
That's why I made the request without expecting anything in return, but he agreed readily.
However, that's not my real purpose.
“I'm sorry, but I have one more request.”
The Clan Head asked me.
“What is it?”
“I have heard a lot about the Sichuan Tang Clan. However, I have never dealt with the Sichuan Tang Clan directly, so I don't know if the rumors are true or not.”
“Rumors...”
“For example, that the Sichuan Tang Clan captures farmers and forces them to drink poison...”
“What? Who on earth would say such nonsense?”
The moment the Clan Head spoke, the people around him turned pale from the force of his aura.
I quickly waved my hands.
“That's what I heard. Please calm down. You're upsetting the others.”
“Ah, I got carried away. Never mind.”
“I suddenly heard those rumors and became curious about what the Sichuan Tang Clan is like. That is why I am asking.”
I said with clasped hands.
“Please let me visit the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
This was the purpose of my visit to the Sichuan Tang Clan.
The recurring illness of the Hyeongmun sect.
Qi Dispersing Poison, who almost ruined Jin-ho's captain announcement banquet.
I thought that if I looked around the Sichuan Tang Clan, I would be able to tell if they were made by the Sichuan Tang Clan or not.
If they were made by the Sichuan Tang Clan,
then I had to find out if it was the work of an individual or the Sichuan Tang Clan as a group.
Naturally, the response would be different.
That's why visiting the Sichuan Tang Clan was a very important first step.
“Hmm...”
The Clan Head thought about my words for a moment.
It would be a difficult decision.
The Sichuan Tang Clan was famous for its whips and hidden weapons.
However, even more famous than those were their poisons.
Poison, in particular, is difficult to deal with because its manufacturing and antidote methods are important, so it would be very problematic if this information became known.
Therefore, they had no choice but to maintain a very closed policy.
They even took in their daughter's husband into their family.
However, when I said that I wanted to visit the family, they were even more troubled because they couldn't understand my intentions.
If it had been someone else's request, I would have refused immediately, but the Clan Head said he would treat me as his benefactor.
At that moment, the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan spoke.
“Do you know anything about poison?”
I nodded casually.
“Yes, I do.”
There was no point in lying to someone of his stature, as he would see right through me.
“I am the captain of the Eunhae Trading Company. We are merchants who deal mainly in medicinal herbs, so I know a thing or two about poison.”
“Is that so?”
“And I am a merchant. Among ordinary people, merchants are probably the ones who know the most about poison.”
“Why is that?”
“Because while some merchants make a profit through fair trade, there are also those who engage in unfair trade for profit.”
I continued.
“There are bad merchants who use poison to pressure or kill their opponents, so I have no choice but to study poison in order to stay alive.”
“What?”
“I have never met such a merchant, but my father says he has encountered such cases several times.”
“Are you all right, Minister Chun?”
“Fortunately, he was able to neutralize the poison in time or recognize it beforehand, so he escaped unharmed.”
“That's good.”
As I said this, I suddenly remembered my previous life.
I had used poison quite a lot.
In particular, there was a cowardly guy who pretended to be fair and just on the surface but used poison behind the scenes.
Of course, I wasn't kind enough to let such people get away with it.
The Sichuan Tang Clan Head asked again.
“Then, is your desire to visit the Sichuan Tang Clan for the purpose of expanding your personal knowledge of poison?”
“No, that's not it.”
“No?”
“Unless the Sichuan Tang Clan's poisons are leaked to the world, why would you need to know about them?”
“That's true.”
The Sichuan Tang Clan Head nodded.
“If our clan's poisons were leaked, it would be a disaster.”
That was one of the reasons why the Sichuan Tang Clan maintained a closed policy.
It was a poison of tremendous power.
If such poison were released into the world, countless innocent people would die.
That would ultimately affect not only the reputation of the Sichuan Tang Clan, but also its very existence.
They could be branded as enemies of the martial arts world or outlaws...
Huh? Wait a minute.
In a situation where they are branded as enemies of the martial arts world or outlaws, would anyone refuse the help of the Martial Alliance?
I think I know what the Martial Alliance is planning to do to get their hands on the Sichuan Tang Clan.
“Why is that?”
“No, I'm just a little tired.”
“Oh dear... With martial arts skills like that, you're tired? It seems like you have a lot of work to do. I hope they didn't push you too hard.”
“No, I'm just grateful that I can rest thanks to you. Anyway, as I said, I am a merchant. I cannot gain anything by being swayed by rumors.”
I continued.
“However, I am not knowledgeable enough to determine whether the rumors about the Sichuan Tang Clan are true or not, so I am asking for your help.”
The Sichuan Tang Clan Head nodded at my words.
“I understand. It is not the Sichuan Tang Clan that would refuse a request from someone like you, who is their benefactor.”
“Thank you.”
“We almost suffered great damage because of those who tried to kidnap Zao Xiong. It would be shameful if we couldn't even do this much.”
I understood why the Clan Head accepted my proposal for a document confirming his agreement to grant our request.
He knew that those who had tried to kidnap Jo Ung were going to demand something from the Sichuan Tang Clan.
That demand would surely have caused great loss or damage to the Sichuan Tang Clan.
What a pity.
If I had known that, I would have asked for something bigger.
Still, I mustn't be greedy.
“Thank you for granting my unreasonable request.”
“Then I will send my aide tomorrow morning.”
“You can visit today.”
“My family home is very large. Even if we start the tour now, it will be tomorrow before we finish. Is that okay?”
“Ah...”
I quickly replied.
“I look forward to tomorrow morning.”
.
.
.
The banquet ended.
I followed the aide back to the annex where I was staying.
I sat down in front of the table.
I had something to think about.
That was when
I suddenly heard someone's voice.
“So it was you. Now that you're back, what do you want? You're so shameless.”
Huh? What is this?
I went outside.
In the courtyard stood Lee Pil and a young man I had never seen before. He was about the same age as Lee Pil.
“You ran away because you didn't like the Sichuan Tang Clan...”
The commotion attracted me and the other bodyguards, and Lee Pil looked embarrassed.
The young man seemed to have misunderstood something and shouted triumphantly.
“I guess I hit a nerve. There must be something behind your rescue of Jo-ung...”
“Who are you?”
The young man turned his head and looked at me.
“Who are you to scold my bodyguard?”
“Bodyguard...?”
I said to him.
“You came in without any fuss, so you must know who I am, right?”
There were two security guards in this annex.
Judging from the fact that the guards did not stop him from entering, he must be a person of high rank.
“I apologize. My name is Tang Jun-ryung, and I am a squad leader of the Sichuan Tang Clan's Flying Gold Corps.”
“I am Eun Seo-ho.”
I introduced myself by my name only.
I didn't want to introduce myself fully to someone who was rude to my bodyguard.
“I overheard your conversation. It was pure coincidence that we rescued Young Master Tang, and Bodyguard Lee Pil was only following orders.”
“...”
“This has been made clear by the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, so I am disappointed to encounter someone with such a misunderstanding.
My words left Tang Jun-ryung at a loss for words.
”That's...“
However, he quickly regained his composure and clasped his hands together.
”I misspoke.“
”I accept your apology."
I continued in the same vein.
“Then I would like to know why you raised your voice at my bodyguard.”
“Before that, let me ask you something. What do you mean by bodyguard?”
“Lee Pil is my bodyguard.”
My words left him speechless.
“A member of the Sichuan Tang Clan is a bodyguard for a mere merchant... How far have you fallen, Lee Pil!”
Lee Pil?
Could it be that Lee Pil was originally from the Sichuan Tang Clan with the surname Tang?
I wondered...
I thought he was from Sichuan and was quite skilled with hidden weapons, but I never thought he was from the Sichuan Tang Clan.
But that's all.
No matter what the circumstances, Lee Pil is my bodyguard.
“A mere merchant? Don't insult my liege!”
Lee Pil was angry that I called him a “mere merchant.”
How could I pretend not to know someone like him?
“Lee Pil-mu.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Do you know him?”
He nodded in response to my question.
“Yes. He is my half-brother. Or rather, he was my brother. I abandoned my family name and ran away from home.”
“I see.”
I turned my head and looked at Dang Joon-ryung.
“And I think you misunderstand that my bodyguard is here for some purpose, but that is not the case. Mr. Lee Pil did not want to come here.”
That was true.
When I told him we had to go to the Sichuan Tang Clan, he seemed reluctant for some reason.
“However, the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan said that everyone who saved Young Master Tang Zhaoweng must come, so I had no choice but to bring him.”
I continued.
“And we will not be staying here for long. I may be just a merchant, but I am quite busy as I am traveling on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Hm.”
He cleared his throat at my reasonable explanation.
He looked embarrassed.
Nevertheless, he still did not bow his head.
“But a member of the Sichuan Tang Clan is a merchant's bodyguard? That is unacceptable.”
“If the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan knew that a member of his clan was protecting me, would he have accepted it?”
“Of course not.”
“However, the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan has not said anything about this.”
“...”
“The fact that the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan has not said anything means that he has accepted this, so by pointing this out, are you saying that the Clan Head is wrong?”
“Kuh...”
My words made Tang Jun-ryung's face contort.
This was as far as I could push him.
Even a mouse will bite a cat when cornered.
I had to give him a way out.
I smiled and said,
“I understand that you are worried about your brother who left home. But he is doing well, so you don't have to worry.”
I continued politely.
“So please don't worry and go back.”
“Huh, what are you saying? I'll believe you and go back. I just hope you won't disgrace the Sichuan Tang Clan anymore.”
With that, Tang Jun-ryung left the annex.
Finally, he's gone.
Lee Pil sighed softly and said, “I'm relieved.”
“I expected someone to come, but I didn't know it would be you, Hyung-nim. I was in a difficult situation, but thank you for your help.”
“It's nothing. As your bodyguard, it's my duty to help you.”
“But... aren't you going to ask me what happened?”
“If it were fine, would I have run away from here? I ran away because I couldn't stand it anymore.”
“....”
“I don't want to bring up bad memories.”
He smiled at my words.
“You are truly a good person, my liege.”
“You only realized that now?”
Seo Woo-mu laughed and interjected to lighten the mood.
“I've known that for a long time.”
Yeo Eung-am also smiled.
“I've known that for a long time, but you're just now realizing it. I'm disappointed.”
Lee Pil smiled faintly at the joke.
“You warriors are really nice people. If you were my Hyung-nims, I wouldn't have run away from here.”
“Then do your best from now on.”
He chuckled at Yeo Eung-am's words.
“Actually, my mother was from a poor slum family.”
The atmosphere became heavy at his sudden remark. However, Lee Pil continued calmly.
“I saved my father, who was wounded and collapsed in the forest, and somehow... I ended up here.”
His expression did not seem like he was talking about himself.
That must mean that he had something deeply hidden in his heart.