Chapter 428
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 428
Chapter 428. Risk Factors (4)
Bang!
Mou Yong-seong punched the wall.
Blood dripped from his hand, but he didn't seem to feel it and punched the wall again.
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! How dare you insult me like that?”
Bang!
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! How dare you insult me like that?”
Unable to contain his rage, he was about to punch the wall again when his servant cautiously called out to him.
“Young master.”
“What is it?”
“That wall is made of stone... You're bleeding.”
“Ugh!”
Only then did Murong Sheng feel the pain and clutched his fist, letting out a scream.
“Quick, call a physician!”
“Before that, you need to change your clothes. If the physician sees you like this...”
“Ugh...! What are you doing! Bring me a bath immediately!”
“Yes, sir! Right away!”
Moyong Sung-geol soaked himself in the bathwater prepared by his servant and bit his lip.
A few years ago, some people approached him in secret.
They offered to make him the head of the Moyong Clan.
So he made a deal with them, but the results so far had been disappointing.
“Show me solid proof. I need to know your abilities to be confident that I, the youngest son, can become the Clan Head. Only then can we continue our deal.”
They deliberated over his declaration and then said.
“First, we will remove Young Master Murong Taegul from his position as Young Master.”
“How on earth will you do that?”
“The sword Agyeong, which was given to him as a token of trust from the Young Master. What would happen if he lost it?”
He accepted the proposal, and they succeeded in stealing Agyeong.
When Murong Taegul noticed that Agyeong was missing, he became restless, and they watched him with great amusement.
Then, at an official gathering of senior members of the family, they revealed what they had done.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn.
“I don't know why Seong-geol is under such a misconception, but we have A-gyeong safely stored away. Isn't it a precious sword given to us by our grandfather?”
And the sword they brought from their residence was clearly A-gyeong.
This was impossible.
They clearly said that they had stolen it and handed it over to the grave robber.
When he protested, they became even more flustered.
“It's just that things didn't go well. There won't be any mistakes next time.”
“If you make another mistake, I will not trust you.”
“I understand. I heard that there is a person named Eun Seo-ho among those visiting the Moyong Clan this time. Please find out his exact abilities.”
I accepted the request and made arrangements for this matter.
My father is a martial artist of the highest caliber.
I thought he would be able to recognize the abilities of Eun Seo-ho, who is known to be at the peak of his powers, so I encouraged Moyong Jun-geol.
As he expected, Eun Seo-ho, who was frustrated, defeated Murong Jun-ge in an instant.
It was only natural that my father stepped in and fought him himself.
He had been encouraging Murong Jun-ge to fight Eun Seo-ho so that he would be curious about his sword skills.
My father is a man of action.
Since Eun Seo-ho hadn't shown his true sword skills, it was only natural to ask him to duel so he could see for himself.
But...
Pud!
His plan had been ruined by Young Master Murong Tae-geol.
“What on earth is going on? It's like he's changed overnight.”
Until then, he had been a transparent person who revealed everything through his expressions and words.
That made it easy to understand what he was thinking.
But today, it was difficult to read his expressions and words.
On top of that, he had even used his attack to his advantage.
It felt like his grand plan to chase him away and become the Young Master was falling apart.
And then, during his duel with Eun Seo-ho today, he had unconsciously sat down and wet himself...
His grand plan had been shattered.
The disappointed expressions on his father and mother's faces were still fresh in his mind.
On top of that, he thought about the rumors that would spread among the servants...
He sharpened his sword in revenge against those who had humiliated him.
When he finished bathing and was changing his clothes, his servant said.
“Young Master, I just heard that last night, Young Master and Master Sun met in the secret garden.”
“In the secret garden?”
“Yes. I think there must have been some kind of deal between them. In other words, I think Sun Hyeon-mi deliberately disgraced you today.”
“Yes, that must be it.”
He gritted his teeth and thought hard, then came up with a clever plan.
* * *
The banquet ended quite late.
The Clan Head of the Moyong Clan was on his way to his residence with his family who had attended the banquet.
However, his second wife, Moyong Jun-geol, and Moyong Seong-geol were not with them.
Moyong Seong-geol had not returned, and his second wife and Moyong Jun-geol had left early to comfort him.
As they were walking quietly, the Clan Head spoke.
“Yeon-geol.”
“Yes, Father.”
“What do you think of Sun Hye-mi?”
“What?”
Murong Yeon-geol asked in surprise.
“I don't understand what you mean, Father.”
“I'm asking what you think of her as your wife.”
At his question, her face instantly turned red, and she bowed her head.
The Clan Head laughed heartily at her reaction.
“It seems you don't dislike him!”
The Clan Head continued with a pleasant expression.
“He is quite impressive. Punishing those who try to harm him and showing mercy to those who do not is the true behavior of a chivalrous warrior.”
As a martial artist at the peak of his powers, there was no way he couldn't hear his two sons whispering.
“Tsk, tsk. They must have done that because they don't understand the sense of a martial artist at the peak of his powers.”
He easily defeated his two sons, who had conspired against him, with his sheer momentum, and even made Murong Shengge look ridiculous.
However, it was different when he faced his eldest son and daughter.
He fought them with all his heart.
He even recommended a weapon that would suit his eldest daughter.
“We can provide him with the backing of the martial arts world that Xian Xie Mi Lang doesn't have, so it wouldn't be a bad offer for him.”
Upon hearing this, Murong Tai carefully expressed his opinion.
“That is true, but I still think you should ask him first before proceeding.”
“Of course. What do you think?”
“I don't think it's a bad idea.”
“Then ask him tomorrow. You met him at the secret meeting place, so it won't be awkward to ask him about this.”
The Clan Head already knew about the meeting between his eldest son and Eun Seo-ho.
Mou Yong-taeg did not panic at the Clan Head's knowledge, but simply nodded in agreement.
“I understand.”
The Clan Head looked at Mou Yong-taeg and smiled happily to himself.
Unlike before, he looked as if he was looking at a small baby snake.
That made him feel relieved.
Although he was his eldest son and had the most talent in martial arts, he was extremely unstable, which is why he was made the Young Master.
The martial arts world is a snake pit full of snakes.
The only ones who can survive in such a place are other snakes.
However, his eldest son was like a frog that had wandered into a snake pit.
That's why I've been worrying until now... But today, at the banquet, he showed me something amazing.
He gently persuaded himself, who had been following the fourth son's lead, and brought the fourth son into the fold.
“He's grown up! He's done well!”
And knowing that Eunseoho was involved in the eldest son's growth made me even more grateful.
In fact, I already knew that the fourth son was involved with a suspicious group.
He was just playing along with the fourth son to find out what they were after.
Mou Yong-jin.
He was also a snake.
* * *
The next day.
I did breathing exercises and practiced quietly in my room.
After breakfast, I had tea with Captain Bok-yoon.
He looked at me and expressed his admiration.
“I was very surprised last night.”
“What do you mean?”
“I knew you were amazing when you saved me at the meeting, but I was thrilled when you fought the four young masters of the Moyong Clan in a duel yesterday.”
I scratched the back of my neck.
“You don't have to praise me so much.”
“If I encounter any trouble with the martial artists in the future, I will ask for your help.”
“I'm quite expensive.”
“Even if you're expensive, you're worth the price, aren't you? But you're also my brother-in-law, so can't you give me a discount?”
“You know that the closer we are, the more accurate the calculation should be, right? Hahaha.”
We exchanged lighthearted banter and drank tea again.
Captain Bok-Yoon's expression became serious.
“I heard that you have reached the peak of your martial arts training. With that level of skill, you could be treated quite well in the martial arts world. Why do you remain with the Trading Company?”
It was a question that a person of Bok's stature would naturally ask.
But my answer was very simple.
“It is because I am a merchant.”
“What?”
“I like money. As you know, martial artists are looked down upon if they show their wealth.”
“That's true.”
That's why you don't do business directly with the Martial Alliance, but instead make money through a trading company called Baekcheon Trading Company.
And you act all high and mighty... Hmph.
It's hypocritical of them to criticize merchants for showing their wealth when they themselves love money.
“And the Trading Company is also a place where I can fully utilize my abilities.”
He nodded at my words.
He must have heard a lot about my achievements.
“There are many reasons, but the biggest reason is as I said earlier...”
I smiled and pointed to myself with my thumb.
“It's because I'm a merchant. Isn't it natural for a merchant to be in a trading company?”
Captain Bok-Yoon burst out laughing at my words.
“Hahahaha! That's right. What a wise answer to a silly question!”
We exchanged various conversations.
Did someone say that?
The fastest way to reach your destination is to go with someone who is like-minded.
Of course, in terms of time, that's not true, but in terms of how it feels, time passes quickly.
I am feeling something similar right now.
Perhaps because Captain Bok-Yoon is a close friend, it was time for lunch in no time.
We discussed our schedule for the rest of the day over lunch.
“Then let's leave tomorrow morning.”
“Understood. I will leave from the Kwang-Joon Trading Company the day after tomorrow. I apologize for the short notice, but I have a busy schedule.”
“Of course. You've already spent a lot of time on me.”
After lunch.
As I was walking around for a while, someone came looking for me.
“I am a bodyguard for Young Master Murong Taegul. The Young Master is looking for you.”
“You mean me?”
“Yes.”
But for some reason, he looked a little uneasy. Why?
Besides, it was strange that a bodyguard came instead of the servant who had picked me up before.
I soon realized what was going on.
The person looking for me was not Young Master Murong Taegul.
Murong Taegul was trying to take revenge for the embarrassment he had caused me at the banquet yesterday!
I was waiting for him to make his move, but he was quicker than I thought.
I didn't expect him to come here the very next day.
If I knew it was a trap, I wouldn't go, but there were many eyes on me.
If I refuse the Young Master's request, it will be troublesome, so is he deliberately waiting for when there are many people around?
“Yes, sir.”
I got up from my seat and followed him.
He led me to the secret chamber I had visited before.
“Only those who have been invited are allowed to enter from here.”
I turned around and said to the bodyguards.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
“Yes, sir.”
I entered the secret chamber, guided by the bodyguard who had led me there.
Tap, tap.
After walking for a while, he suddenly said to me in a flustered voice.
“Oh! I forgot to bring what the Young Master asked me to bring. Please go ahead.”
“What?”
“I heard you've been here before. Just follow the path where the fallen leaves have been cleared.”
The path to the entrance was clearly marked.
There were no fallen leaves anywhere except for the entrance.
“I understand.”
I nodded obediently, and the warrior quickly left the place.
I tilted my head and walked along the path without fallen leaves.
By the way, how are they going to trick me?
I arrived at the innermost part of the building while thinking about that, but there was no one there.
Well, he told me to wait, so I guess I can just sit here.
As I sat there thinking, I realized something was strange. The path was slightly different from the one I had taken before.
The path that had been straight when I came here was now slightly curved.
Could it be...?
I remembered what the servant who had guided me here had said.
“Formations have been set up everywhere to make you wander around the maze forever.”
I got goose bumps all over my body.
What? So he deliberately led me astray by telling me the wrong way so that I would get lost in the formations?
Now I understood why there was no one here. I couldn't come here because I was lost in the formations, so there was no reason for him to wait here.
Murong Sheng was worse than I thought.
I made up my mind.
Since I was already here, I would get rid of him for good.
But... that's strange.
The fact that I made it here safely means that the formations didn't activate.
Were there any formations?