Chapter 538
Chapter 538
Chapter 538. Let’s Establish a Martial Arts Academy (4)
Just then, Warrior Yeo Eung-am’s voice came from outside.
“My Liege, the Trading Company Leader says he wishes to meet you.” (Yeo Eung-am)
At those words, I quickly put on my outer garment and went outside.
A man who seemed to be a servant greeted me.
“I am the Trading Company Leader’s servant. I will escort you to the Trading Company Leader.” (Servant)
“Yes. Please wait a moment.” (MC)
I quickly straightened my attire and followed him.
As Young Master of the Eunhae Trading Company, since I had come to stay at another trading company, it was only proper to meet the Trading Company Leader and pay my respects.
So I had put in a request saying I wished to meet the Trading Company Leader, and now I was going to greet him like this.
But……
The place we were headed did not seem to be the reception room.
“Are we not going to the reception room?” (MC)
“Ah, we are going to the Trading Company Leader’s bedchamber. As you know, he is currently ill.” (Servant)
“I see.” (MC)
Soon, we arrived at the Trading Company Leader’s bedchamber. When the guard in front announced us inside, the door opened.
“Please enter.” (Guard)
I went inside.
An old man was sitting propped up on the bed.
They say that once a person is past fifty, his life and character appear on his face.
The Trading Company Leader looked exactly as I had heard.
A face full of benevolence.
And yet that stubborn set of his mouth proved that he was by no means a soft person.
If he had only been benevolent, he could not have grown the trading company into one that possessed such vast sugarcane fields.
“Eun Seoho, Young Master of the Eunhae Trading Company, greets the Trading Company Leader.” (MC)
“I am So Man, Trading Company Leader of the Yeo Cheong Trading Company. Please understand that my health is poor, so I am receiving you like this, sitting on my bed in my bedchamber.” (So Man)
“Please do not say that. I sincerely hope you recover quickly.” (MC)
“Thank you for saying so. Cough, cough!” (So Man)
He coughed again and again.
At a glance, he really did not look well. His complexion had lost much of its color.
“So, I hear you came to meet Head Merchant Mae?” (So Man)
“That is correct. Did Head Merchant Mae tell you about it?” (MC)
At my question, he nodded.
“He came by a little while ago. And he said he would have to investigate whether you were a swindler or not.” (So Man)
“You are certain I am not a swindler, Trading Company Leader.” (MC)
At my question, he nodded.
“Was it three years ago? I saw you at the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Arts Competition.” (So Man)
“Ah…… I see.” (MC)
I scratched my head.
“I thought you would say you knew by the Trading Company Leader’s intuition.” (MC)
“Of course, there is that as well. The fact that you came riding Zhujiang horses too……” (So Man)
He smiled.
“But would it not be better to say something you could accept at once?” (So Man)
I smiled as well.
“Thanks to that, I understood at once.” (MC)
He soon stiffened his face.
“However, it will take time for Head Merchant Mae to let go of his suspicion. He has been deceived so many times. I hope you will understand.” (So Man)
“I understand. But how did Head Merchant Mae come all the way here to Guangxi and work as a head merchant of the Yeo Cheong Trading Company?” (MC)
“Ah, that is thanks to me.” (So Man)
“Pardon?” (MC)
He explained the circumstances until now.
“I found him collapsed on the way back from Shandong Province because of a sugar sales contract. Perhaps he had encountered bandits, because he had only barely been breathing after being stabbed.” (So Man)
He continued.
“I treated him and saved his life, but he remembered nothing. We were able to know his name only because of the tattoo engraved on his body.” (So Man)
Since there were many cases of children being lost for one reason or another, families with the means often tattooed simple information or markings on a child’s body so they could be found even later.
There were markings engraved on the bodies of us brothers too.
“Was that tattoo only his name?” (MC)
“It seemed there had been something else written as well, but unfortunately, that part had been cut by a sword wound……” (So Man)
“I see.” (MC)
“But he seemed quite clever and diligent, so I took him in, and now he has become a head merchant and handles major affairs of this Yeo Cheong Trading Company. He is called a head merchant, but he is doing work equivalent to the chief head merchant of other trading companies.” (So Man)
As I thought, he really does have quite a bit of power.
“In any case, if you take Head Merchant Mae to his hometown, Beijing, what do you plan to do afterward?” (So Man)
“I am not sure about that either.” (MC)
I continued.
“What happens afterward depends solely on the wishes of Head Merchant Mae and Elder Mae. I merely came here like this to fulfill Elder Mae’s wish.” (MC)
“Is that so? Cough, cough.” (So Man)
Seeing the Trading Company Leader coughing repeatedly, pity welled up in me.
According to my memory, I think he did not survive past this year.
The Trading Company Leader, who had been thinking about something for a moment, looked at me.
“To be honest, wasting time here is not exactly pleasant for you, is it?” (So Man)
I smiled awkwardly.
It was as the Trading Company Leader said. I needed to hurry back and proceed with the work.
“I will persuade Head Merchant Mae.” (So Man)
“It seems there is something you wish for.” (MC)
At my question, he nodded.
“Take Head Merchant Mae with you to the Eunhae Trading Company.” (So Man)
“Pardon?” (MC)
I tilted my head and asked the Trading Company Leader again.
“What do you mean? You said Head Merchant Mae is equivalent to a chief head merchant in this trading company. Does that not mean he plays a very important role in this trading company?” (MC)
“That is right. And his ability is outstanding as well. Therefore, he will be of benefit to the Eunhae Trading Company, never a harm. I can guarantee it on my name.” (So Man)
“But why are you telling me to take him with me?” (MC)
“Hoo……” (So Man)
The Trading Company Leader sighed.
“I likely will not make it past this year.” (So Man)
“…….” (MC)
He has guessed it fairly accurately.
“When I die, my son will inherit the trading company. But my son is still inexperienced and does not have the capacity to mediate and govern the power struggles among the head merchants.” (So Man)
Head Merchant Mae was not a local of this region, but an outsider.
And one who had lost his memory, not even knowing where he had come from…… under such circumstances, he had risen to this position solely through his ability and the Trading Company Leader’s favor.
Right now, he was advancing smoothly thanks to the Trading Company Leader’s protection, but after the Trading Company Leader’s death, the situation would change.
“If there had been just a little more time, I could have educated my son, and…… Head Merchant Mae could have solidified his foundation further.” (So Man)
In other words, he was entrusting him to me so that after his death, Head Merchant Mae would not have to see disgraceful things.
“I understand your intentions well, Trading Company Leader. However, this too is Head Merchant Mae’s choice. If he says he will remain with the Eunhae Trading Company, I will accept him. We, too, always feel the lack of capable talent, after all. But if he refuses, there is nothing we can do.” (MC)
“I understand.” (So Man)
.
.
.
After finishing my conversation with the Trading Company Leader, I returned to my quarters.
As I had heard, the Trading Company Leader of the Yeo Cheong Trading Company truly was a good person.
Though the young master who inherited this trading company did not last long and ruined it.
In the end, these vast sugarcane fields came into the hands of our Eunhae Trading Company.
I did not know what the circumstances were, but at that time, Head Merchant Mae Jeong was not here.
If he had remained in the Yeo Cheong Trading Company, that future probably would not have happened.
Because someone with enough ability and sense of responsibility for the Trading Company Leader to recommend him confidently would not have allowed the trading company to end up that way.
Hoo…….
If I leave things as they are and let the Trading Company Leader pass away, these sugarcane fields will fall into the hands of our Eunhae Trading Company, just like the future I know.
But I cannot leave him be while knowing that I can cure the Trading Company Leader’s illness.
As a person, I should not do that.
And I believe in the strength of the Eunhae Trading Company that I have built up until now.
I believe it will succeed enough even without doing something that goes against morality.
The next morning.
As soon as I ate breakfast, I prepared to go out.
“Let’s move for a while.” (MC)
“Understood.” (Escort Warrior)
“There is no need for everyone to move. I think only the two warriors currently on duty need to follow.” (MC)
At my words, Warrior Seo-u and Warrior Myeongjong nodded.
“We obey your command.” (Seo-u)
“I will follow.” (Myeongjong)
The day before, I had received permission from the Trading Company Leader in advance, saying I wished to look around the sugarcane fields.
I headed toward the sugarcane fields.
As expected of Guangxi Province.
It is only mid-May, but it is incredibly hot.
That is why I heard this was a region where sales of the breeze fan were very high.
Thanks to that, the name of the Eunhae Trading Company was well known.
Though not my face.
“Warrior Myeongjong. Are you hot?” (MC)
At my question, Warrior Myeongjong smiled awkwardly.
“It is hot, but I am fine. I am thinking of this too as part of the training process.” (Myeongjong)
“You are positive.” (MC)
I spoke to the two warriors.
“From now on, we need to enter the sugarcane field. And sugarcane fields have more snakes and insects than you might think. But there is no need to worry too much.” (MC)
I gave a faint laugh.
“Because I am here. I do not know why, but snakes and insects avoid coming near me.” (MC)
I turned toward the sugarcane field and said,
“Then, let us go in.” (MC)
“Yes.” (Escort Warriors)
The sugarcane had grown quite a lot.
Sugarcane is a type of sorghum, and it grows extremely fast.
If it grows taller than a person, it becomes hard to see ahead, so there are even cases of people going deep into sugarcane fields, losing their way, and dying.
In my previous life, Hyung Jinho once went into a sugarcane field without knowing any better and had a hard time.
Thanks to that, he found that spiritual medicine, though.
Working in a sugarcane field is extremely grueling.
Not only snakes and insects, but the blazing sunlight also exhausts the workers.
But…… thanks to learning ice arts, I did not feel the heat very much right now.
The snakes and insects ran away on their own too.
My vision was blocked by the sugarcane, so I could not tell the direction, but it was fine.
Because I had Geumryeong.
“Geumryeong. There is an expensive spiritual medicine here. Want to try finding it?” (MC)
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
At the words that it was expensive, Geumryeong quickly climbed onto my shoulder and sniffed.
And soon, her tail trembled.
As expected, she found it!
Geumryeong’s tail pointed ahead, and I moved in that direction.
Had it been about fifteen minutes of pushing through the sugarcane like that? Geumryeong, who had been sitting on my shoulder, came down and began digging the ground.
Papapapapak!
After digging down into the ground at an incredible speed, Geumryeong’s eyes sparkled as she struck the ground with her front paws.
I bent down to examine the place and discovered a Heavenly Spirit Root.
As expected, it is here!
It was also the very spiritual medicine Geumryeong had given me as a present on my birthday last time.
A spiritual medicine that contained a thousand years of earth energy, capable of making even someone with a serious illness spring back to their feet.
The Heavenly Spirit Root Geumryeong had given me as a present last time had been used to save the father of Man Jeong, the Bow God.
Thanks to that, the Yungang Man Family became a vassal family of the Eunhae Trading Company, and the Eun Wind Bow Unit, taught by Man Jeong, has been playing a major role.
In any case, with this, I can treat the Trading Company Leader’s illness.
I took the Heavenly Spirit Root and wrapped it in the cloth I had prepared in advance.
“To think there was a Heavenly Spirit Root here! How on earth did you know?” (Myeongjong)
At Warrior Myeongjong’s question, I wiped the dirt off Geumryeong’s body with a handkerchief and said,
“Geumryeong told me.” (MC)
I glossed it over like that.
Because I could not say I knew it because I had experienced the future.
It was then.
Tadak, tadak, tadadak.
A sound came from somewhere, and black smoke rose high into the sky.
Seeing that, Warrior Seo-u shouted in shock.
“This is serious! We must hurry and evacuate. A fire has broken out in this sugarcane field!” (Seo-u)
---
Head Merchant Mae Jeong headed toward the sugarcane field.
Because managing the workers in the sugarcane field was his job.
However, his mind was extremely confused.
It was partly because the man called the Young Master of the Eunhae Trading Company had brought news of his father, but what the Trading Company Leader had said last night had a greater effect.
“Jeong-ah, he is indeed the Young Master of the Eunhae Trading Company. I saw him myself. So trust him and follow him.” (So Man)
“But Trading Company Leader. Those who deceived me until now were all plausible as well.” (Mae Jeong)
“They were. But he is real. No matter how plausibly one decorates the appearance, one cannot decorate the look in the eyes. Moreover, he is Young Master Eun Seoho, the Immortal Hero’s Beauty. Who could possibly make his face into a human-skin mask?” (So Man)
“……That is true.” (Mae Jeong)
“And I asked him to take you in.” (So Man)
“Pardon? What do you mean?” (Mae Jeong)
“My remaining lifespan is not long.” (So Man)
“No! Trading Company Leader, you will soon recover!” (Mae Jeong)
“I know my own remaining lifespan. And I also know what hardships you will suffer after I die.” (So Man)
“…….” (Mae Jeong)
“So leave this place without lingering attachment.” (So Man)
“But, Trading Company Leader. I resolved to devote this body of mine for your sake. How can you say such a thing?” (Mae Jeong)
“The one you decided to devote yourself to is me, not this trading company, is it not?” (So Man)
“…….” (Mae Jeong)
“So do not talk back and move to the Eunhae Trading Company. It is my final wish.” (So Man)
Since the Trading Company Leader had gone so far as to call it his final wish, he could say nothing more and had no choice but to leave the Trading Company Leader’s bedchamber.
As the Trading Company Leader had said, he did not blend in here.
Until now, he had been protected by the Trading Company Leader, so they had been unable to harm him, but if he were gone…….
Mae Jeong let out a sigh.
“Then does that mean what the man named Eun Seoho said was true?” (Mae Jeong)
He said Father had been waiting for him until now.
That even when offered an enormous sum, he did not sell the land, solely because if he did, there would be no place for himself to return to.
He could not remember his father, nor his family at all, but the reason his eyes somehow reddened must be that his body remembered it.
He cleared away his thoughts and spoke to the workers.
“You all worked hard on this morning’s work.” (Mae Jeong)
Because the weather was so hot, the workers began work from dawn and finished at the hour of the snake, between nine and eleven.
Because working under the midday sun was impossible.
And when he was checking the workers’ work logs, a head merchant approached him.
“Let us talk for a moment.” (Head Merchant)