The Owner Of The Thousand Gold Coins Is A Military Official - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 103

Following Myeongjin Daesa, whose expression had become much lighter, Cheongun entered deeper into Shaolin.

Originally, this place was rarely shown to visitors, but given the amount of the donation and the fact that Myeongjin Daesa had personally taken a liking to him, an exception was made.

Wasn’t he the person who had pointed out how he was gradually being tainted?

Though he called himself the end of the secular world, no matter how one looked at it, he didn’t seem that way.

“It seems the donor has deeper Buddhist devotion than this humble monk.”

“Would depth matter? I think what’s important is simply having it.”

“Hehe. That too is proof of deep Buddhist devotion.”

The place Cheongun arrived at with Myeongjin Daesa was where guests were received.

Not just any guests, but where precious guests were received.

Since this was Shaolin, there wasn’t much difference.

If anything, it felt even more austere.

Rather, what mattered more was who that guest was with.

Originally, it wouldn’t have been Myeongjin Daesa who received Cheongun this time either.

He had only come out personally to confirm because the amount of the donation was so large.

“There is good tea.”

“Thank you, Monk.”

There weren’t many who could drink tea personally served by Myeongjin Daesa.

“There is something I would like to ask the donor.”

“Yes. Please ask, Monk.”

“Everyone knows that Cheongeumjang’s wealth is like an endless well, but it was hard to say that your relationship with Shaolin was particularly deep in the past.”

“That is correct.”

“I do not doubt the donor’s sincerity, but I am curious about your intentions.”

Even the smallest thing would have been fine.

“Since I have shared tea with you like this, Monk, that is enough.”

“Huh… Is that Cheongeumjang’s will?”

Cheongun was the Patriarch of Cheongeumjang.

If nothing went wrong, he would soon ascend to the position of head of the organization.

That was what he was asking about.

How many people in this Gangho say they want nothing right now?

There were often cases where they would use it again later after achieving or becoming something.

He wasn’t saying that was wrong.

It was just curiosity.

“All of that came from my personal wealth.”

“…Is that so.”

It didn’t matter what it was.

Rather, because it was personal wealth, wouldn’t Cheongun’s sincerity be highlighted even more?

“I mentioned being the Patriarch of Cheongeumjang because that is who I am, and because of that, I was able to bring it.”

“Right. Without Cheongeumjang’s name, we would have had to doubt the source of such an amount.”

“That’s all.”

That’s all.

Perhaps this was the phrase that best described the current Cheongun.

“Originally, I am not accustomed to helping others.”

To live for someone else, Cheongun’s past was far too blood-soaked.

Not for a single moment could he afford not to live for himself.

He would have lost his life in that moment.

“Therefore, I am asking this of you, Monk, who has lived a lifetime helping and devoting yourself to others.”

“…I understand. I will accept the donor’s will.”

“Thank you. Then, I shall take my leave now.”

This was an amount of wealth that this Shaolin temple could obtain by receiving donations for several months.

Even if one filled a single carriage, there was a huge difference between a carriage filled with silver and one filled with gold.

Being Cheongeumjang, it belonged to the latter category.

Cheongun really tried to get up from his seat and leave just like that.

“Hehe. Donor. Why are you in such a hurry?”

“I fear it might fade and deteriorate.”

“How could that be? If there is such a person, this Myeongjin will teach them a lesson.”

Looking at Myeongjin Daesa’s reaction, it seemed like he wanted to have more conversation with Cheongun.

For Cheongun, it wasn’t a bad idea either.

Since Cheongun was currently traveling with Sanghaeng to Shandong, having given everything away as donations, he needed time to replenish his supplies.

“Then wouldn’t that also be being tainted? I have no doubt that you will handle it wisely, Monk.”

“Having conversed with the donor even briefly, I think I understand why your grandfather so desired to obtain the Daehwandan.”

It was the conversation, but more than anything, couldn’t that energy be felt?

Along with his utterly pure internal energy, his unwavering posture.

All of it was an ideal appearance beyond compare.

So ideal that it felt alien.

“There is a young disciple I would like to introduce to the donor.”

“If it’s your introduction, Monk, I would gladly receive it.”

If there was one thing Cheongun had realized in his previous life, it was that there were definitely limits when alone.

While Cheongun’s current goal was to completely protect Cheongeumjang, there were certainly goals beyond that as well.

Whatever the goal, there were often cases of failure due to the absence of someone.

“Thank you for saying so. He’s a young disciple who will soon come of age, and I think he could receive great teachings from the donor.”

“How could I give teachings to someone under your guidance, Monk? That’s inappropriate.”

“That young disciple is somewhat… a bit twisted. It’s almost like I’m asking for your help with him.”

“Twisted?”

“I think you’ll understand when you see him directly.”

These were words that stimulated Cheongun’s curiosity.

Indeed, how twisted could he be for Myeongjin Daesa to say such things?

“Would you wait for a moment?”

“Yes, Monk.”

Myeongjin Daesa seemed somewhat urgent.

The flow of conversation had suddenly accelerated since the young disciple was mentioned.

Was it somewhat urgent?

First, what kind of twisted did “twisted” mean?

He would find out by checking.

As he waited for the monk who would come with Myeongjin, that time was getting longer and longer.

* * *

“I think it must be done that way.”

“It’s none other than Cheongeumjang. I don’t know how Myeongjin Daesa saw it, but I can’t help but be concerned.”

“Head Monk. That young donor told me he had been tainted. By the secular world.”

“…I understand. You intend to bring him personally, Daesa?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

After finishing his conversation with the Head Monk, Myeongjin headed to where the monk he needed to bring was located.

Behind the Head Monk’s quarters.

If you climbed the mountain a little, there was a house in a somewhat secluded spot.

Arriving in front of it, Myeongjin showed a voice filled with concern.

“Eunjo.”

Then, not long after, a reply came back.

“…Is that you, Myeongjin Daesa?”

“Yes. May I come in?”

“Why do you ask for permission? Please come in.”

Opening the firmly closed door and entering inside, Eunjo Monk was waiting, sitting cross-legged in meditation.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes. I am fine.”

The recent journey to Gangho.

Eunjo Monk had set out with the intention of widely spreading Buddhist devotion.

That first journey to Gangho was regrettably marked not by Buddhist devotion, but by bloodshed.

Assaulting children and women.

The wealthy taking from those who had nothing.

For Eunjo Monk, who was born and raised in Shaolin where Shaolin doctrine was the world itself, the secular world was no different from a painting of hell.

Wouldn’t it be better if such people didn’t exist at all?

Having given himself such justification, Eunjo Monk had taken the lives of hundreds during his year-long journey through Gangho.

The accumulated result of that bloodshed soon led to his own inner turmoil, and the only way to resolve this was to find the answer himself.

In all things, the beginning is always the most difficult.

Killing with his own hands someone who was trying to assault a woman, and the guilt that followed.

Emotions being sensitive to time, the guilt had faded day by day as time passed.

Since no one could deny that they deserved to die, Eunjo Monk granted himself justification.

What began as accidental killing while saving a woman gradually evolved into actively seeking out such people as time went on.

When at some point he felt not even a trace of guilt.

Only then did Eunjo Monk realize something was wrong and had returned after stopping his journey through Gangho.

“There is someone I want to introduce to you.”

“…To me?”

“Yes. Follow me.”

“…Yes, Monk.”

He wasn’t particularly eager.

If there was someone to introduce, it would naturally be someone from outside, not from Shaolin.

What was he supposed to see, and what was he supposed to feel?

Right now, all he could think about was wanting to rush out of Shaolin immediately and crack the heads of those committing evil acts.

Barely suppressing this was all he could manage.

Suppressing his murderous intent like this, they arrived at their destination together.

From outside, he could sense pure yet vast internal energy, making him wonder if some old master had come to visit.

“Go inside.”

“Yes.”

Entering the room with his mind full of thoughts about needing to return quickly to control his murderous intent.

Inside, contrary to his expectations, a handsome young man around his own age was waiting for him, drinking tea.

“…Amitabha. I am called Eunjo.”

“Pleased to meet you, Eunjo Monk. I am called Cheongun.”

Eunjo Monk was unaware of what had happened today.

However, the very fact that this young man of similar age had conversed with Myeongjin Monk proved he was no ordinary person.

“Myeongjin Monk told me to meet the donor, but…I don’t know what to say.”

Eunjo.

A name Cheongun knew.

He was also the person who had been called the Blood Successor in the previous Jeongma Great War.

Initially, he had been someone who killed Madu on the front lines, but as time gradually passed, he became a monk consumed by murderous intent, unable to distinguish between enemy and ally.

And it was Myeongjin Monk who had put an end to that Blood Successor.

Along with himself as well.

‘He reeks of blood.’

This must be after he had already experienced killing.

“Monk.”

“Yes, Donor.”

“The scent of blood is thick.”

“…”

He could see him flinch for a moment.

“It wasn’t just one or two, it seems. Seeing how thick it is.”

“Myeongjin Daesa told me to meet the donor, and I think the reason might be to test my patience.”

At those words, Cheongun smiled and replied.

“Isn’t it because that patience is so meager that you’ve stained yourself with such a scent of blood?”

“Donor. One should not speak carelessly about things they do not know well.”

“That’s right. If even words are like that, how much more so actions?”

It was like asking whether he had killed knowing everything.

“There are things one can know without doing so.”

At those words, Cheongun showed a surprised reaction.

“You can know without seeing. Buddha must have devoted himself. While covered in the scent of blood.”

“Would…the donor care to erase this scent of blood?”

What an aggressive monk this was!

There was no way Cheongun would refuse such a thing.

It was also a precious opportunity to directly see and experience Shaolin’s martial arts.

Especially since this was the Blood Successor.

“I think it might fly away if you move your body.”

“Please follow me. I hope the donor will blow away all the scent of blood you felt.”

Cheongun followed behind Eunjo Monk with a willing heart.

He hadn’t expected things to flow this way.

As expected of the future Blood Successor, his competitive spirit seemed quite tremendous.

The place they went to was Eunjo Monk’s dwelling.

“Donor. Please take up your sword.”

“You said you would shake off the scent of blood, but it seems you intend to get even more stained instead.”

“…Haha. Please do as the donor wishes.”

Now, shall I experience Shaolin’s martial arts once?

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