The Owner Of The Thousand Gold Coins Is A Military Official - Chapter 107

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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 107

“Hmm…”

This part seemed to require some consideration.

If he joined the Yellow Righteousness Corps, he would probably end up spending time closely with the others who joined together.

While there might be some who could be helpful, nothing was as unpleasant as dealing with those with their noses in the air.

Moreover, since Cheongun was now the heir to Cheongeumjang, they would surely irritate him with talk about being a merchant and whatnot.

Since Cheongun also understood well the rashness of youth, it wouldn’t really be a problem, but there was always bound to be one or two who crossed the line.

If that happened, Cheongun would probably cut off their heads right then and there.

It wasn’t the aftermath that worried him.

What was truly unpleasant was how inefficient the time and effort required to resolve such matters would be.

The Blue Righteousness Corps wasn’t a bad choice either.

Dealing with those buried in inferiority complexes was just as unpleasant as dealing with those with their noses in the air.

The young patriarch of Cheongeumjang, who had grasped the wealth of the world?

He would be very, very suitable as a target for that inferiority complex.

He wasn’t thinking of taking the easy path.

Even if Cheongun cut off heads.

Even if he severed arms, he was simply looking for a place that would be relatively less troublesome.

The advantage of the Blue Righteousness Corps was that he could relatively easily obtain their power.

However, there was one thing that inevitably followed this.

Why bother?

The power of those who weren’t even heirs?

Well, since nothing would be decided by worrying about it now, Cheongun dismissed the thought to clear his mind.

“Is there anything else I should be particularly careful about?”

“They say the Demonic Sect’s movements were detected near the Martial Arts Alliance. That’s also why they’re forming the military unit.”

He had thought they had simply received reports about those movements, but looking at it now, it seemed they had directly detected them and couldn’t help but take action.

“I’m thinking this might just be the usual occurrence.”

“And?”

“Pardon?”

Cheongun’s gaze grew cold at the stupid voice that responded to his question.

He had always been emotionless and stiff, but this time he was even more indifferent.

“Since it’s the usual occurrence, you won’t prepare for it.”

“Th-that’s not what I meant…”

“Since it’s the usual occurrence, you’ll just watch and do nothing.”

“We-we will prepare. We’ll thoroughly investigate and…”

“What will you do if nothing happens after all that?”

“We’ll prepare so that we won’t suffer losses even if that happens.”

Sometimes things became loose like this.

Tightening that up was precisely what Cheongun had to do.

Now, and in the future as well.

“I trust you’ll do well.”

“Yes, Patriarch. I will definitely accomplish it.”

With that as the final word, Cheongun left and headed to his next destination, which was, as always, an inn.

It wasn’t particularly that he needed information or anything, but it was also a kind of habit.

In his previous life, whenever he happened to have some money, there were days when he would sit in inns like this and spend time.

Also, it was a place where he encountered unexpected connections.

“To the upper floor.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

As expected, the surroundings of Shaolin Temple were truly vast.

Countless people filled the endlessly wide streets.

‘I suppose I’m doing well.’

It was also a brief moment to reflect on himself.

Rather than the dawn when deep darkness had settled, now when he could hear the sounds of people laughing and chattering after temporarily setting aside life’s harshness was better for falling into contemplation.

He had succeeded in preventing his grandfather’s death, which could be said to be the starting point of Cheongeumjang’s collapse.

And he was trying to bring as many masters as possible into Cheongeumjang’s embrace.

There was no need to judge right and wrong now.

Future results would tell him.

“Everything has been successful so far, but…”

He had to think about cases where that might not be true.

Perhaps, until now, heavenly fortune had been on his side.

If a situation arose where he became hostile.

Cheongun thought he had enough power to protect his own body, but this too was relative.

“Jyangjaasu of Shandong…”

More precisely, the one called the Rat King.

Though he was said to be a reclusive master, he was actually a figure who hadn’t truly gone into seclusion.

As befitting one called the king of rats, this Rat King had never easily revealed his location to others.

The reason Cheongun knew of such a person was from the moment he met someone who had been used as a so-called ‘rat’ by that Rat King.

The one who had barely escaped from his grasp.

No, the one who had believed he had escaped was killed by the Rat King at some point after serving his purpose.

There wasn’t much time left now.

Having come this far, everything was so tangled up that he wondered if things could go according to plan.

Some small thing Cheongun had done in the past might have a big effect now, or an even bigger effect in the future.

Since he had already done that deed in the Demonic Sect, there was no turning back.

‘To save grandfather, there was no choice…’

While he was briefly lost in thought, one more person appeared on the upper floor of the inn.

As with everyone, gazes briefly gathered on him, but soon scattered again.

A pulled-down bamboo hat.

Beneath it, a beard that was impossible to tell whether it was unkempt by choice or inability to groom it.

Clothing that might have been gray originally, or perhaps had turned gray from all kinds of dust.

Finally, a sword that was rusted from scabbard to blade.

Nothing about his appearance was quite suitable for coming up to this upper floor, but the man naturally ascended to the upper floor and sat in an empty seat as if familiar with the place.

The man soon removed his bamboo hat, apparently not having intended to hide his face.

‘That person is…!’

It was a face he knew.

More precisely, it was a face he couldn’t not know.

He was the leader of Gyeolho Faction, the military force of the Martial Arts Alliance, and someone whose name was listed among the hundred greatest masters under heaven.

Dokgo Geom, Jin Wi.

The reason he was called Dokgo Geom despite being the leader of Gyeolho Faction was because from the beginning until the moment he became leader.

It was a name given because he had handled all missions alone.

And that was still the case now.

Taking on the role of Gyeolho Faction leader was the Martial Arts Alliance Leader’s will, not his own.

‘For such a person to be here means…’

He had definitely come for a mission.

He didn’t know what kind of mission, but the fact that none other than Dokgo Geom had stepped forward meant it wasn’t something to be easily overlooked.

‘Is he tracking the Demonic Sect’s movements?’

This deduction seemed closest to the correct answer.

At that moment, Dokgo Geom’s gaze turned toward Cheongun for an instant.

“…”

If it had been others, they would have avoided that gaze, but why? There was absolutely no reason to do so.

Speaking of Dokgo Geom’s temperament, it was gentle.

When handling missions, he was colder than anyone, but when not, he was the type who didn’t pay much attention to surrounding affairs.

Cheongun, who had been looking first, lightly bowed his head as a greeting, and soon Dokgo Geom also nodded in acknowledgment.

Now all business at the inn was finished.

It would be good to go straight to his chamber, but today there was something else to do.

“If anyone has been watching others…”

Cheongun’s gaze turned toward the window as he spoke.

“They should know that they too will be watched.”

Thud.

Setting down his last cup, Cheongun soon left the inn.

“…”

Cheongun’s final muttering.

It was quite an ambiguous statement.

The content wasn’t the problem, but the volume was.

Since it was spoken just loud enough that it might or might not reach Dokgo Geom, Dokgo Geom was also thinking about it with curiosity.

“Hmm… an interesting young man.”

This food doesn’t quite suit my taste, does it?

I was already quite tired from returning after handling a mission.

“It can’t be helped.”

If I don’t resolve this uneasiness, even the fine wine won’t go down well.

“Innkeeper.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You can have the food. I have somewhere urgent to go.”

“Ah, thank you, sir!”

When Dokgo Geom left the inn, Cheongun had already nearly reached a nearby mountain.

Even though it was after sunset, there was naturally a good reason for seeking out the mountain.

At first, he hadn’t been certain.

However, at the inn, he became sure.

That there were eyes watching Cheongun.

Their stealth was quite different from others he’d encountered so far.

Since they were determined to hide, it wasn’t easy to pinpoint that gaze among the many crowds at once.

But when Cheongun’s eyes met with Dokgo Geom’s at the inn.

He felt the gaze directed at him disappear for a moment and became certain.

Right. The identity of those sending such stealthy gazes is usually predetermined.

‘Assassins.’

Had he earned someone’s resentment?

Actually, such things weren’t important.

The position of Patriarch of Cheongeumjang was one that could create resentment even where none existed.

“This should be about right.”

Isn’t this a good place?

A place without people, quiet.

A place like home for those who hide in darkness.

Isn’t this the kind of place where dense forest blocks out even the light of the sun that hasn’t yet fully set?

As expected, before long he could feel gazes gradually drawing closer.

They were quite skilled.

To this degree, they could be considered among those of fairly high level among those who make killing their profession.

One, two.

The presences that began to gradually increase surrounded the area.

“…”

Not just one assassin, but several at minimum transcendent level.

It wasn’t the assassins themselves he needed to be wary of.

The fact that they had prepared so earnestly for Cheongun’s assassination, despite him being relatively unknown to the world, meant they had prepared with some knowledge of Cheongun’s martial prowess.

Then how exactly had they prepared?

When his thoughts reached this point, he could also tell who had sent these assassins.

Someone who could guess at Cheongun’s martial prowess while also harboring personal resentment.

A body immune to all poisons.

Especially regarding poison, Cheongun had even withstood the Formless Poison.

“…Even seeing it with my own eyes, I can’t believe it.”

“I agree. How does the world work…”

Who would have thought that at an age not even reaching twenty, being at minimum Hwagyeong level would become reality?

Minimum.

Seeing directly with these eyes, there was no telling how much was hidden beyond that.

“Hwanghwondoma sent you.”

“…”

Isn’t it obvious?

There’s only one person who would send them like this.

“Well, no more conversation is needed.”

The sound of drawing swords filled the quiet surroundings.

‘Five.’

That was the number of those visible.

Though it might be unfortunate for them, he wasn’t particularly impressed.

There’s no easier opponent than assassins who reveal themselves in darkness.

However, he didn’t let his guard down.

This was the same even when Cheongun faced mere third-rate or second-rate warriors.

In fact, he already had experience completely eliminating all pursuers during the Demonic Sect’s chase.

However, even though this place was deserted and quiet, it wasn’t very far away.

The method to overcome numerical disadvantage?

It’s quite simple.

“…Duck!!”

Perhaps having relatively good instincts, someone’s voice rang out.

However, even before that voice could finish echoing, one head was already rolling on the ground.

“Th-this crazy…!”

Immediately reducing the numbers.

Isn’t this the most certain method of overcoming numerical disadvantage?

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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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