The Owner Of The Thousand Gold Coins Is A Military Official - Chapter 110

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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 110

The darkness had already settled thickly.

This was also the time when Cheongun felt most comfortable.

His previous life had already ended long ago, yet the habits that remained from that time showed no signs of disappearing.

“I should pick up the pace a bit.”

Just because he was moving at night didn’t mean he wore black clothing.

Today was also a day when Cheongun himself would not hide who he was.

With a single step, Cheongun moved an tremendous distance in an instant and headed toward his destination as if stepping on clouds.

As he arrived near his destination, the atmosphere around him changed.

Things that could only be felt from those who made killing their profession.

Those filthy yet ominous sensations.

However, Cheongun didn’t particularly feel that way.

If these people had made killing their profession, then Cheongun’s profession had been surviving hell at every moment.

“This way.”

To enter the interior of Salmaek, he had to cross a river.

Originally, if you threw silver coins into the river at this place, a guide would come out after reading the ripples.

However, Cheongun was now the owner of this place.

Even if those here didn’t know that fact.

Even if they didn’t accept it, it was an unchanging fact.

Perhaps if Dokgo Geom had known that this Shadowless Blade symbolized the owner of Salmaek, he wouldn’t have handed it back to Cheongun.

Ripples began to form on the river, but Cheongun didn’t throw silver coins into the river.

Step by step.

He was simply crossing over it leisurely with his hands clasped behind his back, as if walking on an ordinary path.

“It should be time for him to return soon…”

The guide who was keeping watch soon stirred at the ripples occurring on the river.

“Ah, it seems he’s come.”

He had heard that this commission was a very important one.

Though he was just a low-ranking member guarding the entrance and didn’t know the details, he could tell that Salmaek’s fate hung in the balance.

“…Hm?”

However, the ripples that he thought had ended with just one began to occur continuously.

He wondered if someone was continuously throwing stones, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

The ripples were occurring in a regular pattern.

Just as he was about to ring the alarm bell to signal an intrusion due to the ominous feeling that crept over him.

“Welcome your new master.”

The moment he turned around, goosebumps rose at the voice he heard.

He hadn’t even imagined that these ripples were made by a person, let alone sensed any presence.

“Ma, master…?”

“The choice is yours. Ring the alarm bell, or bow your head.”

“…”

The sound of swallowing dry saliva echoed once.

‘The person who should return hasn’t returned…’

An unexpected outsider had arrived.

Right on time for when he should have returned.

“I, I greet the master of Salmaek.”

Even if this was the wrong choice, it would only delay his death by a little.

It was a much better choice than dying right now.

“Continue with what you were doing.”

“Yes, yes.”

Cheongun, who had entered the interior, headed straight for the largest pavilion.

That place must be where the head of Salmaek resided.

Whether it should be called natural or not, the assassins who had been waiting inside began to reveal themselves one by one at the appearance of the unexpected outsider.

“…Who is that?”

“Unless he’s insane, he wouldn’t have come alone to attack…”

“However, didn’t none of us hear anything about this intruder?”

Since the Danju-level members were away, their vacant positions had to be filled by Budanju-level personnel.

“Welcome the new head of Salmaek.”

The intruder’s voice was heard at just the right moment.

“What nonsense is he…”

“A new head?”

While everyone was expressing doubt, Cheongun drew the Shadowless Blade from his chest.

“That is…!”

“How is that thing in that bastard’s hands…”

A moment of silence settled.

Then everyone checked each other’s reactions.

Something that looked like nothing special.

If they could just snatch the Shadowless Blade from the hands of this person who barely looked like an adult, couldn’t they become the owner of this Salmaek?

“…It might be a fake, so I’ll go check it myself.”

“…No. It would be better if I went.”

“What are you saying? Among these people, I’m the only one who has seen the Shadowless Blade directly, am I not? Naturally, I should be the one to go.”

Cheongun’s expression, who was still holding the Shadowless Blade in the same spot, gradually hardened.

He had expected it, but to move exactly as expected.

“I’ll go check…”

At that moment, the heart of the Budanju who had first said he would personally verify the Shadowless Blade was pierced through.

The Budanju died instantly without even being able to scream.

“Wh, what…!”

“Look. I’ve graciously shown you.”

Silence settled.

Was this a hidden weapon technique?

No, it was simply thrown with force behind it.

Everyone failed to perceive even the moment of throwing, and only realized what had happened after the heart was pierced.

The difference in skill was insufficient to describe even as overwhelming.

Stepping forward now would literally be an act of suicide.

Then how should they overcome the current situation?

There was only one method.

“It, it is the Shadowless Blade!”

Since this was the word of someone who claimed to have actually seen the Shadowless Blade, its credibility was even higher.

“I, I greet the head of Salmaek.”

“The head of Salmaek…”

Everyone began to bow their heads right there on the spot.

“Everyone inform each unit. Who has newly become the head of Salmaek.”

“Y, yes sir!”

“And gather again within half a shichen.”

While the Danju were away, the Budanju began informing the members that a new master had appeared.

Leaving the troublesome tasks to be handled by others, Cheongun entered the interior of the residence where the head of Salmaek had stayed.

He had thought its scale was particularly massive, and indeed, the interior contained all sorts of things.

Among them, there were several places that stood out the most, but each one was unpleasant to look at due to their ugliness.

The place where things received after handling commissions were gathered was the most noticeable.

Though it couldn’t compare to Cheongeumjang, looking at the things collected, it was similar to the amount Cheongun had offered as donations to Shaolin.

In other words, it was pocket change.

During the half shichen he had given the others, Cheongun was able to learn more details about Salmaek.

The basic internal structure and the structure of the members.

Even the place where those being raised as assassins were gathered.

By the time this complete assessment was nearly finished, the sub-leaders he had ordered to return were coming back one by one.

“Everyone has gathered.”

“All of them?”

“Yes. Those gathered now are everyone.”

Swoosh.

He neither asked anything nor received any reports.

As if he had already decided their fate from the beginning, Cheongun’s sword struck without the slightest hesitation, beheading all those gathered in a single blow the moment it was drawn.

“Ugh, ahhh!!”

Ah, except for one.

“Do you know why I spared you?”

“Be-because you recognized the Shadowless Blade…?”

Indeed, he was quick-witted.

He wasn’t a cold-blooded person who failed to understand even once.

Naturally, with their level, they couldn’t understand or grasp Cheongun’s martial prowess at all.

A mistake born from ignorance.

In fact, even this wasn’t something Cheongun would easily overlook.

While ignorance itself isn’t a sin, the actions committed through ignorance are indeed sins.

“From now on, you will manage this place.”

“…I obey your command.”

“Since I cannot stay here, you will become the leader in normal times.”

“Should I operate it as usual…?”

“Do so, and report on the situation periodically from now on.”

“I obey your command.”

“For that to happen, drink this.”

An unidentified liquid that Cheongun took from his chest.

This was a poison that required periodic consumption of an antidote.

Quick-witted people cannot be trusted.

They tend to perform best when you hold a definite weakness and shake them with it.

“Th-this is…”

“Come to me directly to report. If you don’t…”

You could see him becoming frightened at Cheongun’s trailing words.

“You seem to understand without me saying it.”

“I-I understand.”

It’s best to maintain an appropriate boundary with such people.

As quick-witted as they are, they have exceptional ability when it comes to looking after their own interests.

And they’re also the type who would scheme to take that position themselves if you show even the slightest opening.

“I should go to where the children are first.”

“I will guide you.”

Upon arriving at where the children were, a quietness like entering a vast forest could be felt.

It was a feeling quite removed from what you’d generally expect from children, but it seemed the basic training of assassins was in the process of erasing emotions.

“Wait here.”

“Yes.”

As he opened the door and entered, darkness so thick you couldn’t see an inch ahead greeted Cheongun.

And the moment he stepped inside, hidden weapons came flying.

Since penetrating his protective energy was impossible, Cheongun simply clasped his hands behind his back and calmly deflected those hidden weapons.

Though Cheongun could see their forms clearly, in such darkness the children surely couldn’t see Cheongun.

Cheongun took an unlit torch from the acting leader who was holding it and created a small flame at his fingertip.

“Sa-Samadhi True Fire…!”

Despair began to swirl in the eyes of the acting leader as he realized what level the person who had grasped his weakness was at.

Soon the interior of the room brightened.

Inside were so many children that there wouldn’t be room if they all lay down together.

You could feel it just from their eyes.

Some had eyes full of wariness, others already had dead eyes.

“You are free.”

“…?”

Everyone showed bewilderment at the sudden announcement.

“The person before you has become the new leader of Salmaek!!”

Cheongun gestured to the children who were about to show courtesy at those words, keeping his gaze fixed as he spoke.

“There are quite a few treasures in the previous leader’s quarters. Give ample wealth to any child who wishes to leave.”

“I obey your command.”

“You must choose now. If not now, you will have to continue staying in Salmaek… no, in what was called Salmaek.”

The children weren’t unaware either.

If they left, how would they survive?

Since they were all orphans, they had often relied on each other even within this place.

Then, someone rising from the darkness caught his eye.

Could they be barely fifteen now?

“What will we… do from now on?”

“Rest appropriately, train appropriately. You’ll sleep in spacious places.”

“I want to ask about the work we must do.”

“That is precisely the work you must do. Doing this, you’ll eventually carry out missions.”

“What kind of missions?”

Cheongun handed the torch to the acting leader and slowly walked into the depths of the darkness.

He could feel them flinch.

Having witnessed Samadhi True Fire before their eyes, they weren’t unaware that their full strength was merely at a squirming level to their opponent.

“You will gather information.”

“Infor…mation? What about assassination…”

“You won’t do such things. If there ever comes a time when someone must be killed.”

Cheongun soon created a small flame at his fingertip before them.

“I’ll kill them with my own hands.”

The flame reflected in their dark pupils.

Though emotions had now been completely erased, it seemed they retained everything else.

“…How can we believe those words?”

Anxiety, fear, terror.

To the question filled with all sorts of things, Cheongun extinguished the flame at his fingertip and then answered.

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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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