The Owner Of The Thousand Gold Coins Is A Military Official - Chapter 114

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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 114

Dragon Phoenix Assembly.

Also called the Late-Stage Rising Star Competition.

The Martial Arts Alliance was preparing for this Dragon Phoenix Assembly once again.

“How was it? Were there any children who caught your eye?”

The Martial Arts Alliance Master.

Though he was sometimes called the greatest under heaven of this generation, there were still too many dissenting voices.

Some said the Demonic Sect Leader was stronger, while others claimed the previous Martial Arts Alliance Master was still superior.

Some even said it was the current Alliance Master’s teacher.

“Yes. Naturally, there were several with outstanding qualities from Namgung, Moyong, Hwasan, and others.”

The former head of the Jegal Family and the brain of the orthodox Martial Arts Alliance.

A figure who had worked alongside the previous Martial Arts Alliance Master.

Usually, when a new Alliance Master is elected, their close associates change as well.

However, Jegal Wi alone remained unchanged.

“I don’t know how this Dragon Phoenix Assembly will unfold, but we cannot allow an incident like last time to occur.”

“I keep that in mind.”

A small disturbance had occurred at the previous Dragon Phoenix Assembly.

It wasn’t even the Demonic Sect, but unidentified individuals who used Thunder Orbs to turn what should have been a festival into the worst possible situation.

Though it had been several years since then, being cautious and prepared was never excessive.

“I heard the Demonic Sect’s movements are somewhat puzzling.”

“They seem to be targeting Cheongeumjang first. Since the influence of their renowned wealth throughout the realm is enormous, they appear concerned about Cheongeumjang joining forces with us.”

“Hah… those Demonic Sect bastards…”

They were always troublesome bunch.

They should just stay holed up in those Cheonsan mountains, yet why do they keep coveting Zhongyuan?

“What about the Yellow Robes and Blue Robes?”

“As you instructed, we are allowing successors from various sects and families to join.”

“It must be done that way.”

“You need not worry about this either.”

Thanks to Jegal Wi, they had managed to handle even that situation with minimal damage.

“By the way, is Cheongeumjang alright?”

It was a place he couldn’t help but be concerned about.

If that immeasurable power of gold fell into the Demonic Sect’s hands, anything could happen.

“I believe I heard that Cheongeumjang’s only Patriarch had fallen seriously ill.”

It was a moment of strange contradiction.

A place they couldn’t help but be concerned about, yet they knew little detailed information.

However, that was about the extent of Cheongeumjang’s situation.

If it were a family or another sect, it might be different, but they were ultimately a merchant group.

For such massive powers, history was something that could never be ignored.

Even if Hwasan.

Or Shaolin.

Even if they had no choice but to put forth an incompetent person as Patriarch, their name would not fall.

However, Cheongeumjang was different.

A place with no history and therefore no foundation.

A place where all they had was gold.

If a proper person couldn’t continue leading Cheongeumjang, it meant it could be torn apart at any time.

They could have their current power because many people had gathered, but they absolutely needed a focal point to unite them.

Currently, the previous Patriarch served as that focal point, and the current Patriarch had been fulfilling that role for quite some time, but Cheongeumjang was a place that couldn’t afford to fail even for a moment.

“According to recent information… it seems those rumors were indeed false.”

“A common desperate measure.”

“Indeed. It seems they spent time that way, but recently appear to be showing themselves again.”

How should this be received?

He didn’t know what Cheongeumjang’s Patriarch was thinking, but he hoped they weren’t short-sighted.

A place with much to possess but relatively little power to protect it.

Nothing could be more appetizing than this.

The Martial Arts Alliance was already eyeing this opportunity, and weren’t the Demonic Sect and Imperial Court targeting it as well?

Now was the time to observe.

Since there wasn’t much information about that Patriarch yet.

* * *

“Tch. This isn’t something to do twice.”

Cheongun, having finished the examination, couldn’t erase his unpleasant expression.

The suffocatingly quiet and still atmosphere.

He had felt it during the previous examination too, but that completely different kind of stuffiness gave him considerable displeasure.

Moreover, while others returned by carriage or had servants waiting in abundance, only Cheongun had come alone and was leaving alone.

“…hyeop. Sohyeop!”

Then, a voice calling for Cheongun was heard.

Cheongun deliberately didn’t look back.

He had a strong premonition that he would get caught up in another troublesome matter.

Seeing that he was getting the same intuition he’d had at the inn before, this was surely going to be troublesome.

“Sohyeop!”

Cheongun told himself that it probably wasn’t a voice calling for him and tried to continue on his way.

“Whew… Sohyeop. Why are you in such a hurry?”

“…I didn’t realize you were calling me.”

“Haha. That makes sense too.”

The man who seemed quite sociable appeared to be around Cheongun’s age.

The man, showing a good-natured smile, soon introduced himself.

“I am called Haweonje. Pleased to meet you, Sohyeop.”

“…Haweonje?”

“Hmm? Do you perhaps know me?”

There might be a possibility of someone with the same name, but finding someone with the same name among those who had taken the examination all the way to Wonsi was impossible.

So this must be the owner of that name Cheongun had known from his previous life.

Haweonje.

The Emperor’s closest aide and a figure who had risen to the center of power.

His end was unknown, but one thing was certain: this man was not all that met the eye.

It would be one thing if Cheongun had come here to meet Haweonje, but if this man had approached him directly, the meaning changed somewhat, no, significantly.

Nothing good would come from getting close to an Imperial Court figure.

More precisely, compared to the good things, the opposite was too contrasting.

Haweonje had walked a smooth path due to his merit in driving out northern barbarians and his family being a retainer family.

In a way, he could be seen as someone who started from the exact opposite starting point from Cheongun.

This wasn’t a good omen.

If that affable, good-natured smile was sincere, Haweonje would never have risen to that position.

Thoroughly using what could be used and discarding what should be discarded.

He was someone who knew all too well the importance of severing and forming connections.

“I don’t know. Do you have business with me?”

“Haha. My apologies. Among those who took this examination, you seem to be the first person I’ve seen around my age. May I ask where you’re from?”

“A nameless place. I am called Wun.”

There was no way he would believe those words as they were.

Suspicion was already clearly growing in his eyes.

Having already reached the summit.

If he had met Haweonje when he was climbing toward that summit, these would be eyes he couldn’t have read, but the current Haweonje was still young.

While he might be good at finding things out, he seemed a bit clumsy at concealing things.

“First, it seems I have committed a breach of etiquette in my delight at meeting you. My apologies, Sohyeop.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. Please don’t mind it.”

Apology or not, Cheongun honestly just wanted to leave.

Nothing was more exhausting than expending mental energy during conversation.

This was something that caused headaches no matter how much internal energy one possessed.

“To take the Wonsi examination at such a young age. It must surely be great fortune.”

“The same could be said of you, Sohyeop.”

“Since this is also fate, how about we converse for a while?”

Should he refuse?

If it were up to his feelings, he would want to refuse.

It was bothersome after all.

However, missing an opportunity because of that bother would be the most foolish action of all.

Though he didn’t consider meeting Haweonje itself an opportunity, Cheongun hadn’t forgotten that matter.

The fact that the Imperial Court was most likely responsible for poisoning Grandfather.

Though this wasn’t certain either, that made this process all the more necessary.

For that purpose, he absolutely needed at least one connection to the Imperial Court.

Many conditions followed.

First, it absolutely must not be a group.

The interests desired by a group and those desired by an individual necessarily differed in nature.

Since Cheongun was currently an individual, he needed a collaborator and supporter suited to that individual.

However, was choosing Haweonje as that target really correct?

Someone who would become close to the Emperor in a short time?

Well, nothing was decided yet.

To confirm this, he would first need to have a conversation.

“…Very well.”

“Haha! Thank you, Sohyeop. Let’s go. There’s a place I frequent.”

The place Haweonje took Cheongun to was Cheongru.

Right, there was one forgotten fact—Haweonje was also said to have been fond of women.

“…”

Displeasure couldn’t be hidden from Cheongun’s expression.

Last time with Dokgo Geom, at least the courtesans hadn’t entered the room.

Now Haweonje had courtesans flanking him on both sides.

At least it was Cheongru and not Hongru.

“Here… Sohyeop. Allow me to offer you a drink.”

In contrast to Haweonje who was overflowing with warmth and affection, coldness was flowing from Cheongun’s side.

Though Cheongun received the cup, he didn’t drink.

He had erased the displeasure from his expression, but that didn’t mean he showed any sign of being comfortable.

He was simply staring at Haweonje.

“Ahem… Sohyeop. Why do you not enjoy the refined pleasures?”

“Flowers do not bloom in my refined pleasures.”

“…Oh my. I have committed a breach of etiquette. However, don’t flowers also gather around such refined pleasures?”

Cheongun showed consideration for them in his own way.

“Do flowers have feet attached somewhere? Flowers must always remain in the same place to not lose their beauty.”

“…”

Silence settled inside the room.

Even though he had already euphemistically referred to the courtesans as flowers, if this was the response, he had no choice but to speak more strongly.

Those who went around selling smiles here and there were, in Cheongun’s view, already uprooted.

“Haha! Well now, I’ve learned something from Sohyeop.”

Haweonje’s eyes flashed dangerously for a moment.

The beautiful courtesans he had been embracing on both sides could no longer hold Haweonje’s interest.

“Everyone, withdraw for now.”

“Yes, Gongja.”

Having dismissed everyone, Haweonje offered Cheongun a drink.

“Sohyeop. I don’t know why I’m only meeting you now.”

“I’m not such a special person.”

“This is a world where even modesty becomes poison when excessive.”

Cheongun and modesty.

Could there be words more ill-matched than these?

Haweonje immediately grasped Cheongun’s extraordinary nature.

From his noble clothing to his gaze that was far too accustomed to commanding people.

If this person was truly from some unknown origin, that would be remarkable in its own way.

At first, it had been pure curiosity.

An examination candidate of similar age to himself.

But now, having conversed with him, he was no ordinary person.

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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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