The Owner Of The Thousand Gold Coins Is A Military Official - Chapter 16

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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 16

Seven years.

For some, it was time to achieve their purpose, and for others, it was time to devise new plans for their purpose.

And Cheongun belonged to the former.

The minimum conditions for beginning earnest activity.

He had just satisfied these requirements.

He hadn’t known that the time had come even yesterday.

However, when today arrived.

He could instinctively feel that the time had finally come.

“Whew…”

Cheongun let out a sigh of achievement that could only be exhaled after accomplishing the goals he had set as his most immediate targets.

Though it was just the time when the sun was rising, his mind had never been so clear.

It felt as if he had entered an entirely new space.

“Cheoneuisimgong has long since reached great mastery…”

The Jegang Sword Technique, a sword method he had personally created in his previous life, had also reached a state where he could perfectly execute even the final move.

He wasn’t someone who carelessly spoke of perfection.

But now he could confidently say he was in a perfect state.

As he left the room with leisurely steps, the cool dawn air entered deep into his lungs.

Closing his eyes and savoring that air for a moment, it felt quite different from yesterday.

As always, substituting his meal with spiritual medicine and finishing a brief circulation of qi completed all preparations for starting the day.

“Ah, I need to take that with me.”

He had almost forgotten.

Since it wasn’t needed during training, it had been stuck in a corner for a full seven years.

A sword made of black iron.

Though he could make a different sword now, he planned to use this black iron sword at least until he completely left Cheongeumjang.

And today, at least.

No, from today onwards, it was a day when he had to use this black iron sword.

“Heukjeon.”

“Yes. Did you call for me?”

Heukjeon appeared as if he had been waiting.

“Father is.”

“He is in Jangzujeon.”

“Let’s go.”

Cheongun always visited his father at this time to offer morning greetings.

Today too, Cheongun was going to offer morning greetings at the same time as always, but there was one slightly different point.

He was carrying the black iron sword at his side.

“Father. It’s Cheongun.”

“Yes, come in.”

Opening the door and entering, he saw his father checking various letters from this early dawn.

His father’s gaze rested on Cheongun, then settled on the black iron sword at his side.

“…”

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes. Today your bearing and mindset seem a little different.”

“That’s correct.”

Cheongun took something from his chest and handed it to his father.

What was densely written were the names of those who belonged to Cheongeumjang.

Starting from stable hands at the lowest level, up to branch leaders at the highest.

“What is… this?”

“I believe you know.”

“…”

After checking the list for a moment, Cheongjin put it down with a hardened expression.

“There’s not a single difference. How did you know?”

“Seven years.”

“…Ha, you mean you weren’t just training for seven years?”

“That’s correct.”

He had thought his son was quite an exceptional child, but this exceeded his expectations.

This list was a list of spies.

However, they were spies from everyone – the Demonic Sect, Righteous Sects, and so on.

“I was a bit surprised.”

“About not dealing with them?”

“No. About there being more spies sent by the Righteous Sects.”

Cheongun was genuinely surprised.

Despite having roots in the Righteous Sects, what could they find so untrustworthy?

Especially when they themselves possessed tremendous wealth.

Though it’s true that those who have more tend to want even more.

“Anyway, driving them out would be meaningless.”

“Because they’d be replaced?”

“Exactly. The number of people belonging to Cheongeumjang exceeds thousands, tens of thousands. Could we possibly pick them all out?”

This wasn’t the entire reason.

There were quite frequent grateful situations where spies kept other spies in check.

Even if someone slightly embezzled something from Cheongeumjang, even goods that wouldn’t be very noticeable possessed tremendous value.

As a result, situations where they checked each other occurred constantly.

“We should drive them out. Weeds shouldn’t be allowed to become trees.”

“…That’s not wrong either. However, if we can’t uproot them all at once, they’re cunning weeds that will all hide simultaneously.”

“The preparations are already complete.”

“The preparations… are complete?”

Strictly speaking, Cheongjin was the Patriarch.

For something to proceed without such Cheongjin’s permission.

However, he didn’t immediately question the responsibility for this.

If all preparations had been completed while avoiding the eyes of Patriarch Cheongjin, shouldn’t there be recognition for that ability?

“Could you tell this father what kind of preparations?”

“Yes, of course.”

Everyone at Cheongeumjang could receive personal commissions.

Both large and small ones.

It was a system where the longer one’s period of membership, the higher their degree of freedom.

Cheongjin, who hadn’t uprooted the spies.

The spies who had put down roots for such a long time.

To those who had established themselves quite deeply, Cheongun had sent personal commissions to all of them.

These were cunning people.

He had thoroughly planned and prepared over two years so they would all receive commissions on the same day at the same time.

The more thorough this plan was.

And the more ruthless it was, the more it would serve as a warning to them.

“There will be those who refuse.”

“Didn’t I prepare for two years? If they refused, another commission. If they refused again, another commission. I kept commissioning and commissioning.”

“…Thorough indeed. However, branch leader level won’t be easy.”

At those words, Cheongun showed a faint smile and answered.

“Don’t they leave their posts? Quite many of them.”

There aren’t many places where the branch leader is a spy.

However, where the branch leader is a spy, most of those below are also spies.

Because that makes activities much more convenient.

That would be strangling their own necks.

“And there’s one right under our noses.”

“Ah, I know about that one. I left him alone since he moves carefully, reading the situation. But son.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Though they were spies, they were still people who worked for Cheongeumjang. How do you plan to fill those empty positions?”

I understand you want to test me, but now even Cheongun was starting to feel a bit frustrated.

“I was ten years old, and now I’m seventeen.”

“That’s right.”

“The others would be the same.”

“…I thought so.”

Had Cheongjin really known nothing at all?

He was unaware of some things, but he had been receiving reports about taking in orphans for a very long time.

Most of the children become beggars, but there are many who don’t.

He must mean to take them in and place them in the empty positions.

Of course, I don’t expect them to do well from the start.

But they would adapt more easily and perform better than those who aren’t prepared.

After some trial and error, it means an iron fortress would be completed.

Those who wouldn’t easily allow spy infiltration while showing absolute loyalty to Cheongun, the next successor.

“But why is that branch manager like that?”

“Shouldn’t I have real combat experience?”

Real combat experience.

Including his previous life, he had countless experiences, but not this time.

Cheongun only had memories from that time, and was essentially a completely different person.

“The opponent is a Demonic Sect spy. There’s no telling what sorcery they might use.”

“I know. They’re cunning ones.”

At those words, Cheongjin burst into laughter.

Cunning.

Could they match his own son standing right before him?

“I don’t think I’ll be able to bring back the head. I need to leave it as a gift.”

“Yes. That would be sufficient repayment for what we’ve overlooked until now.”

While Cheongun was having this conversation with his father, commissioned goods were moving all at once where the spies were active.

They were people to be used and discarded anyway.

We’re just discarding them first before they get discarded.

Today, dozens of heads are falling.

Cheongun ate at the same time today as yesterday, practiced his breathing exercises, and paid his respects to his father and mother.

Today being the same as yesterday is only until now.

Until this moment, just before the sun sets and darkness falls.

Perhaps disliking the deep darkness, a full moon was up, but it didn’t particularly matter.

“A night that suits the Black Iron Sword well.”

Tonight he moves alone.

Since he had no intention of showing the martial arts he used in his previous life yet, he had sent Heukjeon to another branch.

“Son—”

Just as he finished preparing and was about to leave, he heard his mother’s voice from behind.

“Yes, Mother.”

“You can handle it in one strike, right?”

The content of her words didn’t quite match her benevolent expression, but Mother had always been like this.

“Hmm, that would be difficult. It’s my first real combat, isn’t it?”

“Oh my, that’s right. Then enjoy yourself appropriately and come back. You understand?”

“Yes. I will.”

Her eyes held not a trace of worry.

That was inevitable, since Mother’s internal energy, which had become visible from some point, was enough to surprise even Cheongun, who thought nothing could amaze him after living an additional life.

In such a mother’s eyes, Cheongun’s level would probably be clearly visible.

“Oh, do you need a new sword?”

“No. It’s still the first sword I received, so I think I should at least let it taste blood once.”

At those words, Mother showed an extremely satisfied look.

“My son… has really grown up well…!”

To think she would receive such a pleasing answer from her son.

His attitude toward the sword, the king of all weapons, was befitting a proper warrior.

“If you get any blood on your clothes, bring them to me.”

“Yes, Mother. I’ll be back.”

Leaving behind his mother’s still benevolent smile, Cheongun set out on his path.

Conceal his identity?

Such a thing was unnecessary.

There would already be no one around anyway.

The path to eliminate the spy.

His steps should normally be quick in case information had leaked, but Cheongun was leisurely.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he slowly descended Cheongeumjang.

Even as he left the area where only direct family members stayed and went further down, no one was visible around.

Even though this was originally a place where countless people would come and go.

Continuing down slowly, the branch comes into view ahead.

Being the closest branch, it could be called Cheongeumjang’s core.

Since there was also the saying to keep enemies close, Father had kept one of the spies here.

“It’s quiet.”

As if it was of no concern to anyone watching, Cheongun still walked the streets with his hands behind his back.

His face, bathed in the full moon’s light, seemed pale even though he was just walking.

“Here it is.”

This was his first time coming here directly.

The branch’s lights were on, but no one was there.

The door opened with a creaking sound, and Cheongun stepped inside.

Climbing the stairs one by one to the top floor, a room emitting a soft light appeared.

“Hehe… how long has it been? Being the closest place, it was nearly impossible to get my hands on something like this.”

The voice alone was full of desire.

A voice that seemed like it would have a satisfying taste when cut.

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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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