The Owner Of The Thousand Gold Coins Is A Military Official - Chapter 48

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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 48

 

His steps toward the mountain peak are light.

 

He was truly curious about who it was, and to think they would personally extend an invitation like this.

 

“You, and you. Bring the unit members and follow.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

The Bloodscent Unit, composed of about ten people.

 

They were called the Bloodscent Unit because only red bloodstains and that scent remained where they had passed.

 

This name too came not from within the Demonic Sect, but from outside.

 

It was a name given by people of the Righteous Sect and passed down through generations.

 

While not quite the absolute elite, it was a place that could confidently claim to belong among the elite.

 

“Is it over there?”

 

“Yes. We received a report that a child and an old man are at that mountain peak.”

 

“Is that all?”

 

“…Yes. So we sent a unit member to confirm, but failed due to the one up there.”

 

At those words, the woman’s expression hardened slightly.

 

“Don’t carelessly use the word ‘failure.’ It makes it sound like I failed.”

 

“I apologize.”

 

“A child and an old man…”

 

What they had briefly encountered at the inn.

 

Though they were two people with no contact whatsoever after that, sometimes intuition can be more accurate.

 

Based on that intuition, Cheongun was not the type of person to help others without reason.

 

Of course, she couldn’t be certain.

 

That’s why she was going to add certainty to that speculation.

 

The closer they got to the mountain peak, the busier the Bloodscent Unit members’ movements became.

 

Assessing the situation in advance and finishing it was their mission for today.

 

‘How ominous.’

 

That was her first impression.

 

The closer they got to the mountain peak, the more an ominous aura filled the surroundings.

 

To create such an atmosphere without even releasing power.

 

Indeed, those who had sparked her curiosity were all far from ordinary people.

 

“You’ll have to stay here.”

 

“Pardon? How could we…”

 

“If you’re going to sacrifice your lives, shouldn’t you do it more worthily?”

 

“…Yes, sir. We’ll stand by.”

 

As they gradually reached the summit, they could see hollowed-out patches of ground around them.

 

And in one of those pits, the corpses of those who had left to handle this place were scattered about.

 

She had wondered why they had made pits.

 

‘They had prepared graves?’

 

What an attractive action this was.

 

To extend an invitation, then serve not a feast but a grave to the guest who accepted the invitation.

 

“Hmm—we meet again?”

 

“…”

 

Indeed, she hadn’t seen wrong at the inn.

 

The handsome man was sitting perched on a rock, his hand resting on his sword, looking at her emotionlessly.

 

“We meet again.”

 

“Who might you be and from where, to have invited me to this remote place?”

 

“It doesn’t seem like an important question.”

 

“It’s important to me.”

 

“If it’s not important to me, then it’s not important.”

 

“Then… there’s nothing I can do.”

 

Despite harboring the body of the Demonic Sect, the sword he drew possessed a blade whiter than any other sword.

 

‘That is…’

 

It wasn’t simply a white sword.

 

She hadn’t known when it was in its sheath, but now that it was drawn, she could finally tell who her opponent was.

 

One of the candidates for the Demonic Sect’s young leader position.

 

The youngest daughter among the Heavenly Demon’s two sons and one daughter, born between the Heavenly Demon and the Ice Palace.

 

“I’ll freeze everything except your mouth. So you can still answer.”

 

“If you can do so.”

 

Cheongun also drew his sword, and this time a sword of excessive blackness revealed itself.

 

“Ah, shall we at least exchange names?”

 

“Wun.”

 

“…Unexpected. Really. I thought you would never reveal it.”

 

“The name shouldn’t be that long.”

 

“Cheongsoso.”

 

“If it’s Cheongsoso…”

 

“Oh my, you seem to know my name?”

 

Know it, indeed.

 

He was just pretending to know moderately.

 

Meanwhile, Cheongsoso was finding interest even in Cheongun’s reaction.

 

Who she was.

 

Even knowing what kind of name Cheongsoso was, there was no particular change.

 

“They call me a flower blooming in barren land.”

 

At those words, Cheongsoso finally revealed the face she had been hiding behind her veil.

 

Even in the martial world, Cheongsoso was quite a renowned figure.

 

Usually, children who possessed the power of the Ice Palace would have their hair turn white from that cold energy, but Cheongsoso’s hair was a deep red.

 

Since the Heavenly Demon didn’t have red hair either, there were various stories, but now no one questioned it.

 

Because all those who had harbored doubts were dead.

 

The seemingly ruthless Heavenly Demon apparently showed at least minimal affection to his own children.

 

There had been stories in the past that the relationship between the Heavenly Demon and his children was quite good.

 

Moreover, as she had earned the epithet of a flower blooming in barren land, her appearance was quite outstanding.

 

With a bewitching atmosphere following her passionate red hair that didn’t suit the Ice Palace.

 

“I don’t particularly like that saying. But hearing it from you doesn’t sound too bad.”

 

“They say the more beautiful a flower is, the more thorns it harbors.”

 

The more they conversed, the more she liked this man.

 

If Cheongsoso had heard such words normally, she might have already drawn her sword, but the situation was different.

 

Right now, with swords pointed at each other.

 

To show her thorns.

 

“Does proving my thorns are sharp prove my beauty?”

 

“Do you need to prove it to me? You prove it to yourself.”

 

It meant to give her all.

 

And as if understanding that correctly, the tip of Cheongun’s drawn sword turned toward Cheongsoso.

 

Yes, hoping that his martial prowess would be as outstanding as his eloquence, Cheongsoso also began infusing internal energy into her sword.

 

Cheongun was thoroughly planning not to use swordsmanship.

 

He couldn’t give any clue that would reveal his identity.

 

Just as their swords were about to clash.

 

A voice that shouldn’t be heard came from behind.

 

“Big brother! When are you coming!”

 

When Cheongun, who had said he would come soon, didn’t return, Hwawol had come to fetch him herself.

 

“So it was that child. The one here.”

 

“Go back. I’ll be there shortly.”

 

“Ah… yes!”

 

Hwawol, who sensed the unusual atmosphere, fortunately returned home quickly.

 

However, the fact that she had caught Cheongsoso’s attention was problematic, if anything.

 

“It was because of that child, wasn’t it?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Being here, protecting this land.”

 

“….”

 

Cheongun could not deny it.

 

No, to be precise, he did not deny it.

 

“Good. How about making a deal with me?”

 

“What kind of…”

 

“That child, and that child’s grandfather. We’ll leave them be.”

 

“…What is the price?”

 

“Three times. Just block my attacks three times, and come with us.”

 

“To the Demonic Sect?”

 

“Are you someone who lives trapped in prejudice?”

 

“…I’ll accept.”

 

“Good.”

 

I can clearly see the eyes that had maintained emotionlessness wavering.

 

Perhaps because she removed the veil that was covering her face, it comes into view more clearly.

 

‘This isn’t a child I met by chance?’

 

Judging by age, he definitely couldn’t be the child’s father.

 

Then I wondered if he might be some distant family.

 

Well, whatever it was didn’t matter.

 

What was important was that the man who called himself Wun had accepted this proposal.

 

However, Cheongun was in a very calm state right now.

 

Though things had deviated slightly from the plan, that deviation had turned in a more positive direction.

 

A method to infiltrate the Demonic Sect.

 

Among them, the safest and most certain path had opened.

 

If he had simply defected, it probably would have been difficult to move around properly.

 

But if things flowed this way, Cheongsoso right before his eyes.

 

The Heavenly Demon’s youngest daughter and one of the candidates for Young Sect Leader would become Cheongun’s patron.

 

It was a established fact that the stronger the patron one had, the freer one’s movements became.

 

Hwawol’s role was also important in this.

 

A powerful means to keep someone who wasn’t from the Demonic Sect tied to the Demonic Sect.

 

That’s what they would think.

 

If it hadn’t been for Cheongun, those two men who had come before would probably have taken Hwawol to the Demonic Sect.

 

Even without saying it, everyone could tell that Grandfather would have met the same end.

 

Saving two people, and creating a situation that Cheongun couldn’t make alone.

 

“Shall we go?”

 

“Come on.”

 

What was important now was for Cheongun to prove his strength to Cheongsoso.

 

The act of proving oneself to others wasn’t particularly to his liking, but this much sacrifice for the greater cause.

 

Was nothing at all.

 

Cheongsoso’s first attack was simple.

 

An attack containing purely internal energy without any special techniques.

 

Of course, ordinary people wouldn’t have been able to properly withstand that cold energy alone, but Cheongun wasn’t at such a mediocre level.

 

There was no need to even block it, was there?

 

It seemed like she was trying to gauge Cheongun’s level appropriately, but this much made it impossible to even gauge.

 

Naturally, he had no intention of showing all his power.

 

That would rather restrict his movements within the Demonic Sect.

 

Not being ignored by others, while also not attracting the attention of those who would make things quite troublesome if he drew their notice.

 

He tried to think of such a level, but thinking about it, it seemed meaningless in the current situation.

 

Wasn’t the person before his eyes the Heavenly Demon’s daughter?

 

“I expected it, but… you don’t even flinch at this level of cold energy.”

 

Strong, solid, and sharp things weren’t the only forms of power.

 

Even a martial artist who had reached the realm of immunity to heat and cold would absolutely be unable to resist this cold energy.

 

He didn’t even seem to feel a chill, let alone the cold energy.

 

“There’s no need to see the next one, is there?”

 

“Is it over?”

 

“Yes. It’s over. But will you really come with us?”

 

“Didn’t we already make a promise?”

 

“Hehe, at times like this, that stubbornness of the Righteous Sect is quite appealing.”

 

Cheongsoso was absolutely not a generous person toward others.

 

However, that included herself as well.

 

Someone who was strict with herself too.

 

What should be done and what shouldn’t be done.

 

What could be done and what couldn’t be done.

 

She was someone who clearly knew about these things.

 

The Cheongun before her eyes?

 

Cheongsoso’s conclusion was that she couldn’t defeat him.

 

Mutual destruction might be possible, but there was absolutely no reason to do such a foolish thing.

 

To be able to recruit such a person with just the condition of leaving one little kid and one old man alone.

 

“Do you need to say your final farewells?”

 

“That would be appreciated.”

 

“Good. One hour should be fine, right? When you’re done with your farewells, come down below. I’ll be waiting.”

 

“Very well.”

 

It was a strange situation.

 

Looking at just the results, it seemed like one side had gained unilateral advantage, but that wasn’t actually the case.

 

With Cheongsoso returning like that, Cheongun went to exchange final farewells as he had said.

 

After all, wasn’t he someone who would stay briefly like mist on a mountain peak and then disappear?

 

After briefly looking at Hwawol’s tearful face, he soon set off on his journey again.

 

Leaving behind a promise that he would return before long.

 

The events at Kunlun spanning about seven days and nights were nearly coming to an end.

 

As he left the mountain peak, those who had received Cheongsoso’s orders were waiting hidden around the area.

 

“Return. If even one more person remains in this vicinity, I won’t leave.”

 

“….”

 

Only then did the presence of people gradually disappear.

 

The more he showed such attachment to this place, the safer they would become and the more freedom of movement Cheongun would be granted.

 

As he leisurely descended the mountain along the path, he could see Cheongsoso and others who had already finished preparing to depart.

 

“Did your farewells go well?”

 

“Thanks to you.”

 

“Now, are we really going? To Singyeo?”

 

“Yes.”

 

An inscrutable gaze.

 

Cheongsoso, who found that even more appealing, let out a chuckle and returned to where she originally was.

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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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