The Owner Of The Thousand Gold Coins Is A Military Official - Chapter 58

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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 58

 

The thrill of having his prediction proven correct.

 

Even though it was merely a guess, there was one reason why Pokdanma’s expression changed in an instant.

 

“So you were Geomma’s disciple…!”

 

However, there was something that needed to be dealt with first.

 

It was that sword energy that appeared after absorbing all the thick fog.

 

“Hup!!”

 

He tried to block the sword energy by wrapping internal energy around both arms, but this power was far from ordinary.

 

‘As expected, Geomma’s disciple is different…!’

 

Only after deploying over seventy percent of his internal energy could he deflect this sword energy.

 

Even after deflecting it, Pokdanma’s arms were trembling slightly.

 

‘Have I been neglecting my training…’

 

No.

 

That wasn’t it.

 

Pokdanma felt no shame about himself.

 

At least not regarding his efforts.

 

It was simply that this disciple of Geomma before his eyes possessed absurd talent.

 

Cheongun didn’t particularly care whether Pokdanma blocked or deflected his sword energy.

 

He was only interested in the words that came from his mouth.

 

“…?”

 

What was this about now?

 

Suddenly calling him Geomma’s disciple.

 

He was using a sword, but could it be that he felt this way because of this demonic energy?

 

Though puzzled, he naturally didn’t show it.

 

According to the original plan, he intended to disguise himself as one of the supporters of another Sect Leader candidate targeting Pokdanma.

 

But since Pokdanma was showing such a reaction, calling him Geomma’s disciple and all, it seemed things would work out more easily.

 

There was no need to correct a misunderstanding that didn’t need correcting.

 

“…”

 

Seeing Cheongun say nothing, Pokdanma asked with a triumphant smile.

 

“So. How is Master Geomma doing?”

 

He had to make a quick judgment.

 

Pokdanma would die here anyway, but the traces he left would become all the circumstantial evidence.

 

In that expression speaking of Geomma, he could feel elation along with a very slight hint of mockery.

 

Geomma was clearly a figure who appeared during the Jeongma Great War, so why did this feel so off?

 

‘That Geomma… might not be the same Geomma.’

 

Otherwise, there would be no reason for such a reaction.

 

Above all, the very fact that he was asking about his current situation probably meant that Geomma wasn’t in this Demonic Sect.

 

Geomma wasn’t in the Demonic Sect.

 

And judging by that reaction, Geomma had either been expelled or left the Demonic Sect of his own accord.

 

He must think that Geomma had taken on a disciple outside and that disciple had now infiltrated the sect like this.

 

Now he could understand what that elation in his expression meant.

 

Assuming the relationship between Geomma and the entire Demonic Sect wasn’t good, he thought he had discovered in advance a plan to use a disciple to cause internal division within the Demonic Sect.

 

When his thoughts reached this point, Cheongun could finally answer Pokdanma’s question.

 

“Do you have the right to ask?”

 

“Hah… I had my suspicions. To think you really were Geomma’s disciple…”

 

But Pokdanma’s reaction was somehow strange.

 

The mockery that had briefly shown in his expression instantly disappeared, and guilt began to show.

 

“Right. I don’t have the right to ask.”

 

Throughout all his previous lives, Cheongun had met all kinds of people, but Pokdanma became quite memorable among them.

 

How could he show mockery and then display such deep guilt?

 

“Please give him my regards. Tell him that back then, I had no choice.”

 

“I will do so.”

 

He couldn’t delay any more time.

 

Those who would notice from the earlier explosion would have already noticed.

 

There was no need to go that far, but Pokdanma had also imposed restrictions on himself.

 

Saying he would finish things within that time.

 

And putting pressure on Cheongun as well.

 

But his thoughts had changed a bit.

 

Especially since his opponent was none other than Geomma’s disciple.

 

“Come. I’ll go with full power.”

 

“…Let’s do that.”

 

Thud, thudud, thududud.

 

Countless Thunder Orbs fell to the ground.

 

It seemed to be a courtesy toward Geomma.

 

Not using the Thunder Orbs.

 

“Pointless gesture.”

 

You’re quite arrogant, child of Geomma.”

 

At those words, Cheongun let out a light laugh and said.

 

“It seems you know it yourself.”

 

“…You have a long tongue.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

The conversation had gone on longer than expected.

 

But it was a conversation worth having.

 

He couldn’t use the Golden Garment Sword Technique or the Steel Forging Sword Technique.

 

It was regrettable that he didn’t know much about the Demonic Sect’s sword techniques.

 

It would have been good if he had seen even a little.

 

“Can you show me Senior Geomma’s sword?”

 

Especially for situations like this.

 

“You don’t have. That qualification.”

 

“Haha, right. I understand.”

 

He wrapped and condensed internal energy and demonic energy around his sword.

 

There was nothing else he could do, but fortunately Pokdanma had said he wouldn’t use Thunder Orbs.

 

Of course, he didn’t trust those words.

 

The Demonic Sect was all like that.

 

As black demonic energy wrapped around the black sword, they harmonized as if they had been one from the beginning.

 

“Come.”

 

Didn’t they both know?

 

That the earlier sword energy was a warning.

 

As if becoming one with the wind, Cheongun’s body appeared before Pokdanma in an instant.

 

It wasn’t a matter of speed.

 

Just as one doesn’t usually notice the wind when it’s not strong.

 

That’s how Cheongun appeared right in front of Pokdanma.

 

“It’s just like Ghost Step.”

 

Ghost Step, one of Geomma’s movement techniques.

 

It was named for walking like a ghost, as if moving with one’s soul.

 

He could see some differences, but since it was from long ago, he was certain that lacking parts had been filled and excessive parts had been reduced.

 

Cheongun wondered what this was about, but he appropriately walked the line between silence and affirmation, preventing suspicion from taking root in Pokdanma.

 

“However, then and now, there’s no such thing as something absolutely impossible…!”

 

Pokdanma was confident of victory.

 

This Ghost Step was a movement technique that Geomma used to favor, not only for its stealth but also for leaving no trace even when stationary.

 

Pokdanma, who had witnessed this countless times by his side, had even heard directly from Geomma about the moment that would become the weakness of this Ghost Step.

 

Two steps back.

 

And the moment he turned around and planted his left foot on the ground.

 

The gap that formed precisely between his ribs was an opening that even Geomma would find impossible to exploit.

 

It was a gap that was hard to find, having taken ten years just to witness directly.

 

It was unfortunate for that disciple, but regrettably, conveying his regards would have to be done in person later.

 

Pokdanma’s index and middle fingers, which had been clenched in a fist, extended firmly.

 

“Did you underestimate me just because I don’t have Thunder Orbs?!”

 

He could feel tremendous internal energy condensing at the tips of his two fingers in an instant.

 

Even Cheongun, who was seeing and feeling this directly from the closest distance, couldn’t hide his surprised expression.

 

Wasn’t the explosive energy of the Thunder Orbs contained directly in those fingers?

 

This was the essence of Pokdanma’s lifelong devotion to researching Thunder Orbs.

 

Along with his research on Thunder Orbs, Pokdanma, who had explored the very principle of gunpowder igniting and exploding, realized that internal energy could be operated in a similar way.

 

If there was one condition, it was having a trained body that could withstand that tremendous explosive power.

 

Since Pokdanma had trained in external martial arts, he fulfilled this condition as well.

 

“The only weakness is…!”

 

Geomma’s disciple.

 

I acknowledge it.

 

He possesses strength that doesn’t match his age, and he’s such a special child who shows no wavering at all.

 

However, a legacy from the past that was passed down with unfilled gaps would only hold one back.

 

“The weakness… is…”

 

Originally, he should have slipped through the gap to tear the flesh between the ribs and created a powerful explosion from within.

 

What master, no matter how skilled, could respond to an explosion occurring inside their body?

 

But for some reason, the weakness wasn’t a weakness.

 

No, the Ghost Step, which had been showing movements different from what Pokdanma knew from some point on, had completely transformed into something else entirely by the final moment.

 

Grab.

 

Cheongun, who had seized Pokdanma’s wrist, blocked the flow of internal energy that was heading toward his fingertips.

 

“How…!”

 

The captured hand wouldn’t budge at all.

 

Not only had he blocked the flow of internal energy, but this young man’s physical strength being this powerful was completely incomprehensible.

 

It didn’t make sense that he had completely blocked the flow of internal energy either.

 

Was he at a level vastly higher than himself?

 

That couldn’t be.

 

If that were true, it would mean the depth of his understanding of internal energy was different.

 

He too had not simply viewed internal energy as mere force.

 

He was someone who had succeeded in drawing inspiration from gunpowder and Thunder Orbs, using their principles to combine them.

 

Perhaps he had talent similar to the grandmasters who create new martial arts.

 

“Is this how you do it?”

 

It was transmitted through the captured wrist.

 

What he had just demonstrated.

 

The essence he had created by melting his life into it was being reproduced exactly.

 

“How, how…”

 

It wasn’t a difficult task for Cheongun.

 

If Pokdanma had tried to apply the principles of gunpowder and Thunder Orbs to internal energy, Cheongun was someone who had explored internal energy itself.

 

Moreover, it wasn’t that different from the Bullet Finger technique that Cheongun had used before.

 

“If you do it this way, won’t your body get damaged?”

 

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

 

Thud.

 

At that moment, throbbing pain was felt on his foot.

 

Not even the slightest killing intent could be felt.

 

It seemed as if he truly only intended to teach him about something better.

 

Even if you’re a master, what good is it if your body gets damaged?”

 

A superior method to how Pokdanma had operated his internal energy.

 

A more advanced, more organized, more precise and delicate flow of internal energy could be felt from the sword.

 

“This is how you do it.”

 

Only one character had changed from when he had asked “Is this how you do it?” but everything else had transformed.

 

The internal energy that could be felt flowing through the sword began to gather at the sword’s tip.

 

And that sword tip pierced precisely into Pokdanma’s foot.

 

He couldn’t resist.

 

The captured hand wouldn’t budge, and if he carelessly exerted force, the internal energy he had been operating at his fingertips would lose its flow.

 

It was a situation where he could neither do this nor that, but surprisingly, he didn’t feel frustrated.

 

The pain he was feeling in his foot now seemed like it was at the end of the path he had been exploring, and he was actually feeling ecstasy.

 

Even knowing it was an emotion that would consume him, he couldn’t easily resist it.

 

Thud, thud.

 

Despite being a tremendous explosion, no loud sound could be heard.

 

The explosion that had started through his foot stopped precisely when it reached his dantian.

 

“…You… bastard…”

 

“I’ll convey your regards. If I get to meet him.”

 

Below the dantian as the reference point.

 

Nothing remained below that.

 

Only what could be called Pokdanma’s shell remained.

 

Satisfied with the clean finish without even blood staining, Cheongun drew out his sword.

 

Pokdanma’s body fell backward without even being able to close his eyes.

 

Cheongun didn’t sheathe his sword and left several wounds on the body.

 

“Now, what will you make of this?”

 

Would they indeed see it as the work of Geomma’s disciple like Pokdanma had?

 

Or would they see it as something else?

 

Those who had heard the loud sound would arrive soon, so Cheongun just had to wait and watch.

 

Along with them.

 

Just acting as if he were someone who had discovered this scene for the first time.

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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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