The Owner Of The Thousand Gold Coins Is A Military Official - Chapter 71

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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 71

 

Cheongun, who had been maintaining an appropriate distance, soon realized that his pursuers weren’t chasing him at full strength and stopped in place.

 

“It’s not without reason that they hold the supreme position.”

 

It seemed they had grasped Cheongun’s intention, but he couldn’t tell whether they had simply figured out his intent or had known from the beginning.

 

Cheongsoso’s betrayal?

 

While it wasn’t impossible, Cheongsoso wasn’t someone who moved emotionally, contrary to appearances.

 

She was someone who knew what the most certain way to secure her own benefit in the current situation was.

 

Such a person wouldn’t have chosen a second-best option that would require admitting her own incompetence.

 

He had played along appropriately, but as expected, the actual plan was different.

 

Probably, Cheongsoso knew too.

 

That Cheongun had noticed.

 

“Right. She wouldn’t choose something like incompetence.”

 

The moment when incompetence would be revealed also meant that the opposite result could appear.

 

Though Cheongsoso had chosen a different plan, Cheongun could understand it well enough.

 

Creating and choosing the best option according to the given situation.

 

It was also a method Cheongun favored.

 

It didn’t matter.

 

It didn’t particularly concern him either.

 

He didn’t think the consequences of that choice would greatly affect him.

 

This wasn’t faith in Cheongsoso.

 

It was trust and confidence in Cheongun’s own eyes that had judged the person called Cheongsoso.

 

Even though Cheongun had stopped like this, those who had been pursuing him didn’t reveal themselves.

 

They merely maintained the same distance and watched Cheongun’s movements.

 

“It seems they have no intention of moving first.”

 

However, that wasn’t the best strategy either.

 

The more time passed like this, the farther Cheongun was getting from the Demonic Sect’s headquarters.

 

They must know that time wasn’t on their side, so what exactly were they thinking?

 

Though he couldn’t tell exactly what they were thinking, there seemed no need to leave the surveillance any longer.

 

It would be better to make them unaware for now.

 

Cheongun immediately turned around and drew his sword.

 

The watchers who confirmed Cheongun’s movement also didn’t approach any closer.

 

“It seems they’ve underestimated me.”

 

At just this distance.

 

With just that level of concealing their presence.

 

Did they think they’d be safe?

 

Even without getting closer, cutting their throats would be as easy as twisting a child’s wrist.

 

However, there was one thing he wanted to test.

 

While he was at it, it would be good to confuse their information too.

 

Cheongun slowly drew his sword where he wanted.

 

Like drawing a picture on the canvas of empty air.

 

Then, just as Geomma had shown, the sword’s afterimage began to ripple and remain in the void.

 

“Let’s see you follow this.”

 

Since he had included even dense demonic energy along with it, he thought it might cause confusion about whether Cheongun was really Geomma’s disciple.

 

Setting off on his path again, the watchers naturally began their pursuit once more.

 

After passing the place where he had left the afterimage, only half the original number showed their presence.

 

According to his agreement with Cheongsoso, he was supposed to kill all the pursuers, but since Cheongsoso hadn’t followed the agreement either, this much was fine.

 

It wasn’t like he had spared any important figures.

 

After that, he could feel the number of pursuers had decreased.

 

Those who had returned to report had dropped out, and those remaining now would be the ones who would chase Cheongun to the end.

 

Thus, seven days and nights passed.

 

The situation remained unchanged.

 

The pursuers still maintained the same distance, and Cheongun didn’t deal with them either.

 

Though it was an uncomfortable symbiosis, their mutual desires coincidentally aligned, so this precarious relationship continued.

 

Deliberately slowing his pace was also tiresome.

 

Normally, he would have arrived long ago.

 

At least his countless experiences staying in caves like this helped.

 

He appropriately caught animals to solve his meals and lit fires without hesitation.

 

It was openly announcing his presence, but they didn’t care about it anyway.

 

“I had expected a more urgent situation.”

 

He took some time to organize his thoughts.

 

What exactly had Cheongsoso planned that could differ so much from his expectations?

 

“If it’s to become competent rather than incompetent…”

 

Mawi would think that recapturing him would be enough.

 

From the beginning.

 

No, to be precise, assuming it was from the moment he told Cheongsoso the detailed plan, she could temporarily release Mawi and gain something else from it.

 

Then, numerous presences were felt.

 

Though still at a considerable distance, they couldn’t escape Cheongun’s senses, which had been focused entirely on detection.

 

“Those must be the pursuers Cheongsoso mentioned.”

 

However, their numbers were far greater than he had expected.

 

Numbers didn’t matter much.

 

Who was leading them was what mattered.

 

Those whose presence couldn’t be felt right now.

 

They would be the ones leading these people.

 

* * *

 

“I can see smoke over there.”

 

Cheonyugjong.

 

Another Junior Patriarch candidate and the person who received support from the fewest of the Seven Great Demonic Cultivators.

 

The one pursuing Cheongun.

 

And the one right in front of him was none other than Cheonyugjong.

 

Cheonyugjong, accompanied by the Seven Great Demonic Cultivators who supported him, looked toward where smoke was rising.

 

This was something that had to be accomplished.

 

No matter what, it absolutely had to be done.

 

The number of those who had set out in pursuit just to capture Cheongun alone exceeded one hundred.

 

Honestly, he wasn’t yet certain whether Cheongun was skilled enough to warrant this, but the purpose of this pursuit wasn’t simply to capture Cheongun anyway.

 

In addition to capturing him, there was one more thing that had to be done.

 

Time wasn’t important, but the situation wasn’t flowing leisurely enough.

 

“We must capture him without fail.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

His position was gradually narrowing.

 

If he couldn’t become the Junior Patriarch, his future was predetermined.

 

The tyrannical Cheonjeokha wouldn’t let him live, and that snake-like woman wouldn’t let him live either.

 

For Cheonyugjong, becoming the Junior Patriarch was also a matter of his own survival.

 

“Signal immediately upon discovery…”

 

Before those words could finish, a voice was heard from the darkness.

 

It didn’t try to hide its location and seemed to have no intention of concealing itself.

 

Rather, it was a voice that seemed to have been waiting.

 

“I wondered who was leading them, but I didn’t expect it to be a Junior Patriarch candidate.”

 

The voice that melted into the darkness seemed as if just listening to it would make one consumed by that darkness.

 

How could this be?

 

He was clearly said to be from the Righteous Sect, yet why could such familiar demonic energy be felt?

 

“…Your arrogance is severe.”

 

It was clear arrogance.

 

One of the Seven Great Demonic Cultivators and himself.

 

Plus several supreme martial artists and at least a few peak-level warriors.

 

They say the difference of one realm is like heaven and earth, but when many gather and accumulate, they eventually reach that heaven.

 

Surely, they weren’t demanding the righteousness of the Righteous Sect from them?

 

As if conducting a duel, did he believe they would face him one by one?

 

“…The crime of stealing Singyeo’s precious sacred object and fleeing. You will pay with your life. I will find your father and mother and throw their heads at you.”

 

Ah, so this is how it was.

 

The picture of how Cheongsoso had orchestrated things began to become clear.

 

She was a cunning woman.

 

No matter how things turned out, wouldn’t she suffer no harm?

 

Even so, there wasn’t much that could be called harm to Cheongun.

 

The false accusation of stealing a sacred object was harm, if it could be called that.

 

However, it wasn’t entirely wrong either.

 

He was in the middle of stealing and fleeing with someone who had been Sinui instead of a sacred object.

 

‘All of these people.’

 

Quite a lot.

 

It seemed like the numbers didn’t add up favorably.

 

He didn’t know if he’d see them again in the future, but when that time came, he felt he’d have to collect the debt.

 

“Is this all?”

 

Cheonyugjong found that look in Cheongun’s eyes.

 

That gaze observing as if appraising was extremely unpleasant.

 

How could he be so emotionless, those eyes that seemed to think of everything around him only in terms of efficiency.

 

It was unpleasant and disgusting.

 

Surprisingly, it was too similar to the look his father showed when looking at Cheonyugjong.

 

‘This is essentially…like the last chance.’

 

If he failed to complete the mission properly, his qualification as Junior Patriarch candidate would be as good as revoked.

 

“Why. Does it feel too excessive for you?”

 

“Wouldn’t it be? It seems somewhat…”

 

Cheongun paused briefly, glanced around, then continued speaking.

 

“Meager.”

 

“…It seems Soso and Father evaluated you quite highly…”

 

Finally, Cheonyugjong’s sword left its sheath.

 

Then, the others around also drew their swords in unison.

 

In the quiet forest, the friction sound of blades ringing out in unison made the surrounding silence even more prominent.

 

“My evaluation of you is not yet finished.”

 

Wasn’t that a confident answer?

 

Quite an admirable backbone.

 

If he had come alone, he would have rated that courage even higher.

 

Cheongun’s sword also left its sheath.

 

“Please come. I’ll yield the first move to you.”

 

“…Everyone, don’t hesitate. This beast-like bastard who disgraced the Sect and stole the sacred object. Strike him all at once.”

 

Strange.

 

He couldn’t feel any composure at all.

 

Even at a glance, there should be a considerable difference in power, so why did he look so impatient and lacking in composure?

 

The reason for that was actually not present at this scene.

 

Though they weren’t taking Cheongun lightly, with this number and power, it was an understandable difference even if they were careless.

 

“Hoo…”

 

The most important thing when facing many opponents was breaking their morale.

 

The existence of the saying ‘relying only on numbers’ meant that those numbers actually had a tremendous impact on morale.

 

Cheongun’s internal energy flowed into the blade as he took a deep breath.

 

The blade that seemed to emit white light soon began to glow blue.

 

“Sword energy…!”

 

“How at that age…!”

 

It was a realm occasionally heard of.

 

There were stories that the Sect Leader also freely wielded sword energy at this age.

 

Just by showing it, he could feel them wavering.

 

“…Dodge!!!”

 

Experience and instinct.

 

Reason and emotion cried out simultaneously.

 

Nothing was as frightening as something striking without warning.

 

With dozens of masters before his eyes, Cheongun showed no emotion.

 

Someone might feel competitive spirit in such a situation, while another might feel fear.

 

He might even reveal killing intent.

 

According to the remaining traces, his sword also resembled Geomma’s sword in some ways.

 

Yes, he acknowledged it.

 

The Righteous Sect youth who looked younger than himself had outstanding talent.

 

However.

 

‘Who wouldn’t be a genius?’

 

Originally, pursuing Cheongun wasn’t Cheonyugjong’s task.

 

Cheonyugjong suddenly taking on Cheongun’s pursuit happened not long after everyone had left the Main Sect.

 

“You’re moving busily.”

 

A voice heard for the first time.

 

A face seen for the first time.

 

Someone who was completely new suddenly appeared and blocked everyone’s path.

 

That single incident was the reason Cheonyugjong came to take on Cheongun’s pursuit.

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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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