The Owner Of The Thousand Gold Coins Is A Military Official - Chapter 80

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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 80

Though I won’t be leaving immediately today, tonight feels unusually long.

What could be the reason it feels so long?

Is it because of the countless plans that went awry and the things I’ve done to find the best path even in such situations?

Or is it tension about the countless plans that will go awry in the future?

It wasn’t that.

The actual reason this night felt long was because I sensed something different from usual nights, a sense of unease.

It was clearly late at night, deep into the evening, yet a familiar energy was rhythmically calling out to Cheongun.

It was blatant.

I couldn’t yet determine whether they didn’t know who was here, or if it simply didn’t matter to them.

“This presence… could it be…”

Should I call it unexpected?

Or should I call it persistent?

Cheongun, who had been trying to sleep, quietly rose from his place.

With the energy clearly beckoning him to come, it wouldn’t be polite not to go.

When I left my chamber, it seemed others had sensed it too.

Dangmuryang, Gomujin, and even Mother had come out.

Mother’s expression in particular was filled with considerable displeasure.

It was an expression I had never seen before.

While it was somewhat interesting, it didn’t feel good, as if I had committed some act of filial impiety.

“…Son?”

“Yes.”

“It seems our son has brought back a tail. Is that right?”

“It appears so.”

I didn’t deny it.

Having pursued us with nearly seven days’ difference, it would have been impossible for even Cheongun to notice.

“Oh my… Mother doesn’t need to step in, right?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

Mother’s furrowed expression smoothed out as if nothing had happened.

Dangmuryang and Gomujin just had faces full of curiosity.

I wondered if Sinui and his master had sensed it too, but they didn’t appear, likely tending to Cheongin.

“I’ll go alone.”

“Alright. You’ll handle it yourself.”

Seeing Dangmuryang’s tired face, it seemed he had come out after falling asleep.

I couldn’t disturb the peaceful sleep of elderly gentlemen any further.

Soon, Cheongun headed straight toward where the energy was felt.

Without even taking his sword.

The high mountain behind Cheongeumjang.

It was also a mountain when we first met.

As I approached the source of that energy, a familiar face was waiting for Cheongun with a familiar smile.

Seeing that she came without any guards around, it seemed she had come secretly.

“Should I say it’s been a while? Seeing you like this feels even more pleasant.”

“…Honestly. I didn’t expect this. This is the first time I’ve received such a leisurely pursuit.”

“Oh my. Pursuit, you say. That doesn’t sound very nice.”

Cheongsoso had an expression overflowing with composure.

After all, Cheongun had thoroughly completed what he needed to do before coming.

Thanks to that, seeing each other’s faces wasn’t particularly unpleasant.

Even though neither had revealed everything to the other, they already anticipated it.

“First, should I say I was surprised?”

“Which part do you mean?”

“Many parts. You must have faced my brother and the Seven Great Demonic Cultivators simultaneously…”

Cheongsoso’s gaze swept over Cheongun from top to bottom once.

Though it was a blatant look, Cheongun didn’t particularly react.

“You’re too unharmed. Too much so.”

“Weren’t they stand-ins? The Seven Great Demonic Cultivators.”

She doesn’t show much reaction.

It seems she expected Cheongun would have figured it out.

“To simply call them stand-ins… they were quite excellent.”

“Stand-ins are just stand-ins. No matter what happens, they can never step into the realm of truth.”

“Still, it wasn’t just the two of them but others as well that you faced together. It’s surprising.”

“I know you didn’t come just to say you were surprised.”

If she had only wanted to identify me, she could have simply confirmed Cheongun’s presence and left.

Yet revealing herself meant she had something to say.

“That’s right. Actually, seeing you like this was the purpose itself.”

The reason was simple.

Rather than hiding and just identifying Cheongun, she revealed herself, meaning future dealings were possible.

From the past when they joined hands simply due to aligned directions toward their respective goals, to cooperation with a bit more trust added.

Cheongun, who immediately grasped that intention, looked at Cheongsoso with still emotionless eyes and said.

“Do you think there’s more to cooperate on with the Demonic Sect?”

If Cheongun always carried emotionless eyes, Cheongsoso conversely always wore a gentle smile.

Cheongsoso, who had been showing that smile, soon displayed a slightly brighter smile and answered.

“Our Eldest Son of Cheongeumjang. Are you a merchant or a warrior?”

“It would depend on the situation.”

Merchants and warriors are fundamentally different.

Their pursued directions were different, and what they wanted was different.

It was essentially saying he would change his attitude according to the situation as he pleased, but Cheongsoso’s smile remained unchanged.

“Can I assume that the Main Sect’s way of treating Cheongeumjang could also change depending on the situation?”

Cheongeumjang’s trading company naturally had its feet in the Demonic Sect’s territory.

Perhaps due to that position, the goods they handled were different, which also brought considerable profit.

Unpleasant words for Cheongun.

And unpleasant words for Cheongeumjang, which Cheongun belonged to.

As warriors, as merchants.

In any aspect, they couldn’t surpass the entire Demonic Sect.

While Cheongeumjang might have superior financial power, the martial force protecting that financial power could be said to belong to the Demonic Sect.

“So. Should I understand that the meaning is entirely about asking for good dealings next time as well?”

Therefore, Cheongun also took a step back.

Until now, it had been mostly Cheongsoso from the Demonic Sect who had stepped back.

Cheongun’s attitude seemed quite pleasing to her.

“Yes. Of course. Ah, and also…”

Cheongsoso soon took something from her bosom and handed it to Cheongun.

“This is…”

It’s a crude ornament.

Made by who knows whom.

“The name was… Hwawol, wasn’t it?”

“…”

I remember.

The one I deliberately didn’t visit.

“Ah, don’t misunderstand. She’s doing well. When I said I came at your request, she gave me this, so I brought it.”

“I see.”

“I’ve given what I came to deliver, and I’ve finished what I had to say. Don’t you have anything to say?”

Things to say.

There aren’t any in particular.

“Aren’t you curious about the situation inside The Sect?”

“Is there a reason to be curious? I’m sure you’ll handle it well.”

“A clear answer. That’s true. Now, I should be going. Eldest Son of Cheonjingjang.”

“Please do. I hope you return safely.”

With that, Cheonsosu left without lingering.

The meeting with Cheonsosu itself wasn’t pleasant, but it was something that had to happen once for the future.

If that was the case, now was better than later.

When he returned, the people who had come out had already gone back.

“The Demonic Sect… will be clearly different from before.”

Though it was something he already knew would happen, he wondered if it might exceed the scope of his expectations.

Whether that would be in a welcome direction or not, he didn’t know.

The next day.

Cheongun had already finished his preparations in advance, so he planned to leave immediately.

If Jangui and Father hadn’t come to see him, that is.

“Do you have a moment?”

“Yes, Father.”

When Jangui first met Cheongun after arriving.

And then when he turned to Cheongjin, Cheongun’s father, as if he intended to interrogate him.

The two had a conversation for quite a long time.

If Jangui had conversed without meeting Cheongun, it would have certainly been a brief conversation.

However, since they had met, it became lengthy.

Jangui had asked many things, especially about what Cheongun’s childhood had been like.

What could be special about it?

Cheongjin had thought, but since he had never raised a child other than Cheongun, how could he know?

After such a long conversation, Jangui reached one conclusion.

The preliminary examination that Cheongjin had mentioned.

He would absolutely not take anything beyond that.

In fact, even the preliminary examination was dangerous.

A successor who passed the preliminary examination from the greatest merchant group in the world.

The Imperial Court would be drooling over such a person.

“You don’t need to prepare separately for the preliminary examination, do you?”

“Yes.”

There was no particular need for preparation.

Cheongun didn’t hope to pass anyway.

He was simply taking it because he was expected to take it.

Passing was a story for later.

Perhaps understanding Cheongun’s attitude, Cheongjin let out a light laugh and said.

“As a father, I failed to properly understand my only son’s intentions.”

“That’s not true.”

“Well, I’m sorry for making you take this pointless trip.”

“No. It doesn’t seem like a pointless trip.”

He felt he needed to observe a little more to know for sure.

The size of the vessel had already been proven.

He was the Eldest Son of Cheongeumjang, and he was showing very well that he suited that position.

However, Jangui didn’t know what was contained in that vessel.

That would have to be seen in time.

‘Especially those eyes…’

It seemed somewhat ominous, as if nothing was contained in that enormous vessel.

“Then that’s fortunate. So, when do you plan to return this time?”

“I think I won’t return until before I come of age.”

“Ha, this time will be quite long. I know this recent matter was also lengthy.”

In Jangui’s view, Cheongjin was also a remarkable person.

His only son.

To let his sole heir roam around Gangho so freely.

‘His martial arts don’t seem outstanding either…’

Cheongun wasn’t short, but he didn’t have a particularly robust build.

Perhaps because of that, to others he would likely appear as just a young man with a handsome face.

For Cheongun, this was rather fortunate.

If an opponent appears weak, they tend to reveal their true intentions more easily.

“Are you really not planning to take guards with you this time either?”

“Wouldn’t that rather draw attention?”

“Tsk… going alone again. I understand. As I always say, take care of yourself. Don’t forget who you are.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Perhaps because this journey would be long, Father also showed signs of worry.

That itself felt somewhat awkward.

Mother showed more interest than worry, so he hadn’t known, but Cheongun wasn’t accustomed to receiving others’ concern.

He was more accustomed to receiving killing intent.

“Son. Are you leaving now?”

Mother also soon appeared.

Since his last memory was of her showing a displeased expression last night, he had been somewhat concerned.

Fortunately, this time she was showing the smile she usually wore.

“Yes. I’m about to leave.”

“But… what shall we do about your face being like that?”

“Please don’t worry. There must be other ways.”

“Right. If it’s our son, he’ll solve it well. When you return, will I be able to hear interesting stories?”

Mother seemed to have intuited it as well.

That as long as this journey would be, perhaps Cheongun’s name might spread throughout Gangho, if not as it is, then in a different form.

“Yes.”

At his brief but certain answer, Mother smiled.

“Here, take this with you.”

What Mother handed him was an unidentifiable nameplate that even Cheongun was seeing for the first time.

More precisely, something was engraved on it, but it was very old and worn, making it difficult to identify.

It was a nameplate that could only perform about half of a nameplate’s function.

This was the first time Mother had prepared something like this for him.

Therefore, Cheongun carefully tucked it into his chest.

“Well then. I shall take my leave now.”

He had said before coming of age, but he couldn’t know exactly when.

He might stop by briefly.

However, for that reason, Cheongun bowed to Father and Mother for the first time, then immediately left Cheongeumjang.

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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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