The Owner Of The Thousand Gold Coins Is A Military Official - Chapter 84

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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 84

“Great Hero… thank you.”

“Truly… thank you. You are the benefactor of both my priest and me.”

“Great Hero? That’s too much.”

Jinhwarin and Jewunhwi showed utmost courtesy to Cheongun.

It had been a moment when everyone had given up.

Jinhwarin had already given up her life from the moment she said she would stay behind alone.

She was simply satisfied that she could save her priest.

She was satisfied that she had saved the hope that would become Jongnam’s future.

But when she came to her senses, all the situations had ended.

At first, she was startled to see her priest first.

“How could I just stand by and watch when the Daoist of Jongnam was in trouble?”

“You are already a great hero. Especially that bastard… was no ordinary opponent.”

“Is that so? More importantly, are you feeling alright?”

Cheongun’s reaction to the words “no ordinary opponent.”

Jinhwarin and Jewunhwi felt awkward for no reason.

“Ah… yes. I’m fine with this much.”

“…Sajeo. Shouldn’t we properly repay our benefactor?”

At those words, Jinhwarin also nodded in agreement.

“If it’s alright with you, how about coming up to Jongnam with us? We feel uneasy sending you off like this.”

At those words, Cheongun naturally nodded.

‘Perfect.’

He had been worried about how to leave a debt of gratitude with Jongnam, but things worked out well.

It seemed a bit late because he stayed at the inn to hear other stories, but thanks to that, he was able to leave an even greater debt.

The longer Cheongun’s answer was delayed, the more anxiety filled the expressions of the two people.

Both Jewunhwi and Jinhwarin showed their inexperience in Gangho, appearing quite naive.

“I shall do so.”

At that answer, both people’s expressions brightened.

“Thank you, benefactor.”

“Please call me Wun. Benefactor is too excessive a title.”

“What? How can we treat the grace of saving our lives…”

“It’s fine. That way we’ll both feel more comfortable.”

At those words, both people were impressed once again.

This was something that could leave such a great debt to Jongnam, yet his eyes showed no interest whatsoever.

“If that is the will of our benefactor… no, Young Hero Wun, then we shall follow it.”

“I shall also follow it.”

Thus, the three people began heading toward Jongnam together.

The distance wasn’t too far, and the closer they got, the safer the path became, so there were no other threats.

Had about two days passed since the three people left?

A head and body lying scattered on the ground.

These things that had lost what could be called their owner were nothing more than chunks of meat.

And those chunks of meat became food for animals.

“…”

There was someone looking with sorrowful eyes at something that had already lost too much of its original form.

“D-Daeju.”

“Stop. Don’t say anything.”

He was originally someone who rarely sent news.

But then he would show up again not long after.

“First… clean this up. Either way, we have to take it with us.”

How sorrowful it was to say they had to “take it” rather than “bring him.”

Those who gathered up what had been the chunk of meat that was Akpaecheon quickly headed somewhere even more deserted.

This timing coincided with when Cheongun had almost arrived at Jongnam.

The place they arrived at was a small sect located deep in the mountains.

“Seonjeonmun… even now, it’s an unsuitable name.”

Daeju headed inside with mixed feelings, and the first scene that unfolded was dark red bloodstains scattered everywhere.

Since it was in a remote location, there weren’t many people there to begin with.

Those who lived here.

And those who visited this place.

Finally, the families of those who had visited.

Since they had found and eliminated all of them, it would take quite a long time before news of what happened here would spread.

Following the path of those dark red bloodstains, at the center sat a man holding a massive blade.

“Have you come?”

“Chung. I report to you.”

The middle-aged man’s gaze rested on Daeju, then soon settled on the unidentifiable something they had brought.

“Speak.”

“First… you should see this.”

Eyes that had filled with a bit of curiosity.

Those eyes instantly hardened when the identity of what had been something was revealed.

“Is that Paecheon?”

“…Yes.”

“…”

Akpaecheon’s master and adoptive father.

One of the Seven Great Demonic Cultivators and the only one who supported Cheonyugjong.

The foundation of this small sect was far too narrow to contain the rage of the real Hwanghwondoma who rose from his seat.

“Kugh…!”

“Keuhk…”

Daeju managed to get by with just kneeling on one knee, but the others with him lost consciousness and collapsed on the spot.

“Whose doing is this?”

“W-we haven’t… discovered that yet.”

The pressure crushing his entire body made even answering the question difficult.

Hwanghwondoma, who had drawn closer, first examined Akpaecheon’s corpse.

It was torn up messily everywhere, making it impossible to recognize its proper form, but there was one thing that remained uniquely clear.

A diagonal line drawn across the neck.

Despite being torn up here and there, this was a particularly noticeable trace.

‘Cut with a single stroke.’

Akpaecheon could be counted among Hwanghwondoma’s top disciples.

His temperament was problematic as he increasingly indulged in pleasures rather than training, but he was a disciple whose achievements were better than most others who devoted themselves to training.

He had told him that he would meet disaster someday.

To think he would pay for his karma in this way.

“Where did you see this?”

“It was around the border between Jongnam and Gongtong.”

“…This isn’t the sword of those Daoist bastards.”

The swords of the Daoists were ones he had seen many times.

Was there a master capable of cutting off a head with a single stroke nearby?

Since Gangho was vast, there was nothing else to say except that his luck was simply bad.

However, even if this could be dismissed so easily.

Even if he had such karma, grudges tend to accumulate.

“Lastly, he appeared to be with a Daoist of Jongnam.”

“Jongnam, you say. It’s even less likely to be Jongnam’s sword.”

If he had spared those rigid and strict fellows, they would surely have gone to Zhongnan, saying they would repay his kindness.

“Is there anyone at Zhongnan?”

“Yes. There is the Honmadae.”

“Investigate everyone who came to Zhongnan on foot. The culprit must surely be among them.”

“I obey your command.”

He would repay the grudge against his disciple and adopted son more than twofold.

* * *

Zhongnan.

It could be said to be one of the leading places among the Daoist sects.

“This is it. Have you ever been to Zhongnan before?”

“…It seems like it was very long ago.”

He doesn’t even look like he’s reached his coming of age, so perhaps it’s a story from when he was young?

“It will be different from back then.”

“It seems so.”

As expected, many people are visible.

Since it’s one of the leading places among the Righteous Sects, naturally there would be many.

However, though the scale was enormous, a touch of frugality left an impressive feeling.

“How is it, is your body alright now?”

“Ah, yes. Thanks to you. I didn’t know you had knowledge in medical arts as well.”

“I only learned it by watching over someone’s shoulder.”

Learned by watching over someone’s shoulder?

Honestly speaking, with this level of medical skill, the target he learned from by watching over their shoulder must have been at the level of Shinui.

‘The internal injuries were severe…’

Now they’re almost completely healed, aren’t they?

Swordsmanship and medical arts.

Could there be something else as well?

As we pass through the enormous market and get closer to the main sect, the presence of people actually becomes scarcer.

“Probably, our master will ask you many things.”

Jinhwarin’s expression looks somewhat troubled.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. He’s someone who’s a bit distant from being ordinary.”

Then, as if waiting for those very words, a Daoist slowly revealed himself.

“Hwarin. Unhwi.”

“Master!”

“Master…”

Having returned after facing death and now meeting the most reliable person, they seem to finally let go of all their tension.

After confirming his disciples’ safety, the Daoist finally turned his gaze to Cheongun.

How should I put it, it was a gaze that seemed to be measuring him.

It wasn’t exactly a pleasant look, but it wasn’t unpleasant enough to be unbearable either, so he chose to endure it.

“I heard that thanks to you, my disciples were able to survive.”

He doesn’t feel any blind welcome.

It feels like he still harbors suspicions.

Cheongun probably would have done the same.

Zhongnan’s two direct disciples.

The number of direct disciples naturally wasn’t many, and they were the new pillars who would lead the future.

Moreover, since it was Zhongnan, there were many who tried to create connections somehow.

What if Cheongun had deliberately created such a situation?

It’s visible that he’s thinking along those lines.

Being cautious isn’t a bad thing.

And once you earn trust from such people, they don’t waver easily.

“I am called Wun.”

“…Nice to meet you. Come inside first. I’ll make sure to reward you properly for saving my two disciples.”

“M-Master…”

Jinhwarin shows a somewhat restless appearance.

Even so, he’s their benefactor, yet her master’s unusually stiff and cold demeanor seems hard for her to accept.

Cheongun silently followed behind the Daoist who had turned his back first.

Upon entering inside, numerous disciples could be seen devoted to their training.

As expected, a great sect is indeed a great sect.

It feels quite different from family clans like the Danggga.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Leaving Cheongun as if confining him to the room, the Daoist came outside.

Certainly his disciples had returned alive.

Not just one, but two of them at that.

Recalling the letters exchanged along the way, he heard that he also had knowledge in medical arts.

Isn’t he too well-prepared?

The fact that he seemed to know that fellow called Akpaecheon was also suspicious.

The person in question might not have known he was being used.

Even so, the Daoist was happy at first.

The fact that his two most cherished disciples had both returned safely was no different from getting back almost everything for someone who had already entered his twilight years.

However, when he saw Cheongun from a distance.

That’s when another reason for wariness arose.

‘He looked like he hadn’t even reached his coming of age.’

But how could he possess such deep and heavy energy?

Moreover, he was so pure that it even felt like looking at a newborn baby fresh to the world.

Harboring things that couldn’t coexist within himself, and not just coexisting but achieving harmony.

From the Daoist’s perspective, Cheongun felt like he wasn’t a person of this world.

This alone was sufficient.

The reason for showing wariness toward someone of unknown origin who possessed mysteriously great strength despite not even reaching his coming of age.

“Um, Master.”

“Yes, Hwarin.”

“May I ask why you’re treating our benefactor so coldly?”

Jewunhwi who came with her also has eyes filled with the same question.

At that question, the Daoist smiled and said:

“It’s not coldness. It’s the principle of forming and severing connections.”

“The principle of forming and severing connections…?”

“I don’t understand, Master.”

“Of course you wouldn’t.”

The Daoist showed a gentle smile and patted his two disciples’ heads as he spoke.

“That is Gangho.”

“That is the martial world.”

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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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