Chapter 115: Chapter 115
“Cheon-hwi……?”
The Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s brow furrowed.
He scoured through the information in his head, but the name ‘Cheon-hwi’ did not exist.
‘…It must be an alias.’
The Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s eyes sank calmly.
The opponent was someone who had secretly snuck into the Nine Dragons Gang and infiltrated it.
But even if he asked, was there any reason for him to reveal his name so readily?
His two pupils, which had been scanning Cheon-hwi, moved slightly to the side, and fully captured the kneeling Surveillance Commissioner.
‘Unless he’s completely crazy, he wouldn’t have created this kind of situation and revealed his name…’
It was surprising enough that the Surveillance Commissioner, who always stood upright with his hands behind his back, was kneeling, but his appearance was even worse.
His hair was disheveled like a beggar.
And his cheeks, which could be glimpsed through it, had clear tear marks.
‘It seems he suffered a quite terrible ordeal.’
The Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s gaze, which had been coldly examining the Surveillance Commissioner, went to the place emitting the foul stench that had been vibrating in the room since earlier.
It headed toward the Surveillance Commissioner’s groin.
Seeing that only the groin area of his pure white lower garments had turned yellow, it looked as if he had heavily soiled himself with urine.
Just then, their eyes met with the Surveillance Commissioner.
He opened his eyes wide and gaped his mouth like a carp, but no sound leaked out from his mouth.
‘Even the mute acupoint…?’
At that sight, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader clicked his tongue.
However, that was only for a moment.
『Please endure it just a little longer. I will save you soon.』
The Nine Dragons Gang Leader furrowed his eyes and sent a sound transmission toward the Surveillance Commissioner, who was sending desperate glances for rescue.
Perhaps having heard the sound transmission, the Surveillance Commissioner widened his eyes and nodded his head quickly.
Subsequently, his expression became much more relaxed, and seeing the light of trust dwelling in his pupils, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader laughed inwardly.
‘It worked out well. It was right when his trust seemed to be lacking.’
His mouth watered.
The Surveillance Commissioner was an arrogant figure who looked down on others, but he was clear about public and private matters.
‘If I save his life here, I’ll receive his full support.’
The corners of his mouth crept up.
‘But in order to do that…’
The Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s gaze headed toward Cheon-hwi.
The arrogantly sitting young man.
He seemed like an extraordinary figure, but even so, he was merely a young man around twenty years old.
‘It seems he mainly practiced stealth arts.’
Scanning Cheon-hwi, who didn’t have any momentum, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader suppressed the laughter leaking inside and moved his lips.
“Do you know what you have done just now? This person is the head of the Provincial Surveillance Commission that oversees the judicial and inspection affairs of Qinghai Province, the Surveillance Commissioner.”
At the question, Cheon-hwi smirked.
‘I wondered what he was thinking about for so long.’
He already knew everything.
That the Nine Dragons Gang Leader had sent a sound transmission to the Surveillance Commissioner. Even the thoughts he was having.
“I know that too.”
Along with his words, he turned his head and asked while looking at the Surveillance Commissioner with a much more relaxed expression.
“Right?”
“……!”
The Surveillance Commissioner was startled and urgently nodded his head up and down.
It was a nod that was like an instinct.
Watching such behavior, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
‘He did this knowing who the Surveillance Commissioner is? Then what in the world…’
He, who had been contemplating, widened his eyes, and with utmost caution, carefully opened his mouth.
“Are you not afraid of the Imperial Family?”
“Not particularly?”
Cheon-hwi shrugged his shoulders.
If asked whether he was afraid of the Imperial Family, the answer was no.
Just a little annoying.
Yes. They were exactly like mosquitoes.
Meanwhile, having heard Cheon-hwi’s answer, certainty dwelled in the Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s pupils.
‘If it’s a person who would do such a thing even knowing the Surveillance Commissioner…!’
Who would treat the Imperial Family like that and put the Surveillance Commissioner in this state?
If there was, there was exactly one.
It could only be a figure related to the Imperial Family.
And among the figures related to the Imperial Family right now, the one who would come here would be…
“You were sent by the Qinghai Province Lord.”
“What?”
Cheon-hwi stared at the Nine Dragons Gang Leader with a dumbfounded expression.
Could there be such a misfire?
Right now, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader must be severely mistaken about the situation where Cheon-hwi was continuing the conversation rather than rushing in.
“It’s useless to feign ignorance.”
The already certain Nine Dragons Gang Leader added words with a confident face.
“The fact that you brought the Surveillance Commissioner and no one else in front of me, isn’t it because of the matter related to Princess So-hui?”
“Well, that’s true, but.”
As if waiting for it, he immediately raised his hand high and shouted.
“Damn it!”
The suddenly shouting Nine Dragons Gang Leader raised his hand high and swung it to the side like a thunderbolt.
Crash!
The corner of the bed was smashed.
The smashed wooden pieces scattered into the air and soon poured down like dust.
“Since when did you notice? This plan had been meticulously prepared!”
Cheon-hwi rested his chin on his hand and smirked.
“Are you done now?”
“……What do you mean?”
“Even so, no one is coming.”
“……!”
“Because I deployed a Qi Barrier.”
“Nonsense! A Qi Barrier requires at least sixty years of internal energy and reaching the Limitless Realm…”
“Think whatever you want.”
At the same time as his words ended, Cheon-hwi drew up the internal energy of the Plum Blossom Divine Art and deployed the Divine Movement Hundred Transformations.
“……!”
Watching Cheon-hwi deploying an unusual footwork, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader urgently untied the leather belt tied around his waist.
Following that, as he drew up the Nine Dragons Advancing Qigong to its limit and radiated his internal energy.
Clang!
The leather belt in the Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s hand did not bend; instead, it stood stiffly like a sword and began to spout sharpness.
The Nine Dragons Gang Leader immediately swung the soft sword toward the cold murderous intent felt right behind his back.
Clang!
In that instant, the air cracked open.
“Oho.”
At the same time, Cheon-hwi appeared from the empty air and landed lightly in front of the Nine Dragons Gang Leader.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a soft sword.”
Cheon-hwi laughed looking at the soft sword.
It was a tricky weapon that required meticulous operation of internal energy, technique, and fitting martial arts to be completed and handled properly.
“H-how could you…”
The Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s pupils wavered.
‘Not only did he deflect the soft sword, but he also deflected it back at me.’
Goosebumps rose on his spine.
Merely a single clash.
However, with just that, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader felt that Cheon-hwi possessed strength that had no significant difference even when compared to his own.
‘At least an equal match with me, or…’
At that time, Cheon-hwi spoke.
“Stop deploying miscellaneous martial arts for nothing, and wasn’t it the Nine Dragons Heaven Opening Seal or whatever. Try deploying that martial art. Who knows? You might be able to win then?”
“……Grind.”
At the provocation, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader ground his teeth.
It was an astonishing skill for his age, but he couldn’t say he was above him.
“If you want to see it, I will clearly show you!”
He swung the soft sword in his hand largely.
The soft sword laden with sword qi bent flexibly, making a loud noise, and its sharp edge gradually tightened around Cheon-hwi.
An attack that confused the mind with noise while disrupting the vision with the soft sword!
But his opponent was bad.
‘Oho! Is it truth and falsehood?’
Instead of the brilliantly moving soft sword, Cheon-hwi’s gaze was directed toward the left hand, which was hidden while containing a considerable aura.
‘Was the soft sword meant to dazzle? Hmm, I’ll know if I clash with it myself.’
Raising his left hand, Cheon-hwi clashed against the soft sword as the Nine Dragons Gang Leader wanted.
Kiiiing!
Sharp sparks flew.
Surprise dwelled on the Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s face at the aftermath that was unbelievable for a clash between a soft sword and a palm, but that was also for a moment.
Smirk-
The corners of his mouth curved like a crescent moon.
“You’re caught!”
At that moment.
Slither!
The soft sword that had stood stiffly wriggled like a snake and wrapped around Cheon-hwi’s wrist.
“This is the real one!”
Simultaneously, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader swiftly snatched it.
The moment the Nine Dragons Gang Leader tried to ram his left hand, which he had secretly planted internal energy into, into his dragged abdomen.
Grab!
Cheon-hwi caught his left hand.
It would have been normal to be flustered, but the smile lingering on the Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s mouth shone even more eerily.
‘Stupid fool! You’re hastening your own demise!’
The Nine Dragons Heaven Opening Seal was a fist art of the internal heavy hand method!
It was a martial art that was the pinnacle of striking and the internal heavy hand method, where the moment the fist touched, the contained internal energy would stir up the blood vessels and eventually travel up to the Baihui acupoint to shake the brain.
However.
“Is that the end?”
The opponent who should be writhing in pain was looking at him with a relaxed expression.
“Then this time I will go.”
With a relaxed face, Cheon-hwi slowly clenched his fist and powerfully thrust it out.
“Like this, right?”
In that instant, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s eyes widened as if they were going to pop out.
The fist art the opponent was demonstrating.
It was an all too familiar posture.
‘N-Nine Dragons Heaven Opening Seal?!’
Cheon-hwi’s fist lodged into the Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s abdomen, smashing his insides with a massive momentum.
“H-how?”
“Well.”
“M-monster…”
Gush!
The Nine Dragons Gang Leader poured blood from his mouth.
Soon, his complexion turned a dark, deathly color, and the Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s body collapsed powerlessly.
Thump!
Looking down at the Nine Dragons Gang Leader sprawled on the floor, Cheon-hwi dusted off his fist and whispered.
“Hmm, I should do it a bit weaker.”
Cheon-hwi nodded his head, then naturally rummaged through his sleeve.
“I put it here, where was it. Ah! Found it.”
A moment later, he took out a small bottle.
The small bottle containing sloshing transparent water was emitting a brilliant light.
Pop!
Without delay, Cheon-hwi pulled out the bottle’s stopper and sprinkled the water onto the Nine Dragons Gang Leader.
The moment the water touched the Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s body.
Sizzle!
Along with a terrible stench, the Nine Dragons Gang Leader’s body rotted and melted down in a single breath.
The transparent water in the bottle, it was Bone Melting Powder mainly used by assassins.
“Wow, look at it melting. It melts well.”
Seeing the excellent effect of the Bone Melting Powder, Cheon-hwi hummed a tune and smiled.
‘It’s a good thing I bought it.’
The effect of the Bone Melting Powder he had purchased from the branch manager for this task was outstanding.
Sizzle-
Confirming that the corpse had disappeared without a trace, leaving only the stench, Cheon-hwi turned his steps and headed toward the Surveillance Commissioner.
‘W-what kind of heaven-enraging…’
The Surveillance Commissioner, who had been watching the corpse melt with a dumbfounded face, urgently shook his head from side to side with a terrified face when Cheon-hwi suddenly approached him.
Swish! Swish!
His complexion had turned deadly pale, and his face was covered with tears and snot.
Cheon-hwi crouched down and looked at him.
Thump! Thump!
The Surveillance Commissioner prostrated himself as if begging for his life, thumping his forehead against the floor.
Cheon-hwi watched him banging his forehead until it broke just to live, then asked.
“You want to live?”
As if he had found a ray of sweet rain, the Surveillance Commissioner, whose expression brightened, nodded his head crazily as if his neck would fall off.
Cheon-hwi looked at the Surveillance Commissioner with indifferent eyes and moved his lips.
“But what should I do? You have to die.”
The Surveillance Commissioner’s face distorted.
‘Y-you son of a bitch! Are you even human after doing that! Be torn to shreds and die!’
Reading the words the Surveillance Commissioner was saying through the shape of his gaping mouth, Cheon-hwi grinned.
“Still, I’ll send you off comfortably.”
Along with his words, Cheon-hwi approached without hesitation and thrust his fist toward the Surveillance Commissioner.
Thud.
His fist touched his chest.
Immediately, his eyes became bloodshot, and soon he collapsed, pouring blood from his seven orifices.
“The martial art name was made splendidly.”
Cheon-hwi looked at the Surveillance Commissioner’s neck.
The path of the blood vessel continuing long from his neck was clearly connected, as if a dragon had been drawn, ascending to the sky.
“Then shall I wrap things up?”
Watching, Cheon-hwi immediately and unhesitatingly lifted the Surveillance Commissioner’s corpse and moved.
Toward the underground passage that was still open.
Arriving at the secret cavern at lightning speed, Cheon-hwi fiercely threw the Surveillance Commissioner.
Whoosh- Thud!
“Like this, it’ll look like the Surveillance Commissioner died trying to steal the items in the secret cavern, right?”
Cheon-hwi’s gaze, which had been looking at the corpse, was fixed on the numerous jewels and money in the secret cavern.
“Then it will be over if I pack these.”
Cheon-hwi naturally picked up luxurious silk hanging in one place of the secret cavern.
Then, he swept all the jewels and money into it in one breath without missing a single piece.
“Heave-ho!”
A moment later, Cheon-hwi hoisted the heavy silk over his shoulder and exited the secret cavern.
‘It went according to plan.’
A satisfied smile arose.
Cheon-hwi’s purpose seemed complicated, but in fact, it was incredibly simple.
The Surveillance Commissioner’s corpse, who suffered the Nine Dragons Heaven Opening Seal.
And the discovered secret cavern, the missing items, and the Nine Dragons Gang Leader.
Seeing these traces, it was obvious that anyone would think the Nine Dragons Gang Leader packed the items from the secret cavern and ran away.
“Then what’s left now is…”
Looking at the wooden floor melted down by the Bone Melting Powder, Cheon-hwi lifted his finger.
And then he generated the Samadhi True Fire.
Fwoosh!
* * *
World Merchant Guild!
The merchant guild with the incredibly arrogant name of “World” was, exactly as its name implied, a massive merchant guild that encompassed the world.
There were a total of twelve branches alone.
And each and every one of those branches was massive enough to rival a normal merchant guild.
And the Shaanxi Branch of the World Merchant Guild was also a place fitting of its reputation.
“Yaaawn-“
The gate guard defending the World Merchant Guild’s main gate yawned while looking at the mountain ridge where the sun had slightly risen, and then lightly rubbed his eyes.
“Huh?”
There was something bulging out.
“What is that?”
As he was staring at it for a long while like that.
“Uh? Uh?”
The protruding something that was like a dot gradually grew larger and soon changed into a person.
The one who appeared was a young, handsome man.
The handsome young man with an attractive sharp impression was carrying a massive burden on his back.
It looked like it was twice his size.
At that time, the handsome young man struck up a conversation.
“This is the World Merchant Guild, right?”
“T-that is so.”
The gate guard spoke in bewilderment.
That too was brief.
“For what matter have you come seeking us?”
Regaining his senses, he asked for the agenda.
“I’m trying to sell some goods.”
“Goods…?”
The gate guard glanced at the massive bundle behind the young man.
Then he shook his head and answered.
“It is impossible right this moment. If you want to trade with this merchant guild, you must make a reservation at least three days in advance.”
“A reservation? It’s strict.”
The handsome young man furrowed his brow.
Then suddenly.
“Ah! Wait a moment.”
The young man rummaged through his bosom.
‘What is he doing?’
When the gate guard was bewildered by the sudden action.
“They said if I show this plaque, I can use any merchant guild immediately.”
The young man spoke as he took out a plaque.
“Such nonsense…!”
The gate guard looked at the plaque and stiffened in that state.
Then he urgently bowed his head.
“P-please wait just a moment!”
“Yes?”
The young man asked back, but the gate guard hurriedly opened the door and went inside.
And a moment later.
Bang!
Kicking open the main gate, an emaciated middle-aged man with a benevolent impression came out hastily.
“A-are you the person who brought the World Merchant Plaque?!”
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