Who threatened Cheonma Hara with a knife - Chapter 238



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Who threatened to call me Cheonmahara with a knife? Episode 238

Spying (2)

A quiet village about half a day’s drive from Nanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province.

Until recently, a group of third-rate gangsters had taken over the area and were harassing the residents, but now that peace has come, outsiders have moved in.

“You want to work as a salesperson?”

The owner of Unhwagaekjan tilted his head in confusion at the words of the young man who had come here for the first time today.

“I want to settle down here and start a new life, but I have nothing and I have no idea how to make a living.”

“Why would a friend who has nothing want to settle down here?”

In response to the innkeeper’s question, Jeomsoi told his story in detail.

The young man, who had been telling a sad story that made it seem as if tears were welling up in his eyes, shouted confidently with a face that seemed to have tears on the verge of flowing.

“But I’ve never heard of a case where I was short on work, sir! Just give me some work for today, and if it’s not enough, you can kick me out!”

After being told to watch the day and decide, the innkeeper eventually let the young man in as a waiter.

And then the business hours began.

The young man displayed remarkable tact.

“The noodles and dumplings you ordered are here, ma’am!”

“Ohhohoho. Young lady. Look at this young man.”

It is common to call a woman who appears to be at least ten years older than you “young lady” and joke around with her.

“Anything we eat at Unhwagaekjan is delicious, but the dish that our old owner is most confident in is, without a doubt, Dongpo Pork!”

As if he had been working here for a long time, he would converse very naturally with customers when they approached him.

“Sir! Here, a bottle of Tangchori Cheong and Jukyeop Cheong!”

In the midst of all that, he worked so well that he didn’t miss a single thing, even while chatting with customers.

He was a young man who seemed to have worked as a salesman for at least several years.

After the busy lunch business was over.

The innkeeper burst into laughter as he watched the young man quickly cleaning up.

“Hahaha. I feel like I’ve been blessed with good fortune lately. Those rotten guys were eliminated at the Mireukmyeonggyo, and such a wonderful person has come to the guesthouse.”

At the innkeeper’s words, the young man smiled brightly and asked with an ignorant expression.

“Hahaha. You are too kind, sir. But what is the Maitreya Buddhism? The name sounds like some kind of religion, but it’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”

In response to the young man’s question, the innkeeper told him about a recent incident. The story was that those who claimed to be incarnations of Maitreya had come to this place and destroyed the black demons, and even gave good words of wisdom during the gathering.

The innkeeper, absorbed in the praise of the Maitreya Buddha, did not notice.

“Really? Hahaha. It really seems like a great place.”

The eyes of the young man, who was smiling innocently as if he knew nothing, were shining coldly.

And a few days later. It was the day of the regular meeting of the Maitreya Buddhism.

The young man came to the meeting place with the innkeeper with an innocent face.

The young man spent a few days here, exchanging greetings with people he had become acquainted with.

A figure wearing an angry mask of the Four Heavenly Kings appeared from somewhere, and the meeting began.

While others were concentrating on the man’s words and singing hymns, the young man naturally blended into their midst.

‘I don’t see that face very often, so I guess that young man is the one who recently started working here as a salesman.’

The man wearing the mask of the Four Heavenly Kings leading the gathering had been observing the young man from the beginning.

* * *

A few days later.

As he was spending his time as usual, sleeping in late, meditating, or dancing to a creaking, bizarre sword dance, some news was delivered to Ilmok.

“Hmm. I hear there’s been an increase in the number of people coming from out of town recently.”

This wasn’t just Nanju’s story.

News was being transmitted from the branches of the Maitreya Buddhism that had been established throughout Gansu Province.

Considering the limited manpower of the Cheonmasin Church, it was nearly impossible to establish branches of the Maitreya Sect in countless counties and villages in Gansu Province and continue its missionary work.

However, as always, Ichimoku found the answer through ‘subcontracting’.

In districts of a certain size, people from the Cheonmasingyo branch or from the Gyomagak were sent to lead meetings and proselytization.

In small counties or villages, people who knew how to write were hired and sent to work. However, this was limited to those who had converted to the Maitreya Buddhism.

In other words, a kind of evangelist was sent out.

In addition, since the construction of the Arts Center in Pyeongnyang-hyeon was completed, former beggars who were accustomed to construction and carpentry work were hired and dispatched to various villages and counties.

Instead of a grand structure like Nanju’s Chapel or Pyeongnyang’s Art Hall, he gave instructions to build a small meeting place suitable for a small village.

Although it was a small project, it was bound to cost quite a bit of money because construction had to continue in several villages.

However, from the perspective of the Maitreya Church, there was nothing difficult.

The income from the red-light district in Nanju. And recently, there was income coming from Pyeongryang-hyeon, which was gradually establishing itself.

Above all, Ichimoku had no intention of embezzling any of the profits generated there.

It wasn’t because he was clean and upright.

Since there were fanatics all around, there was a high risk of being caught stealing. And when that fact was relayed to Cheonma, he was afraid that something terrible might happen.

In any case, at a time when the entire Gansu Province was being immersed in the Maitreya Buddhism, the story about outsiders was in many ways jarring.

Not long ago, I had to organize the Haomen people in Nanzhou.

When Ilmok seemed to be thinking about something, Dambin opened his mouth.

“Are you considering the possibility that it is Haomen’s work?”

“exactly.”

To Ilmok’s answer, this time Jin Ha-yeon asked with an indifferent expression.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to just clean it up?”

Ichimoku shook his head, thinking that this was just like a psychopath.

“That would be the easiest way, but you can’t just kill everyone just because they seem suspicious, right?”

There may be some real Haomen descendants, but there must also have been some who came from outside the country to settle down.

In addition to that.

‘If we kill anyone we see as suspicious, there is a risk that the followers’ faith in the Maitreya religion will waver, so massacre should be avoided if possible.’

There was a danger that the path of the Maitreya Buddhism, which was only now beginning to take root throughout Gansu Province, would be obstructed.

“Are you going to just leave it like that?”

“The best way is to keep watch and deal with only those who have evidence, but the problem is manpower. Gansu Province is too big and our new religion doesn’t have enough people to monitor each and every foreigner.”

Ichimoku, who had answered like that, let out a light sigh.

Because the only solutions that came to mind right away were the worst option of killing everyone and an idealistic solution that was impossible to achieve.

At that moment, a commotion was heard from outside, and soon a familiar voice was heard from the entrance of the hall.

“Your Majesty! We have returned!”

“I heard that you were inside the palace, so I came running, Your Majesty!”

It was the voice of Gu Yang-moon and Ju Seo-yeon.

The two finally returned after completing their tour of Gansu Province with the military junta.

“Come in.”

As soon as the first answer was out, the man and woman entered the hall without saying who would go first.

“Please meet Confucius!”

“Please meet Confucius!”

After Gu Yang-moon and Ju Seo-yeon took a lottery ticket from Ilmok and showed their respect, they turned their heads to look at Jin Ha-yeon.

“Hayeon. How have you been?”

“Long time no see! Senior Jin!”

As expected, the two of them ran in a hurry to see Jin Ha-yeon, not themselves.

Even though he already had a headache, Ichimoku didn’t get angry at the sight of the two of them making such a crazy scene.

“You two have come at a very good time. I have some additional work to do for you two.”

“… Are you talking to us?”

“We just got back….”

As the two mumbled with faces like puppies who had their food taken away, Ilmok smiled brightly and said.

“Don’t worry, it’s not that difficult. It’s just a matter of keeping an eye on people.”

Since the insufficient manpower has returned on its own feet, why should there be any reason to be angry?

* * *

Without being able to see Jin Ha-yeon’s face properly, Gu Yang-mun was driven out again after receiving only strange orders. The place he ended up going to was a quiet village.

‘You told me to keep an eye on the fortunes of the foreign guests.’

It could be Haomen’s work, and there were also instructions to capture him alive if any suspicious circumstances were discovered.

‘I wish it was a three-act piece.’

It wasn’t my intention to take credit for something. I just wanted to catch that guy as soon as possible so I could return to Nanju.

Only then will I be able to spend time with Jin Ha-yeon again.

“Come on in!”

With that thought in mind, Guyangmun entered a place called Unhwagaekjan.

For surveillance, it would be best to not make any contact at all, but in this quiet village, it would be impossible to monitor without encountering anyone at all.

“Oh my. This is my first time seeing you. Are you a tourist?”

Goo Yang-moon also smiled heartily and answered the friendly Jeom So-i.

“Hahaha. I’m a wanderer who just wanders around. The atmosphere here seems quite peaceful, so I’m thinking of staying for a while.”

Gu Yangmun ordered food and chatted with Jeom So-yi, and after finishing the meal, he checked into the inn.

As expected of a man who had graduated from the Magic Academy and had once been a member of the armed forces, Guyangmun skillfully used his stealth skills to escape the room and then continued to watch over the spot.

While working as a salesperson, nothing particularly stood out.

“Gwangmyeong Gwangmyeong Mireukmyeonggyo.”

“Hahahaha. I guess those lyrics are easy on your tongue, too.”

“Ahem. Yes. I only heard it once at the last meeting, but it keeps coming back to me.”

Just, with his excellent sociability, he constantly engages in conversation with the inn owner and guests.

‘…Should we consider that an act of information gathering and capture him?’

Gu Yangmun, who wanted to return to Nanju as soon as possible, was tempted, but tried to resist.

For several days, he would only directly encounter Jeomsoi during meal times, and at other times, he would always watch over Jeomsoi using stealth techniques.

The innkeeper, the store owner, and the villagers gathered somewhere because the day of the meeting had arrived again.

Guyangmun also used stealth to chase after them, but to no avail.

As expected of a young man with great sociability, he was already blending in well with the villagers even though he had only been here a few days.

When I finish giving a sermon.

“The coming of Maitreya.”

“Everyone’s alive!!”

They chanted slogans very loudly.

“The hymn we will sing this time will be ‘We will fight against the wicked.’”

“Wow!!”

They cheered enthusiastically at the mere news that they were singing a hymn.

“Gwang~ Myung Gwangmyeong Maitreya Myung~ Gyo!”

Even though this was only his second time attending the gathering, he was singing hymns with great enthusiasm.

Gu Yangmun, who was watching the scene from afar, tilted his head.

‘… I can’t tell if it’s acting or if I’m a real believer?’

* * *

A few days later.

Several letters arrived from Nanju’s Cheonmasingyo branch.

Those who were assigned as surveillance by Ilmok did not end with Ju Seo-yeon and Gu Yang-mun.

It was difficult to monitor all the foreigners, but they sent out a few unmanned units, including those two, to do their best to monitor them.

And the results of several days of surveillance were written in the letters that had just arrived.

“… Are you singing hymns diligently? It’s similar here.”

Even when I actually received the letter, I was equally puzzled.

Of course, it’s not like you can drive someone from a pseudo-religious group into a corner just because they’re active in their gatherings.

“Wow. There are two suspicious guys out there. While they are learning martial arts, they are trying to come in as a janitor or a squire.”

“Are you planning to arrest them right now?”

The moment Ilmok was about to answer Jin Ha-yeon’s question while standing guard nearby, he felt a presence from outside.

“Your Majesty, an urgent message has arrived from the Red Tower.”

Hearing Dam-bin’s voice from outside the pavilion, Ilmok stepped out of the pavilion and asked.

“What’s the news?”

To that question, Dam-bin, who always exuded a competent air, answered with an awkward expression.

“That is… . One of the gisaengs who recently entered the red-light district revealed herself as a messenger from Haomen.”

When he heard the news that Sejak had voluntarily revealed his identity, Ichimoku was equally shocked.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“I also received this information through a letter that Jin Hongru urgently sent to the Mireukmyungyo Jangwon. As for the details, I think I will have to go to Jin Hongru in person to find out.”

“If I do that, I guess I’ll have to go and see for now.”

Ilmok prepared his gear and headed to Jinhongru with Dambin and Jin Hayeon.

“Maitreya has arrived! All living beings! Meet the incarnations of Maitreya!!”

Jin Hongruju responded to their sudden visit without being flustered this time either.

And following the red rouge, there were two women who quickly bowed down.

“Maitreya has arrived! All living beings! Meet the incarnations of Maitreya!!”

One woman was someone I vaguely remembered.

‘Did you say Sohyang?’

A woman who was captured and tortured while trying to escape from Jeokhwaru. He remembered her because he had saved her.

However, such a question arose.

‘Why is that woman here?’