Who threatened Cheonma Hara with a knife - Chapter 282



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Who threatened to call me Cheonmahara with a knife? Episode 282

Return of the Golden Horse (4)

Ichimoku once again made a face of incomprehension.

‘Isn’t that obvious?’

It was common sense that knowing something with your head and putting it into practice were two different things.

Just looking at running, it was like that. How to run fast. Even if you quickly mastered the theory of exercise mechanics, it didn’t mean you could always run fast.

‘Master, you’re a genius, so you don’t understand?’

The thought that occurred to me went around and expressed my thoughts.

“That is why I have recently been focusing on training myself to fully control my energy.”

“That may be a solution in its own way, but it doesn’t seem to be a fundamental solution.”

Cheonma answered like that and continued speaking while stroking his beard.

“The realm of understanding (認解境) literally means the state of knowing (認) and realizing (解) something. And the something mentioned here does not simply mean martial arts.”

“What do you need to know and realize to enter that realm?”

In response to Ilmok’s question, for some reason Cheonma pointed to Ilmok.

“You must know yourself.”

“???”

Whether or not Ilmok made a puzzled expression, Cheonma continued his vague story.

“The state of Inhae-gyeong means the state where one can communicate with the world by fully realizing oneself. Therefore, one can interfere with the world with one’s will, however weak, and undergo a complete transformation.”

Ilmok tried hard to hide his doubts and took the lottery ticket from Cheonma.

“I will make sure to never forget the Master’s teachings.”

Ichimoku couldn’t really understand what Cheonma was trying to say.

‘Not some ancient Western philosopher.’

Know thyself. It was a very vague teaching.

Cheonma also nodded once and answered, perhaps not expecting Ilmok to understand right away.

“For now, just remember the old man’s words. When the time comes, they will be of great help to you. Also, don’t be impatient. Ichimoku, you have reached a level that is difficult to reach at your age, so calmly wait for the time to come.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

It sounded like he was being told to take it easy and relax, so Ichimoku felt secretly delighted.

“If you do that, I will step aside…”

“Hmm. I think we’ve had enough of private conversations, so let’s talk about more professional things.”

“… … .”

Ilmok, who had been trying to buy one more day, soon gave up, bowed his head, and answered.

“Please give your order.”

Cheonma gave the order in a calm tone.

The purpose of calling Ichimoku, who was active in the Central Plains, back to the headquarters.

“Hearing of the various things you have done in the Central Plains, this old man has come up with an idea. Our new religion’s wish is to recover the Central Plains, but is it really necessary to do things only in the Central Plains?”

“… Then, what are you thinking about?”

When I asked in a tone that was somewhat ominous, Cheonma smiled gently and answered.

“After a few days of preparation, cross Cheonmandae Mountain and head west.”

“… … .”

Ichimoku, who was momentarily speechless, tried to pull himself together and answered.

“Master. If we go west beyond the Ten Thousand Heavenly Mountains, isn’t that the territory of the heretics who believe in the Hui-Hui religion (Islam)?”

The guys who attacked me during my time at the Magic Academy.

It was a place where Allah’s fanatics lived.

Proselytizing among Muslims.

‘Master! Do you wish for your disciple to be kidnapped?’

Since he couldn’t argue with her, Ichimoku tried to remain calm and asked back.

“Are you saying that I should preach there under the name of Maitreya Buddhism?”

At Ichimoku’s question, Cheonma burst into laughter.

“Hahaha. If I could just preach to the Muslims, that would be the icing on the cake, but preaching is secondary.”

“???”

“The reason I want to send you west is because of what you said, ‘I don’t work every day, I don’t eat every day.’”

No work, no food, no sleep.

A phrase that was uttered during an argument with the Open-minded. From then on, it became the doctrine that came to be regarded as the greatest banner of the Maitreya Buddhism.

Why did this suddenly pop up now?

‘Are you telling me to stop playing and work?’

That thought occurred to me, but Ichimoku thought about it a little more and soon arrived at an answer.

“Are you thinking of the Silk Road?”

The road through which the Central Plains and the Western Regions interacted.

A symbol of overseas trade that passed through the deserts of Xinjiang and Tibet, selling silk to the Western Regions and bringing in special items from the Western Region that were not available in the Central Plains, leaving behind huge profits.

And now that the Cheonmasingyo has established itself in Xinjiang, it is a trade route that remains only in name.

To Ichimoku’s question, Cheonma nodded.

Cheonma was determined to revive the Silk Road once again.

To earn money and feed the followers of the Cheonmasingyo.

“In the past, even if we bought something from the West, it would have been impossible to sell it in the Central Plains. There was no way to buy our new religion’s products in the Central Plains. Furthermore, it would have been nearly impossible to bring products from the barren Xinjiang region to the West to sell them.”

Ilmok seemed to know what Cheonma was trying to say without having to hear the rest of his story.

‘Now, you can wash your status in Gansu Province through the Maitreya Religion, so you can easily move up.’

Furthermore, it was also possible to purchase goods from the Central Plains through the Mireukmyungyo and then take them to the Western Regions to sell.

Of course, as with all things, the tail that runs long gets stepped on.

As the people traveled between the Central Plains and the Western Regions, leaving behind records, there was a risk that the relationship between the Maitreya Buddhism and the Cheonmasingyo would be exposed.

“With the Blood Cult’s business, the central plains have no time to turn their attention to the outside world, so are you planning to take advantage of this moment?”

To Ilmok’s question, Cheonma nodded and said, “As expected, you’re quick-witted.”

With this, I could completely understand what the Master’s purpose was.

But, that’s just understanding the ‘purpose’.

“Is there a reason why you want to send me for that?”

I couldn’t figure out why he had to send me to that job.

Of course, there was no need to call in someone who was expanding his territory in the Central Plains under the name of Mireukmyungyo.

He wasn’t the only one in the Demonic Cult, and there was no reason to send him on a terrible mission where his youngest disciple might get kidnapped if he was unlucky.

In response to Ilmok’s question, for some reason Cheonma looked at Ilmok with eyes full of trust and affection.

“Because you are the most trustworthy.”

“… … .”

While Ilmok was swallowing the words, “There is no need for such belief,” Cheonma added.

“As you know, if we were to order our followers to kill someone and return, they might be able to complete the mission admirably, but this is a completely different matter. If they kill someone, wouldn’t things get even more complicated?”

“…Does this mean you sent me on a mission where I must not kill anyone?”

“Hehehe. There are many other reasons as well. Just looking at the fact that you lied about opening up in the Central Plains, or that you incited the fight between the Martial Arts Alliance and the Blood Cult, it seems like there is no one as talented as you in opening up trade routes while associating with Muslims in the West.”

iced coffee.

If it were other cult fanatics, they would have been busy beating everyone to death in the Central Plains and then running away after being branded a martial arts master, but I worked hard and used my brain, and now I’m getting recognized like this.

‘Ha. I should’ve just killed everyone I met and returned to headquarters.’

Ilmok blamed himself for having worked so hard in the Central Plains.

‘What the hell are you doing, creating some weird pseudo-religion like the Maitreya religion to enjoy some kind of wealth and honor?’

Come to think of it, it was because we took over Gansu Province under the name of Maitreya Buddhism that the Master was able to come up with this plan.

Only then did I finally realize the great truth of the world that I had forgotten.

The more you do something, the more work you get. This is a terrible truth.

* * *

Ilmok returned to Pungamjeong with the bundle of papers handed over by Cheonma, who was very well prepared.

The bundle of papers Cheonma gave me contained maps and old records.

A map depicting Xinjiang and its surrounding terrain. And a record of what was once the Silk Road.

As soon as Ilmok returned to Pungamjeong, he locked himself in his room and looked at the map and records.

I would have liked to just roll around in my room, but I couldn’t afford to be lazy about preparing since I had quite a long journey ahead of me.

Because I didn’t want to be kidnapped.

“Hmm. In the past, there were two major roads.”

A road that crosses the desert below Cheonmandae Mountain and a road that crosses the grasslands where nomads live above Cheonmandae Mountain.

There were two routes: Cheonsanbuk-ro and Cheonsannam-ro, or the Grassland Road and the Desert Road.

‘The North Road and the South Road. When the Master told us to cross Cheonmandaesan Mountain and open a path, was he thinking of the North Road?’

I could roughly guess the reason.

“If you cross Xinjiang and go to Gansu Province, you’re bound to be noticed.”

No matter how much you say you are blind and pretending not to see, the business that was about to begin had to use the Mireukmyeonggyo or another pseudonymous group.

But if you cross Xinjiang, your relationship with the Tianma Sect will inevitably be questionable.

That is why it seems that Cheonma planned a route that did not go through Xinjiang, but rather through Cheonsanbukro.

“… This is a path that has to be roundabout too much.”

The route that goes north of Cheonmandaesan Mountain and avoids Xinjiang is more than twice as long as the route that crosses Xinjiang.

In addition, if you moved north, unlike across Xinjiang, which was the territory of the new religion, you would have to deal with additional northern pagans.

“First of all, I think we should think about opening up trade with the Western Regions.”

Instead of crossing Cheonmandaesan Mountain, Ilmok decided to first visit the Western Regions via the desert road of Xinjiang.

If the deal couldn’t be made in the first place, there would be no need to go all the way across the mountains.

While I was organizing my plans and looking through the map and paper, I heard Jin Ha-yeon’s voice from outside the door.

“Your Majesty. The Grand Prince and the Sixth Prince have come to see you.”

“I’ll go out right away.”

Ilmok put the map and letters away and left the room.

“I meet the Ambassador. I meet the Sixth Commander.”

When Ilmok showed his respect to the two by giving them a lottery ticket, the ambassador burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha. Sorry for coming so late. I wanted to come right away, but I had some work to do, so I ended up being late, so please understand.”

“I am grateful that you came to see me.”

Ilmok, who had been politely responding to the ambassador, turned his head and looked at the sergeant.

He had a blank expression and a sallow face.

“Are you okay?”

I thought it might be a coin-poisoning spell.

“Hahaha. Don’t worry, Priest Jong-ri is adapting well to the work of the Gyomagak.”

It was a scene that made me want to ask, ‘Is that what you mean?’

I also thought that those blank eyes might be looking at an illusion floating in the air.

At the words ‘Gyomagak’ from Wei Jinhak, for some reason, Jongli Chu shivered and his eyes became clear.

“Ahem. I’m fine, don’t worry. My friends are helping me, so I’m adjusting well. I always felt like I wasn’t helpful to the school, but lately I’ve been helping out with the elder brother’s work and I feel a sense of accomplishment.”

“What if they were close friends….”

At Ichimoku’s question, Jongli Chu smiled faintly and glanced into space.

“I don’t think I should become close with those friends…?” Ichimoku tried to swallow his words and looked at Wi Jin-hak.

– Are you sure it’s okay?

At the sound of the first glance, Wei Jin-hak burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha. Don’t worry. Aside from Father Jong-ri, there are many close friends like that.”

“???”

When he looked at Wei Jin-hak with an expression that seemed to show no understanding, Wei Jin-hak responded as if it was nothing.

“Since all of those who belong to the Gyomagak have an all-night routine, one by one, they have been talking to themselves or making blank expressions. Since they all have similar symptoms to the Jongri priest, there is nothing particularly special about the Jongri priest’s symptoms.”

“… … .”

Only then was Ichimoku able to realize the important fact belatedly.

Even the eyes of the ambassador, who was smiling as if he was fine, were bloodshot, perhaps due to staying up all night.

‘A gentleman who has successfully escaped from a horse and has even undergone a complete transformation is so tired that his eyes are bloodshot.’

Ichimoku, who was speechless, suddenly had this thought.

‘I think it would be better to go to the West.’

I think that Kyomagak is a hell of a place for human beings.