Scholar Demon Venerable

Ha Man did not agree with the words of the other Baihu Zhangs.

He knew how much gold and silver was piled up in the secret safe.

Even with just one of those boxes, each of the Jinyiwei who were following Cheongun would receive thousands of silver taels.

As the Baihu Zhangs opposed Cheongun's will, he could not endure it and opened his mouth.

"I will follow your will, Your Excellency."

At Ha Man's sudden words, everyone's gaze turned.

Xiong Tian got angry.

"You bastard! Don't you step forward!"

If it were normal, Ha Man would have bowed his head as if he were a dead mouse at Xiong Tian's words.

But he had already made up his mind and had decided to follow Cheongun's will, so he did not retreat.

"First Group Leader. Seven have died this time too. Eight have been injured, and among them, three are so seriously injured that they have to leave the Jinyiwei."

"Shut up! We are armed men who eat the country's salt. We have endured through difficulties with just our pride, so how can we now take money like those eunuch bastards?"

At Xiong Tian's cold words, everyone bowed their heads deeply.

Many of the Jinyiwei also secretly took money. There were even those who openly received it.

Xiong Tian also did not not know that there were quite a few such people among those who had followed Cheongun.

But Xiong Tian valued honor more than money.

Xiong Tian stood up abruptly from his seat, knelt down, and said to Cheongun.

"Your Excellency, although it has not been long since I have served you, I know well that you are not a person who would be attached to silver for personal reasons. So please withdraw your words this time."

Cheongun looked at Xiong Tian and the other Baihus once again and then opened his mouth.

"It seems you have misunderstood my intention."

Cheongun stood up from his seat and raised Xiong Tian, who was kneeling.

"If the inspectors come, they will make all sorts of excuses and try to embezzle the property of the Zirong Palace. You also don't not know that."

"They will not be able to do it openly, looking at our eyes."

"Hahaha. Do you really think so? Do you think I or you guys can really break their greed?"

It was an impossible thing. No, they might even ask him to find something that wasn't there and offer it.

Cheongun sat Xiong Tian down again and continued.

"They will embezzle the money legally. Even if we try to punish them, if all the high officials of the imperial palace move as one, we cannot stop them with our strength. If we present the evidence and push them, they will probably offer a few low-ranking officials and cut off the tail."

"That's... right."

At Cheongun's words, Xiong Tian answered weakly.

Only the foolish and powerless were caught, and high-ranking officials or officials who were well-connected were rarely involved in bribery.

Even if they were caught, they would be pardoned and released after a short time.

"I will not use that money for personal reasons. I will take care of the families of the subordinates who have died or been injured while doing the country's work, and I plan to use it to save the naked commoners. Of course, I will also use it to fight against the evil ones."

"..."

"My decision has already been made. So from now on, those who will not follow my words, step back."

Cheongun finished his words firmly and looked around at the Baihu Zhangs.

As if the Baihu Zhangs had made up their minds, they stood up one by one and knelt down.

They were people who had watched Cheongun's actions during that time. Everyone knew that Cheongun never made empty promises.

In any case, it was money that was up in the air. It was better to use it for the brothers who were crossing the line of death than to offer it to the dirty pigs.

"I will follow your will, Your Excellency."

"I will also share your will, Your Excellency."

Only one person, Xiong Tian, had a troubled expression.

Cheongun looked at such a Xiong Tian without a word.

Even if he, who was firm in his heart, did not participate in this, he had no intention of blaming him.

But Xiong Tian stood up from his seat and knelt down again.

"I will follow your noble heart, Your Excellency. I just hope that you will not change like those treacherous officials, Your Excellency."

"You've thought well. I'll say it in advance, but if I change, then I will entrust my neck to you guys."

Cheongun held the hands of the Baihu Zhangs with a happy heart.

"Hurry up and sit down. I have something to instruct."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

A strong will was seen in the two eyes of the Baihu Zhangs who had answered with one voice and had sat down.

"It seems the people of the Zirong Palace do not know about the secret safe in the secret passage. No one asks about that place, and they don't even care."

It seemed that all the ones who knew that place had died with the Zirong Palace master.

If not, someone among the remaining people would have to pay attention to the vast amount of gold and treasures there.

But no one said anything about that place.

"Ah! In that case..."

The Baihu Zhangs' eyes became a little brighter.

Even if someone who knew the truth came out later, it didn't matter. Since it was a common thing for treasures to disappear in the midst of chaos, it was enough to just deny it.

Cheongun, who had said a few simple facts, pointed to a place on the map.

"This is the newly discovered secret passage. Move the money and goods of the secret safe to the Fengyun Manor through this passage."

Last night, he had discovered a new secret passage.

Unfortunately, it was not the secret passage that Hyeokryeon Hui had escaped through. Looking at the pile of dust, it seemed that no one had passed through for several years.

Baihu Xiong Tian, who was looking down at the map, asked a question.

"Have you gone to see where it leads to?"

"I have confirmed it. It leads to a manor in Tangshan. The ones who live in that manor were all captured last night."

Cheongun, who had discovered the secret passage, had passed through the passage and had gone out to the exit. The passage was connected to a small manor far from the Zirong Palace, and it was a place related to the Zirong Palace.

So he had sent the Jinyiwei to surround it and had captured all the ones who were there and had brought them.

After that, he had sealed the manor and had placed the Jinyiwei to guard the entrance, so the possibility of it being revealed to the outside was extremely low.

Xiong Tian said with a brightened expression.

"Your Excellency, it seems the heavens are helping. Then it would be best for Deputy Commander Shengpi in the seventh group and Baihu Ha Man in the sixth group to handle this."

Xiong Tian, who had opposed the most at first, expressed his opinion.

Since he had learned that it was not receiving a bribe, and that it was not taking dirty money, the burden on his heart had also been lessened.

Still, he decided to exclude the ones who had problems among the Jinyiwei for now.

Cheongun just listened quietly to the meeting of the Baihu Zhangs.

In the midst of that, Xue Jinzhong asked.

"Your Excellency, the inspectors will arrive tomorrow. The time is tight to move the goods."

"If there is no time, I will make it. Did you say the inspectors had unpacked in Danxian, Shandong?"

"Yes, Your Excellency. There was a contact that they would arrive here at noon tomorrow."

"I understand. Then from now on, do this."

Cheongun told them his plan.

The Baihu Zhangs nodded their heads repeatedly at Cheongun's plan.

* * *

Danxian was the gateway to Shandong Province from Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces.

Since it was a transportation hub, many people came and went, and it was a well-developed large city.

In a large brothel in this Danxian, a drinking party was being held even before darkness had fallen.

It was the Tianxiang Lou, a famous landmark of Danxian.

In the garden located deep in the inner courtyard of the Tianxiang Lou, a large pavilion was located by a pond.

A plaque with the embarrassing name of Tianxiang Chunwan was hung on the pavilion.

This Tianxiang Chunwan was the pride of the Tianxiang Lou.

It was a secret place where no one would blame you even if you shared the pleasure of clouds and rain in an open and elegant place.

There, about a dozen men were already having a sloppy drinking party with courtesans.

'Haha, to think that those guys are officials.'

It was a sight that made one frown on its own.

There was an eye that was watching them from a distance. The owner of that eye was Cheongun.

Cheongun was wearing night clothes. Because they might remember his face.

Cheongun had given instructions to the Jinyiwei and had come running straight to this Danxian. Since it was such a close distance, he had been able to arrive in less than a shichen by unfolding the super-class Flying Heaven Shadowless Divine Step.

Cheongun waited for it to get a little darker and watched them play.

'Haha, do eunuch bastards also play like that?'

Even if the officials of the Five Military Governor's Offices were like that, the eunuchs who didn't have that were also mingling together.

He saw them putting their hands into the courtesans' clothes and kneading them, and he also saw them putting their hands into their skirts and giggling.

He even saw a guy who had gotten on top and was doing something.

Although it was a sight that would make one frown, the inspectors belonging to the Five Military Governor's Offices who were sitting together were rather enjoying the sight.

'But what money do those guys have to be doing that?'

He didn't understand.

The Tianxiang Lou was a place that was famous in the vicinity for being expensive. It was not a cheap place where ordinary officials could flock together and have a drinking party.

'It seems they are people who take a lot of bribes.'

Since the money they received here and there while working as inspectors would not be small, he understood the current situation.

In particular, he saw a man in a silk martial arts uniform with his back turned. He didn't know who he was, but it seemed that man had arranged this meeting.

'By the way, this is a predicament.'

It seemed like beasts were running wild.

It was also a predicament to watch with a red face.

As darkness fell like that, Cheongun immediately landed on the roof of the pavilion.

He lowered his body and listened to the sound coming from below.

A strange sound and a giggling sound continued for a long time.

But he heard a familiar voice.

"I will only trust you, Your Excellencies."

"Of course. Just trust us."

As Cheongun was trying to recall whose voice it was, he stopped his thoughts at the continued words.

"Young Master, don't worry about anything. No matter how much I think about it, what the Jinyiwei did this time was wrong."

"Of course, that's right. No matter how much he receives the Emperor's favor, to accuse the Zirong Palace of rebellion. It's something the whole world will laugh at."

At the unexpected words, Cheongun realized what they were talking about.

'These guys are plotting together right now.'

It was clear that they had firmly decided to ensnare him.

They had forgotten their duty as officials and were receiving a request from someone. He was curious who the person who was making that request was.

Cheongun did not wait any longer and went down below the pavilion.

His brow furrowed on its own in the space that was full of a sticky heat. He used his internal energy to block the sound that was spreading around.

Jiiing.

An official who had discovered Cheongun, who had appeared in black night clothes, was surprised and shouted.

"Who are you?"

At that, the gazes of the ones who were doing something gathered on Cheongun.

Cheongun's appearance, who was wearing black night clothes and had even covered his face, looked like an assassin. The courtesans who were with them screamed.

Cheongun waved his hand instead of answering.

Shushushuk.

Puk, puk, puk.

Cheongun first hit the blood points of the courtesans who were playing with the men.

The courtesans who were screaming collapsed.

As Cheongun put the courtesans to sleep with just a light gesture, the officials who knew martial arts were surprised and became tense.

At that moment, a man jumped at Cheongun and shot a single sword.

"Die!"

Shushushuk.

A blue sword light aimed for Cheongun's vital points. It was a fairly sharp attack.

Cheongun's hand left an afterimage in the air and collided with the sword energy.

Thwack.

Although he had shot the sword energy with a palm art, the attack was not over. Another man on the left also drew his sword and at the same time struck Cheongun's waist. In succession, three or four people attacked in a pincer movement.

Again, Cheongun's hand shadow embroidered the air. The hand shadow that was fluttering like a butterfly blocked all their attacks.

At the same time, Cheongun got on top of the table and kicked the dishes that were on the table in succession.

Thwack.

The ones who were attacking Cheongun were hit by the dishes and fell back.

The remaining ones, unlike the fallen ones, did not attack Cheongun and just glared.

Cheongun's light body movements made them flinch.

But they were not officials who would just stay quiet.

An official shouted at Cheongun.

"How dare you jump into this place? Do you know who we are?"

It was a shout with internal energy. Looking at his clothes, it seemed he was an official belonging to the Five Military Governor's Offices.

"Of course I know. Aren't you the corrupt officials who suck the blood of the commoners? That's why I have personally come from the underworld to punish you guys."

At Cheongun's cold words, the audience froze.

If he had jumped in knowing who they were, it was not something to be taken lightly.

As they were getting tense, Cheongun, who had looked around, found an unexpected person.

"Hah, so it was you."