Had he ever laughed this heartily in recent years?
Yong Jamyeong truly laughed out loud.
Did he have some money?
Asking such a question of the richest man in the Central Plains was no different from asking the leader of the Demon Cult, “Are you any good at martial arts?” And the person making such a joke was the Young Cult Leader of the present Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
While building up the Eunha Merchant Guild, he had always been cautious of martial artists. Among them, he had been most wary and guarded against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. If something happened, he had felt negotiations would not work with them. They were like a being that would surge in like a tidal wave.
Then new news from the Demon Cult reached him.
This young man standing right before his eyes. It was news about the Demon Cult’s Young Cult Leader.
The information that came up in secret was truly astonishing. Stories so difficult to believe they seemed unreal.
Even as he heard one report after another that the Young Cult Leader was different from the demonic practitioners of the past, he had thought, Different? How different could he be? In the end, a demonic practitioner was still a demonic practitioner.
And yet, the Young Cult Leader he had met in person was different. How different could he be? As one could see, he was far too different. He was someone even more extraordinary than the rumors said.
“How much will you need?”
At Yong Jamyeong’s question, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said,
“The more, the better.”
“That is the one thing I can do well.”
At his modest words, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
“However, you don’t actually need to give it to us.”
“What does that mean?”
“You only need to pretend to give it to us.”
Yong Jamyeong guessed Geom Mugeuk’s intent.
It must mean they only needed to leak information that the Eunha Merchant Guild had given a huge sum to the Seodo Sect.
“And the question of how much it will take is something we should hear not from you, Guild Master, but from the other side.”
Yong Jamyeong was impressed by Geom Mugeuk. It had been only moments ago that he had asked to be allowed to remain here. That was why they had gained three days.
In other words, in that brief instant, Geom Mugeuk had devised some sort of plan.
The most extraordinary Young Cult Leader in history.
He was certainly showing himself worthy of that rumor.
“Young Cult Leader.”
“Yes, Guild Master.”
Now it was time to offer him his thanks formally.
“Thank you.”
If not for Geom Mugeuk, he would never have realized that Geom Ujin was his benefactor.
If Geom Mugeuk had not asked to hear the old story, if he had not asked to see the portrait sketch, if he had not seen Geom Ujin’s likeness in Geom Mugeuk’s appearance.
He would never have known that Geom Ujin was his benefactor.
Though he knew Yong Jamyeong meant it in that way, Geom Mugeuk smiled and said,
“When I’m with the richest man in the world, I ask for money and still get thanked for it.”
Yong Jamyeong liked Geom Mugeuk. The words of the Demon Cult Leader—that it would not be such a bad thing for him either—now made perfect sense. No, it was more than not bad. If he continued to form a good relationship with a Young Cult Leader like this, it would be a great help not only to himself but to the Eunha Merchant Guild as well.
Perhaps that was why these words came out so naturally.
“Those three days will begin from tomorrow.”
Even a single day was precious to him.
* * *
“The Eunha Merchant Guild is plotting something.”
At Geum Arin’s words, her personal guard, Im Hyeok, silently nodded.
The fact that the Guild Master of the Eunha Merchant Guild had appeared here in person was proof of that. For now, circumstantially, it looked as though the Eunha Merchant Guild and the Seodo Sect were joining hands.
“The Seodo Sect are not ordinary people.”
Im Hyeok recalled Hwi, who had appeared after releasing his concealment.
It was the first time he had seen such incredible concealment arts. It was concealment that had truly reached the pinnacle, something only one who had learned concealment arts could recognize.
At that moment, the words he had spoken came to mind.
—Do you wish to protect your master? Then stop. Your thoughts, your actions. And close your mouth.
He had meant that Im Hyeok should not act rashly in that manor.
Yet somehow, he kept thinking it was a warning that ought to be applied to this entire matter.
“That must be why the Guild Master of the Eunha Merchant Guild came in person.”
The man called Geom Yeon was no ordinary person, and neither were the figures shown by his father and uncle. In particular, the presence his father had displayed was difficult to describe in words.
“If they’ve joined hands, then in the end, my subordinates were done in by the Eunha Merchant Guild.”
That was a different matter from simply getting caught in a dispute with a murim sect by chance. It meant the Eunha Merchant Guild might have been behind this incident. Of course, the possibility was slim.
If that had been the case, they would not have let them leave the manor so easily that day.
“The clan will contact us.”
They had already reported to the clan that the Guild Master of the Eunha Merchant Guild had moved on his own.
“We can’t just sit and wait until they contact us.”
Before that, the situation here might already be over.
She had to step forward and find out herself. What sort of relationship the Eunha Merchant Guild and the Seodo Sect had, and why the Guild Master of the Eunha Merchant Guild had come here in person.
“What do you intend to do?”
“I need to find out how things are unfolding through that man called Geom Yeon.”
Im Hyeok looked at her with concern. She had done well in every task she had taken on so far. For someone so young, she certainly had exceptional qualities. But this time, his instincts did not feel good.
Geum Arin sensed Im Hyeok’s concern.
“I know. He isn’t an easy opponent.”
She thought of Geom Mugeuk. When she thought of him, the first image that came to mind was him smiling and joking. She knew. Since ancient times, it was the strong who smiled.
That smile of Geom Mugeuk’s came from composure. And that composure came from strength.
Just then, a subordinate came and reported.
“Geom Yeon and the Guild Master of the Eunha Merchant Guild have moved.”
“Just the two of them?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Where?”
“To the Daeryuk Money House.”
Geum Arin immediately guessed the reason.
If a merchant and a martial artist went to a money house, what other reason could there be? The Eunha Merchant Guild must have handed money over to the Seodo Sect.
Geum Arin ordered her subordinate,
“Find out discreetly how much money changed hands. You must learn the amount.”
* * *
That afternoon, Geum Arin came to Geom Mugeuk’s residence.
“What brings you here?”
“I came because I have something to say to you.”
“Come in.”
“It’s stuffy. Let’s walk for a bit.”
Geum Arin refused to enter the house. She knew that the Guild Master of the Eunha Merchant Guild was still staying here. On top of that, this man’s father was there as well. Inside was a tiger’s den.
Geom Mugeuk readily accepted her suggestion.
“Very well, let’s do that.”
It was precisely because of this attitude. For some reason, it made her feel she could find something out from this man.
She had to use this man’s confidence. She had to stick a straw into that confidence and suck out only the humility inside it. Once humility disappeared from confidence, it became arrogance.
The two slowly made their way toward the marketplace. She walked a little distance away from Geom Mugeuk.
“Why are you walking so far away?”
At Geom Mugeuk’s question, Geum Arin answered,
“Have you forgotten? The last time we met, we were trying to kill each other.”
“Let’s be precise. It wasn’t each other. It was you trying to kill me.”
“The blood of my subordinates is probably still on your sword.”
“They tried to kill me first.”
“You survived, didn’t you?”
She was cautious with each word and focused her entire mind. She had never dealt with this type of person before. Even if she made a single joke, she had to keep her wits about her.
“But there’s one thing I find strange.”
“What is strange?”
“As you know, I ran into the Guild Master of the Eunha Merchant Guild that day. Then the martial artists of his guild should have investigated me afterward, yet there has been no movement at all.”
It was a probing remark to find out whether the Eunha Merchant Guild knew of her existence.
In reality, the Guild Master of the Eunha Merchant Guild’s protection was so airtight that she knew if some unknown person made contact with him, they would always investigate that person afterward.
“I told them about you first.”
“What did you say?”
“You heard it that day, didn’t you? That you were a woman blessed with good fortune when it came to food.”
When Geum Arin looked dumbfounded, Geom Mugeuk smiled and added,
“I said you were someone with a personal connection to me. So, out of consideration for me, they will not investigate you.”
Geum Arin stopped walking for a moment. Naturally, Geom Mugeuk also stopped.
“We are ill-fated.”
She deliberately did not say anything nice to Geom Mugeuk. He had said she had a personal connection with him. In other words, it meant he bore goodwill toward her. At times like this, it was better to treat him coldly instead.
Sure enough, the other party did not take it as an ill-fated relationship.
“Isn’t it still too early to know that? Our meeting is not over yet.”
The two began walking again. She quietly inserted the straw into him and took one sip of humility.
“For the Guild Master of the Eunha Merchant Guild to come in person... You must be more impressive than I thought.”
At that, Geom Mugeuk looked at her with a peculiar smile. That gaze at times like this felt as though it saw straight through her heart.
“I think you are the more impressive one.”
“What do you mean?”
“You came to see such an impressive person without fear, did you not?”
Such an impressive person?
It seemed her earlier words had properly sucked away some humility.
“Why did you come to see me?”
“To be honest, dealing with someone like you is burdensome for me too. But since this has happened, it must be concluded one way or another.”
While they spoke, the two entered the marketplace.
Geom Mugeuk was the first to make a suggestion.
“Let’s have a drink.”
It was exactly the suggestion she had been hoping for, but she pushed back once. If she wanted to draw information from him, she must not show impatience. She had to approach this strategically to the end.
“We are not on terms where we can sit across from each other and drink.”
This was also her confidence.
A woman’s confidence that a man would not refuse just because she pushed back like this. The men she had dealt with until now could be handled with a sword, so she simply had never needed this charm.
“That does not mean we are on terms where we cannot drink, does it? Come, let’s go.”
Geom Mugeuk took the lead and entered an inn.
A faint smile formed on Geum Arin’s lips as she followed him in. So far, the plan was going smoothly.
“There are plenty of other taverns, yet you seem to like this place.”
“Did I not meet you here? It is a meaningful place for us.”
At the unexpected words, Geum Arin flinched.
She stared at Geom Mugeuk, but she could not tell whether he truly thought so or whether he was saying it like a joke.
“Bring us wine.”
Geom Mugeuk ordered one dish for her and one dish for himself.
After drinking a cup of wine, Geom Mugeuk asked with a curious expression,
“Let me ask you one thing. Where do you belong?”
“Why do you think I belong somewhere?”
“To be doing this kind of work...”
Geom Mugeuk cut himself off for a moment, and Geum Arin supplied the rest.
“You think I’m too young.”
At that, Geom Mugeuk shook his head.
“No. I was going to say you are not someone suited to this kind of work.”
“What kind of person is suited to this kind of work?”
“Someone who can seize another person’s family business without batting an eye. Someone who does not hesitate to kill those who try to stop it.”
The corner of Geum Arin’s mouth curled up slightly as he struck the mark. Quick-witted as she was, there was no way she would fail to understand.
‘He’s saying that to me.’
He said she was not suited to it, but in the end, he was rebuking her.
Though she was inwardly angry, she pretended not to notice and changed the subject. She had not come to fight, but to extract information.
“Your father truly seems remarkable. I had thought that a martial artist would have to be the leader of one of the major sects to have a private meeting with the Guild Master of the Eunha Merchant Guild.”
She deliberately praised his father. There was no better way to strip humility from someone than by provoking jealousy.
Sure enough, it was as she expected.
“I was the one who proposed calling the Eunha Merchant Guild.”
“For what reason did you call them?”
As if it were not some great secret, Geom Mugeuk told her,
“The Eunha Merchant Guild was secretly looking for an expert. An expert whose name was not known in the murim. In that regard, my father was perfect. After all, it has truly been a long time since he entered the murim.”
It was not a lie. His father truly had emerged into the murim after a very long time.
At the unexpected major piece of information, Geum Arin’s mind began turning rapidly.
‘The Eunha Merchant Guild is secretly looking for experts? Why on earth?’
The Eunha Merchant Guild was already filled with countless experts.
As if he had seen through her thoughts, Geom Mugeuk said,
“I was curious as to why they needed experts in secret, so I asked them directly.”
Geum Arin waited for his answer, inwardly tense.
But Geom Mugeuk did not answer, instead drawing it out. He called the waiter and ordered more wine, and also ordered a new dish.
As though he had forgotten what he was saying, he drank and shifted the topic to talk about the food.
In the end, after a few cups of wine, she asked,
“Why did the Eunha Merchant Guild say they were looking for experts?”
“Ah, did I not tell you?”
Because he unfolded the conversation in this way, her suspicion—Why is this man telling me so easily?—was dispersed.
“They said there is an organization moving secretly in the merchant world. They called them people who ignore commercial ethics and disturb the order. They asked us to eliminate them.”
“!”
Geum Arin was truly shocked, but she tried hard to remain calm. That secret organization was undoubtedly her own organization. She had expected the Eunha Merchant Guild to notice someday, but she had not expected them to respond like this.
“Then why are they bringing in outside forces instead of dealing with it themselves?”
“That is obvious.”
Geom Mugeuk spoke confidently, as though he had seen even that far.
“They must intend to take over the empty space left after eliminating them.”
“That can’t be. They are the greatest merchant guild under heaven.”
After emptying his wine cup, Geom Mugeuk said,
“That is precisely how they became the greatest merchant guild under heaven.”
After a brief silence, Geum Arin asked,
“Why are you telling me such secrets so readily?”
“Because you seemed curious. At this point, may we call this a connection rather than an ill-fated relationship?”
Geom Mugeuk stared intently at Geum Arin.
She simply could not understand this man’s true thoughts. In any case, whether it was true or not could be confirmed again later. And since words were flowing so smoothly now, she thought she had to ask everything she needed to ask.
“How much did they offer you?”
If Geom Mugeuk’s words were true, she had to stop them from joining hands. Otherwise, they would suffer losses far greater than the money used to hire these people. No, more than that, her own life would be in danger.
Geom Mugeuk, who had been unreserved until now, held back his answer this time.
“Why do you ask?”
“If I give you more money, you could come over to our side.”
Geom Mugeuk laughed openly.
“I apologize. I was not mocking you.”
It must have looked as though she were trying to deal with the richest man under heaven.
Listen, we are in the top three too.
“Tell me. How much will it take?”
Absolute Regression Chapter 466