Geum Arin experienced it for the first time.
That such calm killing intent could exist.
“So you’re going to kill them all?”
Now she understood.
Why Geom Mugeuk had accepted her father’s request and asked for half. And why he had told her to tell the other merchant guilds and martial sects that he would collect their money.
“If it were a paltry sum, perhaps, but surely you know there’s no way they would hand over such a massive amount willingly.”
Then Geom Mugeuk spoke.
“This matter is not about collecting the money. The problem is what comes after receiving it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you say it yourself? They are people who take revenge by killing even family members. If they are robbed of such a huge sum, how do you think they will react?”
“They’ll surely take revenge.”
Geom Mugeuk calmly nodded.
“It is not I who kill them. The way they have lived their lives is what kills them.”
She could tell that her premonition was certain. Now what she wondered was this.
‘How?’
Surely, he couldn’t possess enough strength to annihilate Baekseonbang all by himself?
Geom Mugeuk said to her.
“Now, go and bring in as much as you can. Persuading them is up to you. Think of it as the process of becoming the successor.”
Geom Mugeuk placed a paper with the names of the merchant guilds and sects written on it into Geum Arin’s hand and ushered her outside.
“Leave right now. Start with the ones with the largest sums.”
“No, don’t push me. Let’s talk more.”
“I have much to do. I’m a man who is busy at night.”
And so she was chased out of the room as if pushed.
Outside the closed door, she raised her voice.
“Your leader is me. I give the orders.”
Have you ever been chased out by a subordinate worth a whopping two million nyang?
Then Geom Mugeuk’s answer came from inside.
“A leader who just sits and gives orders has no charm. Now, Leader, please be on your way.”
* * *
For several days, Geum Arin busily traveled back and forth to each merchant guild and martial sect.
Just as Geom Mugeuk had ordered, she secretly visited the guilds and sects and obtained their permission.
“I intend to collect the money extorted by Baekseonbang. I will receive it together with you when the time comes, so please give half of it to us as a service fee.”
If she had required a contract, they would not have agreed. They would have feared Baekseonbang’s retaliation. But she did not ask for a contract. She merely checked the IOUs to see how much had been lent.
A verbal promise was easy. Because they could simply deny it later if they claimed otherwise. Because they could insist that the Geumryong Sega had dragged them in just to create a justification.
If someone else had come and said this, they would never have promised even verbally.
But if it were the Geumryong Sega? If it was a promise made in person by a blood descendant of the Geumryong Sega, the richest family in Seomseo and one of the top five—no, top three—in the Central Plains? Everyone pinned their hopes on it. Perhaps because it seemed feasible, they had refrained from stepping forward themselves.
Thus, Geum Arin obtained permission from the places that had massive sums extorted from them. Among them were places whose livelihoods had declined because they had continuously had money taken by those bastards. They placed their hopes on her promise.
Geum Arin returned and handed over the paper with the amounts that each merchant guild and martial sect had lent written on it.
“Now then, what are you planning to do?”
Geom Mugeuk rose from his seat and said.
“I shall go and return.”
Geum Arin blocked his path.
This man was truly planning to go alone to face a full hundred martial experts, and no less, a den filled with nothing but villains.
“Even if I try to stop you, you’re going, aren’t you?”
She wanted to go with him too. But how could she not know that she would only be a burden if she went along?
“Making money is a difficult thing.”
Leaving those words behind, Geom Mugeuk departed lightly.
She couldn’t say anything to him. She should have said “Be careful,” but those words kept sticking in her throat.
‘You might as well run away down this road.’
Surprisingly, she wanted to say this to him.
If he did, she would never be able to become the successor, and a label of being scammed out of two million nyang would be attached to her for life, yet even so.
But why had she wanted to say such a thing?
Yes, because she had thought that this person, at least, was someone who shouldn’t die at the hands of Baekseonbang’s villains. Because she had thought that that bright face smiling so leisurely should not be torn apart and killed by such lowly villains.
Geum Arin sighed and looked out the window.
She had a premonition that the time spent waiting for him to return would truly feel long. She should have at least said this.
‘You don’t have to bring the money, just come back safely.’
* * *
“A visitor from the Geumryong Sega has arrived.”
At the subordinate’s report, Yeom Je (廉制), the Bangju of Baekseonbang, raised his head.
With a long beard and a white changsam robe, he truly looked like a seonsin.
But neither his dignified white beard nor his snow-white clothes could hide the glint in his eyes filled with coldness and cunning.
If he truly possessed a heart like that of an immortal, he would not have been able to keep the villains gathered in this great hall as his subordinates.
And had he died by any of their blades, it would have happened many times over. This place was hell, a place where only evil spirits could survive.
“Who has come?”
“A young man, green behind the ears; a face I had never seen.”
Yeom Je tilted his head slightly. They had sent someone he’d never seen before from the Geumryong Sega?
“What did he say he came for?”
“He said he wished to meet you and speak in person.”
“Make up a suitable excuse and send him back.”
“Yes.”
Yeom Je was displeased. Would he even meet the Gaju if the man came in person? And they send some greenhorn whose face he doesn’t even know? Regardless of the business, he felt offended.
“It seems I need to discipline the Geumryong Sega once.”
Then Ilseon, who was below the high seat, received his words.
“I shall have the Gaju summoned shortly.”
Nine seonsins were lined up beside Ilseon. They were precisely the Sipseon (十仙) who always guarded Yeom Je’s side. The ranks first through tenth in Baekseonbang were them.
Those present here today were not only them. The vast great hall was filled with the seonsins of Baekseonbang.
“Sipchilseon has finished the accounting!”
Today was the monthly accounting day, when they reported the money they had earned and presented it to Yeom Je. When the accounting finished, they would all drink and hold a banquet.
Yeom Je deliberately created such occasions to make them compete against each other.
Baekseonbang was an organization strictly comprised of a ranking system.
Below the Bangju were the Sipseon, and below them were fixed ranks from Sipilseon to Gusipguseon.
Yeom Je had firmly established this ranking system. This ranking was the very thing that protected Baekseonbang and was the source of increasing profits.
The desire to climb higher.
Because the higher the rank, the more profit one took, they all strived somehow to achieve merit and climb higher. Thus, the ranks changed once a year.
It was precisely then. The first words that would overturn the fate of everyone present rang out.
“You have a lot of money.”
At the unfamiliar voice resounding through the great hall, everyone’s gazes turned toward it.
A young man had spoken while looking at the promissory notes stacked high at the accounting station.
“You have so much money, so why don’t you pay your debts?”
A nearby seonsin asked in surprise.
“Who are you?”
No one had noticed until this first-time stranger entered their midst. Of course, it was the hectic accounting day, but given their martial arts prowess, it was an impossible occurrence. Even so, at least one out of a hundred should have seen him.
The young man walked to the center under everyone’s gaze.
And he looked at Yeom Je seated on the high seat and bowed politely.
“I greet the Bangju. I am called Geom Yeon, from the Geumryong Sega.”
At the words “Geumryong Sega,” everyone relaxed. Exclamations of “Whew, you startled us!” came from here and there.
For it was the moment the opponent was confirmed as a mere martial artist sent by the Geumryong Sega, rather than an unfathomable mysterious master.
But Bangju Yeom Je did not relax. No matter how bustling the atmosphere was, the fact that even he himself had not perceived the man’s entry weighed on his mind.
‘What if that man were an assassin?’
Did that not mean he could have been assassinated?
After stopping Ilseon, who was about to step forward, with a raised hand, Yeom Je personally spoke to Geom Mugeuk. The Geumryong Sega was worth dealing with directly.
“A face I haven’t seen before?”
“I recently formed a connection with the Geumryong Sega.”
Yeom Je was inwardly puzzled. They sent someone to him, yet they sent a recent recruit? It was an unheard-of occurrence of late.
“What have you come for?”
Everyone’s gaze focused on Geom Mugeuk. And the words that came from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth were unexpected by any of them.
“I’ve come to collect the money you borrowed.”
Silence flowed.
Is he crazy? Did I mishear?
In that place filled with these two thoughts, someone burst into laughter. That laughter spread, and laughs erupted here and there.
It had been a long time since someone had come directly to them saying he was here to collect money. Could there truly be someone so unlucky? To come on the accounting day of all days, when they were all gathered.
“The money you haven’t paid back until now amounts to three million nyang. Though I should collect interest as well, I shall graciously take only the principal.”
Once more, laughter burst from all around.
Yeom Je found himself thinking the unthinkable.
Had they sent him here to die?
Could it be that the Geumryong Sega Gaju had sent him because he didn’t want to bloody his own hands? If not, that man would have had no reason to do something so reckless. Just who in the world was he?
“Who are you?”
“I am Geom Yeon. The character yeon is not from inyeon (fate), but from yeongi (smoke). When a fate ends, one must disappear like smoke, yet sometimes lingering attachments remain. Like the drunken air of one who loves alcohol, there are times one wishes to linger nearby. But today, it seems I will disappear quickly without any lingering attachment.”
What nonsense was this?
Everyone turned their heads and exchanged glances. Many emotions were contained in those eyes, but the most prevalent was this:
A madman has come!
Therefore, their eyes were filled with amusement. How shall they toy with this guy?
Though it seemed like nothing, Yeom Je felt a strange sense of unease.
It was because this was unfamiliar. Why did this happen on the accounting day of all days, when everyone was gathered?
“Do you know where this place is?”
“Is it not a place where one hundred seons play?”
Geom Mugeuk lowered his voice slightly.
“However, this is just between us, but isn’t it rather odd to call yourselves seons when you aren’t? I heard you’ve done many wicked things.”
Seeing him speak such spiteful words, it seemed true that he had been sent to be killed.
Yeom Je gave a signal with his eyes to one man.
He was Gusipgu Seon, the last in the ranking. Yeom Je always gave orders strictly according to rank on such occasions.
“What man talks so much?”
Gusipgu Seon strode forward. It was the perfect opportunity to look good before the Bangju. A chance to escape being the lowest ranked.
Of course, things did not go as he wished. Geom Mugeuk asked his name.
“Might I ask our seonsin’s honorable name?”
“Why do you ask my name?”
“There is something I need to confirm.”
Geom Mugeuk took out a promissory note from his bosom. It was a note for one hundred thousand nyang.
“If you answer, I shall give you this.”
One hundred thousand nyang for saying his name? There was no way he would naively believe that.
“You intend to mock me with a fake note?”
Gusipgu Seon’s hand naturally went to his sword hilt.
“It’s a genuine note. What have you got to lose? If it’s real, you say your name once and gain one hundred thousand nyang. If it’s fake, you gain a justification to punish me.”
Gusipgu Seon alternated his gaze between Geom Mugeuk and the note in his hand, then finally looked back at Yeom Je. Yeom Je nodded as if to say, “Try doing as he asks.”
“I am Jo Gung (曺弓).”
Then Geom Mugeuk took out a paper from his bosom and checked him against it.
“Jo Gung, Jo Gung. Ah, here you are. You borrowed money from a friend in your hometown, failed to pay it back, and instead killed your friend and fled. You wandered as a vagabond, received private tutelage from a master wanderer, then became active in the Heukjeong Samho, killed two brothers, and fled. Our seonsin seems to specialize mainly in stabbing close acquaintances in the back.”
Jo Gung’s eyes turned ice-cold. His opponent had come with precise information about him.
“What are you trying to do now?”
Killing intent surged in Jo Gung’s eyes.
“Is what is written here correct? Though I trust my information, I wanted to confirm at least one person as a representative. That way, my mind is at ease too.”
Then one of the Sipseon standing in the back spoke.
“You’re wrong. He didn’t just kill the brothers. To eliminate future troubles, he killed their entire families too before coming out.”
Jo Gung was not ashamed in the slightest. Everyone here was that sort of person. In fact, the more wicked and despicable one was, the easier it was to live.
Jo Gung drew his sword and strode toward Geom Mugeuk.
“You ran your mouth, so your tongue and that hundred thousand nyang are mine.”
Jo Gung unleashed a killing move. As if he truly meant to cut out his tongue, he thrust his sword straight at Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.
But Geom Mugeuk’s tongue was not something Jo Gung’s sword could cut.
Avoiding the incoming blade, Geom Mugeuk lightly counterattacked.
Jo Gung, his heart pierced by a single sword strike, collapsed and died on the spot.
The smell of blood burst into the air, and silence settled over the place.
The move Geom Mugeuk had just shown was utterly ordinary. He had not killed him with some special technique; he had merely dodged the incoming attack and stabbed with his sword.
So their reactions were split according to each person’s skill.
To be taken down by an attack like that!
To kill Jo Gung with such an ordinary attack?
Of course, that did not mean anyone here was frightened. After all, only the Ninety-Ninth Immortal, the very bottom of the hierarchy, had died, and there were ninety-nine of them gathered here.
Geom Mugeuk cupped his fist toward the Flame Emperor and said,
“My apologies. As you saw, I had no choice.”
The Flame Emperor spoke with a sunken gaze.
“It’s all right. When people who carry blades gather, blood is bound to be spilled.”
“You are a man of great tolerance. If you simply return the money you borrowed, I will leave as I am.”
But the Flame Emperor was not the sort of man to hand over the enormous sum of three million nyang just because one of his subordinates had died.
“I did intend to repay the money. However, our sect’s circumstances have not been good, so I have been putting it off. Go back and tell your family head. I will repay the money soon.”
Of course, he had not the slightest intention of doing so. This bastard would be killed one way or another, and the Golden Dragon Family would have to pay for today’s incident with money. They would have to prepare a far greater sum than what they had paid until now.
It would have been nice if he had said, Very well, and turned to leave.
Geom Mugeuk turned his head and looked at the piled-up promissory notes.
“There’s plenty of money over there, isn’t there? Let’s see. If this much money comes in every month, there must be an incredible amount piled up in the vault.”
At the mention of the vault, the Flame Emperor’s face twitched.
“Why not repay it?”
The order “tear that bastard to pieces” rose all the way to the Flame Emperor’s throat, but he forced it back down. His instincts were telling him not to. Not now. If he was going to kill him, kill him later. No matter how he looked at him, wasn’t that bastard strange?
The Flame Emperor smiled and looked around at his subordinates.
“As you can see, I have many mouths to feed.”
The Immortals looked at Geom Mugeuk with mockery and sly smiles filling those mouths.
Geom Mugeuk, looking at them, offered a solution.
“That can be solved easily.”
Geom Mugeuk slowly drew his sword and said,
“Let’s reduce the number of mouths.”
Absolute Regression, Chapter 474