“Shinseonchae.”

It’s a term that arose in opposition to the notorious usury called Yeomwangchae, the “Yama King’s Debt.” Shinseonchae means money lent without interest — money given by immortals, hence the name.

Before my regression, a major incident related to Shinseonchae had occurred, so naturally, I knew about it. The moment I heard the name, I thought to myself: those bastards have been active since then. The Shinseonchae affair became public only much later.

Gowol explained about Shinseonchae.

“It’s a newly coined term meaning money lent without interest. It spreads secretly, mainly among young martial artists.”

Shinseonchae marked the start of an evil even demons would shake their heads at.

“When I first heard about lending interest-free money to young martial artists in Guizhou, I thought it was a rich man’s goodwill. But then I heard about it in Zhongjing and Hubei as well. Of course, if I hadn’t been working with intelligence, I wouldn’t have known — it spreads quite secretly.”

Gowol’s suspicion began right here.

“Who on earth lends money without interest? And why only to young martial artists?”

He seemed to have sensed that something was up in this matter.

“Turns out a secret organization named Hyeopgye was lending the money.”

Though the name means ‘mutual help,’ their real name revealed later was Amheuk Sanggye— the Dark Commercial World.

“There was something particularly strange.”

“What?”

“There is no repayment date on their IOUs.”

“No interest and no repayment date? Then the borrower would feel no responsibility and never think to repay.”

“Exactly. So many began borrowing repeatedly without paying back.”

It was a method to keep victims borrowing more and more. Though the youths were young and smart, they lacked experience to endure such a cunning trap of hidden blades behind smiles.

“They were mistaken. No repayment date doesn’t mean they can postpone forever, but that the lenders can come anytime and demand the principal.”

What if one day they suddenly appeared and demanded all the owed money at once?

If the borrower claimed inability to pay, then social ostracism would begin. Depending on the person’s nature, physical violence or threats against their family would follow. Appeals to conscience or gentle persuasion might also be used. Meanwhile, the lenders had thoroughly investigated every weakness, and since the money was lent interest-free, the lenders had the moral high ground in the world.

“They control a person’s life perfectly with money. They never intended to recover the money; instead, they would use the debt as leverage to force other tasks. The moment the borrower does anything wrong under the condition of debt forgiveness, they become lifelong slaves to those bastards.”

Gowol looked at me with admiration.

No need to admire. It’s not because I’m clever but because it really happened. You deserve credit for catching this conspiracy.

The Dark World men used indebted youths to commit countless atrocities. Many innocents lost their lives. Many youths, unable to endure the pain, took their own lives.

The truth that the Dark Commercial World was behind all this was revealed only after many years. Their cruel acts manipulating people with money.

When dealing with Yeomwangchae debtors, at least one could be cautious. But these men approached with smiling faces, sucking the marrow out of youths’ bones.

By the time they were labeled martial world criminals, the Dark World’s leaders had already made vast profits and disappeared. They were never caught.

“I want to find out how much money they have and check this scheme myself.”

I understood Gowol’s intent. We were short of funds and wanted to take down these villains and reclaim the money. Since he was spending his own money building the organization, he probably felt sorry to ask me.

“Should we ask for some help from the immortals even though funds are tight?”

When I readily agreed, Gowol brightened.

“Can we activate the intelligence network?”

“This isn’t my organization but yours. You decide and act first, and report later.”

I gave him full authority and infinite trust in the matter.

Gowol bowed his head gratefully.

“Show your skills.”

“Yes!”

It was Gowol’s first time moving against an outside enemy.

He would make the plans from now on. I just had to throw punches on the battlefield he prepared. This is the privilege of a leader with capable generals.

Returning to my room, silence filled the air. The Fiend and Pungcheon Sect Leader drank tea in silence, thick awkwardness between them.

“What were you talking about?”

I asked, and the sect leader replied,

“We asked the Igongja to take good care of you.”

“While cursing me behind my back?”

“As long as you keep succeeding, they’ll keep cursing.”

“True.”

The sect leader seemed noticeably better. I looked at Gowol, who also seemed puzzled.

The reason became clear that night.

I was inside Pungcheon Sect Leader’s Space-Time Illusion Technique. He had cast it so we could talk briefly. A field stretched beneath a blue sky — beautiful and refreshing.

“Master!”

“Master?”

“Did you forget? We agreed that here, you’d be my master.”

The one who had taught me the Space-Time Illusion Technique was the sect leader. So we had once agreed I would treat him as master only inside here.

“Oh, that’s right.”

Instead of joy, the sect leader sighed.

“Why?”

He sighed and said,

“To be honest, when I heard the Fiend became your master, I was really happy. Not because you two became master and disciple, but because I thought the Fiend got thrashed by you too. I was depressed thinking I was the only one getting beaten.”

No one but the sect leader could say such a thing so openly.

“But then I realized I’m your master too. So the first one thrashed wasn’t the Fiend but me.”

I laughed at his self-reproach.

“Are you mocking me?”

“Mocking? You’re my master.”

“Go ahead, mock away.”

“Sect leader.”

“What is it?”

Looking at him seriously, I sincerely said,

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For standing by my side. For standing by Gowol’s side.”

“Why all of a sudden? I have no money!”

Why? Because nowadays, maintaining relationships with people requires as much effort as seeing them clearly.

Speaking.

Not holding back, not postponing when thoughts arise. That’s what I’m practicing now.

“Thank you so much.”

When I expressed gratitude again sincerely, the sect leader’s eyes deepened.

“I’m fine, so you don’t need to worry.”

“No, I will. I’m human and make mistakes. If I neglect something, keep cursing me. Don’t treat me like that sect leader back then! Don’t treat me like a caught fish! Keep cursing.”

The blowing wind fluttered our clothes.

Watching the grass that bowed to the wind, the sect leader asked,

“Gowol told me to take care of me?”

“Yes.”

“Why do young people take care of old people like me? It hurts my pride.”

“Officer Go said he still dreams of being shackled back then. That escaping the past isn’t easy. And you must feel the same.”

“You should take care of me instead. Hey Igongja, take care of your officer. He’s been having a hard time lately.”

“Why don’t you take care of him yourself?”

Then the sect leader unexpectedly revealed his true feelings.

“This used to be Gowol’s favorite place. He really liked the fields and sky here. But after becoming an officer, I’ve hesitated to bring him here.”

“Why?”

After a pause, the sect leader said,

“I’m afraid. Afraid he might think such things here. Back then, I was so oppressed I longed for this fake world.”

I understood the sect leader’s worry. Yes, the past stubbornly never fades.

“Bring Officer Go here.”

“Bring him?”

“Just because he doesn’t come here doesn’t mean the memories disappear. Would that clever person forget this place just because he doesn’t visit?”

“!”

“If he wants to forget, he should forget here.”

Whoooooosh.

Perhaps reflecting the sect leader’s feelings, a stronger wind blew.

“I’ll be going now.”

Even after I left, the sect leader lingered long inside the Space-Time Illusion Technique.

The next day, the sect leader was again inside the Space-Time Illusion Technique, but this time with someone else where Geom Mugeuk had been — Gowol.

“Long time no see here, huh?”

At the sect leader’s words, Gowol nodded with a gloomy expression. Watching Gowol, the sect leader asked,

“What’s wrong?”

“What else? Coming here brings back memories. No good ones.”

Hearing that from Gowol, the sect leader’s heart ached.

“Why did you bring me here? You still wear invisible shackles! Was it to say that?”

Startled by Gowol’s cold reaction, the sect leader was embarrassed.

“No, I just… it’s been a while.”

“Let me out.”

“Fine.”

As the sect leader tried to release the technique, he suddenly snapped. It dawned on him how angry he was.

“Hey! Why do you get so serious and angry? Are our old memories nothing? I apologized many times for that time. Why show such sharp reactions? I just wanted to…”

But the sect leader’s words stuck in his throat. What exactly did he want to do? Recall memories? Was it ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) because Geom Mugeuk told him to? Or because he wanted Gowol to say it was okay now? Damn! This was a place better left unopened.

Then Gowol spoke softly.

“Sect leader, were you worried I’d act like before?”

Startled, the sect leader looked up. The angry Gowol was gone, replaced by his usual self. The sect leader realized Gowol had acted on purpose.

“How could you think that of me? After watching me so long, you still don’t know?”

“To be honest, the more I see, the less I know. I don’t know you, and you don’t know me.”

Looking around, Gowol said,

“I wanted to come here. I was happiest when I was here. Now I travel the Central Plains, but I liked standing here with you more. So I was waiting for you to say when we’d come here.”

Then the sect leader shouted,

“What nonsense is that? Cancel that right now! You say this fake world is better? Are you crazy? This is just… forget it! Forget it! If you think this miserable place, a mere breath of relief from a torturous life, is better, what then? Your life is nothing more than that? Why bother with an intelligence network when you’re this miserable? Quit everything!”

The sect leader’s fiery eyes made Gowol’s passion surge. Having a person like this in life — what more could one want?

“Ahhh! Good!”

Gowol started running across the fields like old times, then lay down flat on the grass.

“Feels good.”

“What’s good about it?”

“Now you’re back to being the damn sect leader. Did your anger ease?”

“It did. But the anger I’d released piled up again.”

Yet despite his words, the sect leader looked more at ease than before entering the technique.

Gowol got up.

“Sect leader, let’s go. I’m busy.”

“Stay a bit more. Rest some more. Forget that matter. Forget Igongja.”

Gowol’s gaze turned again toward the sky.

“The sky here is definitely better.”

At least in this moment, they shared the same feeling, but the sect leader said something else.

“I won’t open it again. Roll around and enjoy it as much as you want.”

While Gowol was arranging the plan regarding Hyeopgye, I trained martial arts with the Fiend.

That time was precious. We finally started sparring with the fist techniques.

Byukryeok Surakwong versus Byukryeok Surakwong.

Now that the Fiend was officially my master, we couldn’t just fight casually. But with Byukryeok Surakwong, sparring was allowed freely.

Even if I won later, it would mean I had won by his martial art, so I had little worry.

A few days later, Gowol showed results sooner than expected. He succeeded in connecting lines with Hyeopgye.

“Are you ready to borrow money from the immortals?”

I smiled brightly at Gowol. We would return the favor these villains did to the youths, wiping them out completely.

“Let’s see how much money our immortals have.”