Pyeonjung was lucky.

He had come as a coachman from Gangseo to Hubei but had been unable to catch a returning carriage for two days.

Then, by chance, he managed to catch a carriage heading back to Gangseo.

The place renting out carriages hired coachmen like him to connect jobs and took a portion of the money the coachmen earned.

Pyeonjung asked the carriage manager,

“To where is the passenger going?”

“To the Cheonma Sin Gyo Gangseo branch.”

Lowering his voice, Pyeonjung quietly asked,

“Is the passenger a demon?”

“From appearances, it doesn’t seem so.”

Still, Pyeonjung was nervous and scared. How many coachmen had died caught up in fights between cults or demons?

While cleaning the carriage and waiting, soon the passenger arrived. He was a young and handsome man.

“My name is Pyeonjung. I will serve you well.”

“Thank you. It’s not urgent, so no need to rush.”

Seeing the young man greet him politely, Pyeonjung realized,

“He’s not a demon.”

He had carried several demons before, but had never seen one so courteous.

Of course, this was just Pyeonjung’s misunderstanding. The young man was actually the most famous demon of all — Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk rented the carriage to go to Gangseo. He trained Cheonma Hosin Gong in the carriage and stopped to admire beautiful scenery along the way, traveling leisurely and at ease.

“Alright, then, let’s depart.”

With that, the carriage set off.

After a while, when Pyeonjung glanced back through the window connecting to the coachman’s seat, Geom Mugeuk had his eyes closed. It was unclear whether he was sleeping or lost in thought.

“Yeah, a guest like this is the best.”

Geom Mugeuk, riding in the carriage, was refining Cheonma Hosin Gong. Traveling this way actually helped him focus. The sound of the wind brushing past the carriage, distant birdsong, the chatter of passersby — sometimes these sounds enhanced his concentration.

When training grew tedious, he looked out the window at the scenery, like now.

“This is rest.”

The rest Ian had mentioned probably didn’t mean brief pauses while mastering Cheonma Hosin Gong, but in this situation, even this kind of rest was a luxury.

As Geom Mugeuk gazed at the outside view, he closed his eyes again.

He began chanting the intricate hand movements of the tedious Cheonma Hosin Gong with fresh sincerity, as if learning it for the first time. Another drop of water was added to the water bottle.

That evening, the carriage stopped at an inn. Each coachman had their own resting places, but one thing was common.

“I’ve heard the inns where coachmen rest have good food.”

“That’s right. Since we travel so often, we know which inns have the best meals.”

The two men entered the inn.

“Please rest here.”

“Let’s eat together.”

“I’m fine.”

It was a rule that coachmen ate separately from their passengers. Some passengers bought meals for them, but most ate and slept on their own before departure.

“I just don’t want to eat alone. Let’s eat together.”

Unable to refuse, Pyeonjung sat down with him. Even one free meal saved money, so from Pyeonjung’s perspective, it was a good thing.

“Since you know well, please recommend something. What’s the best dish here?”

Pyeonjung recommended several dishes. Geom Mugeuk ordered all of them.

“Alright, I’m hungry, so let’s eat well.”

Geom Mugeuk was the best kind of guest for a coachman.

He invited him to eat together but didn’t ask many questions or nag.

There are people who, while being generous, constantly show off, talk about themselves endlessly, inquire about the coachman’s income, or advise them to live a different life.

But Geom Mugeuk simply stared blankly out the inn window.

Pyeonjung actually wanted to talk to him.

To ask who this young hero was, why he was going to the cult’s branch.

But Pyeonjung refrained from asking anything. At his age, he knew getting involved with martial artists rarely brought anything good.

Soon the food arrived, and Geom Mugeuk ordered alcohol.

He poured some for Pyeonjung as well.

“I have to drive the carriage, so I’ll have just one drink.”

After a long time, drinking and enjoying a good meal made Pyeonjung feel alive again. Lately, he had been barely scraping by, saving every penny.

“If only every guest was like this, being a coachman wouldn’t be so bad.”

Life as a coachman was a continuous series of anxious days rather than lucky ones like today.

Feeling it rude not to say something after being treated to a meal, Pyeonjung cautiously asked,

“Is this your first time going to Gangseo?”

“No.”

“I see.”

The question of why he was going to the cult branch was on his tongue but he held it back.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Geom Mugeuk didn’t want to make him uncomfortable by talking unnecessarily. Having lived as a ronin, he knew that sometimes it was better just to be silent and considerate.

After finishing the meal and heading to their rooms, Geom Mugeuk asked Pyeonjung,

“Why aren’t you going?”

“I can sleep in the carriage. You rest comfortably.”

Pyeonjung usually took naps in the carriage. He had to save every penny.

Geom Mugeuk even booked a room for him with his own money.

“I’m fine.”

“I want to ride a carriage driven by someone who slept well.”

Hearing that, Pyeonjung couldn’t refuse. Truly, if every guest were like this!

Entering the room, Pyeonjung felt good.

“How long has it been since I last slept in a proper bed?”

That night, he slept comfortably, envying no Murim leader.

Geom Mugeuk’s kindness continued the next day.

He invited Pyeonjung to eat together and booked him a room again. Though Pyeonjung waved him off, he reasoned that taking care of the person holding the reins was taking care of his own safety.

Eventually, they ate together again and Pyeonjung slept on a good bed.

On the first day, he happily ate and slept well, but on the second day, eating the dishes reminded him of his wife and children. It was a dish his children liked. The first was a meal he had bought for his son’s birthday last year. Or was it the year before?

If only he could pack this to take away. If only he could.

Then he looked up and noticed Geom Mugeuk watching him. As if reading his thoughts, he asked if he had children.

“Do you have children?”

“Two.”

“How old?”

“Seven and nine.”

“You must miss them.”

Pyeonjung smiled slightly and nodded. Of course he missed them. Sometimes he felt the urge to grab the reins and drive straight to them.

That night, his children appeared in his dreams.

Sometimes Geom Mugeuk stopped the carriage at places with beautiful scenery.

Far away, the sun was setting beyond the river. The red sunset spreading over the sparkling river was truly magnificent.

Geom Mugeuk silently watched the scene with his arms crossed.

Thanks to that, Pyeonjung also saw the sunset for the first time in a long while. He couldn’t even remember how long it had been.

When the sun set, he was always in a hurry to reach the inn before it got dark. The sunset was more a sign that made him uneasy. Today, he realized just how beautiful sunsets really were.

“My heart said so. You look tired, so take a rest. That’s why I’m listening to my heart.”

“Ah, I see.”

Pyeonjung responded as if he understood, but didn’t really get what was meant. His heart? What did that mean? Maybe it made him wonder if Geom Mugeuk had a heart problem.

It was the day before their destination after much traveling.

Pyeonjung was returning the room he had borrowed from the innkeeper and getting his money back when Geom Mugeuk caught him. Geom Mugeuk had come out for some fresh air and saw it. He pretended not to notice and went outside.

“Ah!”

Pyeonjung sighed. Considering the other’s sincerity, what he was doing was wrong. Even if the other understood, he felt utterly miserable himself.

The next day, while driving the carriage, Pyeonjung’s mind was still troubled. When resting the horse in a field, he approached Geom Mugeuk.

“I’m sorry about yesterday.”

“It’s alright.”

That should have been enough to move on, but suddenly a thought came to him.

If the person is ill-tempered, he would have been scared and made excuses repeatedly, but with such a good person, just saying sorry and moving on felt cowardly.

Yeah, he should explain properly.

“Last year, my second child had a terrible fever. I borrowed money to buy medicine. Since I was living tightly, I borrowed money I shouldn’t have.”

“You borrowed from the Yeomwangchae.”

“That’s right.”

Pyeonjung sighed.

“It wasn’t much. I borrowed ten nyang for treatment... but now, a year later, it’s seventy nyang. Even though I’ve paid more than twenty nyang in interest.”

That was why he slept in the carriage. To pay interest and feed his family. But the debt just kept growing.

“It’s my fault. I borrowed even though I heard the interest was that high.”

He didn’t regret it. Without that money, his second child would have died or become disabled.

Then Geom Mugeuk said,

“How could that be your fault, Mr. Pyeonjung? It’s those who lend Yeomwangchae at outrageous interest rates who are to blame.”

Hearing himself called “Mr. Pyeonjung” overwhelmed him. No one had ever addressed the coachman so respectfully.

And whenever he talked about borrowing money, everyone said it was his fault. Why did he borrow there in the first place?

“What’s the name of the place you borrowed from?”

“Tongjeonso.”

“Let’s start there.”

“No. They are violent and fierce people. Some are martial artists, and rumors say they have terrifying backers. They’ve been lending Yeomwangchae in the region for a long time and are still strong.”

Pyeonjung felt both hope that he might escape this hell and fear that this good man might be killed by them.

Geom Mugeuk looked at him blankly and said,

“I think there’s some misunderstanding. I’m coming because I need money.”

For a moment, Pyeonjung wasn’t sure whether to believe this. The man had spent money so freely on the way — borrowing Yeomwangchae now? Suddenly?

“Let’s go.”

What could he do when the passenger wanted to go? The carriage changed direction from the original destination.

Surprisingly, when they arrived at Tongjeonso, Geom Mugeuk actually borrowed money.

“How much can you lend?”

The lender, Ju Yang, scanned Geom Mugeuk’s appearance up and down.

“We don’t lend much to outsiders...”

He didn’t say it directly but hinted he would lend something.

“Do you have collateral?”

“No. Should I leave this sword as collateral?”

“How much could a sword like that be worth? We don’t accept swords as collateral.”

Most martial artists’ swords were worthless as collateral. How many had bought cheap swords and pretended they were famous blades?

“My sword would be insulted if I left it.”

Ju Yang looked at # Nоvеlight # the sword wrapped in bloodstained cloth and snorted. So carefully decorated to look impressive.

“If you don’t have collateral, someone else has to guarantee you.”

At Ju Yang’s words, Geom Mugeuk looked at Pyeonjung.

“Could you be a guarantor?”

Pyeonjung was startled. He thought they were trying to squeeze the flea’s liver — did they bring him to get a guarantee?

“I’m joking. My father said even family can’t guarantee loans.”

Relieved, Pyeonjung sighed.

“If no collateral and no guarantor, how much can you lend?”

“Up to ten nyang.”

“Good. Let’s borrow ten nyang.”

“Write your personal information on this IOU and put your seal.”

Geom Mugeuk wrote as instructed and stamped the seal. The loan was quick and casual.

“If you don’t repay on time, interest will be added. Later, some scoundrels will complain about expensive interest. Those shameless people who come back to complain after borrowing with their own feet.”

Pyeonjung lowered his head. Ju Yang was speaking to him.

Geom Mugeuk defended Pyeonjung.

“If it weren’t desperate, he wouldn’t borrow at such expensive interest. Those who exploit desperate people are the shameless ones.”

Ju Yang’s expression stiffened but he didn’t get angry. He knew better than anyone how such insolent people ended.

“You bastard. Just wait and see. Even if you want to repay, I’ll show you what it’s like not to be able to.”

Ju Yang checked the IOU.

“You’re from Guangxi City. Came a long way. I trust you wrote your address correctly. Your father’s name is Geom Woojin — a fine name. You should know we have branches in every province. We’ll verify your information and contact you.”

“Alright.”

“Don’t think about running away without repaying. Your family will have to pay. We’ll come looking for your father.”

“My father has plenty of money.”

After leaving there with Pyeonjung, many sword-wielding men came and went in the yard. Yeomwangchae was quite a large operation.

Once outside, Pyeonjung asked the question he had been holding back.

“Why exactly did you come here?”

He worried there might be a sword fight. He worried and hoped at the same time.

He selfishly hoped this hero would draw his sword and wipe them all out, and declare no more debt from now on.

“Didn’t you say you came to borrow money?”

“Are you only borrowing ten nyang? You don’t need that much, do you?”

Considering Geom Mugeuk’s generous spending on the way, borrowing just ten nyang didn’t make sense.

“It’s necessary.”

It wasn’t just because of Yeomwangchae. The secret inspection of the Gangseo branch would start here. Corruption was always tied to money.

Two men followed behind Geom Mugeuk from afar. They were obviously tailing him to prevent mischief.

“Isn’t lending ten nyang and sending two guards a loss?”

Showing the ten nyang in his palm, Geom Mugeuk asked,

“Isn’t this ten nyang?”

Pyeonjung gasped. He understood what Geom Mugeuk meant.

Those people would use this ten nyang to plant a lifetime of traps and bleed him dry. So the ten nyang borrowed now wasn’t really ten nyang. It was hundreds or thousands, just like the debt Pyeonjung was trapped in now.

“Let’s watch how they squeeze this ten nyang out of him.”