That phrase was the one Ju-yang hated most.

“Just some pawn playing with the Yeomwangchae.”

It’s something people say when they look down on others.

But no one should say it except the one who came borrowing from Yeomwangchae.

“If you have a demon, bring him here.”

Geom Mugeuk provoked him once more.

At this moment, Geom Mugeuk read Ju-yang’s emotions—his eyes and expression showed this:

He really wanted to just—

There was obviously someone the demon sect trusted—was it the Gangseo branch leader? Or some other demon? Tell me! Who do you trust?

But Ju-yang, having dealt with debtors for years, wasn’t easily fooled.

He had a firm belief when it came to tormenting people.

“Demon sect’s little leader? What good does it do to bring swordsmen to beat a bluffer like that? Dragging such slick talkers to hell isn’t about violence or threats; it’s about giving them a miserable reality where they must work their whole lives to repay the debt.”

“You’ve got the guts since your father’s the demon sect leader.”

It was sarcastic, but Geom Mugeuk took it at face value.

“You’ve got more guts for coming after my father.”

“You’re really going to keep insisting you’re the demon sect leader’s son?”

“Yes. I am the demon sect’s little leader. I said it clearly, so don’t spout nonsense later. Would you believe it? Would you? I’d believe it. My life is precious.”

Of course, Ju-yang didn’t believe him. He was there because he had already been tipped off by the sect’s investigators. This guy was the boldest fraud claiming to be the demon sect leader’s son ever.

“Alright, little leader.”

“Finally, you believe.”

“Starting tomorrow, we’ll send someone to collect interest every day.”

“Every day? Wasn’t it supposed to be once a month?”

“The rules changed.”

From tomorrow, this annoying guy’s life would turn from shameless to harsh.

“Can you just change the rules like that?”

“The loan agreement says we can change interest collection as we please.”

Geom Mugeuk shook his head at the fine print on the loan document.

“Loaning money to ants? That’s really cruel.”

“We follow the rules. Should’ve read carefully before signing.”

Those hidden fine-print clauses were designed to bleed the lifeblood from the poor.

“As the demon sect’s little leader, you could pay off this much money easily, right?”

“Can you really handle my interest?”

Ju-yang smiled slyly, asking what that meant.

“Have you ever seen anyone say no to money?”

The next day, Geom Mugeuk was eating at the inn when a fierce-looking man strode up and immediately held out his hand.

“I came to collect interest.”

Looking up, Geom Mugeuk recognized him as the very same man who had taken money from Pyeonjoong earlier—the one who beat Pyeonjoong in front of his wife and kids, even pressed a dagger to his son’s throat.

Several diners quietly put down their chopsticks and left. Those remaining avoided eye contact. This was proof of how this man usually behaved.

“My nickname’s Mad Dog. You know how to act now. When I’m coming from afar, have the interest ready.”

This cruel man who tormented people was the torment Ju-yang had brought.

Geom Mugeuk looked up and asked,

“Aren’t you scared of a swordsman like me?”

Mad Dog carried a sword but was no martial artist.

“Why? You think you can draw that sword and kill me? Try it! Your family will be finished that day. Do you think our group will spare you? We start by tearing your family apart.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled, making the threat pointless.

“Then you won’t even get started.”

Mad Dog scowled fiercely, looking like a truly savage beast.

“They say you’re the demon sect’s little leader, huh? Looks like it’s true.”

Mad Dog threw Geom Mugeuk’s food bowl to the floor, shattering it. A tense fight seemed imminent.

The innkeeper and waitstaff watched helplessly. They knew well that once caught by the loan office, even the kindest and most honest people could never return to their former lives.

And it had to be Mad Dog in charge—no one in the village hadn’t been beaten by him; the man was notorious for his violence.

“Little leader, what will you do now?”

“What do you mean? He broke my bowl, so he must be punished. Once I send the signal, Majon will appear outside.”

The word Majon startled everyone. It carried primal terror.

“Not there, look over there.”

Geom Mugeuk pointed, and Mad Dog followed his gaze. The guests did too.

“One, two...”

Geom Mugeuk counted, trying to send the signal. Mad Dog tensed, hoping no one would actually appear.

Someone seemed about to arrive.

“Three!”

But no one came. All eyes turned to Geom Mugeuk.

“Do you really believe that? Do you think noble Majon will come after scum like you?”

Mad Dog sneered, his tension gone. Angered that he had been momentarily nervous, he was about to curse when Geom Mugeuk pulled coins from his chest.

“Here’s the interest.”

Mad Dog’s anger cooled by Geom Mugeuk’s polite tone, though he felt trapped.

Damn it, this guy’s onto me.

Geom Mugeuk dropped the coins into Mad Dog’s palm.

They seemed light at first.

Whoosh!

Bang!

The coins weighed down Mad Dog’s hand so heavily he couldn’t hold them. His hand slammed onto the ground.

“Argh!”

The impact shattered his hand bones.

He tried to pick up the coins with his other hand, but they didn’t move.

“It hurts! Somebody help! Aaah!”

His hand ached terribly. The weight kept increasing, and it felt like his palm would be pierced.

“Still more interest left. Give me the other hand.”

Mad Dog looked up at Geom Mugeuk while prostrate. Then he realized the coins couldn’t be that heavy without some trick.

With a trembling voice he said,

“Please, spare me.”

The once fierce dog became a puppy about to cry.

“No! If you don’t pay interest, they’ll come after my father. Take it.”

Mad Dog tried to run, but his hand holding the coins wouldn’t move.

An unknown force forced his other hand forward.

“Ugh! Please!”

“Come on, they said take the interest.”

He lightly placed coins on the other hand.

Whoosh!

Bang!

Again, his hand slammed down, unable to hold the coins. Mad Dog screamed louder.

He lay flat, both palms pressed to the floor like a bow. The watchers exchanged glances full of joy. This tormentor had gone too far.

“Ugh... it hurts so much.”

Geom Mugeuk drank while enjoying Mad Dog’s cries.

“Good, now you know the fear of money.”

Upon hearing the news, Ju-yang hurried to the inn with swordsmen.

He expected no easy payment but didn’t expect trouble even on the first interest collection.

“Coming all together to get two coins? Are you running a loss?”

Ignoring Geom Mugeuk’s remark, Ju-yang kicked the unconscious Mad Dog lying on the floor to wake him.

“What are you doing?”

When Mad Dog came to, the coins on his palm became light.

“Ow, my hand hurts.”

Ju-yang checked Mad Dog’s hands. Both hands’ bones were crushed; he’d never live normally again.

“Treat my hands first.”

“No chance. You’ll live a crippled life.”

Mad Dog screamed.

Ju-yang slapped him mercilessly.

“Get a grip! What happened? Were you hit with a rock? Or stomped?”

“I couldn’t hold the coins because they were too heavy.”

“What nonsense? Did you dream that?”

If he had just been beaten, it’d be understandable. But coins growing heavy made no sense.

Ju-yang glared at Geom Mugeuk.

“Are you playing tricks?”

“Tricks? I gave the coins to collect interest. Then he rolled on the floor screaming ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) in pain.”

Geom Mugeuk added,

“Do you even do extortion? Try to squeeze money this way? How much will you raise it from one hundred nyang now?”

Ju-yang calmly asked the innkeeper and waitstaff what happened. They confirmed Geom Mugeuk’s story.

“He rolled on the floor saying it hurt after receiving the coins.”

Several had seen this.

Ju-yang realized Geom Mugeuk had some trick with the coins—he’d never heard of coins growing heavy and immobilizing people.

“Do you know who we are?”

Ju-yang lowered his voice; Geom Mugeuk mocked him.

“And do you know who I am?”

But then he joked,

“Oh right, you know, the demon sect’s little leader.”

Ju-yang frowned, thinking he was a crazy delusional guy.

“Seems like this guy’s got some trick up his sleeve.”

When the swordsmen tried to drag Mad Dog out, Geom Mugeuk picked up the fallen coins.

“You gotta take the interest.”

The swordsmen who had taken coins before were screaming in pain, hands on the floor, so no one dared to touch the coins.

Ju-yang looked around but no one stepped forward, everyone avoiding his gaze.

Eventually, he shoved the responsibility onto the screaming swordsman.

“He agreed to collect it, so give it to him.”

“Fine.”

Geom Mugeuk strode forward.

“Argh! Please! No!”

Coins fell, and his other hand was crushed. The screaming man fainted. The merciless and decisive action frightened everyone.

“Carrying a sword and shaking down people like you wouldn’t know how heavy earned money is.”

Ju-yang sensed things had gone terribly wrong.

But this was not the end. Geom Mugeuk picked up the coins from his palm again.

“They say nobody hates money, so why don’t you want to take it?”

Geom Mugeuk offered the coins again.

“Take the interest.”

When Ju-yang met Geom Mugeuk’s eyes, he broke out in chills. Though he’d dealt with countless scoundrels, he’d never been this terrified.

“Put out your hand.”

Geom Mugeuk’s tone completely changed.

Ju-yang dared not refuse. Fear of death gripped him.

His trembling hand reached out.

The coins fell into Ju-yang’s palm. He shut his eyes tightly, but this time they weren’t heavy.

Opening his eyes, Ju-yang hurriedly said,

“I won’t ask for principal or interest anymore. Consider it all repaid.”

As he turned away hastily, Geom Mugeuk coldly said,

“Who gave you permission?”

When Ju-yang turned, Geom Mugeuk placed two coins freshly on the table.

“Come collect interest again tomorrow. If you don’t, I’ll come find you.”