Jeokpae, having lost his right hand, did not grieve.

A dead man is a dead man. If even losing his right hand brought such a reaction, there was no need to wonder how he regarded himself.

“We must keep him detained until I return.”

Knowing Jeokpae’s nature well, Juyang understood. If Geom Mugeuk escaped, it would mean death. He was already teetering between life and death.

For now, the task at hand was to collect the interest.

The next day, the swordsman sent to collect it returned with mangled hands.

The day after was no different. Juyang had hoped that maybe the second day they would show leniency, but Geom Mugeuk showed no mercy.

After two days of swordsmen returning with damaged hands, the Tongcheongak swordsmen grew unsettled. Some suddenly fell ill and collapsed, others vanished, claiming urgent matters.

Among the swordsmen, Geom Mugeuk was cursed as heartless, but Juyang thought otherwise. The man was showing mercy. If he were truly ruthless, no one would have survived Tongcheongak.

“Why didn’t he just kill them all that day?”

When closing the eyes of the man tortured by Janhak, Juyang had despaired, thinking, ‘We’re going to be wiped out now.’ But Geom Mugeuk spared them. Surely there was a reason.

Regardless, today too, he had to go collect the interest.

“I’ll go myself today.”

At Juyang’s words, the swordsmen who had nervously worried about getting caught brightened immediately. As a manager, there were limits to sending swordsmen recklessly, so he decided to take action personally.

Leaving Tongcheongak bitterly when no one volunteered to escort him, he thought, ‘I understand. Even I wouldn’t have followed.’

Instead, he was greeted by Geom Mugeuk’s face, which seemed even happier than his own subordinates.

“Why have you come? Have all your men already fallen away?”

“They’re all afraid.”

“You’re not exactly one to worry about your men, are you?”

“What do you know about me?”

Geom Mugeuk stared intently.

“You’re full of confidence. Did you go to call some formidable master?”

Though hit right in the nerve, Juyang tried to hide his surprise.

‘How can he be so perceptive?’

He was pretending to be scared. How had he realized that?

“It’s not easy to find someone stronger than the one sent to kill me then.”

Juyang understood Geom Mugeuk referred to Jeokpae’s right hand. That was why he had gone to seek help from the heretical sect.

Instead of answering, Juyang diverted the topic with a question.

“Why didn’t you damage my hand?”

His biggest curiosity. He hadn’t done anything special for him.

Geom Mugeuk took two coins out and placed them on the table.

“Because your hand might still be needed.”

Puzzled by this unexpected remark, Juyang looked at him, but Geom Mugeuk said no more and went up to his guest room.

Juyang picked up the coins on the table.

As he was about to leave, he suddenly looked down at his hand. They said it was needed? Why?

“The Pill Master has started digging into the Great Lord’s affairs.”

A groan echoed from beneath a huge boulder.

Surprisingly, a man was carrying that massive rock. Even with internal power, how could one bear such a weight? The sight was astonishing.

Thunk.

The rock dropped, and a man appeared, walking out.

He had sturdy physique and sharp features; if compared to an animal, he was a tiger.

Jungak (仲岳), Pill Master of the Demon Sword Corps.

This single line explained everything about him.

The Demon Sword Corps was Cheonma Sin Gyo’s elite military force deployed on the front lines at Gangseo Pill Master’s territory, preparing for war.

As leader of the elite, Jungak was a powerful martial artist with extensive real battle experience.

“When you report something like that while carrying something so heavy, you mean to kill me, don’t you?”

The subordinate reporting was Cha Hoe (車淮), Pill Master of the Demon Sword Corps and Jungak’s right hand.

“I want to become a Great Lord once and then retire.”

Though Jungak was cold and resolute enough to intimidate even the Demon Sword Corps warriors, Cha Hoe was the only one he spoke to casually—an indication of deep loyalty and no secrets between them.

“Someone is investigating my background?”

“Yes, I sent people quietly.”

In rank, the Pill Master was higher than the Great Lord. But elite forces like the Demon Sword Corps had authority beyond rank. Usually, mutual respect prevailed.

Yet at Gangseo Pill Master’s territory, that was poorly observed.

“That person loves making enemies. We’re the ones always fighting.”

Jungak removed his sweat-soaked clothes and washed himself in flowing water. His body was covered in scars—proof of the history required to become Demon Sword Corps Great Lord.

While washing, he spoke again.

“How nice it would be to live peacefully. Among people who are neither enemies nor friends.”

“You never know what’s behind that stern exterior.”

“No, that guy’s just sick. He can’t bear not acting all high and mighty.”

After washing, he put on freshly prepared clothes.

“So? Is there a problem?”

“I’ve already silenced it for now.”

Jungak was indeed corrupt, as suspected by the Pill Master. He was secretly taking bribes from various sects within Gangseo.

In contrast, last year’s new Pill Master was upright and never tolerated bribes. So more bribes ended up with Jungak, who accepted them all.

“I don’t understand why they live so hard when there’s so much money to distribute. Those filthy things give money; just take it and make decisions as you see fit.”

And that was exactly what he did. Though he accepted bribes, he didn’t comply with all demands. He ignored what he found unreasonable and approved what he deemed acceptable.

The four-character phrase that made this possible: Demon Sword Great Lord.

Of course, most bribes were meant for preparations against unknown future events.

“We fight their fears for them, right? How great is that?”

Cha Hoe smiled faintly at Jungak’s joke.

The problem was this was no laughing matter.

“As you know, once someone like that starts digging, they’ll find out eventually.”

Jungak’s eyes glinted coldly. The fact that someone decided to investigate him meant he had wagered everything. Things had been good at first. Where had it all gone wrong?

Jungak slowly approached the rock and drew his sword.

With a light swing as if cutting a branch,

Screeeech.

The massive rock split in two.

Cha Hoe respectfully applauded this amazing move.

“For the peace of Murim...”

Jungak stroked the smooth cut surface.

“Even if the Pill Master changes, we remain the same.”

And then, as if fate, a visitor came.

Another subordinate reported.

“A guest has arrived.”

Waiting in the secret room was Jeokpae.

This was where Jungak held his secret meetings.

Jeokpae also wore a death mask and shabby robes to conceal his identity.

When Jungak entered, Jeokpae stood abruptly and bowed politely.

“Long time no see.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to come before I called?”

Jungak’s response was cold. He had openly disregarded Jeokpae, who ran Yeomwangchae.

‘Then you should have ignored my money too.’

Jeokpae hid such thoughts and prostrated himself humbly.

“It must be urgent for you to visit like this.”

“What is it?”

“A pretender claiming to be a demon has appeared, a master we cannot touch.”

Jeokpae purposely left out the part about claiming to be Little Pill Master of the heretical sect. If he mentioned that, Jungak would say, ‘Are you telling me to deal with that madman?’ and surely try to back out.

“Impersonating the main sect is a serious crime. How strong is he?”

“Strong enough that you must rush here. Please help!”

Under suspicion from the Pill Master, Jungak would normally have refused outright. But one thought crossed his mind.

“Understood. I’ll handle it.”

“Thank you.”

Jeokpae was taken aback by the easy consent.

“But there is one thing you must do.”

“Command me.”

“Make sure the Pill Master hears that there is an imposter claiming to be a demon. I cannot handle this alone.”

Jeokpae understood.

‘He says the opponent is a master, so he won’t act but use the Pill Master to eliminate him. Clever.’

But it didn’t matter. As long as the enemy was eliminated.

“I will do as ordered.”

In truth, Jungak had a far harsher plan than Jeokpae expected.

The new Pill Master dies while hunting the imposter? Then the Demon Sword Corps will take revenge?

Could it happen? If he’d lived a life of doubt, he wouldn’t have gotten this far.

He must make it happen.

This was Jungak’s life.

Juyang came again the next day.

“Our Mr. Joo, now fearless enough to come alone.”

“At least since you said my hand was needed, I can protect it.”

Juyang couldn’t sleep all night, curious.

“Why exactly do you need my hand?”

Then came the most astonishing words in Juyang’s life from Geom Mugeuk.

“I’m thinking of making you head of the new Tongcheongak.”

Juyang couldn’t help shouting.

“That’s nonsense!”

But Geom Mugeuk remained calm.

“Why do you think it’s nonsense?”

“Well...”

There were many reasons. But one he had never thought or said aloud.

“Wouldn’t you kill me?”

The Geom Mugeuk he had sensed was not one to leave villains alive.

“True. I originally planned to kill you, but I needed a villain.”

Geom Mugeuk revealed his plan.

“If you’re a necessary evil, I want to make you a proper necessary evil. From now on, the Tongcheongak of Central Plains will lend money with reasonable interest. For now, it’s just this one Tongcheongak, but someday I’ll change all Yeomwangchae in Central Plains this way.”

Only now did Juyang understand why he was spared. Why his hand was left intact. It meant to keep flicking the abacus with that hand.

The man before him was truly dreaming the impossible dream. The words escaped him.

“Who the hell are you?”

The answer came again.

“Little Pill Master of the heretical sect.”

“You’re just a madman!”

A man who had pierced people’s foreheads and shattered swordsmen’s hands was making him shout like that. He kept lowering his guard.

“Even the loan sharks listen to you. If the Majon heard you, they’d be rolling over laughing. You’ll have a hard time dealing with their teasing.”

Juyang shook his head. Either he was truly mad... or he was clowning before the real Little Pill Master of the heretical sect.

“Do you think that’s possible?”

“I don’t know. You have to take care of it.”

How could anyone not be confused?

“No matter how strong your martial arts are... you’ll die anyway.”

“Then help me.”

“What kind of heretical sect leader asks a loan shark for help?”

Juyang laughed to himself at how ridiculous it sounded but quickly sobered. Being around a madman made him crazier too.

“Fine, let’s say that. Why me? You could appoint someone more suitable, someone without greed for money.”

That was Juyang’s personal biggest question.

“Since you handle large sums, that person would also be corrupted by money. But you have no more chance to fall. If you break your promise to me or screw up, it’s easy to kill you without remorse.”

He hadn’t expected this reason.

“Too harsh in front of people.”

“Don’t think I spared you. This won’t be easy. You’ll have to manage the organization thoroughly, and not a single penny will be stolen.”

This was Geom Mugeuk’s punishment for him.

“You’ll work your bones to the marrow until the day you die, just like those who repaid interest to you. You’ll properly collect all the interest you ever wrongly received.”

“And if I refuse?”

“You’ll die with Jeokpae.”

Geom Mugeuk took out two coins one by one and placed them on the table. It was as if saying, This coin is Jeokpae’s, and this one is yours.

Juyang’s heart raced wildly again at the sight of the coins. These days, his heart might burst and he might die before his forehead was pierced by one of those coins.

Whether from fear of death, vanity at possibly becoming the Tongcheongak head, or frustration at living a dull life—interest always made his heart race like this.

Geom Mugeuk seemed to listen to Juyang’s heartbeat and calmly asked,

“Are you afraid?”

“How could I not be?”

“If you’re underwater, you can survive if you have just enough space for your nose and mouth. No matter how vast the sea, if you have that little space...”

Geom Mugeuk formed a cylinder shape with his hands before his face.

“Think carefully whether that small breathing hole is enough for you or your chief. Decide quickly. A great wave is about to hit.”

Juyang looked down at the coins on the table. These two coins were trying to change his fate.

How did he feel? He wanted to live. If he had to live a life of atonement, he would rather choose death. He had neither the spirit nor the courage for that.

Soon the real heretical sect would °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° rise and shred him to pieces. So why was his heart wavering? Why did he feel like shouting, ‘I’ll follow your will, so spare me!’? Why did it feel like he had to?

Picking up the coins, Juyang said,

“Then you’re the one the wave should hit first. So you better find your breathing hole well.”