Juyang returned home.

As expected, her mother was waiting just for her to come back.

“How did it go?”

Before answering, Juyang asked her mother,

“Did you know that Hwang In was bringing the agreement today?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Did she really not know? Doubt was the first reaction. This was the reality of the relationship between her mother and herself.

“So? Did you write the agreement?”

From this reaction alone, Juyang could tell how rushed her mother was.

Normally, her mother should have said something like,

—“They handed you the agreement? Without even sending it to us beforehand?”

And then asked with concern,

—“You didn’t sign that agreement, did you?”

But now her mother was looking at her with worried eyes. Like, “Please tell me you didn’t sign that agreement.”

She recalled the paper she had tucked away. Following Geom Mugeuk’s advice, she had written everything she wanted to say to her mother.

It wasn’t just writing down words. She had prepared for multiple scenarios, even how to respond if her mother reacted a certain way. This situation was one of them.

“No, I postponed it.”

Disappointment flashed across her mother’s face. Since she had expected this, she had also prepared what to say in such a case.

Fortunately, her mother was a predictable person in temperament. They fought often, but because of that, she could never truly hate her.

That was why at the very top of all the notes she wrote, she put this reminder:

Because every time she raised her voice with her mother, they had never truly finished a proper conversation. Even though she knew well that a calm, low voice conveyed her feelings better, with her mother it was really difficult.

But today, she was doing well.

“This is something to be handled cautiously.”

No matter how much she explained about what happened at the guesthouse, her mother would never accept it. Handing the agreement to a stranger was something she would jump up and down about.

“We need to learn more about the Hwangdo Trade Guild and have experts review the agreement to ensure no unfavorable terms for us.”

In the past, she would have definitely added something like:

‘Did you check properly? No, you didn’t. It’s always like this.’

That would have been the opening of a fight, voices rising.

But in today’s notes, that sentence was absent.

It seemed a bit surprising to her mother that the words ‘entrust it to an expert’ even appeared.

“Which expert?”

“I’ll tell you when the results come out.”

She spoke more calmly than ever before.

“I know the situation at our main house is difficult. I think we need to be especially careful at times like this.”

Her mother’s puzzled gaze held this feeling: Since when have you been careful? Since when have you cared about the family’s difficulties?

In the past, she would have snapped back sharply. But now she spoke even more softly.

“I’m grown now, you know? I’ll work hard to help you from now on.”

After greeting her mother, she went outside. Her mother was somewhat flustered and unable to say anything, noticing the change.

Once outside, Juyang sighed.

She took the paper out of her bosom. Though she hadn’t said even half of what was written, the conversation was /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ definitely different from usual. Whether or not she wrote it down made a real difference.

She had underlined the last advice to her mother not to worry too much about family affairs and to eat well—but she had just left without saying it.

Anyway, today they had not shouted at each other.

Hwang In had trained from childhood to hide his emotions. That was the most important thing for living as a merchant.

But at least this moment, it was hard to hide his feelings.

When he stood before Jeon Nak,

He was standing with the devil he had shaken hands with.

—Too dangerous a person. You shouldn’t join hands with them.

At his father’s warning, he said,

—I don’t want to live the rest of my life as a mere leader of a rural guild.

Because he didn’t want such a life. He had the ambition to make the Hwangdo Trade Guild the greatest trade guild in the Central Plains.

That was why he joined hands with Jeon Nak. After joining hands, he clearly understood that he was the same kind of person as Jeon Nak.

He wielded a sword, and he held only an abacus. The only difference was that when Jeon Nak glared coldly, he smiled. Ultimately, he and Jeon Nak were the same.

Perhaps that was why the Hwangdo Trade Guild grew rapidly after joining hands with Jeon Nak.

And one more thing he realized: Jeon Nak was also just a lackey following someone else’s orders. He learned that naturally through their conversations.

Though he worried about where he had been swept into, it was already too late to turn back. There was only the choice of becoming the greatest trade guild or dying by Jeon Nak’s hand.

“The agreement was broken?”

Jeon Nak spoke politely and softly as usual.

But whenever Hwang In heard his voice, chills ran down his spine.

He knew. He was a ruthless butcher. Even if they were on the same side for thirty years, when the moment came to kill him, he would do it without hesitation.

“Yes.”

“Didn’t you say you were confident this time?”

“We brought in outside help from the Sword School.”

“Who?”

“The Gamsuk Seodo Sect. The leader of Seodo once owed a debt to the late Sword School leader.”

As Geom Mugeuk expected, he didn’t act directly but learned their identities through an informant. He was able to find out quicker than expected. The informant had already secured information about them.

When Hwang In realized that the opponent was Seodo Sect, he felt relieved.

Those he met at the guesthouse gave off an inexplicable vibe. A strange ease that he couldn’t describe lingered in his mind, and now he guessed its source.

That unexplainable ease came from there. So rather than fear, he felt relief.

An opponent he could handle confidently.

Jeon Nak said in a dry tone,

“Understood. I’ll handle the rest.”

Hwang In knew exactly what “handling” meant. He would kill the three Seodo sect members and retrieve the agreement. He always liked clean solutions.

But Hwang In wanted to handle this himself.

“Seodo is just a regional branch, but since they produced a winner of the So-ryong-jeon, they have ties with the Martial Alliance. If we offend them, the Martial Alliance might intervene. This must be handled carefully.”

This was why Geom Mugeuk chose Seodo as the disguised sect. To avoid solving it with force and to use them to uncover the backers.

“Lend me your money ghosts.”

‘Money ghosts.’ Jeon Nak called the experts under his command that.

They were truly ghosts when it came to money. Whenever they moved, everything was resolved.

Those who had been stubborn changed their minds, those who aimed swords had accidents, those who cursed went missing.

In short, when they showed up, the next day a signed contract would be in hand.

“This matter requires merchants more than martial artists. If my persuasion fails, it won’t be too late to deal with it the original way.”

Then Jeon Nak spoke.

“How many do you need?”

“Enough to subdue the leader of Seodo Sect.”

Hwang In said with eyes asking for trust.

“Don’t worry. Where would merchants lose in business?”

That evening, Hwang In came to see Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk and his party were staying at a small manor slightly away from the marketplace.

From Hwang In’s point of view, it was fortunate not to stay at the attention-drawing guesthouse.

Hwang In wanted to see Geom Mugeuk plead while handling this. Pay the guesthouse rent and leave? Should merchants keep their accounts clear? He felt humiliated. How dare he talk about merchant calculations in front of him!

He didn’t intend to kill him but planned to mock him thoroughly before sending him off. When leaving the guesthouse, he told him that debts were always paid.

Guided by Hwi, when he entered the yard, Geom Mugeuk was making something among the planted trees.

“Welcome!”

Geom Mugeuk greeted him warmly. It was as if the events at the guesthouse were forgotten and if someone saw them, they’d think they were close friends.

“Just in time. Hold this rope for me.”

Hwang In, caught off guard, took the rope Geom Mugeuk handed him. Geom Mugeuk tied the other end to a tree.

Between the two fixed ends was a net big enough for an adult to lie on.

“A hammock bed. It’s a temporary bed made in areas with many poisonous insects.”

Another one was already made a little farther away.

“That one is for my father. Tonight, I plan to lie side by side with my father here and gaze at the night sky.”

The thought alone pleased Geom Mugeuk, and he smiled happily.

“You really like your father, don’t you?”

“Of course. He doesn’t trust me, but I like him more than anyone in the world.”

Geom Mugeuk deliberately spoke loud enough to be heard inside the building. They must have heard every whisper here, but no response came from inside.

“Now that it’s all ready, let’s lie down and try it.”

Geom Mugeuk lay on the net. As he shifted, the hammock swayed gently among the trees.

“This is so comfortable and nice.”

Hwang In quietly observed Geom Mugeuk.

He had felt this even at the guesthouse. He wasn’t an ordinary man. That was why he asked this question now.

“How is your father?”

Suddenly asked about his father, Hwang In was inwardly startled.

“What do you mean?”

“Does your father ever surprise his son? I was shocked then. I never expected your father to step up for that woman.”

Hwang In didn’t know what to say about his father.

His father had joined hands with Jeon Nak according to his son’s wishes. Was it a choice for his child? Or did his father have the same ambition? Hwang In couldn’t tell exactly what his father thought.

“I think the most easily understood yet most difficult person in the world is a father.”

Geom Mugeuk said, but Hwang In remained silent.

Then Geom Mugeuk suddenly got up from the hammock.

“You try lying down too.”

“I’m fine.”

“Lie down.”

He forced Hwang In to lie down.

“Look up at the sky from there. How is it?”

It was the first time he lay on such a bed, and it was more comfortable than he expected.

Then suddenly he thought, This is no time for this, and sat up.

As he wobbled, about to fall, Geom Mugeuk caught him.

“Thanks.”

“I’m just not used to it.”

The thing Hwang In wasn’t used to was Geom Mugeuk’s attitude. He treated him much more familiarly than at the guesthouse.

“This won’t pass just like that.”

On the wall Hwang In was looking at, three men were already standing, arms crossed, watching them.

They were the money ghosts he had brought. Among them, the ones Jeon Nak favored.

They were experts who could easily take down a sect leader like Seodo Sect’s.

“You say you’re just a merchant, but you’re not.”

“There are many who ignore merchants and try to solve things with force, so I had no choice but to ask for help.”

“If that’s the case, you could have come alone. As you see, I prefer talking over swords.”

Hwang In stared intently at Geom Mugeuk.

Though he came with powerful men who could kill his father, he wasn’t intimidated at all. Did he not even realize the situation?

“If I order it, I’ll forcibly take the agreement.”

Then unexpectedly, Geom Mugeuk said,

“Three of them? To get my father to draw his sword, you’d need about three hundred like them.”

Then the money ghosts burst out laughing simultaneously.

Though skilled, they weren’t experts who could see through Geom Mugeuk’s true nature. Above all, the problem was that they already knew his identity.

The successor of Seodo Sect.

Since they already thought of the opponent as that, it was merely ridiculous. Moreover, before coming, they had heard from Hwang In that his speech was no ordinary one.

“If you hand over the agreement politely, apologize, and leave, nothing will happen.”

“My father will never hand it over. He already promised that woman.”

“If you want to save your father, you must go and persuade him.”

Geom Mugeuk sighed and said,

“That’s impossible. My father needs at least five years to be persuaded.”

Five years? What on earth did he mean? Hwang In looked puzzled, but Geom Mugeuk remained composed.

At that moment, the three men on the wall suddenly jumped down.

“If they start moving, I can’t stop them. This is your last chance. You go and convince your father to get the agreement.”

One of the three money ghosts stepped forward.

“There’s no need for all three of us. I’ll go and get it. I’ll bring your father too and throw him on that hammock.”

He strode toward the building while Geom Mugeuk lay calmly on the hammock.

“Don’t you worry about your father?”

“Even if everyone worries, there’s exactly one person I don’t have to worry about.”

Hwang In guessed the source of that calmness.

Maybe so. Confidence that no one would dare touch a family that produced a So-ryong-jeon champion. Yes, that was the only thing Seodo Sect could rely on.

How much time passed?

The money ghost who went inside showed no sign of coming out. Yet there were no sounds of arguing or fighting either. Only silence flowed inside.

The second money ghost, tired of waiting, went in.

He was as skilled as the first and calmer in temperament.

But even he never came out.

The last money ghost’s expression stiffened. He sensed something was wrong. They should have entered together from the start.

“It might be a trap!”

At Hwang In’s warning, the third money ghost coldly replied,

“Do you think this place is safe then?”

Drawing his sword, the third money ghost cautiously entered.

Though the three were fearsome, the eerie silence without even a chair falling was scarier and more surprising.

The third money ghost also never returned.

With fear, Hwang In’s gaze shifted from the building to Geom Mugeuk.

At last, Geom Mugeuk got up from the hammock. The distant sunset was beginning. Like ink spreading on paper, a red glow spread across the world, and the sky appeared wider.

With eyes reflecting the sunset’s mystery, Geom Mugeuk calmly asked,

“If you are truly a merchant, shouldn’t you make deals rather than draw swords or threaten?”