There are days like this.

Days when the stars look unusually lonely, and the moonlight feels cold.

Days when a sense of impending disaster wraps around your whole body, and you feel deeply uncomfortable and out of place, as if you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be.

This is that very moment.

The root of all this unease is the man lying on the hammock—the man who makes you feel this way just by looking at the stars together.

Could such a presence belong to nothing more than a mere regional sect leader? No way.

And one more thing:

The three warriors Hwangin sent ahead with him were nowhere to be seen.

“I have entered the tiger’s den.”

This wasn’t just his survival instinct speaking. It was the overwhelming presence of that man, who conjured even unbidden premonitions.

“Stay calm.”

Jeonnak steadied his mind and controlled his inner energy. Yes, crises always arose. And somehow, he had survived every one until now. He trusted this instinct.

At that moment, Hwangin said to Geom Mugeuk,

“Our guild has received permission to invest in the Sword Sect. Let us sign the agreement immediately.”

Anyone sharp enough would understand what he meant by now.

Hwangin himself was tense. He was still within reach of Jeonnak’s grasp.

With his eyes, he said to Geom Mugeuk,

“Since you brought him, kill that interest collector quickly!”

He still stood on the scales’ center. Once it tilted definitely, he would throw his weight that way. Until one of them died, he was no one’s ally.

Geom Mugeuk stepped forward and asked,

“Who is the person who came with you?”

Jeonnak lowered himself and introduced,

“I am someone who serves Master Hwangin.”

Jeonnak carefully observed Geom Mugeuk. If his ominous premonition about the middle-aged man lying on the hammock was true, then this young man in front of him must never be underestimated.

The bright first impression he had felt before now appeared as the calm confidence of a master.

His resentment naturally turned to Hwangin.

‘Where the hell did this bastard drag me?’

More accurately, he had chased after them of his own accord.

Geom Mugeuk said to Hwangin,

“You command such a great person—do you think we need you?”

As if he had instantly seen his abilities, Hwangin responded calmly,

“Everyone has different uses, don’t they?”

“That is true. Now, let us go inside and prepare the agreement.”

Just then, as Hwangin was relieved and about to step toward Geom Mugeuk—

“Please wait a moment.”

Jeonnak politely stopped Hwangin, thinking he must not surrender him to the opponent in this situation.

“Master Hwangin.”

“Why?”

“You said you left your subordinates here. But they are nowhere to be seen.”

Then Hwangin asked Geom Mugeuk,

“Where are those people?”

This was a genuine question. What on earth happened to them?

“They are inside, waiting for your return. I invited them to look at the stars together, but they ignored me and went inside.”

The lie was told so casually that Hwangin was inwardly dumbfounded. He recalled when the warriors disappeared. That house was a place that devoured people. Once you enter, you may never come out.

“I will go inside and inform them to prepare the agreement.”

Hwangin hurried to enter, and Jeonnak headed outside.

“Go ahead. I will wait outside the manor. Sign the agreement and come out later together.”

Jeonnak only thought about getting out of there. Despite no threats from the opponent, he had never felt so scared since becoming a martial artist. That fear was even more terrifying.

But Geom Mugeuk did not let him leave so easily.

“Since you have come, why not enter together and have a drink?”

Jeonnak, regardless of any premonitions or instincts, felt his crisis just from this fact.

He was not the kind to invite someone for a drink. People like him were those you wanted to avoid, or not see at all. And yet, here was an invitation to drink.

“Shall we?”

Jeonnak turned and naturally walked next to Hwangin.

“If we go in, we die.”

At the same time, Jeonnak drew his sword.

At the signal of Jeonnak drawing his sword, ten warriors waiting outside simultaneously climbed over the wall and descended.

Hwangin’s worry outweighed his surprise that they followed.

“I must not let them think I betrayed them!”

So Hwangin asked as if he knew nothing,

“Why did you bring your subordinates?”

Jeonnak’s gaze at Hwangin was cold.

“When I arrived here, my subordinates didn’t even come out? If they’re not dead, that would not happen.”

He was still speaking politely.

That was why Jeonnak felt terrifying. He had always handled matters with that polite attitude. “Leave it to me”—that phrase always ended matters.

Now that terrifying politeness was directed at Hwangin.

“Explain what happened.”

The killing intent faintly rising in Jeonnak’s eyes made Hwangin flatly deny.

“They were here when I left, weren’t they?”

Hwangin’s eyes pleaded toward Geom Mugeuk.

Please say yes.

Geom Mugeuk told Jeonnak,

“The people who came with you are inside. If you’re really suspicious, go in and check.”

He said this so calmly it sounded like the truth.

Jeonnak’s gaze turned beyond Geom Mugeuk to Geom Woojin, who lay on the hammock. Eyes closed, whether asleep or deep in thought, that figure drew his nerves.

“Check it out.”

Jeonnak sent one warrior inside and sent a covert command to carefully search for anyone hiding.

But no reply came. The warrior who went in did not come back.

“Looks like they’re having a drinking party.”

Geom Mugeuk’s casual remark cooled Jeonnak’s gaze. It was the moment he confirmed the enemy was not just the two before him.

“We’ve been tricked.”

The three warriors sent first were among the best.

Jeonnak asked Geom Mugeuk,

“Who exactly are you?”

“I’m Geom Yeon of Seodo Sect. This is my father.”

“No. You’re not Seodo Sect.”

Jeonnak’s sword aimed at Hwangin’s neck.

“Why are you doing this to me? I’m on the same side!”

The reason Jeonnak believed Hwangin was lying was simple.

“There’s no way such powerful people would team up with you. You’ve led me into a trap.”

Jeonnak’s previously polite attitude changed. It was the first time since they met.

“Even if I die, I will kill you.”

This was no mere threat, and fear enveloped Hwangin.

Now, the only one he could trust was Geom Mugeuk.

“Will you abandon me?”

At that desperate gaze, Geom Mugeuk spoke unexpectedly.

“A great merchant buys this and that. They don’t leave their business to chance.”

With those words, Hwangin knew he was being reproached for straddling both sides.

“I…”

The cool touch of the sword blade at his throat.

If he said he sided with Geom Mugeuk, Jeonnak would kill him. This mad butcher showed no mercy.

Unaware or ignoring the crisis, Geom Mugeuk’s eyes beyond the sword blade demanded an answer.

Are you really the successor of the secret clan? Even if I choose you, can you save me?

Now was the moment to stake his life on the final balance.

Not being a martial artist, he couldn’t know who was stronger. He had to choose based on instinct and intuition.

At last, Hwangin made his decision.

“I have already chosen you.”

His scales tipped toward Geom Mugeuk.

“Then save me.”

With fear that the sword at his throat might cut him down, Hwangin closed his eyes. But today, the butcher’s sword was cautious.

Geom Mugeuk demanded again,

“Who are those trying to kill you?”

“You interest collectors deserve to die. Many innocents have died by their hands.”

“Did you order this?”

“Though I allied with them, I never ordered or wished for anyone to die.”

“But thanks to them, the Hwangdo guild grew.”

Hwangin couldn’t excuse himself. It was he who allied with such cruel people, unaware how brutal they were.

The sword at his throat grew colder.

Hwangin felt it: Jeonnak had decided to kill him.

“Why haven’t you done it yet?”

He didn’t know. The cruel Jeonnak was holding off to use him as a hostage, to gain even a slight advantage.

Then hopeful words came from Geom Mugeuk.

“There is a technique to save you. It’s one I’ve been practicing recently. Conveniently, the enemy is ten.”

Why explain that to the enemy? Use it now! Hurry!

But the hope turned into a thunderclap.

“It’s not very accurate, so you might die.”

An inaccurate technique? Was this the time to mention such a useless move?

How could Hwangin know?

That imperfect technique was the Nine Flames Martial Art, Jeo-style Soul Severing Strike.

Jeonnak listening to the conversation grew more uneasy. If it weren’t a technique he himself didn’t have, he wouldn’t mention it.

“You were targeted from the start, right?”

Such experts wouldn’t target a mere merchant guild. More precisely, they targeted his superiors.

He thought this was good. Maybe he could use this to escape.

“If I die, a terrifying person will come. Then even you won’t survive.”

Geom Mugeuk asked,

“Who is this terrifying person?”

“Someone who can easily kill the likes of you. If you kill me, that person will come.”

With a gaze saying “Will you still kill me?” Geom Mugeuk asked Hwangin,

“Are you a lucky person?”

Hwangin sighed.

“If I were lucky, would I be in this situation?”

“Then I will trust my luck.”

What on earth was he saying?

“Close your eyes.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Hwangin closed his eyes.

Blood flowed from the sword pressed against Hwangin’s neck.

“Move, and this interest collector dies!”

No enemy can guarantee they won’t be killed by a sword pressed to their neck. If they attack, he would cut Hwangin’s throat before fighting.

Then—

Ten sword energies struck down vertically like lightning.

Those ten sword energies pierced exactly the crown of the warriors. Despite differences in skill, the Soul Severing Strike treated all equally.

They fell simultaneously like bundles of straw.

At the first sound, Hwangin thought he was dead.

“This is the end!”

His father had said: when a merchant gets involved with martial artists, it ends badly. He should have stopped him then.

Overwhelmed by the rising scent of blood, Hwangin slowly opened his eyes.

And the astonishing scene before him:

All the warriors lay dead, blood flowing from their crowns. And Jeonnak, who had aimed his sword at Hwangin, was also lying dead beside them.

“Jeonnak is dead? That terrifying Jeonnak? How on earth?”

It felt like a dream. Hwangin stood dumbfounded.

At that moment, Geom Woojin, lying on the hammock, rose.

“What were you going to do if that lousy skill hit that person’s head?”

“Then Father must have saved him.”

Feeling the sincerity, Geom Woojin asked with a look that said, “Is that even reasonable?”

“While lying on the hammock?”

“Yes. Because he’s Father.”

The smirk at Geom Woojin’s lips held a pleasant feeling. The son’s trust surpassed even the Nine Flames Martial Art.

“Ten more strands to go. Still far.”

With those words, Geom Woojin entered the building.

“Sleep well, Father.”

After loudly greeting his father, Geom Mugeuk approached the still stunned Hwangin.

“Are you alright?”

Only then did Hwangin regain composure [N O V E L I G H T] and bow.

“Thank you for saving me.”

His weighing had been precise. Now whether he lived or died, he would trust and follow these people. There was much he wanted to know and ask, but what filled Hwangin’s heart now was this worry.

“But are you really alright?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said if I kill you, a terrifying person will come.”

“So I killed you.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at the bewildered Hwangin as if to say, “It’s someone who wants to see you.”

“Because I said if I kill you, they come.”