Geum Arin’s first impression of Geom Mugeuk was this.

‘You’re younger than I expected?’

She couldn’t believe it. That Jeonnak was defeated by someone so young. Moreover, even the Jeon family members were defeated together?

Not only his age, but his appearance was very different from what she had imagined. Handsome, and with some kind of dignified aura. She had expected someone rough and full of murderous intent.

Geum Arin combined Geom Mugeuk’s age, first impression, and the result of what he had done to reach this conclusion.

‘He is someone who has mastered Ascension Martial Arts!’

Just the fact that he confidently appeared alone before her was enough to suggest that. The question was whether he was stronger or weaker than herself. It was impossible to tell from the outside.

“I happened to pass in front of the inn and saw Huang Danju through the window, so I came in.”

Geom Mugeuk greeted warmly as if he were just someone who happened to drop by.

“You had company with you.”

As if not knowing who the other was, Geom Mugeuk greeted Geum Arin with a slight bow.

“If such a beautiful person is here, then I must advance to Sang-gye as well.”

Though flattering words, Geum Arin showed no particular reaction.

Then Huang In cautiously stepped forward.

“Watch your words. The person here is someone you must not mention carelessly.”

Though it seemed like he was showing respect to Geum Arin, in fact it was a warning to Geom Mugeuk.

‘This woman here. The scary person they say has come down is this one! Don’t ruin things by falling for her looks!’

Huang In was anxious that Geom Mugeuk might fall for Geum Arin’s appearance.

But even without Huang In’s warning, how could Geom Mugeuk not know who she was?

Geom Mugeuk had already realized that she was not an ordinary person.

‘Her achievements are great for her age.’

Whether it was from efforts to the point of death, talent, or tremendous support or fate, this was not a skill one sees commonly around.

There was one more thing.

That someone like Jeonnak recognized her as a fearsome person meant she was not someone who keeps affection for others easily.

Moreover, he sensed a hidden expert around her.

‘She is not of ordinary status.’

Experts skilled in concealment were rare. Most such people usually protect someone. Having such a powerful person guarding her?

‘This woman must be the blood relative of the Geumryong family head.’

How much Huang In failed to notice in that brief moment was beyond doubt.

Geom Mugeuk, as if suddenly recognizing the other, said with a surprised look.

“Ah! So this is that person?”

At those words, Geum Arin responded.

“How did the master introduce me?”

Geom Mugeuk answered her.

“He said a very scary person would come.”

Huang In was inwardly tense. ‘He introduced me like that?’ Such a nervous reaction could have come out. His heart was pounding more than usual.

“Please let today not be my funeral day!”

He looked at Geom Mugeuk with desperate eyes.

Geom Mugeuk introduced himself to Geum Arin.

“My name is Geomyeon. Not the ‘yeon’ meaning fate, but the ‘yeon’ meaning smoke. After meeting you, I will vanish like smoke.”

“I didn’t ask.”

Geum Arin gave a cold response without revealing her name.

“You killed my subordinates?”

She asked straightforwardly, and Geom Mugeuk did not try to hide it.

“Unintentionally, there was conflict with your people. I apologize for that.”

“There are more than one or two dead; an apology won’t suffice.”

“Is there something else you want?”

She spoke with a tone as cold as her gaze.

“A life for a life.”

Geom Mugeuk looked at her and said.

“If you can take mine, try to do so.”

A moment of tense silence passed.

Geum Arin restrained her desire to draw her sword and strike. She was not someone who draws the sword at just any moment. Her sword would be drawn at the moment she chose.

The one who broke the suffocating tension was Geom Mugeuk.

“I can’t offer you my life, but I will buy you a drink.”

Despite the situation, he boldly turned his head toward Jomsoi and ordered another bottle of liquor.

When Geom Mugeuk turned back after ordering the drink, a sword was already aimed at his neck.

It was a truly swift move. There was not even a whisper of wind.

Huang In, sitting nearby, blinked his eyes and suddenly found this situation unfolding.

Geom Mugeuk looked at her without any surprise. That reaction made Geum Arin’s gaze even colder. She could have lost her life from that single move.

If he was an expert who killed Jeonnak, he would have reacted somehow.

Could it be that he knew the sword was pointed at his neck and did not block it? Was he certain she would not kill him?

Or was he not as skilled as thought? Then he would not be the one who killed Jeonnak and Jeon-gi.

She could not be sure which of the two possibilities was correct. It left her unsettled.

‘This one is hard to read.’

Geom Mugeuk’s eyes followed the sword’s edge toward her.

“I must not die.”

“Why?”

Then Geom Mugeuk spoke after a short pause.

“Not before, but now my death will… become my father’s justification.”

The moment he died, his father would sweep through the martial world. The grief of losing his child would become his cause, and the martial world would become a battlefield.

Of course, Geum Arin could not know exactly what that meant.

“So you want me to spare you because your father will avenge you if you die?”

“Well, that’s about it.”

“Where is your father?”

“He is at the manor. With my uncle.”

She heard from Huang In. There were three of them in total. She had a feeling that the father or uncle of this person was no ordinary man.

“I came out shopping. My father said he would make a special dish today. You are a woman blessed with food. Let’s go together. My father’s cooking is not something you taste easily. You could brag about it anywhere for a lifetime.”

Geum Arin had to admit at least one thing. Whether it was an act or real, such composure at the tip of her sword was not easy.

With a light flick of her hand, Geum Arin sheathed her sword and said.

“You can’t kill someone who came out shopping.”

Geom Mugeuk stroked his neck and expressed gratitude.

“Thank you for °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° sparing me.”

At that, Huang In inwardly felt frustrated. His heart began to beat even harder.

“What? Why show such weakness? Could it be you? Weaker than this woman?”

That couldn’t be. He was definitely present when Jeonnak and Jeon-gi were killed all at once. Right? Stop joking and quickly cut this woman down and tell me I don’t have to worry anymore.

But the situation moved completely contrary to his hopes.

Swish, swish.

She unleashed a wind strike and subdued Geom Mugeuk’s internal power.

Geom Mugeuk could not avoid it but still remained calm.

“It’s fine. I don’t need internal power for shopping anyway.”

Geum Arin looked at Geom Mugeuk as if thinking, ‘What kind of guy is this?’

‘He’s probably not skilled enough to undo the blood meridian I suppressed.’

Since she had subdued his internal power, his life was hers. Yet he showed such composure? It was beyond her logic.

“Shall we wait for your father?”

Geom Mugeuk stood up and said.

“Now, let’s go shopping together.”

A carriage was running.

On the outside, it looked old and ordinary, but the carriage was made from a material so strong that even swords could not break it, and was pulled by fine horses that could run all day without tiring.

Naturally, the person inside was not ordinary.

Exceptional and elegant, he was Yong Jamyeong, the owner of the Eunha Trade Guild.

Yong Jamyeong, master of the Eunha Trade Guild.

Many words could describe him, but the most effective and certain description was this.

The richest person in the world.

Because of that, not only the coachman but also the people riding the carriage were not ordinary experts. They were the top experts of Eunha Trade Guild whom Yong Jamyeong trusted most.

His secret travels were known to be so busy that to even see his face, one had to make an appointment months in advance.

The guards who accompanied him were three in total including the coachman — the first time since Eunha Trade Guild became the greatest merchant guild in Central Plains. Even then, Yong Jamyeong had wanted to bring only one.

Of course, considering the skills of these three, the journey was considered safe. They were the three most trusted and capable persons by Yong Jamyeong.

Especially Baek Chong, who sat across from him, was someone who had spent his whole life through thick and thin with Yong Jamyeong to build Eunha Trade Guild.

“It’s not too late yet. Shall we turn the carriage around?”

Yong Jamyeong smiled and asked him.

“Are you afraid too?”

Baek Chong answered honestly.

“I’m afraid.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard that from you. You say you’re afraid.”

Baek Chong was not afraid for his own life. He was afraid he might lose Yong Jamyeong during this journey.

“This is a very dangerous choice.”

“More dangerous than refusing the request of the Demonic Sect Lord?”

Baek Chong could not say anything. Throughout building the guild with Yong Jamyeong, they had faced many hardships, but the most dangerous opponent was the Demonic Sect.

“If it were a simple request from the Demonic Sect, I would have found some excuse to buy time. But this time, the sect lord sent a secret letter personally.”

It was even the sect lord’s own handwritten letter.

The sect lord’s own handwritten letter.

Truly a first.

“Then please secretly inform the Martial Alliance and the Heretic Alliance. If they know, they won’t dare to have any foolish ideas.”

Yong Jamyeong knew better than anyone what Baek Chong worried about. But this matter could not be handled that way.

“The sect lord emphasized ‘secretly’. It means do not contact them.”

“Which is why they must be informed. The Demonic Sect has never acted like this before.”

This decision was not just based on a hunch. It was made by combining past experience and recently gathered information.

Yes, how could he not know how ruthless and brutal the Demonic Martial Artists were.

“Let’s hope the information is true.”

“Are you talking about the Little Pill Master?”

Yong Jamyeong nodded. There was information that a new wind was rising inside the Demonic Sect. Because of it, a tripartite meeting was held.

He hoped that this was why he was called. It felt safer than just being summoned by the Heavenly Demon.

“You know well that reality is always different from rumors.”

“Don’t worry too much. It will all work out.”

That was Yong Jamyeong.

Someone who tries to overcome any moment with positive thoughts rather than negativity.

He did not know if this would become an opportunity for Eunha Trade Guild or if he would die from it, but as always, he would overcome. He thought the Heavenly Demon’s handwritten letter was a call of fate that could not be refused.

He believed he was not being called to be killed. The sect lord from all information he had gathered was not that kind of person. He trusted the intelligence of Eunha Trade Guild.

He would just not return. He would give what he wanted and receive what he desired. A transaction was a give and take.

In moments of crisis like this, he recalled his youth. The moment he came back from the brink of death. How much that experience helped him live, no one else knew.

Life was a bonus anyway, so live without regrets.

Sometimes bravely, sometimes with greater effort.

Perhaps because of that, he could become the owner of the greatest martial merchant guild.

The carriage sped toward the promised place.

‘Really shopping?’

Geom Mugeuk began buying various ingredients in the market.

“You must choose vegetables and fruits with uniform and vivid colors. They must be firm and not soft, and you should avoid ones with spots like this.”

Geum Arin watched in surprise as he even explained while shopping.

At first, she suspected it was a trick to stall time. But he was really carefully selecting ingredients for cooking. He even had a paper with a list of what to buy.

“Now that I’ve bought the meat too, that’s all!”

After finishing shopping, Geom Mugeuk tried to take her back to the manor.

“Did you think I would obediently walk into the trap you set?”

“Are you afraid?”

Geum Arin glared at Geom Mugeuk. Even after subduing his internal power, she still could not figure him out. What was this composure? Or was he crazy?

Geom Mugeuk raised the ingredients full in both hands.

“It will be a very delicious trap.”

Geum Arin spoke to Huang In, who was with her.

“You go and tell him. If he wants to save his son, come alone where I say.”

Then Geom Mugeuk sighed.

“My father will not come. He is not the type to come just because someone calls.”

“If he doesn’t come, your son will die?”

“Even so, he will not come.”

Geom Mugeuk said to Huang In.

“If you meet my father, don’t make eye contact. Behave politely. Tell him everything about the situation.”

“I will.”

Huang In nodded, then flinched. ‘Whose side are you on?’ Geum Arin was looking at him with a disapproving gaze.

Geom Mugeuk said to her.

“Now that all the ingredients are bought, I will cook tonight. My dishes are also difficult to taste easily, so you are still a woman blessed with food.”

Geum Arin looked at Geom Mugeuk with a look of disbelief. No one had ever called her a woman blessed with food in her life.

“What exactly are you? Who sent you?”

Geom Mugeuk smiled as if he would soon find out and stepped forward.

“I’m hungry, so let’s hurry and eat first.”

Then he stopped and asked her.

“By the way, where should we go? Let’s go somewhere we can cook.”