Geum Arin experienced this for the first time.

That there could be such calm murderous intent.

“Are you trying to kill them all?”

Now she understood.

Why Geom Mugeuk accepted her father’s request and asked for half the money. Why he told her to tell the other merchant groups and sects that he would collect the money from them.

“You surely know there’s no way they will quietly hand over such a large sum unless it’s a small amount.”

Then Geom Mugeuk said,

“The problem this time is not about collecting the money, but what happens after.”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you say? They are the type who take revenge by killing even families. If they lose such a huge amount, how do you think they will react?”

“They will definitely seek revenge.”

Geom Mugeuk calmly nodded.

“I’m ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) not the one killing them. The way they have lived their lives is what kills them.”

She knew her intuition was right. Now she was curious about one thing.

“How?”

No way this man alone was strong enough to annihilate Baekseonbang.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to her.

“Now, go and collect as much as you can. Convincing them is up to you. Think of it as part of becoming the successor.”

He handed Geum Arin a paper with the names of the merchant groups and sects, and sent her outside.

“Leave immediately. Start with the places that owe the largest amounts.”

“No, don’t push me. Let’s talk a little more.”

“I have much to do. People are busy at night.”

Like that, she was pushed out of the room.

Outside the closed door, she raised her voice.

“I’m your leader. I give the orders.”

Have you ever been chased out by a subordinate owed two million nyang?

Then Geom Mugeuk’s voice came from inside.

“A leader who just sits and orders has no charm. Now then, leader, please go.”

For several days, Geum Arin diligently visited each merchant group and sect.

She truly followed Geom Mugeuk’s orders, secretly going around and gaining their consent.

“We plan to collect the money owed by Baekseonbang. When we receive it, we will share half as your commission.”

Had they been required to leave a contract, they would have refused. They feared Baekseonbang’s retaliation. But she didn’t demand a contract, only verified the IOUs for the amounts lent.

Verbal promises were easy. Later, if denied, it was just that. If they claimed they were dragged into this to create a pretext by Geumryong family, it was over.

If someone else had come with these words, no one would have promised even verbally.

But the Geumryong family? The richest in Seomseo, one of the top three in the Central Plains, with a blood relative directly making the promise? Everyone held hope. If it seemed likely to succeed, they wouldn’t stand aside.

Thus, Geum Arin obtained permission from those who had lost large sums. Some had been continuously extorted and weakened. They pinned their hopes on her promise.

Geum Arin returned, handing over papers listing the amounts lent by each group.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

Geom Mugeuk stood and said,

“I will go.”

Geum Arin blocked him.

This man really planned to face one hundred masters alone — in a den full of villains.

“You will go even if I stop you?”

She wanted to go with him, but how could he not know she would be a burden?

“Making money is this difficult.”

Geom Mugeuk left after saying that.

She couldn’t say anything. Normally, she should have said “Be careful,” but that phrase kept coming to mind, so she didn’t.

“Better run away on this path.”

Surprisingly, she wanted to say that.

If she did, she would never be successor, and the label of being cheated of two million nyang would stick for life.

But why did she want to say that?

Because she thought this man must not die at the hands of Baekseonbang’s villains. Because she believed his bright smile should not be torn apart by such villains.

Geum Arin sighed, looking out the window.

She felt the wait for his return would feel very long. She wished she had said this:

“You don’t have to collect the money. Just come back safely.”

“A man from the Geumryong family has come.”

Upon hearing the report from a subordinate, Yeomje (廉制), head of Baekseonbang, raised his head.

With a long beard and dressed in white robes, he truly looked like an immortal.

But even with his solemn white beard and pure white clothes, his cold and cunning eyes could not hide his nature.

If he had a truly immortal heart, he would not have allowed villains like those in this main hall to be his subordinates.

Moreover, he must have been killed several times by the blades of those very people. This place was hell; none who were not evil spirits could survive.

“Who came?”

“A very young fellow, a face I’ve never seen.”

Yeomje slightly tilted his head. The Geumryong family sent a stranger?

“Why did he come?”

“He said he would speak with you directly.”

“Give some excuse and send him away.”

“Yes.”

Yeomje felt bad. Even if the family head came in person, would he meet a young stranger whose face he did not know? Regardless of the reason, he was offended.

“Seems I need to discipline the Geumryong family.”

Then Ilseon, under the Grand Elder, answered.

“I will have the family head come in.”

Nine immortals stood beside Ilseon. They were the Ten Immortals (십선, 十仙), always guarding Yeomje. From the first to the tenth in Baekseonbang ranking.

Those present today were not the only ones. The wide main hall was filled with Baekseonbang immortals.

“Seventeenth rank accounting completed!”

Today was the month-end accounting day; everyone reported their earnings and presented them to Yeomje. After accounting, they held a banquet with drinks.

Yeomje deliberately made such gatherings to incite competition.

Baekseonbang was an organization strictly structured by ranking.

Under the head were the Ten Immortals, below them were ranks eleven to ninety-nine, fixed in order.

Yeomje firmly established this ranking system. This hierarchy was the greatest power protecting Baekseonbang and the source of profit increase.

The desire to rise.

The higher the rank, the more profit to take, so they struggled to achieve merit and rise. Rankings changed once a year.

At that moment, a first word echoed that would change everyone’s fate.

“You have a lot of money.”

All eyes turned to the stranger’s voice ringing through the main hall.

A young man was looking at the piled vouchers at the accounting desk.

“With so much money, why don’t you pay off your debts?”

An immortal nearby was startled and asked,

“Who are you?”

No one recognized the newcomer until he came beside them. Of course, it was a busy accounting day, but considering their martial skill, at least one of a hundred should have noticed.

The youth walked to the center, receiving everyone’s attention.

Then he bowed respectfully toward Yeomje, seated in the Grand Elder’s seat.

“I greet the head of the sect. I am Geom Yeon from the Geumryong family.”

At the mention of Geumryong family, everyone relaxed. “Oh, you scared us!” murmurs arose.

The mystery warrior was confirmed to be a mere martial man sent by Geumryong family.

But Yeomje did not relax. Though the atmosphere was noisy, he was unsettled that no one noticed this guy until he entered.

“What if he was an assassin?”

If so, he could have been ambushed.

Ilseon was about to act, but Yeomje raised a hand to stop him and directly asked Geom Mugeuk. The Geumryong family warranted his direct response.

“A new face, I see?”

“Recently I joined the Geumryong family.”

Yeomje was puzzled. Sending someone who recently joined? That had not happened before.

“What brings you here?”

Everyone’s eyes focused on Geom Mugeuk. No one expected what he said.

“I have come to collect the money lent.”

A heavy silence.

Is he crazy? Did I hear wrong?

In the place filled with those two thoughts, someone burst out laughing. The laughter spread, and many laughed.

It had been a long time since anyone came to collect money directly. Could someone be so unlucky? Not just any day, but on accounting day when all gather.

“The unpaid debt is three million nyang. We should collect interest, but I will accept principal only.”

Laughter burst out again from all sides.

Yeomje even thought,

Did they send him to be killed?

Did the Geumryong family head not want to stain his hands with blood? Otherwise, he wouldn’t do such a reckless thing. Who was this guy?

“Who are you?”

“Geom Yeon. Not the ‘connection’ Yeon, but the ‘smoke’ Yeon. When connections end, like smoke, one should disappear, but sometimes regrets remain. Like that person who liked drinking, sometimes I want to stay nearby. But today, I will disappear quickly without regrets.”

What nonsense is this?

Everyone exchanged glances. Their eyes held many emotions, but mostly:

A crazy man has come!

Their eyes gleamed with curiosity. How to play with this guy?

Though it seemed trivial, Yeomje felt a strange unease.

Because it was unfamiliar. Why now, on accounting day, of all days?

“Do you know where you have come?”

“Isn’t this where a hundred immortals gather?”

Geom Mugeuk lowered his voice slightly.

“But just between us, isn’t it a bit much for those who are not immortals to call themselves immortals? I hear you have done many bad things.”

Such a hateful remark meant he was indeed sent to be killed.

Yeomje signaled to a man.

He was the ninety-ninth rank, the last in ranking. Yeomje always gave orders strictly by rank.

“What’s with all the talking, man?”

The ninety-ninth stepped forward eagerly. A perfect chance to impress the head and rise from the bottom.

Of course, things did not go as he wished. Geom Mugeuk asked his name.

“What is your name, immortal?”

“Why ask my name?”

“Just need to confirm something.”

Geom Mugeuk took out a voucher from his chest pocket. A voucher worth one hundred thousand nyang.

“If you answer, I will give you this.”

You expect me to say my name for a hundred thousand nyang? No way.

“Trying to mock me with a fake voucher?”

The ninety-ninth’s hand naturally moved to his sword handle.

“It's a real voucher. Nothing lost if fake. If real, I get your name and the hundred thousand nyang; if fake, I get an excuse to punish you.”

The ninety-ninth looked between Geom Mugeuk and the voucher, then glanced back at Yeomje. Yeomje nodded for him to proceed.

“My name is Jo Gung.”

Geom Mugeuk took out a paper to verify him.

“Jo Gung, Jo Gung. Ah, here it is. You borrowed money from a hometown friend and didn’t repay, then killed the friend and fled. You wandered as a ronin, studied under a ronin master, later became active in the Black Jeong Samho, killed two brothers, then fled. Our immortal specializes in stabbing close friends in the back.”

Jo Gung’s eyes grew cold. His opponent had accurately understood his history.

“What do you want now?”

Jo Gung’s eyes filled with murderous intent.

“Is that what’s written here? I believe the information, but I wanted to verify at least one representative. So my mind will be at ease.”

Then one of the Ten Immortals behind spoke.

“That’s wrong. He didn’t just kill the brothers; to prevent future problems, he killed their families too.”

Jo Gung was not ashamed. Everyone here was like that. The more evil and vile, the more comfortable they were.

Jo Gung drew his sword and strode toward Geom Mugeuk.

“You talked recklessly, so your tongue and that hundred thousand nyang are mine.”

He unleashed his killing intent. As if to cut off the tongue, he slashed at Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.

But Geom Mugeuk’s tongue was not something Jo Gung’s sword could cut.

Dodging the flying blade, Geom Mugeuk lightly countered.

One stroke pierced Jo Gung’s heart. He died instantly, collapsing.

The smell of blood filled the air; silence fell.

The move Geom Mugeuk had shown was very ordinary. Not a special technique, just dodging the attack and stabbing with the sword.

Thus, reactions were split.

To be defeated by such an attack!

To kill Jo Gung with such an ordinary strike!

Of course, no one here was afraid. It was only the ninety-ninth rank who died, and ninety-nine remained together.

Geom Mugeuk bowed to Yeomje and said,

“Sorry, as you see, I had no choice.”

Yeomje spoke with sunken eyes.

“It’s alright. When people with swords gather, there will be blood.”

“A generous man, indeed. If you just repay the money lent, I will leave as is.”

But Yeomje was not someone who would pay a huge three million nyang just because a subordinate died.

“You tried to pay. But the main group’s situation is bad, so it’s been delayed. Go back and tell the family head I will pay soon.”

Of course, he had no intention. He would kill this man anyway. The Geumryong family would have to pay more money than ever before for today’s matter.

It would have been nice if he just turned and left.

But Geom Mugeuk looked at the piled vouchers.

“There’s a lot of money there, isn’t there? If money came in every month like this, there must be a huge amount in the vault.”

Mentioning the vault made Yeomje’s face twitch.

“Will you pay?”

Yeomje held back the urge to shout “Kill him” but restrained himself. Instinct told him not to. Kill him later. Didn’t this guy seem strange?

Yeomje smiled and looked around his subordinates.

“As you see, I have many mouths to feed.”

The immortals sneered and smiled slyly at Geom Mugeuk.

Looking at them, Geom Mugeuk offered a solution.

“That can be easily resolved.”

Drawing his sword slowly, he said,

“Let’s reduce those mouths.”