The immortals standing to Geom Mugeuk’s left tensed all at once.

Luckily, there were no paintings on this wall—did that mean he wouldn’t send sword energy here too?

Moreover, Geom Mugeuk’s ki had grown even colder. He had cut down twenty people in one move, raising the fear to a new level.

"Stop!"

Yeomje stepped forward and stopped him. Still, he doubted.

‘Does he really have the internal power left to wield such terrifying sword energy again?’

It seemed unlikely, but if he did? The subordinates on the left would be swept away at once. He didn’t worry about their lives.

He thought about the money those subordinates brought him. No matter how he calculated, it was a loss. Not only the money they earned now, but also the cost of training or hiring such masters could not be ignored.

Trying to save three million nyang now would result in losing much more in the long run.

But he was unwilling to hand over three million nyang so easily.

‘I have to buy time first.’

Yeomje’s gaze shifted to the ten ranked ahead—rank one through ten.

If one or two of them stepped forward voluntarily to confirm, that would be good. But no one stepped up. After seeing that sword energy earlier, it was not easy to come forward.

Yeomje sent a mental message to Ilseon.

―Ilseon.

―Yes, Lord.

―Make him expend more of his internal power.

―Understood.

Ilseon sent the same to Yukseon. To take the lead and step forward, or to have sincere loyalty to the Lord.

No one here was like that. They all knew well. They didn’t even expect it. These people acted only out of desire and gain.

In such a group, Ilseon’s choice was naturally emotional. Yukseon was the person he disliked most among the ten.

―Yukseon, assess that man’s skill and force him to expend internal power.

Yukseon did not want to step forward.

‘Damn it!’

The sword energy the opponent had just shown was a technique he’d never seen before. Like a mirror shattering, a sharp line drawn and the body sliced — that image flashed in his mind.

But if he disobeyed Ilseon’s order, he would be the first to pay as an example. Yeomje and Ilseon were that kind of people.

Yukseon did not enter the swamp alone. Stepping forward, he sent a mental message to Sibileon.

―If you help me, I’ll get you into the top ten.

For Sibileon, entering the top ten was a desire strong enough to overcome even the fear of death. He knew it was possible if Yukseon helped.

Moreover, if he achieved merit in this situation? He might even take Yukseon’s place.

Sibileon stepped forward with Yukseon.

As the two advanced, Geom Mugeuk asked Yukseon first.

“Who are you?”

“I am Yukseon.”

Geom Mugeuk took out some documents from his bosom and read again.

“Yukseon, is it?”

Geom Mugeuk’s expression darkened as he read about Yukseon.

“How many people have you ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) killed?”

Then Geom Mugeuk asked Sibileon.

“Who are you?”

“Sibileon.”

This time, his frown deepened.

“So rank is not determined by who killed more?”

In fact, Sibileon had committed more slaughter. Geom Mugeuk’s frown wasn’t just because of the number of people killed.

“You even killed children.”

Sibileon neither confirmed nor denied but acknowledged it with his gaze. So? What of it? That was his look. He was considered a madman even among the Baekseonbang.

Yukseon asked Geom Mugeuk.

“Who exactly are you?”

Instead of answering, Geom Mugeuk slowly walked toward Sibileon.

As he approached, Sibileon tensed, ready to strike at any moment. Yukseon prepared as well.

If you draw your sword, we will too. The two of us together—

Surely, they had such confidence.

Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!

Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!

Geom Mugeuk’s sword pierced Sibileon’s stomach, chest, and neck in quick succession.

So fast that Sibileon had no chance to block or dodge.

Just as Yukseon instinctively tried to counterattack, their eyes met. Geom Mugeuk, having already stabbed Sibileon three times, stared at him.

‘Fast!’

Did we really think we could take someone like this with just two?

Sibileon died standing and then fell backward. Only then did Geom Mugeuk speak.

“By the way, what did you ask me just now?”

Still polite, which made it more chilling.

Yukseon injected internal power into his sword but said nothing. The opponent had already answered by killing Sibileon with that sword.

I am the death god come to kill you.

Yukseon’s only thought was this.

‘Only the best survive.’

When the distance was close enough to attack, Yukseon’s sword flew first, followed by Geom Mugeuk’s.

But the sword that flew later arrived first.

Slash!

Blood sprayed everywhere from Yukseon’s severed neck. The blood scent in the arena thickened with the death of the two.

All eyes fixed on Geom Mugeuk.

Villains were villains. Even as comrades died one after another, no one felt any regret over their deaths.

Then Samseon rushed out.

“Enough of your money talk, come fight me!”

He was the one who liked fighting most among Baekseonbang’s immortals. Like a moth drawn to flame, he could not contain the murderous intent rising from the dense blood scent. If Sibileon was mad, Samseon was even madder.

“Isn’t this a world overflowing with people you want to kill?”

Samseon unleashed sword energy without hesitation.

Sshraaak!

The fierce sword energy flew to tear Geom Mugeuk apart.

Geom Mugeuk dodged, and the sword energy swept over the immortals behind him.

Two standing behind failed to dodge and were swept away.

Sshraaaak!

Despite his comrades’ deaths, Samseon unleashed sword energy again. This time, even fiercer and stronger.

Geom Mugeuk could have dispelled the sword energy, but he let it be. More immortals behind him were swept away. Curses erupted from all directions.

But Samseon, like a madman, kept releasing sword energy, regardless of comrades dying or not.

Sshrak! Sshraak!

Bang! Crash!

Sword energy met sword energy to block. Another sword energy flew to block that.

The place quickly became a battlefield. Geom Mugeuk moved deftly, skillfully dodging the flying sword energies.

Pewook!

Samseon’s attack stopped.

The sword that pierced his heart was Yeomje’s.

“You bastard.”

Spitting a cold curse, Yeomje drew his sword. Samseon spat blood and collapsed dead. Only then did the uproar in the arena cease. That insane attack had killed more than ten comrades with friendly fire.

Yeomje said to Geom Mugeuk.

“I lost. Here’s your money.”

He could no longer hold out.

‘To kill this guy, I’d have to risk everything.’

That everything included his own life. Attacking such a divine warrior with reckless abandon was a fight to the death with no winners. Even if victorious, no one would gain.

‘For now, I have to let him go. Revenge can wait.’

Yeomje spoke calmly, hiding his anger.

“With your mouth shut this much, I can pay and keep the main branch.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled.

“That’s a relief.”

“But if you’re going to pay a huge sum—three million nyang—it will take time. I need to settle the business first. Take this first and give me time.”

Yeomje looked toward the table where accounts were being settled. Receipts were piled there.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not fooled.

“The money is in the safe, isn’t it?”

“There isn’t that much. How could I keep such a large sum in the safe?”

Yeomje flatly denied it.

Geom Mugeuk looked him squarely.

“What if it is, and you open it?”

Yeomje flinched.

“Can I take it all?”

Geom Mugeuk saw the troubled expression, but joy flickered briefly in Yeomje’s eyes.

“Good, then it’s a promise.”

Yeomje was sure there wasn’t three million nyang in the safe.

“The main branch’s safe is here in the main hall where I spend most of my time.”

Yeomje stood and walked toward the back wall.

He manipulated the carvings on the wall, hiding his movements from view.

“If you force it open, a mechanism will activate and kill the intruder.”

Rrrr-click.

After a moment, a secret wall opened, revealing the safe.

“Come, take a look.”

Geom Mugeuk walked over.

The remaining ten immortals followed, standing guard around Yeomje.

Yeomje took out receipts and gold bars from the safe.

“The receipts total just over two million five hundred thousand nyang. Even if we sell all the gold, it falls far short of three million nyang. Do you think I’m lying?”

Yeomje was confident, as if insisting he was honest.

“Bring the money you’ve settled.”

Then the immortals brought receipts placed on the table. Some immortals who had not settled yet also put money there.

Gathering all, it amounted to three million nyang.

“Fortunately, that’s enough money to give you. Take it and leave. I admit my fault for not repaying sooner; I’ll forget this cleanly.”

“As expected! Such generosity.”

Of course, it wasn’t true.

Revenge would be planned from now on. Not only this man, but his family, friends, and neighbors—all would die. The Geumryong family would not let this pass either. They would kill ten times the number who died today to show the world what Baekseonbang was. Even if they had to hire every assassin in the martial world.

It would have been great if he took the money and left.

“Ah, I almost forgot. Sorry, but there’s more money you need to collect.”

Geom Mugeuk took a sheet of paper from his bosom and held it out.

It was a list filled with numerous names and amounts—records of how Baekseonbang had extorted money from each merchant guild.

“We were asked to collect this money too.”

Yeomje’s eyes narrowed sharply.

‘Those bastards!’

His murderous intent flared. To demand all the money he had robbed up until now? The amount was impossible to repay even in death. He forced himself to calm down and said,

“As you can see, the safe is empty. Come back next time.”

Then came words that pushed Yeomje to the edge.

“Doesn’t our Lord of the House have a personal safe?”

Only then did Yeomje realize for sure.

‘They came prepared.’

If he had known, he wouldn’t have opened that safe. No, it didn’t matter. Even if he died, he wouldn’t give that money either.

Yeomje glared coldly at Geom Mugeuk.

“You came to take all my money.”

“That’s wrong in two ways. First, it’s not your money, Lord. Second, I’m not taking it all. Since you borrowed it without interest, you must have grown it a lot.”

That was true. He had used that money to run various businesses.

“Repay the borrowed money and start your business honestly from now on.”

Of course, Geom Mugeuk was sure Yeomje would never do that. If he were that kind of person, he wouldn’t have started all this.

For a moment, Yeomje hesitated.

‘Should I just give it all and wait for the future?’

But he made no decision.

Not just because the money had to be repaid. This young man would definitely get greedy if he saw inside the safe and clean it out. He himself would certainly do the same.

Ultimately, this last choice was his life’s doing.

“I will give Ilseon his position and those three million nyang if he kills that man!”

The immortals all revealed murderous intent. Even after seeing the opponent’s skill, the reward of Ilseon and three million nyang was worth risking death. Besides, it wasn’t the atmosphere to defy the Lord’s order now.

“Borrow money with a smile, draw your sword when paying back. Isn’t that too much?”

Ignoring Geom Mugeuk’s words, Yeomje shouted,

“Kill him!”

Sixty masters charged simultaneously. Their momentum was immense. Their thoughts were dominated by “I just need to survive.” If they were lucky to live, they could claim three million nyang.

For some reason, Geom Mugeuk was pushed back. Seeing that, Yeomje shouted,

“His internal power is running low! Kill him!”

Yet he did not step forward himself. Only money and his own life mattered to him.

Geom Mugeuk was pushed to one wall, all the immortals remaining gathered before him. If the opponent’s internal power was truly depleted—

The first to kill him would become the owner of the three million nyang.

Ilseon stepped forward to defend his position, the rest advanced to seize both money and rank.

Like a pack of hyenas, they swarmed Geom Mugeuk, eyeing any opportunity.

The eyes of a man cornered were startlingly clear and deep. Ilseon, standing in the front, wanted to step back. A sudden ominous premonition!

‘Could it be? Did he purposely gather us all in one place?’

Calmly, Geom Mugeuk spoke to the greedy crowd.

“I hope you have no next life.”

The moment he finished speaking,

The most terrifying evil spirits appeared before Geom Mugeuk.

The horrid sight made those at the front scream. They had never seen such terrifying evil spirits before.

And those terrible evil spirits divided into twelve.

Recently, after grueling training, the number had increased from ten to twelve—the great destruction technique of the Nine Flames Martial Arts.

Facing those evil spirits, their bodies froze.

Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah! Kwah!

The evil spirits showed no mercy or hesitation. Sweeping away everything blocking their path, they charged forward. No technique, no protective skill worked. They all shattered and vanished.

Thus, over sixty villains were left with only pools of blood.

Yeomje was left alone, eyes wide open. Terrified, he trembled like a leaf. This overwhelming martial art was the first of its kind he had seen. He thought he would never forget those evil spirits even after death.

“W-who the hell are you?”

His voice trembled with fear.

“You know, don’t you? I’m the one who’s come to collect the money you owe.”

Geom Mugeuk walked over the blood, speaking politely.

“Pay your debt.”