“We suspect the mastermind behind this has deep ties with an assassin organization.”

First, I had to inform Father and Hwi of the situation clearly.

“Why do you think so?”

Hwi asked, wondering if it might have simply been a contract from the Jinryong family.

“As far as I know, major assassin organizations like Myeongbu prioritize thorough investigations on their targets, especially when it’s a large-scale assassination like today.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Hwi nodded in agreement.

“That’s right.”

“Considering when we arrived here, they probably didn’t have time to investigate properly. And it doesn’t seem they sent assassins knowing who we are.”

This time, I glanced at Father standing by the window and added,

“If they had known the target was Father, they would never have accepted the contract. And if they insisted, the best assassins from all over the Central Plains would have come.”

Why would Father enjoy fighting assassins? He’d be annoyed by the bloody smell now drifting from the window. I said this just to cheer him up, even a little.

“So this is not a routine contract. The mastermind must be deeply connected to the assassin organization. Whoever it is must be someone who can mobilize Myeongbu assassins at short notice without investigation.”

Hwi nodded as if agreeing.

“Since you are an expert on assassins, please take care of this from now on. Especially teach me about assassins.”

If I learned about merchant guilds from Eunhasang Danju, now Hwi wanted to learn about assassins.

Normally I would have politely declined, but given the situation, Hwi accepted readily.

“Of course.”

Seizing the chance, Geom Mugeuk joked at Father by the window.

“Father, Uncle Hwi will handle everything. We should go fishing.”

Geom Woojin didn’t turn but said,

“If you send Hwi out front, you better take responsibility and protect him.”

The unexpected remark surprised both Geom Mugeuk and Hwi.

Father had moments when he startled others, and this was one of them.

“No, please take my joke as just a joke! How could I protect the one who’s best at guarding in this world?”

Father looked out the window as if not joking, and Hwi gave Geom Mugeuk an awkward smile.

This was the first time the Sect Leader directly expressed concern for someone’s safety.

No matter how much money Hwi was given—even if divided into thirds or given all of it—he wouldn’t move just for money. But this one sentence from the Sect Leader sincerely pleased him.

I was grateful to the Sect Leader, but I had to admit this.

“This is all thanks to the Little Pill Master.”

“Uncle, now you should teach me not only about assassins but also about bodyguards.”

Embarrassed, Hwi tried to avoid the topic.

“I’ll clean up the bodies.”

Geom Mugeuk stopped him.

“Leave the bodies as they are.”

His gaze went toward Gajujeon far outside the window.

“Let the sender clean them up.”

“Sent assassins?”

Geumcheonbang was truly dumbfounded.

His son had learned some martial arts, but only enough to be the heir of a prosperous merchant guild. Geum Arin’s skills were even stronger.

“How could you…”

No need for answers. ‘He’ must have been involved in this absurd affair. But he hadn’t expected such influence to summon assassins so blatantly.

“You did this without consulting your father on such an important matter?”

Geumcheonbang shouted, but his son showed no remorse.

“I did it to protect him.”

Geumcheonbang was stunned, but now the important thing was not the reason but the result.

“Fine, let’s say that’s true. But do you even know what assassins are like? They’re people who exploit contracts as a weakness to extort money forever.”

“That’s true for third-rate assassins. The ones I sent are not third-rate.”

“Have you ever used assassins before?”

Geum Ahyeok looked into Geumcheonbang’s eyes and asked again.

“Why do you think I haven’t?”

“You brat!”

Geumcheonbang shouted in anger, not knowing what to say. He rarely lost his temper even with all the disputes in the merchant world. The side who gets angry first loses the fight, he always believed.

But now, he lost. Completely defeated by his son.

Unlike the agitated Geumcheonbang, Geum Ahyeok was calm.

“They must be dead by now.”

As if the matter was already settled, Geum Ahyeok stood up.

“Sleep, Father.”

When their eyes met as the son politely bowed, Geumcheonbang’s heart sank.

Cold and icy eyes. He had seen many unfamiliar looks lately, but this was the most unfamiliar.

So Geum Ahyeok left Gajujeon.

Crash!

The teapot and teacups on the table fell and shattered. It was the first time Geumcheonbang broke something out of anger.

Usually a patient man, he found it hard to endure his son’s problems.

He took out some liquor from a wall cabinet and gulped it down straight from the bottle.

Whenever he heard that raising children is the hardest task in the world, he thought it wasn’t his job. He was so proud raising a son others envied.

But now his son changed so drastically as if to make him pay for all those moments of boasting.

Suppressing the urge to throw the bottle, he put it down on the table. Now was not the time to break things but to manage the situation.

‘What should I do about this?’

Success would cause problems; failure would cause problems. If the assassination succeeded, his son would try to solve future problems this way. Maybe he already was.

If it failed, and it became known his son hired assassins?

Both cases were unbearable to imagine.

At that moment, the main hall door opened.

Creak.

Geumcheonbang looked at the door, hopeful.

Hoping his son would return and say, “Sorry for handling it without consulting you, Father.” Then they could make a plan together.

“There’s no one guarding outside.”

Geom Mugeuk entered.

Seeing him, Geumcheonbang’s eyes widened.

‘The assassination failed.’

Trying to calm himself, he greeted Geom Mugeuk.

“We briefly pulled back our men.”

He had ordered all his men to withdraw while discussing with his son.

‘Could he have overheard our conversation?’

If he had heard the son sent assassins, the son’s life would be in danger.

“I just happened to see. The Young Master was leaving Gajujeon. Is he the Crown Prince?”

“That’s right. I spoke with the eldest son.”

Mentioning the son made Geumcheonbang’s heart race.

‘Is he testing me? Or hinting he heard our talk?’

Guilt made every strange thought run through his mind.

“As I heard, he is really tall and handsome. He has the aura of a great hero.”

It was always a pleasant thing to hear, but not today. That strange gaze that looked at him kept returning.

“So? Did you greet each other?”

“No, I only saw him from afar.”

“Yet you looked closely at his face.”

“I have good eyes.”

Geom Mugeuk looked around and pointed at a distant wall.

“Do you see the flower pattern and leaves on that wall?”

“It’s too small to see.”

“There are nine. Go check.”

The man had collected money from Baekseonbang and ruined the assassination.

And now he tells them to go count the petals.

This unknown peculiarity seemed to exist in an utterly unknowable realm.

“The petals don’t matter. But why at this hour?”

“I came in a hurry with urgent news.”

“What is it?”

“There’s an assassin in my quarters.”

Geumcheonbang feigned surprise.

“An assassin? Really?”

He acted as if he knew nothing. With all his experience in the merchant world, he was a master at hiding his thoughts.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Luckily, I’m fine.”

“And the assassins?”

“All dealt with.”

“I’ll send men at once to clean the bodies and provide a new guest hall.”

“Thank you.”

Normally he should have said they’d investigate the bodies to see where the assassins came from. But he omitted that, since evidence needed hiding.

Geumcheonbang hurriedly ordered his men to the guest hall.

“Clean the bodies and move the guests to a new guest hall.”

“Yes, sir.”

Before they left, Geom Mugeuk stepped forward.

“Shouldn’t we investigate the bodies to find out which organization they came from?”

Geumcheonbang was inwardly flustered but replied calmly.

“Of course.”

“Put the hall on high alert and strengthen Gajujeon’s security.”

“That was the plan.”

As if truly meaning it, Geom Mugeuk repeated the order to the men.

Soon, loud bell ringing was heard outside.

Geumcheonbang was as unsettled as the incessant ringing. He knew it was his son’s doing.

‘Assassins infiltrating the main house?’

The very fact that assassins were inside made his whole body tremble. Thinking that paid killers roamed freely inside the Jinryong family was suffocating.

Anger and bewilderment. At least those two emotions he didn’t need to fake.

“You should also be careful, Lord.”

“What do you mean?”

“There were quite a few assassins. If no one let them in, that means Jinryong was breached.”

Was it a probe or a warning? Geumcheonbang couldn’t read Geom Mugeuk’s mind. Sometimes it seemed he knew nothing, other times as if he knew something.

“We’ll strengthen security thoroughly from now on.”

Geumcheonbang had a pathological fear of bodyguards.

He could overcome all troubles with merchants but feared dealings with bodyguards.

They spoke no words, understood no reasoning, always drawing swords first. He had hated and feared them since childhood.

Even the family’s own bodyguards scared him. What if someone recruited by a rival suddenly drew a sword and stabbed him? This life, unwilling to die, would end in that one blow.

That primal fear was why he wanted his sons to handle bodyguards.

Why he hired expensive martial arts masters for his talented daughter.

Why he entrusted the eldest son with those matters.

Even knowing running away always exacts a heavy toll.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just a little surprised.”

Geom Mugeuk muttered.

“Who exactly tried to kill me?”

Geom Mugeuk’s meaningful question was met with Geumcheonbang’s calm answer.

“You probably know better than I do.”

“True! I have many enemies.”

Geom Mugeuk had come here at this hour to check if Geumcheonbang was involved in sending assassins.

Because if he appeared alive right after the assassination attempt, it would reveal clues.

And Geom Mugeuk knew who sent the assassins.

Not because of Geumcheonbang’s obvious embarrassment, no ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) matter how seasoned.

Because of this.

His gaze fell on the shattered teacups and teapot on the floor.

“Did you throw these?”

“No. They fell by accident.”

“Not easy to break so many at once.”

From the broken teacups, it was clear the one who sent assassins was Geum Ahyeok, the son. Geumcheonbang had just realized this, hence his anger.

“Raising children isn’t easy, huh?”

Suddenly asked, Geumcheonbang was flustered.

“What does that mean all of a sudden?”

Thinking he threw them in anger over his son!

While Geumcheonbang hurried to avoid focusing anger on his son, Geom Mugeuk turned the subject to himself.

“I meant it about me. Causing Father so much worry.”

“The real troublemaker never knows it’s himself. But what can you do? No parent beats their child.”

Then Geom Mugeuk suddenly said,

“Sometimes, a parent has to beat their child.”

At that moment, Geumcheonbang was certain.

‘He knows something. He thinks Ahyeok sent the assassins.’

All this pressure was Geom Mugeuk’s intended move. Mistakes always come from haste and panic. And that mistake would lead us to the mastermind.

“In this, my father is the best.”

“Your father?”

“You should ask him for advice next time.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled and added,

“He’s the best in beating his children.”

The next day, Geum Ahyeok met the two entering his office with a stern expression.

“I know you usually dislike me, but must you make such a face?”

His hardened expression wasn’t because of his younger brother but because of Geom Mugeuk, who entered with Geum Ajong. Someone who should have died was here.

Until the emergency bell rang last night, he had been in a good mood, expecting the news that the Seo-do faction staying in the guest hall was wiped out.

But he never imagined the assassins were all dead.

“This is a two-million nyang expensive poison my brother brought. You know it?”

At Geum Ajong’s introduction, Geom Mugeuk bowed politely.

“Glad to meet you, I am Geom Yeon.”

Geom Mugeuk acted as if nothing had happened during the night and addressed Geum Ahyeok.

“I’ve heard much about the Crown Prince. I wanted to meet you.”

“What did you hear?”

“That you are the leading candidate for the next family head?”

Geom Ahyeok looked at his brother. That guy probably didn’t say anything good.

“That remains to be seen. I’m busy today.”

No sooner had they exchanged greetings than a formal expulsion order was given.

Geom Ahyeok shifted his gaze back to the desk and didn’t lift his head.

Geom Ajong knew his brother’s personality well and realized no words would help here. So he gave Geom Mugeuk a look saying “Let’s leave it at that for today.”

“Then see you next time.”

Just as Geom Mugeuk was about to leave, he turned back suddenly as if he remembered something.

“By the way, Crown Prince, you’re not going to ask?”

Geom Ahyeok gave him a look asking what he meant.

“Didn’t you hear about the assassin breaking into the guest hall where I stayed yesterday?”

“I did.”

The cold emotion in Geom Ahyeok’s eyes said: So I should worry for you?

“Aren’t you curious? Who the assassin was, why they came to kill us, and which fool sent them?”

Seeing Geom Ahyeok’s eyes harden, Geom Mugeuk leisurely baited the hook with curiosity.

“I think I know who.”