There are days like that.
Days when the stars seem exceptionally lonely, and the moonlight feels cold.
A day when a sense of foreboding that something is about to happen envelops your whole body, and a strong feeling of discomfort and unease makes you feel like you are in a place you should not be.
That time was now.
The source of all this anxiety was the man lying in the hammock.
A man who could evoke such a feeling just by watching the night stars with him.
A man with such a presence was merely the master of a local sect?
Impossible.
And one more thing.
The three Money Ghosts he had sent ahead with Hwang In were nowhere to be seen.
‘I’ve walked into a tiger’s den.’
This was not due to his own excellent survival instincts.
It was the presence of that man, capable of drawing out forebodings from nothing.
‘Calm down.’
Jeon Nak calmed his heart and regulated his inner energy.
Yes, there had always been crises.
And he had somehow overcome them to survive to this day.
He had to trust this instinct of his.
Just then, Hwang In, who had come with him, spoke to Geom Mugeuk.
“Our merchant group has received permission to invest in your sect. Let us sign the contract at once.”
A man as quick-witted as him would have understood what he was saying.
Hwang In, for his part, was tense.
He was still within Jeon Nak’s reach.
He spoke to Geom Mugeuk with his eyes.
‘I've brought him, so kill this man at once!’
He was still standing in the middle of the scales.
When they tipped decisively, he would throw himself to that side.
Until one of them was dead, he was on no one’s side.
Geom Mugeuk stepped forward and asked.
“And who is this person with you?”
Jeon Nak introduced himself humbly.
“I am a man who serves Lord Hwang.”
Jeon Nak properly observed Geom Mugeuk.
If his ominous feeling about the middle-aged man lying in the hammock was correct, then this young man before him was not to be taken lightly either.
The bright first impression he had felt earlier now felt like the composure of a master.
Naturally, his resentment turned toward Hwang In.
‘Where the hell has this bastard dragged me?’
Though, to be precise, he had followed of his own accord.
Geom Mugeuk said to Hwang In.
“You command such a formidable man, what need do you have for us?”
He spoke as if he had recognized his skill at a glance, and Hwang In tried his best to react calmly.
“Doesn't every person have their own use?”
“You speak the truth. Now, let us go inside and draw up the contract.”
About time.
Hwang In felt a sense of relief and was about to take a step toward Geom Mugeuk.
“Please wait a moment.”
Jeon Nak politely stopped Hwang In.
He thought he could not let Hwang In go over to the other side in this situation.
“Lord Hwang.”
“What is it?”
“Did I not say that I left my men here? Yet, I do not see them.”
At that, Hwang In asked Geom Mugeuk.
“Where are those men?”
This was also a genuine question.
What in the world happened to them?
“They are inside the house, waiting for your return. I asked them to watch the stars with me, but they didn't even pretend to listen and went inside.”
He lied so calmly that Hwang In was inwardly dumbfounded.
Hwang In recalled the moment the Money Ghosts disappeared.
That house devoured people.
Once you go in, you don’t come out.
“I will go in to write the contract and tell them you have arrived.”
Hwang In tried to hurry inside, while Jeon Nak tried to head out.
“Very well. I will be waiting outside the manor, so please sign the contract and come out with them later.”
Jeon Nak’s only thought was to get out of this place.
Truly, it was the first time since becoming a martial artist that he had been so frightened when his opponent had not even threatened him.
That made it even scarier.
But Geom Mugeuk did not let him leave so easily.
“Since you’ve come all this way, why not come in for a drink?”
Setting aside all premonitions and instincts, Jeon Nak could feel the danger he was in from this fact alone.
He was not the kind of person someone would want to invite for a drink.
He was the kind of person people wanted to avoid, to see as little as possible.
And this man was asking him for a drink?
“Shall we?”
Jeon Nak turned and casually walked to Hwang In’s side.
‘If I go in, I die.’
At the same time, Jeon Nak drew his sword.
As if his drawing the sword was a signal, the ten Money Ghosts who had been waiting outside vaulted over the wall in unison.
Hwang In was more worried than surprised that they had followed.
‘I can’t let him misunderstand and think I betrayed him!’
So Hwang In asked as if he had no idea.
“Why did you bring your subordinates?”
Jeon Nak’s gaze toward Hwang In was cold.
“I arrive here, and my men don’t even come out to greet me? Unless they are dead, such a thing would not happen.”
He was still speaking politely.
That was why Hwang In found this Jeon Nak frightening.
He had always handled matters with that polite demeanor.
A single phrase, "Leave it to me," was always enough to get the job done.
Now, that terrifying politeness was directed at him.
“Please tell me what has happened.”
Despite the killing intent faintly rising in Jeon Nak’s eyes, Hwang In played dumb.
“They were here when I left. Isn’t that right?”
Hwang In’s gaze toward Geom Mugeuk was pleading.
Please, just say that’s what happened.
Geom Mugeuk said to Jeon Nak.
“I told you, the men who came with you are inside the house. If you’re so suspicious, go in and see for yourself.”
He spoke so casually it seemed true.
Jeon Nak’s gaze went past Geom Mugeuk to Geom Woojin.
He was lying in the hammock with his eyes closed.
It was impossible to tell if he was asleep or lost in thought, but that sight alone captured his attention.
“Go check.”
Jeon Nak sent one of the Money Ghosts into the house.
He sent a telepathic message, telling him to check carefully if anyone was hiding.
But he never received a reply to that command.
The Money Ghost who went in did not come out.
“Looks like they’ve started a drinking party.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s nonchalant words, Jeon Nak’s eyes grew cold.
It was the moment he confirmed that the enemy was not just the two before him.
‘They’ve all been taken out.’
The first three subordinates he had sent were among the most skilled of the Money Ghosts.
Jeon Nak asked Geom Mugeuk.
“Who are you people?”
“I am Geom Yeon of the Western Path Sect. This is my father.”
“No. You are not from the Western Path Sect.”
Jeon Nak’s sword pointed at the neck of Hwang In, who was standing beside him.
“Why are you doing this to me? I am on your side!”
The reason he believed Hwang In was lying was simple.
“There’s no way such formidable men would have agreed to join hands with you. You lured me to them.”
His courteous demeanor changed.
It was the first time since they had met.
“Even if I die, I will make sure you die.”
Hwang In was seized with terror, feeling that this was not a simple threat.
The only person he could trust now was Geom Mugeuk.
‘Are you going to abandon me?’
At his desperate gaze, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
“A brilliant merchant buys this item and that item; he does not leave his business to luck, does he?”
With those words, Hwang In understood.
He was being chastised for playing both sides.
“I…”
The cold touch of the blade on his neck.
The moment he said he was on Geom Mugeuk’s side, Jeon Nak would kill him.
This mad butcher had no mercy.
Whether he knew of the danger or not, Geom Mugeuk's eyes, watching him from beyond the blade, demanded an answer.
Are you really the successor of the Mysterious Noble Clan? Even if I choose you, can you save me?
He felt that now was the moment to risk his life and make his final judgment.
Since he was not a martial artist, he could not tell who was stronger.
He had to rely on his wits and intuition, a purely instinctual choice.
Finally, Hwang In made his decision.
“I have already chosen you.”
The scales in Hwang In’s heart tipped toward Geom Mugeuk.
“So please, save me.”
Hwang In squeezed his eyes shut in fear that the sword at his neck might slice him open.
But today, the butcher’s blade was unusually cautious.
Geom Mugeuk demanded another answer.
“Who are these people trying to kill you?”
You really are going to push me to the edge of the cliff.
He had already come this far, and there was no turning back.
“These are men who deserve to die. Many innocent people have died at their hands.”
“Was it not you who ordered it?”
“I cannot say I bear no responsibility since I joined hands with them, but I never ordered anyone to be killed, nor did I ever wish for it.”
“But the Hwangdo Merchant Group grew because of it, did it not?”
At those words, Hwang In could not offer any excuse.
He was the one who had joined hands with them.
Though he never knew they were such cruel men.
He felt the blade pressed against his neck grow even colder.
Hwang In could feel it.
He had decided to kill him.
‘Why hasn’t he killed me yet?’
He did not know.
The reason the cruel Jeon Nak had not yet struck his neck was to use him as a hostage, to gain even the slightest advantage.
Then, a hopeful word came from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.
“I have one form that can save you. It's a form I've been practicing a lot lately. And as it happens, there are ten opponents.”
No, why are you explaining that to the enemy? Use it now! Quickly!
But soon, hope turned into a bolt from the blue.
“But its accuracy is poor, so you might die.”
A form with poor accuracy? Is this the time to be talking about such a shoddy technique!
How could Hwang In know?
That shoddy technique was none other than the Fifth Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art, the Soul-Severing Demon Strike.
Jeon Nak, listening to the conversation, grew increasingly anxious.
He thought that if Geom Mugeuk did not possess such a form, he would not have mentioned it.
“You were after me from the start, weren’t you?”
There was no way masters like these were after a mere merchant group.
More accurately, they were not after him, but his superiors.
He thought it was for the best.
Perhaps he could use that fact to escape this place.
“If I die, a frightening person will come. Then, not even you will survive.”
At that, Geom Mugeuk asked.
“Who is this frightening person?”
“Someone who can kill the likes of you with ease. If you kill me, he will come.”
His eyes asked, "Are you still going to kill me?" Geom Mugeuk then asked Hwang In.
“Are you a lucky person?”
Hwang In let out a sigh.
“If I were lucky, would I be in this situation?”
“Then I’ll have to trust my luck.”
What on earth was he talking about?
“Close your eyes.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Hwang In closed his eyes.
Blood trickled from Jeon Nak’s sword, which was touching Hwang In’s neck.
“Move, and this man will surely die!”
He was confident that no enemy could stop him from killing the person whose neck he held.
If an attack came, he would slice Hwang In’s neck and fight.
The next moment!
Ten streams of Sword Qi struck down vertically.
Like lightning, these ten streams of Sword Qi pierced the crowns of the Money Ghosts' heads with perfect accuracy.
Though the Money Ghosts varied in skill, before the Soul-Severing Demon Strike, they were all equal.
They collapsed simultaneously, like bundles of straw.
When the first sound erupted, Hwang In thought he was dead.
‘This is the end!’
His father had said that if a merchant got entangled with martial artists, it would not end well.
He should have stopped me then.
As the scent of blood wafted up, Hwang In slowly opened his eyes.
And he saw an astonishing sight before him.
The Money Ghosts were all dead on the ground.
Blood flowed from the crowns of their heads.
And Jeon Nak, who had held a sword to his throat, was also lying dead beside him.
‘Jeon Nak is dead? That terrifying Jeon Nak? How on earth?’
It felt like he was dreaming.
Hwang In stood there, dazed and blank.
Just then, Geom Woojin, who had been lying in the hammock, sat up.
“With that shoddy skill, what would you have done if it had landed on that man’s head?”
“Then you would have saved him, Father.”
Sensing that he meant it sincerely, Geom Woojin asked with a look that said, "Is that even a plausible thing to say?"
“While lying in that hammock?”
“Yes. Because you’re my father.”
A smirk formed on Geom Woojin’s lips.
But today’s smirk held a pleasant emotion.
His son’s trust surpassed even the Nine Calamities Demon Art.
“Just ten streams, you still have a long way to go.”
With those words, Geom Woojin went inside the building.
“Sleep well, Father.”
After loudly bidding his father farewell, Geom Mugeuk walked over to the stunned Hwang In.
“Are you alright?”
Only then did Hwang In come to his senses and bow on the spot.
“Thank you for saving my life.”
His judgment had been correct.
Now, for better or worse, he had to trust and follow these people.
There were many things he wanted to know, many things he wanted to ask, but what filled Hwang In’s mind now was this worry.
“But will it be alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t he say that if he was killed, a frightening person would come?”
“That’s why I killed him.”
Seeing Hwang In’s eyes widen in confusion, Geom Mugeuk spoke.
As if he were a person he was eager to meet.
“Because he said that for them to come, he had to be killed.”