The Immortals to Geom Mugeuk’s left all tensed up.
Did his remark that there were no paintings on this side of the wall mean he was about to unleash his Sword Qi here as well?
Moreover, Geom Mugeuk’s aura had grown even colder.
By felling twenty men in a single move, he had elevated their fear to the next level.
"Stop!"
Yeom Je stepped forward to intervene.
He still harbored a doubt.
'Does he really have the inner energy to use such a fearsome Sword Qi again?'
It seemed unlikely, but what if he did?
His subordinates on the left would be wiped out all at once.
He wasn't worried about the lives of his men.
He was thinking about the money his subordinates earned for him.
No matter how he calculated it, it was a loss.
It wasn't just about the money they were currently making; the cost of training or acquiring masters like them was not to be ignored.
Trying to save three million nyang now would mean losing even more money in the long run.
Still, he didn't want to hand over the three million nyang so easily.
'I need to buy some time first.'
Yeom Je’s gaze turned to the Ten Immortals lined up before him.
From the first to the tenth in rank.
It would be good if one or two of them voluntarily stepped up to test the waters, but no one moved.
Then again, after seeing that Sword Qi, it wouldn't be easy to step forward.
Yeom Je sent a telepathic message to the First Immortal.
-First Immortal.
-Yes, Lord.
-Wear down his inner energy further.
-Understood.
The First Immortal then sent a telepathic message to the Sixth Immortal.
He could lead by example and step forward himself, or perhaps he had genuine loyalty to the Lord.
There was no such person here.
They all knew that about each other.
They never expected it in the first place; they were all individuals moved solely by desire and profit.
Because it was a gathering of such people, the First Immortal’s choice was naturally an emotional one.
The Sixth Immortal was the one he disliked the most among the Ten Immortals.
-Sixth Immortal, gauge that man’s skill and drain his inner energy.
The Sixth Immortal did not want to step forward.
'Damn it!'
The Sword Qi his opponent had just shown was a technique he had never seen in his life.
The image of a sharp line being drawn as if a mirror was shattering, and bodies being sliced apart, rose in his mind.
But if he disobeyed the First Immortal’s command, he would be the first to be made an example of.
Yeom Je and the First Immortal were more than capable of doing such a thing.
The Sixth Immortal did not enter the swamp alone.
As he stepped forward, he sent a telepathic message to the Eleventh Immortal.
-Help me, and I’ll get you into the Ten Immortals.
For the Eleventh Immortal, becoming one of the Ten Immortals was a desire so strong it could overcome even the fear of death.
He knew it was possible if the Sixth Immortal helped him.
Besides, what if he distinguished himself in a situation like this? Perhaps he could even claim a spot above the Sixth Immortal.
The Eleventh Immortal stepped forward with the Sixth Immortal.
As the two men came forward, Geom Mugeuk asked the Sixth Immortal first.
"Who are you?"
"I am the Sixth Immortal."
Geom Mugeuk took out a document from his robes and read it again.
"The Sixth Immortal, you say."
As he briefly read about the Sixth Immortal, Geom Mugeuk’s expression soured.
"Why have you killed so many people?"
This time, Geom Mugeuk asked the Eleventh Immortal.
"And who are you?"
"The Eleventh Immortal."
This time, he frowned even more deeply.
"It seems the ranks aren't decided by who has killed the most."
In fact, the Eleventh Immortal was the one who had committed more massacres.
The reason Geom Mugeuk frowned wasn't just because of the high number of people killed.
"You've even killed children."
The Eleventh Immortal neither confirmed nor denied it, but his eyes admitted the fact.
So what? What are you going to do about it? That was the look in his eyes.
He was already treated as a lunatic within the Hundred Immortals Gang.
The Sixth Immortal asked Geom Mugeuk.
"Who in the world are you?"
Instead of answering, Geom Mugeuk slowly walked toward the Eleventh Immortal.
Seeing him approach, the Eleventh Immortal tensed, ready to strike at any moment.
The Sixth Immortal was also fully prepared.
If you draw, we draw too.
If it's the two of us?
He had certainly felt that confidence.
Swish! Swiish! Swish!
Thrust! Thud!
Geom Mugeuk’s sword successively pierced the Eleventh Immortal’s stomach, chest, and then throat.
It was so fast that there was no time to counter, let alone dodge or block.
The Sixth Immortal, who was standing beside him, instinctively tried to counterattack.
In that moment, his eyes met Geom Mugeuk's.
Having already stabbed the Eleventh Immortal three times, Geom Mugeuk was looking at him.
'Fast!'
He was going to face such a man with just two people? What kind of confidence was that?
Only after the Eleventh Immortal, who had died standing, fell backward did Geom Mugeuk ask.
"Oh, what did you ask me a moment ago?"
His politeness was still there, making it all the more chilling.
The Sixth Immortal said nothing, merely pouring his inner energy into the hand holding his sword.
His opponent had already answered his question by killing the Eleventh Immortal with that sword.
I am the god of death who has come to kill you.
The Sixth Immortal had only one thought.
'Striking first is the only way to live.'
When they were within striking distance, the Sixth Immortal's sword flew first, and Geom Mugeuk’s sword followed.
But the sword that flew later arrived first.
Slice!
Blood spurted in all directions from the Sixth Immortal's severed neck.
With the deaths of these two, the scent of blood in the hall grew thicker.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Geom Mugeuk.
The wicked were wicked indeed.
Even as their comrades fell one after another, not a single person felt even a hint of sadness for their deaths.
The one who jumped out then was the Third Immortal.
"Enough with the money talk! Come and fight me!"
He was the one among the Immortals of the Hundred Immortals Gang who loved fighting the most.
Like a moth drawn to a flame, he couldn't resist the killing intent that surged with the thick scent of blood.
If the Eleventh Immortal was a lunatic, this Third Immortal was even crazier.
"Isn't this a world full of things I want to kill?"
The Third Immortal unleashed his Sword Qi without hesitation.
Swhoooosh!
A torrent of Sword Qi flew toward Geom Mugeuk, aiming to tear him apart.
When Geom Mugeuk dodged it, the Sword Qi fell upon the Immortals standing behind him.
Two of the Immortals standing behind couldn't dodge in time and were swept away.
Swhooooooosh!
Though a comrade had died, the Third Immortal unleashed his Sword Qi again.
This time, it was even more ferocious and powerful.
Geom Mugeuk could have dispelled the Sword Qi with his own, but he let it be.
More Immortals behind him were caught in its path.
Curses erupted from all sides.
But the Third Immortal, like a madman, kept unleashing his Sword Qi.
He didn't care if his comrades died or not.
Swish! Shwaaak!
Craaash! Boom!
Sword Qi was unleashed to block Sword Qi.
To block that, another wave of Sword Qi flew.
The place instantly became pandemonium.
Geom Mugeuk moved here and there, exquisitely dodging the flying Sword Qi.
Thrust!
The Third Immortal's body stopped.
The sword that pierced his heart was Yeom Je’s.
"You stupid bastard."
Muttering a cold curse, he pulled out his sword, and the Third Immortal collapsed, spitting blood as he died.
Only after he died did the commotion in the hall finally cease.
In this mad attack, a dozen men had been killed by their own side.
Yeom Je spoke to Geom Mugeuk.
"I've lost. I'll give you the money."
He couldn't hold out any longer.
'To kill this man, I'll have to risk everything I have.'
That 'everything' included his own life.
To recklessly attack an opponent who had shown such divine might was an attack that meant they would all die together.
Even if he won, it was a business with nothing left to gain.
'For now, I have to send him away.
Revenge is something to think about later.'
Yeom Je spoke calmly, not revealing his anger.
"Now that I have fewer mouths to feed, I suppose the gang can survive even if I pay."
Geom Mugeuk smiled.
"That is a relief."
"However, it will take time to provide such a large sum as three million nyang. I need to liquidate some assets. For now, take that and give me some time."
The place Yeom Je looked at was the table where they had been settling accounts.
Promissory Notes were piled up there.
Of course, it was unlikely to work on Geom Mugeuk.
"Isn't the money in the vault?"
"I don't have that much. Why would I keep such a large amount in the vault?"
Yeom Je flatly denied it.
Geom Mugeuk stared at him and said.
"And if I open it and it's there?"
Yeom Je flinched.
"Can I take it all?"
Geom Mugeuk saw it.
Though he wore a troubled expression, a flicker of joy crossed Yeom Je’s eyes.
"Fine, I promise."
Yeom Je was confident that there wasn't three million nyang in the vault.
"The gang's vault is here in this great hall, where I spend most of my time."
Yeom Je rose from his seat and walked to the back wall.
He manipulated the carvings on the back wall.
Since he hid his movements with his body, it was impossible to see what he was doing.
"If you try to force the door open, mechanisms will activate and kill the intruder."
Creeak.
A moment later, a secret wall opened, revealing the vault.
"Here, come and see."
Geom Mugeuk walked up to it.
The remaining Ten Immortals followed and stood guard around Yeom Je.
Yeom Je took out the Promissory Notes and gold bars from the vault.
"It's a little over two and a half million nyang in Promissory Notes. Even if I sell all the gold, it's far short of three million nyang. Am I still deceiving you?"
Yeom Je was defiant, as if he hadn't lied at all.
"Bring the money from the settlement over there."
At his command, the Immortals brought the Promissory Notes from the table.
The Immortals who had not yet settled their accounts also placed their money there.
When all the money was gathered, it came to three million nyang.
"Fortunately, it's enough to pay you. Take it and go. Today's incident was partly my fault for not paying the money, so I'll forget it cleanly."
"Indeed! You are a man of great magnanimity."
Of course, could that be true?
He was planning to prepare his revenge starting now.
He would kill not only this man, but his family, friends, and neighbors as well.
He had no intention of leaving the Golden Dragon Clan alone either.
He would kill ten times the number who died today to show this martial world what kind of place the Hundred Immortals Gang was.
Even if it meant hiring every assassin in the martial world.
It would have been great if he had just taken the money and left.
"Oh, I forgot. I'm sorry, but there's more money to collect."
Geom Mugeuk took a piece of paper from his robes and held it out.
It was a paper densely filled with numerous names and amounts.
It was a list of all the money the Hundred Immortals Gang had extorted from various merchant groups until now.
"I was also asked to collect this money."
Yeom Je’s eyes narrowed.
'These bastards!'
Yeom Je felt a surge of killing intent.
They wanted him to return all the money he had stolen so far? That was an amount he could never repay, even if he died.
Forcibly suppressing his boiling anger, Yeom Je said.
"As you can see, the vault is empty. Come back for it next time."
Then came the words that pushed Yeom Je to the edge of the cliff.
"But doesn't our Lord have a personal vault?"
Only now did Yeom Je understand for sure.
'He came here fully intending to do this.'
If he had known, he wouldn't have opened this vault either.
No, it didn't matter.
He had no intention of giving up this money now, even if it meant dying.
Yeom Je glared at Geom Mugeuk with cold eyes.
"You came to take all my money."
"There are two things wrong with that statement. First, it's not your money, and second, I won't be taking all of it, will I? You must have made a lot of profit by borrowing that money without paying interest all this time."
He was right.
He had built all sorts of businesses based on that money.
"Pay back what you borrowed, and from now on, do business honorably."
Of course, Geom Mugeuk was certain Yeom Je would do no such thing.
If he were that kind of person, he wouldn't have started this in the first place.
For a brief moment, Yeom Je hesitated.
'Should I just give it all away and wait for a later day?'
But he did not make that decision.
It wasn't just because he had to repay the borrowed money.
If this young man saw inside the vault, he would surely get greedy and take everything.
Because that's what he himself would do.
In the end, this final choice was also a product of his life.
"To the one who kills that man, I will give the position of First Immortal and that three million nyang!"
The Immortals all revealed their killing intent at once.
Despite seeing their opponent's skill, the reward of First Immortal and three million nyang made them willing to risk death.
And in this situation, the atmosphere wasn't one where they could disobey the Lord's command anyway.
"You smile when you borrow money, and draw your sword when it's time to pay it back. Isn't that a bit much?"
Ignoring Geom Mugeuk's words, Yeom Je shouted.
"Kill him!"
The Immortals rushed in from all sides.
The force of sixty masters charging at once was tremendous.
The thought 'as long as I don't die' dominated them.
They only thought that if they were lucky enough to survive, they could claim the three million nyang.
For some reason, Geom Mugeuk was pushed back by them.
Seeing this, Yeom Je shouted.
"His inner energy is depleted! Kill him!"
Even so, he did not step forward.
Money and his own life were all that mattered to him.
Thus, Geom Mugeuk was cornered against one wall, and all the remaining Immortals gathered before him.
What if it was true that their opponent's inner energy was depleted?
The one who killed him first would be the owner of three million nyang.
The First Immortal stepped forward to protect his position, while the rest stepped forward to claim both the money and the position.
Gathered like a pack of jackals, they watched Geom Mugeuk, waiting for an opportunity.
For someone cornered, his eyes were too clear and deep, making the First Immortal in the front line want to retreat.
A sudden ominous premonition!
'Don't tell me? Did he intentionally gather us in one place?'
Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly to them, who were full of greed.
"I hope that for all of you, there will be no next life."
The moment he finished speaking.
The most terrifying evil spirit appeared before Geom Mugeuk.
Those in the lead screamed at its dreadful appearance.
It was the most terrifying evil spirit they had ever seen.
And that terrifying evil spirit split into twelve.
Through recent, grueling training, the number had increased from ten to twelve.
It was the Great Annihilation Form of the Nine Calamities Demon Art.
The moment they faced the evil spirits, their entire bodies froze.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The evil spirits had neither mercy nor hesitation.
They charged forward, sweeping away everything in their path.
No form, no protective energy was of any use.
They were all shattered into pieces and annihilated.
Thus, the sixty-odd wicked men left behind only a pool of blood.
Yeom Je, left alone, stared with wide eyes.
Terrified, his whole body trembled like a leaf.
It was the first time he had seen such a fearsome martial art.
He felt he would never forget that evil spirit, even in death.
"Who, who in the world are you?"
His voice, filled with fear, trembled.
Splash, splash.
"You know who I am. I am the man who came to collect a past-due debt."
Geom Mugeuk said politely as he walked over the pool of blood.
"Pay your debt."