Chapter 200: Are You Ready to Borrow Money?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Miracle Deity Loan.

The term was the conceptual opposite of the vicious King Yama Loan. People called it the Miracle Deity Loan because it was money lent without interest, like a loan from an immortal.

A major incident involving the Miracle Deity Loan occurred before my regression, so I knew about it. The moment I heard the name, a thought crossed my mind.

So those bastards were already on the move back then.

The world would not learn of the Miracle Deity Loan incident until much later.

Go Wol explained the term.

"It's a new phrase that's been appearing recently. It means to lend money without interest. The term is spreading secretly, mainly among young martial artists."

Miracle Deity Loan.

It was also the name that signaled the beginning of an evil so wicked it would make a demon shake its head.

"When I first heard in Guizhou that they were lending money to young martial artists without interest, I just thought some wealthy magnate was acting out of goodwill, but then I heard about it in Chongqing, and in Hubei as well. Of course, I wouldn't have known if I didn't deal with information. It's spreading quite secretly."

This was where Go Wol's suspicion began.

"Who on earth would lend money without interest? And why specifically to young martial artists?"

Go Wol seemed to have already sensed there was something more to this affair.

"I looked into it. A mysterious organization called Hyeopgye was lending the money."

The name meant helping one another, but their real name, revealed later, was the black market.

"There was one decisively strange point."

"What was it?"

"They say the loan agreements have no repayment date."

"No interest and no repayment date? Then wouldn't the borrower lack a sense of responsibility and not think about paying it back?"

"That's right. That's why people started borrowing again without paying back."

It was a method to make the other party continuously borrow more money. They might all be young and smart, but they still lacked the experience to handle the treachery of a dagger hidden behind a smile.

"They must have been mistaken. The absence of a repayment date doesn't mean it can be postponed forever. It means they can come and demand the principal at any time."

What if they suddenly appeared, presented the accumulated loan agreements, and demanded the entire principal at once?

If the person said they couldn't pay, the shamelessness would begin. They would use violence or threaten to kill the target's family, depending on their disposition. They might appeal to their conscience or placate them with nice words. By then, they would have investigated every weakness. Since the money was borrowed freely without interest, public justification would also be on their side.

"It's about completely dominating a person's life with money. They probably never intended to collect the money. They'll use the debt as leverage to make them do other things. The moment they commit a single evil act to have their debt forgiven, they become the bastards' slaves for life."

Go Wol looked at me with admiration.

There's no need to be so impressed. I didn't figure it out because I'm smart, but because it actually happened. You're the amazing one for not missing this conspiracy.

The black market bastards used the indebted youths to commit countless evil deeds. As a result, many innocent people lost their lives. Many young people also took their own lives, unable to bear the suffering.

The fact that the black market was behind all this was only revealed after a long time. The story of their vicious atrocities, of how they thoroughly toyed with people using money, came to light.

When dealing with those who used the King Yama Loan, you could at least be cautious from the start. These bastards approached with smiling faces and sucked the very marrow from the bones of the youth.

By the time they were branded the public enemy of the murim, the leaders of the black market, including its head, had already earned a massive fortune and gone into hiding. In the end, they were never caught.

"I'd like to see just how much money they have to be pulling this kind of stunt."

I understood Go Wol's intention. We were suffering from a lack of funds, so he meant to take care of these villains and recover the money. He was the one spending money directly to create the organization, so he probably felt sorry toward me as well.

"We're short on cash. Shall we get some help from the immortals?"

Go Wol's expression brightened as I readily agreed.

"May I mobilize the intelligence organization?"

"This organization isn't mine, it's yours. You make the judgment, act first, and report to me later."

I gave him full authority and infinite trust in his work.

Go Wol bowed his head to express his gratitude.

"Show me what you can do."

"……"

It was the moment Go Wol first moved against an external enemy.

From here on, Go Wol would devise the plan himself. All I had to do was swing my fists on the stage he set.

Isn't this kind of peace of mind the privilege of a leader with a competent strategist?

When I returned to the room after our conversation, a heavy silence had fallen. The Fist Demon and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader were drinking tea without a word.

What suffocating awkwardness.

"What were you two talking about?" I asked.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader answered.

"I was just asking him to take good care of our Second Young Lord."

"While you're always cursing me behind my back?"

"Don't I need you to be successful so I can keep cursing you?"

"You have a point."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader seemed to be in a much better mood. Seeing his bright demeanor, I glanced at Go Wol. Go Wol also had a look that said he did not know why.

The reason was revealed that night.

I was inside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique created by the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. He had unfolded the technique when I said we needed to talk. It was a field stretching out under a blue sky, an incredibly beautiful and refreshing landscape.

"Master!"

"Master?"

"Have you forgotten? Didn't we agree that within here, I would consider you my master, Cult Leader?"

The one who had passed down the Spacetime Manipulation Technique to me was the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. That was why we had a conversation a long time ago where I said I would treat him as my master, at least inside here.

"Ah! That's right."

Instead of being pleased, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader lamented.

"What's wrong?"

He sighed and said, "Since it's you, I'll be honest. When the Fist Demon became your Master, I was truly happy. Not because you two became master and disciple, but because I thought, 'So the Fist Demon got completely cleaned out by you too.' I was feeling depressed because I thought I was the only one who had been fleeced by you."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was probably the only person who could say something like this so openly.

"But then I thought about it, and I'm your master too, aren't I? The one who got cleaned out first wasn't the Fist Demon, it was me. It was me."

I could not help but laugh at his self-reproach.

"Are you mocking me?"

"Mocking you? You're my master."

"Right, mock me all you want."

"Cult Leader."

"What is it?"

I stared at him for a moment, then spoke with sincerity.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being by my side. For being by Go Wol's side."

"What's with you all of a sudden? I don't have any money!"

Why am I acting like this?

It was something I always tried to uphold in my relationships with people these days. Something just as important as seeing people for who they are.

Speaking.

Let's not save our words. Let's say them when they come to mind, without procrastinating. I'm putting that into practice right now.

"Thank you, truly."

As I expressed my sincere gratitude once more, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's gaze deepened.

"I'm fine, so you don't have to look after me like this."

"No, I will. I'm only human, so I'll make mistakes. If I ever become neglectful, please keep cursing me. 'Don't treat me like that Cult Leader from back then! Don't treat me like a fish you've already caught!' Please keep cursing me."

The blowing wind made our clothes flutter.

Watching the blades of grass surrender to the wind, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked, "Go Wol told you to take care of me, didn't he?"

"……"

"Why are you young people so concerned about an old man? It hurts my pride."

"Strategist Go said this. He still dreams of the time he was bound in shackles. He said it seems really difficult for someone to escape from their past, and that it would be the same for you, Cult Leader."

"He should worry about himself. Hey, Second Young Lord. Take care of your strategist, not me. He's been having a hard time lately."

"Why don't you take care of him yourself?"

Then, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader suddenly revealed his inner thoughts.

"This was Go Wol's favorite place. He really loved the fields and the sky here, but after he became a strategist, I became reluctant to bring him here."

"Why is that?"

After a brief pause, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said, "I'm afraid. I'm afraid he'll come here and think this. 'Back then, I was so oppressed that I longed for this fake world, wasn't I?'"

I understood the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's worry. Yes, the past is disgustingly difficult to shake off.

"Bring Strategist Go here."

"Bring him here?"

"It's not like the memories will disappear just because he doesn't come here. Do you think a man that smart would have forgotten this place just because he doesn't visit?"

"!"

"Rather, if he wants to forget, he'll have to do it here."

WHOOSH.

The wind blew even stronger, as if reflecting the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's heart.

"Then I'll be on my way."

Even after I left, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader did not emerge from the Spacetime Manipulation Technique for a long time.

The next day, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was still inside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. He was in the same place but with a different person. Go Wol stood where Geom Mugeuk had been.

"It's been a while since you've been here, hasn't it?" the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said.

Go Wol nodded with a sullen expression. Observing Go Wol's mood, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked, "What's wrong?"

"What do you mean, what's wrong? Coming here brings back old memories. There isn't a single good one, is there?"

Hearing those words directly from Go Wol, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's heart ached.

"Why did you bring me here? To tell me that I'm still wearing your invisible shackles? Is that it?"

Go Wol's cold reaction flustered the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"No. I just, after a long time…"

"Let me out."

"Alright."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who was about to release the technique, suddenly flared up. Thinking about it, anger surged within him.

"Hey! Why are you being so serious and angry? Do our old memories mean nothing? I've apologized so many times for what happened back then, haven't I? Do you really have to react so sharply? I just wanted to… with you…"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader trailed off, at a loss for words.

What was he trying to do with him, really? To reminisce? Because Geom Mugeuk told him to? Or did he want to hear Go Wol say that it was okay now? Damn it! This was a place he should never have opened.

It was then that Go Wol's soft voice was heard.

"Cult Leader. You were worried I'd act like I just did, weren't you?"

Startled, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader raised his head. The angry Go Wol from a moment ago was gone, and he had returned to his usual self. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could tell. Go Wol had been acting on purpose.

"What do you take me for, to worry about something like that? You've known me for so long and you still don't know?"

"Honestly, the more I see you, the less I know. I don't know you, and I don't know myself."

Go Wol looked around and said, "I wanted to come here. I was never happier than when I was here. I'm traveling the Central Plains now, but I preferred being here with you, Cult Leader. So I was waiting, wondering when you would ask me to come here."

At that, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader roared.

"What kind of crazy talk is that? Take that back right now! You prefer this damn fabricated world? Are you insane? This place is just… forget it! Forget it! What are you going to do if you prefer this pathetic place that was merely a breathing hole in that miserable life? Is that all your life is now? If you're that unhappy, what's the point of an intelligence organization? To hell with the Second Young Lord and everything else!"

A hot passion surged up inside Go Wol as he met the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's fervent gaze.

To have one person like this in his life, what more could he ask for?

"Aaaaaah! This feels great!"

Go Wol started running through the field like he used to. Then he lay down spread-eagled on the grass.

"This is nice."

"What's so nice about it?"

"You're finally acting like that damn Cult Leader again. Did you let off some steam today?"

"Let off steam? The anger I'd let go of just piled up again."

However, contrary to his words, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression was more at ease than before he had entered the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

Lying down, Go Wol pushed himself up.

"Cult Leader, let's go. I'm busy."

"Stay a bit longer. Rest a little more. Forget about that damn work for a bit. Forget the Second Young Lord too."

At that, Go Wol's gaze turned to the sky again.

"It's definitely better. The sky here is better."

In that moment, they shared the same sentiment, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said something different from what he felt.

"I'm never opening this again. Look your fill and roll around all you want."

While Go Wol was setting the stage regarding Hyeopgye, I trained in martial arts with the Fist Demon.

This time was truly precious. We had finally begun to duel with fist techniques.

The Thunder Arhat Fist versus the Thunder Arhat Fist.

The Fist Demon had now begun to teach me with his body.

Now that he was officially my Master, a simple fight was out of the question. However, we could duel as much as we wanted with the Thunder Arhat Fist.

Even if I were to win later on, it would be a matter of defeating him with his own martial arts, so there was nothing much to worry about.

And a few days later.

Go Wol showed results faster than expected. He had succeeded in making contact with Hyeopgye.

"Are you ready to borrow money from the immortals?"

I grinned broadly at Go Wol. I planned to give those bastards back exactly what they did to the young people. Those demonic fiends, I would strip them clean, leaving none behind.

"Shall we go and see just how much money our dear immortals have?"