Chapter 471: Can You Collect a Debt for Me?

TL: FoodieMonster007

The carriage passed through Chongqing and headed for Shaanxi. Since they were traveling with Geum Arin, they decided to visit the secret vault on their way back. It was a reward given by the owner of the Milky Way Trading Company.

"Aren't you curious about what's in there?"

Despite Geom Mugeuk's question, Geom Woojin just stared out the window as if he had no interest at all.

"Please give me thirty chances to choose, too!"

At the mention of thirty times, Geom Woojin turned his head to look at his son.

"I figured I should ask for that many at first so I can get at least three later."

Geom Mugeuk saw it. The corners of his father's mouth hesitated, debating whether to rise or not. Right, he would probably give him three.

Geom Mugeuk followed his father's gaze and looked out the window.

"How long has it been since you were in Chongqing?"

"It's been a long time."

Geom Woojin recalled the Chongqing of the past, while Geom Mugeuk recalled the Chongqing of the future. After all, Geom Woojin had once roamed this place with the Fist Demon, and Geom Mugeuk had wandered here in search of materials for his grand technique.

Just then, Geom Woojin looked at an inn visible up ahead and said, "Let's rest there for today."

Hwi replied to his father's words.

"Understood."

Until now, his father had silently followed the schedule set by Hwi and Lim Hyuk. He went if they went to an inn, and he camped if they camped. However, today, he was the first to suggest resting at that inn.

After notifying Geum Arin's carriage, which was running ahead, Hwi pulled their carriage up to the inn.

Geom Mugeuk was curious. Did his father have some meaningful memory here from the past? Perhaps the innkeeper would remember his father and thank him for his help back then.

However, nothing of the sort happened.

Then why did he suggest staying here?

After unpacking, Geom Woojin went out with Hwi. He did not take Geom Mugeuk with them.

"You wait here."

"Please take me with you. Where are the two of you going alone?"

"You don't need to know."

Leaving only curiosity behind, Geom Woojin and Hwi left the inn.

After the two had walked for a while, Geom Woojin asked quietly, "This is the place, isn't it?"

Hwi asked with a surprised expression in response to Geom Woojin's question.

"You knew?"

Geom Woojin nodded. This place was Hwi's hometown. Even Hwi himself hadn't realized the Cult Leader had suggested stopping here because he knew it was his hometown.

"I left when I was young, so I don't have any particular feelings about it. I left right after my parents passed away."

"Still, since we're passing by, we should stop at least once. Where's your family home?"

"It's in the mountain village over that hill."

Geom Woojin started walking first, and Hwi quietly followed behind him.

He was surprised that the Cult Leader remembered his hometown, and even more surprised that they had stopped so he could walk there with him.

The Cult Leader has really changed.

Hwi had watched him more closely than anyone from Geom Woojin's side. The Cult Leader was a man of deep affection, but he was not one to express it like this. Hwi knew better than anyone the source of this change.

Hwi thought of Geom Mugeuk. It was the Young Cult Leader who had pushed him to take his own time throughout this journey.

[Why are you going this far?]

[A wave of change is sweeping through our Cult these days, isn't it? I'm trying to get you caught up in it, too.]

Yes, he knew better than anyone what kind of change it was. That was why he could ask.

[Where is this change leading us?]

The Young Cult Leader, who had created all these changes, had answered.

[I don't know either.]

When he heard those words, Hwi actually felt a sense of relief.

And so, the two of them arrived at the place where Hwi was born. Surprisingly, the house was still there, but other people were living in it.

No one remembered Hwi. It would have been stranger if anyone had remembered the boy who left the village when he was young, now returned as a middle-aged martial artist.

He had said he felt nothing for his hometown, but that wasn't the case for the house he had lived in. Memories of his childhood surfaced, and he became lost in them.

He especially remembered his mother shouting for him to come eat while he was playing with friends in the alley in front of his house. The faint memory of the children scattering one by one and running home surfaced.

After looking at the house and the alley in front of it for a while, the two of them ate noodles together at a small noodle shop in the village.

Geom Mugeuk kept telling him to change, that he had to change, but he had already changed a lot himself. Wasn't he sitting here now, eating noodles with the Cult Leader?

After finishing a bowl of noodles without a word, the two returned to the inn. They didn't have any particular conversation. However, Hwi could fully feel Geom Woojin's sentiment from this alone. It was the Cult Leader's way of showing that he cared for him.

At the entrance to the inn, Hwi said, "Thank you."

Geom Woojin replied, "I'm the one who should be thankful."

This was Geom Woojin's sentiment for the man who always protected him. He was now beginning to express himself, starting with those closest to him.

During that time, Geom Mugeuk was training his martial arts, using the Heavenly Space Secret Art by activating the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. Whenever he had free time during the journey here, he focused on his martial arts training.

He always believed his strength lay not in techniques but in his relationships with people, but that was a thought he could only afford to have when he was strong enough to block an enemy's attack. For the days spent with people to shine, he had to shed blood and sweat at night.

For that reason, Geom Mugeuk's nights were long.

The carriage traveled on and on, finally arriving at the Golden Dragon Clan in Shaanxi.

Geom Mugeuk parted ways with his father at a spot where the clan's buildings were visible in the distance.

"I'll go on ahead as a scout."

It was based on his judgment that there was no need to go to the Golden Dragon Clan with his father from the very beginning.

"Aren't main characters supposed to make their entrance later?"

No matter how one tried, how could his father's presence be concealed? Furthermore, since he didn't know how the clan Patriarch would react, it was a wise choice to go alone first and gauge the atmosphere.

Geom Woojin also guessed his son's intentions, so he readily accepted his decision. Besides, he had to receive a report from the All-Knowing Hall and take care of some backed-up work.

"I'll wait at the safehouse."

There was a safehouse for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult nearby, so he would be able to come quickly if help was needed.

"I'll send for you."

The carriage carrying his father departed in the opposite direction.

Geom Mugeuk joined Geum Arin's carriage.

Geum Arin started to suggest that it would be better if the other two came along, but she stopped herself. She had to trust him. Trust this man. He must have a plan.

The carriage arrived at the entrance of the Golden Dragon Clan. Above the magnificent main gate hung a golden plaque, its calligraphy as powerful as a swirling, soaring dragon.

The main gate opened, and the carriage entered. The men guarding the entrance were as dignified as martial artists from a warrior family, and they had well-trained gazes.

The wide courtyard, flower garden, and pond that spread out inside the main gate were harmoniously and beautifully arranged. The buildings were magnificent, and golden dragons symbolizing the Golden Dragon Clan were carved everywhere.

The intent to overwhelm any visitor could be felt everywhere, but it had no effect on Geom Mugeuk, who had grown up seeing the giant demonic statue of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

As they drew closer to the Patriarch's hall, he could feel Geum Arin growing more tense.

"Are you nervous?"

Geum Arin nodded in response to Geom Mugeuk's question. Now was not the time to hide her emotions, but to prepare for her father's reaction.

"Father might yell at you."

"You don't have to worry about that. When it comes to the 'scary father' department, I'm more experienced than anyone."

"That's not what I meant!"

Was he not worried at all? How could he be so calm?

Having arrived first, her second brother Geum Ajong was waiting in front of the Patriarch's hall.

"You've arrived?"

Having clearly misunderstood Geom Mugeuk's identity, he looked at him with a different mindset than before.

This swindler! This cute little rascal who's going to change my destiny!

His heart was filled with the desire to quickly pair this swindler with his older brother and bring about his ruin.

"Was your journey difficult?"

"It was fine."

"Let's have a drink later when you have time. You're a guest at the main house, so it'll be my treat."

"Let's do that."

Geom Mugeuk readily accepted his offer.

After parting ways with Geum Ajong, Geom Mugeuk and Geum Arin entered the Patriarch's hall.

As they walked down the corridor, Geum Arin said, "Something's suspicious."

"What is?"

"There's no way my Orabeoni would be so kind to you. He's overdoing it."

She was certainly quick-witted.

"There's no harm in getting friendly, is there?"

"You just saw him. The kind of person it's bad to get friendly with."

And so, the two of them entered the Patriarch's hall. The Patriarch, Geum Cheonbang, was waiting there.

Unlike typical great merchants who tend to have pleasant features and a fine physique, Geum Cheonbang had a small frame and a slightly irritable appearance. It seemed both Geum Arin and Geum Ajong were fortunate enough to take after their mother.

The fact that he had made the Golden Dragon Clan one of the top five in the Central Plains with such an appearance could be seen as a testament to his remarkable ability.

Geum Arin had thought her father might roar at her the moment he saw her, but surprisingly, he was calm.

"I've returned, Father."

"You're back?"

Geum Cheonbang's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.

"I am Geom Yeon of the Western Blade Sect."

As he politely offered a clasped hands greeting, Geum Cheonbang returned the gesture gently.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

Geum Arin grew even more tense seeing her father smile at Geom Mugeuk. He was not the type of man to smile like that at someone who had taken the huge sum of two million taels from him. Moreover, the man's father and uncle had not come with him. In other words, her father could have thought that they had taken two million taels and sent a young upstart in their place. However, her father showed no sign of displeasure. That was what made her anxious. Both her Orabeoni and her father were acting unexpectedly.

"I've heard the story. You've decided to help our Arin?"

"That is correct."

"My daughter has a good eye for people."

"Seeing as she chose me, it certainly seems so."

Geum Cheonbang even accepted Geom Mugeuk's joke with a smile.

"However, I heard there were three of you?"

"Father and uncle had a place to stop by, so they will be coming later."

"I see."

It was precisely for this reason that Geum Cheonbang was being cautious.

The owner of the Milky Way Trading Company came to meet these people in person?

He knew better than anyone the position of the owner of the Milky Way Trading Company. He was a man who summoned people to him, no matter who they were. For such a man to move personally, they must be truly special figures.

As if to prove it, these were the people who had fearlessly broken their contract with the clan and signed a new one with his daughter.

Just how great are their skills?

Geom Mugeuk, too, was observing him carefully. He believed that the key to this whole affair lay with Geum Cheonbang.

Do you know who your money is going to?

And so, their mutual probing came to an end.

Geum Cheonbang was the first to speak.

"I am a merchant. It is my principle that goods must be bought at a fair price and sold at a fair price."

Was this the kind of man who would run a secret organization to absorb the Ju Swordsmanship Family?

"You must have built such a large business by adhering to such a wonderful principle."

"Thank you for saying so. That being said, may I ask a favor of you?"

It meant that since they had received two million taels, they should prove their worth.

"What favor is it?"

"The Golden Dragon Clan conducts countless transactions. Even as we speak, a deal is likely being made somewhere. There are good deals, but there are bound to be bad ones as well. There are several parties who have caused us great losses and then feigned ignorance. Among them, there is one that has troubled us for a long time."

"Can you go there and collect the debt for me?"

Geum Cheonbang narrowed his eyes as he looked at Geom Mugeuk.

"Who are these shameless people?"

Geum Cheonbang answered with a feigned sigh.

"The Hundred Immortals Sect."

The Hundred Immortals Sect. It was named as if it were a sect where a hundred immortals had gathered, but if such people had truly gathered there, they would not have chosen such a name. The Hundred Immortals Sect was nothing less than a den of demons. Geom Mugeuk knew about them as well.

Geum Arin finally understood why her father had been so kind. He wasn't going to let this end with just anger and shouting.

He's trying to kill this man.

The Hundred Immortals Sect was more than just a long-standing nuisance for the Golden Dragon Clan. They were an incredibly wicked and dangerous entity.

Even they, the Golden Dragon Clan, had been unable to recover the money extorted from them. Asking these people to retrieve it was a request filled with a malice that went beyond a simple test of skill.

"Father, to entrust them with that task…"

Just then, Geum Cheonbang shot her a cold glare. Geum Arin could not continue. She could feel how furious her father was.

Geom Mugeuk, on the other hand, was relaxed.

"How much is the debt?"

"The amount has accumulated over a long time. The debt has reached three million taels."

It was money that had been extorted from them under various pretexts. It was money they didn't even perceive as a loan, which made collecting it impossible. The Hundred Immortals Sect was teeming with masters, and their viciousness was at its peak.

Geum Cheonbang was curious to see how Geom Mugeuk would react.

Will you accept, even in a situation like this?

This was a sort of probe, a test to see how he would react.

Geum Arin sent an urgent voice transmission to Geom Mugeuk.

[Refuse! Even you can't handle them!]

She had bet everything on this man. She couldn't lose him like this. She had to stop this, even if it meant throwing herself in the way.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not the type of person to act according to her wishes.

[When you asked me to make you the successor, what did I ask you?]

She recalled the question Geom Mugeuk had asked.

"How far can you trust me?"

Even so, to be put to such a test already…

While she hesitated to reply, Geom Mugeuk answered first.

"I'll collect it."

Geum Cheonbang gave a strange smile.

He's actually doing it? Is this a decision made without knowing who the Hundred Immortals Sect are? Or does he know and is still accepting?

Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not one to accept such a demand meekly.

"Then what percentage will you give me as compensation?"

"What?"

Geom Mugeuk calmly explained to the surprised Geum Cheonbang. "I'm not your subordinate, Patriarch. I'm the one who has joined hands with Young Lady Geum here, am I not? I'm now about to do a job that my own partner is advising against, so it's only natural that I receive appropriate compensation. Is my demand wrong?"

Geum Cheonbang could not refute it. He had a point. Strictly speaking, Geom Mugeuk was not a subordinate he had hired. However, to demand more money after already taking two million taels? Normally, it would be an absurd demand, but the current situation was special.

"How much do you want?"

"You said it's been a long time since you've been paid, so it's a bad debt. You probably thought you'd never get it back anyway. And since you couldn't collect it yourself, Patriarch, they must be that much more dangerous."

After laying all this groundwork, Geom Mugeuk made a bold move.

"I'll have to take half."