Chapter 472: Whether Money or Blood Will Pour

TL: FoodieMonster007

"You're asking for half?"

Geum Cheonbang couldn't hide his surprise. The demand was as unreasonable as his own request had been.

"In cases like this, the service fee is usually one-tenth of the amount. A generous offer would be two-tenths to handle the job."

"That would be true if the opponent were ordinary," Geom Mugeuk said, pushing even further.

"In fact, it would be profitable for you, Patriarch, even if you gave me the entire amount."

"What kind of sophistry is that?"

Geom Mugeuk raised his voice, speaking with power. "When you do business with the Golden Dragon Clan, you must always pay your debts."

The words, so pleasant to hear, echoed resoundingly throughout the hall.

"No one can get away with not paying the Golden Dragon Clan."

Geum Cheonbang thought of all the money he couldn't collect for one reason or another. How wonderful would it be if those words came true? The thought brought a smile to his lips.

Having captured his attention with such pleasing words, Geum Cheonbang naturally listened for what would come next.

"And what about a rumor like this? That even the Hundred Immortals Sect paid their debt."

What more needed to be said? It was a fantastic rumor.

"If that were to happen, no one would ever think of cheating the Golden Dragon Clan out of their money again."

Geom Mugeuk stared into Geum Cheonbang's eyes and asked, "How much do you think that's worth?"

Even Geum Cheonbang, who was quick with calculations, couldn't answer easily. Considering not just the present but the future, it was something that couldn't be converted into money.

"All of this only applies if you actually collect the money from them, right?"

Geom Mugeuk replied with eyes full of conviction. "I will collect it, and I will take only half of that money."

'A whole half' had become 'only half'. Geum Cheonbang felt no sense of incongruity at all.

On top of that, Geom Mugeuk added a touch of magnanimity. "I'm making a special concession for your daughter's sake."

A flicker of curiosity crossed Geum Cheonbang's eyes. Not bad, he thought. This was how you should conduct a deal. It was bold to the point of shamelessness, yet still persuasive.

Yes, the head of the Milky Way Trading Company wouldn't have gone to meet just anyone.

Maybe? For a moment, he thought the man might actually collect the money.

He soon decided it was impossible, however. He knew the Hundred Immortals Sect well.

Most people saw them as cruel, emotional, and reckless. They were ignorant brutes with whom reason was impossible.

At first, Geum Cheonbang had thought so too. But now he knew the Chief who led them was a smart man. Their revenge and their legal extortion all stemmed from meticulous calculation.

Can you really handle such a difficult person?

Even while thinking the man was no match for them, he felt a sense of curiosity. The young man's display was indeed impressive. It was rare to see such spirit these days.

"What will you do if you can't collect it?" he asked. He expected him to say he would return the two million taels he received from his daughter.

"If I can't, I can't. It's money that even you, Patriarch, couldn't collect. Do you think I could get it easily?"

By pulling him into the argument, he left Geum Cheonbang unable to retort. He was impressed by Geom Mugeuk's response.

"Will you give me half?"

It was money he wasn't getting anyway. Securing even one and a half million out of three million taels would be a profit.

Besides, if he really did collect it, they would gain a reputation more valuable than money, just as the young man had said.

And if he fails?

The Hundred Immortals Sect would probably rough him up a bit and send him back. Since they owed a debt to the Golden Dragon Clan, they wouldn't let things get too out of hand.

And if this guy's spirit was broken, it would be easier to recover the two million taels in the future.

With that, Geum Cheonbang's calculations were complete.

"Fine, I'll give you half."

Geum Arin, who had been watching, could not hold back any longer. "No!"

She knew her father was angry with her and had tried not to step in. But if she didn't stop him now, it would be too late.

"Do you realize how dangerous this job is before making this promise?"

Geom Mugeuk looked at her and calmly replied.

"I know how much money two million taels is. I also know that one and a half million taels is a huge sum. To earn big money, shouldn't one naturally take big risks?"

Geum Cheonbang liked those words. He despised people who tried to make money without paying a price. To earn big money, you had to take on big risks.

Geom Mugeuk's gaze shifted from Geum Arin back to Geum Cheonbang. "It seems one must dive into the world of commerce to make money. As soon as I arrive, money is pouring in."

Geum Cheonbang responded with composure of his own. "We'll see when it's over whether it's money or blood that pours."

The two men faced each other. A major promise had been made in a first meeting that could have ended as a mere exploratory talk.

"Then I will see you after I've collected the money." Geom Mugeuk bowed politely and was about to leave when Geum Arin spoke.

"Please wait outside for a moment. I have something to discuss with my father."

"Very well."

Once Geom Mugeuk left the Patriarch's hall, only Geum Cheonbang and Geum Arin remained.

Geum Cheonbang had an idea of what his daughter was about to say.

"You know he can't possibly succeed, don't you? You're giving him this job just to punish me, aren't you? That's too cruel."

Geum Cheonbang responded coldly. "You're the one who brought this trouble upon us."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you brought a source of future trouble to the main house."

"The Milky Way Trading Company was trying to use them to attack my organization. I couldn't just stand by and watch."

Strictly speaking, her own life had been on the line.

My life was at stake, and you're getting angry over money!

She barely managed to swallow the words that rose to her throat. She was, after all, at fault for spending two million taels without permission.

"When you found that out, you should have returned to the clan immediately and consulted with your father."

Geum Arin had a response to that as well. "Then my Orabeonis would have used it against me. They'd say I couldn't handle my own affairs and had to run and hide in Father's arms."

"Still, it was rash. What if that man is a spy planted by the Milky Way Trading Company?"

"Is there such a flamboyant spy in the world?"

Geum Cheonbang said nothing more.

Geum Arin left with one last remark. "He's not a source of trouble, he's a blessing. A blessing you've just thrown into the gutter."

Geum Arin left the Patriarch's hall.

Her chest felt tight. Of all places, the Hundred Immortals Sect.

Geom Mugeuk was waiting for her outside the building.

"Are you really going to do this?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded and started walking. The two of them spoke as they walked side by side.

"Do you even know what kind of place the Hundred Immortals Sect is?"

"What kind of place is it?"

With an 'I knew it' expression, Geum Arin began to describe the group she hated to even think about.

"Their Chief is known as a peerless master."

"It's a gathering of human scum. And that scum isn't your neighborhood ruffians, but highly skilled masters."

Geom Mugeuk simply continued walking in silence.

"That's not all. The truly terrifying thing about them is that if one of them dies, the rest will swarm and get revenge without fail. They're cruel enough to kill the person's friends and even their family."

"How have such people survived until now? Did the Murim Alliance just leave them be?"

That extensive revenge was the biggest reason the Hundred Immortals Sect had become a symbol of terror. At the same time, it was also a reason they deserved to die.

"Because they never leave any evidence. I heard that if someone does leave evidence, they eliminate that person themselves to cut off any loose ends. In the end, there are only rampant rumors about them."

In my life before regression, the Hundred Immortals Sect was eventually subjugated by the Murim Alliance. They found evidence of their evil deeds and attacked. The bastards were annihilated after resisting fiercely.

I recall that a considerable number of the Murim Alliance's masters were also injured or killed in the process.

Seeing the Hundred Immortals Sect become involved with me in this life, I could once again feel the reality of fate. Those who must die will die.

"Did you hear me? They kill innocent family members too."

"My family will be fine." Geom Mugeuk added with a smile.

"They're so fine it's a problem."

Geum Arin knew where his confidence came from. "I know you trust your father, but…"

After walking in silence for a moment, she made a big decision.

"Fine, then I'll go with you."

It was a life-risking decision, but she was rejected instantly.

"Do you want to be extorted for more money by them?"

"What do you mean?"

"If you visit, do you think they'll just leave you alone? They'll find a way to pick a fight, capture you, and then demand money from your father. 'Bring money if you want your daughter back.'"

They were more than capable of doing such a thing, so she couldn't argue.

"Then what about you? Will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine. Father wouldn't give them a single penny."

A joke in a situation like this? She thought his composure was excessive. It would have been nice if he had calmly explained what he was thinking.

But Geom Mugeuk headed in a different direction from where they were supposed to go.

"Where are you going? The guest hall is this way."

"I have somewhere to be. I'll see you later."

Geum Arin watched his back as he strode away and let out a sigh she had been holding in. Now she understood. She knew why he had said those words.

How far can you trust me?

How much are you going to make me worry?

That night, Geum Arin came to Geom Mugeuk's quarters. It was late, but he was awake.

"Did I disturb your sleep?"

"It's fine, come in. We're people who are busy at night."

"Pardon?"

Geom Mugeuk just gave an enigmatic smile.

Geum Arin stepped inside. Seeing a bottle on the table, it seemed he had been drinking.

"Would you like a drink?"

"Please." She was in a state where she truly craved a drink.

She had never dreamed she would experience something like this after returning to the clan.

"Did you contact your father and uncle?"

"Contact them about what?"

"About the Hundred Immortals Sect job. You have to let them know about it."

She asked, thinking, surely not.

"You're not thinking of going alone, are you?"

She thought it would be dangerous even if the three of them went together.

"I'm going alone."

Geum Arin was startled. The calm look in his eyes told her he wasn't joking.

She downed the drink she had been given and slammed the empty cup down with a CLACK.

"So this is a two-million-nyang drinking session." It was a joke that this would be the last time she saw him. A joke, but not a joke.

"Fine, let's say you're a peerless master that I don't know about."

It was possible. He had killed Jeon Nak and made those money-grubbers so obedient.

"Even so, you need a plan. There are a hundred of them. You have to think about who to approach first and what to say. What you'll do if they don't give you the money willingly. No, they definitely won't give it to you, so you have to think in advance about how you'll respond."

"I am making one."

"Or you should at least find their weakness, huh? What did you say?"

"I said I was making a plan."

Only then did the papers piled on the table catch her eye. On the top sheet, she saw the words 'the Hundred Immortals Sect'.

"What is this?"

"It's data on the Hundred Immortals Sect."

"Where did you get it?"

"I bought it from an information broker."

In truth, this data was received through the Hidden Moon. The Shanxi Branch of the Hidden Moon had naturally already investigated the Hundred Immortals Sect, a notorious organization in this area.

"When?"

"I went out and bought it earlier."

"May I see it?"

When Geom Mugeuk nodded, Geum Arin examined the documents.

It was truly data about them. It detailed who the Chief was, what martial arts he possessed, who his key subordinates were, and how much they trusted each other. Their personalities, responsibilities, and the evil deeds each had committed were all written down.

That wasn't all. It also detailed how much money they had borrowed from which Trading Company, how much they had defaulted on, and what businesses they were running with that money. They were involved in all sorts of ventures, reaping enormous profits.

"Information brokers sell such detailed information."

"There's no information you can't get if you have money."

She felt embarrassed. She had come to a man who was this prepared and just told him to make a plan with empty words.

If she had been truly worried, she should have bought this information and given it to him. She wasn't an intellectual who didn't act, but a worrier who didn't act.

"So, have you made a plan?"

"I have."

Truly, no one could match this refreshingly direct answer.

"Tell me."

"It's a secret."

Seeing him like this, she felt a sliver of hope that he might actually collect the money.

"Instead, I have a favor to ask of you."

"What is it?"

The favor was something she had never expected.

"Go to the Trading Companies and sects listed there and tell them you'll collect the money they're owed by the Hundred Immortals Sect. In return, say you'll take half as a service fee."

"What?" So shocked, Geum Arin shot up from her seat. It was true that a person could jump to their feet when they were that surprised.

"It will be more credible if you go rather than me."

Geum Arin stood there blankly, not knowing what to say. Meanwhile, Geom Mugeuk continued speaking.

"I could take all their money for myself, but this is a better way. You gain the reputation of having recovered their money, they get back money they thought was lost, and I also get half the profit."

Geom Mugeuk pointed out that this job had another meaning, at least for her. "This job will play a big role in you becoming the successor. Your reputation in Shaanxi will rise significantly."

Geum Arin could see that Geom Mugeuk was serious.

"You really intend to collect all that money."

Collect it all? All the money from everyone who suffered at the hands of the Hundred Immortals Sect?

"That's right. I will collect the money for everyone who wants it."

"Even collecting our money is impossible, but…"

In that moment, a thought struck her mind like a lightning bolt.

"Don't tell me you…?"

It was the most shocked she had been since meeting Geom Mugeuk.

"You're planning to kill them all."