Chapter 475: Borrowing with a Smile, Drawing a Sword to Repay

TL: FoodieMonster007

The immortals to Geom Mugeuk's left tensed up all at once. His comment that there were fortunately no paintings on this wall, didn't that mean he was planning to unleash his sword qi here as well?

Moreover, Geom Mugeuk's aura had grown even colder. By cutting down twenty men in a single move, he had elevated their fear to the next level.

"Stop!"

Yeom Je stepped forward to stop him. He still harbored a doubt.

Does he really have enough inner qi to use that terrifying sword qi again?

It seemed unlikely, but what if he did? His subordinates on the left would be wiped out in an instant. He wasn't worried about their lives.

He thought about the money his subordinates earned for him. No matter how he calculated it, it was a loss. The money they were currently making was one thing, but the cost of training or recruiting such masters was not to be ignored. Trying to save three million taels would mean losing even more money in the long run.

However, he didn't want to hand over the three million taels meekly either.

First, I need to buy some time.

Yeom Je's gaze turned to the Ten Immortals lined up before him, from the first to the tenth in rank. It would be great if one or two of them would voluntarily step forward to check. No one moved. Then again, after seeing that sword qi, it wouldn't be easy to step up.

Yeom Je sent a voice transmission to the First Immortal.

[First Immortal.]

[Yes, Chief.]

[Make him expend more of his inner qi.]

[Understood.]

The First Immortal then sent a voice transmission to the Sixth Immortal. He could have taken the initiative himself, or perhaps he possessed sincere loyalty to the Chief.

There was no such person here. They all knew that about each other and never expected it in the first place. There were only those who moved for desire and profit.

Because it was a gathering of such men, the First Immortal's choice was naturally an emotional one. The Sixth Immortal was the person he disliked the most among the Ten Immortals.

[Sixth Immortal, gauge that man's skill and make him expend his inner qi.]

The Sixth Immortal did not want to step forward.

Damn it!

The sword qi the opponent had just shown was a technique he had never seen before. The image of a sharp line being drawn as if a mirror was shattering, followed by a body being sliced apart, surfaced in his mind.

However, if he disobeyed the First Immortal's order, 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 step into the swamp alone. As he moved forward, he sent a voice transmission to the Eleventh Immortal.

[Help me, and I'll get you into the Ten Immortals.]

For the Eleventh Immortal, joining 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.

Moreover, what if he distinguished himself in this situation? He might even take a position above the Sixth Immortal.

The Eleventh Immortal stepped forward with the Sixth Immortal.

As the two men stepped forward, Geom Mugeuk first asked the Sixth Immortal.

"Who are you?"

"I am the Sixth Immortal."

Geom Mugeuk took some documents from his robes and read them again.

"The Sixth Immortal, you say."

His expression soured as he read about the Sixth Immortal for a moment.

"Why have you killed so many people?"

Geom Mugeuk then asked the Eleventh Immortal.

"And who are you?"

"The Eleventh Immortal."

This time, he frowned even more deeply.

"It seems the rankings aren't decided by who has killed more people."

In fact, the Eleventh Immortal was the one who had committed more massacres. Geom Mugeuk's frown 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 originally treated as a madman even within the Hundred Immortals Sect.

The Sixth Immortal asked Geom Mugeuk.

"Who in the world are you?"

Instead of answering, Geom Mugeuk slowly walked toward the Eleventh Immortal.

As Geom Mugeuk approached him, the Eleventh Immortal tensed up, ready to strike at any moment. The Sixth Immortal also made full preparations.

If you draw, we'll draw too. With the two of us?

They certainly had that confidence.

SHING! SWISH! SHWIK!

STAB! STAB! STAB!

Geom Mugeuk's sword stabbed the Eleventh Immortal's stomach, chest, and neck in succession. It was so fast that he had no time to counter, let alone dodge or block.

The moment the Sixth Immortal, who was standing beside him, instinctively tried to counterattack, his eyes met Geom Mugeuk's. Having already stabbed the Eleventh Immortal three times, Geom Mugeuk was looking at him.

So fast!

We were going to face someone like this with just the two of us? What kind of confidence was that?

Only after the Eleventh Immortal, who had died on his feet, fell backward did Geom Mugeuk ask.

"Oh, what was it you asked a moment ago?"

His politeness made it all the more chilling.

The Sixth Immortal said nothing, merely infusing the hand holding his sword with qi. The opponent had already answered his question by killing the Eleventh Immortal with that very sword.

I am the grim reaper who has come to kill you.

The Sixth Immortal had only one thought.

The only way to survive is to strike first.

When they were within striking distance, the Sixth Immortal's sword flew first, and Geom Mugeuk's sword followed.

However, the sword that flew later arrived first.

SLICE!

Blood sprayed in all directions from the Sixth Immortal's severed neck. The deaths of the two men made the scent of blood in the hall even thicker.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on Geom Mugeuk.

Villains were villains. Even as their comrades died one after another, not a single one of them felt the slightest bit of regret 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 who loved fighting the most among the immortals of the Hundred Immortals Sect. Like a moth to a flame, he couldn't resist the killing intent that surged with the thick scent of blood. If the Eleventh Immortal was a madman, then this Third Immortal was even crazier.

"Isn't this a world overflowing with things you want to kill?"

The Third Immortal unleashed his sword qi without hesitation.

SHWAAAAAAK!

A violent sword qi flew toward Geom Mugeuk, aiming to tear him to shreds.

When Geom Mugeuk dodged the sword qi, it struck the immortals behind him. Two of the immortals standing in the back failed to dodge the sword qi in time and were swept away.

SHWAAAAAAK!

Though his comrades had died, the Third Immortal unleashed his sword qi again. This time, it was even more violent and powerful.

Geom Mugeuk could have unleashed his own sword qi to nullify it, but he let it be. More immortals behind him were swept away by the attack. Curses erupted from all sides.

However, the Third Immortal continued to unleash his sword qi like a madman. He didn't care whether his comrades lived or died.

SHWAK! SHWAAAK!

KABOOM! BOOM!

Sword qi was unleashed to block sword qi. Another sword qi flew to block that one. The place instantly became a scene of pandemonium. Geom Mugeuk moved here and there, exquisitely dodging the flying sword qi.

STAB!

The Third Immortal's form froze. The sword that pierced his heart was Yeom Je's.

"You fucking idiot."

As he spat out the cold curse and pulled out his sword, the Third Immortal coughed up blood and collapsed, dead. With his death, the commotion in the hall finally ceased. Due to this insane attack, a dozen men had been killed by their own side.

Yeom Je said to Geom Mugeuk.

"I've lost. I'll give you the money."

He couldn't hold out any longer.

To kill this man, I'd have to risk everything.

And 'everything' included his own life. Attacking an opponent who had displayed such divine prowess with killing intent was a suicidal attack, a mutual destruction. Even if he won, it would be a profitless business.

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 the number of mouths to feed has decreased this much, the main branch should be fine even if I pay you."

Geom Mugeuk smiled.

"That's a relief."

"However, I'll need some time to give you a large sum like three million taels. I have to liquidate some assets. For now, take that and give me some time."

The place Yeom Je looked at was the accounting table. Piles of promissory notes were stacked there. Of course, it was unlikely to work on Geom Mugeuk.

"Isn't the money in the safe?"

"There isn't that much money. Why would I keep such a large sum in a safe?" Yeom Je flatly denied it.

Geom Mugeuk stared at him and said.

"What if I open it and it's there?"

Yeom Je flinched.

"Can I take it all?"

Geom Mugeuk saw it. Although Yeom Je wore a troubled expression, a flash of joy crossed his eyes.

"Fine, I promise."

Yeom Je was confident that there wasn't three million taels in the safe.

"The main branch's safe 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 some carvings on the back wall. Since he blocked the view with his body, it was impossible to see what he was doing.

"If you try to force it open, a mechanism will activate and kill the intruder."

DRRRK.

A moment later, a secret wall opened, revealing a safe.

"Here, come and see."

Geom Mugeuk walked up to it. The remaining members of the Ten Immortals followed and stood guard around Yeom Je.

Yeom Je took out the promissory notes and gold bars from the safe.

"It's a little over two and a half million taels in notes. Even if I sell all the gold, it's far short of three million taels. Am I still deceiving you?"

Yeom Je was confident, as if he hadn't deceived him at all.

"Bring the money that was being settled over there."

At that, the immortals brought the promissory notes from the table. The immortals who hadn't yet settled their accounts also placed their money there.

When all the money was gathered, it amounted to three million taels.

"Fortunately, it's enough to pay you. Take it and go. Today's incident was also my fault for not repaying the debt, so I'll forget it ever happened."

"As expected! You are a man of great magnanimity."

Of course, could that really be true?

He planned to start preparing his revenge now. He would kill not only this man but also his family, friends, and neighbors. He wouldn't let the Golden Dragon Clan off either. He would kill ten times the number who died today to show the jianghu what kind of place the Hundred Immortals Sect was, even if it meant hiring every assassin in the murim.

It would have been great if he had just taken the money and left. "Oh, I almost 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 packed with numerous names and amounts. It was a list of all the money the Hundred Immortals Sect had extorted from various Trading Companies until now. "I've been asked to collect this money as well."

Yeom Je's eyes narrowed into slits.

These bastards!

Killing intent surged within Yeom Je. He was being told to return all the money he had extorted? It was an amount he would rather die than repay. Suppressing his boiling rage, Yeom Je said.

"As you can see, the safe 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 Chief have a personal safe?"

Only now did Yeom Je understand for sure.

He came here with a clear purpose.

If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have opened this safe. No, it doesn't matter. I have no intention of giving him this money now, even if it means I die.

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 the Chief's money. And second, I'm not taking all of it, am I? You borrowed that money without interest and must have multiplied it many times over by now."

He was right. He had built all sorts of businesses based on that money.

"Repay the money 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 mess in the first place.

For a very brief moment, Yeom Je hesitated.

Should I just give it all away and wait for another day?

However, he did not make that decision. It wasn't just because he had to repay the borrowed money. He knew that if this young man saw the inside of the safe, 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 the First Immortal and that three million taels!"

The immortals all revealed their killing intent at once. Despite having seen their opponent's skill, the reward of the First Immortal's position and three million taels made them willing to risk death. Besides, the atmosphere was not one where they could disobey the Chief's command.

"Borrowing with a smile, and drawing a sword when it's time to repay. Isn't this a bit much?"

Ignoring Geom Mugeuk's words, Yeom Je shouted.

"Kill him!"

Immortals rushed in from all directions. The aura of sixty masters charging at once was tremendous. The thought, as long as I'm not the one who dies, dominated them. They only thought about how they could claim the three million taels if they were lucky enough to survive.

For some reason, Geom Mugeuk was pushed back by them. Seeing this, Yeom Je shouted.

"His inner qi is depleted! Kill him!"

Even so, he did not step forward himself. Money and his own life were all that mattered to him.

Geom Mugeuk was thus driven to one wall, and all the remaining immortals gathered before him. What if it was true that the opponent's inner qi was depleted? The first one to kill him would become the owner of the three million taels.

The First Immortal stepped forward to protect his position, and the rest stepped forward to seize both the money and the position. Gathered like a pack of hyenas, they watched Geom Mugeuk, waiting for an opportunity. For someone cornered, his eyes were too clear and deep, making the First Immortal, who stood in the front row, want to retreat. A sudden, ominous premonition!

No way… Did he deliberately gather us in one place?

Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly to the greed-filled men.

"I hope that for all of you, there will be no next life."

The moment those words ended, the most terrifying demon materialized in front of Geom Mugeuk. At its dreadful appearance, those in the lead screamed. They had never seen such a terrifying demon before.

And that terrifying demon split into twelve.

It was the Great Annihilation Stance of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. The number of demons had increased from ten to twelve through his recent bloody training. The moment they faced the demons, their entire bodies froze.

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!

The demons showed no hesitation. They charged forward, sweeping away everything in their path. No technique, no protective enhanced qi was of any use. They were all shattered into pieces and annihilated.

And so, the sixty-odd villains left behind nothing but a pool of blood.

Left alone, Yeom Je's eyes were wide open. Terrified, his whole body trembled like an aspen leaf. He had never seen such a formidable martial art. It felt as if he would never be able to forget that demon, even in death.

"Wh-who in the world are you?" His voice, full of fear, trembled.

SPLASH, SPLASH.

"You already know, don't you? I'm the man who came to collect a debt."

Geom Mugeuk said politely as he walked through the pool of blood.

"Pay your debt."