Chapter 468: He Told Us to Clean Up Thoroughly
Chapter 468: He Told Us to Clean Up Thoroughly
“Are you sure about this?” Im Hyeok asked, his voice laced with concern.
Immediately after returning from her meeting with Geom Mu-geuk, Geum A-rin had begun drafting a contract. It was a straightforward document with no hidden agendas: she would pay two million taels in exchange for an alliance.
“Am I sure? I’m doing something utterly mad,” Geum A-rin replied.
Hearing her answer, Im Hyeok felt a small sense of relief. At least she was fully aware of the gravity of the situation.
“Why do you trust that man so much?”
Her answer was a single word. “Intuition.”
Her hand, which had been busy writing, paused for a moment. “I didn't know either—that I’d end up deciding my fate based on a gut feeling.”
Despite her words, she finished the contract with eyes full of conviction. The moment Geom Mu-geuk signed that paper, she would have to hand over two million taels.
In the world of commerce, credit is life. No matter how secret her organization was, as long as its leader was the daughter of the Golden Dragon Clan’s head, this was effectively a contract with the Golden Dragon Clan itself.
“To pay two million taels, we’ll have to combine this year’s entire operating budget with every scrap of profit our organization has gathered. Even then, it might not be enough.”
“I’ll pay it even if I have to borrow from the money houses,” she declared.
Im Hyeok spoke worriedly, “The Second Young Master won’t just sit idly by.”
“I’m sure he won’t.”
Objectively speaking, not just her second brother but anyone would consider this decision reckless. She looked up at Im Hyeok and asked, “Is that what you think as well?”
Though they hadn't even seen a glimpse of the man's martial arts yet, Im Hyeok thought of Hwi. The way that man had looked at him and the calm advice he’d given were things that couldn't easily be measured in gold.
“No, I don't,” Im Hyeok replied, choosing to respect her intuition. The impression Geom Mu-geuk had left on her must have been similar.
“Right. Neither do I.” Geum A-rin revealed that this choice was aimed at a much further horizon. “I made up my mind when he said he would definitely be on my side. I’m going to use them to become the successor.”
Im Hyeok felt that the moment he had expected had finally arrived. Until now, she had stayed a step back from the Golden Dragon Clan’s succession struggle, merely watching her two older brothers fight from across the river. Now, she was diving headfirst into the fray.
She called it intuition, but perhaps it was the pull of destiny.
“Take this, get his signature, and pay the money,” she said, handing him the completed contract. “What I bought with two million taels isn't our lives or the West Blade Sect. It’s the position of successor.”
*
“I’ve brought the money!”
Geom Mu-geuk set three envelopes down on the table. “I received two million taels and split it into three. That’s six hundred and sixty-six thousand taels each.”
Geom Wu-jin took an envelope filled with banknotes first, as if to set an example. “Well done.”
At that, Hwi deactivated his stealth and revealed himself. Truthfully, he found it unacceptable to receive the exact same amount as the Cult Leader, but the Cult Leader’s command to take the money overrode his hesitation.
“Here, this is your share, Uncle.”
“Thank you, Young Cult Leader.” Hwi tucked the envelope carefully into his robes.
“Father, let’s come out more often, if only for Uncle Hwi’s sake. What’s the point of having money if you never have the time to spend it?”
Hwi gave a bashful smile at Geom Mu-geuk’s words. Even without this money, he had amassed a fortune during his lifelong service to the Divine Cult. But as Geom Mu-geuk said, he never had the time to enjoy it.
Geom Mu-geuk turned to Yong Ja-myeong, who was standing nearby. “Would you care to give us a word on how to spend money wisely?”
At the sudden question, Yong Ja-myeong hesitated for a moment. He could talk about money for three days and nights without stopping, but since the Cult Leader was listening, he answered humbly.
“There are many in this world who are good at making money, but few who are good at spending it. I, too, belong to the former category, not the latter.” He then asked for Geom Mu-geuk’s thoughts. “Do you have something in mind, Young Cult Leader?”
“What could I possibly know? My plan is simply to find someone who is good at spending money and make them my subordinate. And then, I’ll give that subordinate the best possible treatment. That’s about it.”
“It seems you already knew the answer to wise spending.” The two men looked at each other and laughed.
Geom Mu-geuk expressed his gratitude to Yong Ja-myeong. “This whole affair was easy thanks to you, Unit Leader.”
Everything had proceeded smoothly because the leader of the Silver River Merchant Group had personally paid a visit. However, the fact that things had gone well also meant it was time for him to leave. Having received the money from the other side, it was time for this side to depart.
A few more days had passed since the initial three-day estimate. Geom Wu-jin had asked him to stay a bit longer, so he had happily spent a few more days there. It had been a time that felt like a dream. Geom Wu-jin had made plenty of time for him, and they had talked extensively.
“This has been an unforgettable time in my life. If you ever need me again, please call for me at any time.”
“We shall,” Geom Wu-jin gave his final farewell. “If you ever need us, contact us at any time.”
What words in the world could be more reassuring than those? With his face full of emotion, Yong Ja-myeong bid them goodbye. “Then, please take care until we meet again.”
Geom Mu-geuk walked Yong Ja-myeong all the way to the front gate to see him off.
“Thanks to you, I’ve fulfilled a long-held dream of mine. I am truly grateful.”
“It’s your own good fortune, Unit Leader. You were the one who remembered my father.” Geom Mu-geuk had truly wanted to fulfill the man’s long-standing wish, and fortunately, things had worked out. But it wasn't as if he had only given. “Thank you so much for the lessons you gave me.”
At Geom Mu-geuk’s request, Yong Ja-myeong had lectured him on the affairs of the merchant world. Since their enemies were a merchant clan, Geom Mu-geuk figured the more he knew, the better his chances in the fight.
Giving and receiving. Now it was time to give again.
“Please contact my father often.”
“The Cult Leader?”
“He seemed to enjoy being with you, Unit Leader. For your information, my father likes Go. If you bring a nice Go board and stones next time you visit, he’ll be very pleased.”
“Thank you for telling me.” Yong Ja-myeong stared at Geom Mu-geuk for a moment. He had seen the Young Cult Leader from the rumors, and now he could speak about those rumors. The rumors were an understatement; the Young Cult Leader was being vastly undervalued.
Climbing into his carriage, Yong Ja-myeong offered a final greeting. “Be well.”
The Young Cult Leader, who had maintained a relaxed smile throughout their stay, was no exception even at the end. “No final lecture?”
It was likely a joke, but Yong Ja-myeong left him with the words he truly wanted to say. “Until the moment you die, money will try its hardest to reveal your true nature. Don't let the rascal catch you.”
With that, Geom Mu-geuk faded from view.
Baek Chong, who was riding with him, had never seen Yong Ja-myeong lean out of a carriage to say goodbye before. He was a man who always sat with solemn dignity once inside.
“I’m glad everything ended safely.”
Truly, when they had first come here, they had been prepared to risk their lives. But the meeting with the Demonic Cult Leader had actually been a long-overdue rest.
“I should meet with all my children when I return,” Yong Ja-myeong mused. He couldn't even remember the last time he’d had a proper conversation with his sons. He was always busy with the merchant group’s affairs, and when they did meet, it was awkward.
But after meeting this Heavenly Demon father and son, he missed his own children. A thought suddenly occurred to Yong Ja-myeong: perhaps, while meeting an old benefactor, he had gained a new one at the same time.
*
“Prepare to return to the clan.”
After giving the order to Im Hyeok, Geum A-rin’s heart was already pounding. She had started this affair with great momentum, but her father’s scolding was inevitable. She had even suffered through nightmares that kept her from sleeping. In one dream, they took the money and vanished. In another, they showed off their skills in front of her father, and they were absolutely pathetic.
“I’ll go meet him, set a departure time, and come back.”
Just then, someone stepped into the room and spoke. “There’s no need for that.”
Startled, she turned to see a man entering. Geum A-rin’s expression hardened. It was her second older brother, Geum A-jong. He was the person she had worried about most, and here he was, showing his face first.
He was quite handsome, resembling Geum A-rin, but his personality didn't match his looks. He was selfish, greedy, and consumed by a desire for success.
“What are you doing here?”
“What do you think? I came to stop the clan’s money from leaking out.”
The fact that he had arrived so quickly meant he had been watching her every move.
“My dear brother, always waiting for me to make a mistake.”
“Two million taels? You! Have you lost your mind?” As expected, her brother was fully aware of the situation.
“I’ll handle my own business. You just worry about yours, Brother.”
“You don't even realize you’ve been played by a scammer.”
Geum A-rin flinched at the word 'scammer.' “A scammer?”
“You spent that much money without even properly looking into who you were dealing with, didn't you?”
She had no rebuttal. This decision had been entirely instinctive.
“Did you know that the West Blade Sect produced the winner of the Young Dragon Tournament held by the Murim Alliance?”
Geum A-rin flinched again; she hadn't known. Since it’s a tournament for Rising Stars, of course they would have won, she thought, but then—
“He barely won after a fierce battle with the Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter.”
Geum A-rin’s heart sank. He was neck-and-neck with the Alliance Leader’s granddaughter? No matter how talented the granddaughter was, she was still just a Rising Star. A seed of worry began to sprout. Is he all talk and no skill?
Suppressing her rising anxiety, she spoke. “But he won, didn't he? He might have been hiding his strength.”
As if he had been waiting for this exact moment, Geum A-jong raised his voice with a look of triumph. “What are you talking about? The man named Geom Yeon, to whom you gave two million taels, didn't even compete in the Young Dragon Tournament. The one who won was a man named Seo Ryong.”
“Then what about Geom Yeon?”
A bolt from the blue fell from Geum A-jong’s lips. “Geom Yeon is Seo Ryong’s servant.”
“...!” Geum A-rin bolted upright, her eyes trembling. That man is a servant?
“It’s already common knowledge that the Alliance Leader’s granddaughter caused a scene back then, saying she’d marry the servant she brought along. You must have been fooled just like she was.”
He treated Geom Mu-geuk like a con artist who went around deceiving women. But if that were true? If he really was just a servant? Was the reason she couldn't read him because he was a scammer?
“I have to see him.”
Geum A-jong stopped her as she tried to rush out. “Don't bother. I’ve already sent people to recover the money.”
Geum A-rin was shocked. “Who?”
“The Money Grubs went.”
“No!” The denial burst out of her instinctively.
The original name of the 'Money Grubs' was the Golden Bugs. They were shadow masters raised by the clan, used for the dirtiest of jobs—massacres, fighting over trade routes, and tasks that should never see the light of day. They were arrogant, feared, and loathed, but they were indispensable because they would use any means necessary to achieve their goal.
“They’re all going to die,” she whispered.
“Who? By the hands of a servant?”
She was confused, but her heart still held a strong belief in Geom Mu-geuk. “Yes, by the servant.”
“Are you sick? Well, I suppose you couldn't have done something like this if you were in your right mind.”
Geum A-rin threw herself out of the residence. Geum A-jong followed, matching her speed with his lightness skill. “Because of this, you’re going to be completely out of Father’s favor.”
Geum A-jong’s words didn't register. Various scenes flashed through her mind. She saw Geom Mu-geuk, revealed as a scammer, lying dead after being brutally handled by the Money Grubs. Or worse, she saw the scene where the Money Grubs were all dead. If he killed them all, her father would never forgive the West Blade Sect. Her plan would be ruined.
“Sending them without consulting me was your mistake, Brother.”
“You made the first mistake by giving away money without consulting anyone.”
The two arrived at the manor where Geom Mu-geuk was staying. The inside was eerily quiet. As they cautiously approached the main gate, they heard a sound from within.
Shing, shing.
It sounded like someone was sweeping the floor.
Rub, rub.
There was also the sound of something being wiped. Then, they heard a whispering voice.
“Don't touch that.”
Even the confident Geum A-jong looked puzzled. “Is this the right place?”
“I’m certain.” Geum A-rin cautiously pushed the door open.
As the door slowly swung wide, a sight they could never have imagined unfolded.
The Money Grubs were sweeping the yard with brooms. Others were wiping the walls with rags. They were clearing away broken furniture and filling in holes in the ground. They had dark bruises around their eyes, and some were limping as they moved luggage. One man, with a bandage wrapped around his bleeding forehead, was taking down a hammock caught in a tree.
The Money Grubs’ movements came to a dead stop, their gazes turning toward the two people at the gate. They wore awkward, embarrassed expressions.
Geum A-jong felt as if he were hallucinating. “What on earth are you doing?”
A Money Grub near the entrance bowed and spoke. “He said they’d be leaving soon and told us to clean up thoroughly.”
It was the first time the Money Grubs had ever looked so well-behaved.
“Who? Who said that?!”
Just then, Geom Mu-geuk emerged from the building. He looked at Geum A-rin and spoke cheerfully. “Thank you for sending people to help with the cleaning.”
In that moment, a surge of emotion welled up in Geum A-rin’s heart. All the terrible scenarios she’d imagined were washed away. She was so grateful that he had only beaten the Money Grubs and hadn't killed them.
Whether he was a servant or not didn't matter anymore. She would doubt him no longer. Yes, my choice was right.
With a bright face, Geum A-rin spoke to Geum A-jong. “Thank you, Brother. I couldn't very well ask a two-million-tael servant to do the cleaning himself.”