Chapter 469: Find Evidence That He’s a Fraud!
Chapter 469: Find Evidence That He’s a Fraud!
Geum A-jong simply could not wrap his head around the situation.
Fine, he was willing to concede that their opponent might be a greater master than his Money Grubs. But to make those fierce, crude, and arrogant bastards this submissive? How on earth?
Right now, the man clearing the broken stones scattered on the ground was someone who usually wouldn't even bother to greet Geum A-jong. He was a man who lived as if there were no tomorrow—a truly insolent rogue. Today was the first time Geum A-jong realized that man was even capable of wearing such a naive, innocent expression.
Meanwhile, Geom Mu-geuk walked toward the two siblings.
At that moment, one of the Money Grubs nearby dropped a stone he was clearing. When Geom Mu-geuk reached down to pick it up and hand it back, the Money Grub—thinking he was about to be struck—recoiled in sheer terror and fell flat on his backside.
Watching this, Geum A-jong was speechless.
What a load of bullshit.
What he couldn't understand was this: if the Money Grubs had their arms or legs hacked off, he would have understood. That would be a truly dire situation. If they’d been maimed, they’d have to crawl on the ground like insects if told to, let alone clean up.
But they had only been beaten a bit. How could these foul-tempered thugs be so docile? Just how exactly had he thrashed them?
"This is my older brother," Geum A-rin said, introducing him to Geom Mu-geuk.
"A pleasure to meet you. I am Geom Yeon."
The look in Geum A-jong’s eyes as he stared at Geom Mu-geuk was far from pleasant. However, in a situation where his Money Grubs were busy playing janitor, he couldn't exactly interrogate the man with an "I know you're a fraud."
"I’ve heard much from my sister."
"And what did your sister have to say?"
Geom Mu-geuk’s gaze naturally shifted to Geum A-rin. Her eyes, directed at him, were filled with gratitude.
Thank you. For not running away, and for not killing the Money Grubs.
The fact that he hadn't fled meant that, at the very least, he wasn't a fraud like Geum A-jong claimed.
Being a selfish person, Geum A-jong cherished himself above all else. Naturally, he was selective about when and where he threw his tantrums.
"She said you were a man of great skill."
"As they say, a martial artist risks his life for the one who recognizes his worth."
It’s probably for the money! Geum A-jong barely suppressed the words bubbling up in his throat. And those weren't the only words he wanted to scream.
A lowly attendant!
He was certain the man was a fraud. How did a mere attendant manage to subjugate the Money Grubs? Did he use some sort of trickery? Was the man’s father a hidden master? Yes, that had to be it. The man inside the house must be the real master. He probably wasn't even his father, but someone hired for the role.
It was Geum A-rin who resolved his curiosity. She didn't hold back.
"I heard the West Blade Sect produced a winner of the Young Dragon Tournament?"
It was a question that had to be asked eventually, and since she was prepared for any answer, she could ask it calmly.
"That is correct."
This was the reason Geom Mu-geuk was using the West Blade Sect’s name again. The sect possessed such a history. When judging someone, people inevitably look at appearances or surface facts first.
The West Blade Sect produced a winner?
Geom Yeon was that winner’s attendant?
They couldn't help but focus on these details.
However, facts were merely a shell. The truth—that Geom Yeon was actually Geom Mu-geuk—would only be visible once all those shells were peeled away to reveal what lay inside.
But it wouldn't be easy. The prejudice of him being an "attendant" clouded their perception. The more provocative the surrounding facts, the more they acted as a powerful shield to obscure the truth.
"I heard the winner’s name was Seo Ryong."
"Indeed. He is my senior disciple."
"Your senior? I heard a story that you were Master Seo Ryong’s attendant?"
An answer she never expected came out of Geom Mu-geuk’s mouth.
"The Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter liked me so much that I had no choice but to act as her attendant."
Since Jin Ha-ryeong had once taken him to see the Alliance Leader, the story sounded plausible enough.
"Ah! The greatness of a love that transcends even social status!" Geum A-rin gasped.
Geum A-jong and the nearby Money Grubs looked utterly dumbfounded. One of the Money Grubs even let out a reflexive "Crazy bastard!" before freezing in shock. Realizing he had spoken out of turn, he stood paralyzed until his comrades grabbed him and pulled him back.
Watching this, Geum A-jong found the Money Grubs' reaction even more absurd. They were practically acting like performing monkeys in front of Geom Mu-geuk. To think he was paying these fools such a high monthly salary!
Geum A-rin asked Geom Mu-geuk, "Is that really true?"
The Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter liked this man? Well, she must have liked him if she took him to see her grandfather. The "facts" dazzling her shifted once again.
From 'Geom Yeon is an attendant' to 'The Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter loved him.'
"I’ll introduce you to Miss Jin next time. We’ve remained friends since then."
After a moment of lingering doubt, Geum A-rin’s gaze drifted toward the Money Grubs.
Yes, if it’s this man...
She decided to believe. She had already staked her fate on him, so she might as well trust him.
On the other hand, Geum A-jong’s thoughts were different.
He’s definitely a con artist.
Wasn't it the classic move of a fraud to boast about connections with famous people? The reason the Alliance Leader’s granddaughter took him to see her grandfather was likely an act of rebellion against the old man.
If that wasn't the case, why would he be here extorting two million taels instead of marrying the granddaughter? Especially with such formidable skill. That was why he was a fraud. For all he knew, the man might have extorted money from the granddaughter as well.
While Geum A-jong was lost in his delusions, Geom Mu-geuk called out to the Money Grubs.
"Alright, if the cleaning is finished, gather around."
The Money Grubs scurried over. They must have been ordered to look "kind," as they were all doing their best to maintain gentle expressions. Seeing that sight up close made Geum A-jong even more incredulous.
That Money Grub’s forearm was as thick as this Geom Yeon fellow’s waist. Have you no shame?
Could it be? Were they poisoned as a group? Otherwise, he couldn't believe they had been bested by this young man.
Geum A-rin felt a secret sense of satisfaction seeing those who had acted so arrogantly now looking so cowed. She felt she had the right to feel that way. After all, Geom Yeon was now her "hands and feet."
Geom Mu-geuk said to the Money Grubs, "You’ve worked hard. You may leave now."
The Money Grubs bowed deeply and hurried out of the manor.
Geum A-jong glared at them. They’re actually leaving just because he told them to?
But they really did leave without a single backward glance. It was likely because their pride was wounded, but that only wounded Geum A-jong’s pride further. No matter how much they followed his father, he was still his father’s flesh and blood.
Geom Mu-geuk spoke to the siblings. "Come to think of it, both of you sent people to kill me. It seems to be in your bloodline to not be able to leave me alone. How many siblings do you have? Surely it’s not something like nine siblings, is it?"
At Geom Mu-geuk’s joke, Geum A-rin’s face flushed slightly. Geum A-jong maintained a brazen expression, as if he hadn't been the one to send the Money Grubs.
"When shall we depart? We are fully prepared."
At Mu-geuk’s question, Geum A-rin replied, "Let’s leave immediately. I’ll be back here in half an hour."
"Very well. If you lead the way, we shall follow your carriage."
"Then, I’ll see you in a bit."
Geum A-rin started to turn away, then paused and looked back. "Thank you."
She didn't specify what she was thankful for, but Geom Mu-geuk smiled at her with a look that said he understood everything. In that moment, Geum A-rin felt it once more.
That was it.
She finally knew for certain why she was drawn to him. It was that composure. The reason she had invested two million taels and staked her very fate was because of that relaxed smile—the ease of a man who seemed to know everything.
As Geum A-rin and Geum A-jong left the premises, Geum A-jong muttered, "That guy is a fraud."
After a brief pause, Geum A-rin asked, "And you aren't?"
Geum A-jong flinched at the sharp rebuke.
"You act like you're doing this for me or the clan, but you're not, are you? If you cared about me, you would have consulted me before sending those Money Grubs. You were just certain I’d made a mistake and wanted to fix it to score points with Father, weren't you?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Caught off guard, Geum A-jong flatly denied it. If things had gone according to his plan, he would have told her: Serves you right, you're completely out of Father's favor now.
"I'll see you at the main house. Oh, and if you get the chance, make sure to thank the attendant. If you had lost all those Money Grubs, you would have been the one out of Father's favor."
Geum A-rin walked away first.
Watching her back, Geum A-jong glanced back at the manor. Through the half-open gate, he could see Geom Mu-geuk. The man was looking up at the sky, and strangely, he looked lonely.
Then, sensing Geum A-jong’s gaze, Geom Mu-geuk looked over and waved.
Geum A-jong quickly turned away and hurried his pace, pretending not to see.
His eldest brother had once told him: You're not just greedy; you have the temperament of a swindler. Fine, he admitted it. It takes one to know one. That man was definitely hiding something.
I’ll be the one to expose your true identity.
And to do that, he had a subordinate who was more skilled than anyone else.
"Lee Chu!"
A masked man appeared instantly.
"Find evidence that he’s a fraud as quickly as possible!"
"Understood."
Lee Chu was a specialist in tailing people and gathering information, and he was the most expensive operative among Geum A-jong’s subordinates.
"Do not fail! I’ve had enough failure for one day."
*
The carriages rolled toward Shaanxi, where the main headquarters of the Golden Dragon Clan was located.
The two carriages traveled with some distance between them. Geum A-rin told Im Hyeok, who was driving their carriage, not to worry even if Geom Mu-geuk’s carriage didn't stay close behind.
Inside their carriage, Geom Mu-geuk reported what he knew about the Golden Dragon Clan to his father. His father was likely receiving all the information through Tongcheon Pavilion anyway, but this specific intel was from Eun-wol.
"The Golden Dragon Clan Head has three children. Geum A-jong and Geum A-rin, whom we met earlier, are the second and third. The eldest son, Geum A-hyeok, is currently the most likely successor. If I were to analyze the probabilities, I’d say Geum A-hyeok has a sixty percent chance, Geum A-jong thirty percent, and Geum A-rin ten percent."
Geom Mu-geuk had accurately grasped Geum A-rin’s intentions.
"The ultimate reason Geum A-rin brought us in is to use us in her succession struggle. She’s dreaming of a final reversal in a race she’s already losing."
Geom Wu-jin listened in silence to his son’s report.
"Once we arrive at the Golden Dragon Clan, I plan to investigate the Family Head first. I believe he is connected to the mastermind."
"Your reasoning?"
"The reason is Geum A-rin," Mu-geuk explained. "The money earned by the secret society flowed to the mastermind. But as long as the leader of this secret society is the daughter of the Golden Dragon Clan Head, it is certain that the Family Head was the one who sent the money."
If the leader had been someone else, there might have been a slim possibility that someone in the upper management was plotting behind the Family Head’s back. But since it was Geum A-rin, the Family Head was undoubtedly involved.
"The question is the nature of the connection. Is he a complete subordinate, a sympathizer, or perhaps he’s being blackmailed? He could even be being deceived."
He also had a concrete plan.
"However, because they gave us two million taels this time, there will be a disruption in those payments. A major problem has arisen in a situation where they need to hand over money to 'them.' I intend to focus on that point. We should be able to deduce his relationship with them from the Family Head’s reaction."
A glint of interest flashed in Geom Wu-jin’s eyes. "Did you plan that far ahead when you took the money?"
Geom Mu-geuk’s sparkling eyes already provided the answer.
Geom Wu-jin then spoke. "Is there really a need for me to go as well?"
He was asking if his help was truly necessary when his son could see through the situation so clearly.
"I need to show them something."
"Show them what?"
Geom Mu-geuk spoke calmly. "That my father is here, in this Murim."
Geom Wu-jin stared at his son without a word before turning his head to look out the window of the moving carriage.
His son added one more thing. "Of course, I’m sure you’d prefer to make it known in a different way, Father."
*
That night, they stayed at an inn.
In the early hours of the morning when everyone was asleep, a masked man quietly appeared. It was Lee Chu, sent by Geum A-jong. He didn't slip into the guest rooms where people were sleeping, but into the stables.
His footsteps were silent, and even the sound of the carriage door opening was nonexistent. His movements were so stealthy he could have been mistaken for a master thief or an assassin.
Lee Chu didn't rashly enter the room where they were sleeping. First, he inspected the carriage. After carefully examining the interior, he checked the driver’s seat. There was nothing special; perhaps the luggage had been moved to the guest room.
Yet, Lee Chu felt an indefinable sense of dissonance from this seemingly ordinary carriage.
Something is strange.
After scanning the surroundings for a moment, he realized the source of the dissonance.
The carriage is too shabby compared to the horses.
The horses were truly magnificent steeds, but the carriage was far too dilapidated. Lee Chu slowly inspected the carriage, looking it over and tapping on it. As a result, he discovered that the exterior of the carriage had been newly covered with thin plywood. It had been intentionally disguised to look like an old carriage.
Lee Chu used a dagger to scrape the edge of the plywood, prying it open slightly. Peering through the gap, he could see that there was a painting on the carriage. Looking closer, it appeared to be the shape of a crescent moon.
"A crescent moon?" he whispered to himself. Was there a sect in the Murim that used a crescent moon as its symbol?
He felt he might recognize it if he peeled off a bit more. But doing so would leave traces. He thought he should return with materials to reattach the plywood before peeling it off completely.
Just as he was peering through the gap one last time to confirm the painting...
Lee Chu recoiled in horror. It wasn't because of the painting. Someone had silently approached and was peering through the gap in the plywood right beside him.
It was Geom Mu-geuk.
"It looks more like a horn than a crescent moon, don't you think?"