Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: High-Handed (1)
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No sooner had the words left his mouth than Murong Cheon headed straight for the main gate.
'Debt?'
Debt collectors showing up in the dead of night, of all times.
'Surely it's not because of me... is it?'
The first name that sprang to mind was Jang Gu.
Those damned King Yama Debt Gang thugs had borrowed a hundred nyang and were already trying to squeeze over a thousand out of him in less than ten days. They were utter lunatics.
And even after learning that the borrower was the eldest son of House Murong, they still tried to beat him senseless.
That alone showed how far the main family's prestige had fallen. They hadn't even bothered mentioning House Murong's circumstances.
But.
'Please let it be because of me!'
If it wasn't just this foolish young master but the entire main family drowning in debt, that would be far worse.
"Y-Young Master?!"
Murong Cheon brushed past Old Man Gwak, who came rushing out in alarm, and strode right up to the gate.
"Won't you open this damn gate already? At this hour, you're begging for a public humiliation...!"
Clunk! Creak!
As Murong Cheon flung the heavy gate open with force, his eyes fell on over a dozen rough-looking men.
In the center stood a hulking brute in his thirties, built like a mountain. His beard was thick and bristly like a wild boar's bristles, and a hefty sword was strapped to his back—enough to make anyone's legs buckle even in broad daylight.
The man, Ga Hang, flashed a sleazy grin.
"Well, well, it's been a while."
The moment Murong Cheon heard that, realization dawned.
'Yep, definitely here for me.'
He glanced sideways.
There, at the left end of the group, was Jang Gu. Their eyes met, and the man flinched for a split second, but then he puffed out his chest, relying on the backup around him. Pathetic.
Still, it was a relief.
"Didn't expect you'd open the door yourself. Mind if we come in?"
"No."
"...?"
"Can't let debt collectors into the main house."
The men's faces twisted at his deadpan response.
Ga Hang, meanwhile, burst into loud guffaws, his scorn plain as day.
"We only come calling because someone here owes us debt, don't we?"
I get it, you bastard.
"If the deadline's passed and you still can't pay, it means you don't have the means. So we gotta find someone who can pay in your stead, right?"
At that moment, Old Man Gwak asked,
"Young Master, did you... borrow money from these people?"
Murong Cheon couldn't help but give a wry smile.
"A hundred nyang, apparently."
"A-a hundred nyang?!"
"Old Man Gwak, stand back."
"Young Master!"
Murong Cheon stepped out beyond the threshold.
"Whatever the case, let's take this somewhere else. Isn't it a bit late for this?"
He hadn't even spoken to Sujing yet, let alone seen her face. He couldn't afford a ruckus at home right now. At least for the moment, things needed to stay calm.
Ga Hang smirked.
"If we wanted to go elsewhere, we'd have told you to come to us. We came here ourselves."
True enough.
"And one more thing. Got any other way to pay if not here? If you did, you'd have settled it ages ago."
Sharper than he looks.
That was why you couldn't judge moneylenders by appearances. These guys were smarter than they seemed, and they'd chase you to the ends of the continent to collect.
Overkill for a mere hundred nyang?
They'd do it for ten nyang, even one. Short-term hassle meant long-term gains—they knew the game.
And crucially, they weren't after a hundred nyang. They were gunning for a thousand.
The King Yama Debt Gang collected by any means necessary, as long as their organization didn't get smashed in the process.
But Murong Cheon had a way.
A way to settle this without paying a single coin.
"I've got it covered, so cut the commotion."
Ga Hang's eyes gleamed.
'Cool as ice.'
The Murong young master he remembered was a neurotic, pessimistic mess—timid to boot.
This was different.
"Even a mangy mutt wrinkles its nose in its own yard."
Blatant insult.
Old Man Gwak bellowed,
"You lot! How dare you spout such nonsense at House Murong's young master!"
Murong Cheon raised a hand.
"Old Man Gwak, go inside."
"Young Master! You can't!"
"I said go inside."
That was when it happened.
"You've had a hard journey coming to the main house at such a late hour."
The clear, resonant voice was music to his ears.
Murong Cheon whipped around, his eyes widening in shock.
A young woman was approaching alongside an elderly man. Her poise was extraordinary.
'My niece-in-law?!'
No.
She had Daeho's features and her own—harmoniously blended into a beauty that would stun anyone.
'It's Sujing!'
Emotion surged across Murong Cheon's face.
'That tiny infant from back then... already all grown up.'
He could still vividly recall the baby's tiny hand gripping his pinky. And now, here she was, all grown.
Murong Sujing didn't spare Murong Cheon a glance. Her eyes were fixed solely on Ga Hang.
"But it's far too late. No house, be it ours or any other, welcomes guests at this hour."
"... ."
"Return for now and come back tomorrow."
Calm. Chilling.
Ga Hang and his men all flinched involuntarily.
Her beauty might invite lecherous stares, but none dared. That spoke volumes of her commanding presence.
Ga Hang recovered first.
"You sure tomorrow's fine? The debt'll grow by then."
"How much does my brother owe?"
"One thousand eight hundred eighty nyang and seventy mun."
He'd been cowed for a moment, but Ga Hang was still the boss. You couldn't play the money game without a ruthless streak.
Murong Sujing's brows furrowed slightly.
"One thousand eight hundred eighty nyang?"
"Don't forget the seventy mun."
"Looks like quite the interest piled up. What's the principal?"
Ga Hang declared it shamelessly, without a hint of embarrassment.
"A hundred nyang."
Seok Ung's face flushed with rage.
No matter how long it'd been, a hundred nyang didn't balloon to one thousand eight hundred eighty like this. These were scum of the worst kind.
"Impressive interest."
"Your young master knew and borrowed anyway, didn't he? The Black Tiger Gang is famous for sticking to contracts to the letter."
"Black Tiger Gang."
Not just Murong Sujing—even Seok Ung looked troubled.
Black Tiger Gang.
The King Yama Debt Gang usually operated in the shadows. Unless it was through trusted contacts, they risked pursuit by righteous knights or the authorities, leading to ruin.
But the Black Tiger Gang was different. They openly branded themselves and ran their loan sharking bold as brass.
To be precise, they weren't just King Yama Debt Gang—they were a sprawling underworld syndicate dominating the back alleys with loans, businesses, and more.
Ga Hang crossed his arms smugly.
"On top of that, this young master beat two of our boys to a pulp when they came collecting. Borrows the money, then assaults the collectors—what nerve!"
Murong Sujing shot Murong Cheon a startled look.
"Normally, we'd double the interest for the disrespect, but since it's House Murong, we'll let it slide this once."
"...I see."
"But it's clear this young master can't pay. If he had the money, he'd pay up—no need to beat people. That's intent to default, plain and simple."
Murong Sujing regained her composure.
"Don't worry. We'll handle the debt."
Ga Hang grinned.
"Straight shooter, just like family should be..."
"So head back for tonight."
"You want us gone?"
"Not even a hundred nyang—we need time to prepare for one thousand eight hundred eighty."
"Contract says interest compounds daily. Tomorrow, it'll be even more. You okay with that?"
Murong Sujing didn't waver.
"Go. The acting patriarch says she'll pay."
Mockery openly twisted Ga Hang's face.
As if some acting patriarch of House Murong's promise meant jack squat.
Old Man Gwak trembled with fury, and Seok Ung glared daggers with icy eyes.
"Fine."
Ga Hang stepped back.
"We'll return at noon tomorrow. Have the money ready."
Coming in broad daylight meant exposing to all that House Murong's heir had borrowed from the Black Tiger Gang.
Murong Sujing shook her head.
"We'll come to you."
"Heh, hope you can."
With that, Ga Hang led his men away.
Old Man Gwak hurriedly shut the gate, and Seok Ung let out a heavy sigh.
"Young Master, how could you get mixed up with those...?"
He trailed off as Murong Sujing raised a hand to silence him.
"Bi-ah."
Bi-ah.
'So that's his name: Murong Bi.'
Murong Sujing turned.
"Come talk with me for a bit."
Murong Cheon calmed his churning emotions and followed her.
The two arrived at a small flower bed near the study.
"Are you alright?"
Murong Cheon startled. The dignified Murong Sujing approached with deep concern, gently caressing his face.
"No injuries anywhere?"
"Uh? Y-yeah..."
"Good, that's a relief."
She sighed deeply, her face full of warmth—a side she never showed Seok Ung or Old Man Gwak.
"You got tangled with dangerous people. If you needed money, why not come straight to your big sister?"
Worry upon worry.
No scolding despite her brother's massive screw-up. Flustered, Murong Cheon couldn't find words.
"I won't ask why you borrowed. You must've had your reasons."
"... ."
"You look fine, really. That's what matters. Go rest. I'll handle this."
"Ah, but—"
"Don't worry. The main house still has power. We can cover some usury loan. Don't stress. Got it?"
More like a mother than a sister.
Murong Cheon felt another surge of emotion. It broke his heart seeing this grown woman, once a tiny baby, caring for her worthless brother.
"It's gotten chilly. Wear thicker clothes starting tomorrow."
With that, Murong Sujing let out a sudden, deep cough.
Murong Cheon, watching her with trembling eyes, froze.
'What?'
He'd thought her pallor was just the moonlight, but no.
'Sick? No way...?!'
He instinctively reached to take her pulse, but she swiftly backed away several steps.
"Go rest now."
She turned and hurried toward the study, her back to him. The intermittent coughs boomed like thunder in Murong Cheon's ears.
Left alone, his face gradually hardened into an emotionless mask.
"This world's a real burden."
Burdensome.
But fortunate, too. He truly believed that.
'That young one’s been propping up the main house with a sick body.'
Something boiled in his gut like molten lava.
The heat scorched his chest, then cooled into steel-hard resolve upon reaching his mind.
'Murong Bi, was it? You bastard, while your sister suffered like that, what the hell were you doing?!'
He was furious at the original owner of this body, that foolish young master.
But now wasn't the time for anger. He didn't know the full state of the clan, but he knew what he had to do next.
'No matter the illness, a calm mind keeps the sickness at bay.'
Since he'd possessed this body, he couldn't just shrug it off as "not my fault." Especially not when it involved the clan.
Murong Cheon turned toward the gate.
"Black Tiger Gang... out in the open with their sign, huh?"
Easy to find.