Moo-jin fell deep into thought.
Should he hit first and talk later? Or talk first and then hit?
Which of these two options would be the more efficient approach?
"Hm."
No matter how long he pondered, no clear answer emerged.
Unable to arrive at an easy conclusion, Moo-jin stroked his chin, lost in contemplation.
At that moment, Ma Du-gwang dropped to his knees and bowed his head low.
"Gr-Great one. Please spare my life."
Ma Du-gwang might not know much, but when it came to reading people's eyes, he was one of the best in Taiyuan.
And in his eyes, Kang Moo-jin's gaze was incredibly dangerous. It was the classic look of someone whose fists would speak before their words.
'If I take a hit from that fist, I'm dead. Even if it doesn't kill me outright, it'll feel like it.'
Ma Du-gwang recalled Chang-sae, a fiend from the unorthodox paths who still couldn't chew with his jaw after getting beaten by a Mount Hua Sect Taoist just a few days ago during an escort job. He bowed his head even deeper.
"I'll-I'll do whatever you command."
"Good. First, let's address a few questions I have."
"A-Ask away. I'll answer anything!"
"Anything at all?"
"Yes! Anything!"
"You've been paid back the principal in full, so why the hell were you demanding extra interest?"
"…."
Ma Du-gwang was instantly struck dumb, like his mouth was sealed with honey.
No matter what he said, he could already see himself getting thrashed and sent tumbling.
"Bring me the debt contract."
"…Yes. Understood."
Ma Du-gwang swallowed dryly and ordered one of his subordinates to hand over the debt document to Moo-jin.
Whoosh—
Moo-jin ignited the contract in an instant using the Fire Ignition spell.
"Now the debt is settled."
"Yes! Of course it is. It's only right."
The Silver Push Sect's sect leader, Ma Du-gwang, let out a quiet sigh of relief inwardly.
'Glad it ended so easily.'
He'd been worried that this freakishly sturdy brute might demand something outrageous, but fortunately, nothing of the sort happened.
'Lucky he's young.'
If this had been some seasoned old master from the central plains, it never would've ended like this. He'd have squeezed at least enough for a whole building out of them.
'I got lucky.'
Just as Ma Du-gwang breathed that sigh of relief, Moo-jin spoke up with a serious expression.
"Alright, now let's talk money."
"…? Wasn't that just settled?"
"What are you talking about? The money we borrowed is cleared, but the money you owe is still outstanding."
"We… borrowed money?"
Moo-jin's words stabbed into Ma Du-gwang's ears like a blade, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.
"You destroyed Diamond Escort Agency property, so we need compensation for repairs. My favorite outfit got torn, so pay up for that. And you owe mental anguish damages for the harm done to me."
"…?"
Ma Du-gwang stared at Moo-jin in sheer bewilderment.
What the hell was this lunatic babbling about?
"N-No. Fine, everything else aside—but mental damages? You don't have a scratch on you. What the hell are you compensating for?!"
The Silver Push Sect disciples nodded along as they glared at Moo-jin.
His clothes might be a bit torn, but not a single scratch marred his rock-solid physique.
"My heart."
"Pardon?"
"When you said you were selling my niece to a brothel, it wounded my heart. My heart! My spirit was hurt!"
Moo-jin pounded his chest proudly and bellowed.
"Even now, blood's pouring from my heart. Can't you see it?"
"I don't see a thing…."
Moo-jin leaned in close, his fierce glare boring into Ma Du-gwang as he asked.
"You really can't see it?"
"I-I-I can see it."
Ma Du-gwang, who nearly blacked out for a split second, hurriedly averted his gaze.
Crazy bastard…. C-Crazy bastard.
In that instant, Ma Du-gwang made up his mind.
He'd do whatever this guy wanted and get the hell out of Taiyuan as fast as possible.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
It had been about half a shichen since Moo-jin began conversing with the Silver Push Sect leader.
In that time, Moo-jin laid out what they must do going forward and what they must avoid, while Ma Du-gwang meticulously wrote it all down without missing a beat.
"So… from now on, no more illegal activities like those King Yama Branch scams. Earn money through legitimate means only, right?"
"Exactly."
"And the tribute money we paid to Crimson Flame Gang goes to you at the Diamond Escort Agency instead."
"That's right."
"…."
"Got a problem with that?"
"Great one, how are we supposed to survive without the King Yama Branch…?"
Ma Du-gwang was a black path warrior well past forty. He'd lived his whole life off dirty deeds, with nothing to his name but skill with a blade.
Asking him to abandon his one real talent(?) and start fresh? That was as good as telling him to starve.
"We need a way to eat before we can quit the King Yama Branch. This is no different from telling us to drop dead, great one."
"Let me show you a little trick."
"Pardon?"
Moo-jin picked up a spoon and held it before the puzzled Ma Du-gwang.
Squish—squish—
Like he was kneading wet clay, Moo-jin folded the spoon into a ball.
"…."
"This is called 'Head-Squeezing Prelude'."
Ma Du-gwang's face drained of color as he stared at his reflection in the now-spherical spoon.
"Want me to explain why it's called that?"
"N-No, no need. I'm good."
"I'd love to explain."
"R-Really, I'm fine. No need to strain your voice."
"So, can you manage it?"
"I've always hated the King Yama Branch, great one. I've wanted out forever, and now you've given me this chance—I'm truly grateful. It's an honor!"
Ma Du-gwang flipped his attitude in an instant, his mind already spinning with ideas for survival as his gaze shifted left.
There lay the Crimson Flame Gang patrol agent, drooling unconscious on the floor.
"That guy's bothering you?"
"Yes…. Crimson Flame Gang won't just let this slide."
"Hm. Crimson Flame Gang, huh. Tell me more about them."
Moo-jin only knew they were one of Shanxi's three great evil factions. He needed more intel.
"Crimson Flame Gang is a powerhouse around here. One of the three great evil factions, and pretty big to boot. Not on the level of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang from the righteous side, or the Eight Great Families, or even the Nine Evil Sects from our side, though."
'Eight Great Families? They've grown from the Five Great Families since then.'
When Moo-jin was fifteen, there had only been five powerhouse families, hence the name. But time marched on—enough for mountains to change twice over—so new clans rising up was only natural.
"What's the Nine Evil Sects?"
"The nine factions representing the unorthodox paths."
The Nine Evil Sects.
Haomun, Green Forest, Yangtze Waterway Stronghold, Flesh-Cutting Hall, Quickstep Hall, Black Veil Hall, Ghost Valley Mountain, Blood Gold Sect, and Nameless Hall. These nine collectively formed the unorthodox counterforce to the righteous sects.
Each was a powerhouse rivaling the Nine Great Sects and One Gang or the Eight Great Families. They'd always been strong, but after the Martial Alliance disbanded around thirty years ago, their power had surged even more.
'Looks like the Nine Evil Sects shrank from the Twelve to just nine.'
"With the Nine Evil Sects growing stronger, the current martial world is… well, like the Warring States era. Local sects are basically kings in their domains."
Ma Du-gwang's eyes drifted back to the unconscious Crimson Flame Gang patrol agent, I-mok. Even drooling and out cold, the sight filled him with dread.
"Is Crimson Flame Gang one of those?"
"Similar, yeah. Not quite Nine Evil Sects level, but in Taiyuan here in Shanxi, they're practically royalty. Specializing in liquor gives them massive influence."
"Hmm. That serious, huh."
Moo-jin stroked his chin in mild surprise, stroking his chin.
A faction dragging around weaklings like that wielded that much power?
"Once they hear their patrol agent got taken down, they'll definitely come at us."
"Can't be helped. I'll handle it—don't worry about it."
"A-Ah, yes."
"Your job now is to clean up the King Yama Branch mess you've caused and make sure you pay your debts to me on time. Got it?"
"Yes, sir! Crystal clear!"
Ma Du-gwang jumped, startled by Moo-jin's aura, and nodded vigorously.
"Oh, and hand over some money."
Seeing Moo-jin's open palm, Ma Du-gwang blinked in confusion.
"…Pardon?"
Money? Again?!
"Wh-Why?"
"You owe me for my training garb. My clothes are ruined."
Ma Du-gwang shot a plaintive glance at the patrol agent, I-mok.
That guy's fault… why me?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Kang Moo-jin headed back to the Diamond Escort Agency, a hefty money pouch in hand.
'One urgent fire's out. Plenty of our debts left, but Silver Push Sect—the most pressing one—is done.'
As thoughts of debts crossed his mind, another one popped up.
'Wait. We didn't tally what they owe us.'
An escort agency was a proper business. Sure, they took loans sometimes, but they also lent money or extended credit with promises of later payment.
'Dad said some deadbeats stopped paying after hearing we'd gone bust.'
According to his niece Soo-yeon, a few debtors owed the agency money.
They'd gone demanding payment multiple times, only to get excuses and empty bellies—no coin paid back.
'Bastards. They begged when they were desperate, but now that we're down, they ghost us shamelessly.'
Crack—
Moo-jin clenched his fist without realizing it, thinking of the debtors who'd turned their backs for their own gain, leaving the agency in this state.
"Guess I'll have to see what kind of scum they are."
Resolved to check the ledgers for details, Moo-jin arrived at the agency and pushed open the creaky front gate.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Inside, his niece Soo-yeon was swinging her tiny, reed-like fists in training.
"What're you doing?"
"Training!"
"Hm."
Moo-jin tilted his head, watching her.
Her sloppy form screamed beginner—today's first try.
"First time?"
"Yes!"
"Why all of a sudden?"
"I was so inspired watching Uncle smash those bad guys! From now on, whenever I see debtors, I'll crush their skulls!"
"…?"
Moo-jin blinked in bewilderment.
I… haven't crushed any skulls?
"Uncle's right—beat the bad guys is the way! I'll get strong fast and smash every Silver Push Sect disciple's skull!"
"…."
Moo-jin felt a pang of guilt toward his eldest brother.
He knew Soo-yeon was sharp, but not this quick on the uptake with the wrong lessons(?).
"…No need for that. I already sorted out Silver Push Sect."
"Really?!"
Soo-yeon's eyes went wide as saucers.
Crushing a Silver Push Sect that even so-called righteous heroes with some skill couldn't touch—in just one day!?
She gaped in shock, mouth agape.
"Yeah. Their debt's cleared. They won't set foot in the agency's compound anymore."
"That's great! You smashed their skulls, right? Right!?"
"Y-Yeah. Sure. Of course."
Hearing that, Soo-yeon beamed brighter than ever and hopped in place with joy.
Her smile radiated such pure delight that it seemed sunlight danced on her lips.
"…."
Moo-jin watched, and unwittingly, a smile crept onto his own lips.
That warm expression softening his usual stern face was one he himself didn't notice—but it was the first gentle smile in thirty years, never once seen even in the Linked Qi Realm.
'Feels good.'
The familial warmth he hadn't felt in ages—like huddling by a campfire on a frigid winter night—filled him with satisfaction as he settled contentedly at the table.
"Eat up, Uncle!"
"Thanks. You too—dig in."
Moo-jin finished the modest meal heartily despite the meager sides, then spread out the ledgers with Soo-yeon to review the agency's debts.
"Left side's what we owe, right side's what others owe us, I think. Uncle."
"Yeah. Got it."
Silver Push Sect was settled—a big win—but plenty of the agency's debts remained on the books.
Fortunately, that wasn't all. The ledgers also listed those who hadn't paid up.
"These are the deadbeats who borrowed and never paid back, huh."
With his next task crystal clear, Moo-jin grinned.
'Won't let 'em wriggle out of it.'