Chapter 14 ….
No Leaving Loose Ends
“Why do you want to quit?”
“I’m planning to go elsewhere.”
Geomryeong told Chief Seo Namchun at the Gangnam Bureau that he would quit his work.
“Elsewhere? Which bureau wants to take you?”
“No, I mean I want to travel across the Central Plains as I originally intended.”
“Travel?”
“Yes, I want to see the whole Central Plains.”
“That’s not easy. The world is dangerous, and many people target handsome men like you.”
“It’s fine. I’m an expert; I won’t be easily caught.”
He emphasized that he was a master with every word.
“Is it because the monthly stipend is small?”
“No. I have more money than I can spend now, so it doesn’t matter how much or how little I get.”
Seo Namchun tilted his head, puzzled.
“Is that so? Well, goodbye then. Thank you for everything.”
Geomryeong said what he needed and turned to leave the Gangnam Bureau.
Seo Namchun called after him a moment later, but Geomryeong had already vanished.
“Is he really an expert?” Seo Namchun wondered.
Meanwhile, Geomryeong was at the Continental Exchange, retrieving the vouchers he had deposited there.
Because he wanted to withdraw a large sum at once, the branch manager came out to speak with him.
“Sir, you mean to withdraw everything you’ve deposited?”
“Yes. I’m leaving this place and want to keep it elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere? Do you have another place for transactions?”
“No, I don’t. But since I’m leaving…”
“Then if you keep it at our exchange…”
“I’d have to come back here every time I need money, right?”
The branch manager blinked at Geomryeong’s words, then smiled.
“You needn’t worry. Our Continental Exchange has branches in every city, capital, and county village of the Central Plains. You can deposit and withdraw money anytime, anywhere.”
“Every city in the Central Plains?”
“Yes. It’s safer than carrying a large sum on your person. Plus, if you leave it with us for a period, it earns interest…”
The branch manager explained the system in detail, and Geomryeong nodded.
“You’re not planning to cheat me out of my money, are you?”
“Of course not. Credit is the life of the Continental Exchange.”
“I’m a martial arts expert. If you try to cheat me, your exchange will collapse that very day. Understood?”
The branch manager looked slightly bewildered but simply smiled and nodded.
“Of course.”
“Then withdraw just a little. I need travel expenses.”
“How much?”
“How much will it take to get from here to Bulshan?”
“Hmm… probably about ten silver coins.”
“Is that so? Then give me twenty silver coins, just in case.”
“Twenty coins?”
“Better safe than sorry.”
“Understood.”
‘A wealthy young master, completely naive about the world, is out on a little adventure,’ the branch manager thought.
He went to the counter, instructed a clerk, and soon returned with twenty silver coins for Geomryeong.
“Here are your twenty coins.”
“Thank you. I’m in a hurry, so I’ll be going…”
Geomryeong took the money and left the Continental Exchange.
“Bulshan Fortress… the leader of the Nokrim in Guangdong Province,” he muttered, heading toward Bulshan.
“What? Nonggo is dead?”
“Yes. He died from internal injuries and bleeding, and his corpse resembled the children from Wangak Fortress.”
“Resembled?”
Son-O frowned, thinking hard, and asked, “Wasn’t Wolyeong Seonja back at Wolyeong Sect?”
“Yes.”
“Then the villain wasn’t Wolyeong Seonja?”
“It could have happened after Wolyeong Seonja left Honghang. Let’s see…”
Son-O stroked his beard, deep in thought. Ogu stood silently beside him, waiting.
“Wangak Fortress clashed with Gangnam Bureau. When Gangnam Bureau went there, the bodies were already there. And Nonggo, who went to kill people working at Gangnam Bureau, met the same fate… Ogu! Doesn’t anything come to mind?”
Ogu reacted immediately.
“It seems related to Gangnam Bureau.”
“Right?”
“Could it be a supreme martial arts expert hiding in secret?”
“I don’t know that either.”
Thundering footsteps echoed outside, growing louder.
“This bastard…”
Ogu flinched.
“I told the kids not to run…”
“Master! Something terrible has happened!”
Normally, one would enter, greet, and then speak, but not this time. They were shouting even before reaching the door.
“You, how do you educate your kids? No wonder people call us ignorant, uncultured Nokrim!” Son-O shouted. Ogu had no choice but to bow his head.
The door opened, and one of the twelve chiefs, Yookman, entered.
“This kid thinks he’s learned enough…”
“Master! The enemy has invaded. They are slaughtering our children!”
At the word “enemy,” Son-O sprang to his feet.
“Who?”
“Unknown. He looks sixteen or seventeen, but he’s ruthless.”
“What? A kid sixteen, seventeen years old is slaughtering our children?”
“Yes.”
“You must be kidding!”
Son-O’s blood boiled at the thought of having to flee from a mere teenager.
“Let’s talk later.”
He grabbed his subordinate, Geobeokdo, and went outside.
“Kyaaah!”
Screams rang out; a fierce fight was underway. But when Son-O stepped outside, he squinted at the scene.
Though his subordinates weren’t masters, they were at least second-rate fighters. There were over a hundred children in the fortress. Yet all of them lay sprawled, bleeding.
And standing among them, sword in hand, was a young-looking man.
A boy of sixteen or seventeen, almost feminine in appearance—Geomryeong.
“Who are you? What grudge do you have with this fortress to commit such atrocities?”
“You said the Nokrim leader is in Guangdong Fortress, right?”
Son-O narrowed his eyes. The fact that he came prepared spoke volumes.
Geomryeong’s smile was icy, and Son-O immediately regretted coming here instead of fleeing as Yookman suggested.
“So you’re the leader?”
“You brat… talk too much.”
Ogu shouted from Son-O’s side.
“You brat? What if I’m a master of Reverse Aging?”
The three froze. Geomryeong wasn’t exactly a Reverse Aging master, but he was far beyond that level.
Even Cheon Nam-Yeon, once the world’s top expert, couldn’t match him in the end.
Geomryeong had absorbed the techniques of the three men, yet he didn’t know his true strength. He had never encountered a peer-level opponent.
“Really a Reverse Aging master?” Yookman asked.
“No, just saying.”
“This bastard!”
Ogu, thinking Geomryeong was mocking them, lunged with his sword, striking at Geomryeong’s waist with his signature technique, Biokpasanjeok.
The two expected Ogu to split Geomryeong in half—but they were wrong.
Geomryeong kicked Ogu’s sword hand, altering its trajectory, then spun in midair, striking Ogu’s jaw with his other leg.
It was perfectly natural.
Crack!
Bones broke, Ogu’s head snapped to the side, slamming into the wall. He died instantly.
“How can such weaklings rule the Nokrim?” Geomryeong wondered.
Even the supposed masters in Nokrim were far from top-tier. That was why Nokrim preferred avoiding confrontations with true martial artists.
“Why attack us?” Son-O asked.
“You tried to kill me.”
“We?”
“I know you sent someone to kill the Gangnam Bureau workers. And one of them came! Of course, he too died by my hand.”
Son-O finally realized the true culprit was before him.
“So it’s you. The one who wiped out Wangak Fortress.”
“Yes. Grandmother Jeon told me to do it with honor and gain praise.”
“Master! His martial arts seem off the rails,” Yookman said. Though powerful, something about him seemed slightly off.
“Seems so.”
“I heard everything you whispered. And I’ve already decided to kill you all. So don’t bother with clever tricks. My mentor said leaving loose ends brings future trouble.”
Geomryeong acted first. Son-O swung Geobeokdo at him.
Son-O was among the few top-tier masters in Nokrim, but it was useless.
Clang!
The sword split, fragments spinning into Yookman’s abdomen.
“Damn…”
Yookman died without a proper swing.
Son-O’s expression hardened. One exchange was enough to prove he couldn’t match Geomryeong.
“Once you’re gone, others will learn what happened.”
“They will. The chief will surely deal with you.”
“Good. Then that’s settled.”
“What’s settled?”
“The chief you mention won’t be able to find me.”
Son-O felt light pierce him. He felt his body spinning, then darkness.
Geomryeong single-handedly annihilated Bulshan Fortress, checked for survivors with his energy, and found none.
His ruthlessness stemmed from the Ghost Master’s teachings:
“When drawing a sword to fight, show no mercy. Personal attachments will later return as poisoned daggers.”
“Distinguish friend from foe. If you deem someone an enemy, never forgive. Half-hearted mercy will become a dagger at your throat.”
Even Jeonmo had trained him this way. Hence, Geomryeong acted decisively.
After a while, he emerged carrying a bundle he hadn’t brought in.
“Seems the Guangdong leader was rich.”
Inside were the accumulated money, vouchers, and jewels of Bulshan Fortress.
“The Continental Exchange has branches everywhere. I’ll deposit this in Gwangju.”
