“Wait!” No So-yeon froze at the woman’s cry. Kang Min-hyuk idly dug a finger in his ear. “Quite a set of lungs on you.” The woman’s expression turned to ice. “What do you think you’re doing?” “What?” “What am I doing?” she repeated, her voice rising. “Isn’t it obvious? You’re acting like a common thief.” “You, Samgongja!” “And you,” Kang Min-hyuk said, tilting his head. “I’m only asking because I genuinely don’t know. Are you, by any chance, a disciple of the Cult Leader, like me?” Though the question was sincere, to her it landed like pure sarcasm. A deep red flush crept up the woman’s neck. She couldn't control her expression at all. “No, right? I didn’t think so. Does that give you the right to threaten me and scream in my face?” “Look here.” “Is your status higher than mine?” Kang Min-hyuk turned his head to No So-yeon. “No So-yeon, is this woman’s rank higher than mine?” “That is not the case.” “Ah! Right. You would know. Who is she?” No So-yeon glanced nervously at the woman’s warriors. Kang Min-hyuk’s eyes widened. “Why are you looking at them? Answer me.” “Yes, yes!” No So-yeon’s explanation was brief and to the point. The woman’s name was Hong Yeo-rin. She was a member of the Hwan-rak Won of the Shingyo, and the daughter of the Jeoksaga family, one of the seven great demonic families. Though young, she was a powerful warrior, strong enough to be called a late Jisoo, and a celebrated prodigy within the Demonic Cult. And the crucial part. “Oh, really? She’s the younger sister of a fellow disciple?” “That is correct.” “I was wondering why she was barking so loudly. Turns out she thinks she has someone powerful backing her up.” The woman, Hong Yeo-rin, felt her face twist into a snarl. Someone powerful backing her up? The Samgongja was insulting her, fully aware of the bitter rivalry between her and her brother. Kang Min-hyuk waved a hand in a gesture of pure, bone-deep weariness. “She seems a little strange, but fine. I’ll be considerate, since we’re connected through fellow disciples. I’d rather not make a scene.” “…” “Get out. And don’t come back. Understood?” Not that I’ll be here when you do, he thought. Kang Min-hyuk smiled. The thought of his imminent escape sent a pleasant warmth through him. This…! Hong Yeo-rin’s cheeks trembled. The insults were hard enough to bear, but now he was openly mocking her. “…Very well.” Suddenly, all expression vanished from her face. As her anger peaked, an unsettling calm settled over her features. “Since the Samgongja is being so direct, perhaps this is for the best.” “Right. Goodbye.” “There’s just one thing to take care of before I go.” “What now?” She produced two sheets of high-quality paper from her sleeve. “This is a contract, stamped by both of us.” A contract? “You remember, don’t you? If one party terminates the agreement first, or creates a situation where termination is unavoidable, the penalty is three times the initial investment.” “Hmm?” “The elixirs invested in the Samgongja are worth nearly one thousand gold nyang.” “If you include all the other miscellaneous financial support, the total comes to a little over two thousand nyang, but given our past affection, we will forget the interest.” “…?!” “Six thousand gold nyang. Pay now. If that’s difficult, you can write a memorandum promising repayment by a certain date. Then I will quietly disappear.” Elixirs? Financial support? He received elixirs and money from the family of a rival candidate? What kind of nonsense was this? I’ve never heard of anything like this, Kang Min-hyuk thought, glancing at No So-yeon. No So-yeon shook her head, her face a frozen mask. Her expression clearly said she knew nothing about it. Six thousand nyang? Six thousand! Six thousand gold nyang. That was sixty thousand silver nyang—an enormous sum, equivalent to the entire annual budget of a large clan. She wanted that much money right now? And if not, a written IOU? What the hell! “Of course. Let’s write a memorandum.” “…Pardon?” “If I can’t pay immediately, a memorandum will have to do. No So-yeon! Prepare paper, a brush, and an inkstone.” It was Hong Yeo-rin’s turn to be stunned by his casual acceptance. “You’ll write it? Really?” “You’re a relentless one, woman.” His tone was shockingly blunt. Hong Yeo-rin felt a flicker of disorientation. He’s going to write it? A memorandum was not something to be written lightly. For a person of high status, it was a dangerous thing. The issue wasn’t the repayment itself, but the very existence of such a document. The scandal alone could be damaging. The moment it became known that Hong Yeo-rin held a memorandum from the Samgongja, all eyes would inevitably turn to him. Public attention was a double-edged sword. Curiosity was one thing, but if it curdled into suspicion, the subject would be trapped in an invisible cage of scrutiny. For someone of the Samgongja’s standing, that pressure must be immense. Is he serious? She had assumed he would never agree to write such a thing. That was why she’d offered it as an option—it was the perfect way to pressure him and gain the upper hand. But he was agreeing. And with a completely nonchalant expression. “Are you certain you want to write it?” “Are you deaf?” “You are really going to write it?” “Should I clean your ears out for you?” The bridge of her nose twitched. Kang Min-hyuk snorted inwardly. There’s nothing to lose. He had over thirty years of experience in the Pung-un. He could see right through this girl’s petty scheme. So what? Once he escaped, the memorandum would be nothing but a scrap of paper. He was a thorough individualist with no interest in fame or power. Besides, the original owner of this body had been a cruel bastard who frequently killed his own subordinates. His reputation was the least of Kang Min-hyuk’s concerns. “Young Master, I have prepared the paper, brush, and ink.” “Oh, good work.” Kang Min-hyuk ground the inkstick against the stone. “How about I just write that I’ll pay it back in three or four months?” “…” “No answer? Is that too long? It’s six thousand nyang. I think that much time is reasonable.” A person could never know what might happen. Three or four months was the minimum insurance he needed against unforeseen circumstances. Hong Yeo-rin’s complexion shifted through several shades. But only for a moment. “…Fine. Write it.” “Gladly.” Kang Min-hyuk began to hum as he moved the brush. Hong Yeo-rin, who had been staring down at the paper with a confused look, suddenly narrowed her eyes. “What are you doing?” “Writing the memorandum.” “…” “Don’t talk to me. I’m busy.” Hong Yeo-rin was dumbfounded. “You do realize that changing your handwriting will have no effect, don’t you?” Handwriting? Ah. I see. Of course his handwriting wouldn’t match that of the body’s previous owner. But what did it matter? “I’m not putting my handprint on it anyway. Stop fussing over minor details.” “…” “Let’s see… the new year is in four months. So, I’ll write that I will pay by the end of this year. Is that acceptable?” “No.” “Three months, then? Fine.” “It doesn’t matter if it’s three months or four. That is not the important part.” “If you have something to say, spit it out. What’s with all this posturing?” Hong Yeo-rin took a deep breath, fighting back her anger at his complete lack of respect. Calm down. If you get angry here, you lose. “We need to correct the amount.” “You’ll make it cheaper? Well, thank you.” “I believe we should raise it to ten thousand nyang.” The brush stopped moving. “Ten thousand nyang?” “That is what I said.” “Are you trying to rob me blind? Why did six thousand suddenly become ten thousand?” “I must also be compensated for my mental distress.” Kang Min-hyuk’s eyebrows furrowed. “More of this bullshit?” “Eleven thousand nyang.” “What?” “The contract is not truly terminated until the debt is collected. Until then, you must maintain your dignity as a contractor.” “Dignity? A few rude words are going to cost me five thousand nyang?” “We will have to raise it again.” A cold, clear killing intent surfaced in Hong Yeo-rin’s eyes. “An insult to me is an insult to the Jeoksaga family. The Samgongja not only treated a daughter of the Jeoksaga as a thief, but also cursed at her.” “What will happen if that fact becomes known to the outside world?” She was twisting his personal insult into a slight against her entire family, escalating a secret contract between two individuals into a conflict between powerful factions. This was no longer about money or securing a better future. It was a battle of pride. “What happens? I’m not sure I care.” “Many things could happen. But it is certain that the Samgongja will have unnecessary troubles in the future. The smell of blood attracts hungry wild dogs.” “And who witnessed this supposed insult?” “You know who. Those two.” She gestured to the warriors she had brought with her. Hong Yeo-rin pressed her advantage. “Or perhaps my entire family witnessed it.” “You’re spouting nonsense.” “I’ll raise it to eleven thousand nyang. And I suggest you do not take my words lightly. If my family decides to act, it is not difficult to inflate a rumor.” “And you have the power to spin lies into truth?” “To be exact, we have the power to give strength to the truth. There may be a small lie involved, but that is simply a matter of perspective.” Hong Yeo-rin smiled. There was murder in her eyes, but her expression was one of cool triumph. “If you don’t like it, change the amount to twelve thousand nyang and stamp the document. And let me be clear, there will be no further negotiations.” “…” “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and finish. Didn’t you say you were busy?” Kang Min-hyuk silently glared at her. Hong Yeo-rin’s smile deepened. How dare this useless fool! The only reason her family had provided him with elixirs and money in the first place was to turn the Samgongja into their own prized stallion. She was inferior to her brother in martial arts, seniority, and age, but her ambition burned far brighter. Since her gender barred her from ever becoming the Cult Leader, she wanted the next best thing: to stand above all others as the power behind the throne. She had once considered an arranged marriage with the Samgongja, but that was long past. There was no use for a stallion that had lost its dignity and forgotten how to run. All she could do now was recoup her investment several times over and find another horse to back. While Hong Yeo-rin savored her victory, Kang Min-hyuk glared, though his thoughts were elsewhere. …Yes, that’s right. Escape this demonic hell. Build a peaceful life. That had been his plan. But he had just remembered something he’d forgotten. Life is an exchange of equals. Escaping the Demonic Cult was never going to be an easy task. He had seen it too simply, believing he could slip away with a little effort. He was wrong. That was just naive optimism. I shouldn’t have been so complacent. Three or four months of insurance? It’ll work out somehow? This was the headquarters of the most brutal organization in the Murim. He should have been on high alert, but he had treated the situation far too lightly. Crucially, I am still in the Murim. And the Murim was a world where you achieved nothing unless you were willing to risk your life. Swish. Swish. Kang Min-hyuk changed the amount on the memorandum to 12,000 nyang. Hong Yeo-rin chuckled. “Here you go.” “I won’t be giving it to you.” “…I beg your pardon?” Kang Min-hyuk gently waved the paper to dry the ink. Hong Yeo-rin frowned. “You, Samgongja.” “No So-yeon.” “Yes! Young Master!” “Go outside and call the guard captain.” No So-yeon scrambled out of the suffocating atmosphere without a word. A moment later, the guard captain entered. “For the glory of the Bul-pae Cult. I greet the Samgongja. How may this one be of service?” “Ready a carriage. I have somewhere to be.” “Samgongja, forgive my presumption, but your body is still…” “I am going to the Gyojujeon.” “…What?!” “Prepare the carriage and send a message to the Cult Leader’s hall. Inform them that the third disciple is coming to see his Master.” In an instant, the air in the room turned frigid. Going to run to the Master? Good. After being patient for three months, I’m done testing the waters. He would no longer sit back and wait. He would march into the heart of this demonic hell and risk everything to make his own deal. His annoyance with Hong Yeo-rin vanished, replaced by a strange sense of gratitude. Thanks to this little thief, he now understood exactly how deadly this place was. If he wanted his freedom, he would have to wager a much higher stake. He would claim his rights from the most powerful man in this cult. “What are you standing there for? Send word to the Jeoksaga as well. Let’s see whose voice is louder at the Gyojujeon.” Hong Yeo-rin’s face went deathly pale.

Chapter 5: A Question of Rank