CRD 06

Chapter 6 

As soon as those words left his lips, Moyongcheon headed toward the main gate.

Debt?

Debt collectors had come at this late hour.

Surely it must be because of me, right?

The first person that came to mind was Jang Gu.

Those damn men from Yeomwangchae had lent a hundred nyang and, in less than ten days, tried to squeeze out more than a thousand nyang.

And they even tried to beat him up despite knowing that he was the heir of the Moyong family.

Just that alone showed how much the prestige of the main house had fallen.

They didn’t even utter a single word about the circumstances of the Moyong family.

But…

Please let it be because of me!

If the main house itself had incurred debts, that would be even more terrifying.

“M-Master?”

Startled, Kwakno popped out from behind, but Moyongcheon moved straight to the gate.

“Can’t you open it quickly? Let’s see… let’s see how shameless you can be at this hour…!”

Clatter! Creak!

As he forcefully opened the gate, Moyongcheon saw about ten men.

The one in the middle was a man in his thirties with a burly build. His night-hawk-like beard and the sizable sword on his back made him intimidating even in broad daylight.

The man, Ga Hang (賈恒), smirked.

“Well, well, it’s been a while.”

Hearing that, Moyongcheon realized:

It’s because of me.

He glanced to the left and saw Jang Gu. Their eyes met, and for a moment Jang Gu flinched, but then he straightened his shoulders, perhaps trusting the strength of his group. It was almost comical.

Still, it was reassuring.

“I didn’t expect you to open the gate personally. May we come in?”

“No.”

“…?”

“I can’t let debt collectors into the main house.”

Moyongcheon’s calm words wrinkled the men’s expressions.

Meanwhile, Ga Hang burst into laughter. The mockery was clear.

“The reason debt collectors come is, naturally, because someone owes money, right?”

He got that right, the man.

“The fact that the payment hasn’t been made despite the time passed indicates that you lack the means. In that case, shouldn’t we look for someone to pay on your behalf?”

At that, Kwakno asked,

“Master, did you really borrow money from them?”

Moyongcheon let out an involuntary wry smile.

“I heard it was a hundred nyang.”

“A-A hundred nyang?”

“Kwakno, step back.”

“Master!”

Moyongcheon stepped outside.

“Anyway, let’s move somewhere else. Isn’t it too late?”

He hadn’t even spoken to Sujeong yet or seen her face, so he couldn’t cause a scene at home. For now, he needed to stay calm.

Ga Hang snorted.

“If you wanted to go somewhere else, would we have come personally?”

True enough.

“And one more thing. If there were other ways to repay the debt, wouldn’t it have been done already?”

He was surprisingly sharp.

One shouldn’t judge moneylenders by their appearance alone. These men were clever and would chase after borrowed money across the continent if necessary.

You think they wouldn’t go to such lengths for just a hundred nyang? Even ten nyang would do. In the short term it’s troublesome, but in the long run, it’s profitable.

And they weren’t going after just a hundred nyang—they intended to squeeze out a thousand.

The men of Yeomwangchae were exactly that kind: relentless. They would find a way to collect the debt unless their organization risked collapse.

But Moyongcheon had a way to resolve this without paying.

“I have a method, so let’s not make a fuss.”

Ga Hang’s eyes sparkled.

So composed.

He recalled the Moyong family heir as a neurotic, pessimistic, and timid man with no answers.

But now, he was different.

“Even a mongrel can show some backbone in its own yard.”

A blatant insult.

Kwakno shouted in anger.

“How dare you speak such nonsense to the heir of the Moyong family!”

Moyongcheon raised his hand.

“Kwakno, step back.”

“Master! That’s not right!”

“I said step back.”

It was then.

“You’ve worked hard to come to the main house at this late hour.”

A clear, pleasant voice reached him.

Moyongcheon turned and was shaken.

A woman was walking toward them with a man in his early forties. Her presence was remarkable.

My sister-in-law?!

No, it was her and Da Ho’s face as well. The harmonious beauty of the pair was impressive.

It’s Sujeong!

Moyongcheon’s face lit up with joy.

That newborn baby… has grown so much…

The baby’s tiny fingers, clutched around his own, were still vivid in his memory.

Moyong Sujeong didn’t glance at Moyongcheon once. Her eyes were fixed solely on Ga Hang.

“But it’s too late now. Most homes, regardless of whose, don’t receive guests at this hour.”

“……”

“Come back tomorrow.”

Calm and cool.

Ga Hang, and even the other men, flinched unconsciously.

Ga Hang was the first to recover.

“Really? Tomorrow is fine? The debt will increase by then.”

“How much does my younger brother owe?”

“One thousand eighty nyang and seventy mun.”

Her authority momentarily intimidated him, but Ga Hang was, after all, the leader of this group. One had to be ruthless to survive in moneylending.

Moyong Sujeong slightly frowned.

“One thousand eighty nyang?”

“Don’t forget the seventy mun.”

“The interest seems quite high. What was the principal?”

Ga Hang proudly answered.

“A hundred nyang.”

Seokwoong’s face darkened with anger.

Even if time passed, a hundred nyang would never grow to over a thousand eighty nyang seventy mun. These men were vile among the vile.

“The interest is indeed significant.”

“Well, the heir knew what he was borrowing. Our Black Tiger House is famous for strictly enforcing contracts.”

Moyong Sujeong—and Seokwoong—felt a bit trapped.

Black Tiger House.

Yeomwangchae usually hid their existence. If they lent money directly, they could be pursued and ruined by righteous heroes or government officials.

But Black Tiger House openly ran their business. They were a dark, underground organization with multiple enterprises under their belt.

Ga Hang crossed his arms arrogantly.

“On top of that, your heir even beat up two of our men who came to collect. Borrowing money is one thing, assault is quite another!”

Moyong Sujeong looked at Moyongcheon in surprise.

“Normally, the interest should be doubled as compensation, but we will let it slide once, considering the Moyong family.”

“I see…”

“But it’s clear that your heir cannot repay the debt. If there were money, it would have been paid already. Assaulting people shows intent to default, does it not?”

Moyong Sujeong regained her composure.

“Don’t worry. We will handle the debt.”

Ga Hang grinned.

“Indeed, straightforward and refreshing. This is why… the master handles matters personally.”

“So, please leave for today.”

“Leave?”

“Considering it’s not just a hundred but over a thousand nyang, we need time to prepare.”

“Each day, interest compounds according to the contract. It will increase by tomorrow. Are you sure?”

Moyong Sujeong didn’t waver.

“Leave. The acting head of the family promises to settle it.”

Ga Hang openly sneered.

Kwakno trembled with rage, and Seokwoong glared coldly at him.

“Very well.”

Ga Hang stepped back and led his men away.

Kwakno hurried to close the gate, and Seokwoong let out a deep sigh.

“Sir, how did you handle them…”

He didn’t finish his sentence; Moyong Sujeong raised her hand to stop him.

“Bia.”

Bia.

So this is Moyong Bi.

Moyong Sujeong turned around.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

Moyongcheon calmed his racing heart and followed her to the small garden near the office.

“Are you okay?”

Moyongcheon was startled. The imposing Sujeong now approached with a genuinely worried expression and touched his face.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Huh? Uh… no…”

“That’s a relief.”

Sighing deeply, her face radiated human warmth—something she didn’t show Seokwoong or Kwakno.

“You’ve gotten entangled with very dangerous people. If you needed money, why not come to me directly?”

Concern after concern.

Even as her little brother caused a massive problem, she didn’t scold him. Moyongcheon was so taken aback he couldn’t speak.

“I won’t ask why you borrowed the money. You must have had your reasons.”

“……”

“You seem to be really fine. That’s enough. Go back and rest. I’ll handle this.”

“Ah, but…”

“Don’t worry. The main house still has resources. The money borrowed through intermediaries can easily be repaid. Don’t fret, understand?”

She wasn’t a sister—she was more like a mother.

Moyongcheon felt a lump in his throat again. The infant who had grown up to care for her clumsy younger brother so responsibly was heart-wrenching.

“It’s cold. Wear warmer clothes from tomorrow.”

After speaking, Moyong Sujeong coughed lightly.

Moyongcheon, staring at her trembling figure, was shocked.

What’s wrong?

He thought her paleness was due to moonlight, but it wasn’t.

Illness? Could it be…?!

He instinctively reached to check her pulse, but she quickly stepped back several paces.

“Now go rest.”

Turning her back, she briskly walked to the office, her occasional coughs echoing like thunder in Moyongcheon’s ears.

Left alone, his expression gradually became blank.

This reality is tough.

Tough, but at least it’s a relief.

So the little one has been holding up the main house while being ill…

Something boiled up in his lower abdomen like molten lava.

It surged through his chest and hardened in his mind.

You said her name was Moyong Bi? That brat! While she suffered, what were you doing?!

He felt anger toward the heir of the Moyong family, his former owner.

But now wasn’t the time for anger. He didn’t know the state of the family, but he knew what he had to do immediately.

No matter the illness, one must stay calm, or the ailment will rage.

Besides, now that he was in the heir’s body, he couldn’t disclaim responsibility. Especially when entangled with the family, there was no need to mention it.

Moyongcheon turned his gaze toward the gate.

Black Tiger House… they openly hang a sign for their business, huh?

So it would be easy to find.