Mercenary Harem in Murim Novel

"Heh, how did you know my name?" Leo asked, trying not to smile.

"I heard a lot about you from the rumors in the city. They said that you have dumb guards that don't even escort you last night, but they were wrong. You don't have dumb guards, but useless and brainless fools. You're rich. And, your wife is a beauty that everyone wants. A perfect couple."

"Thank you, I guess?" Leo said, showing his prideful expression.

Gong Jin was surprised. Never in his life he met someone so unfazed and even so ignorant when facing danger. A pushover, so to speak. And a sheltered one at that.

For someone like Gong Jin who lived his life taking things from others, there was no easier target than the rich merchant in front of him.

Also...

'The woman is so beautiful.'

His gaze moved to Jessica. She was wearing a red dress that fit her perfectly, showing the right amount of her cleavage. Her legs were long and her skin was pale and smooth. She looked like a doll, with a hint of sensuality that was hidden beneath her calm exterior.

'I want her.'

Unconsciously, he licked his lips.

But, before he could make a move, a loud bang sounded and the ground trembled.

"Ahhhh!"

Gong Jin felt a pain in his leg and he was forced on his knees. Confused, he looked down and saw a hole on his left thigh.

'What?!'

It didn't make sense. He was fine just a moment ago. The next thing he noticed was that he fell onto his knee with a hole in his knee. And the worst thing is...

'I can't sense anything at all!'

While he wasn't a really strong martial artist, he was still 5 Stars and had a high affinity with Qi. But, he couldn't sense any energy or power at all. It was as if someone had erased the flow of energy within his body, rendering him unable to use his abilities.

"You see..."

A voice came from behind him.

"It's not easy to hold back when that stupid guard I chose randomly look at my girl. I am already mad and want to kill him for his incompetence."

Gong Jin was familiar with the voice. It belonged to the merchant he just spoke with.

But, something was different. His tone was harsh and filled with cold anger. When he looked up, the merchant was standing a few feet away from him with a strange stick in his hand. It was a handgun.

"You... What are you?" Gong Jin couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Who? Me?" Leo asked. "I am just a humble merchant who loves to collect artifact and strange things. Now, it's your turn. What are you? A former guard from Four Wind Merchant who steals a treasure and run away with his gang, am I right?"

"How did you...?"

"I told you, I am a merchant. Knowledge and information is my life. But, that doesn't matter now."

Leo aimed the strange stick and shot again.

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This time, the bullet pierced Gong Jin's eye, brushing against his face and hitting the ground behind him.

"Ahhh!"

He screamed in pain and covered his bleeding eye. He didn't understand what was going on.

'How could a weakling like him possess such a strong weapon? What is that?!'

That wasn't important. What mattered was that he was attacked and wounded by the very same man he thought he could take advantage of.

"Y-You bastard! I will kill you! Attack him!"

Gong Jin shouted loudly and his subordinates, frozen from the unexpected, jumped into action. They rushed toward Leo, leaving the half-dead Deng Yue and the other two men, their weapons ready to hack him.

However, before they could reach him, they suddenly stopped. Their bodies refused to move even a muscle as if something invisible was restraining them.

"Wha-"

"I can't move! I can't sense anything!"

"It's useless. The more you resist, the tighter the restraining becomes." Jessica's cold voice rang out.

From her fingers, invisible thread extended toward the thugs, restraining them like a puppet.

"You, you're a martial artist?!" Gong Jin was shocked.

"No, I'm not." She smiled sweetly, but there was a coldness in her eyes. "I am just a simple and harmless merchant's wife who loves to wear jewelry and beautiful clothes."

She pulled her fingers, and the thugs were forced onto their knees, their weapons falling to the ground.

"H-Hey, don't kill me! I will give you the item you're looking for. Please, don't kill me!" Gong Jin begged, his voice filled with fear.

"Who said that I am looking for an item?"

Leo approached Gong Jin in a calm manner. His footsteps echoed loudly, and his expression was cold and unreadable.

"Y-You must be, no one comes to this place unless they're looking for something. Everyone, without an exception!" Gong Jin screamed, "A-And you mentioned that I stole an item. You wanted that, right? So, please, let me go."

"Hmm, so, you admit to stealing an item from Four Wind Merchant's vault?"

"Y-Yes, yes! Just spare my life. I will show you where the item is."

Street rats, scums, and trash. They knew how to survive and would do anything to save their own skin.

"Hmm, well, since you're so eager to show me, then show me. Don't waste my time."

"Yes, yes. Follow me. It's in my hideout."

Without hesitation, Gong Jin stood up and turned around. He stopped his bleeding with his Qi, trying his best not to die.

"Lead the way." Leo said.

He began to follow Gong Jin right behind and hid his handgun, returning to his crafted persona.. Jessica followed suit, smiling sweetly.

As they walked away, a cutting sound could be heard from behind, followed by various thuds and splatter sounds.

No one looked back, but Gong Jin knew what kind of sound that was. Nervous, he gulped audibly and spoke in a weak voice.

"I-It's this way."

"Then, let's not waste any more time. Show me."

Leo's words were cold and detached, sending chills down his spine.

'He's not normal. He's not normal at all.'

Cold sweat drenched his body.

'But, if I want to survive, I have to cooperate. Just for a while, until I can escape from his grasp.'

He had no other choice.

Before long, they arrived at a shed hidden in the slum. It was not something that caught people's attention, but Gong Jin was familiar with the place as it was his hideout.