Chapter 113

Hong Yushin was not in a good mood.

He had been stuck in Chengdu all winter without any results.

It was the first time in his life that he had wasted several months so idly.

He always moved with a purpose.

Every small action, even a single gesture, held a clear objective. The thing he hated most was wasting time meaninglessly.

Yet, for the past few months, he had been forced to while away his time doing the very thing he despised most.

“Damn it!”

Just as Hong Yushin slammed his fist on the innocent table and cursed.

“Captain!”

The voice of a subordinate came from outside.

“What is it?”

“There’s a visitor looking for the branch chief.”

“Then shouldn’t you guide them to the branch chief?”

Hong Yushin said irritably.

After the previous branch chief lost his life to Pyo Wol, Hong Yushin had promoted someone from within to the position.

Although he was staying in Chengdu due to unavoidable circumstances, he couldn’t take on the branch chief’s duties as well.

“I apologize, but this is not someone the new branch chief can handle.”

“Who is it? This big shot?”

“It is the Iron Blood Martial Guest, Young Hero Jin Geum-woo.”

“……”

In an instant, the annoyance on Hong Yushin’s face vanished.

Jin Geum-woo was a martial artist that even the Hao Clan was keeping a close eye on. Not only had he distinguished himself early on, but more importantly, the prestige of his grandfather, one of the Eight Constellations, made him a person of interest.

“Are you sure it’s really him, Jin Geum-woo?”

“I’m certain. He matches the description. Above all, a meeting of the Golden Sky Society has been detected in Chengdu.”

“A meeting of the Golden Sky Society?”

A deep furrow formed between Hong Yushin’s brows.

The Golden Sky Society’s meetings were held irregularly.

There was no designated meeting place either. So, it wouldn’t be strange for it to be held in Chengdu. That was the logical conclusion.

However, Hong Yushin knew well that the world didn’t always operate on logic.

“Their purpose?”

“We are in the process of figuring it out.”

“I will meet Jin Geum-woo myself. It seems that will be the fastest way to determine their purpose for entering Chengdu. Tell the branch chief to step aside. I will take his place.”

“Understood.”

The owner of the voice moved away.

Left alone, Hong Yushin briefly smoothed his clothes. Then he slowly left the room.

One must never go out to greet the other party first. To wait for someone meant that you had already lost the upper hand.

So, Hong Yushin moved his feet as slowly as possible.

It was to seize the initiative by making the other party wait.

He opened the door and entered the room where Jin Geum-woo was waiting.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. I was delayed by an urgent matter.”

Entering the room with the most apologetic expression he could muster, what Hong Yushin saw was Jin Geum-woo, sitting with his eyes closed and arms crossed.

“Tsk!”

The moment he saw Jin Geum-woo, Hong Yushin couldn’t help but click his tongue.

He was overwhelmed by an atmosphere like that of an unshakeable iron tower.

No matter how he looked at him, he didn’t seem like an opponent with whom he could play psychological games.

Hong Yushin quickly changed his tactics.

“I apologize for making you wait so long. I am the branch chief of the Hao Clan’s Chengdu branch.”

“I am Jin Geum-woo.”

Jin Geum-woo opened his eyes.

Meeting his gaze, Hong Yushin felt a shock as if he had been struck by a hammer. That was how intense Jin Geum-woo’s gaze was.

‘What kind of eyes are those…?’

Hong Yushin thought Jin Geum-woo’s eyes were like steel.

A will as strong as steel, that seemed impossible to pierce no matter how much one struck it, felt like it was being transmitted through his gaze.

He had met countless martial artists until now, but he had never seen anyone with such an intense gaze.

‘In terms of being shocking, he’s similar to that man.’

He recalled Pyo Wol, whom he had met last year.

Pyo Wol’s gaze was different from Jin Geum-woo’s.

Unlike Jin Geum-woo, who revealed himself without hesitation, Pyo Wol thoroughly concealed everything.

Although they were two completely opposite people, Hong Yushin somehow felt they were similar.

“I have heard much about Young Hero Jin’s great reputation. What brings you to our branch?”

“Are you really the branch chief?”

“What do you mean?”

“The aura you give off is quite different from the other Hao Clan branch chiefs I know.”

Jin Geum-woo’s eyes glinted sharply.

Hong Yushin thought he was damn perceptive, but he didn’t reveal his inner thoughts.

“I suppose it’s because I haven’t been the branch chief for long.”

“Is that so?”

“You didn’t come here just to leisurely ask for my name, did you? Young Hero Jin has yet to state his purpose for visiting this branch.”

“I am looking for someone.”

“Who might that be?”

“I do not know his name either.”

“So you’re asking me to find someone whose name you don’t even know?”

“That is why I came to the Hao Clan. The Hao Clan’s Chengdu branch, at least, should have a grasp of everything that has happened within Chengdu.”

Jin Geum-woo stared at Hong Yushin with an intense gaze.

Feeling burdened by his sun-like, scorching gaze, Hong Yushin stealthily turned his head away.

Watching him, Jin Geum-woo continued.

“I understand a major incident occurred in Chengdu last year. An incident where the Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect suffered such great damage that they sealed their gates, and many people died.”

Hong Yushin’s eyes narrowed.

He could predict what Jin Geum-woo would say next.

“Are you perhaps here to ask me to find the man who caused that incident?”

“That is correct.”

“Hmph!”

Hong Yushin let out an involuntary groan.

With his head bowed, his face was filled with bewilderment.

The person Jin Geum-woo was looking for was none other than Pyo Wol.

The problem was that Hong Yushin and the Hao Clan had also scoured Chengdu all last winter to find Pyo Wol.

However, Pyo Wol had vanished without a trace, as if he had soared into the sky or sunk into the ground.

Hong Yushin had persistently chased after Pyo Wol’s trail. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t find him.

The Chengdu branch had given up on searching for Pyo Wol, and even the subordinates of the Surveillance Team suggested that Pyo Wol might have left Sichuan Province.

But Hong Yushin was convinced that Pyo Wol was in Chengdu.

It wasn’t because he had any evidence.

His sixth sense, honed over a long time as the Surveillance Chief of the Hao Clan, was telling him so.

Blindly trusting one’s sixth sense was taboo, but this time, Hong Yushin was certain his intuition was right.

‘He has only hidden himself. That bastard is definitely in Chengdu.’

The problem was that he couldn’t voice these thoughts of his.

He couldn’t insist that Pyo Wol was in Chengdu based solely on his sixth sense, when they had failed to uncover his whereabouts even after mobilizing the entire Hao Clan Chengdu branch and the Surveillance Team.

Hong Yushin asked cautiously.

“Why are you looking for him?”

“Do I have to tell you the reason for you to find him?”

“Hmph!”

Hong Yushin let out a groan.

Jin Geum-woo was right.

The reason for the search was not important to the Hao Clan. As long as the price was right, they just had to find the target, even if it meant searching to the ends of hell.

After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Hong Yushin opened his mouth.

“He is not in Chengdu.”

“Hmph!”

“Everyone says so. But I don’t think so.”

“It seems you still think he is staying in Chengdu?”

“That’s right. I have no evidence, but that is what I think. He is like a ghost. He clearly exists in the same space, the same city, but not a single trace can be found. But he is definitely here.”

“So we have to find a ghost.”

Jin Geum-woo quickly understood Hong Yushin’s words.

He suddenly rummaged in his clothes and took out a large, seven-colored night-luminescent pearl.

The pearl, which glowed faintly even in broad daylight, was a rare devilish creature. It was of supreme-grade quality, so valuable that one could name their price.

“I will give this as a down payment. If you find him, I will give you another one just like it.”

“Hmph!”

“Will you accept the request?”

“Very well.”

Hong Yushin readily accepted Jin Geum-woo’s request.

This gave him another legitimate opportunity to search for Pyo Wol, so there was no reason for him to refuse.

Jin Geum-woo stood up from his seat and said.

“Then I will await good news. I will be staying at the Four Seas Pavilion, so you can send word there.”

“I will do my best to meet Young Hero Jin’s expectations.”

“Well then!”

Jin Geum-woo gave Hong Yushin a fist-palm salute and went outside.

He returned directly to his lodging, the Four Seas Pavilion.

On the second floor of the inn, Won Gayoung was sitting alone, sipping from a cup of wine.

Jin Geum-woo sat down opposite Won Gayoung and asked.

“Where are the others?”

“Soha went to see Great Hero Yoo Shinpoong, and Orabeoni So-woon went out to gauge the atmosphere on the streets.”

“And Pyeong?”

“You know him.”

“He went to a brothel.”

“He went with a new friend he made in Chengdu, saying he was going to explore the Water Lotus Pavilion.”

“Water Lotus Pavilion?”

“I don’t know much, but they say it’s the best brothel in Chengdu. He ran off like a dog in heat, all excited.”

“Hah!”

Jin Geum-woo burst out laughing at Won Gayoung’s sharp expression.

The fact that she disliked Ximen Pyeong was known to all members of the Golden Sky Society. The two were that incompatible.

They had a bad relationship, bickering over every little thing whenever they met. But they weren’t foolish enough to let personal feelings affect their public duties.

“May I have a drink too?”

“Be my guest.”

At Won Gayoung’s permission, Jin Geum-woo picked up the wine bottle and poured it into his own cup. The amber liquid filled the cup to the brim.

Jin Geum-woo downed the cup in one gulp.

“This is good.”

“The innkeeper said he brewed it himself.”

“It seems so. It has this place’s unique fragrance.”

Jin Geum-woo nodded, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

Won Gayoung stared intently at Jin Geum-woo before asking.

“Orabeoni, do you think he is related to them?”

“There’s no way to know. But it needs to be confirmed. That’s why I came here.”

“What if he’s not related?”

“Then it would be a wasted trip. But that doesn’t matter. Eliminating options one by one is a method in itself.”

Jin Geum-woo replied, looking into his empty cup.

Won Gayoung looked at Jin Geum-woo with a gaze full of complex emotions.

Jin Geum-woo was the strongest man she knew.

In terms of pure martial arts, there were many experts stronger than him. The masters of the Two Powerhouses, Three Clans, Three Manors, Three Hegemons, and the Eight Constellations were prime examples.

But Jin Geum-woo had a stronger heart than them.

A heart as hard as steel and a strong character attracted other talents.

Won Gayoung was one of those who had been drawn to Jin Geum-woo.

“Phew! I hate complicated stories. Let’s go get some fresh air.”

“Fresh air?”

“I heard that a place called the Celestial Music Hall holds regular performances, and it just so happens that today is the day.”

“Is that so?”

“We don’t have anything else to do today, do we? Let’s go!”

“Let’s do that.”

Jin Geum-woo nodded.

He readily agreed, knowing that Won Gayoung was deeply immersed in music.

He thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to listen to a performance for the first time in a while and clear his complicated mind.

The two left the inn and sought out the Celestial Music Hall.

Finding the Celestial Music Hall was not difficult. It was located in the middle of Chengdu’s bustling downtown area.

As they entered the Celestial Music Hall, the clear sound of a geomungo could be heard.

The students’ performance had already begun.

Many people had gathered to listen to the performance.

Most had their eyes gently closed, immersed in the music, suggesting they had considerable appreciation for it.

Jin Geum-woo and Won Gayoung pushed through the crowd and went inside.

A woman, presumed to be a courtesan, was playing the geomungo.

Every time her long, white fingers plucked the strings, a clear note echoed throughout the room.

When the courtesan’s performance finally ended, the audience gave a powerful round of applause.

“Waaah!”

“The best! I’ll be sure to find you at Jeonghyang Pavilion.”

The people seemed to know the courtesan’s identity.

After the courtesan bowed with a shy expression and withdrew, a new person came up to perform.

He was an ordinary-looking man who appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties.

It was definitely a face he had never seen before.

But Jin Geum-woo felt that his gaze was strangely familiar.

Suddenly, the man’s eyes met Jin Geum-woo’s.

‘It’s him.’

In that moment, Jin Geum-woo realized when he had seen the man’s gaze before.

The man’s gaze was identical to the furtive gaze he had felt at the Four Seas Pavilion on the day he first entered Chengdu.