Chapter 291

Old Man Hong willingly agreed to repair the Ghostly Rain.

At any other workshop, he would have had to wait at least a day or two, but Old Man Hong started the repairs immediately.

“Oh! I don’t know who made this, but their skill is truly incredible.”

He couldn’t help but admire the Ghostly Rain.

Not only the material, but also the weight and balance were perfect.

“Who is the craftsman who made this Flying Dagger? Who possesses such incredible skill? Could you perhaps introduce me? If I get the chance, I’d like to study refining methods with the person who made this dagger.”

Old Man Hong looked genuinely impressed.

He separated the hilt and the blade.

Leaving the hilt aside, he placed only the blade into the furnace to heat it.

Once the blade was glowing red-hot, he took it out again and began to hammer it.

Clang, clang!

Though he had been making such a fuss just a moment ago, once he started working, he didn’t say a word and focused solely on his task.

Pyo Wol silently watched Old Man Hong work.

Fortunately, Old Man Hong’s skills were trustworthy.

Even while pouring with sweat, his concentration never wavered as he immersed himself in his work.

It was certainly the focus and skill of a master craftsman.

Pyo Wol set aside his worries about the Ghostly Rain and thought of Eom So-so.

To be precise, he thought of Dokgo Hwang, who accompanied Eom So-so.

Dokgo Hwang’s eyes were different from those of an ordinary person.

Though he appeared to be from Hunan on the surface, his eyes were filled with ambition. It was strange that a man with such eyes had remained quiet until now.

What made Pyo Wol most wary was Dokgo Hwang’s disposition.

It was like looking at a calm sea before a storm. A sea that was tranquil for now but could change at any moment and swallow everything.

Dokgo Hwang’s disposition was certainly a kind Pyo Wol had never seen before.

What bothered Pyo Wol most was that Dokgo Hwang was not alone but with Jang Mu-guk.

The Dokgo Hwang that Pyo Wol had seen was by no means a man who would be under anyone else. If he were to plot something, he would do it alone, not with the help of others.

Yet, it seemed that this same Dokgo Hwang was deferring to Jang Mu-guk.

That meant Jang Mu-guk was a man of great enough stature to contain Dokgo Hwang.

‘A Dragon awaiting the Troubled Times.’

For a Dragon to achieve Ascension, a storm had to brew. And now, a storm was beginning to brew from Runan.

Pyo Wol thought that All Under Heaven would soon become even more chaotic than it was now.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

Just then, Old Man Hong’s voice broke Pyo Wol’s train of thought.

When Pyo Wol looked up, he saw that Old Man Hong had already finished tending to the Ghostly Rain and was looking at him.

“Is it done?”

“For now, you should have no problem using them. But they aren’t perfectly repaired, so to get them properly fixed, you should probably visit the craftsman who made these daggers.”

Old Man Hong frankly admitted his lack of skill.

He had done his best, but he couldn’t restore them to their original state perfectly. Still, he had made them similar enough that they could be used without issue for the time being.

Pyo Wol said as he received the Ghostly Rain.

“This is more than enough. What about the fee?”

“Forget it! She’s a guest of the Miss, so I should do it for free.”

“Do you respect her?”

“No, to be precise, I respect her Master. Without him, the current Swordless Union wouldn’t exist. Though I am far away, I am always praying for the Swordless Union’s success.”

After that, Old Man Hong went on for a long time about what a great Sect the Swordless Union was, and what a great status it held in the southern Jianghu, including Hainan.

Pyo Wol listened to his story half-heartedly before leaving the workshop.

He had entered the workshop street in the morning, but the sun was already about to set. He had spent half a day in the workshop. Still, he didn’t feel it was a loss.

Pyo Wol returned to the Inn.

As he was opening the door to his room, Pyo Wol frowned for a moment. But he soon opened the door and went inside. A woman in a red dress was sitting on his bed.

It was Hong Ye-seol.

When Pyo Wol entered, she stood up and said.

“Where on earth have you been? I’ve been waiting for a long time.”

“What brings you here?”

“We’re lovers, aren’t we? Do I need a reason to come?”

Hong Ye-seol approached, draped her pale white arms around Pyo Wol’s neck, and met his gaze.

It was a seductive sight that would make any man fall for her.

“I missed you.”

“Stop with the nonsense…”

“Hmph! You’re a man with not an ounce of atmosphere.”

“What business brings you here?”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to see you for a while. The recall order has been issued.”

“Recall order?”

“It’s an order for all Assassins currently out in the Jianghu to return to the Hundred Wraith Union.”

“You mean they’re summoning all the Assassins belonging to the Hundred Wraith Union?”

“That’s right.”

“Does this happen often?”

“It’s the first time since I joined the Hundred Wraith Union, at least.”

“Is that so?”

“It seems to be because of what happened in Runan this time.”

Black Tiger and the Red Lotus Four Ghosts were dead, and Lee Yul, who had contracted them, had disappeared. The losses the Hundred Wraith Union suffered from this incident were immense.

This was the first time the Hundred Wraith Union had suffered such a loss since it had gained its fame. It seemed the Hundred Wraith Union Lord had summoned all the Assassins to devise a countermeasure because of it.

“If I go now, I probably won’t see you for a while.”

“The Hundred Wraith Union’s headquarters must be far away.”

“Huhu! You probably can’t even imagine.”

Hong Ye-seol gave a meaningful smile.

Suddenly, she pressed her lips against Pyo Wol’s.

After a long, passionate kiss, Hong Ye-seol pulled away and winked.

“Well then, be well until we meet again.”

“What if I want to see you?”

“Oh my! How touching. Even though I know you don’t mean it, my heart is pounding.”

Hong Ye-seol made an exaggerated expression.

She understood what kind of person Pyo Wol was more accurately than anyone.

Pyo Wol was an Assassin to the bone.

He could control his personal feelings as much as he wanted.

For such a man to come looking for her because he missed her was an impossible event. Yet, it was also true that she wanted to believe it.

“If that really happens, come find Goyang Tower in Yueyang.”

“Goyang Tower?”

“The owner of Goyang Tower is a personal acquaintance of mine. He will tell you my whereabouts.”

“I’ll remember that.”

“See you next time, then.”

Hong Ye-seol smiled brightly, then launched herself out the window and disappeared.

In the room she had left, only the scent of wild chrysanthemums lingered.

＊＊＊

As Eom So-so opened the door to the Inn and entered, Dokgo Hwang said.

“You’re very late!”

“I ran into someone unexpected.”

“Who?”

“I saw Pyo Wol.”

“What? You met Pyo Wol?”

“Yes! I met him on the workshop street.”

“How is he, is he all right?”

“He was perfectly fine.”

“Is that so?”

Dokgo Hwang wore a surprised expression.

“His complexion was good. It didn’t seem like he had any internal injuries.”

“He’s that good? From the traces left behind, I thought he would have been quite seriously injured.”

“Perhaps he’s already healed.”

“Why didn’t you try fighting him? Then you would have known for sure, wouldn’t you?”

“He is an unsettling opponent. The risk is too great to fight him for such a trivial reason.”

“Is that so?”

At Eom So-so’s words, Dokgo Hwang’s gaze changed.

Although she followed him like his bodyguard, Eom So-so was an Expert not to be ignored. Even he would have to use his full strength to subdue her.

What was most remarkable about Eom So-so was her highly developed sixth sense. The opponents she felt this unsettled by were, without exception, dangerous individuals.

That was why Eom So-so had been wary of Pyo Wol from the very beginning.

“I suppose it’s impossible to bring him under my command, then?”

“He is not a man who would be under anyone.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’d bet my life on it.”

“Whoa, whoa! No need to bet your life. I want a living Eom So-so, not a dead one.”

“It’s just an expression.”

“Then I suppose I’ll have to give up. What a shame!”

Dokgo Hwang licked his lips.

“If you’re that disappointed, you should check one last time.”

“How?”

“I told him to come here.”

“You mean to show him the assembly?”

“His mind might change if he sees it for himself.”

“That’s a good idea. And if it still doesn’t work…”

“We can decide on his fate then.”

“You’re as clever as ever.”

“But you would do well to remember this one thing. You must never take him lightly.”

“Huhu! How could I take him lightly? The man who single-handedly annihilated the Black Cloud Corps and wiped out Snow Blade Sword Manor with an Ambush Attack. It would be ridiculous to think lightly of such a demon-like man.”

Dokgo Hwang’s gaze sank deep.

The whole world was focused only on Jin Clan.

They praised only Jin Si-woo, who had led Jin Clan to victory, and mentioned only the people related to him. But to Dokgo Hwang, who had stayed in Runan and observed from up close, the most threatening existence was Pyo Wol.

Others didn’t know, but he had figured out that Pyo Wol had fought the Black Cloud Corps, and that he had fought Assassins like Black Tiger and the Red Lotus Four Ghosts.

What was truly surprising was not that he had fought and won against them. What was more terrifying was that even after winning, he had not left a single trace of himself behind.

He had met countless Martial Artists until now, but Pyo Wol was the first to hide himself so thoroughly. His venomous mind and meticulous nature were frightening, and yet he couldn’t help but covet him.

That was the reason for Dokgo Hwang’s obsession with Pyo Wol.

Eom So-so understood Dokgo Hwang better than anyone.

She knew why he craved talent so desperately. But what was not to be, was not to be.

She couldn’t picture Pyo Wol ever submitting to someone and serving under them. Her encounter on the workshop street had only strengthened her conviction. But Dokgo Hwang was not yet at that level of acceptance.

She thought that to sever his lingering attachment for good, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have him clash with Pyo Wol one more time. That was the reason she had done Pyo Wol the favor of introducing him to Old Man Hong.

“Well, anyway, it turned out well. I get to see him one more time.”

Just as Dokgo Hwang smiled.

With heavy footsteps, Jang Mu-guk came down from the second floor of the Inn. But Jang Mu-guk’s complexion was not good.

He was pale, as if he had suffered an internal injury.

Dokgo Hwang asked with a worried expression.

“How are you?”

“A little better.”

“That’s a relief.”

“It’s a relief it ended with just this.”

“He’s incredible too. To push you this far.”

“He’s a man who deserves it.”

“Indeed…”

Dokgo Hwang nodded his head.

A few days ago, Jang Mu-guk had fought a man to determine who was superior.

The result was mutual destruction.

Neither could seize a clear victory, and it ended with them inflicting internal injuries on each other.

If Dokgo Hwang had intervened in their fight, he could have certainly suppressed the man and secured a victory. But far from intervening, Dokgo Hwang had merely watched from a distance.

Everyone had an opponent they had to overcome with their own strength.

For Jang Mu-guk, that man was his object of overcoming.

For Dokgo Hwang to intervene in their fight would have been an insult to Jang Mu-guk.

That was why Dokgo Hwang had no choice but to watch their fight from a distance with Eom So-so.

Jang Mu-guk asked Dokgo Hwang.

“How are the preparations?”

“What preparations? All we have to do is wait.”

“Hmm!”

“Isn’t the cause a good one? Everyone will probably follow you.”

“I must make it so.”

“Oh, right! He will be coming that day too.”

“He?”

“Pyo Wol, I mean.”

“Don’t tell me you?”

“So-so invited him. It won’t be too late to decide his fate then.”

Dokgo Hwang smiled faintly.

Jang Mu-guk, on the other hand, frowned.

“Have you still not given up your lingering attachment to him?”

“As you know, I tend to be a bit obsessive.”

“Tsk!”

Jang Mu-guk clicked his tongue at Dokgo Hwang’s nonchalant reply.

‘He keeps trying to tame one who cannot be tamed. He is a man of a different grain than us.’