Chapter 112

After leaving the slaughterhouse, Pyo Wol stopped by a stream to wash himself clean.

When he first went to the slaughterhouse, he had struggled with the scent of blood that clung to his body. No matter how much he washed, the Blood Scent would never disappear.

He had suffered quite a bit because of it.

Later, he realized.

It wasn’t just the smell of cow’s blood that had seeped into his body.

The malice of the slaughterhouse had clung to his own Killing Intent.

In a place like a slaughterhouse, where countless lives had been taken over many long years, a deep resentment, or malice, was bound to arise.

If an ordinary person spent a long time in a slaughterhouse, this malice would cling to them, and they would slowly sicken and waste away.

For someone like Pyo Wol, whose Killing Intent was so dense, an even greater malice would attach itself. That was why it was not easily shed.

Pyo Wol thought of it as a kind of brand.

An indelible mark of punishment from the heavens, bestowed upon beings like himself who could not live a normal life.

Though he could not completely erase such a brand, he could make it fainter.

Pyo Wol completely concealed his Killing Intent.

He couldn’t eliminate it entirely, but he had at least reached a state where he could hide it away. Upon reaching that level, the malice that clung to him decreased significantly. Thanks to that, he could completely wash away the scent of blood on his body just by washing in the stream.

Pyo Wol sat on a rock by the stream and organized his thoughts.

‘Testing on cows is meaningless now. I need to use humans as subjects.’

Pyo Wol decided to take a breather at this point.

The cows in the slaughterhouse were fated to die anyway, so he could act without hesitation, but humans were different.

Pyo Wol had not been without blood or tears from the very beginning.

Most of the people he had killed were those with whom he had a grudge. He had rarely acted against those with whom he had no grudge.

There was no reason to kill a perfectly fine person if there was no grudge.

Pyo Wol postponed his exploration of how the Life-Death Blood Point applied to humans.

For now, he thought this much was enough.

Having organized his thoughts, Pyo Wol rubbed his face and stood up. His face changed once again.

The overall structure did not change, but subtle shifts in his facial features made him look like a completely different person.

With his changed face, he sought out a place called the Celestial Music Hall.

The Celestial Music Hall was a place where an artist known as Master Yuedu taught music.

He mainly taught Courtesans and other artists how to play instruments, but among them were also ordinary people who came simply because they loved music.

Pyo Wol entered the Celestial Music Hall without hesitation.

In a large pavilion inside the Celestial Music Hall, a dozen or so people were gathered, waiting for Master Yuedu’s lecture.

When Pyo Wol entered, a scholar in his early twenties greeted him with a smile.

“Welcome.”

“It seems Master Yuedu hasn’t arrived yet?”

“Haha! Doesn’t the master always run a little late? Come, have a seat.”

“Mm!”

Pyo Wol nodded and sat down.

A geomungo was placed at his seat.

Pyo Wol placed the geomungo on a wooden stool and waited for Master Yuedu.

A short while later, a stern-looking man in his mid-to-late fifties ascended the pavilion.

He was Master Yuedu, the owner of the Celestial Music Hall and the most outstanding artist in Sichuan Province.

“The piece we will learn today is ‘Byeolsanggok,’ composed by Cheongyaja. With ‘Byeolsanggok,’ you must pay special attention to the movement of your fingers to produce the proper sound. This piece is…”

Master Yuedu gave a long speech about the piece they would be playing today.

The artists and Courtesans listened to Master Yuedu’s words with sparkling eyes.

Pyo Wol, mixed in among them, also listened to Master Yuedu’s lecture.

He hadn’t been interested in the geomungo from the start.

To Pyo Wol, who had always lived under the threat of death, music was nothing more than a self-indulgent hobby for those who had an excess of possessions.

He changed his mind after killing the Martial Artists of the Seven Stars Hall.

To live hidden among ordinary people, pretending to be ordinary, he had to learn something. That way, others wouldn’t suspect him.

Above all, his Killing Method had also greatly improved while learning music.

Even at this very moment, Pyo Wol was thinking about how to efficiently kill people using the geomungo.

He could think of more than six methods off the top of his head.

It was commonly called Music Chess Calligraphy Painting.

‘Geum’ meant the geomungo, ‘gi’ meant Go, ‘seo’ meant calligraphy, and the final ‘hwa’ meant painting.

One who mastered Music Chess Calligraphy Painting received lavish treatment in the Jianghu.

Pyo Wol had no intention of receiving lavish treatment. But he knew that by learning Music Chess Calligraphy Painting, he could thoroughly conceal his true nature.

It was also true that Music Chess Calligraphy Painting was a great help in sealing the Killing Intent lurking in his heart.

When he was active with this face, Pyo Wol’s name was Im Gwon-ok.

Im Gwon-ok was publicly known as a scholar proficient in Music Chess Calligraphy Painting.

He was born into a good family, had a calm personality, and maintained a wide circle of acquaintances.

That was the personality and family background Pyo Wol had set for Im Gwon-ok. And he acted in accordance with the background and personality he had set for himself.

There was no trace of awkwardness in Pyo Wol’s appearance.

The people learning music with him looked at him with friendly eyes, and the Courtesans even sent him looks of admiration.

No one knew that Pyo Wol’s true nature was that of an Assassin.

Pyo Wol concealed himself that thoroughly.

After finishing his lecture, Master Yuedu called Pyo Wol.

“Now, why don’t you play this piece, Gwon-ok.”

“Yes!”

Pyo Wol replied and began to play the geomungo.

Tung-ttang-ttang!

Every time Pyo Wol plucked the strings, a mysterious sound echoed.

The people learning music with him closed their eyes and listened to Pyo Wol’s performance.

“As expected, it’s good.”

Master Yuedu smiled.

It couldn’t be called perfect, but it was a pleasant performance to listen to.

Considering Pyo Wol had only been learning the geomungo for a few months, it was an astonishing achievement.

When Pyo Wol finished his performance, the people gave him a generous round of applause.

“This fellow’s skill improves by the day. I wonder if he’ll become the best musician in Sichuan.”

“Young Hero Im! If you don’t mind, how about coming to our Brothel to perform? With your skills, Young Hero Im, you could surely earn a lot of money.”

Those who approached Pyo Wol each added a word.

Among them, the Courtesans’ temptations were blatant. But Pyo Wol refused their offers with a gentle smile.

“I’m sorry. I’m only learning this as a hobby, so I’m afraid to show it to others.”

“Oh my! So humble.”

The Courtesans chattered on, saying how they liked that about Pyo Wol too.

In the end, Pyo Wol had to listen to their chatter for quite some time before he could find his freedom.

After that, Pyo Wol diligently went around to learn painting, calligraphy, and Go in succession.

By the time he returned to Red Pine Manor after finishing all his activities, the night was quite deep.

As soon as Pyo Wol returned, he reverted to his original face. Go Chonggwan greeted him.

The two sat facing each other in Pyo Wol’s room.

[Here is the information gathered today.]

Go Chonggwan communicated through writing as he handed a yellow booklet to Pyo Wol.

Seeing that the scent of ink had not yet faded, it was clear that it had just been written.

Pyo Wol silently flipped through the booklet.

The booklet was densely filled with information about the Golden Sky Society Martial Artists who had gathered at the Four Seas Pavilion today.

[Jin Geum-woo.

The Society Leader of the Golden Sky Society and one of the top five rising talents in All Under Heaven.

Grandson of Jin Wolmyeong, one of the Eight Constellations, he has shown promise since childhood.

He has many followers due to his excellent character and Martial Arts, and he leads them with strong leadership.

It is considered certain that he will succeed his grandfather and become the absolute powerhouse of the next generation.

However, looking at his movements since his late teens, something strange is observed, as if he is tracking something.

Omitted…]

In a short time, Go Chonggwan had found and recorded a great deal of information.

Of course, the content written in the booklet was widely known in the Jianghu. It lacked depth, but for Pyo Wol at this moment, this much was enough.

It wasn’t just Jin Geum-woo.

The booklet also contained information on Won Gayoung, Neung Sowoon, Ximen Pyeong, and Lee Soha.

Their birth histories, backgrounds, and personalities were summarized and written down.

Pyo Wol asked Go Chonggwan.

“Did you find out why they gathered in Chengdu?”

[I apologize. There was not enough time to find that out.]

Go Chonggwan replied in writing.

“Find out. Why they chose Chengdu of all places.”

[I will do my utmost.]

At Pyo Wol’s gesture, Go Chonggwan bowed his head deeply and withdrew.

Left alone, Pyo Wol threw the window wide open.

A dark sky, with even the moonlight hidden by clouds, came into view.

For a long time, Pyo Wol gazed at the night sky, devoid of a single point of light.

Leshan was located several hundred li south of Chengdu.

Although it was not as famous as Mount Emei or Mount Qingcheng, it was still a renowned mountain in Sichuan Province.

Below Leshan, the High Sky Martial Hall was situated.

The High Sky Martial Hall was one of the five largest martial arts academies in Sichuan Province.

Although it was somewhat underrated for being far from Chengdu, the center of Sichuan, it was famous for its very high-level Martial Arts and teachings.

Because of this, the stream of people coming to learn Martial Arts never ceased throughout the year.

Lee Pyung, the Hall Master of the High Sky Martial Hall, was famous for his fierce fist techniques.

His Signature Technique, the Torrential Fist, was a Secret Transmitted Technique of his Clan. But if one traced its origins, it came from the Qingcheng Sect.

Lee Pyung’s ancestor five generations back was a man who had learned Martial Arts from the Qingcheng Sect and had become independent in his mid-thirties to establish a martial arts academy.

One would think that after five generations, the old ties would be forgotten, but Lee Pyung still maintained a strong connection with the Qingcheng Sect.

Lee Pyung would send those among the High Sky Martial Hall’s disciples who showed promise to the Qingcheng Sect to learn the Martial Arts of the Lay Family.

The Qingcheng Sect was happy to gain outstanding disciples, and the High Sky Martial Hall was happy to have a giant Sect like the Qingcheng Sect as a sturdy umbrella.

Thus, they had continued for over a hundred years in mutual support. But recently, a shadow had fallen over the face of Lee Pyung, the Hall Master of the High Sky Martial Hall, and it would not lift.

“Hoo!”

Lee Pyung stood alone in the Training Ground located in the depths of the High Sky Martial Hall and let out a deep sigh.

The dark sky, without a single common star, made his heart even heavier.

“The great Qingcheng Sect of All Under Heaven, how did it come to this…”

The source of his worry was none other than the Qingcheng Sect.

The Qingcheng Sect, with which he had maintained ties for over a hundred years, was not a stranger to him. To him, it was like a sanctuary for his heart.

Such a Qingcheng Sect had suddenly chosen to become Closed-off. For Lee Pyung, it was like a bolt from the blue.

The closing-off of the Qingcheng Sect, which had always been a sturdy umbrella, made Lee Pyung’s heart shrink.

Being far from Chengdu, he did not know the detailed circumstances, but he could tell that the Qingcheng Sect had suffered great damage.

Although it was temporary, the Qingcheng Sect’s closing-off had placed restrictions on the activities of the martial arts academies associated with it.

This was because, with the sturdy backing of the Qingcheng Sect gone, there was no telling what kind of threats might arise.

“I’ll have to visit the Qingcheng Sect soon.”

He had to see with his own eyes how much damage the Qingcheng Sect had suffered. Only then could he gauge how much support he could offer.

It was when Lee Pyung, having organized his thoughts, turned his body.

Ssk!

Suddenly, without a sound, a black figure appeared before his eyes.

“What are you?”

The moment Lee Pyung let out a warning shout, a small pouch burst in front of his face.

Puk!*

As the pouch burst, a white powder was sucked straight into Lee Pyung’s nose.

“Huk!”

Lee Pyung recoiled in alarm.

He hurriedly waved his sleeve in front of his face, but most of the white powder had already been inhaled into his nose.

“What, what is this?”

“No need to be tense.”

A low voice was heard then.

Lee Pyung glared up at the black figure.

He couldn’t even distinguish its gender, whether it was a man or a woman, but it was clearly a person. The voice was flowing from it.

Lee Pyung clenched his fists and shouted.

“What have you done to me?”

“I told you, there’s no need to be so tense.”

Lee Pyung thought the black figure was smiling.

“How dare you!”

He was about to throw a punch at the black figure.

At that moment, the part of the black figure presumed to be its eyes shone white.

“Keuk!”

Lee Pyung unknowingly turned his head and covered his eyes with his sleeve. He stood like that for a long time.

It was a long while later that he came to his senses.

Lee Pyung lowered his hand and stared blankly ahead.

His whole body ached and throbbed, as if he had been standing there blankly for a long time.

“Why was I standing like this?”

Lee Pyung muttered blankly.

It seemed something had happened to him, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.

He couldn’t even remember why he was standing there like that.

“I must be getting old now. Hoo!”

In the end, Lee Pyung blamed the indifferent passage of time and turned away.