Chapter 124

“Go safely.”

Su-hyang saw Pyo Wol off with a fond gaze.

Pyo Wol turned his head for a moment to look at her. At his gaze, Su-hyang’s face flushed red.

They had already shared their bodies several times, but whenever she saw Pyo Wol, her heart pounded. One might say a Courtesan has no room for pure love, but Su-hyang couldn’t stop her heart from leaning toward Pyo Wol.

“I’ll come again next time.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Su-hyang sent Pyo Wol off with a smile.

Leaving the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion, Pyo Wol walked down the dark street.

The street, devoid of people, was even desolate. But this scene was familiar to Pyo Wol.

Though he had adapted well to life after coming up from the underground cavern, he was still more comfortable in the darkness. In the dark, Pyo Wol’s senses were honed even more sharply.

His expanded senses picked up someone’s gaze.

A heavy gaze that felt like it weighed a thousand catties, and a powerful presence that was distinct even in the darkness.

It felt as if a great mountain was standing there.

Pyo Wol had met a man with such a presence before.

‘Jin Geum-woo.’

As he expected, far in the distance, Jin Geum-woo was leaning against a wall, looking this way.

Pyo Wol’s eyes narrowed.

Right now, he was the Night Lord.

Ever since Ximen Pyeong’s visit, he had always come to the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion with the face of the Night Lord. It was to thoroughly conceal his identity.

‘Did he come to meet the Night Lord?’

There was no other reason for Jin Geum-woo to be standing here.

Just then, Jin Geum-woo pushed himself off the wall and approached Pyo Wol.

As he approached, Jin Geum-woo spoke.

“I am the Iron Blood Martial Guest, Jin Geum-woo. Are you the Night Lord, the master of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion?”

Jin Geum-woo looked straight at Pyo Wol.

He had requested help from the Hao Clan and Yoo Shinpoong to catch Darkness. They, too, understood the gravity of the situation and actively cooperated with him.

The Hao Clan, Yoo Shinpoong, and others scoured Chengdu. But whether he had soared into the sky or sunk into the ground, no trace of Darkness was found.

He needed more people to help with the search.

The person Jin Geum-woo thought of then was the Night Lord.

His formidable martial prowess, enough to subdue Ximen Pyeong in an instant, his arrogant Alias as the master of the night, and as the owner of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion, his influence over the Courtesans would be considerable.

He was in a position where he needed to borrow even a cat’s paw.

After much deliberation, Jin Geum-woo had come to meet the Night Lord.

Pyo Wol nodded silently. A smile bloomed on Jin Geum-woo’s lips.

“I came on the off chance, and I’m glad to have met you like this.”

“What is it?”

“Actually, I came to ask for the Night Lord’s help…”

Suddenly, Jin Geum-woo’s words trailed off.

He clamped his mouth shut and stared intently at Pyo Wol’s face.

A fierce glint erupted from his eyes in the darkness.

Pyo Wol did not avoid it and met his gaze.

Their eyes clashed in mid-air.

The first to speak was Jin Geum-woo.

“I’ve definitely seen those eyes before. But you didn’t have this face then…”

“…”

“That appearance must not have been your real one either.”

Jin Geum-woo was instantly certain that Pyo Wol’s appearance was not his real one.

Pyo Wol was honestly surprised.

He had only seen Jin Geum-woo once.

Even then, he had met Jin Geum-woo under a different identity, not his true form.

Im Gwon-ok.

The identity he used while learning music from Master Yuedu.

Pyo Wol had not expected that Jin Geum-woo would remember his eyes from that single meeting and be so certain.

“Who are you, with so many different faces?”

“Who do you think I am?”

Pyo Wol no longer hid his true nature.

For some reason, he felt that hiding himself in front of Jin Geum-woo was meaningless and pathetic.

He thought it was remarkable that Jin Geum-woo was the first to notice his dual nature, which no one else had ever discerned.

Jin Geum-woo stared intently at Pyo Wol.

His gaze was as hot as the sun and as passionate as a raging wave. In contrast, Pyo Wol’s gaze was perfectly still. It was impossible to read his inner thoughts from eyes that showed no movement or emotion. But paradoxically, that very stillness gave Jin Geum-woo his certainty.

“Before coming here, I heard a story about a man. A story about an Assassin who single-handedly toyed with all the sects in Sichuan Province. When I first heard that rumor, I couldn’t believe it. It was just too unrealistic.”

“So you’re looking for him?”

“You knew that much? Truly impressive. That’s right! I am looking for him.”

“Why?”

“For a long time, I have been tracking an organization. I wanted to confirm if he might be a member of that group.”

The two men spoke informally, as if they were old friends.

“What if he is part of that organization?”

“I will fight and subdue him. And then I will uncover the truth.”

“You’re single-minded.”

“I hear that a lot.”

Jin Geum-woo revealed everything.

His attitude was confident, as if he had nothing to hide.

Pyo Wol narrowed his eyes and looked at Jin Geum-woo.

He probably couldn’t reveal himself so confidently even if he died and came back to life.

He even wondered how one must have lived to be able to reveal oneself so unreservedly and be so confident.

Jin Geum-woo asked.

“Now it’s your turn to answer. Who are you? Im Gwon-ok of the Celestial Music Hall, the Night Lord of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion, and…”

“And?”

“The Assassin who plunged Sichuan Province into a storm of blood. Which one is your true self?”

Jin Geum-woo was certain that the man before him was the one he was looking for. It would be ridiculous to deny it any longer.

Tuduk!

The muscles on Pyo Wol’s face began to shift. And his true face was revealed.

Jin Geum-woo was surprised by the pale white skin that seemed to glow even in the darkness and the beautiful features.

“Is that your real face?”

“Yes!”

“It’s worth hiding. A face like that would draw attention anywhere.”

“You didn’t seek me out just to say something like that, did you?”

“You’re right! My mistake. To be surprised by mere looks. That’s not what’s truly important.”

Jin Geum-woo readily admitted his mistake.

Pyo Wol asked.

“What are you looking for?”

“Nine Dragons.”

“Hm?”

Jin Geum-woo took a Gold Coin from his robes and tossed it to Pyo Wol.

On the surface of the Gold Coin, a design of nine intertwined Dragons was exquisitely engraved.

“What is this?”

“It seems you don’t know.”

“I asked what it is.”

“Recently, people using this mark have been discovered. People with no connection or point of contact are all using this mark. They are sprouting up like mold all over the Jianghu, meddling in various interests. They are different from the existing Jianghu sects. The existing sects at least value honor to some extent and care about public perception. But these people don’t care about public opinion at all. All they want is their own gain.”

“How novel. And practical.”

Pyo Wol was genuinely impressed.

“Yes! It’s the emergence of a completely new breed that has never existed before. In some ways, they resemble merchants. Their blind pursuit of wealth is similar. But they are distinguished by the fact that they possess absolute martial power.”

“So?”

“I’ll ask you frankly. Are you also a member of this organization?”

“No!”

“I see!”

“Do you believe me?”

“I do!”

“Based on what?”

“Based on your eyes. It’s hard to believe that a man with eyes like yours would live while interacting with others.”

It was a statement that could have been offensive, but Pyo Wol didn’t pay it much mind. Rather, he was quite surprised by how accurate Jin Geum-woo’s eyes were.

“Are you disappointed? To have come all the way to this remote Sichuan Province and gained nothing.”

“No, I actually think it was a good thing I came. If I hadn’t come this far, I wouldn’t have been able to meet you, would I?”

“You’re peculiar. Don’t people like you usually side with the Emei Sect and the Qingcheng Sect?”

“Because a crayfish sides with a crab? That could be, but I don’t particularly like those two sects. Both of them locked their gates in fear of the Divine Demon Association during the Great Demonic War. My belief is that to receive respect, one must be worthy of it.”

From Jin Geum-woo’s words, Pyo Wol could grasp how upright his character was.

“You won’t live long.”

“Who? Me?”

“Those with such uncompromising personalities tend to die young.”

“Haha! Perhaps.”

Jin Geum-woo laughed heartily, unfazed by Pyo Wol’s venomous words.

Pyo Wol furrowed his brow.

The more he looked, the more unpleasant he felt.

That confident demeanor, never hiding himself for a single moment, greatly provoked Pyo Wol’s nerves.

“My name is Jin Geum-woo. What is your real name?”

“Pyo Wol!”

“Good! Pyo Wol. Would you not like to be friends with me? I feel that with you, we could become true friends, regardless of status.”

“I refuse.”

Pyo Wol refused flatly.

He felt even more displeased.

What on earth did he know about him to suggest being friends? The way Jin Geum-woo barged into his territory without warning made him feel repulsed.

Despite Pyo Wol’s refusal, Jin Geum-woo was not disappointed.

“Can’t you reconsider? I’ve taken a liking to you.”

“No!”

“Hah!”

Jin Geum-woo let out an exclamation. But he did not give up easily.

“If you change your mind, come find me anytime. I truly want to share a bond with you. Friend!”

He called Pyo Wol ‘friend’ to the very end.

Pyo Wol started walking and said coldly.

“If you’re done with your nonsense, will you move?”

“My business isn’t finished yet.”

“…”

“Help me. A dangerous man has hidden himself in Chengdu. He’s presumed to be from the Small Thunder Sound Temple, but I have no idea where he’s hiding. If we leave him be, something terrible will surely happen. Help me find him. That is the reason I came to find you.”

Pyo Wol did not answer.

There was no reason for him to grant Jin Geum-woo’s request.

Pyo Wol indifferently walked past Jin Geum-woo.

Jin Geum-woo did not stop him.

“I know well that you are not a bad person. Please, help me.”

Pyo Wol thought of Jin Geum-woo’s voice as noise.

Loud, useless noise.

Pyo Wol vanished into the darkness in an instant.

Jin Geum-woo watched Pyo Wol’s retreating back with a regretful gaze.

Before coming here, he had thoroughly investigated the Blood Mist that had occurred in Sichuan Province.

Most people focused only on the fact that the Blood Mist was caused by an Assassin named Pyo Wol, but he had investigated why such a thing had to happen.

‘He’s not simply a Demonic practitioner thirsty for blood. He’s a victim. If I had been in the same situation, I would have acted as he did.’

The more he delved into Pyo Wol, the more he couldn’t help but be amazed. And he became certain. That he was not a bad person to the bone.

Now that he had met Pyo Wol in person, his conviction grew stronger. That was why he had suggested they become friends, citing a nonsensical reason.

Even now, after being flatly rejected, his feelings had not changed.

“We will meet again.”

He turned around, uttering words like a prophecy.

The city of Chengdu, shrouded in darkness, came into view.

A deep night when most people were asleep.

But someone was awake.

Jin Geum-woo hoped that he was not the one he was chasing.

He would rather the one he was chasing had fled to the Small Thunder Sound Temple. If he remained in Chengdu and plotted something, it would surely bring about a terrible result.

“I will catch him before that. I must!”

Jin Geum-woo bit his lip and walked into the city’s darkness.