Chapter 126

“Pyeong!”

Jin Geum-woo’s eyes flew open.

All the capillaries in his eyes had burst, turning them bloodshot.

With eyes that looked as if they would spill blood at any moment, he stared at Ximen Pyeong’s corpse.

The sight of Ximen Pyeong lying there, his head and body separated, was so surreal. So much so that even the great Jin Geum-woo needed a considerable amount of time to accept his death.

It was the same for Neung Sowoon and Won Gayoung.

For better or worse, Ximen Pyeong had been one of them, under the banner of the Golden Sky Society. Neung Sowoon, who had always been fond of him, and even Won Gayoung, who had despised him as a good-for-nothing brute, were both aghast at his death.

“How dare you kill Pyeong.”

“Good heavens!”

Neung Sowoon’s eyes were as bloodshot as Jin Geum-woo’s.

Though Neung Sowoon had always prided herself on being more rational than anyone, at this moment, her mind went completely blank, unable to form a single thought. Instead, an unbearable rage filled her head.

The rage was enough to completely blow away what little reason she had left.

“You bastard!”

Neung Sowoon shrieked and charged.

In her hand, she now held her beloved sword.

Shwaak!

Sword Qi like a white moon filled the field of vision.

Neung Sowoon’s Special Technique, the Eighteen Styles of the White Moon, had been unleashed.

The Eighteen Styles of the White Moon was a Special Technique that proudly ranked among the best in the Jianghu, and it was said that with Complete mastery, one could pulverize even a massive boulder in a single blow.

Her Alias, White Moon Sword, was also derived from the Eighteen Styles of the White Moon.

“No!”

Jin Geum-woo tried to stop Neung Sowoon, but it was too late. The Sword Qi, shaped like a white moon, mercilessly bombarded Pyo Wol.

The formidable power of the Sword Qi kicked up a thick cloud of dust, obscuring the view. Even so, Neung Sowoon was not reassured and was about to unleash her Sword Qi once more.

It was at that moment.

Swish!

Something flew out, cutting through the dust.

With superhuman senses, Neung Sowoon dodged the flying object.

‘A Flying Blade?’

What had grazed past Neung Sowoon was unmistakably a Flying Blade.

Had she been even a fraction of a second slower in dodging, the Flying Blade would have sliced through her neck.

Wary of another Flying Blade, Neung Sowoon rushed forward.

Pyo Wol was still standing.

The Flying Blade that had just flown past proved it.

Just as Neung Sowoon was heightening all her senses to their absolute peak.

Swish!

Suddenly, she felt a sharp killing intent from the back of her head.

The Flying Blade that had passed her was now circling back in a wide arc, aiming for the back of her head.

“What?”

As Neung Sowoon was stunned by the Flying Blade’s unimaginable trajectory, Won Gayoung moved.

“Haat!”

As if to prove she was the disciple of the Sword Venerable, Han Yu-cheon, she displayed a brilliant sword technique, striking away the Flying Dagger that was aimed at the back of Neung Sowoon’s head.

Kaaang!

Although Won Gayoung’s intervention had dramatically saved her life, Neung Sowoon felt as if every single hair on her body was standing on end.

Chwareureuk!

The Flying Blade, deflected by Won Gayoung’s sword, was sucked back into the dust as if it were thread being rewound onto a spindle. But it was too early to feel relieved.

Ssssh! Swish!

This time, two Flying Blades shot out.

The Flying Blades moved freely, as if they were living creatures with wills of their own, attacking Neung Sowoon and Won Gayoung.

“Damn it!”

“Cha!”

The two were terrified, swinging their swords to block the Flying Blades’ attacks.

Jin Geum-woo remained still, watching the Flying Blades that were attacking the two.

At a glance, it looked as if the Flying Blades were moving on their own.

‘Controlling Blades with Qi? No!’

Jin Geum-woo quickly dismissed his own thought.

Focusing his Eye Power, he could see the threads of Qi connected to the two Flying Blades.

He was condensing his Qi and using it like thread.

It was a skill he had never heard of or seen before.

To manipulate Qi to that extent required a delicate sense and profound Internal Energy that an ordinary person could not even imagine.

Jin Geum-woo prided himself on his profound Internal Energy, but even he would not dare to imitate such a delicate manipulation of it.

It wasn’t just Jin Geum-woo. No Martial Artist in the Jianghu could confidently use their Qi like thread in such a manner.

Even Jin Geum-woo couldn’t fathom how such control was possible.

Kakakakang!

Sparks flew continuously as swords and Flying Blades clashed.

Neung Sowoon and Won Gayoung were utterly terrified by this technique, the likes of which they had never seen before.

The Flying Blades were like venomous snakes.

They persistently struck, aiming only for the weakest points.

Because of this, the two couldn’t even get close to Pyo Wol and were on the verge of exhaustion just from dealing with the Flying Blades.

Unable to bear it any longer, Neung Sowoon shouted loudly.

“Come out! You cowardly bastard.”

It was then.

Puuuk!

Suddenly, she felt an extreme pain in her shoulder blade.

Something had pierced through her shoulder blade and was protruding from the front. A faint shape was visible.

“A thread?”

In that instant, her body was yanked forward.

The Soul Restraining Thread that had pierced her shoulder blade was dragging her.

“Heok!”

Neung Sowoon let out an involuntary scream.

“Sowoon Orabeoni!”

Just as Won Gayoung was about to leap forward to save Neung Sowoon.

Puk!

Something burrowed into her ankle and wrapped around her shin.

The moment Won Gayoung felt the excruciating pain, she too was yanked forward like Neung Sowoon.

“Ack!”

She screamed.

The experience of her body being dragged by an external force against her will was truly terrifying.

Ssssh!

At that moment, from the air, a Flying Blade plunged down toward her and Neung Sowoon.

Pyo Wol was restraining Neung Sowoon and Won Gayoung with two Soul Restraining Threads, while controlling the Ghostly Rain with two other Soul Restraining Threads.

He had only gained the ability to use two more Soul Restraining Threads, but its effectiveness had increased tenfold.

Seeing the Ghostly Rain slicing through the air, Won Gayoung squeezed her eyes shut.

Just then, Jin Geum-woo drew his sword and leaped into the air.

He could no longer stand by and watch his comrades in danger.

“Stop!”

His body, having reached its peak, plummeted toward the ground at a terrifying speed.

He landed right in the middle of Pyo Wol, Won Gayoung, and the others.

The Third Technique Form of the Nine Ring Heaven Extinction Sword, Mad Soul Severance.

Kwang!

His sword, condensed with immense Internal Energy, struck the earth like a meteor.

A storm raged in all directions, and the Soul Restraining Threads that had bound Won Gayoung and Neung Sowoon snapped.

Freed, the two dodged the Ghostly Rain by a hair’s breadth.

Chwareureuk!

The Soul Restraining Threads that had once again ensnared the Ghostly Rain were rewound and retrieved by Pyo Wol.

“Heok, heok!”

“Haa! Haa!”

Having barely escaped with their lives, Neung Sowoon and Won Gayoung let out ragged breaths as they stared at the spot where the Ghostly Rain had been retrieved.

As the dust settled, Pyo Wol’s figure was revealed.

Pyo Wol was still in the same spot where he had first stood.

While facing the young Experts, Won Gayoung and Neung Sowoon, he had not moved a single step.

In an instant, the faces of the two twisted with humiliation.

“Eek!”

In his humiliation, Neung Sowoon was about to attack Pyo Wol again as if in a fit, but Jin Geum-woo raised a hand to stop him.

Neung Sowoon shouted.

“Geum-woo!”

“Calm down!”

“We have to avenge Pyeong. How can you say such a thing?”

Neung Sowoon looked ready to charge at Pyo Wol at any moment. Won Gayoung grabbed her hand.

“Calm down.”

“You too?”

“We’re no match for him. You saw it. He didn’t move a single step.”

“Keuk!”

“Let’s leave it to Geum-woo Orabeoni.”

Won Gayoung’s face clearly showed her miserable feelings.

It wasn’t as if she enjoyed staying still.

She was the disciple of Han Yu-cheon, the Sword Venerable, said to be the greatest swordsman in All Under Heaven. Her pride was just as great.

Yet, she had been consistently on the defensive, unable to use even a single Technique Form of the swordsmanship taught to her by her Master.

If she followed her heart, she would want to fight Pyo Wol to the death right now, without a second thought. But she knew that rushing in recklessly would only get in Jin Geum-woo’s way, so she had no choice but to endure.

Pyo Wol and Jin Geum-woo looked at each other.

Pyo Wol had lost Su-hyang to Ximen Pyeong, and Jin Geum-woo had lost Ximen Pyeong to Pyo Wol.

The relationship between the two had suffered irreparable damage.

To others, he might have been a selfish brat, but to Jin Geum-woo, Ximen Pyeong had been a good younger brother. Overlooking his death was absolutely out of the question.

Nevertheless, Jin Geum-woo endured.

He was different from Neung Sowoon or Won Gayoung.

He had the eyes to see through to the truth hidden behind the situation and a brilliant mind. And he clearly recognized what the priority was.

Keeping an eye on Pyo Wol, Jin Geum-woo opened his mouth.

“Let’s postpone settling our grudge.”

“Why should I?”

“Isn’t catching the true culprit who made things this way the priority? Let’s catch him first, and then settle this matter. While we’re confronting each other like this, he’s probably escaping Chengdu.”

“And if I refuse?”

“I will fight you with all my strength. I might win, or you might win. But no matter who the victor is, you won’t be able to catch the one who caused her death. Are you fine with that?”

Not a hint of servility could be felt in Jin Geum-woo’s polite tone.

If he had his way, he too would want to fight Pyo Wol with all his might. But if he did that now, it was clear that catching the culprit who caused this whole mess would become a distant prospect.

Pyo Wol stared intently at Jin Geum-woo.

Jin Geum-woo did not avoid his gaze.

A suffocating silence hung between the two men.

Their standoff was so tense that Won Gayoung and Neung Sowoon felt the illusion that the space around the two was distorting.

Suddenly, Pyo Wol looked down at Su-hyang’s body lying on the ground.

Perhaps because her death had been painless, her expression was peaceful.

Pyo Wol carefully lifted Su-hyang’s body into his arms.

“Hoo!”

Only then did Jin Geum-woo let out the breath he had been holding.

He had interpreted Pyo Wol’s action as an acceptance of his proposal.

Even in death, Su-hyang was beautiful.

It felt as if she were merely sleeping. So much so that it seemed she might stretch and get up at any moment.

Just then, the surviving Courtesans of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion approached Pyo Wol, crying.

“Luju-nim!”

“Unnie! Heuk!”

Before Su-hyang’s body, they burst into the tears they had been holding back.

“Ptui!”

“It’s because of you.”

A few of the Courtesans spat on the corpse of the decapitated Ximen Pyeong and cursed him.

The destruction of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion and the deaths of Su-hyang and the Steward were because of Ximen Pyeong’s rampage. If it weren’t for him, they would have been spending their time just like any other day.

Their only regret was that they couldn’t kick Ximen Pyeong’s head, mindful of Jin Geum-woo and the others.

Neung Sowoon and Won Gayoung turned their heads, looking away from the Courtesans.

Seeing how the Courtesans were treating Ximen Pyeong made their hearts heavy.

Only now did they realize what Ximen Pyeong had done.

Although the reason was that he had been possessed by the monster from the Small Thunder Sound Temple, that could not be an excuse for his actions.

‘Damn it!’

‘Haa! How did it come to this…’

The two couldn’t bring themselves to look the Courtesans in the eye.

Pyo Wol spoke to Dan-seol, the oldest Courtesan after Su-hyang.

“From now on, you’re in charge of the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.”

“Yes!”

“Bury Su-hyang’s body in a sunny place.”

“I will.”

Dan-seol nodded, wiping away her tears.

She had been very close to Su-hyang. That was why she had joined without a moment’s hesitation when Su-hyang said she was opening the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.

Su-hyang had often consulted with her in running the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.

Pyo Wol thought that Dan-seol would be able to run the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion well.

Holding Su-hyang’s body in her arms, Dan-seol said.

“Don’t worry about the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion, and just focus on the matter you hold in your heart.”

“We’ll protect the Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.”

“Just trust us.”

The Courtesans said a word to Pyo Wol, one by one.

Pyo Wol turned around without a word.

Jin Geum-woo asked.

“Where are you going without finding the killer?”

“Finding him is not that difficult.”

“What?”

“What’s truly difficult is finding out where the force behind him is.”

At Pyo Wol’s unexpected answer, Jin Geum-woo’s eyes widened.

“The force behind him? Don’t tell me you mean the Small Thunder Sound Temple?”