Chapter 161

Pyo Wol looked at Soma.

It was because Soma had been constantly munching on something since they left the Inn.

When his eyes met Pyo Wol’s, Soma quickly hid what he was holding in his hand behind his back. Pyo Wol couldn’t help but frown at Soma’s absurd behavior.

At that, Soma realized his mistake and grinned sheepishly.

“Hehe!”

“What is it?”

“Beef jerky from the Noona I met at the Inn. Hyung… ah, do you want some?”

“No.”

At Pyo Wol’s answer, the slight tension on Soma’s face melted away like snow.

That was how delicious the beef jerky Mok Ga-hye had given him was.

At first, he had intended to have just one bite, but his hand kept reaching for more, and he couldn’t stop.

When he came to his senses, he had already eaten two-thirds of it.

Soma carefully tucked the remaining beef jerky into his clothes.

‘I have to savor it from now on.’

He decided that the next time he met Mok Ga-hye, he would have to find out her secret recipe for making beef jerky.

The journey to Bishan was smooth.

This was because Woo Jang-rak’s group was originally well-versed in the geography of Jianghu, and the newly joined Wanderers also moved with perfect discipline.

Go Il-pae, in particular, led the Wanderers well.

He was already famous in the Wanderer’s Market and possessed the leadership skills to guide people.

When they moved, he would send Wanderers ahead to check for any problems, and when they rested, he would have them stand guard, not neglecting his duties.

Thanks to him, Woo Jang-rak’s group was able to travel comfortably.

After leaving the West Wind Inn, evening was already approaching.

Go Il-pae approached Woo Jang-rak and said.

“It looks like we’ll have to camp out nearby for the night.”

“Let’s do that. Do you happen to know a good place to camp?”

“There’s a stream flowing up ahead, and there’s a flat area nearby. It should be no problem to stay there for a night.”

“Then let’s camp there.”

“Understood. I will inform the others as well.”

Go Il-pae returned to the Wanderers and gave his instructions.

Woo Jang-rak watched Go Il-pae for a long time.

“He’s a coveted talent. It would be quite reassuring to have someone like him at the Manor.”

Finding someone with strong Martial Arts was not that difficult. Martial Artists who had reached a certain level were everywhere. However, those who were both strong in Martial Arts and intelligent were rarer than one might think.

Such individuals mostly belonged to prestigious sects, so finding one among Wanderers was even more difficult.

Woo Jang-rak thought he should subtly make an offer to Go Il-pae later.

His gaze suddenly turned to the rear.

It was to check if Pyo Wol and Soma were following along well.

The two were following well on their horses.

Unlike his initial worries, Pyo Wol and Soma caused no trouble at all.

Soma did startle people by repeatedly asking his characteristic, “Can’t I kill them?”, but fortunately, Pyo Wol restrained him each time, so no problems occurred.

Woo Jang-rak rode his horse over to Pyo Wol.

“They say there’s a stream just a little further. We plan to camp tonight on the flat ground near the stream.”

“You take care of that. There’s no need to report every little thing to me.”

“Understood.”

Woo Jang-rak retreated with an awkward expression.

Pyo Wol looked around.

As Woo Jang-rak had said, it was a suitable terrain for camping.

There was nothing to obstruct the view, making it difficult for anyone to approach stealthily, and with the stream right next to them, it was easy to get drinking water.

A place like this seemed fine for a one-night stay without any issues.

The people at the front had already dismounted and were preparing to camp.

They moved diligently, leveling the ground and starting a bonfire with skilled hands.

Woo Jang-rak’s Subordinates prepared the meal, while Go Il-pae and the Wanderers scouted the vicinity, identifying any potential threats.

Thanks to them, they were perfectly ready to camp before the sun set.

“Everyone, have a bowl.”

One of Woo Jang-rak’s Subordinates shouted.

He was an excellent cook and was always in charge of preparing meals when they camped out.

What he made was a porridge of unidentifiable origin.

He hung a large pot over the bonfire and threw in all the pre-prepared ingredients at once, creating a porridge that tasted quite excellent.

“This is good!”

“It’s not bad.”

The Wanderers couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration after tasting a spoonful.

Eating a proper meal like this while camping out was something they couldn’t even dream of.

Most of them just filled their stomachs with hard, stale rice cakes or dry rations they had prepared themselves.

“We’re living in luxury this time.”

Go Il-pae muttered as he ate the porridge.

Although its contents were unidentifiable, there were quite a few solid bits. They wouldn’t have put anything inedible in it, so it seemed safe to eat without worry.

Pyo Wol also received a bowl of porridge and sat on a nearby rock.

To eat the porridge, he pulled down the scarf that had been tightly wrapped around his face.

When his face was revealed, a stir arose among the Wanderers.

“That’s insane.”

“Kyah! To think he was hiding a face like that.”

“Is that really a man’s face?”

They forgot the earnest warnings of Lee Yul-san and gazed, mesmerized, at Pyo Wol’s face.

Just then, Go Il-pae’s cold voice brought them back to their senses.

“Everyone, be careful. All the bastards who were mesmerized by that face ended up dead. That glamorous shell is just a camouflage to cloud people’s eyes. Inside, a monster beyond imagination lurks. One wrong move and not only you, but all of us will be devoured. The reason the Boss of Wind Thunder Room warned us so earnestly wasn’t because he’s a coward. That’s how terrifying he is, that man…”

“……”

For a moment, a dreadful silence fell upon them.

“Everyone, be careful. It’s best for your own good not to get involved if you can help it.”

“It’s been a while. Seeing the great Heroic Wind Blade so tense.”

The one who spoke was a person with exceptionally delicate features.

Although they had deliberately smeared a lot of ash on their face, anyone with a keen eye could immediately tell they were a woman disguised as a man.

Go Il-pae’s gaze turned to her.

“Ha-jin!”

“Is he really that dangerous? Enough for the great Heroic Wind Blade to cower like a dog with its tail between its legs?”

“My explanation is probably insufficient.”

“So he’s a big shot…”

The cross-dressing woman’s gaze turned to Pyo Wol.

Her name was Seol Ha-jin.

She was as famous in the Wanderer’s Market as Go Il-pae.

When she first appeared in the Wanderer’s Market, she had naively operated in her true form, but so many men, captivated by her beauty, approached her that she eventually started dressing as a man.

Of course, all the men who had hit on her were either stabbed to death or seriously injured, forcing them into retirement.

That was how strong her Martial Arts were.

Her face was beautiful, but her hands were ruthless, so at least the Wanderers who knew her true nature never hit on her.

Seol Ha-jin stared blankly at Pyo Wol’s face as if she were lost in a trance.

“That’s too much. That’s cheating.”

Her heart, which she thought had grown numb from her life as a Wanderer, was pounding uncontrollably.

It had been a long time since she felt this way.

Go Il-pae said to Seol Ha-jin.

“Anyway, I’ve warned you.”

“I know. I get it. Stop talking, my ears are going to fall off.”

Seol Ha-jin waved her hand with an annoyed expression.

Go Il-pae looked at her for a moment, then turned his head away.

‘She’s a smart kid, she’ll know how to handle herself.’

There was no affection to be found among Wanderers.

Giving any more advice would only be counterproductive.

Go Il-pae tuned it out and ate the rest of his porridge.

＊＊＊

After everyone finished their meal, the group prepared for sleep.

There wasn’t much to preparing for sleep. It was just a matter of huddling around the bonfire and sleeping scattered here and there.

Those who were more prepared or better off covered themselves with blankets they had brought, while those without simply curled up and slept as they were.

Most of the Wanderers fell into the latter category.

For them, who had thrown themselves into the harsh world relying on nothing but their sturdy bodies, an item like a blanket was a luxury.

They made a separate bonfire a little distance away from where Woo Jang-rak’s group was sleeping and tried to get some sleep.

If there was any consolation, it was that they had all learned Internal Energy and could withstand a bit of cold.

Pyo Wol also found a spot for himself, slightly away from the group.

Both Woo Jang-rak’s group and the Wanderers were reluctant to be with him, and Pyo Wol’s own disposition was not fond of crowds.

Soma was even more so.

He climbed a tree far from the campsite where the group was staying and slept alone.

No matter how much he followed and liked Pyo Wol, he preferred to sleep alone.

Soma’s appearance was reminiscent of a small bat.

Pyo Wol used his Dark Dragon Robe as a blanket and gazed at the sky. The generously sized Dark Dragon Robe, when spread out, had enough room for two people.

His eyes took in the sight of countless stars embroidering the night sky, looking as if they would pour down at any moment.

It was a sight he had seen countless times since leaving the underground cavern. But no matter how many times he saw it, he never grew tired of it.

The sound of insects reached his ears.

This too, he never tired of hearing.

The underground cavern where he had spent half his life was a perfectly still space.

Life existed there too, but there was not a single being that revealed itself by making a sound.

It was a harsh environment where only those who could thoroughly conceal themselves and seize a single moment’s opportunity could survive.

To Pyo Wol, who was accustomed to such an environment, this peaceful scenery felt alien.

Except for those standing watch in the distance, everyone was asleep, but Pyo Wol could not easily fall asleep.

Pyo Wol lay with his arm as a pillow, just staring at the sky.

Ssk!

The sound of someone moving echoed in his ear.

They tried to move cautiously, but they couldn’t deceive Pyo Wol’s ears.

Pyo Wol’s eyes sharpened.

The footsteps were getting louder. The owner of the footsteps was approaching where Pyo Wol was.

Pyo Wol’s hand quietly moved towards the Ghostly Rain at his waist. But he soon released his grip on the Ghostly Rain.

It was because of the Body Scent that wafted to his nose.

Obscuring the star-filled sky, someone popped their head out and looked down at Pyo Wol.

It was the woman disguised as a man, Seol Ha-jin.

Seol Ha-jin looked down at Pyo Wol as if she were looking at something fascinating. She looked just like a cat full of curiosity.

Pyo Wol looked up at Seol Ha-jin without changing his position of using his arm as a pillow.

Suddenly, Seol Ha-jin untied the hair she had bound up like a man’s. Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, revealing her true appearance.

She was quite beautiful.

Even considering she was a Wanderer, she was on the pretty side. But it wasn’t enough to stir any emotion in Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol had already embraced women far more beautiful than her. That said, he wasn’t so heartless as to refuse a woman who came to him of her own accord.

Just by looking at Seol Ha-jin’s eyes, he could tell what she wanted.

There was only one reason for a woman to visit a man sleeping alone in the middle of the night.

Pyo Wol lifted his Dark Dragon Robe. As if she had been waiting, Seol Ha-jin smiled bashfully and slipped inside. Inside the Dark Dragon Robe, Seol Ha-jin whispered.

“They say you’re a dangerous man?”

“……”

“I like dangerous men.”

Seol Ha-jin nibbled on Pyo Wol’s ear with her white teeth.

She knew well how to arouse a man.

Just as men liked pretty women, women also liked handsome men. Moreover, Pyo Wol was so beautiful that the word “handsome” couldn’t begin to describe him.

The moment she saw him, Seol Ha-jin felt a thrill run through her entire body, and her knees went weak.

That was the reason Seol Ha-jin had come to Pyo Wol like a stray cat.

Seol Ha-jin’s pale white hand slipped inside Pyo Wol’s clothes and caressed his bare skin.

“You can be rough with me.”

Riiip!

Pyo Wol tore her clothes off in one go.

Inside the Dark Dragon Robe, her pale white flesh was revealed. An ordinary person wouldn’t be able to see, but Pyo Wol could see clearly even in the dark.

After admiring Seol Ha-jin’s naked body for a moment, Pyo Wol pressed his body onto hers.

“Ha!”

Feeling the heavy weight of Pyo Wol on her entire body, Seol Ha-jin unknowingly parted her lips.

Pyo Wol covered her lips with his own and devoured her fiercely. Her moans couldn’t escape, swirling inside Pyo Wol’s mouth.

Seol Ha-jin felt a pressure as if a giant snake were coiling around her.

It was already too late to back out.

Pyo Wol had no intention of letting Seol Ha-jin go until he was satisfied. And he didn’t know how to be easily satisfied.

Coming was Seol Ha-jin’s choice, but leaving was Pyo Wol’s.

The inside of the Dark Dragon Robe filled with the heat of the two. Seol Ha-jin’s naked body was soon drenched in sweat.

It was nearly dawn when Seol Ha-jin left the Dark Dragon Robe.

She tidied her disheveled clothes and hair and returned to the Wanderers as if nothing had happened. But she couldn’t hide the flush on her face.

Seol Ha-jin glanced over at where Pyo Wol was.

‘A big shot is a big shot.’