Chapter 223

The life of an Assassin was no different from performing acrobatics on a razor’s edge. A moment of carelessness or a single mistake, and your life was forfeit.

The Assassins of the Hundred Wraith Union were no different. No matter how much they were a group of Assassins that struck fear into All Under Heaven, they could not escape death.

A request that surpassed one’s capabilities always put one’s life in danger. Indeed, many had died. Whenever that happened, the Hundred Wraith Union would promote an Assassin they had cultivated internally.

The Hundred Wraith Union always thought of themselves as the best. They lived with the pride that no other Assassin could dare compare to them. However, there were occasional cases where they recruited Assassins from the outside.

This happened when they couldn’t promote from within due to some problem, or when an outsider possessed capabilities that exceeded their expectations.

“The last time we recruited an Assassin from the outside was, what, eight or nine years ago. This is a truly incredible opportunity. If you join the Hundred Wraith Union, you’ll be gaining a truly powerful backer.”

Hong Ye-seol’s face was flushed red.

She had revealed her emotional turmoil without realizing it. That was how much her entire focus was on the man before her.

But Pyo Wol’s reply was not what she had expected.

“It’s just a cell-based organization, isn’t it? You don’t seem to care much about the dead, so what’s this about a backer?”

“That’s because Baek-rok died due to his lack of ability. You’re different. You’ll receive special treatment.”

“Forget it!”

“Don’t refuse so flatly. Think about it one more time. This is a really special opportunity.”

“You’re being clingy.”

“Because you’re special.”

Hong Ye-seol smiled sweetly.

In that moment, she looked pure and innocent. But Pyo Wol knew all too well that this appearance was not real. The expression on her face, the look in her eyes, even the sound of her breathing—it was all a lie. For the sake of her goal, she could cast aside her true self and adorn herself with any number of false facades.

That was the nature of an Assassin.

Hong Ye-seol unclasped the hands that had been propping up her chin and spoke.

“My offer will remain open for the time being. So please, think it over carefully.”

“Did you come all the way to Runan just to make me that offer?”

“Of course not. Meeting you was a coincidence.”

“Then?”

“You know, don’t you? For people like us, secrecy is life.”

Hong Ye-seol winked and stood up.

“Weren’t you planning to stay here?”

“I was, but you’re here. You know, don’t you? How uncomfortable it is for people in the same line of work to stay at the same Inn.”

“……”

“Oh, right, I’ll give you a gift before I go.”

“A gift?”

“It’s something I went to great lengths to acquire, but I don’t need it anymore.”

She took a yellowed booklet from her robes and tossed it in front of Pyo Wol.

Devil Subduing Energy Art.

“Did you steal this from the Wudang Sect?”

“That’s right.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“I went to great lengths to get it, but the client died. So it became useless.”

“And you’re not going to learn it?”

“What’s the point of learning Martial Arts that don’t suit my disposition? I skimmed through it, and it seems like one wrong move could make you lose your mind and go crazy.”

“Why give such a Demonic beast to me? Are you saying it’s okay for me to go crazy?”

“If you’re really uncomfortable with it, you can return it to the Wudang Sect. In any case, it’s a gift. You can think of it as a bribe, if you like.”

“A bribe for what?”

“Who knows?”

Hong Ye-seol left with an ambiguous smile.

Pyo Wol also took the booklet and returned to his annex.

Thud!

He tossed the booklet he had brought onto the table.

The very name, Devil Subduing Energy Art, seemed ominous.

Pyo Wol flipped through the booklet, one page at a time.

Just as Hong Ye-seol had said, the Devil Subduing Energy Art was a Demonic art filled with madness. It seemed that if one learned it incorrectly, an Inner Demon would consume their mind, and they would go on a rampage.

It was a useless item for those like Assassins, who needed a cold, rational mind. It was understandable why Hong Ye-seol hadn’t learned the Devil Subduing Energy Art.

The reason Hong Ye-seol had given it to Pyo Wol as if doing him a favor was because she had no need for it. And just as it was useless to her, the Martial Arts was utterly useless to Pyo Wol as well.

After reading through to the last page, Pyo Wol’s conclusion was that learning it would only bring harm. However, it seemed a few of the techniques could be incorporated into the Hungry Ghost Path.

Since the Hungry Ghost Path was also a martial art that defied common sense, there were some aspects that were in line with it. But other than that, it was useless to Pyo Wol.

Thwack!

As he closed the last page of the booklet, Pyo Wol wrinkled his nose.

A faint scent had wafted from the booklet.

It was a foreign scent, not the smell of an old book.

It was an artificial fragrance that no one could ever smell unless their senses were as sharp as Pyo Wol’s.

“Well, look at this.”

A cold smile graced Pyo Wol’s lips.

What emanated from the booklet was a special fragrance called the Thousand-Mile Tracking Incense.

This incense, which was said to allow one to find something from a thousand miles away once applied, had the characteristic of not being easily erased. And a person who had not undergone special training could never smell it.

Among Assassins, only a very small few could smell the Thousand-Mile Tracking Incense. Someone who had not learned this skill would never be able to detect the Thousand-Mile Tracking Incense, even if it was wafting right next to them.

Pyo Wol was an exception.

His senses had long since transcended those of a human.

His sense of smell, in particular, had reached a realm that humans could not perceive.

Hong Ye-seol had played a cute little trick, pretending to do him a favor while setting things up so she could find Pyo Wol at any time.

If Pyo Wol moved around with the booklet scented with the Thousand-Mile Tracking Incense, Hong Ye-seol would be able to grasp his every move as if reading her own palm, even while sitting down.

As expected, Assassins were not a species to be trusted.

They would always try to get what they wanted by deceiving others like this.

“If she came to Runan, it must be because of Jin Clan and Daoist Master Seol.”

The journey from Mount Wudang to Runan took more than ten days. It was unlikely she had come such a long distance without any purpose.

She had clearly received a request from someone.

The problem was who had given her the request.

Depending on whether it was Jin Clan or Daoist Master Seol, his relationship with her would surely be redefined.

Pyo Wol stared at the Devil Subduing Energy Art for a long time.

His contemplation continued late into the night.

＊＊＊

Pyo Wol left the Inn early in the morning.

His horse, having rested well, seemed full of vitality.

Pyo Wol mounted the horse and said.

“Let’s go!”

The horse left Runan at a fast pace and headed for Mount Tianjung.

The form of Mount Tianjung was clearly visible even from a distance.

At a glance, it seemed close, but it only appeared that way because it was so large and massive.

Pyo Wol rode for more than half a day before he could reach the entrance of Mount Tianjung.

He had heard it was a sacred mountain, but the Qi felt from the mountain was extraordinary.

The mystical Qi was so dense it could be compared to Mount Wudang.

He could understand why Jin Clan and Daoist Master Seol were fighting over this place.

Pyo Wol rode his horse up Mount Tianjung.

The road to Jin Clan was very well-maintained, so there was no problem riding a horse.

Pyo Wol rode the horse slowly, admiring the scenery of Mount Tianjung.

The sight of strangely shaped rocks and stones harmonizing with the thickets was a magnificent view, making it enjoyable to watch.

Pyo Wol did not hurry.

He rode the horse slowly, taking in all the surrounding scenery and topography.

He had been climbing for quite some time when it happened.

He suddenly felt a furtive gaze.

Someone was hiding and watching Pyo Wol. Still, Pyo Wol showed no sign of it and calmly rode his horse.

As time passed, the number of gazes following him increased.

At first, it was one person, but by the time he had almost reached Jin Clan, about ten people were following and monitoring him.

They thought they were being discreet, but they couldn’t deceive Pyo Wol’s senses.

As soon as he rounded a bend, a small village appeared.

The moment he saw the village, Pyo Wol instinctively knew it was Jin Clan.

A village made up only of people with the surname Jin, much like the Tang Clan’s estate. The only difference was that the Jin Clan village was much smaller in scale.

It was only natural.

The Tang Clan had enjoyed prosperity in one place for over hundreds of years, but Jin Clan had only stayed here for a few decades. Naturally, there was bound to be a large difference in scale.

Just as Pyo Wol was about to enter Jin Clan, a group of people suddenly jumped out from the bushes and blocked his way.

They were the owners of the gazes that had been secretly following him from the entrance of Mount Tianjung.

“Stop.”

At the head of the group was a girl with a still-youthful face.

Simple clothes and a pretty appearance.

What made her most impressive was her stubbornly pursed lips.

Pyo Wol knew someone with a similar mouth.

‘Jin Geum-woo.’

Traces of resemblance to Jin Geum-woo were found all over the girl’s face.

Pyo Wol dismounted from his horse. The girl then led her group and approached him.

“Who are you? This is Jin Clan’s territory. Those without permission cannot enter.”

“My name is Pyo Wol. A frien…d of Jin Geum-woo.”

“A friend of that idiot?”

“Yes!”

“Hmph! Then you’ve come to the wrong place. That idiot is already dead and gone from this world.”

“Why do you call him an idiot?”

“Because he is one. He left home on his own whim and died, only to bring disaster upon us.”

The girl’s eyes were full of resentment towards Jin Geum-woo.

Her eyes welled with moisture, as if she were about to cry at any moment.

Pyo Wol sensed that the girl had some story.

Just then, a young man’s voice was heard.

“Step back, Seol-ah!”

The owner of the voice was in his early to mid-twenties and bore a striking resemblance to Jin Geum-woo.

The girl flinched at his appearance.

“Orabeoni!”

“He said he’s Geum-woo Hyung-nim’s guest. Show some courtesy.”

“What courtesy? And what guarantee is there that he’s really friends with that idiot?”

“Still, he is a guest who has come to the main house. Since when has the main house treated its guests so poorly?”

At the young man’s firm words, the girl bit her lip and stepped back. Only then did the young man look at Pyo Wol and greet him.

“My name is Jin Si-woo, Geum-woo Hyung-nim’s younger brother. You said you are my brother’s friend?”

“Pyo Wol.”

“I’ve heard of you. He said he made an interesting friend in Sichuan Province.”

“We were only together for a month.”

“To some, a month may be a meaningless time that leaves no memories, but to others, it is enough time to build memories that last a lifetime. I believe Geum-woo Hyung-nim was the latter.”

Jin Si-woo smiled faintly.

Pyo Wol’s gaze turned to the girl.

“That child is?”

“Her name is Jin Seol-ah. She is the youngest of us three siblings. She was fonder of Geum-woo Hyung-nim than anyone, so his death came as a great shock. I hope you can understand even if she is a little rude.”

“Who said I was fond of him? I never liked that idiot. Who would like a person who spouts promises he can’t keep? I will resent him for the rest of my life.”

Jin Seol-ah screamed at the top of her lungs.

The tears that had welled in her eyes streamed down her cheeks.

After glaring at Pyo Wol with a flushed face, Jin Seol-ah ran off towards Jin Clan.

At that sight, Jin Si-woo let out a sigh.

“Haaah!”

“Love and hate are like two sides of the same paper, always stuck together.”

“You are right. For now, please come inside.”

Jin Si-woo led Pyo Wol into Jin Clan.

As a stranger entered, the gazes of the villagers focused on him.

Curiosity and wariness coexisted in their eyes.

Feeling the somewhat sharp atmosphere of Jin Clan, Pyo Wol muttered.

“It seems things are not going well.”

“So it seems to you as well, Hyung-nim. Oh, is it alright if I call you Hyung-nim? Since you are Geum-woo Hyung-nim’s friend, you are my Hyung-nim as well.”

“Do as you please.”

“Thank you, Hyung-nim!”

He had never met someone with such a unique atmosphere as Pyo Wol.

Taciturn, with sharp eyes that seemed to see through everything. Yet, he never revealed his inner thoughts.

He felt he could understand why his brother, Jin Geum-woo, had been drawn to Pyo Wol.

To Jin Geum-woo, who had to solve everything on his own, Pyo Wol must have been a reliable source of support.

He recalled Jin Geum-woo’s words, expressing his regret that they couldn’t become closer because Pyo Wol wouldn’t open his heart.

The man he had so wanted to connect with while he was alive had only come after his death.

He thought that if Jin Geum-woo were alive, he would be smiling brightly. And that made him miss him even more.

‘Hyung-nim!’