Chapter 225

Pyo Wol was awakened by the loud noises that had been going on since morning.

When he opened the window, he saw Jin Si-woo greeting guests who had arrived early in the morning.

“Welcome. Thank you for coming all this way, not minding the great distance.”

“How could I stand by and watch when the Jin Clan is on the brink of collapse? Though we branched off long ago, I am also a Jin. Don’t say such things.”

“Now that we’re here, don’t you worry.”

“How dare the likes of Snow Blade Sword Manor target the Jin Clan.”

The visitors to the Jin Clan either bolstered Jin Si-woo’s courage or expressed their fury at Snow Blade Sword Manor.

They were all from collateral branches that had split off from the Jin Clan.

Having heard the rumors of the Jin Clan’s peril while scattered across various regions, they had rushed over.

With the arrival of the collateral branches, the stagnant atmosphere of the Jin Clan began to liven up a little.

The number of martial artists from the collateral branches was over three hundred, far more than the Jin Clan members on Mount Tianjung.

In an instant, the Jin Clan was bustling with over five hundred people.

The faces of those who had originally been with the Jin Clan lit up with vitality.

“Now we finally have a fighting chance.”

“Hoo! It’s good they came.”

Although they had branched off long ago, they were still kin who shared the same surname, so they greeted each other warmly.

Jin Si-woo also looked somewhat relieved at the arrival of his collateral relatives.

Having supported the Jin Clan alone since his grandfather, Jin Wolmyeong, had collapsed, the mental burden he felt was beyond words.

A faint smile touched his lips, as if he could now set down a small part of that burden.

‘Still, it seems the Jin Clan hasn’t lost the people’s goodwill.’

There were also those whom Jin Si-woo had personally requested help from.

They were people he had met in the Jianghu and shared a deep friendship with.

Jin Si-woo had no doubt that they too would surely come.

Once they joined, it would be much easier to breathe.

Jin Si-woo’s gaze suddenly turned to the place that had been Jin Geum-woo’s residence. Pyo Wol was there.

His eyes met Pyo Wol’s, who was looking this way with his window open.

Jin Si-woo gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Pyo Wol merely watched Jin Si-woo with an indifferent gaze.

Jin Si-woo was, frankly, confused.

He had taken him in because he was Jin Geum-woo’s friend, but he couldn’t read the man’s inner thoughts at all.

Jin Geum-woo had said Pyo Wol was a friend worth getting to know sincerely. But Jin Si-woo had yet to find the reason why Jin Geum-woo had said such a thing. He had only accepted him because he was a friend his brother had wanted to be close to.

“Hoo!”

Thinking of his brother, Jin Si-woo sighed once more.

A mix of longing and resentment for his brother complicated his emotions.

Just then, the voice of a collateral relative brought him back to his senses.

“Now, what should we do?”

“Just give the order, Young Clan Head!”

Jin Si-woo was reminded of his position.

Now that Jin Geum-woo was dead, he was the Young Clan Head. And the Young Clan Head had to handle the major and minor affairs of the clan.

He didn’t even have the luxury to be idly lost in his emotions like this.

“Ah, yes! You two, please follow me, and the rest of you, please go that way. The disciples will guide you on what you need to do.”

Jin Si-woo moved about diligently, leading the collateral relatives.

Placing them in the right positions was also his job.

He worked all day, so much so that he didn’t even have time to eat. He barely managed to have a meal during a short break and then gathered the relatives again late into the night to discuss countermeasures.

The day passed in a flash, and Jin Si-woo was on the verge of collapse.

“Hoo!”

Jin Si-woo sighed and looked up at the sky.

A dazzling sea of stars was spread out before him, but he didn’t have the peace of mind to appreciate it leisurely.

He had only glanced up absentmindedly, but strangely, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

“Hee hee! And then what?”

At that moment, a girl’s laughter reached his ears.

He turned his head without thinking and saw a girl sitting next to a man, laughing.

The girl was his younger sister, Jin Seol-ah.

It was the same Jin Seol-ah who had lost her laughter after Jin Geum-woo’s death. It had been a truly long time since he had seen her laugh.

“Who?”

Jin Si-woo’s gaze shifted to the person who had made his sister laugh.

The moment he identified the person, he flinched in surprise.

The one conversing with Jin Seol-ah was none other than Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol only said a word here and there. But Jin Seol-ah was laughing continuously, as if something was very amusing.

Without realizing it, Jin Si-woo headed toward where the two were.

“Ah, little Orabeoni.”

Jin Seol-ah’s face lit up when she saw him.

“What are you talking about that’s making you laugh so much?”

“Stories about the fool.”

“My brother?”

“Yes!”

Jin Seol-ah nodded.

Only then did Jin Si-woo recall that he hadn’t heard any stories about Jin Geum-woo.

“Could I hear the stories about my brother too?”

He carefully asked Pyo Wol once again to tell him about Jin Geum-woo.

Pyo Wol nodded without any sign of displeasure.

The stories from the previous night were repeated once more, and the siblings listened intently to his words.

＊＊＊

“Hyung-nim, did you sleep well?”

After their conversation the previous night, Jin Si-woo treated Pyo Wol with much more familiarity.

“Yes.”

Pyo Wol also treated Jin Si-woo casually.

They had reached a point where they could converse comfortably even without the medium of Jin Geum-woo. Perhaps because of that, Jin Si-woo’s expression looked much brighter.

Jin Si-woo had also talked a lot through the night.

Thanks to that, Pyo Wol also came to know the details of the Jin Clan’s situation.

Not long after Jin Geum-woo lost his life, Jin Wolmyeong suddenly collapsed.

The cause was unknown, and there was no cure.

His condition worsened day by day, and now he was no different from a corpse, merely breathing.

When Jin Wolmyeong, the spiritual pillar of the Jin Clan, fell, the entire clan was shaken to its core.

Because of that, they couldn’t even think of investigating Jin Geum-woo’s death and had no choice but to focus solely on defending the clan.

Pyo Wol asked.

“The physician?”

“He couldn’t find out anything. He said he’s a renowned physician in this area, but it was his first time seeing a case like this.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Honestly, there’s no solution right now.”

Jin Si-woo let out a sigh.

They had already shown him to several physicians, but all of them had shaken their heads.

If they knew the clear cause, they could prepare a treatment, but Jin Wolmyeong’s symptoms were so peculiar that they couldn’t even guess the cause.

Jin Wolmyeong had been the spiritual pillar of the Jin Clan.

The absence of the giant who seemed like he would never fall was a hardship for the entire Jin Clan.

“Well, it will get better little by little. Thanks to the relatives from the branch families returning yesterday, our strength has stabilized a lot.”

“Can you fend off Snow Blade Sword Manor with them alone?”

“I’ve also sent people to those with whom I have personal friendships. And the Jin Clan hasn’t lost so much goodwill that it would collapse over something like this. Just you watch. It may seem a bit empty now, but in a few days, this wide space will be so crowded with people there won’t be a single spot to stand.”

Jin Si-woo boasted.

It could be seen as a reckless attitude, but Pyo Wol thought it was better than being dispirited.

Just then, someone ran up to Jin Si-woo.

“Young Clan Head!”

“What is it?”

He was a martial artist of the Jin Clan.

“We have guests from the Golden Sky Society.”

“The Golden Sky Society?”

For a moment, Jin Si-woo’s eyes wavered.

After Jin Geum-woo and the others died, the Golden Sky Society had crumbled like a sandcastle. The members who used to visit so frequently when Jin Geum-woo was alive had completely stopped coming after his death.

Because of that, Jin Si-woo’s feelings toward the Golden Sky Society were not very good. That was why he had given up on receiving their help altogether.

“Are you saying they’re really from the Golden Sky Society?”

“Three people have come.”

“Bring them here at once.”

“Yes!”

The martial artist disappeared with his reply.

When he reappeared a moment later, three men were with him.

Each of them boasted an outstanding presence.

Jin Si-woo’s face lit up as he recognized the man in the lead.

“Wol Hyung-nim!”

“It’s been a long time, Si-woo.”

“Hyung-nim, how did you…?”

“I heard the news of the Jin Clan late, so I’ve only just arrived.”

“Thank you, Hyung-nim!”

“But I came here in my personal capacity. So keep in mind that you won’t be able to receive the main society’s help.”

“It doesn’t matter. Just having you here, Hyung-nim, is enough.”

Jin Si-woo grasped the man’s hand as if he were about to cry.

The man was more than deserving of such a reaction.

His name was Namgung Wol.

He was a direct blood relative of the Thousand Water Society, one of the Three Hegemons.

Moreover, he was the third son of the Thousand Water Society’s absolute ruler, Society Leader Namgung Yugeom.

Although he was the third son, his influence and voice within the Thousand Water Society were by no means small.

Namgung Wol introduced the people next to him in turn.

“This is Oh Ju-gang. He was very close friends with Geum-woo.”

“Thank you for coming.”

At Jin Si-woo’s greeting, Oh Ju-gang wore an apologetic expression.

“Geum-woo was like a light to me. I’m just sorry that I’ve only come now due to my circumstances.”

“Not at all.”

“Though my strength may be insignificant, I will do my best to help you.”

Oh Ju-gang’s voice was filled with heartfelt emotion.

Jin Si-woo also performed a Fist-Palm Salute to Oh Ju-gang.

“Thank you. You will be a great help.”

“Stay strong!”

“Yes!”

After the two finished their greetings, Namgung Wol introduced the last person.

“This is Yuk Samyeong, who was a member of the Golden Sky Society.”

At his introduction, Yuk Samyeong stepped forward.

“I am Yuk Samyeong.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I heard the Jin Clan was in trouble, but your situation seems quite good.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, it’s good to see you’re still standing strong.”

“Ah, yes!”

“If I’d known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have had to come all this way. Tsk!”

Yuk Samyeong’s tongue-clicking made Jin Si-woo’s expression harden.

No matter how he looked at it, it seemed he had come not to help, but to pick a fight.

Namgung Wol must have felt the same as Jin Si-woo, as he spoke in a cold voice.

“Watch your mouth.”

“About what?”

“I’m saying don’t come here to help with good intentions only to spoil the mood.”

For a moment, Yuk Samyeong’s face seemed to stiffen, but he soon broke into a smile.

“Why so serious? I was just saying it out of concern. Of course, I will do my best to help the Jin Clan.”

“Hmph!”

“If I had no intention of helping the Jin Clan, I would never have come all this way.”

“I understand! It seems I overreacted.”

At Namgung Wol’s apology, Yuk Samyeong grinned.

He looked just like a weasel.

Jin Si-woo tried his best to hide his discomfort and said,

“I’ll be in your care from now on.”

“Hmph! By the way, who is the person next to you?”

Yuk Samyeong’s gaze turned to Pyo Wol, who was standing beside Jin Si-woo.

While they were talking, Pyo Wol hadn’t said a single word, so no one had paid him any mind.

A peculiar light flickered in Namgung Wol’s eyes as he looked at Pyo Wol’s face.

‘What a face…’

He himself was considered quite handsome in the Jianghu, but he couldn’t even compare to the man before him.

He was clearly a man, yet his face, more beautiful than a woman’s, was so incongruous.

His mind felt ticklish.

Something seemed to be on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t quite recall it.

Yuk Samyeong approached Pyo Wol.

“Are you also an acquaintance of Geum-woo?”

“That’s right.”

Yuk Samyeong looked Pyo Wol up and down with a displeased expression and said,

“How do you know him? I’ve never heard that Geum-woo had a friend like you.”

“Samyeong! Mind your manners.”

Namgung Wol shouted loudly, but Yuk Samyeong paid him no heed and continued.

“These days, now that Geum-woo is dead and gone, every Tom, Dick, and Harry is running around claiming to be his friend. I know almost all of Geum-woo’s friends, and I’ve never once heard of a friend like you.”

“The same goes for me.”

“What?”

“I’ve never heard from him that he had a friend like you.”