Chapter 226

Yuk Samyeong glared at Pyo Wol with terrifying eyes.

Hostility filled his gaze.

There was no reason for him to harbor such animosity toward Pyo Wol, whom he had never seen before in his life. Under normal circumstances, that is.

Pyo Wol figured his hostility was directed more at Jin Geum-woo than at himself.

Yuk Samyeong’s tone and actions were not those of someone who had come to help. Rather, he seemed like someone who had come to witness and enjoy the Jin family’s misfortune.

“It seems you were once humiliated by Jin Geum-woo.”

“What?”

“You were humiliated, but you lacked the ability to get revenge. Or perhaps, conscious of the eyes of those around you, you pretended to be magnanimous, as if nothing had happened. You patched it up and moved on, but the memory of that day must have lingered in your heart. No matter how you tried to suture the wound, it must have kept poking out like a sharp awl, tormenting you.”

“You, you madman! How can you say such things?”

“Usually, in such cases, people’s reactions are split in two. They either avoid it or face it head-on. From the looks of it, your choice was neither. You must have hovered around him, acting nonchalantly as if you were a man of great character, as if you had forgotten all about that day’s wound. But the opportunity for revenge never came, and time just slipped away meaninglessly. As your heart rotted away and an inner demon began to grow, you heard the news of Jin Geum-woo’s death.”

“……”

Yuk Samyeong was too shocked to say anything.

Pyo Wol had described the situation he had experienced as if he had witnessed it with his own eyes.

A few years ago, he had boldly challenged Jin Geum-woo and lost. That day’s defeat left an indelible scar on his heart. He had been so completely defeated that he never dared to challenge him again.

Time passed like that.

He looked for a chance to restore his honor, but Jin Geum-woo’s martial prowess was so formidable that he had no choice but to give up.

The fact that he wasn’t the only one defeated by Jin Geum-woo was some comfort, but the wound in his heart did not heal at all.

The more Jin Geum-woo succeeded, the larger the inner demon in his heart grew. But he had kept that feeling suppressed and hidden so it would not be exposed.

Even at that moment, Pyo Wol’s words continued.

“You were probably happy when you heard Jin Geum-woo was dead. It was like getting what you wanted without lifting a finger. You must have thought your inferiority complex had somewhat disappeared. If only you had stopped there. But you couldn’t be satisfied with just that. So you came here. To see the fall of the Jin family, now that Jin Geum-woo is gone. To mock the Jin Geum-woo who gave you that inferiority complex…”

“What nonsense… If you insult me any further, I will not stand for it.”

“Do you really think it’s an insult?”

“I do.”

“But it seems your companions don’t think so.”

“What?”

Only then did Yuk Samyeong look around.

Namgung Wol and Oh Ju-gang, who had come with him, were looking at him with expressions of contempt.

Yuk Samyeong hurriedly made an excuse.

“Brother Namgung, Brother Oh! It’s a misunderstanding. Surely you don’t believe the words of a man I’ve never seen before?”

“I did think it was a bit strange when you willingly offered to come here. You’re not the type to come along so obediently.”

“Could it be that you still held a grudge over that defeat?”

Namgung Wol and Oh Ju-gang had also found it strange.

They knew that Yuk Samyeong had never been particularly fond of Jin Geum-woo. Still, they thought that since Jin Geum-woo, the object of his envy, was dead, he might have developed some compassion. That was why they had allowed him to come along, but to hear that he was actually here to mock the Jin family’s downfall was simply dumbfounding.

Pyo Wol’s words could have been lies.

But Yuk Samyeong’s reaction proved that his words were true. Yuk Samyeong had always been terrible at hiding his true feelings.

Yuk Samyeong’s face turned dark.

The fact that his dirty inner thoughts had been laid bare for all to see enraged him. And that rage was directed at Pyo Wol, who had created this situation.

“You bastard! I will not forgive you.”

Yuk Samyeong drew the saber from his waist and swung it at Pyo Wol.

Shwaaak!

It was a saber strike as fierce as a thunderbolt.

But his saber never reached Pyo Wol’s body.

Oh Ju-gang had already drawn his sword and blocked the attack.

Jjeo-eong!

With a clang of metal, Yuk Samyeong’s body was pushed back.

“You’re taking his side? Brother Oh, how could you do this to me?”

“Hah! I am on no one’s side. But I cannot stand by and watch you swing your saber and harm someone without reason. If you are truly blameless, then swinging your weapon like this is not right. I believe you, Brother Yuk, but I worry that others might misunderstand and think you’re trying to kill and silence him.”

“Gah!”

At Oh Ju-gang’s calm words, Yuk Samyeong’s face contorted.

Yuk Samyeong glared at Pyo Wol, who had caused this mess.

He had never dreamed that a few words could expose his true self to the world like this.

Even now, many people were watching them.

Fortunately, they were at a distance, so it seemed they didn’t know what was being said.

Most of them probably thought the two were just arguing over some problem.

If he were to leave the Jin Manor in this situation, Pyo Wol’s words would become established fact. He had to prevent that at all costs.

Yuk Samyeong sheathed his saber and said,

“I will show you in the coming fight that his words are false and mine are true. I will prove that I came here with the sincere intention of helping the Jin family. I am truly disappointed in you, Brother Namgung and Brother Oh. To believe the words of a complete stranger and not me, whom you have known for a long time. Hmph!”

With an expression of genuine offense, Yuk Samyeong turned and went elsewhere.

Namgung Wol watched Yuk Samyeong’s retreating back with a regretful expression.

Others might have been fooled by Yuk Samyeong’s attitude, but Namgung Wol and Oh Ju-gang knew the man named Yuk Samyeong too well. That was why they instinctively knew that Pyo Wol’s words were true.

Namgung Wol’s gaze turned to Pyo Wol.

As far as he knew, Pyo Wol and Yuk Samyeong had met for the first time today.

Naturally, they had no information about each other. Yet, Pyo Wol had accurately deduced what had happened between Yuk Samyeong and Jin Geum-woo and exposed Yuk Samyeong’s true nature with just a few words.

This was not the mind of an ordinary person.

Above all, what caught Namgung Wol’s attention was Pyo Wol’s appearance.

Not just Namgung Wol, but many who had entered the Jin Manor stared at Pyo Wol’s appearance, mesmerized. They had never seen a man with such overwhelmingly handsome features before.

He felt that this was surely no ordinary person. And he had heard a story about such a person somewhere before. But at the time, he thought it was too unrealistic and hadn’t paid much attention, so he couldn’t remember it well.

Namgung Wol made a fist-palm salute to Pyo Wol and greeted him first.

“I am Namgung Wol of the Thousand Water Society. It is a pleasure to meet you. May I ask your esteemed name?”

“Pyo Wol of Chengdu.”

“If you are from Chengdu, does that mean you came from Sichuan Province?”

“That’s right.”

“You’ve come from a long way. By any chance, did Geum-woo travel that far?”

When Pyo Wol nodded silently, Namgung Wol gave a wry smile.

“That friend had a wanderlust and roamed all over the world. It seems he ended up going all the way to Chengdu.”

“You seem to have been close with Geum-woo.”

“I respected him personally. Though we were peers, he was a friend from whom I had much to learn. I don’t know why he couldn’t settle in one place and wandered the world like that, but I never imagined he would pass away without even a final goodbye.”

Namgung Wol wore a bitter expression.

Everyone has a story, and he too had his own circumstances with Jin Geum-woo. He deeply regretted not being able to join him on his journey.

“In any case, we will see each other often if you stay here. I hope we can have a drink later and talk candidly. I must go and greet the others, so I will come see you again later.”

Namgung Wol gave Pyo Wol a fist-palm salute and withdrew.

Oh Ju-gang also glanced at Pyo Wol’s face for a moment before following Namgung Wol.

Left alone, Pyo Wol watched their backs for a moment before returning to his quarters.

＊＊＊

A great river flowed through Runan.

Small rivers originating from Mount Tianjung and its vicinity gathered to form a large stream.

On one side of the river, with a clear view of Runan and Mount Tianjung, stood a huge manor.

When construction first began three years ago, people thought some wealthy magnate was building a manor to retire in.

After a full two years of construction, the manor was completed, and the moment the plaque was raised, all the nearby sects were struck with astonishment.

On the plaque, the three characters for Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor were clearly inscribed.

It was a declaration that the old masters of Mount Tianjung, who had been pushed out by the Jin family and forgotten from people’s memories, had returned.

Usually, a sect that had been driven out once would continue to decline and eventually fall into complete ruin. That was the established course.

People naturally thought Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor would end up that way too.

Those who had enjoyed prosperity on Mount Tianjung had lost everything and been cast out. There was no place in the world that would take them in.

This was because rashly showing kindness to a Murim sect like Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor could lead to being devoured by them instead.

In the end, Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor was not accepted anywhere and faded quietly from people’s memories.

That same Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor had returned after several decades.

Although their old home was not Mount Tianjung but the banks of the Runan River nearby, they had, in any case, returned to their homeland.

The return of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor caused a stir not only in Runan but throughout the entire Henan Murim.

It was unknown what had happened in the intervening years, but Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor had nearly recovered its former strength. Not only that, but it had amassed enormous wealth, overwhelming the Jin family in terms of financial power.

As if to show off to the Jin family, they built their manor on the banks of the Runan River and further reinforced their power.

In the past year, the power of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor had nearly doubled. As if to prove this fact, countless people were lined up to enter through the wide-open main gate of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor.

The purposes of those visiting Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor were also varied.

Some came hoping to become even a low-ranking warrior, while others came to do business with the manor.

Their purposes were different, but a common look of anticipation was on their faces.

Those who entered Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor would gain stable employment, and merchants who established trade were guaranteed a certain level of profit.

That alone was reason enough to knock on the doors of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor.

Thus, Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor was bustling with visitors day after day.

Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor was largely divided into an inner court and an outer court.

The outer court was where guests and low-ranking warriors stayed, while the inner court was where the key figures of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor resided.

All major and minor affairs of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor were handled in the inner court. For that reason, security was strict.

No matter how low-ranking, a warrior belonging to Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor could never enter the inner court. Because of this, they could never know what went on inside.

In a large hall of the inner court that so many were curious about, the key figures of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor were gathered for a meeting.

A middle-aged woman with a large frame sat in the grand master’s chair.

He appeared to be in his early fifties, and his bulging belly made even breathing look difficult.

His facial features were also so buried in flesh that they were barely visible.

He was the Manor Lord of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor, Seol Gang-yeon.

Seol Gang-yeon looked at the people gathered in the great hall and opened his mouth.

“Fuhuu! So you’re saying people are gathering at the Jin family’s place?”

“That is correct. From what we have gathered, a considerable number of people have entered the Jin Manor.”

“Fuh! They’re making a last-ditch effort.”

Seol Gang-yeon laughed, breathing heavily.

He was so overweight that he gasped for breath every time he spoke, but the fact that he was the absolute ruler of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor remained unchanged.

The people held their breath and looked at Seol Gang-yeon.

Seol Gang-yeon slammed his hand on the armrest of the chair and shouted.

“The day to reclaim our family’s home is not far off. We will drive out that wicked Jin family and plant our family’s flag on Mount Tianjung once more.”

“It will surely happen.”

“We will follow only you, Manor Lord.”

The leaders of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor shouted in agreement with Seol Gang-yeon.

Their faces were overflowing with confidence.

This was because Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor had recently been overwhelming the Jin family.

Seol Gang-yeon’s gaze suddenly turned to a young man on one side.

He was a man who looked too young to be in this place.

The man, who appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties, did not show a single sign of excitement like the others, but kept his eyes lowered with a calm expression.

“Steward Lee!”

“Yes! Manor Lord.”

“How is the recruitment of talent progressing?”

“It is proceeding smoothly.”

“Is that so? If Steward Lee says so, then it must be so. There won’t be any problems, will there?”

“None.”

“Good!”

A smile appeared on Seol Gang-yeon’s fleshy face.

It was a smile he did not show to just anyone. The others present looked on with envy.

They were envious of the favor and trust Seol Gang-yeon placed in him.

The man’s name was Lee Yul.

He was the steward who oversaw all major and minor affairs of Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor.

Since he took the position of steward, Snow Blade Sword Manor Manor had been experiencing explosive growth.