Chapter 238

Contrary to his appearance, Jang Noya had a meticulous personality.

He couldn’t rest easy unless he meddled in everything, from one to ten. He acted that way because he trusted no one.

He didn’t even trust his wife, with whom he had lived for over a decade.

The wife he lived with now was his third.

His two previous wives had both sold him out to rival organizations. Seduced by a few coins, they had sold out the husband they had lived with for years.

Jang Noya, who had barely survived, brutally killed both wives and threw their bodies to the wild dogs.

After that, he trusted no one.

That was why he personally handled all of his organization’s affairs.

Thanks to that, he had a perfect grasp of everything happening within his organization and in Runan.

Pyo Wol asked.

“Tell me about Snow Blade Sword Manor.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

“N-no, it’s not that, I just don’t know exactly what you want to know…”

“Tell me everything you remember.”

“I understand.”

Jang Noya, after briefly searching his memory, began to tell everything he knew.

“Snow Blade Sword Manor is…”

Jang Noya was a native of Runan.

Born and raised here, he knew Snow Blade Sword Manor very well.

He even remembered what Snow Blade Sword Manor was like before Jin Clan arrived.

Once he started talking, he even recalled details he had forgotten until now.

Jang Noya told Pyo Wol all of it.

Right now, honestly telling everything was the only way to save his life.

He didn’t dare to lie because Pyo Wol would occasionally ask a counter-question.

“So, what did you say earlier?”

Whenever a part seemed questionable, he would always ask again to confirm.

Such a meticulous nature was more than enough to overwhelm Jang Noya.

Jang Noya’s story continued for a long time.

His story ended almost a full shichen later. A shichen sounded nice, but after chattering nonstop, his mouth was as dry as if it were on fire.

“I’ve told you everything I know, sir.”

He said cautiously, praying that Pyo Wol would end it here. But the answer that followed thoroughly betrayed his expectations.

“Now, tell me about Jin Clan.”

“Pardon?”

“Start from the process of Jin Clan settling on Mount Tianjung.”

“B-but I don’t know much about Jin Clan…”

“Just tell me everything you know.”

“I understand.”

In the end, Jang Noya had to dredge up all his memories of Jin Clan as well.

Unfortunately, Pyo Wol’s questions didn’t stop there.

Pyo Wol also asked about the martial artists who had entered Runan.

Jang Noya even called his subordinates to have them tell everything they knew.

Lies were not tolerated.

Pyo Wol thoroughly cross-verified.

He would meticulously compare the accounts of Jang Noya and his subordinates to determine their truthfulness.

If even a slight lie or exaggeration was mixed in, a merciless punishment was immediately dealt.

Because of that, Jang Noya’s subordinates had to desperately recall their memories.

It was a nightmarish time for Jang Noya and his subordinates.

The nightmare continued until the next morning.

By the time the morning sun began to seep into the gambling den, Jang Noya and his subordinates were slumped over, looking as if they had aged a good ten years.

Only Pyo Wol sat in his chair, looking fresh.

Pyo Wol closed his eyes and recalled the stories of Jang Noya and his subordinates.

An ordinary person would have been too dazed to think after staying up all night, but Pyo Wol was different.

In his mind, the history of Snow Blade Sword Manor and Jin Clan, and the times of their struggle, were being neatly organized.

That alone made coming here worthwhile.

Finally, having organized all his thoughts, Pyo Wol rose from his seat. At that, Jang Noya quickly got up and approached Pyo Wol.

Standing with his hands respectfully clasped, he looked just like one of Pyo Wol’s subordinates.

Pyo Wol said to him.

“Identify all the noteworthy individuals who have entered Runan and report to me.”

“By noteworthy individuals, do you mean martial artists?”

Like an old ghost who had long survived in the back alleys, Jang Noya was extremely quick-witted. He divined what Pyo Wol wanted as if by magic.

He had already witnessed Pyo Wol’s martial prowess yesterday.

He didn’t know exactly what his level was, but one thing was certain.

Among those who had currently entered Runan, there would be almost no one stronger than him. If he got on the wrong side of such a person, a gambling den like this would disappear in an instant. In fact, it almost had.

The only way for him to survive for a long time was to move as Pyo Wol wanted.

When Pyo Wol nodded, Jang Noya bowed his head once more and said.

“I’ll send my boys out to investigate. Where should I deliver the findings?”

“I’ll be staying at Jin Clan’s for a while.”

“Jin Clan’s? Understood.”

“The security is tight, so it won’t be easy to get in, will it?”

“Do you think gambling addicts only exist in the marketplace? There’s a guy there who owes our gambling den a considerable debt. I’ll have him deliver it.”

“You know how to use your head.”

“Well, I want to live a long life.”

Jang Noya smiled bitterly.

He felt pathetic about his situation, having suddenly become Pyo Wol’s lackey.

He had tried so hard to avoid getting involved with Jianghu people, but now that he was entangled with someone as fearsome as Pyo Wol, he knew without experiencing it how arduous his future would be. Still, to live, he had to diligently bring information to Pyo Wol.

“Oh, what should I do about the gold taels?”

“Gold taels?”

“The gold taels the Great Hero won yesterday.”

A large pile of gold taels that Pyo Wol had won was still on the table.

Pyo Wol said nonchalantly.

“Change one-tenth into banknotes for me to take, and you can have the rest.”

“Is that really alright?”

Jang Noya wore an expression of disbelief.

He had been thinking that if Pyo Wol took all the gold he won, he would have to tighten his belt for a while. But if Pyo Wol returned nine-tenths of the gold, he could get the gambling den running normally again. If that happened, the task of gathering information for Pyo Wol wouldn’t be so burdensome.

“Thank you, thank you so much.”

Jang Noya bowed his head several times.

Pyo Wol walked outside without a backward glance.

As he disappeared, Jang Noya glared at his subordinates with fearsome eyes.

“Keep quiet about what happened today. Make sure the customers keep their mouths shut too. If word of today’s events gets out, neither you nor I will see the sun rise next year.”

“Yes!”

“Forget everything that happened today. If you want to live long.”

Jang Noya finally muttered in a small voice, “like me.”

“Amitabha! We’ve finally arrived.”

There was a middle-aged monk wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Beside him was a young monk who appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties.

A clear ordination mark was stamped on his sweaty forehead.

It was proof that they were monks of the Shaolin Temple.

The young monk said to the middle-aged monk.

“Still, we arrived earlier than expected.”

“This is all thanks to you, Bo-gyeong. You were a good guide, so we were able to come here smoothly.”

“You’re too kind, Martial Uncle.”

The young monk, Bo-gyeong, wore a bashful expression.

Bo-gyeong was a second-generation disciple of the Shaolin Temple.

The middle-aged monk looking at him was Seong-un, a first-generation disciple of Shaolin.

Following Seong-mu and Seong-hwan, he was the third among the first-generation disciples and was considered a sure candidate for the next Elder.

Seong-un had a gentle and reasonable personality, earning him the respect of the second and third-generation disciples, and the Elders also trusted him particularly.

Seong-un’s expression as he looked at Runan was incredibly heavy.

It was because the situation unfolding in Runan was anything but ordinary.

Jin Clan and Snow Blade Sword Manor were recruiting martial artists day after day, and as a result, the air in Runan was thick with the tension of war.

Furthermore, martial artists supporting both sides had already clashed once in Runan.

If left unchecked, the entire Henan province could be swept up in the fight between the two factions.

Since it could become the spark for a Great War of All Under Heaven, the Shaolin Temple had sent Seong-un to recommend reconciliation between the two sides.

Sending Seong-un was proof of how seriously the Shaolin Temple viewed the situation in Runan.

Carrying such a heavy mission, Seong-un’s heart was incredibly heavy.

He could have brought the elite of the Shaolin Temple, but doing so would have only wounded the pride of both sides, so he brought only Bo-gyeong.

Among the second-generation disciples, Bo-gyeong’s martial arts were outstanding, and he had a bright personality.

He also had the experience of visiting the Wudang Sect with Master Un-il not long ago.

He had escorted the original Buddhist scriptures brought from the Western Regions, delighting the Shaolin Temple.

Woo Jang-rak, who brought the scriptures, said that many original scriptures still remained in Chengdu and that he would bring more soon, exciting the Elders of the Shaolin Temple.

No matter how much the Shaolin Temple leaned towards being a martial sect, its roots were in Buddhism.

The original Buddhist scriptures, of all things, were like treasures that protected the very identity of the Shaolin Temple.

Through this series of events, Bo-gyeong gained the trust of the Sect Master. That was why he was chosen to accompany this mission.

Bo-gyeong asked cautiously.

“Martial Uncle, where will we stop by first?”

“I plan to visit Snow Blade Sword Manor first.”

“Will they really accept our sect’s mediation proposal?”

“That is my worry as well.”

A shadow fell over Seong-un’s face.

No matter how much the Shaolin Temple was the leader of the Henan Murim, it could not recklessly interfere in the fight between the two factions. Doing so would be tantamount to providing the spark for a Great War of All Under Heaven.

He had to make a reasonable proposal that both sides could accept. Only then could he minimize the damage and stabilize the Henan Murim.

It was easier said than done.

It was doubtful whether the two factions, whose feelings were already deeply hurt, would listen to Seong-un’s words. Still, since he had received the order from his martial sect, he had to try his best.

Seong-un moved his feet with a heavy heart.

His first destination was Snow Blade Sword Manor.

“Amitabha!”

As Snow Blade Sword Manor came into view, Seong-un’s expression grew even darker.

Numerous martial artists were gathered at the entrance of Snow Blade Sword Manor. The martial artists who could not be accommodated within Snow Blade Sword Manor were camped at the entrance.

Snow Blade Sword Manor had provided them with tents for shelter. Because of that, the entrance to Snow Blade Sword Manor was bustling with so many people that it resembled a marketplace.

Seong-un and Bo-gyeong pushed through the crowd and moved forward.

When they finally reached the main gate, they saw people lining up to get inside. They were people who had been waiting since last night to enter Snow Blade Sword Manor.

Having stayed up all night, their nerves were on edge. They were so sensitive that they would swing their swords if anyone tried to cut in line. But when Seong-un and Bo-gyeong appeared, they scrambled to make way.

“There’s an ordination mark on his forehead.”

“It’s Shaolin Temple. The Shaolin Temple has sent people.”

No matter how much these martial artists lived with one foot on the line of death, they could not dare to ignore monks from the Shaolin Temple.

When the news that monks from the Shaolin Temple had arrived spread, the leader of the martial artists guarding the main gate rushed over.

“I am Gong Yeom-ui, the leader of Snow Blade Sword Manor’s outer hall. I sincerely welcome you both.”

“Amitabha! Thank you for the overwhelming welcome. This humble monk is Seong-un, a first-generation disciple of Shaolin. And this child is Bo-gyeong, a second-generation disciple.”

“Ah!”

Gong Yeom-ui let out an exclamation without realizing it.

Though called a first-generation disciple, he could receive the treatment of an Elder in other sects.

Moreover, Seong-un was one of the top three among the first-generation disciples of the Shaolin Temple.

Although his martial arts were known to be inferior to his senior martial brothers, Seong-mu and Seong-hwan, and his junior martial brother, Seong-am, he was still a first-generation disciple of the Shaolin Temple. One who was deeply favored by the Elders at that.

He was not someone Snow Blade Sword Manor could ever treat carelessly.

Furthermore, the second-generation disciple, Bo-gyeong, was also famous in Henan province. All martial artists in Henan knew of Bo-gyeong, the Ten Steps Invincible.

The fact that these two had come together was a major event in itself.

Gong Yeom-ui stuttered.

“E-excuse me, but what business brings you from the Shaolin Temple?”

“We have come to see your Manor Lord.”

“The Manor Lord?”

“That is correct. I have something urgent to discuss with him. Would it be possible for you to inform him?”

“O-of course. Please wait a moment.”

Gong Yeom-ui hurriedly sent a subordinate to announce that people from the Shaolin Temple had arrived.

Not long after he went in, the subordinate sent on the errand quickly reappeared.

“You are to escort the two of them inside.”

“Amitabha! Thank you.”

Seong-un and Bo-gyeong gave a half-bow and entered Snow Blade Sword Manor.

The news that the two had entered Snow Blade Sword Manor spread quickly.