Chapter 294

The Heavenly Flower Acrobatic Troupe happened to take lodging at the same Inn where Pyo Wol was staying.

The Celestial Origin Tower and other High-Grade inns were already occupied by the martial artists of the Golden Sky Society, so they had chosen this place, which was the next largest.

The Inn where Pyo Wol was staying had a separate stable, which was convenient for taking care of the horses the acrobatic troupe had ridden.

As soon as the Heavenly Flower Acrobatic Troupe entered, the Inn instantly became boisterous.

They were a group that traveled All Under Heaven, performing.

As befitting people who performed in front of countless crowds, they were eloquent and had many stories to tell.

The members of the acrobatic troupe were also diverse.

There were the performers who went on stage, the musicians who played instruments, and even the singers who sang. More than thirty people gathered in the first-floor dining hall of the Inn, sharing stories.

The noise they made turned the Inn as loud as a marketplace.

“Did they say the place we’re performing at this time is the Jin Clan?”

“So I heard.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve performed for a Murim Noble Family.”

“Everyone better keep their wits about them. We don’t know what kind of harm we’ll face if we make even a small mistake.”

“Don’t worry. Is this the first or second time we’ve done this? Hahaha!”

The faces of the Heavenly Flower Acrobatic Troupe’s entertainers were filled with pride.

Although they were a new troupe, they already had experience successfully completing numerous performances.

For the past few years, no other acrobatic troupe had a more successful career than them.

Twa-rang!

The musicians sat down and played their instruments.

They were checking to see if their instruments were damaged.

As the musicians played, the singers sitting beside them naturally began to sing.

“Hahaha!”

“This is great.”

Their singing heightened the excitement once again.

All in all, it was a festive atmosphere.

Mi-bu, in her early thirties, watched them with a smile on her lips.

The mature yet alluring Mi-bu was Lee Ok-ran, the Vice Unit Leader of the Heavenly Flower Acrobatic Troupe.

Lee Ok-ran was the real power who practically ran the Heavenly Flower Acrobatic Troupe in place of the busy Unit Leader.

Having grown up in an acrobatic troupe since childhood, Lee Ok-ran was an entertainer to her very core.

Just then, one of the entertainers approached Lee Ok-ran.

“I haven’t seen the Unit Leader for a while. Where did he go?”

“The Unit Leader went out to meet someone.”

“He knows someone here? But this is our first time here.”

The entertainer looked puzzled.

“You know how it is. The Unit Leader is well-connected.”

“Still…”

“You don’t need to worry about the Unit Leader. You know he can take care of himself even if left alone.”

“That’s true.”

“We just need to focus on the performance in two days. We have to prepare well from now on so we don’t make any mistakes then.”

“I will make sure there are absolutely no mistakes.”

“You must. But we still have time, so for today, let’s drink and enjoy ourselves to our heart’s content. We’ll be busy again starting tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

The entertainer replied and stepped back.

Left alone, Lee Ok-ran muttered to herself.

“Such a busy person…”

＊＊＊

Ssk!

A window opened without a sound, and a black figure entered the room.

He was wearing a black conical hat and a Wind Cloak.

When the black figure extended a hand from under his Wind Cloak, a bizarrely shaped Dagger was revealed.

He approached the bed as silently as a cat.

On the bed, someone was asleep, covered with a blanket.

Their breathing was long and steady, as if they were in a deep sleep.

The black figure plunged the bizarre Dagger straight down toward the chest of the person under the blanket.

Kaang!

But the bizarre Dagger never pierced the sleeping person’s chest. Because he had swung his Flying Dagger to parry the bizarre Dagger.

He had clearly been in a deep sleep just moments ago. Yet he had detected the black figure’s Ambush Attack and countered it.

‘As expected!’

A look of admiration appeared in the black figure’s eyes.

Until now, not a single person had ever noticed his surprise attacks. But his opponent had not only noticed the Ambush Attack but had even counterattacked.

It was a surprising event, but the black figure thought it was only natural.

Rather, he would have been utterly disappointed if his opponent had simply been struck down.

The opponent threw off the blanket and sat up. A face more beautiful than a woman’s was revealed.

The moonlight coming through the window illuminated his face. Bathed in the moonlight, his face looked even more bewitching.

It was Pyo Wol.

The black figure swung the bizarre Dagger toward Pyo Wol’s face.

It was a strike filled with the obsession to leave a deep scar on Pyo Wol’s face.

Kaang!

However, this attack was also deflected by Pyo Wol’s Ghostly Rain.

The black figure did not give up and continuously swung the bizarre Dagger.

Kakakakang!

In the air, the Dagger and the Ghostly Rain clashed repeatedly.

The black figure’s Dagger aimed only for Pyo Wol’s vital points. Each and every strike was powerful enough to be fatal.

After exchanging dozens of blows in an instant, they moved the stage outside. Without a word, they both leaped out the window and landed on the roof of a nearby house.

Kakang!

They sprinted across the rooftops, swinging their weapons at each other.

One might have been curious about the identity of the attacker, but Pyo Wol asked no questions. The black figure, of course, also remained silent.

Sssit!

Shwaak!

Only the chilling sound of blades cutting through the air echoed.

The sight of the two figures moving fiercely under the moonlight was as beautiful as watching a performance.

Even though the two were fighting right above their heads, the people inside the house did not notice a thing.

The fight between the two quickly reached its climax.

The one who brought it to an end was Pyo Wol.

Ssit!

The Ghostly Rain had split the conical hat worn by the black figure in half.

The hat split in two like bamboo, revealing the black figure’s true face under the moonlight.

A face reminiscent of a turtle, gloomy eyes, and a slightly hunched back like a hunchback.

In many ways, it was a far from ordinary appearance.

He opened his mouth.

“Your skills are as good as ever.”

“You were alive?”

“Hehe! Thanks to you…”

He revealed his yellowed teeth and smiled.

“Thanks to me…”

“Thanks to the crazy stunt you pulled, a hole opened up in the Celestial Net. I was able to survive because of it.”

“So you made your Escape and started an acrobatic troupe? So Gyeoksan!”

“It was a long-held dream.”

The black figure, So Gyeoksan, sheathed his bizarre Dagger and approached Pyo Wol.

He was one of the children who had been raised as an Assassin alongside Pyo Wol in the underground cavern.

The gloomy child who was called the Deceiver, or the Soul-Devouring Wolf.

The technique called Chageom, which formed the basis of Pyo Wol’s Disguise Technique, was also learned from him.

Despite the sudden encounter with So Gyeoksan, Pyo Wol did not look surprised. It was because he had thought that he might still be alive.

The others might have died, but people like So Gyeoksan and So Yeowol were not ones to die easily. They were the kind of beings who would survive tenaciously, no matter what.

“What about So Yeowol and Song Cheonwoo?”

“Hehe! We split up after breaking through the Celestial Net.”

“So they’re alive.”

“It’s not like we have lives that would die so easily. After all that suffering, we can’t just die without enjoying some wealth and glory.”

“Did you come here to find me?”

“Hehe! That’s right. I was performing in Jiangsu when I heard a rumor about some Assassin. At first, I didn’t think it was you. As you know, there’s a place called the Hundred Wraith Union in the Jianghu, and they have a tight grip on the Assassin market. But then I heard the Assassin’s face was more beautiful than a girl’s. And that the Assassin’s name was Pyo Wol. At that point, even a fool would figure out your identity.”

So Gyeoksan chuckled.

He hadn’t changed one bit from the old days.

He still seemed to be living lost in his own world.

Pyo Wol looked at So Gyeoksan’s Dagger and said,

“The smell of blood is thick on it. It seems being the Unit Leader of an acrobatic troupe isn’t enough to satisfy you.”

“Hehe! Can a leopard change its spots? I get my hands bloody from time to time as a side job.”

“You should leave while you have the chance. If you keep your foot in this world, you’ll end up getting devoured.”

“Is the great Pyo Wol worried about me? The heavens must be about to turn upside down. Kehehe!”

So Gyeoksan laughed like a madman, as if something was incredibly funny.

Pyo Wol watched him in silence.

Just as So Gyeoksan knew little about Pyo Wol, Pyo Wol also knew almost nothing about So Gyeoksan.

Other than the common ground of being raised as assassins in the underground cavern, there was no point of connection for them to feel any sympathy for each other.

They had cooperated out of necessity, but fundamentally, they did not trust each other. That was why Pyo Wol looked at So Gyeoksan with a cold gaze despite their reunion.

So Gyeoksan didn’t trust Pyo Wol either.

When So Gyeoksan had ambushed Pyo Wol, he had shown no mercy in his strikes. He had not considered at all that Pyo Wol could be injured.

It was fortunate if Pyo Wol dodged; it didn’t matter if he failed and lost his life. To So Gyeoksan, Pyo Wol was nothing more than that.

So Gyeoksan spoke with his characteristic gloomy smile.

“Instead of standing here like this, let’s have a drink.”

Without waiting for Pyo Wol’s answer, he leaped away.

Pyo Wol watched his back for a moment before following him.

The place So Gyeoksan went to was the very Inn where he had attacked Pyo Wol. It was also the lodging where the acrobatic troupe he led was staying.

Perhaps because it was already late at night, the first-floor dining hall was quiet. All the entertainers of the troupe had gone to bed.

But there was one person who had not gone to bed and was waiting for So Gyeoksan.

“You’re late.”

The beautiful Mi-bu who calmly greeted So Gyeoksan as he abruptly entered was none other than Lee Ok-ran, the Vice Unit Leader of the Heavenly Flower Acrobatic Troupe.

So Gyeoksan grinned and said,

“I met a friend. Pyo Wol, he’s quite famous in the Jianghu these days.”

Behind him, Pyo Wol appeared.

Seeing Pyo Wol’s face, a peculiar light flashed in Lee Ok-ran’s eyes.

“Your friend is handsome.”

“Annoyingly handsome. So much so that I want to slash his face with a knife if I could.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I tried. But I failed.”

“Oh my! Your friend must be skilled in Martial Arts too.”

“Kehehe! That’s right. You should be careful too. This bastard isn’t just skilled in Martial Arts.”

“Is that so?”

The corners of Lee Ok-ran’s red lips curled up slightly.

She greeted Pyo Wol gracefully.

“Lee Ok-ran, the Vice Unit Leader of the Heavenly Flower Acrobatic Troupe, greets Great Hero Pyo Wol. I look forward to working with you.”

“I doubt we’ll have reason to see each other in the future.”

“You never know what the world has in store. For now, I should go wake the Inn’s cook and have him prepare some drinks and food.”

“I don’t drink.”

“Our Unit Leader loves to drink. He never listens no matter how much I nag him to cut back.”

Lee Ok-ran immediately got up and went to wake the cook.

Once they were alone, So Gyeoksan sat down and said,

“Sit!”

“When did you start drinking?”

“Hehe! You’re the strange one. Now that you’ve found freedom, you should enjoy it a little. How long are you going to live like a monk, castrating all your desires? Life isn’t that long. You should live it doing everything you can.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you.”

“Hehe! Is that so?”

“When did you become the Unit Leader of an acrobatic troupe?”

“A few years ago. I did what I knew best and tried to make a living as an Assassin at first. But the world wasn’t that easy. To be a proper Assassin, I would have had to join the Hundred Wraith Union, but I didn’t feel like it.”

“Because of the Bloody Shadows Guild?”

So Gyeoksan nodded.

As if the mere thought of it made his teeth chatter, he continued, his jaw muscles twitching.

“Right! After finally being freed from the Bloody Shadows Guild, who would want to belong to another organization? So I started an acrobatic troupe. It was tough at first, but now it’s somewhat established and I can make a living. I can take you in too, if you want.”

“I’ll pass.”

“A pity. The girls who would come to see your face would line up. Let me know anytime if you change your mind.”

“You wouldn’t have come looking for me just to talk about such things. What’s the real reason you’re here?”

“I told you. I came to perform for the Jin Clan.”

“If you’re going to keep talking such nonsense, I’m leaving.”

“Your foul temper is still the same.”

In that moment, the look in So Gyeoksan’s eyes changed.

“I have a request for you, Pyo Wol!”