Chapter 323

The two men who came up to the second floor while conversing were men.

One was a young man with a handsome face, dressed in a blue scholar’s robe. His sharp gaze and jawline made onlookers feel instinctively intimidated.

The other was a young man with a hearty impression, wearing a sleeveless martial arts uniform that revealed his shoulders. He boasted bronze skin and rock-like muscles, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure just by looking at him.

At their appearance, the people around Pyo Wol began to whisper.

“It’s Young Master Jo Igwang of the Nanjing Jo Clan. He looks as extraordinary as the rumors say.”

“The one with him is Young Master Bok Hojin of the Janggang Stronghold, right?”

“They say Young Master Jo and Young Master Bok are close friends, and they really seem to be.”

The man in the blue scholar’s robe was indeed Jo Igwang, and the man in the sleeveless martial arts uniform was Bok Hojin.

Jo Igwang was famous as the eldest Young Master of the Nanjing Jo Clan.

The Nanjing Jo Clan referred to the Jo Clan, which had established itself in Nanjing near the Great Lake. The Jo Clan was a historic clan that had wielded influence in Nanjing for hundreds of years.

As its history was long, its power was great and its connections were formidable, so it was tacitly recognized as the leader of Jiangsu Province.

As the eldest Young Master of the Nanjing Jo Clan, Jo Igwang had inherited his father’s influence and connections in their entirety. He was rumored to be good-looking and have an excellent character, so many people wished to form a connection with him.

On the other hand, Bok Hojin, who came up shoulder to shoulder with Jo Igwang, was a man of the Green Forest.

Originally, the Green Forest had been unified by Tiangao Fortress. But as time passed, Tiangao Fortress fragmented into the Two Valleys and Four Keeps: Ziying Valley, Xiaoyun Valley, Huaying Keep, Gaoshan Keep, Baihu Keep, and Janggang Stronghold.

Although Janggang Stronghold barely occupied the lowest seat of the Two Valleys and Four Keeps, its influence was the greatest. This was because its main stage was the Yangtze River, the lifeblood of the Jianghu.

Janggang Stronghold was known to be more prosperous than most trading companies because it collected tolls all along the Yangtze River.

Normally, prestigious clans and the Green Forest Way were like oil and water, but the Nanjing Jo Clan and Janggang Stronghold had steadily maintained a relationship for over a decade. As a result, the eldest sons of the two powers, Jo Igwang and Bok Hojin, also boasted a close friendship.

As if to prove this fact, they came up together amicably and sat down. They seemed completely unconcerned with the gazes of others.

The waiter who had earlier recommended the second floor to Pyo Wol quickly came up and bowed to the two men.

“Young Masters, you’ve arrived?”

“Are we the first ones here?”

“Yes!”

“Bring out the liquor and food first.”

“Right away, sirs.”

The waiter replied and ran downstairs.

After placing his order, Jo Igwang fanned himself and looked around the inn. He saw people watching him furtively.

A cold smile appeared on Jo Igwang’s lips.

‘Like a bunch of rats.’

The way they watched him was just like sewer rats. But he couldn’t reveal his inner thoughts.

Jo Igwang masked his true feelings with a smile and looked at each person on the second floor one by one.

Just then, a man who was particularly conspicuous caught his eye.

A man with a face as white as snow and more beautiful than a woman’s—it was Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol’s appearance was so beautiful that one would mistake him for a woman at first glance. Jo Igwang was also confident in his own looks, but compared to Pyo Wol, he felt as shabby as a firefly before a full moon.

‘Was there such a person in the Great Lake area?’

For a moment, killing intent flashed in Jo Igwang’s eyes.

Whenever he saw someone with a handsomer face than his own, he would feel the urge to crush their face. But he had to endure it for now. There were too many eyes watching.

Bok Hojin carefully observed Jo Igwang’s face.

Having known him for a long time, he could tell what Jo Igwang was thinking just by looking at his expression.

‘That nasty habit of his seems to be the same as ever.’

Bok Hojin smirked.

He was the only one who knew about Jo Igwang’s strange quirk. As long as he kept his mouth shut, no rumors would spread.

Thud! Thud!

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs again.

The two men’s gazes turned toward the stairs.

The person who came up the stairs this time was an exceptionally beautiful woman. The woman boasted a glamorous appearance, like a rose in full bloom.

The two men’s faces lit up as they greeted the woman.

“Welcome.”

“Miss Eum!”

“I’m a little late. I’m sorry.”

The woman made an apologetic expression. At that, the two men simultaneously waved their hands and said.

“Not at all. We just arrived a little early. Miss Eum, you’re right on time.”

“Miss Eum, you seem to have become even more beautiful.”

“Hoho! You two Orabeoni seem to have gotten more handsome as well.”

The woman let out a charming laugh.

Her name was Eum Yujeong.

Eum Yujeong was the young Sect Leader of the Sword Flower Pavilion.

The Sword Flower Pavilion was a sect primarily composed of women, located in the nearby Taixing.

The Sect Leader, Go Yeon-su, was a powerful master who had reached the Ever-Victorious Realm.

For some unknown reason, Go Yeon-su extremely despised men, so he never accepted a single male disciple and ran a sect composed only of women.

Because it was only women, men blinded by desire would sometimes flock to them like moths to a flame, but not a single one of them survived.

Go Yeon-su’s methods were incredibly cruel. He was especially cruel to men, becoming an object of terror.

Eum Yujeong was the disciple who had inherited Go Yeon-su’s teachings in their entirety. However, her disposition was quite different from Go Yeon-su’s.

Being beautiful and full of charm, many men liked her. Jo Igwang and Bok Hojin were no exception.

Eum Yujeong also seemed to be aware of the two men’s interest. She led the conversation, smiling with her eyes the entire time.

Their conversation continued until the others joined them.

After that, four more prodigies came up.

Once all seven had gathered, they exchanged cups of liquor and chatted away.

They had not gathered for any special purpose.

It was a gathering for members of the Golden Sky Society to socialize. But the people on the second floor looked at such prodigies with envious eyes.

The people gathered here right now were the very pillars who would lead Jiangsu Province. If they could just catch their eye, success was a foregone conclusion.

The people on the second floor were just waiting for a chance to jump into their conversation.

In Pyo Wol’s eyes, the intentions of such people were blatantly obvious.

In fact, it was so blatant that it would be strange not to notice.

The reason the prodigies held their meeting here where others could watch, instead of renting out an entire floor, was to show off their prestige.

He had seen such a spectacle before.

Come to think of it, people’s psychology seemed to be more or less the same everywhere. Seeing that similar things happened wherever he went.

Pyo Wol thought the ways of the world were quite ridiculous.

His appetite completely vanished.

Just as Pyo Wol was about to leave his unfinished food and get up from his seat, someone else came up the stairs.

A man who looked at the prodigies with a slightly nervous expression.

It was a face he had seen just a few shichen ago.

‘Was his name Tang Ikgi?’

The man with the weasel-like impression was none other than Tang Ikgi, whom he had seen at the Iron Mountain Workshop.

Tang Ikgi walked straight to where Jo Igwang was.

“Young Master Jo! It’s me, Tang Ikgi.”

“Oh! Brother Tang, what brings you here?”

Jo Igwang smiled and acknowledged him. Tang Ikgi then put on a slightly servile expression and said.

“I-I was passing by the area and heard that Young Master Jo was here, so I came to pay my respects.”

“Oh! Is that so?”

Jo Igwang’s eyes widened.

Tang Ikgi looked at Jo Igwang and cursed inwardly.

‘You sly bastard, like a turtle! Just how much more do you want?’

Tang Ikgi’s visit here was by no means a coincidence.

He had heard in advance that a meeting of the Golden Sky Society was being held and had prepared for it.

Tang Ikgi had not yet been able to join the Golden Sky Society.

To join the Golden Sky Society, the consent of existing members was required, and in Jiangsu Province, Jo Igwang’s influence was the greatest. Only by getting on Jo Igwang’s good side would the other members of the Golden Sky Society agree to his admission.

Tang Ikgi had been sucking up to Jo Igwang in every possible way to get on his good side. He had served Jo Igwang, even feigning death if ordered to.

After all this, it was about time he was accepted as a member, but Jo Igwang still maintained such a dubious attitude.

If he had just said no outright, Tang Ikgi could have given up his false hopes, but Jo Igwang maintained a vague stance. That attitude drove Tang Ikgi even crazier.

The reason he had come to the Golden Sky Society meeting today, despite the loss of face, was because he could no longer trust Jo Igwang.

It was Tang Ikgi’s belief that only by entering the Golden Sky Society could he enter mainstream society.

As long as he could get into the Golden Sky Society, he didn’t care what humiliation he suffered today.

Tang Ikgi glanced at Jo Igwang and spoke cautiously.

“Since we’ve met, may I join you here?”

“Well! I think I’ll have to hear what the other members have to say about that. It’s our unwritten rule not to let someone join if even one member feels uncomfortable. You understand, right? Brother Tang!”

“O-Of course. If even one person feels uncomfortable, how could I possibly stay here?”

“Haha! I knew you’d understand. Alright! I’ll ask the members for their opinions.”

Jo Igwang laughed heartily and looked at the members.

Even though Tang Ikgi was right in front of them, the prodigies didn’t even spare him a glance and continued chatting among themselves.

Jo Igwang spoke to them.

“Now, your attention, please. Today, a new friend wishes to join our society. Please give me your frank opinions on this matter.”

Only then did everyone’s gaze turn to Tang Ikgi.

Tang Ikgi’s face flushed red with shame.

He too was a renowned prodigy in his own right and the heir to a great power called the Iron Mountain Manor, so being treated like this was humiliating. But he couldn’t help it.

If he couldn’t get the permission of all of them, he couldn’t join the Golden Sky Society.

After Jang Mu-guk became the second Society Leader, the prestige of the Golden Sky Society had become even greater. It had been difficult to become a member before, but after Jang Mu-guk became the leader, it became even stricter, so most prodigies didn’t even dare to apply for membership.

An atmosphere had formed where a prodigy of the Jianghu had to be a member of the Golden Sky Society to be respected. Tang Ikgi regretted not joining the Golden Sky Society earlier. If he had joined before, he wouldn’t have had to go through such a difficult process.

“We already have a lot of members, and we’re accepting a new one? I’m not too keen on it.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to stabilize the existing members first before accepting new ones?”

A negative current immediately flowed.

As Tang Ikgi’s face was turning ashen, Eum Yujeong said something unexpected.

“Hoho! But isn’t it too harsh to openly reject someone who has come all this way? Then how about this? Let’s accept him as a temporary member for now, and then accept him as a full member after seeing how he conducts himself. Of course, if we judge him to be unqualified, we just don’t have to accept him.”

“Oh! Miss Eum’s idea has a point.”

“A beautiful person is indeed deep in thought. I agree with Miss Eum’s opinion.”

“I also think it’s best to do as Miss Eum wishes.”

The other members agreed with Eum Yujeong’s opinion. But Jo Igwang, for some reason, was frowning as if he was displeased.

Tang Ikgi watched Jo Igwang’s expression, fidgeting restlessly.

He knew that no matter how much favor Eum Yujeong showed him, it would be over if Jo Igwang refused.

Eum Yujeong also knew this fact.

As if a good idea came to her, Eum Yujeong whispered something in Jo Igwang’s ear.

A smile bloomed on the lips of Jo Igwang, who had been listening silently to Eum Yujeong’s words.

“Then how about this?”

Everyone’s attention focused on Jo Igwang.

Jo Igwang enjoyed everyone’s attention and continued.

“For now, we will accept Brother Tang as a temporary member. However, to become a full member, Brother Tang must perform a meritorious deed.”

“A meritorious deed?”

“Literally, to perform a deed that contributes something to the Jianghu. If you perform a deed that everyone can acknowledge, we will accept you as one of us without a word of complaint.”

“Haha! That’s a brilliant move. There are already rumors that we’re forming cliques and taking sides, but if we accept someone who has performed a meritorious deed for the Jianghu as a new member, those rumors will surely disappear.”

“I agree too. As expected, Miss Eum is deep in thought. I’m truly impressed.”

The members agreed with expressions of admiration.

On the other hand, Tang Ikgi’s expression was twisted ugly.

It sounded nice to say he should perform a meritorious deed, but at this point in time, there wasn’t really anything he could do to perform one.

Above all, Tang Ikgi had no desire to throw himself into dangerous situations. If he had that kind of personality, he wouldn’t have had to act so subserviently to join the Golden Sky Society in the first place.

“If everyone agrees, we will accept Brother Tang as a temporary member.”

“Congratulations on becoming a temporary member.”

“Haha!”

At Jo Igwang’s declaration, the members each said a word to Tang Ikgi. Tang Ikgi had to force a smile for them.

‘Damn it!’

If he got angry here, even his temporary membership would be out the window, so he had to maintain his smile.

Just then, a man eating alone came into his line of sight.

It was the man he had seen at the workshop during the day.

A man so annoyingly handsome that he had left a deep impression after just one look.

It was so much so that he could see even that haughty Eum Yujeong stealing glances at him.

Right now, he needed something to take his anger out on.