Chapter 324

Pyo Wol decided there was no longer any value in watching the Golden Sky Society’s gathering. A meeting where people gathered in groups to show off their power was not to his taste.

It was then, as Pyo Wol rose from his seat to head down the stairs.

“Just a moment.”

Suddenly, Eum Yujeong spoke to Pyo Wol.

The moment Eum Yujeong spoke, the gazes of all the Golden Sky Society members immediately focused on him.

It was because it was extremely unusual for Eum Yujeong to initiate a conversation with a complete stranger.

As Pyo Wol slightly turned his head to look, Eum Yujeong approached with light steps, wearing her characteristic smile.

Her approach alone made the men’s faces contort with jealousy.

Eum Yujeong came within arm’s reach of Pyo Wol.

A thick scent of powder emanated from her body.

It was not a particularly pleasant smell.

Especially not for Pyo Wol, whose sense of smell was exceptionally sensitive.

Pyo Wol silently looked at Eum Yujeong.

Though his reaction might have been offensive, Eum Yujeong did not lose her smile.

“I’m sorry. For stopping you so rudely.”

“……”

“Are you perhaps a martial artist of Jianghu?”

“What if I am?”

“So you have learned martial arts. I thought you might have.”

“What is your business?”

“Ah, if you are a martial artist, I was wondering if you would like to join us. As you can see, the Golden Sky Society is a gathering of young martial artists.”

Eum Yujeong smiled brightly.

It was a genuine smile, different in feel from the forced ones she had shown the Golden Sky Society members and Tang Ikgi.

Seeing it, it was as if sparks flew from the eyes of Jo Igwang and the others.

Pyo Wol spoke without giving them a single glance.

“Not interested.”

“Why not? It’s a golden opportunity to befriend the prodigies of Jiangsu Province.”

“Because there’s no reason for me to befriend them.”

“That’s unexpected. Usually, when I make such an offer, everyone gladly accepts.”

Eum Yujeong tilted her head.

She had an innocent expression, as if she truly didn’t understand why. But Pyo Wol had already seen through the falsehood of her expression.

Eum Yujeong was stealthily glancing at the reactions of the Golden Sky Society martial artists.

She was enjoying their reactions.

Pyo Wol instantly saw through the position Eum Yujeong occupied in this gathering.

‘A queen bee.’

In a group of many women, a lone man cannot assert himself, but conversely, in a group of mostly men, a lone woman is treated like a queen.

Some women find such reactions from men burdensome, but others instead egg them on, subtly manipulating them to their will.

Eum Yujeong belonged to the latter.

She was aware that her beauty was enough to bewitch men, and she knew exactly how to manipulate them as she pleased.

Speaking to a complete stranger like Pyo Wol to provoke the jealousy of the Golden Sky Society men and draw their attention to herself was not something one could do with calculated thought. It was only possible if such a habit was naturally ingrained in her body.

The first to react was Tang Ikgi.

“How dare you refuse Miss Eum’s offer. You must not know what a great opportunity this is.”

He approached Pyo Wol, pointing a finger at him.

Pyo Wol did not miss the faint smile on Eum Yujeong’s lips deepening at that moment.

Just as Pyo Wol thought, she had induced this situation, and she was enjoying it.

Tang Ikgi completely blocked Eum Yujeong’s path and shouted.

“Apologize to Miss Eum at once.”

“Why should I?”

“Did you not show her disrespect? So apologize at once.”

Everyone knew his words were a stretch. Yet no one stopped him.

Rather, the smiles on their lips showed they thought a good spectacle had just begun.

Pyo Wol was a man who rarely got excited.

His reason preceded his emotions, and he knew how to control himself in any situation. But the scene unfolding before his eyes, with him at the center, was so disgusting it made him want to vomit.

The people here were the most outstanding prodigies in Jiangsu Province. No other young martial artists could compare to them.

If nothing untoward happened, they would likely lead Jiangsu in the future.

They had that solid of a foundation, and they possessed martial talent superior to others.

Their power was already formidable now; in the future, it would be difficult for anyone to break the iron fortress they would build. At least, not here.

Jin Geum-woo would not have gone through the trouble of organizing the Golden Sky Society just to wish for such a result.

He wanted the young prodigies of Jianghu to unite and stand against the unseen group called the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild.

That was why he had made the entry conditions for the Golden Sky Society so strict.

He intended to vet and accept only proper martial artists. But his good intentions were being exploited by people like Jo Igwang, leading to the privatization of power.

Their current actions were an insult to the deceased Jin Geum-woo.

In an instant, Pyo Wol’s gaze changed.

In his once placid eyes, a Crimson Light, unseen until now, flickered.

It was the Crimson Light that had vanished after he gained new enlightenment on Mount Tianzhong. For that Crimson Light to reappear meant that Pyo Wol’s state of mind was currently very displeased.

“……”

The moment he saw the Crimson Light, Tang Ikgi unknowingly swallowed dryly. He felt an inexplicable, chilling sensation. But backing down now was out of the question.

Everyone was watching.

If he backed down here, he might lose the temporary membership he had worked so hard to obtain.

“What are you going to do, glaring at me like that? Lower your eyes and apologize to Miss Eum first.”

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“What is it you want to ask?”

“Do you want to join the Golden Sky Society that badly? Even though you’ll just be their plaything.”

“What do you know to be spouting such nonsense?”

Tang Ikgi bellowed.

Straining his eyes to glare at Pyo Wol, he failed to see it. The fact that right behind him, Eum Yujeong was smiling.

Just as Pyo Wol thought, she was enjoying this situation.

To be precise, she was reveling in her power.

She was feeling a sense of superiority watching a worker bee, not yet fully part of the group, struggle to curry favor with her, the queen bee.

It wasn’t just Tang Ikgi.

The other prodigies also looked ready to jump in at any moment.

Only Jo Igwang and Bok Hojin watched with relatively calm expressions.

“Hmph!”

His face flushed red, Tang Ikgi suddenly swung his palm.

His palm had already turned crimson.

Three Yang Divine Palm.

It was a Supreme Art of the Tang Clan. But it was a martial art whose essence had vanished, leaving only a shell.

Because of that, it couldn’t even produce thirty percent of its original power. Still, it was hard to find a match for it around Tai Lake.

Naturally, Tang Ikgi was confident he could inflict a serious wound on Pyo Wol.

Puk!

But the moment he felt a fiery pain in his shoulder, Tang Ikgi instinctively knew something was wrong.

“Kngh!”

A groan escaped his lips.

Pyo Wol’s index finger was buried deep in Tang Ikgi’s shoulder.

His finger had pierced the shoulder as if it were a flying dagger.

Tang Ikgi couldn’t even think of continuing the Three Yang Divine Palm and his eyes widened. The pain seemed to paralyze not only his mind but his body as well.

“……”

In an instant, silence fell upon the room.

The young prodigies of the Golden Sky Society, in particular, stared at Pyo Wol’s finger with tightly shut mouths.

They had never expected Pyo Wol to be a master of such profound martial arts.

It was not easy to completely pierce a person’s muscle even with a sharp sword. It was even more difficult to tear through muscle like tofu with a blunt finger.

It was something no one present could do.

A man with a pale face who looked as delicate as a girl had accomplished such a difficult feat so casually.

The opponent was an expert who surpassed their expectations.

“Kuaaah!”

Unable to bear the pain, Tang Ikgi let out a desperate scream. His scream was so desperate that it made the prodigies’ hair stand on end.

Grrrk!

Pyo Wol put strength into the finger that had pierced Tang Ikgi’s shoulder and dug it in. At that, Tang Ikgi’s eyes rolled back and he fell to his knees.

The pain of having his muscles and nerves torn apart was something he could not possibly endure.

He had never even imagined such pain.

Tang Ikgi knelt weakly.

“P-please!”

He begged, tears and snot running down his face. But Pyo Wol didn’t even spare him a glance.

Pyo Wol’s gaze was fixed on Eum Yujeong, who had incited Tang Ikgi from behind.

Eum Yujeong’s eyebrows trembled.

‘An incredible expert.’

She had never expected Pyo Wol to be such a powerful expert.

She had thought he would be at their level, at best. That was why she had played such a prank. Because if he was at their level, she could handle him.

But contrary to her expectations, Pyo Wol was an incredible expert.

Eum Yujeong’s eyes darted around frantically.

She was racking her brain, trying to figure out how to get through this predicament.

Eum Yujeong quickly made a Fist-Palm Salute and bowed.

“I failed to recognize an expert right before my eyes. May I ask for the Great Hero’s name?”

“Only now you ask for my name?”

“I’m sorry. I was flustered and committed a discourtesy. I hope you will forgive me with your broad generosity. If you tell me your esteemed name, I will be sure to make amends for the rudeness I committed today.”

Eum Yujeong adopted an excessively humble posture.

She felt that he was not an opponent with whom her queen bee games, which worked on the other prodigies, would be effective.

To survive in Jianghu, one needed at least that much perceptiveness.

Just then, Jo Igwang and Bok Hojin, who had been standing still, stepped forward.

Jo Igwang stood beside Eum Yujeong and said.

“He’s had enough, Brother Tang is probably regretting his actions by now. How about you withdraw your hand?”

A deep tension was visible in Jo Igwang’s eyes.

No matter how much he reigned like a king among the prodigies here, Jo Igwang could not treat Pyo Wol carelessly after seeing his martial prowess.

Jianghu was a place where strength came first, and it was not uncommon for people to be killed for committing a discourtesy because they failed to recognize their opponent’s level.

The same applied to Jo Igwang.

Right now, Jo Igwang was feeling a strong sense of crisis.

His standing in Jiangsu Province would change depending on how he handled himself now.

If he mishandled the situation, the reputation he had built up would crumble, but if he handled it well, he would further solidify his status as the Alliance Leader of the young prodigies of Jiangsu.

Pyo Wol stared intently at Jo Igwang.

The moment their eyes met, Jo Igwang felt his heart drop.

‘What kind of gaze is that….’

It was the first time he had seen a gaze so deep and devoid of emotion.

It felt like looking at an emotionless doll.

Jo Igwang forced a composed expression and said.

“I will apologize on behalf of Brother Tang for the discourtesy he committed. I swear on the honor of the Jo Clan of Nanjing that this will never happen again, so please forgive him just this once.”

His voice and attitude were extremely polite.

If Pyo Wol did not withdraw his hand here, he would only come off as a petty person.

Pyo Wol asked Tang Ikgi.

“Is your father’s name Tang Cheolsan?”

“Y-yes, it is.”

“And you’re from a branch family of the Tang Clan?”

“W-who said we’re a branch family? We are the main line.”

“In any case, you’re saying you’re a side branch of the Tang Clan.”

“W-why are you asking that? Just pull out your finger. It hurts so much.”

Tang Ikgi begged, shedding tears.

Pop!

When Pyo Wol pulled out his finger, blood spurted out with a sound. Tang Ikgi couldn’t even scream, his body just trembled in pain.

A dark stain where he had wet his pants was clearly visible.

“Tsk!”

Bok Hojin clicked his tongue and quickly performed hemostasis.

Jo Igwang made a Fist-Palm Salute to Pyo Wol and said.

“Thank you. I will never forget this consideration.”

“You’ll find out later whether it was consideration or not.”

“Ah! I have not yet heard your esteemed name, brother. If you would tell me, I will be sure to remember it so that such a mistake does not happen again.”

“Pyo Wol!”

“Pyo Wol? The Reaper?”

Jo Igwang’s eyes widened.

“Are you really the Reaper?”

“Good heavens!”

A stir spread among the prodigies.