Chapter 338

Thud!

The moment the piece of red flesh fell to the floor, Ji Gun-seong’s vision went black.

Feeling as if a volcano had erupted in his mouth, Ji Gun-seong couldn’t even scream as he rolled on the floor.

Fresh Blood gushed from his mouth, staining his chin and chest red.

“Kuaaargh!”

It didn’t take long for him to realize that the piece of red flesh on the floor was his own tongue.

He hadn’t even seen how Pyo Wol had done it. If Pyo Wol had wanted to, he would already be dead. But Pyo Wol had chosen a more brutal punishment.

He had cut off his tongue so that he could never again beguile others with his dazzling, clever speech.

“Hall Master!”

“Quick, stop the bleeding!”

The martial artists who were still in one piece rushed over, making a fuss about performing Hemostasis. But that couldn’t reattach a tongue that had already been severed.

Overwhelmed by the unbearable pain and shock, Ji Gun-seong’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

One of the martial artists of Muyeong Hall shouted with an indignant expression.

“Did you really have to do this? Couldn’t you have just refused with words? For an Expert like you to be so merciless…”

“Merciless?”

“That’s right. Experts who have reached a certain level are supposed to show consideration for those weaker than them. That is the dignity of an Expert, but you have none. I am truly disappointed.”

“Like master, like Disciple.”

“What?”

“All talk, that’s what. To be spouting such nonsense even in this state. Anyone hearing you would think I hurt Ji Gun-seong for no reason. Weren’t you trying to control me as you pleased, whispering such sweet words? Parasites aren’t some separate thing. You trying to use me—that’s the act of a parasite.”

“……”

The martial artist bit his lip.

He wanted to refute it, but he couldn’t think of the right words.

Pyo Wol’s words were like a Flying Dagger, sharply digging into his chest.

‘We tried to use a man like this? Dammit! It was impossible from the start.’

The man before him was not simply a Martial Artist with strong Martial Arts. His mind and spirit were exceptional as well.

He was not a man who could be swayed by a few words. Since they had tried to use such a man with clever words and a charming countenance, perhaps this result was only natural.

The martial artist quickly looked around the Inn.

He was curious about the customers’ reactions. But the moment he saw their faces and gazes, he couldn’t help but despair.

All the customers were looking at them with contempt. Among them were some who clicked their tongues with expressions that said, ‘how pathetic.’

Not a single person was on Muyeong Hall’s side.

Though no one said it, they all seemed to think that Ji Gun-seong’s tongue being cut off and the martial artists of Muyeong Hall being injured and collapsing was just deserts.

“Let’s go back.”

In the end, the martial artists of Muyeong Hall supported their injured Hall Master and comrades and left the Inn. The Inn owner and the Waiter then came forward and hurriedly cleaned up the broken furniture.

Pyo Wol said to the Inn owner.

“My apologies. More furniture was broken because of me.”

“N-No, not at all. Thanks to you, the reputation of Taihu’s Finest Hall has soared, and business is booming. Rumors have spread that the Reaper, Great Hero Pyo, is staying here, so people come from far and wide just to visit. Thanks to that, we’ve become known as the undisputed finest Inn in Taihu.”

The Inn owner replied with a bright smile.

An Inn isn’t recognized just for being large and lavish. The historic inns or famous spots in Jianghu had narratives that captured people’s attention.

Stories that befitted their history existed.

Taihu’s Finest Hall lacked such stories. But with Pyo Wol staying there, a narrative was beginning to form.

This was why the owner welcomed Pyo Wol’s long stay at Taihu’s Finest Hall, despite the frequent incidents.

The longer Pyo Wol stayed, the more the reputation of Taihu’s Finest Hall grew in tandem.

The owner and the Waiter instantly cleared out the broken furniture and replaced it with new items.

Peace returned to the Inn, as if such a disturbance had never occurred.

Outside, the rain was still pouring down.

The raindrops hitting the water’s surface created countless ripples, and Pyo Wol watched the scene in silence.

It was then.

Slither!

Suddenly, Gwia, which had been coiled around Pyo Wol’s forearm, began to move. Gwia rarely moved in crowded places. For it to move like this was highly unusual, so Pyo Wol couldn’t help but pay attention.

Gwia slithered up his body from inside his clothes.

Reaching his neck, Gwia poked its head out from between his collar.

Gwia’s tiny, bright red tongue flickered in and out of its mouth. It was a distinctly different movement than before.

Usually, Gwia was leisurely.

Whether it was moving on Pyo Wol, flicking its tongue, or catching prey.

This was the first time he had seen Gwia move so alertly.

It was as if it was wary of something.

Pyo Wol’s gaze followed where Gwia was looking.

It was the middle of the Great Lake.

Just then, beyond the downpour, he saw the water’s surface ripple.

Like a tidal wave, the water surged and rushed towards him.

It would have been understandable if this were the sea. But this was a lake.

Though it was large enough to be mistaken for a sea, the fact that it was a lake remained unchanged.

For a wave of that size to form on a lake was, by common sense, impossible. Unless something was artificially causing it.

Pyo Wol stood up from his seat and stared at the wave.

In the very center of the wave, he could see someone standing ramrod straight.

It was an old man whose age was impossible to guess.

The gaunt old man, dressed in a blood-red garment, had hair that remained perfectly in place despite the rain. His aquiline nose and deeply sunken eyes made him look sinister.

The old man, who had been moving on the wave, suddenly met Pyo Wol’s gaze.

In that instant, a strange light flickered in the old man’s eyes.

The old man tapped the surface, and the wave that had been rushing forward like a tsunami came to a halt. Then, the water’s surface bulged upwards.

Giant, gleaming red eyes between the cascading streams of water.

Something enormous existed beneath the surface, and the old man had been crossing the Great Lake by treading on its head.

Hiss! Hiss!

Gwia let out a continuous whistling sound as it looked at the massive creature the old man was standing on.

The massive creature the old man was standing on also looked at Gwia.

The moment he saw the pair of huge, vertically slit pupils, Pyo Wol realized its identity.

‘A Horned Dragon?’

A giant serpent that failed to become a Dragon.

It was a Mystical Creature mentioned only in legends.

This was the first time Pyo Wol had seen one in person.

Only its two eyes and part of its head were visible above the water. Even so, it was larger than three or four men put together.

He couldn’t even imagine how large the part submerged under the water was.

The old man on the Horned Dragon looked at Pyo Wol and muttered.

“You saw me? What an interesting fellow.”

His voice echoed in Pyo Wol’s ears as loud as thunder. However, the other people in the Inn were talking amongst themselves as if they hadn’t heard it.

Even with such a massive Horned Dragon outside the window, no one seemed to see it.

‘Is he using a technique that obstructs perception?’

Pyo Wol’s expression grew grim.

Conversely, a chilling smile played on the lips of the old man looking at Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol stood up and went out the window. Yet, not a single person glanced at Pyo Wol, continuing their own conversations.

Pyo Wol was once again certain that the old man was using some kind of technique.

Slither!

The Horned Dragon carrying the old man slowly approached Taihu’s Finest Hall. The massive wave he had seen earlier rose once more.

The Horned Dragon raised its head, lifting the old man. Now, the old man and Pyo Wol were looking at each other at eye level.

“To see through my Invisibility Technique, you are no ordinary fellow. What is your name?”

“Pyo Wol!”

“Pyo Wol? The one who has recently been called by the Alias of Reaper, I see.”

The old man wore an expression of interest.

“And who might you be, old man?”

“My name is Gyeong Musaeng.”

“Gyeong Musaeng?”

“You don’t seem to know. Well, that’s understandable. It has been over a decade since I was last active in Jianghu.”

The corner of Gyeong Musaeng’s mouth twisted.

It was a dry smile that instilled a chilling feeling in the beholder.

Gyeong Musaeng continued.

“When I was active in Jianghu, the gossipmongers who love to talk lumped me into the Eight Constellations.”

“The Eight Constellations?”

“Yes! They called me the Second of the Constellations, the Life-Death Guest. Ridiculous, aren’t they? To judge on their own and lump me in the same category as those things.”

Gyeong Musaeng sneered at the people.

It seemed he wasn’t just sneering at the gossipmongers, but at the entire Jianghu. And he was fully qualified to do so.

A man who could tame and ride a giant Horned Dragon was, in effect, qualified enough to look down on the world.

“You are worthy of meeting my gaze. Just by seeing through the Invisibility Technique I cast, you are more than qualified. And that little snake, too.”

Gyeong Musaeng’s gaze turned to Gwia, coiled around Pyo Wol’s neck.

Gwia was glaring at the Horned Dragon.

The sight of it burning with fighting spirit, despite being no bigger than a speck of sleep in the Horned Dragon’s eye, must have seemed cute.

The Horned Dragon is a serpent that failed to become a Dragon.

It was a Mystical Creature that could be called the King Among Serpents.

Naturally, all serpents would submit to the Horned Dragon’s overwhelming presence, yet only Gwia was burning with fighting spirit.

Gwia’s appearance seemed fascinating to Gyeong Musaeng as well.

Pyo Wol asked Gyeong Musaeng.

“What is your business here?”

“I am looking for someone.”

“Someone?”

“Yes! I have been searching for a long time. And a while ago, I found out that he drifted into this Great Lake.”

“Who are you looking for that you’re moving so ostentatiously?”

“Khaha! Amusing. You are the first to say such a thing to me. Moving ostentatiously.”

“Because you’re riding such a large serpent.”

“Hehe! No one but you can see this fellow. I made it so. So there’s nothing particularly ostentatious about it.”

“With that so-called Invisibility Technique?”

“That’s right. There are only a few in All Under Heaven who can see through the Invisibility Technique. Among the Eight Constellations, there are only one or two at most. So you can be proud of yourself.”

Gyeong Musaeng’s words were incredibly arrogant.

His tone seemed to look down on even Pyo Wol. But Pyo Wol didn’t pay it much mind and asked.

“Who are you looking for?”

“The Ghost King!”

“The Ghost King? You mean the man called the greatest enigma of Jianghu?”

“Ho! You seem to know of the Ghost King.”

“I’ve heard of him once.”

In Sichuan Province, there was a child whom the Seven Stars Hall had been desperately chasing.

The boy’s name was Nam Shin-woo, and he possessed a mysterious healing ability that allowed him to recover from any severe injury in an instant.

Hong Yushin had said that the boy resembled the Ghost King. That was why he had become a target for the powerful figures of Jianghu.

They believed that if they could uncover the boy’s secret, they too could achieve immortality like the Ghost King.

The situation was resolved for the time being when Pung-jon took Nam Shin-woo away.

What became of Nam Shin-woo after Pung-jon took him was currently unknown.

No news had been heard since.

Gyeong Musaeng asked.

“Have you seen the Ghost King?”

“No!”

“Is that so? Well, if he were so easily spotted by others, he wouldn’t be the Ghost King.”

“Why are you looking for the Ghost King?”

“Hehe! If I tell you the reason, you will have to die. Would that be all right with you?”

“Can you even kill me?”

“You are quite arrogant. Well, to have reached that level at your age, it’s fine to be arrogant. But, my boy! The world is much wider than you know. You may stand out among the younger generation, but Jianghu is crawling with monsters no less than you. And this fellow here has eaten quite a few of those monsters.”

Gyeong Musaeng kicked the Horned Dragon’s head with his foot. The Horned Dragon’s eyes turned ferocious.

It was said that a serpent’s eyes held the power to paralyze the Soul.

Whether that was actually true or not, it was a fact that a serpent’s gaze had the power to overwhelm the mind of its prey.

An ordinary person would have become disoriented upon meeting the Horned Dragon’s gaze, but unfortunately for the Horned Dragon, its gaze had no effect on Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol was a man who had survived in a snake pit.

He hadn’t survived merely with Poison Resistance. Pyo Wol deeply understood and could even assimilate with the thoughts and physiology of snakes.

Pyo Wol reached his hand toward the Horned Dragon’s snout. Seeing this, Gyeong Musaeng sneered.

“Hehe! How dare you try to touch a Horned Dragon. A single bite from the Horned Dragon…”

Gyeong Musaeng stopped mid-sentence and his eyes widened.

Contrary to his expectation, the Horned Dragon had closed its eyes and was enjoying Pyo Wol’s touch.