Chapter 357

Namgung Wol tilted his head as he looked at Yeom Huisu’s pale, haggard face. In just one night, her face had become incredibly gaunt.

The dark circles under her eyes and her bloodshot pupils suggested she hadn’t slept properly all night.

“Did something happen?”

“It’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing.”

“I just had a bit of a restless night.”

“Hmm!”

Despite Yeom Huisu’s excuse, Namgung Wol didn’t seem to believe her.

The Yeom Huisu he knew was someone who never lost her vitality under any circumstances. The unique, free-spirited atmosphere of the Green Forest Way was ingrained in her. For her to appear so lifeless was definitely not a normal situation. But since she herself denied it, it was difficult to press her further.

“Where is Young Hero Yong?”

“He should be somewhere around Poyang Lake.”

“He’s not at a brothel, is he?”

“Who knows?”

Namgung Wol shrugged.

Ever since arriving at the shores of Poyang Lake, Yong Hasang had been frequenting brothels without a single day’s rest.

He was, for all intents and purposes, the successor to Dragon Sky Valley. Near Dragon Sky Valley, he couldn’t openly indulge in wine and women. He had to consider his reputation, after all. But this place was different.

No one here knew he was the successor to Dragon Sky Valley, and even fewer knew his face.

Here, he was free.

As if to release all his pent-up frustrations, he lived his life drunk on alcohol and women.

Because of this, the conversation between Namgung Wol and Yong Hasang had yet to progress.

Yeom Huisu asked.

“By the way, where are you headed, Young Hero Namgung?”

“I’m going to see Great Hero Pyo.”

“Oh!”

Suddenly, Yeom Huisu pressed her lips together firmly.

Her brow was also deeply furrowed, showing that she did not think favorably of Pyo Wol.

Namgung Wol asked.

“Did something happen with Great Hero Pyo?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Then why?”

“I just have a headache.”

“Oh dear.”

“It should get better if I walk a bit. I’ll go with you.”

“Are you saying you want to see Great Hero Pyo as well, Miss Yeom?”

“Why? Am I not allowed to see him?”

“No, that’s not it. Let’s go together.”

From Yeom Huisu’s sharp reaction, Namgung Wol sensed that something had happened. But having no reason to refuse, he headed toward Pyo Wol with her.

As it happened, Pyo Wol was eating in the restaurant on the first floor of the inn.

Namgung Wol greeted Pyo Wol with a Fist-Palm Salute.

“Great Hero Pyo! Are you just having your meal now?”

“If you haven’t eaten, why don’t you join me?”

“I’ve already eaten. What about you, Miss Yeom?”

“I have no appetite. Thanks to someone.”

Yeom Huisu glared at Pyo Wol and sat down in the seat across from him.

Namgung Wol could feel the thorns in her voice. But not knowing the full story, he had nothing particular to say.

Yeom Huisu stared at Pyo Wol with eyes as cold as ice. But Pyo Wol paid no mind to her gaze and ate his meal in silence.

His demeanor infuriated Yeom Huisu even more. But she exercised superhuman patience, enduring it again and again.

She had learned for certain this morning just how terrifying a being he was.

Wolgui, whom she had assigned to watch him, was by no means an easy opponent. If he decided to use Stealth, even Yeom Huisu would have trouble finding him. Yet, only Wolgui’s forearm had returned.

Even without confirming the body, she could guess that Wolgui was dead.

Seeing Pyo Wol calmly eating his meal after killing Wolgui, something churned inside her.

If she had her way, she would have landed a blow on Pyo Wol’s face right then and there, but it was a fight she had no chance of winning, so she had no choice but to endure. However, she couldn’t stop her words from coming out bluntly.

“You’re truly amazing.”

“……”

When Pyo Wol raised his head to look at her, Yeom Huisu pouted.

“It just makes me think that your reputation is well-deserved. I don’t know who gave it to you, but the alias Reaper really suits you, Great Hero Pyo.”

“A reaper is much better than a rat that only follows others around. Though both are cringey…”

“Is that so?”

“Am I wrong?”

“On second thought, I think you’re right, Great Hero Pyo. A rat will never bother you again. I promise.”

Pyo Wol nodded silently and resumed using his chopsticks. Yeom Huisu stared intently at him.

Only then did Namgung Wol grasp the situation.

‘Miss Yeom had Great Hero Pyo followed. What a foolish thing to do…’

The person with the most sensitive senses in all of All Under Heaven was Pyo Wol.

Deceiving his senses and getting close to him was an impossible feat in itself.

Yeom Huisu might have done it with the intention of monitoring Pyo Wol’s movements, but in Namgung Wol’s eyes, it was an incredibly foolish act.

He knew well how terrifying a figure Pyo Wol was. That was why, despite being of a similar age, he called him Great Hero and showed him respect.

He had hoped Yeom Huisu would act the same way he did.

While Namgung Wol was lost in thought, Pyo Wol finally finished his breakfast.

He set down his chopsticks and poured tea into a teacup.

Yeom Huisu thought Pyo Wol’s movements were very elegant.

Pyo Wol’s gaze, his gestures, even his smallest movements held a power that could bewitch people. If she were an ordinary woman, she would have thrown herself into Pyo Wol’s arms without a second thought.

However, her free spirit would not allow her to be content as just one man’s woman.

She was a member of the Green Forest Way to her very bones.

‘The problem is this man’s movements and his purpose.’

If Pyo Wol were a simple martial artist, she wouldn’t be this worried or cautious.

Pyo Wol was a man shrouded in ambiguity.

The origin of his martial arts, his purpose, his inner thoughts—not a single thing was revealed. She couldn’t trust such a person.

As if he knew Yeom Huisu’s thoughts, or perhaps not, Pyo Wol drank his tea while looking out the window.

It was then that Namgung Wol spoke.

“I’m planning to create the Anti-Golden Heaven Society.”

“Anti-Golden Heaven Society? To stand against the Golden Sky Society?”

“Yes!”

“It must be because of Jang Mu-guk.”

“That’s right.”

Namgung Wol nodded.

Jang Mu-guk’s actions in Runan had made Namgung Wol wary.

Jang Mu-guk had swallowed the Golden Sky Society, which Jin Geum-woo had created, whole.

He became the second Society Leader of the Golden Sky Society and brought countless talented individuals under his influence.

If Jang Mu-guk had been a righteous person like Jin Geum-woo, he wouldn’t have cared what he did. But Namgung Wol smelled danger from Jang Mu-guk.

Jang Mu-guk’s ambition was vast enough to swallow the entire Jianghu.

Namgung Wol decided to prepare before it was too late.

One of his plans was to form the Anti-Golden Heaven Society.

To create a coalition of those who opposed the Golden Sky Society’s movements, he had first invited Yong Hasang and Yeom Huisu, with whom he was acquainted, here to Poyang Lake.

Fundamentally, both of their thoughts were the same as Namgung Wol’s. However, their opinions diverged on the organization’s personnel composition and management methods.

That was why the formation of the Anti-Golden Heaven Society was progressing so sluggishly.

“Jang Mu-guk swallowed the Golden Sky Society without lifting a finger. His influence has now expanded throughout the entire Jianghu. If this continues for just one generation, his followers will take their places at the very top of the Jianghu. When that happens, the Jianghu will naturally fall under his feet. I want to prevent this situation.”

“You’re choosing to walk a path of thorns. It won’t be easy.”

“I know. That’s why I’m thinking of asking Young Hero Lee Geom-han to become our focal point.”

“Lee Geom-han?”

“Lee Geom-han of the Radiant Martial Gate. He is the son of the Blade King, Great Hero Lee Cheong, and the one who stands in opposition to Jang Mu-guk. If we can just bring him into the Anti-Golden Heaven Society, we’ll be able to expand our influence in an instant.”

“He must be a remarkable figure.”

“He is the martial artist that the great Jang Mu-guk is most wary of. They have clashed over every little thing since they were young. He would gladly accept the role of Society Leader for the Anti-Golden Heaven Society.”

“I hope it works out for you.”

Pyo Wol replied as if it were someone else’s business.

Namgung Wol realized he had no interest whatsoever in the affairs of the Anti-Golden Heaven Society.

To Pyo Wol, power struggles in the Jianghu, like those between the Golden Sky Society and the Anti-Golden Heaven Society, were not his concern. All his attention was focused on the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild.

Namgung Wol had originally intended to suggest that Pyo Wol join the Anti-Golden Heaven Society. But seeing Pyo Wol’s indifferent expression and tone, he quickly abandoned the thought.

It was a little disappointing, but knowing that Pyo Wol was not someone who would easily change his mind, he gave up cleanly.

Yeom Huisu’s thoughts were similar to Namgung Wol’s.

‘The moment we let this man into the Anti-Golden Heaven Society, we’ll lose our initiative.’

She, too, was an ambitious martial artist.

She didn’t want to share or have the power she could possess taken away by someone else.

＊＊＊

“So you’re saying about ten people stayed here ten days ago?”

“That’s right.”

The owner of the Cheolyang Inn answered the martial artist’s question cautiously.

The Cheolyang Inn was a very old inn.

It was located on a street that was once a bustling thoroughfare but had now declined into a slum.

The building was so old that it was worn out and dirty, an inn that ordinary customers rarely visited.

It had become a lodging for the vagrants and criminals of the back alleys, or for those who couldn’t show their faces openly.

The martial artist asked again.

“Do you know where the ten guests came from?”

“How would we know something like that? As long as they pay their lodging fees properly, that’s all that matters to us. The guests’ backgrounds or purposes are none of our business.”

“Are you sure? If you’re hiding something you know, I won’t let you off easy.”

“Goodness! What would I have to gain by hiding anything?”

From the innkeeper’s attitude, the martial artist judged there was nothing more to learn. Still, finding out that ten people had stayed here wasn’t a bad starting point for his search.

‘I should hurry back to the trading company and report this.’

The martial artist was, in fact, a martial artist from the Jewon Merchant Group.

This morning, an order had been given to the martial artists of the Jewon Merchant Group.

It was to find a group of more than ten people who had recently entered Poyang Lake. The order had come down in Noh Taetae’s name.

Although she had retired from the front lines, everyone in the Jewon Merchant Group respected her.

An order issued in her name took precedence over all other missions. That was why the martial artist had also set aside everything else to carry out Noh Taetae’s command.

“Now that I know they stayed here, if I focus all our efforts in this direction…”

But the martial artist’s thoughts were cut short.

Shhhwick!

Suddenly, a sword flew at him with a sound of tearing air.

“Who’s there?”

The martial artist let out a warning shout and swung his sword.

Although he was ambushed, he too was an expert not to be trifled with.

Kaaang!

He blocked the surprise attack by a hair’s breadth.

The one who attacked the martial artist was a man with his face covered by a mask.

The martial artist pointed his sword at him and shouted.

“Who are you? Reveal your identity.”

“Hehe! If I were going to reveal my identity, why would I have worn a mask?”

At that moment, the Masked Man laughed sinisterly and attacked the martial artist.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think you can take me down with just this?”

“If I were alone, perhaps.”

“What?”

Ssshaaaek!

At that moment, an arrow flew from behind with a piercing sound.

The martial artist couldn’t react properly and was struck in the shoulder by the arrow.

Thwack!

“Keuk!”

With a scream, the martial artist’s body staggered.

Then, the Masked Man’s comrades, who had been hiding in the darkness, sprang out.

They attacked the staggering martial artist.

The martial artist tried to fight back somehow, but his body was constrained by the arrow. Above all, the combined attack of the Masked Man and his comrades was impeccable.

They attacked in concert, like a pack of wild dogs cornering their prey. Against their relentless, clinging assault, the martial artist couldn’t mount much of a defense and ended up taking a sword to his back.

Psh-psh-pshuk!

The Masked Man and his comrades didn’t miss the opening and plunged their swords into the martial artist’s body.

“Keok!”

In an instant, the martial artist fell, riddled like a porcupine.

Only then did the Masked Man take off his mask.

He was none other than Oh Sinpyeong, the trusted subordinate of Deung Cheolung, the Boss of the Blood Phantom Organization.

Oh Sinpyeong said to his subordinates.

“This bastard was looking for the guys who stayed at the Cheolyang Inn, right?”

“Yes! We confirmed it with the innkeeper.”

“Kyaak! Ptui! Fucking bastard!”

Oh Sinpyeong spat phlegm on the martial artist’s corpse.

One of his subordinates examined the martial artist’s face and said.

“We’re fucked.”

“Why?”

“This bastard! He’s a martial artist from the Jewon Merchant Group.”

“What?”

“I’ve seen him once before. He’s definitely a martial artist from the Jewon Merchant Group.”

“Fuck! So the Jewon Merchant Group is tracking us?”

No matter how powerful the Blood Phantom Organization was, it was no match for the Jewon Merchant Group. If the Jewon Merchant Group decided to crush the Blood Phantom Organization, they would be utterly helpless.

“What the hell is going on? I’m going to report to the Boss, you guys take care of this bastard’s body properly.”

“Yes!”