Chapter 358

“Gu Chang-hae has not returned.”

At his Subordinate’s report, Ju Seol-pung looked up.

“What was the area he was in charge of?”

“The slums on the west side. It’s a place commonly called Byeongyeon-ro.”

“Byeongyeon-ro…”

Ju Seol-pung stroked his chin.

Byeongyeon-ro, as the name suggested, was a street where stray dogs roamed—a derogatory term for the poor.

Even among the slums, Byeongyeon-ro was the filthiest and most squalid place.

Gu Chang-hae, a Martial Artist of the Jewon Merchant Group, had gone to investigate that very Byeongyeon-ro.

Ordinary people were reluctant to approach Byeongyeon-ro, but Gu Chang-hae was born and raised there. That was why he had entered and investigated it without hesitation.

“What about the others?”

“They have all returned. Only Gu Chang-hae has not.”

“Then it’s clear he disappeared in Byeongyeon-ro.”

Ju Seol-pung’s face hardened.

Gu Chang-hae was also a Subordinate he cherished.

Although he had gone missing while carrying out his great-grandmother’s orders, the responsibility for his safety fell on him.

“Summon the Shadow Severance Squad.”

“The Shadow Severance Squad?”

The Subordinate looked up in surprise.

The Shadow Severance Squad was one of the Jewon Merchant Group’s hidden strengths.

It was an organization that protected the Jewon Merchant Group’s escort convoys from the shadows and recovered lost goods, possessing immense martial power.

Therefore, it was rare for the Shadow Severance Squad to be mobilized unless it was for a major incident.

It was no wonder the Subordinate was surprised. But Ju Seol-pung was resolute.

“Summon them quickly. We are going to Byeongyeon-ro right now.”

“Ah, I understand.”

The Subordinate hurried outside.

Ju Seol-pung took his sword from the wall and went out.

The moment he stepped into the Training Ground, a dozen Martial Artists appeared. Each of them exuded an extraordinary aura.

They were the Shadow Severance Squad.

An old man in his early sixties approached Ju Seol-pung.

He was the Captain who led the Shadow Severance Squad.

“I heard you summoned us, Young Master!”

“Gu Chang-hae has gone missing in Byeongyeon-ro.”

“Missing? There’s a high chance he’s dead.”

“The longer we wait, the lower the chances of finding the body and clues will be.”

“I understand. Let’s go at once.”

The Captain of the Shadow Severance Squad nodded and started walking.

The entire Shadow Severance Squad was intimately familiar with the geography around Poyang Lake. They unhesitatingly used their Lightness Art and headed for Byeongyeon-ro.

People who saw Ju Seol-pung running with the Shadow Severance Squad murmured at the unusual atmosphere.

“Isn’t that Young Master Ju of the Jewon Merchant Group?”

“Seeing him go with those Martial Artists, something must have happened.”

“Someone must have provoked the Jewon Merchant Group. Tsk!”

Although they were not a faction widely known in the Jianghu like the Two Powerhouses, Three Clans, or Three Hegemons, the people living in this area knew well how much power the Jewon Merchant Group possessed.

To the people here, the Jewon Merchant Group was a group that gave off the feeling of a reclusive giant. That was why they felt a strong sense of crisis seeing the Jewon Merchant Group move so openly.

Ju Seol-pung and the Shadow Severance Squad entered Byeongyeon-ro in an instant.

“Eek!”

“Hmph!”

The slum dwellers who saw them hid themselves, afraid of being blamed for something.

The Captain of the Shadow Severance Squad issued an order to his subordinates.

“From now on, spread out and search for traces of Gu Chang-hae. Do not miss a single small clue.”

“Yes!”

“Leave it to us.”

With their replies, the Shadow Severance Squad scattered in all directions.

Ju Seol-pung quietly watched them.

There was nothing for him to do now.

He trusted the Shadow Severance Squad.

The Shadow Severance Squad was not the strongest martial group in the Jianghu, but at least in this place, they wielded absolute power.

They were well-versed in the ways of this place and knew how to efficiently find people and things.

All he had to do was wait here for the Shadow Severance Squad to return with good results.

His wait was soon rewarded.

“We found him.”

A member of the Shadow Severance Squad appeared with the news he wanted.

“What happened to him?”

“It’s not good.”

“Not good?”

“We only found a part of his body in the sewer. It seems his killers chopped him up to dispose of the body.”

Ju Seol-pung’s face hardened.

He had expected that Gu Chang-hae might have lost his life, but he never imagined his body would be so brutally mutilated.

“I will see it with my own eyes.”

“I would advise against it, but…”

“He was my man. This happened while he was carrying out my orders. Even if only a trace of him remains, I have a responsibility to see it with my own eyes.”

“If you insist…”

In the end, the Shadow Severance Squad Martial Artist guided Ju Seol-pung to where Gu Chang-hae’s body was.

In the sewer where all the filth of the slums gathered, there was a single leg, presumed to be Gu Chang-hae’s. The leg, severed below the knee, was wearing the kind of shoe commonly worn by the Jewon Merchant Group’s Martial Artists.

It seemed that in their haste to dispose of the body, they had forgotten to take off the shoe.

Ju Seol-pung, holding Gu Chang-hae’s leg, ordered the Captain of the Shadow Severance Squad.

“Find the ones who did this to Gu Chang-hae. There’s a high probability they are the ones we were looking for.”

“Understood.”

The Captain of the Shadow Severance Squad gestured to his subordinates with his chin. At that, his subordinates scattered in all directions again.

“Aargh!”

“What’s wrong?”

A moment later, cries of agony began to erupt from all over the slums.

＊＊＊

“So you’re saying the one tracking the person we hid was a Martial Artist from the Jewon Merchant Group?”

“That is correct.”

“Of all the…”

Deung Cheolung’s expression twisted at Oh Sinpyeong’s report.

Deung Cheolung feared nothing in the world, but even to him, the Jewon Merchant Group was an entity to be wary of.

“The body?”

“We disposed of it in a hurry for now.”

“Are you sure?”

“For now, we’ve chopped it into pieces and scattered them everywhere so he can’t be identified.”

“Fuck!”

Deung Cheolung snorted.

He trusted Oh Sinpyeong’s meticulous work, but he was anxious since their opponent was the Jewon Merchant Group. He knew all too well how persistent they were.

It was then.

“B-Boss! We’re in big trouble.”

A Subordinate ran in, calling for him loudly.

Deung Cheolung felt his heart drop. And his premonition was not wrong.

“The Jewon Merchant Group found the body of the Martial Artist we killed in Byeongyeon-ro.”

“Damn it!”

“They’re turning Byeongyeon-ro upside down right now. If a little more time passes, it’ll be revealed that we did it.”

The Blood Phantom Organization had only suppressed the slums with force and ruled through fear. The slum dwellers had no loyalty to protect the Blood Phantom Organization.

For now, they were keeping their mouths shut, wary of the Blood Phantom Organization, but if the Jewon Merchant Group continued like this, it was only a matter of time before they talked.

Deung Cheolung said to Oh Sinpyeong.

“Tell everyone to stop what they’re doing and hide. They might be tearing the place apart now, furious, but it won’t last long. When their anger subsides, we’ll resume our activities then.”

“Understood.”

“And contact them.”

“Them?”

“The ones who caused this mess. They said they’d stay here for a few more days, didn’t they? This is the shit they made. They should be the ones to clean it up.”

＊＊＊

Pyo Wol sat on a large rock, gazing at Poyang Lake.

The place where he sat was a prime spot with a good view of Poyang Lake. Although it was late at night, numerous flower boats were floating on the lake. On the flower boats, revelers and Courtesans were enjoying drinking parties.

The red lanterns hanging on the flower boats dyed the surface of Poyang Lake red. The crimson-stained water was beautiful enough to evoke admiration.

Ssssk!

A small red snake played between Pyo Wol’s fingers. Ghost Fang seemed to think of Pyo Wol’s fingers as a playground.

Pyo Wol didn’t mind Ghost Fang toying with his fingers either.

Ghost Fang was a good friend who helped pass the tedious time.

Pyo Wol wiggled his fingers, moving in sync with Ghost Fang’s movements.

The man and the snake spent their time together like that. But their peace did not last long.

A flower boat that had been floating on Poyang Lake glided toward where Pyo Wol was.

As if displeased with the situation, Ghost Fang flicked its red tongue a few times before returning to Pyo Wol’s forearm and coiling up.

Pyo Wol raised his head and looked at the approaching flower boat.

Someone appeared on the bow of the flower boat, where red lanterns were hung.

“Could you be Great Hero Pyo?”

The man who appeared on the bow was none other than Yong Hasang.

Pyo Wol furrowed his brow slightly and answered.

“I am.”

“Haha! It was so dark I wasn’t sure, but it seems my eyes didn’t deceive me.”

Yong Hasang burst into hearty laughter.

His top was half-open, revealing his chest, and Courtesans clung to him on both sides, holding his arms.

It was clear that he had spotted Pyo Wol and approached while in the middle of a wild party with the Courtesans.

“Who is that man?”

“Oh my! Look at his face.”

“Good heavens!”

The Courtesans made a fuss upon seeing Pyo Wol’s face.

Besides the Courtesans with Yong Hasang, there were four more Courtesans on the flower boat.

The Courtesans were all as beautiful as fairies.

Yong Hasang had swept up all the Courtesans famous for their beauty around Poyang Lake and brought them onto his boat.

Because of this, other customers complained, but the Brothel and the Courtesans paid them no mind.

Yong Hasang had a very masculine appearance and was an extravagant spender. He threw around Gold Taels without a second thought, which made the Courtesans fight to get on his flower boat.

Thanks to that, the flower boat Yong Hasang was on was always filled with the laughter of Courtesans.

Yong Hasang said to Pyo Wol.

“If you don’t mind, would you care to join us? I’d like to treat you lavishly today.”

Yong Hasang’s gaze on Pyo Wol was extremely intense.

Seeing a gaze completely devoid of drunkenness, Pyo Wol nodded.

“I will.”

“Haha! I knew that Great Hero Pyo wouldn’t refuse my offer. Come on up.”

Pyo Wol lightly kicked off the rock.

Although there was still a distance of ten Zhang to the flower boat, Pyo Wol boarded it in a single leap.

When Pyo Wol landed on the flower boat, the Courtesans let out gasps of admiration.

“How can he be so handsome…”

“Look at his skin. I think it’s better than mine.”

The Courtesans stared at Pyo Wol with enraptured expressions.

They had met countless men until now, but this was the first time they had seen a man as beautiful as Pyo Wol.

Today, for the first time, they learned that just looking at someone could be enchanting.

The Courtesans fought amongst themselves to sit next to Pyo Wol.

“I’m going to serve him.”

“Unnie, please let me have him today.”

“I’ve found the love of my life.”

Watching this, Yong Hasang wore an incredulous expression.

Just a moment ago, they had been fighting to serve him. But as soon as Pyo Wol appeared, they completely changed their tune as if that had never happened and were now fawning over Pyo Wol.

The sight was both pathetic and amusing, making him laugh in spite of himself.

Yong Hasang offered Pyo Wol the seat across from him.

“Please sit here.”

“Mm.”

As Pyo Wol sat down, the Courtesans who had been watching for an opportunity quickly sat on his left and right.

“Hoho! I’ll serve you.”

“My name is Wol-hyang.”

The Courtesans sat pressed tightly against Pyo Wol’s sides, acting coquettishly.

Pyo Wol didn’t even glance at the Courtesans and looked at Yong Hasang.

Yong Hasang personally picked up the wine bottle and, while pouring it into the cup in front of Pyo Wol, said,

“As an apology for my previous rudeness, I will pour the first drink.”

Trickle!

In an instant, Pyo Wol’s cup was filled with wine.

Pyo Wol silently looked at the cup. At that, Yong Hasang chuckled and said,

“I am already aware that Great Hero Pyo does not drink. This is merely a formality to apologize, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t drink it. I just want to put everything aside today and have a heart-to-heart conversation with Great Hero Pyo. Isn’t it true that men get closer by having gatherings like this?”

Yong Hasang’s eyes were shining more intensely than ever before.