Chapter 377

Thud!

A boat docked at the Poyang Lake pier.

A gangplank was lowered, and people disembarked. Among them were Pyo Wol and Yoo Soo-hwan.

Yoo Soo-hwan looked around the pier and said,

“The atmosphere here is unusual.”

Around the pier were men who looked like martial artists.

They were keenly observing the people getting off the boat. It was obvious to anyone that they were watching.

One group was on the west side of the pier, and another group was on the east.

At a glance, one could tell they were from different factions.

While keeping each other in check, they did not take their eyes off the pier.

Suddenly, their gazes turned to Pyo Wol.

Since Pyo Wol made no effort to hide his identity, they recognized him instantly.

‘Pyo Wol?’

‘The Reaper has returned.’

Their eyes wavered as they looked at Pyo Wol.

The men on the west side hurriedly left the pier, while the men on the east side approached Pyo Wol.

They asked cautiously,

“Could you be Great Hero Pyo?”

“What of it?”

“Ah! We are martial artists from the Silver Lotus Society.”

“Silver Lotus Society?”

“You probably don’t know. It is the official name of the Anti-Golden Heaven Society.”

No matter how much they opposed the Golden Sky Society, it was difficult to keep using the name Anti-Golden Heaven Society.

The word “Anti” itself had a negative connotation, making it unsuitable to be prefixed to the name of a faction. So they had established the new name, Silver Lotus Society.

“Who became the Society Leader?”

“Young Hero Yong Hasang did.”

“Yong Hasang?”

Pyo Wol found it unexpected.

It was clear to anyone that the center of the Silver Lotus Society was Namgung Wol. But he soon understood.

‘He’s putting Yong Hasang at the forefront while he solidifies the foundation from behind.’

Pyo Wol thought it wasn’t a bad method.

Everyone had a role that suited them.

Given Namgung Wol’s disposition, the role of coordinating the whole from the shadows didn’t seem bad.

“Young Hero Namgung has been eagerly awaiting Great Hero Pyo’s return. If you don’t mind, would you like to come with us to meet him?”

“I want to rest now.”

“Then?”

“If you want to talk, tell him to come to the inn where I’m staying.”

“Understood. I will relay the message.”

Despite being refused an escort to meet Namgung Wol, the martial artist showed no sign of being offended.

It was proof of how much of a big shot Pyo Wol was.

The martial artists ran off to report to Namgung Wol.

Pyo Wol took Yoo Soo-hwan and returned to the Southern Sky Inn, the lodging where he had stayed before.

“My goodness! How long has it been?”

The innkeeper recognized Pyo Wol and ran out.

“My horse?”

“It’s fine in the stable. We’ve been taking good care of it, so please don’t worry.”

Usually, if the owner didn’t show up for over a month, the horse would be sold to someone else. But the innkeeper couldn’t dare to entertain such a thought.

This was Pyo Wol’s horse, not just anyone’s.

If he sold the horse on his own and Pyo Wol returned, he wouldn’t be able to handle the consequences. Because of that, he had no choice but to care for the horse with the utmost devotion.

“Give me two rooms.”

“Shall I give you the room you stayed in before and the one next to it?”

“Do that.”

“Understood. What would you like for your meal?”

“Prepare it now. I’ll eat before I go in.”

“Yes! Please wait just a moment. I’ll prepare it right away.”

The innkeeper hurried into the kitchen.

Pyo Wol and Yoo Soo-hwan sat at a window seat.

It was the spot Pyo Wol preferred.

Yoo Soo-hwan looked at the scenery of Poyang Lake unfolding outside the window and said,

“It’s a truly beautiful place. It has a different kind of beauty from the sea I saw at the Swordless Union.”

“Come to think of it, the Swordless Union was also by the sea.”

“Yes! To be precise, it’s located on Hainan Island. You can’t imagine how beautiful it is, with the pure white sandy beaches and the vast blue sea blending together.”

“You must want to go back quickly.”

“Yes! If I had my way, I’d go back right now, but my body is in this state…”

Yoo Soo-hwan gave a self-deprecating smile.

His body was currently unable to perform martial arts.

Having trained since he was young and lived his whole life as a martial artist, the sense of loss from losing his martial arts was beyond words. But Yoo Soo-hwan thought that even this feeling wasn’t so bad.

This was how ordinary people lived.

There were many people who lived well without martial arts, so it would be too unfair to ordinary people if he despaired just because he was temporarily unable to use his.

“Can you recover? You said an ordinary physician can’t fix it?”

“As I mentioned, there is someone I know. He will surely be able to fix it. My Eight Extraordinary Meridians are broken, but my dantian is not.”

“He must be a master of incredible medical skill.”

“Yes! He is a man who wouldn’t be lacking even if he were called Sin-ui.”

“Why isn’t such a person well-known?”

“Becoming famous isn’t always a good thing.”

“A grudge?”

“Yes!”

Pyo Wol didn’t ask any further.

Among those who lived in the Jianghu, there wasn’t a single person who wasn’t entangled in grudges with others.

A martial artist ultimately proves their existence through strength.

Since they had to project their martial power onto others, it was impossible not to create grudges.

The same went for physicians active in the Jianghu.

The physician Yoo Soo-hwan knew must have also been swept up in the grudges of the Jianghu.

Just then, a waiter approached with a tray of food.

“Enjoy your meal.”

The waiter glanced at Pyo Wol for a moment with a look of admiration, then hurried back to the kitchen.

Yoo Soo-hwan said,

“That boy seems to admire you, Great Hero Pyo.”

“There’s no way he’d admire an assassin…”

“Is there a need to define yourself as an assassin? Great Hero Pyo is a splendid martial artist in his own right…”

“…”

“Assassins, wanderers, they are all martial artists. That is what I believe.”

“How romantic. The people of Jianghu won’t see it as generously as you do. They are frighteningly obsessed with origins and divide people into classes. Once branded an assassin, one is forever an assassin.”

“Haha! I do have that tendency.”

Yoo Soo-hwan laughed good-naturedly.

Pyo Wol wondered if one would have such a face if they grew up receiving abundant love without a single wrinkle of hardship. But that was only his outward appearance.

Yoo Soo-hwan was a sharp sword hidden in a blunt scabbard. He was hiding his true self inside the scabbard of his smile.

The two began their meal.

After tasting a few bites of the food, Yoo Soo-hwan’s eyes widened.

“This is really delicious. The cook seems to be quite skilled.”

He even closed his eyes to savor the taste of the food.

He had thought his sense of taste had been completely ruined over the past few months, but tasting such delicious food seemed to bring it back to life.

On a whim, he poured himself a drink.

Knowing that Pyo Wol didn’t drink, he poured for himself alone.

Drinking alone was fine too.

The beautiful scenery, the blowing wind, and the delicious side dishes were enough.

“When I was at the Swordless Union, I didn’t know how to appreciate even greater pleasures than this… But now, this alone is enough.”

Yoo Soo-hwan muttered, swirling his cup.

A faint smile hung on Yoo Soo-hwan’s face as he looked down at his cup.

Suddenly, he raised his head and looked at Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol didn’t even glance at him, silently eating his food.

The way he slowly chewed his food looked as reverent as a monk or a Taoist master.

Yoo Soo-hwan knew that those who had reached the pinnacle of achievement in one field possessed such an aura.

‘Don’t define yourself as an assassin. You have already surpassed the limits of an assassin.’

The things Pyo Wol had shown in the pitch-black underground space over the past month were truly astonishing.

He hadn’t let a single one of the martial artists who followed him into the dark cave die.

That was truly a remarkable feat.

The martial artists had been driven to desperation, but their survival would have been impossible if Pyo Wol hadn’t looked after them, knowingly or not.

In the pitch-black darkness, the only thing they could rely on was Pyo Wol’s back. They had advanced step by step, following that strong back, and as a result, all of them had returned alive and well.

Now, they had each returned to their own sects.

No one knew how many of them would win the fight against the powerful figures who had sent them to the Jade of No Regret. But if even one of them became a victor, he would unconditionally lend his strength to Pyo Wol.

He himself was no different.

One wouldn’t feel this way towards a mere assassin.

It was because they had seen something more that they all said they would come running if Pyo Wol called.

Gurgle!

It was when Yoo Soo-hwan was refilling his cup.

“My god!”

“It’s a body.”

Suddenly, the customers in the inn shouted, looking at Poyang Lake.

Pyo Wol and Yoo Soo-hwan frowned.

Just as the people said, bodies were floating by.

Yoo Soo-hwan put down his cup and said,

“It seems we won’t be able to eat in peace.”

Pyo Wol also put down his chopsticks and nodded.

Their expressions were vivid, and their complexions were still maintained.

They were recently deceased bodies.

It meant a fight was happening nearby.

Just then, the faint sounds of clashing weapons and people’s shouts reached Pyo Wol’s ears.

“Die!”

“Hyaaat!”

“Stop them from getting on the boat.”

Pyo Wol looked in the direction of the shouts.

In the distance, a large boat was visible.

A dozen or so small boats had surrounded the large boat and were attacking it.

The martial artists on the small boats were desperately trying to board the large boat, while the martial artists on the large boat were swinging their weapons to knock them off.

The fight between the two groups was truly fierce.

The battle between those trying to board the boat at all costs and those trying to stop them was staining Poyang Lake red with blood.

“Kuaaack!”

“Aack!”

Martial artists who were trying to board the large boat were stabbed by spears or harpoons and fell into Poyang Lake.

Those with minor injuries thrashed about in the water, but those with fatal wounds sank beneath the surface in an instant.

The martial artists on the large boat were fewer in number, but they were defending well, using their relatively higher position and the advantage of long-range weapons.

Normally, at this point, the attackers would have felt the disadvantage and retreated. But the attackers on the small boats were different.

They were desperately boarding the large boat as if they were mortal enemies.

Seeing their comrades die around them, they seemed to become even more enraged, letting out monstrous screams.

“Fuck! Just let us get on the boat. We won’t let you off easy.”

“We’ll kill every last one of you.”

Their efforts were not in vain.

Eventually, some of them managed to get onto the deck of the boat. They fought against the martial artists of the large boat while waiting for their comrades to climb up.

While they fought tooth and nail to hold their ground, their comrades from the small boats successively climbed onto the deck of the large boat.

A martial artist who appeared to be the leader on the large boat swung his weapon and shouted,

“How dare vermin from the Blood Phantom Organization target the Jewon Merchant Group. We must never let them take the boat.”

“Fuck! Is the Jewon Merchant Group such a big deal?”

“Kill that bastard first!”

Their shouts reached Pyo Wol’s ears.

“The Jewon Merchant Group’s boat is being raided by the Blood Phantom Organization?”

Before Pyo Wol entered the Jade of No Regret, the Jewon Merchant Group had been hunting the Blood Phantom Organization like rats.

Because of that, the Blood Phantom Organization hadn’t dared to resist and had been hiding in the shadows. But something must have happened for them to crawl out into the open and raid a Jewon Merchant Group boat.

“Is this related to Jang Ho-yeon of the Righteous Sword Manor?”

There was only one way to find out.

Pyo Wol launched himself toward the boat.

Tat-tat-tat!

Watching Pyo Wol’s back as he kicked off the water’s surface and ran, Yoo Soo-hwan muttered,

“Poyang Lake is about to get redder.”

He picked up the cup he had set down.