Chapter 386

Namgung Seol walked calmly.

Namgung Seol possessed a beauty so dazzling that she would stand out even in the middle of a vast crowd.

Countless men, captivated by her beauty, tried to approach her. But not a single one managed to get close.

This was because they were all intercepted by unidentified martial artists.

The Snow Flower Sword Squad.

It was a group formed by Namgung Seol’s followers.

They were captivated by Namgung Seol’s ideals and beauty, following her blindly. They were prepared to willingly leap into the fires of hell if she commanded it.

The Snow Flower Sword Squad disguised themselves as ordinary people to guard her. Though she seemed to be moving alone, they were positioned all around her, blocking the approach of suspicious individuals or those with lustful intentions.

“Keuk!”

“Aargh!”

Groans from men subdued by the Snow Flower Sword Squad could be heard from all over.

Namgung Seol walked on without giving them so much as a glance.

A man approached Namgung Seol’s side.

The man, with an ordinary face and sharp eyes, possessed an unusual aura. He exuded a ruthless atmosphere that seemed to chill one’s blood just by looking at him.

He was Anjisan, the Captain of the Snow Flower Sword Squad.

Anjisan was a master of the Swift Sword, and having fallen for Namgung Seol, he had declared himself her ardent follower.

Since he was the strongest among those who followed Namgung Seol, he naturally became the Captain of the Snow Flower Sword Squad.

Anjisan asked Namgung Seol.

“Are you alright?”

“About what?”

“You seem to be in a foul mood.”

“You’re right. I’m not feeling particularly good.”

“Did that man disturb you?”

“And if he did?”

“I will immediately……”

“I’m sorry, but he’s not someone Captain An can do anything about.”

In that moment, Anjisan’s face hardened.

His pride was wounded.

Namgung Seol looked at him and gave a cool smile.

“Why? Do you think I’m lying?”

“No, Miss.”

“Believe my words. He is the most dangerous man I have ever seen.”

“Is he… that much of a threat?”

“More than that. If you provoke him carelessly, things could get out of hand. So do not make contact with him without my permission.”

“Understood.”

“Instead, investigate the woman who was with him.”

“You mean that woman named Hong Ye-seol?”

“That’s right. For some reason, I have a bad feeling about her.”

“Understood. I will look into it.”

“Thank you.”

“Not at all. Please give us your command at any time. We are always ready to lay down our lives for Miss Namgung.”

Anjisan’s expression as he looked at Namgung Seol was one of utmost solemnity. Namgung Seol offered him a slight smile.

That alone was a sufficient reward for Anjisan.

He bowed his head to Namgung Seol and vanished.

Namgung Seol briefly gazed in the direction he had disappeared.

Anjisan was a capable man.

He was not just strong in martial arts but also skilled at gathering information, making him useful in many ways.

That was why Namgung Seol kept Anjisan as her trusted subordinate.

Namgung Seol began walking again.

She was headed for a small manor on the north side of Poyang Lake.

Though called small, it was as massive as three or four large mansions combined.

Martial artists stood guard at the manor’s entrance.

At Namgung Seol’s appearance, the martial artists raised their hands to stop her.

“Halt.”

Namgung Seol obediently stopped. A martial artist who appeared to be the leader approached her.

“This is not a place just anyone can enter. First, state your identity.”

“Namgung Seol.”

“Namgung?”

“I’m Namgung Wol’s older sister. Tell him I’m here.”

“Are you really the Young Master Namgung’s older sister?”

“I have no reason to lie. The truth will be revealed when Wol comes out, so just deliver the message.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Overwhelmed by Namgung Seol’s intimidating presence, the martial artist hurriedly ran inside.

A short while later, the martial artist appeared with Namgung Wol.

“Noona!”

Namgung Wol looked at Namgung Seol with a bewildered expression.

He had never expected Namgung Seol to come here.

“It’s been a while.”

“Noona, how did you get here?”

“Are you going to keep me standing outside?”

“No, let’s go inside first.”

Namgung Wol led Namgung Seol inside.

Upon entering the manor, Namgung Seol surveyed the interior with a sharp gaze.

Countless martial artists were visible.

Most of them were half-baked young martial artists.

They were full of passion, but everything about them still seemed clumsy.

This was the headquarters of the Silver Lotus Society.

Although they had united under the name of the Silver Lotus Society, most of the martial artists were still unaccustomed to this kind of organizational life. As a result, many things were crude and lacked cohesion.

But in Namgung Seol’s eyes, all of this felt like a treasure vault.

A place where gems, still just rough stones, were gathered—gems that could cast a brilliant light depending on how they were polished.

Namgung Seol’s gaze deepened as she looked around the manor’s interior.

Unaware of this, Namgung Wol guided Namgung Seol to his quarters.

“Sit! I only have tea to offer, is that okay?”

“It’s fine. I didn’t come here to get something to eat or drink.”

Namgung Seol replied as she sat down.

Namgung Wol personally put water on the brazier and prepared the tea.

Namgung Seol watched the entire scene without taking her eyes off him.

When he was finally ready to brew the tea, she spoke.

“You’ve gotten quite used to it.”

“To what?”

“I seem to recall you couldn’t even brew a proper cup of tea with your own hands before.”

“Did I?”

“As expected, a person has to play in the big leagues to grow.”

“Just for making a cup of tea…”

“I’m not talking about the tea.”

“The… Silver Lotus Society, you mean.”

“Yes. I never dreamed you would create an organization like the Silver Lotus Society.”

“I didn’t create it.”

“But you led the way. That’s what’s important.”

“Haaah!”

Namgung Wol stopped brewing the tea, let out a sigh, and sat down. He then looked straight at Namgung Seol.

“You didn’t come here just to see my face.”

“Your face? I saw it to death at the Thousand Water Society, so why would I see it again now?”

“True. You’re not the type to come without a reason.”

“For people like us, moving without a reason is the biggest waste of time there is.”

Namgung Wol’s expression hardened at Namgung Seol’s frosty reply.

She had been an outsider since they were young.

She never got involved in the internal affairs of the Thousand Water Society, instead building a world of her own.

Others called her peculiar, but Namgung Wol understood her.

He knew there were no opportunities for her within the Thousand Water Society.

Their older brother, Namgung Jin, had an immense lust for power, just like their father. He would not tolerate his siblings coveting even a fraction of his power.

Namgung Seol had known this from a young age and had given up any ambition of gaining something within the Thousand Water Society.

Since then, she had always wandered outside. But she didn’t give up what she could obtain from the Thousand Water Society either.

She took everything that was permitted to her within the society, such as martial arts, mind methods, and spirit medicine. Other than that, she always stayed outside.

Almost no one knew what she did with her life.

Perhaps their father, Namgung Yugeom, or Namgung Jin knew. No, they definitely knew. They just didn’t share that information with Namgung Wol.

They were extremely meticulous people. And Namgung Seol resembled them a great deal.

That was why Namgung Wol couldn’t relax even after seeing Namgung Seol for the first time in a long while.

“So, what brings you all the way to where your little brother is?”

“The Silver Lotus Society, was it? The group you initiated…”

“What about it?”

“Have you thought about handing over the Silver Lotus Society?”

“What are you talking about right now? Noona!”

“There’s no need to raise your voice. I’m making you a proposition. Whether you accept it or not is entirely your decision.”

At Namgung Seol’s cold words, Namgung Wol felt the blood in his entire body run cold.

It didn’t seem like a conversation that could possibly take place between blood relatives.

“So who am I supposed to hand it over to? To you? Or someone else?”

“You don’t need to know that. You just need to make a decision.”

“You’re really selfish, Noona. Even merchants in the marketplace don’t make deals so baselessly. A deal is predicated on both sides revealing their hands.”

“That’s in a typical case.”

“So you’re saying this isn’t a typical case?”

“The fact that I’ve stepped forward itself means it’s not a typical case.”

“Hoo! Still as selfish as ever.”

“Leave your emotions out of it. Involving unnecessary emotions in a deal will only be to your detriment.”

“I refuse.”

“I told you to leave your emotions out of it.”

“This is me leaving them out as much as possible.”

Namgung Wol answered bluntly. Namgung Seol stared intently at him.

The staring contest between the siblings continued for a long time.

Both of them had strong wills and were not people who would easily yield to others. All the more reason not to be the first to back down, even to a blood relative.

Namgung Seol stood up from her seat and said.

“Alright. Let’s talk again next time.”

“I already gave you my answer.”

“You’re not the Society Leader of the Silver Lotus Society, are you?”

“Then why did you even ask me?”

“I need to know your opinion to deal with this efficiently.”

“Just who are you working for that you’re so desperate?”

“Do I look like someone who works for anyone?”

“Or are you manipulating someone?”

“Wol! Your words are a bit harsh.”

“Not harsh at all. What’s harsh is you showing up out of the blue.”

Even at Namgung Wol’s words, Namgung Seol’s expression didn’t change one bit.

“In any case, think it over.”

“No matter how much time passes, my decision won’t change. The same goes for the Society Leader and the others.”

“We’ll see about that. I’m leaving. I’ll be staying at a nearby inn, so come find me anytime if you change your mind.”

Namgung Seol said her piece and left.

Namgung Wol was at a loss for words at her selfish behavior to the very end.

“Who is it? The one who’s moving that demoness…”

＊＊＊

When Pyo Wol opened his eyes, Hong Ye-seol was gone again.

As always, they had devoured each other fiercely. And when the night of indulgence passed, she would leave as if nothing had happened.

Hong Ye-seol craved Pyo Wol madly, and Pyo Wol faithfully responded to her desires.

She had been more passionate than usual.

Pyo Wol knew well what that meant.

“The day of execution is not far off.”

Pyo Wol got out of bed and put on his clothes.

He had an idea where Hong Ye-seol might be.

She was probably at that workshop Pyo Wol had visited. He might be able to meet her if he went there now. But Pyo Wol didn’t do that.

They were both adults.

They also had their own distinct domains.

To others, their lives might seem precarious, but they were living in their own way.

He couldn’t intervene when she hadn’t asked for help.

Just as Hong Ye-seol understood Pyo Wol, Pyo Wol also understood her life.

To interfere any more than this would be an insult to her life.

Pyo Wol turned his attention away from Hong Ye-seol.

Right now, he didn’t have enough time to even contemplate his own path.

Pyo Wol took out the Ghostly Rain and laid them on the floor.

When his mind was troubled, tending to his weapons was the best remedy.

Recently, his achievements with the Soul Restraining Thread and Silken Serpent Strong Energy had increased by a breakthrough, so he had less occasion to use the Ghostly Rain. Still, that didn’t change the fact that the Ghostly Rain was a good means of attack.

Pyo Wol began to meticulously wipe the Ghostly Rain with a dry cloth.