Chapter 426

Caw! Caaaw!

Dozens of crows flapped their wings, letting out unpleasant cries.

What the crows were pecking at were human corpses.

It wasn’t just one or two.

Dozens of bodies were strewn across the ground.

They had died not long ago, so the color of blood still remained on their faces. The crows were tearing at the flesh of such corpses.

Around the bodies, smashed carriages lay scattered.

On the roof of a carriage hung a flag with the words Dark Profound Escort Bureau written on it.

The Dark Profound Escort Bureau was an Escort Agency based in Yibin, in the southern part of Sichuan Province.

They mainly transported goods back and forth to the neighboring Yunnan Province.

Though small in scale, the Martial prowess of each individual Escort was formidable, and they had never once lost a shipment. For that reason, the Dark Profound Escort Bureau was highly trusted in the Yibin region. But now, most of the bodies here were those of the Dark Profound Escort Bureau’s Escorts.

Around the bodies of the Escorts, a group of people moved about restlessly.

“Hurry up and move the cargo.”

“This is all junk. There’s nothing valuable.”

“Damn it!”

What they were loading onto their carts was the cargo the Dark Profound Escort Bureau had been transporting.

They had raided the Dark Profound Escort Bureau, killed everyone, and were now plundering the goods.

They had attacked based on information that the Dark Profound Escort Bureau was transporting something quite valuable, but contrary to their expectations, it was filled with nothing but cheap goods.

There were one or two precious items mixed in, but they were things the group couldn’t sell. To dispose of these items, they would have to enter Chengdu, but the risk was too great.

“Ha! At this rate, we’ll be in the red again.”

Mi-bu, a woman in her early to mid-thirties, let out a sigh.

With a slightly venomous look, Mi-bu was the leader of the Bandits who had attacked the Dark Profound Escort Bureau.

A man in his early forties, Jang Han, approached Mi-bu’s side.

Jang Han was powerfully built with fierce eyes, giving him an intimidating appearance. But his attitude toward Mi-bu was exceedingly cautious.

“It seems we can’t profit any more in this area. Word must have spread, as the nearby Trading Companys and Escort Agencys are no longer transporting valuable goods along this road.”

“Hmph! Damn them for being so quick on the uptake.”

“What will you do?”

“What else? If the word is out, we’ll have to move to another place to do business. Find out who’s transporting valuable goods. We’ll pull off one big job and then lay low for a while.”

“Understood.”

Jang Han replied, bowing his head.

Mi-bu gazed at the place where the crows were having their feast.

Their jet-black feathers were stained with red blood.

Caw! Caaaw!

The crows, as if delighted by their long-awaited feast, flapped their wings incessantly.

“Quiet!”

Mi-bu waved her hand.

A small bell was tied to her wrist.

Tinkle!

As Mi-bu shook her wrist, the sound of the bell rang out.

Popopopop!

Instantly, the heads of the feasting crows exploded in a chain reaction. She had focused the sound waves solely on the crows to make their heads burst.

It was a truly terrifying Sound Art.

Mi-bu wore an irritated expression.

“What a pain this is.”

＊＊＊

The Great Pearl Trading Company’s journey was proceeding smoothly.

There were over twenty carts and more than thirty people. And then there were the Martial Artists from the Demon Sword Manor who had joined them later.

At the very least, the Bandits and the Green Forest Way based in Yunnan Province wouldn’t dare to think of robbing the Great Pearl Trading Company.

In Yunnan Province, messing with a Sect or Trading Company associated with the Demon Sword Manor was a suicidal act. Thanks to that, the Great Pearl Trading Company could travel comfortably until they left Yunnan.

In return, the Great Pearl Trading Company provided conveniences to the Demon Sword Manor’s Martial Artists.

Even when camping outdoors, they were given top priority to ensure their comfort. Thanks to this, the Demon Sword Manor’s Martial Artists were able to leave Yunnan much faster and more comfortably than if they had traveled on their own.

Seo Gun-hwi smiled with satisfaction.

Because of the sudden schedule, they hadn’t had time to prepare for a long journey. But by accompanying the Great Pearl Trading Company, they were able to prepare calmly.

Seo Gun-hwi suddenly looked back.

His younger sister, Seo Yul-hee, had now completely settled in at the rear of the Trading Company.

To be precise, she was sitting next to Do Yeon-san, chattering away.

It was a side of her he had never seen at the Demon Sword Manor. There was no one Seo Yul-hee’s age at the Demon Sword Manor.

Above all, Seo Yul-hee’s status was so high that no one could treat her casually. So, Seo Yul-hee was always alone.

He had felt sorry for his sister, but he also thought it was something a descendant of a prestigious martial family should naturally endure.

So he offered his sister no comfort and remained indifferent. In truth, he was too busy honing his own Martial Arts to have the capacity to care.

Seo Yul-hee’s smiling face was unfamiliar.

He was only now realizing she could be so talkative.

Do Yeon-san, on the other hand, only gave occasional answers and didn’t react much. Yet, Seo Yul-hee laughed as if she was happy.

‘That brat!’

Seo Gun-hwi’s eyes narrowed.

No matter how little he cared for his sister, he didn’t like seeing her chatting with a boy whose background he didn’t even know.

Normally, he would never have let it be, but the man who appeared to be the boy’s older brother weighed on his mind.

Because of his pretty, woman-like appearance, he looked like a pale-faced scholar, but his intuition whispered that was not the case.

‘Who in the world is he?’

A deep furrow formed between his brows.

It was at times like this that he felt the lack of information.

Being cooped up in Yunnan Province, far from the Jianghu, and on Mount Diancang at that, meant they were slow to receive outside information.

‘If the Demon Sword Manor is to expand its influence, we must first create an organization to gather information.’

His grandfather, Seo Jong-myung, was indifferent to external affairs.

He had no intention of making the Demon Sword Manor bigger at all. So he had all but neglected it.

Because of that, the Demon Sword Manor’s organizational structure was extremely loose. It was only because his father, Seo Mun, had reorganized it that it had grown to this size, but it was still lacking in many ways.

‘The battle between the Golden Sky Society and the Silver Lotus Society. I will see it with my own eyes and decide which side to take.’

Seo Gun-hwi believed he absolutely had to participate in this fight.

The history of the Jianghu was much like the history of war.

Once every few generations, a great war would break out, and the rise and fall of a Sect depended on the decisions made at that time.

The reason the five great sects that once ruled the Jianghu fell was that they failed to read the flow of the times.

Thus, the choice one makes determines whether a Sect will prosper or perish.

His grandfather, Seo Jong-myung, had no ambition for the Jianghu, but Seo Mun and Seo Gun-hwi were different.

They wanted to stand not on the periphery of the Jianghu, but at its center.

Seo Gun-hwi muttered.

‘He’s definitely an Expert. I don’t know to what level, but…’

He thought the man was at least at a similar level to himself. Otherwise, there was no way he wouldn’t be able to see through his opponent’s realm.

The head Escort, Ji Mu-hyung, asked cautiously.

“Is that man bothering you so much?”

“Do you happen to know anything about him?”

“Well, since we only hired him temporarily…”

“Still, you must have at least investigated his basic identity, no?”

“Well, it’s because his younger brother’s Martial Arts are so incredible…”

“His brother? To what extent?”

“He shattered a large boulder with a single palm strike.”

“At that level, he could be called a Pinnacle Realm Expert in the Jianghu.”

“From the perspective of a Trading Company like ours, we can only be grateful to have such an Expert join us on a long journey.”

The clash between the Golden Sky Society and the Silver Lotus Society was not just their problem.

The ripple effects of their conflict were spreading throughout the Jianghu.

All those with ambition were flocking to the shores of Poyang Lake, and because of that, a lack of security was emerging in various parts of the Jianghu.

When a Martial Artist who had commanded a certain region left his post, others appeared to covet his position.

Naturally, armed conflicts arose.

Thus, disputes broke out all over All Under Heaven, and taking advantage of the chaos, hordes of Bandits ran rampant.

Trading Companys like the Great Pearl Trading Company, which traveled long distances, became targets for Bandits.

If they hit one big score, they could secure enough wealth to live and play for several years.

Recently, many Trading Companys had been robbed by Bandits and the Green Forest.

Knowing this, the Great Pearl Trading Company had no choice but to strengthen its security, even hiring temporary Escorts.

That was also why they had hired Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san.

At Ji Mu-hyung’s explanation, Seo Gun-hwi nodded.

He understood the reason for adding the two men of uncertain identity to their group.

“In any case, we will keep a close watch to ensure he doesn’t do anything untoward to your sister.”

“There’s no need to go that far…”

“It’s not a difficult task, so you don’t need to feel burdened.”

“Then I’ll be in your care.”

“Yes! Leave it to me.”

Ji Mu-hyung replied, bowing his head deeply.

＊＊＊

Slither!

From between the collars of Pyo Wol’s clothes, Ghost Fang peeked its head out slightly.

While traveling with the Great Pearl Trading Company, Ghost Fang had settled in Pyo Wol’s embrace and had not shown itself.

After obtaining the Horned Dragon’s Inner Core, Ghost Fang had spent almost all its time in Pyo Wol’s arms. For Ghost Fang to reveal itself like this was extremely unusual.

Ghost Fang rested its head on Pyo Wol’s shoulder and enjoyed the warm sunlight. Its already red scales and horns shone even redder in the sunlight.

“Wow!”

Seo Yul-hee let out a gasp of admiration at the sight of Ghost Fang.

She had always thought snakes were creepy. But the moment she saw Ghost Fang, all her previous prejudices vanished.

The sight of Ghost Fang enjoying the sunlight felt both beautiful and mystical.

Without realizing it, Seo Yul-hee reached out her hand to touch Ghost Fang.

Just then, Do Yeon-san grabbed her hand.

“It’s better not to.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Ghost Fang doesn’t like being touched by others. The only one Ghost Fang allows is my brother.”

“Really?”

Seo Yul-hee’s face fell with disappointment. But she quickly gave up on touching Ghost Fang.

A thought suddenly struck her as strange.

Anyone could see that Ghost Fang was a Mystical Creature.

It was a well-known fact that a Mystical Creature would never follow just anyone.

There was only one conclusion.

It meant that Pyo Wol was a person great enough for a Mystical Creature to follow.

Seo Yul-hee whispered to Do Yeon-san.

“What kind of person is your Orabeoni?”

“What about him?”

“Just what kind of person is he that a Mystical Creature like that follows him?”

“Well…”

Do Yeon-san’s words trailed off.

He, too, was at a loss as to how to explain.

The one whom the Ghost King of All Under Heaven had trusted and relied on until the very end was Pyo Wol.

His greatness was hard for anyone who hadn’t experienced it firsthand to grasp.

“You’ll find out later.”

Do Yeon-san equivocated.

Although Seo Yul-hee looked at him with a questioning expression, he didn’t answer further.

Seo Yul-hee’s gaze turned back to Pyo Wol.

Swish!

At that moment, Ghost Fang began to play, coiling around Pyo Wol’s body.

Pyo Wol leaned his back against the luggage and indulged Ghost Fang’s whims.

At a glance, it looked as if a whip made of red jewels was winding around Pyo Wol’s body.

Seo Yul-hee watched, as if in a trance, as Pyo Wol and Ghost Fang shared a moment of connection.

It was then.

Dududu!

Suddenly, the ground rumbled.

Startled, Seo Yul-hee raised her head and saw a cloud of dust rising in the distance.

At the sudden commotion, Ghost Fang hid itself in Pyo Wol’s embrace.

Pyo Wol climbed to the top of the luggage loaded on a cart.

The dust cloud was approaching where they were.

The dust cloud was not a natural occurrence. It was being kicked up by about a hundred horsemen galloping at full speed.

The Martial Artists on the horses all held weapons in their hands.

There was no way people charging with weapons drawn had good intentions.

The head Escort, Ji Mu-hyung, shouted.

“It’s Bandits! Everyone, prepare for battle!”

“Yes!”

A look of tension appeared on the faces of the Great Pearl Trading Company’s Escorts.

In contrast, a cold smile appeared on Seo Gun-hwi’s lips.

“Excellent. I was getting bored anyway…”