Chapter 430

While the Great Pearl Trading Company stayed at the inn, the head Escort, Ji Mu-hyung, was busy without a moment’s rest.

He handed the Bandits over to the authorities to collect the reward money and sold the Bandits’ horses at the horse market. He also entrusted the injured to a Physician for treatment.

It took a full two days to handle all these matters.

In the meantime, Seo Gun-hwi’s party bid their farewells.

Originally, Seo Gun-hwi’s destination was Jiangxi, where conflict was brewing.

He had joined the Great Pearl Trading Company’s procession for convenience.

Now that he had a rough idea of the state of Jianghu, they bid farewell to the Great Pearl Trading Company. But everyone who knew, knew.

The reason they left was because of Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san.

It was clear they were trying to part ways earlier than planned because the two made them uncomfortable.

“Then we shall meet again next time.”

Seo Gun-hwi bid farewell to Pyo Wol with a Fist-Palm Salute.

“Mm!”

“I hope that when we next meet, it will be on better terms.”

“I hope you make a good choice as well. The wrong choice will make not only you but also your sister unhappy.”

“Thank you for the advice. I will keep it in mind.”

It was unknown what had happened overnight, but the look in Seo Gun-hwi’s eyes had deepened slightly.

After bidding farewell to Ji Mu-hyung, the head Escort of the Great Pearl Trading Company, he left the inn.

Seo Yul-hee looked at Do Yeon-san several times with a sense of regret. But Do Yeon-san, heartlessly, only said goodbye and did not ask her to stay.

It was nothing more than a small connection of a few days.

Not only were his feelings for Seo Yul-hee not that strong, but he knew better than anyone that they were not a good match.

After Seo Gun-hwi and the martial artists of the Demon Sword Manor left, the Great Pearl Trading Company also prepared to depart.

Having wasted two days because of the Bandits, their schedule was significantly delayed. They had to hurry to arrive in Chengdu by the promised time.

Arriving in Chengdu wasn’t the end of it.

They had to deliver the goods they brought and select the goods to take to Yunnan Province.

With a tight schedule, they had no choice but to rush.

One Shichen after the Demon Sword Manor martial artists left, the Great Pearl Trading Company also departed from the inn.

They decided to pick up the escorts who were injured and left with the Physician on their way back.

The reason Ji Mu-hyung was not anxious despite losing many escorts was Pyo Wol.

With Pyo Wol accompanying them, there was nothing to fear.

Ji Mu-hyung treated Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san with the utmost respect.

He gave them the best food and tried to give them special treatment. However, Pyo Wol refused all special privileges, saying that things were fine as they were.

“Then please accept at least this.”

Ji Mu-hyung held out a bundle of banknotes to Pyo Wol.

“What is this?”

“It’s the reward money from handing the Bandits over to the authorities and the payment from selling their horses. I’ve exchanged it for banknotes from the most reputable bank. Please accept this. If it weren’t for you, Great Hero Pyo, we would have lost not only our goods but our lives as well.”

It wasn’t a reward from the Great Pearl Trading Company, but banknotes from the disposal of the Bandits’ belongings. It seemed acceptable to take this much.

“I’ll put it to good use.”

Pyo Wol took the banknotes and put them in his robe.

One of the lessons he had learned while roaming Jianghu was that the more money one had, the better.

Jianghu was a place where, no matter how strong one’s martial arts were, a lack of money would make one subservient to others.

The reason martial artists went out of their way to become escorts for trading companies or wealthy families was to earn money. So there was no reason to refuse the banknotes being offered.

When Pyo Wol accepted the banknotes, Ji Mu-hyung inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

‘With this, I can maintain a thread of connection with him.’

While the connection with the Demon Sword Manor was important, a connection with a major figure like Pyo Wol was even more so.

A situation might arise where the mere fact of having a connection with him could save their lives.

Ji Mu-hyung, satisfied with his choice, commanded the trading company.

Perhaps because they had gotten their bad luck out of the way early, the rest of the journey was smooth.

Other than sleeping outdoors a few times, there were no problems whatsoever.

Thanks to this, the Great Pearl Trading Company was able to arrive in Chengdu within the scheduled time.

“Finally!”

A look of deep emotion appeared on the faces of Ji Mu-hyung and the escorts.

Just seeing the high city walls made them feel secure already. But it was too early to be relieved.

First, they had to pass through the city gate.

In front of the gate, people wanting to enter Chengdu were lined up in a long queue. One had to wait for their turn to enter.

The procedure for entering Chengdu was very strict.

Because of this, the entry process was bound to be slow.

Ji Mu-hyung led the trading company to the very back of the line.

It was an unavoidable choice if they wanted to enter Chengdu.

He tried to slip some Silver Taels to the officials guarding the gate, but he couldn’t find an opening at all.

It was then.

Suddenly, the face of an official looking toward the Great Pearl Trading Company turned deathly pale.

“Th-that?”

“What is it?”

When his colleague asked, the official pointed a finger at the rear of the Great Pearl Trading Company.

“R-Reaper?”

“What?”

“He has returned.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The Reaper has returned. Hurry up and open the gate!”

The official yelled at his colleague.

When his fellow officials still didn’t understand and fumbled, the official shouted again.

“If you don’t want to die, open the gate, you idiots!”

“Uh, uh?”

“Ah, I get it.”

Only then did his fellow officials sense the unusual atmosphere and open the gate.

The official who had given the order approached Pyo Wol and bowed his head.

“Great Hero Pyo!”

“Do you know me?”

“Is there any Martial Artist or official in Chengdu who does not know Great Hero Pyo?”

The official’s face clearly showed his fear as he answered.

The Blood Mist Pyo Wol had caused still remained a terror to the martial artists of Chengdu.

The major incident where the Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect were forced to become Closed-off by a single person was still talked about.

The martial artists and officials of Chengdu who had witnessed the Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect closing their doors held an extreme fear of Pyo Wol.

Knowing that getting on his bad side meant the end, they had desperately tried to memorize his features.

Recognizing Pyo Wol’s face was not difficult.

There was no other man with a face more beautiful than a woman’s.

Fortunately, the official had seen Pyo Wol from a distance before.

Thanks to that, he recognized him at a glance.

The official asked cautiously.

“Have you returned for good?”

“I’ll be staying here for a while.”

“I understand. We have caused you an inconvenience. Please, go inside.”

“These people are with me.”

“The Great Pearl Trading Company, you mean? I will remember that.”

The official replied with a determined expression.

He had to remember even the smallest detail related to Pyo Wol.

The official said to Ji Mu-hyung.

“Why didn’t you say you came with Great Hero Pyo?”

“Th-that is…”

“Please go inside. If any problems arise during your stay in Chengdu, please let us know. We will take care of everything for you…”

“Ah, yes! Thank you.”

Ji Mu-hyung was flustered by the official’s sudden kindness.

He had never imagined Pyo Wol’s standing in Chengdu would be this great.

Thanks to Pyo Wol, the Great Pearl Trading Company was able to pass through the city gate with ease.

As soon as Pyo Wol passed through the gate, he said.

“I suppose we must part ways now.”

“Thank you, Great Hero Pyo!”

“If fate allows, we shall meet again.”

“I hope you achieve everything you desire. Then, farewell.”

Ji Mu-hyung bid farewell to Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san left him behind and started walking.

“Whoa!”

Do Yeon-san, amazed by the sight of Chengdu for the first time, let out exclamations of wonder. Pyo Wol also slowly looked around.

It was his first time back in Chengdu in several years.

Many things had changed in the meantime.

Above all, the streets that had been destroyed due to the fight between Pyo Wol, the Emei Sect, and the Qingcheng Sect had been perfectly restored.

Judging by the vibrant faces of the people coming and going on the streets, the situation didn’t seem too bad.

Pyo Wol led Do Yeon-san and walked down New Heaven Road.

New Heaven Road, which was originally a slum, had now completely transformed into a High-Grade residential area. Ornate pavilions peeking over high walls, and massive gates that were overwhelming just to look at.

All the powerful people of Chengdu lived here. To protect them, many soldiers patrolled the area around New Heaven Road.

The safest street in Chengdu was New Heaven Road.

Pyo Wol finally arrived at his destination.

A large mansion with unusually red pines soaring over the wall.

It was the Red Pine Manor.

Pyo Wol knocked on the firmly shut gate of the Red Pine Manor.

A moment later, a middle-aged man opened the door slightly and cautiously peeked his head out.

Upon confirming Pyo Wol’s face, the middle-aged man’s eyes widened.

“It’s been a while, Go Chonggwan!”

At Pyo Wol’s greeting, the middle-aged man hurriedly bowed his head.

He was Go Chonggwan, the Steward who managed all the affairs of the Red Pine Manor.

Although he couldn’t speak because his tongue had been cut out, his face was filled with delight.

Go Chonggwan hurriedly rang a small bell hanging next to the gate.

Ding, ding, ding!

Not long after the bell’s sound echoed through the Red Pine Manor, two people came running from inside.

A male and a female.

They were a boy and a girl who looked a little older than Do Yeon-san.

The boy’s eyes were completely black, giving off an eerie feeling, and the girl, though her eyes lacked focus, was beautiful.

They were Guian and Eun-yo.

“Hyung!”

“Orabeoni!”

Guian and Eun-yo simultaneously threw themselves into Pyo Wol’s arms.

Both of their faces were filled with intense emotion.

After Pyo Wol and Soma left, the two of them had protected the Red Pine Manor and carved out their own domains.

Guian had created his own information network, and Eun-yo had completely seized control of Chengdu’s underworld.

Nothing that happened in Chengdu escaped the eyes of these two. They had become the undisputed rulers of the underworld. Yet, the two always felt a sense of emptiness.

Now, they thought they knew why.

It was because Pyo Wol was not there.

Though they were objects of fear to the people of Chengdu, Pyo Wol’s absence was hard to bear.

With his return, the two realized what they had been missing all this time.

Pyo Wol was the one person they could rely on mentally.

The mere fact that he was in the same space made them feel fulfilled.

Pyo Wol hugged the two of them tightly.

“Have you two been well?”

“Of course.”

“Yes!”

The two answered, hugging Pyo Wol back.

Pyo Wol soothed them for a moment before letting go. Then he introduced Do Yeon-san.

“This is Do Yeon-san. He’ll be living with us from today.”

“Nice to meet you! I’m Guian.”

“I’m Eun-yo. Let’s get along.”

The two welcomed Do Yeon-san warmly.

There was no wariness toward a stranger.

It was because the one who introduced Do Yeon-san was Pyo Wol.

Because Pyo Wol had introduced him, they trusted him completely without any doubt.

The same was true for Do Yeon-san.

“Nice to meet you. Hyung, Noona!”

In reality, Guian and Eun-yo were older than Do Yeon-san.

Eun-yo smiled brightly and said.

“I’ve gained a good little brother. This is great.”

“I know! Since my hyung and a new brother have come on the same day, we should have a banquet.”

Guian joked in a way he usually didn’t.

That was how happy he was.

Feeling like she had received an unexpected gift, Eun-yo urged him on.

“Let’s go inside, Orabeoni.”

“Alright!”

Pyo Wol stepped inside the Red Pine Manor.

The scenery inside the Red Pine Manor was so beautiful that he could feel how much effort Go Chonggwan had put into tending it. But what he liked more than its external appearance was the sense of stability.

The deep sense of stability and comfort he felt the moment he entered the Red Pine Manor.

It was a feeling he could never get anywhere else.

He wondered if this was what it felt like to return to his own home.

Do Yeon-san also liked the Red Pine Manor.

Seeing Guian and Eun-yo welcome him so genuinely, though they had never met before, his heart naturally opened up as well.

‘This is a good place.’

＊＊＊

At the same time, news of Pyo Wol’s return spread throughout Chengdu.

At the news of his return, all the powerful figures and martial artists of Chengdu held their breath.