Chapter 444

The man and woman wearing bamboo hats flinched.

Their agitation was very slight, but Pyo Wol did not miss even such a subtle reaction.

The man, his gaze fixed on Pyo Wol, said to Ma Wonik.

“The Buddhist scriptures?”

“We’ve secured them.”

“If you run from here, there will be people waiting for you. Follow them.”

“Yes? Ah, thank you.”

Ma Wonik hurriedly expressed his thanks. But the man still didn’t even glance at him.

His gaze and all his senses were open towards Pyo Wol.

He knew Pyo Wol better than anyone.

Not a single moment of carelessness was permissible.

The moment his attention was diverted, even for an instant, Pyo Wol would strike like a venomous snake. Once he was allowed an opening, it was over.

The moment a viper’s fangs sink into your body, any resistance becomes meaningless.

Ma Wonik and his daughter once again shouldered the scriptures and stood up.

The moment Pyo Wol’s gaze turned to them, this time the woman in the bamboo hat stepped forward to block his path.

Ma Wonik and his daughter gave them a Fist-Palm Salute and then fled in a hurry.

The sight of Ma Wonik escaping while limping on one foot was utterly pathetic.

If he pursued them now, he could easily catch them. But Pyo Wol could not.

Because the two people blocking the path of Ma Wonik and his daughter were by no means easy opponents.

Pyo Wol opened his mouth.

“How long are you going to hide your faces like that?”

“You speak as if you know us.”

The man retorted in a cold voice.

A faint smile appeared on Pyo Wol’s lips.

“That’s your problem.”

“What?”

“I know all about your sinister intentions, yet you delude yourself into thinking you’re hiding them well.”

“How dare you!”

“Song Cheonwoo!”

The man’s shoulders trembled for a moment.

Pyo Wol’s gaze shifted to the woman beside him.

“So Yeowol. It’s been a long time for all of us.”

“……”

“……”

At Pyo Wol’s words, the two fell silent for a moment.

The first to react was the woman.

She took off her bamboo hat. With that, a cascade of black hair flowed down, revealing her dazzling features.

Skin as white as if it had never seen a speck of sunlight, contrasting with her black eyes. And a disposition similar to Pyo Wol’s.

Only those who grew up in the same environment could possess such a similar disposition. In this world, there were only a few people with a disposition similar to Pyo Wol’s. One of them was the woman before him, So Yeowol.

Pyo Wol’s gaze turned to the man beside So Yeowol. The man then let out a faint sigh and removed his bamboo hat.

The man who revealed himself in the faint darkness was none other than Song Cheonwoo.

Song Cheonwoo asked.

“How did you know?”

“Are you that curious?”

“Just answer me. Pyo Wol!”

“You just stand out. No matter what face you wear, I can recognize you.”

“This bastard…”

“It seems you’re still licking So Yeowol’s ass. Seeing as you’re still sticking together.”

“How dare you!”

Just as Song Cheonwoo was about to erupt, So Yeowol raised a white hand and blocked his path. At that, Song Cheonwoo calmed his excitement and regained his usual cold expression.

At that sight, Pyo Wol felt a slight sense of disappointment.

His attempt to provoke Song Cheonwoo had been thwarted by So Yeowol.

So Yeowol opened her mouth for the first time.

“It’s been a while. I’ve been hearing news of you.”

“And yet you never once contacted me. I’m disappointed.”

“It’s not like we were on terms to contact each other, were we? Even in the underground cavern, we treated each other like strangers.”

So Yeowol hadn’t changed at all.

Only her appearance had matured; her way of speaking, her gaze, and even her unique, oppressive aura had not changed one bit.

It seemed that most men wouldn’t even be able to breathe properly in front of her.

“You seem surprised, don’t you? That we appeared.”

“To be honest, my head is a bit of a mess.”

“I bet. We’re in a mess because of you too. So let’s call it even.”

“Since when?”

“What?”

“I mean joining the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild. Did you join right after escaping Sichuan Province?”

“You seem confident that we belong to the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild.”

“Am I wrong?”

At Pyo Wol’s words, So Yeowol couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

It was because she felt he hadn’t changed at all.

Only his appearance had become more beautiful; he was no different from how he was in the underground cavern. His eyes that seemed to see through everything and his cynical tone. And his unique rebellious nature and a mind that exploited weaknesses like a snake.

Others might think Pyo Wol had become more vicious over time, but So Yeowol knew well that Pyo Wol had always been that kind of person.

Ordinary lies wouldn’t work on Pyo Wol.

No matter how perfectly fabricated, if there was even a slight crack, he would relentlessly find the truth.

That was the kind of person Pyo Wol was.

There was no need to make a fool of herself by telling a pointless lie.

“That’s right! Cheonwoo and I joined the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild.”

“Unexpected.”

“What is?”

“I thought you two would join the Hundred Wraith Union.”

“I can see why you’d think that. Since all we learned was the art of the Assassin. But nothing would change that way. Above all, I was originally a member of the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild.”

“Then why did you enter the underground cavern?”

“It seems my existence was a thorn in someone’s side. The fate of such people is obvious. Death or confinement…”

So Yeowol’s answer alone made the whole situation understandable.

“So you desperately survived and went back?”

“It’s thanks to you! If you hadn’t shaken the Celestial Net so much, it would have been impossible to escape Sichuan Province.”

So Yeowol wore a bewitching smile.

It was filled with enough allure to captivate any man. But Pyo Wol was not captivated by her smile.

He was the one in this world who knew So Yeowol’s true nature better than anyone.

He knew better than anyone that behind that beautiful smile hid a mind like a scorpion’s.

To be captivated by her smile would be to end up like a male praying mantis devoured by the female after mating.

With the exception of Song Cheonwoo, who stuck to her like a limb, no one could be an exception.

Pyo Wol asked.

“By any chance, was Shin-ok being on the Phantom Ship Fleet your doing?”

“Hoho! I think you overestimate me. The Nine Dragons Assassination Guild is not such an easy place. I can’t just put someone in because I want to. I found out later that Shin-ok was on the Phantom Ship Fleet.”

“So it has nothing to do with you two.”

“That’s right! A coincidence.”

“Shin-ok was in the same group, so why didn’t you contact him?”

“Hohoho! I told you. The Nine Dragons Assassination Guild is not such a lenient place. Even I can’t break the chain of command to approach him. If I had a little more time, I would have met him and caught up, but unfortunately, the opportunity vanished because of you.”

The one who killed Go Shin-ok was Pyo Wol.

If Pyo Wol hadn’t killed him, she would have met Go Shin-ok by now. If so, the future might have been different.

With Pyo Wol’s appearance, everything became twisted.

To be precise, as he intervened in the affairs of the Nine Dragons Assassination Guild, all their plans went awry.

So Yeowol and Song Cheonwoo appearing here was also not part of the plan.

When they heard that Ma Wonik and his daughter were being chased by Pyo Wol, they had no choice but to rush over.

Pyo Wol asked.

“Why are you after the Buddhist scriptures? Is a mere book made of paper so important that you would reveal yourselves?”

“The value of an object is determined by someone’s need for it.”

“So it’s important.”

“That’s right!”

Despite So Yeowol’s cool reply, Pyo Wol’s expression did not brighten. Because So Yeowol was still avoiding the core issue.

Pyo Wol said.

“I think you’ve stalled for enough time now, so will you step aside?”

“Why, we’ve met after so long. It would be a shame to part like this.”

“We weren’t that close, were we?”

“Oh my? Really? I thought we were. You must have thought differently. I’m disappointed.”

“Sorry to disappoint you.”

Though he said that, Pyo Wol’s expression was not the least bit apologetic. It was the same for So Yeowol and Song Cheonwoo.

They conversed as if they were old friends who had met after a long time, but they never once let down their guard against each other.

They knew each other better than anyone.

They knew that a single moment of carelessness could lead to death.

Pyo Wol had to get past the two of them, and the two of them had to stall for as long as possible to buy time for Ma Wonik and his daughter to escape.

So Yeowol suddenly said.

“Don’t you miss it?”

“What?”

“Those days.”

“The underground cavern? You’re insane.”

“I miss it sometimes. I don’t think I’ve ever lived as fiercely in my life as I did back then.”

“So you raised those children in the same way we were raised back then?”

“Oh my! You noticed? You really are amazing.”

So Yeowol’s eyes widened.

At that moment, Song Cheonwoo raised his hand. Then, black shadows shot up around them.

Figures, all wearing black masks.

While Pyo Wol was talking with So Yeowol, they had stealthily gathered and had now completely surrounded the area. At a glance, their numbers were well over a hundred.

A damp, musty smell emanated from them.

It was a very familiar smell to Pyo Wol.

It was the kind of smell that only those who had cultivated Poison Qi in a confined space, like himself or So Yeowol, could have. That was why he had guessed they were raised in the same way as him.

They were all wearing masks, so it was impossible to guess their age, let alone their faces. But he could tell that they were not that old.

Pyo Wol’s eyes turned grim.

“Why did you do it?”

“What?”

“You went through that hellish time too. You experienced how agonizing it is to survive in that place. So why did you make these children go through that experience?”

“Because it’s efficient. You have to admit what’s true. Thanks to that hellish experience, we became this strong. Do you think you could have instilled fear in people with the Alias of Reaper like you do now without that time? You probably would have died on the streets while wandering All Under Heaven as a beggar.”

The smile on So Yeowol’s lips deepened.

Raising children in a confined space like the underground cavern multiplies their Poison Qi. They become willing to do anything to survive, and they won’t hesitate to endure any hardship to complete a mission.

She had already verified its effectiveness herself.

There was no reason to refuse such an efficient method.

“In memory of the Bloody Shadows Guild that raised us, I named them Blood Ghost.” I hope you like it.”

“I like it.”

“I’m glad. Glad I didn’t disappoint you. You’ll be even less disappointed when you see their skills.”

“Yeowol! I don’t say this often, but I’ll promise you this much.”

“Oh my! My heart is fluttering. What are you promising?”

“I’ll make sure to kill you with as much pain as possible.”

“Really?”

So Yeowol’s eyes widened. But her expression was not at all frightened. On the contrary, the smile on her lips was full of ridicule.

She waved her hand and said.

“Hoho! I appreciate the sentiment, but I’ll pass. For now, have fun playing with these kids.”

Clang!

At that moment, a metallic sound erupted right in front of So Yeowol’s nose.

In front of her stood Song Cheonwoo with his sword drawn.

He had blocked the Silken Serpent Strong Energy that Pyo Wol had secretly fired with his sword. A distinct Sword Gang had already formed on Song Cheonwoo’s blade.

It was truly a superhuman sense.

Song Cheonwoo glared at Pyo Wol and said.

“I knew you’d do that. You cowardly bastard!”

“I was raised to be a coward, what’s so surprising?”

“Hmph!”

At Pyo Wol’s nonchalant reply, Song Cheonwoo snorted.

So Yeowol said with a smile.

“Well then, we’ll be going, so have fun with the kids. Bye!”

She disappeared, waving her hand.

Song Cheonwoo vanished along with her, protecting So Yeowol.

Pyo Wol did not follow them.

He couldn’t.

Because at that moment, the Blood Ghosts attacked without a sound.

Swoooosh!

A damp, musty tidal wave rushed towards him.