Chapter 92

Yoo Shinpoong’s Alias was Shadowless Hermit.

It was an Alias given to him because he was so elusive, appearing in the east one day and a thousand li away in the west the next.

Yoo Shinpoong wandered the Jianghu aimlessly, practicing Chivalry.

He could not stand injustice and would always try to help the weak. As a result, many people respected him and wished to befriend him.

Yoo Shinpoong never turned away anyone who approached him.

With his magnanimous personality and excellent character, those who had shared even a single drink with him considered him a true friend. That was why some people called Yoo Shinpoong the man with the most friends in All Under Heaven.

Yoo Shinpoong had one maternal niece, and that was Lee Soha.

Lee Soha’s Alias was Azure Swallow Fairy. The fact that Lee Soha, still so young, had an Alias meant she was a prodigy who boasted outstanding achievements.

Indeed, despite her young age, Lee Soha was one of the renowned prodigies in Jianghu.

The fact that she belonged to the Golden Sky Society, a gathering of several prodigies, showed just how great her martial talent was.

The Golden Sky Society was a private group formed a generation ago, initially started for the exchange between a few prodigies. But as time passed, its scale gradually expanded, and now it had grown to the point where all the prominent prodigies of Jianghu wished to join.

Lee Soha looked around the streets of Chengdu with eyes full of curiosity.

Although she had wandered Jianghu quite a bit since childhood, this was her first time entering Sichuan Province. So, everything she saw felt new and fascinating.

“You little rascal!”

Yoo Shinpoong smiled as he looked at his niece.

‘It’s understandable. Sichuan Province is so closed-off and remote that it’s hard to even visit once in a lifetime.’

It had been quite a while since he himself had come to Sichuan Province.

Unless there was a special reason, one didn’t usually come this far. It was the same now, but back when the Tang Clan was still strong, many people were even more reluctant to approach.

Just then, Lee Soha asked Yoo Shinpoong.

“Uncle! Where are we going? We’re not staying at an Inn again, are we?”

“How could that be? I have an acquaintance in Chengdu, so we can stay there.”

“You have an acquaintance in Chengdu too?”

Lee Soha’s eyes widened.

Finding the sight incredibly cute, Yoo Shinpoong let out a hearty laugh and replied.

“Haha! At the end of this street is the Nine Family Manor, and its Clan Head, the Great Hero Gu, is an acquaintance of your uncle. If I tell him I’m here, he won’t kick us out.”

“Then let’s hurry.”

Lee Soha took the lead as if things had worked out perfectly.

Yoo Shinpoong watched her back with a pleased expression.

‘I was right to bring her along.’

The reason Yoo Shinpoong, who preferred to travel alone, had insisted on bringing Lee Soha was to help her gain experience in Jianghu.

During the journey here, Lee Soha had many experiences, and those experiences would be of great help to her future development.

“Hm?”

A strange light appeared in Yoo Shinpoong’s eyes as he casually looked around.

Among the countless people, one man’s face stood out.

He was a man with skin as white as someone who had never seen the sun in his life, and his dark eyes were particularly impressive. Although a scarf covered the lower half of his face, making it impossible to see his true features, one could guess from the visible parts that he was incredibly handsome.

What was most impressive were his eyes.

His emotions were so completely shut off that even Yoo Shinpoong, who was an expert at reading people’s minds, did not dare to try and see through them.

Just as Yoo Shinpoong frowned and tried to get a better look, the man disappeared into the crowd.

‘Who was that?’

At that moment, Lee Soha, who was walking ahead, grabbed his hand and pulled.

“Uncle, what are you doing? You look like you’re in a daze…”

“Huh? It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

He shook his head and started walking again.

It didn’t take long to get to the Nine Family Manor.

Standing in front of the main gate, Yoo Shinpoong frowned deeply. For some reason, the atmosphere of the Nine Family Manor didn’t feel the same as before.

‘Did something happen?’

Yoo Shinpoong knocked on the main gate of the Nine Family Manor. A moment later, someone came out from inside.

A man who appeared to be in his mid-forties cautiously poked his head out and looked at Yoo Shinpoong and Lee Soha.

“Who might you be?”

“Is this the Nine Family Manor?”

“It is, but?”

The man’s face was full of vigilance as he answered. Thinking something was strange, Yoo Shinpoong asked again.

“Then Great Hero Gu Gayang must be inside. I am Yoo Shinpoong, who shared a friendship with Great Hero Gu long ago. If he is inside, could you please tell him that I have arrived?”

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

Thud!

The man closed the door and disappeared.

Lee Soha asked Yoo Shinpoong.

“Do you really know Great Hero Gu? Why is their reaction so lukewarm?”

“I know, right? It wasn’t such a gloomy place.”

Yoo Shinpoong scratched his head.

The Gu Gayang he knew was more magnanimous and affectionate than anyone. Like Yoo Shinpoong, he loved making friends, so the Nine Family Manor was always bustling with people.

He had never imagined the atmosphere of such a place could be so somber.

A moment later, the door opened again, and a gaunt middle-aged man came out.

Yoo Shinpoong was shocked to see the middle-aged man.

“My goodness, Great Hero Gu! Is that really you, Great Hero Gu?”

“Welcome, Great Hero Yu! It seems we haven’t seen each other in nearly ten years.”

“What on earth happened? How did you lose so much weight?”

“A lot has happened these past few months. Let’s not stand here, please come inside.”

“Let’s do that. Oh, and this is my niece, Lee Soha.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Lee.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Great Hero Gu! I’ve heard a lot about you from my uncle.”

Lee Soha greeted him politely. Gu Gayang smiled with satisfaction.

Gu Gayang led the two inside the Nine Family Manor.

The inside of the Nine Family Manor, usually bustling with many people, was not just quiet but desolate. And there were traces of destruction in various places around the pavilions.

Yoo Shinpoong could no longer hold back and asked.

“What in the world happened here? Great Hero Gu!”

“Actually, a few months ago, Chengdu was turned completely upside down.”

“What?”

“A single Martial Artist turned all of Chengdu on its head. Because of that, the Emei Sect and the Qingcheng Sect suffered great damage, and numerous Sects and martial arts academies closed their doors.”

“Something like that happened?”

“Everyone kept it quiet, so the story probably didn’t spread outside of Sichuan Province. Even if some people know, it would be an extremely small number.”

“Please tell me in detail. What happened?”

“At that time…”

Gu Gayang recounted the events of that day, searching his memory.

The day the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect clashed because of one Martial Artist, and numerous Sects joined in, turning Chengdu into an Asura Field.

Even ordinary people were swept up in the madness, becoming rioters and looting.

The Nine Family Manor also became a target for the rioters.

The rioters destroyed the main gate of the Nine Family Manor and came in, looting whatever they could get their hands on. Among the rioters were many who had been close friends with Gu Gayang.

The memory of that day made Gu Gayang lose his will to live.

Fortunately, thanks to the wealth stored in a vault that only he could open, he managed to maintain some of his fortune, but because of that incident, Gu Gayang no longer trusted people.

After hearing the whole story, Yoo Shinpoong let out a sigh.

“Hah! To think such a thing happened. I came to see you, Great Hero Gu, without knowing any of this. I am truly sorry.”

“Not at all. I may not trust other people, but I trust you, Great Hero Yu. In fact, I can’t tell you how reassuring it is to meet someone I can trust like this.”

“I am just grateful that you say so.”

“But what brings you here, Great Hero Yu? Did you perhaps come because of the incident that day?”

“I didn’t even know about it until I heard it from you today, Great Hero Gu, so there’s no way I came because of that. I came to Chengdu for another matter.”

“What is it?”

“My niece is supposed to meet someone here, so I came to act as her escort and guide.”

“May I ask who your niece is supposed to meet?”

“I’m sorry. It’s a bit early to say. But he will be entering Chengdu soon, so you will naturally find out.”

“Hoho! I’m really curious who is coming that would make Great Hero Yu act this way.”

Gu Gayang burst into a hearty laugh.

＊＊＊

Pyo Wol returned to the Inn.

“You’re back?”

The Inn owner recognized Pyo Wol and greeted him.

As the only long-term guest at the Inn, and knowing to some extent about Pyo Wol’s deeds, his attitude was extremely courteous.

Only Martial Artists knew that Pyo Wol was such a fearsome being; most people didn’t even know his face. But there were exceptions, and one of them was the Inn owner.

He had happened to be at the scene of the incident that day. Because of that, he remembered Pyo Wol’s face clearly.

He couldn’t describe how surprised he was when Pyo Wol first came to the Inn as a guest. He had even stayed up all night, worried that he might suffer some misfortune. But the Pyo Wol he experienced firsthand was not such a dangerous person.

He wasn’t particularly difficult, nor did he make unreasonable demands.

Just by looking at his appearance, one would never know he was the person who had committed such a tremendous act. But the Inn owner did not let his guard down.

It didn’t seem like Pyo Wol was the type to cause trouble first, but if he were to get angry, the owner had no confidence he could handle it.

For that reason, the Inn owner treated Pyo Wol with the utmost respect.

Fearing he might make a mistake, he didn’t let the Waiter come anywhere near and dealt with Pyo Wol himself.

“Will you just be having a meal today as well?”

“Mm.”

“We got some good fish in, so how about Shuizhu yu for dinner?”

“Good. Bring it.”

“Yes! Please wait just a moment.”

The Inn owner spoke politely and went to the kitchen.

Pyo Wol sat by the window and looked out at the street. It was his favorite spot in the Inn these days.

Pyo Wol watched the people coming and going on the street and thought.

‘What should I do from now on?’

He wasn’t staying in Chengdu for any particular purpose.

He had no desire to settle down here.

He was simply staying because he couldn’t think of what to do next.

It was easier when he had the goal of revenge.

Because he didn’t have to think about anything else.

Once he had his revenge, his goal disappeared.

He had been pondering it since he was at the Min River.

What he should do from now on.

How he should live.

But nothing came to mind.

His mind, which worked so well when learning Martial Arts, couldn’t think of anything, as if it had broken down.

It felt as if his head was completely empty.

Everything felt hollow.

That was why Pyo Wol was still in Chengdu.

But he couldn’t stay here forever.

He also thought it might be better to leave the familiar Sichuan Province and start anew.

Pyo Wol calmly organized his thoughts and waited for his food to arrive.

It was then that a boisterous voice was heard.

“Owner, come out!”

A small hunchback entered the Inn, loudly calling for the owner.

Clang!

The chains and iron ball at his waist collided, letting out a clear metallic sound.

The owner, who had gone to the kitchen, rushed out in fright.

“We-welcome. I am the owner of this Inn.”

“Give me seven of your best rooms.”

“W-we don’t have that many rooms right now.”

“What? There are barely any customers, and you’re telling me you don’t have any rooms left?”

“Well, there are some who have booked rooms and only come in at night.”

“Enough! I don’t care about your circumstances, so either kick out the other guests or pay extra to make the rooms available.”

“Oh, my lord. If I do that, I’ll be ruined. If you go just a little way over there, you’ll find a big Inn. Please try going there. It’s twice as big as ours, so they’ll have plenty of rooms.”

“What? Are you telling me to go to the trouble of moving? Do you want to die?”

As the hunchback glared, a menacing aura was unleashed.

The owner’s face, which took the full force of his aura, turned deathly pale.

The hunchback threatening the owner was none other than the Iron Hunchback.

There was no way a mere Inn owner could withstand the aura of the Iron Hunchback, one of the top Experts in Jianghu.

The Inn owner gasped for air as if he were about to pass out at any moment.

The Iron Hunchback grinned as he looked at the Inn owner’s face.

The customers whispered as they looked at the Iron Hunchback. At that, the Iron Hunchback roared.

“What are you whispering about, you bastards! You cowards who don’t even have the guts to fight always whisper behind people’s backs. What’s the use of being tall? You dickless bastards!”

He spewed curses without restraint.

The Iron Hunchback had lived his life as he pleased until now.

Born a hunchback, he had always suffered from an inferiority complex.

After learning Martial Arts, he used that inferiority complex as a driving force to achieve what he had today. But that didn’t mean his inferiority complex had completely disappeared.

The inferiority complex, like a thorn embedded in his heart, always provoked him, and so he became more ferocious.

No one could withstand his fierce gaze. He felt a thrill watching people turn their heads or bow them wherever his gaze landed.

But only one person did not avoid his gaze and met it head-on.

The moment he saw the man with skin as white as snow and a face more beautiful than a woman’s, his anger exploded.

“What are you looking at? Won’t you lower your eyes? Where do you think you’re staring, you unmanly bastard.”