Chapter 95

When he unwrapped the cloth, a pair of Wrist Guards was revealed.

Their form was simple, but one could tell just by looking that they were a highly perfected work.

Pyo Wol silently put on the Wrist Guards.

Lined with leather, the cold metallic sensation was not felt.

With the Wrist Guards on, Pyo Wol moved his arms this way and that.

There was no sense of foreignness or cumbersomeness. They felt as light as silk clothes, and it was easy to move in them.

Tang Sochu explained.

“They’re made of connected pieces of wrought iron, so they won’t be uncomfortable to move in. If you infuse them with Internal Energy, you should be able to easily block most weapons.”

“Well made. I like them!”

“Of course. I poured my heart and soul into making them.”

Seeing Pyo Wol’s satisfaction, Tang Sochu gave a slight smile.

The happiest moment for a craftsman was when his client was satisfied.

It was even better if that client was someone who could draw out more than one hundred percent of the potential of the work he had created.

Pyo Wol would surely be able to use the equipment he had poured his heart and soul into properly.

For Tang Sochu, that was satisfaction enough.

“Anything else you need?”

“Not for now.”

“Take this.”

Tang Sochu took a coiled Silver Thread from his robes and handed it to Pyo Wol.

“What’s this?”

“It’s what was left over after making the Wrist Guards. Its elasticity and strength are incredible, so I’m sure it will be useful.”

Pyo Wol accepted the Silver Thread.

Now that he could handle the Soul Restraining Thread, he didn’t particularly need the Silver Thread. But if he had such an item, a day would surely come when it would be useful.

Pyo Wol checked the strength and elasticity of the Silver Thread.

Just as Tang Sochu said, it seemed like he could put it to good use someday.

Tucking the Silver Thread into his robes, Pyo Wol said.

“Nice! I’ll use it well.”

“Then that’s that. I’ll be going now.”

“You’re leaving already?”

“There’s an unwelcome guest at my house. I’m going to check on how things turned out.”

“An unwelcome guest?”

“Something like that. I’m off.”

Tang Sochu gave Pyo Wol a slight smile and left the Inn.

Pyo Wol silently watched Tang Sochu’s back as he went out the door.

It was then.

“You seem to know him well?”

Along with an unfamiliar voice, a strong body odor stimulated Pyo Wol’s sense of smell.

Pyo Wol looked to see a woman with a slender figure and a sensual appearance smiling at him.

It was Yo Seol-yeong, a member of the Seven Stars Hall.

Beside her was the Iron Hunchback.

The Iron Hunchback was glaring at Pyo Wol with fierce eyes. But perhaps because of the previous day’s humiliation, he couldn’t easily provoke him and was visibly struggling to suppress his anger.

Yo Seol-yeong ignored the Iron Hunchback and sat across from Pyo Wol. Then, she rested her chin on her hand and gazed at Pyo Wol with a deep expression.

When she showed interest in Pyo Wol, the Iron Hunchback flared up.

“Yo Noona, why are you talking to a guy like that?”

“Shut it, you dwarf! What business is it of yours who I talk to?”

“B-But…”

“That’s enough, just be quiet.”

“Alright.”

At Yo Seol-yeong’s rebuke, the Iron Hunchback answered feebly.

In a way, the sight of the Iron Hunchback was even pitiful.

Anyone could see he had a one-sided crush on Yo Seol-yeong. On the other hand, Yo Seol-yeong showed no interest in the Iron Hunchback, to the point of completely ignoring him.

Once the Iron Hunchback was quiet, Yo Seol-yeong once again gave Pyo Wol a profound look.

“I’m sorry. For being so loud…”

“What is it?”

“My! You’re so impatient. A beauty like me is talking to you, and you’re going to be so blunt?”

“If you’re going to keep spouting nonsense, please move aside.”

“You have quite a prickly personality. But since you’re handsome, I’ll forgive you.”

“…”

“I looked into it, and you’re a truly incredible person. On behalf of this dwarf who failed to recognize such a great Expert, I apologize.”

Yo Seol-yeong revealed her white teeth and gave a slight smile.

It had already been several days since the Seven Stars Hall had entered Chengdu. It was more than enough time to find out about Pyo Wol.

Outside of Sichuan Province, Pyo Wol was practically unknown, but within Chengdu, he was a celebrity. It was just that the martial artists were reluctant to mention him out of fear.

But a sharp awl will always pierce through the pocket, and with a little effort, it wasn’t difficult to hear rumors about Pyo Wol.

“You don’t really believe such absurd rumors, do you?”

The Iron Hunchback flared up, calling them baseless rumors, but Sa Hyokyung, the leader of the Seven Stars Hall, thought the rumors were likely true to some extent.

This was because he had seen the fear etched on the faces of the martial artists he had spoken with.

Sa Hyokyung had warned his sworn brothers to be especially careful when dealing with Pyo Wol.

The Seven Stars Hall had entered Chengdu secretly to complete a request for someone, not to cause conflict.

It was unexpected that the Emei Sect and Qingcheng Sect had locked their doors and were refraining from outside activities, but on the other hand, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If they had been in their prime, it would have been impossible to operate so freely within Chengdu.

Yo Seol-yeong looked at Pyo Wol with eyes full of curiosity.

She couldn’t believe all the rumors, but even if only half of them were true, it was clear that Pyo Wol was a formidable Martial Artist.

Although he stood there looking shriveled, the Iron Hunchback was also a formidable Martial Artist. Pyo Wol had easily subdued such a man.

It proved that the rumors were, to some extent, true.

Yo Seol-yeong leaned her body close to Pyo Wol.

“Don’t mind what that dwarf says. He’s no help at all.”

“Are you any different?”

“Hoho! Are you joking? I’d be hurt if you treated me the same as that dwarf.”

Yo Seol-yeong let out a coquettish laugh.

Every time she laughed, her large breasts shook greatly, and the Iron Hunchback watched with an ecstatic expression.

Just from that look, one could tell how much the Iron Hunchback adored Yo Seol-yeong. Even though Yo Seol-yeong didn’t think of him as much as the dirt under her fingernails.

“If you want, I can let you experience for yourself how helpful I can be. What do you say?”

“That does sound interesting.”

“Hoho! You really know how to judge a person.”

Yo Seol-yeong’s smile deepened, and the Iron Hunchback’s expression became even more miserable.

‘How dare that pretty boy bastard try to… Yo Mae…’

The Iron Hunchback’s eyes, glaring at Pyo Wol, were filled with rage.

If looks could kill, the Iron Hunchback’s gaze was frightening enough to have killed Pyo Wol dozens of times over. But Pyo Wol paid no mind to his glare and asked Yo Seol-yeong.

“Why did you come to Chengdu?”

“We’re looking for someone.”

“Who?”

“Hoho! Do you want to hear our hall’s secrets? If you join our hall, I’ll tell you then.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Why? Don’t you like me?”

“I like you, but I feel like I’d get beaten to death by that guy if I got too close.”

Pyo Wol gestured toward the Iron Hunchback with his chin. At that, Yo Seol-yeong burst into a peal of coquettish laughter.

“Hoho! You’re afraid of that dwarf? What a funny joke.”

“You can think of it as a joke, but don’t bother me any further.”

“Why? Am I bothering you?”

“You are!”

“…”

As if she hadn’t expected Pyo Wol’s words, Yo Seol-yeong froze.

It was the first time she had been treated this way.

Every man tried to get on her good side somehow; not a single one had ever ignored her like this.

Pyo Wol stood up from his seat and said.

“I don’t know why you came to Chengdu, but stay quiet while you’re here. Don’t get me involved in any troublesome matters.”

“And if I say no?”

“Then you’ll find out. Why the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect ended up in that state.”

“…”

At Pyo Wol’s words, Yo Seol-yeong’s lips tightened.

Her face was filled with humiliation.

“How dare you speak such nonsense to Yo Mae.”

The Iron Hunchback flared up and tried to attack Pyo Wol. But Yo Seol-yeong raised her hand to stop him.

“Don’t act up, you idiot!”

“Yo Mae!”

“If you keep meddling in my affairs like this, I won’t go around with you anymore.”

“Al…right!”

The Iron Hunchback answered feebly.

As if she had never worn a humiliated expression, Yo Seol-yeong smiled brightly and looked at Pyo Wol.

“Alright. I’ll keep your words in mind. But know this one thing. This Yo Seol-yeong is by no means an easy person. The day will surely come when you kneel at my feet and beg for my affection.”

“If you’re done talking, get going. I want some quiet.”

“See you again next time.”

Yo Seol-yeong gave a seductive smile and rose from her seat.

When she left, the place became quiet.

Left alone, Pyo Wol muttered.

“Did she come to sound me out?”

Yo Seol-yeong had acted as if she was hurt by Pyo Wol, but Pyo Wol had seen through her pretense.

By showing her interest in Pyo Wol, Yo Seol-yeong was trying to block his intervention.

After all, no man would interfere in the affairs of a woman who showed interest in him. Especially if that woman was a beauty like Yo Seol-yeong.

In short, everything Yo Seol-yeong had shown was thoroughly calculated.

“They’re plotting something.”

A slight furrow appeared on Pyo Wol’s brow.

He wanted to avoid getting involved in useless matters if possible. So he maintained a strict bystander’s attitude toward things that didn’t concern him. But this time, he had a feeling he shouldn’t.

Pyo Wol knew that his premonitions were usually very accurate.

Especially when it came to matters related to himself, his premonitions were spot on.

Pyo Wol decided he needed to look into the Seven Stars Hall.

He knew a lot about the martial artists of Sichuan Province through the Capital Martial Artists Registry, but he knew nothing about martial artists from the outside.

Pyo Wol stood up from his seat.

Leaving the Inn, he walked toward the street stained red by lanterns.

“Hoho! You three over there, come here. I’ll treat you well.”

“Come this way. This Sohyang will send you to paradise.”

It was the red-light district, a place where the laughter of courtesans never ceased.

The red-light district was bustling with men.

Those with better means swaggered into the brothels, while those who were hard up haggled with the Steward in front of the brothels.

The red-light district was heated with the desires of men and the temptations of courtesans. But the moment Pyo Wol appeared on the street, the heated air cooled in an instant, as if by magic.

“What? That man…”

“Ah! Oh my goodness!”

At Pyo Wol’s inhumanly beautiful appearance, the courtesans leaning out of the windows stared, mesmerized.

“What? Where are you looking? You bitches.”

“Fuck! This is disgusting…”

The men, who had suddenly lost the courtesans’ attention to Pyo Wol, burst with frustration. But they couldn’t take their anger out on Pyo Wol.

They knew it too.

Just how deadly that beautiful man was.

In Chengdu, the existence known as Pyo Wol was fear itself.

Pyo Wol entered the Water Lotus Pavilion, the largest Brothel in the red-light district.

When Pyo Wol entered, the Water Lotus Pavilion was in an uproar.

Most of the courtesans fought to be allowed into Pyo Wol’s room, to the point where the Steward was sweating profusely.

There was another person sweating for a different reason.

It was the master of the Water Lotus Pavilion.

‘Why did he come here? Surely he didn’t come because he knows this is a branch of the Hao Clan, did he?’

Only a very few knew that the Water Lotus Pavilion was a branch of the Hao Clan. Especially in Chengdu, almost no one knew this fact. For the safety of the courtesans, only the local office was revealed, while the branch had been kept strictly hidden.

The master, thinking it was just a coincidence, called for a Courtesan named Chohyang.

Chohyang was the most popular Courtesan in the Water Lotus Pavilion these days. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also overflowing with charm, so any man who had a drink with her, one hundred out of one hundred, would fall head over heels for her.

She was also skilled in Music Chess Calligraphy Painting, making her worthy of being called the number one Courtesan of the Water Lotus Pavilion in name and reality.

Chohyang bowed her head to the master.

“You called for me, Master!”

“Have you heard that a man named Pyo Wol has come?”

“The whole Water Lotus Pavilion is buzzing because of him. Everyone is busy talking about him.”

“You will have to take care of that man.”

“Me? But I have another guest booked for this evening.”

“Pass that booking to another girl, and you focus on Pyo Wol. Find out his purpose, his future plans, his inner thoughts—even one more thing. That is your job for today.”

“I understand.”

Only then did Chohyang realize the gravity of the situation and nod her head.

“I’m counting on you, Chohyang!”

“Leave it to me. I’ll pull out every last secret he has hidden in his underwear.”

“Yes! I’m counting on you.”

“Don’t worry.”

Chohyang wore a confident expression.

Until now, not a single man who had fallen for her had maintained his sanity. They all floundered, wrapped in her skirts, and inadvertently spilled all their secrets.

“That man is as good as mine now.”