Light Novel: Volume 16 Episode 2
Manhwa: N/A

Thud!

The ship docked at Poyang Lake pier.

The gangway was lowered and people got off the boat. Among them were Pyo-wol and Yu Suhwan.

Yu Suhwan looked around the pier and said,

“The atmosphere here is unusual.”

There were men who appeared to be martial artists around the pier.

They were keeping a close eye on the people getting off the boats. Anyone could tell that they were all observing the area.

One group was on the west side of the pier, the other on the east side.

At a glance, it was clear that they were from different factions.

They kept each other in check while never taking their eyes off the pier.

Suddenly, their gazes turned to Pyo-wol.

Because Pyo-wol did not bother to hide his identity, they were able to recognize him instantly.

‘Pyo-wol?’

‘The Reaper has returned!’

Their pupils trembled as they looked at Pyo-wol.

The men on the west side hastily left the pier, while the men on the east side approached Pyo-wol.

They asked cautiously,

“Are you Master Pyo?”

“So what if I am?”

“Ah! We are martial artists from the Silver Lotus Society.”1

“Silver Lotus Society?”

“In case you didn’t know, it’s the official name for the Anti-Golden Heaven Society.”

Even though they are fighting against the Golden Heaven Society, it would be unreasonable for them to keep using the name Anti-Golden Heaven Society.

The word ‘Anti-’ itself had a negative connotation, and it was not suitable to be placed in front of a faction’s name. Hence, they adopted the new name, Silver Lotus Society.

“Who became the leader?”

“Yong Hasang has become the leader.”

“Yong Hasang?”

Pyo-wol thought it was unexpected.

Anyone could see that the center of the Silver Lotus Society was Namgung Wol. But, Pyo-wol soon understood.

‘So he put Yong Hasang at the forefront, while he will work behind the scenes.’

Pyo-wol thought it was not a bad strategy.

Each person had a role to play.

Considering Namgung Wol’s temperament, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for him to be the one orchestrating the whole thing from the shadows.

“Master Namgung has been eagerly awaiting your return, Master Pyo. If you don’t mind, why don’t you go with us to meet with Master Namgung?”

“I would like to rest for now.”

“Then?”

“Tell him to come to the inn where I’m staying if he wants to talk.”

“Understood. I will deliver your message.”

Despite being refused to go with him to see Namgung Wol, the martial artist didn’t seem offended at all.

It was a testament to how much of a big shot Pyo-wol was.

The martial artists ran off to report to Namgung Wol.

Pyo-wol, along with Yu Suhwan, returned to the Southern Heaven Pavilion, the inn Pyo-wol had previously stayed at.

“Oh my! How long has it been?”

The innkeeper recognized Pyo-wol and rushed out.

“And my horse?”

“It’s doing well. We’ve been taking good care of it, so don’t worry.”

Normally, if the horse’s owner didn’t show up for more than a month, the horse would be sold to someone else. However, the innkeeper didn’t dare to entertain such thoughts.

It was not just anyone’s horse, it was Pyo-wol’s horse.

Selling his horse without permission and dealing with the consequences when Pyo-wol returned was something the innkeeper couldn’t bear, so the innkeeper could only take care of it with the utmost devotion.

“Just give me two rooms.”

“Do you want the room you stayed in before and the one next to it?”

“Yes, do that.”

“Understood. What about your meals?”

“Prepare it now. We’ll eat before going in.”

“Okay, please wait a moment. I’ll have it ready in no time.”

The innkeeper hurried to the kitchen.

Pyo-wol and Yu Suhwan took a seat by the window.

This was Pyo-wol’s favorite spot.

Yu Suhwan looked out the window at the scenery of Poyang Lake and said, 

“What a beautiful place. It holds a different kind of beauty from the sea I used to see at the Martial Sword Alliance.”

“Come to think of it, the Martial Sword Alliance was also by the sea.”

“Yes! It is located in Hainan Province, to be exact. The mix of white sandy beaches and the vast blue sea… it’s so beautiful, words can’t do it justice.”

“I bet you can’t wait to go back.”

“Yes, I wish I could go back right away, but my body is in such a state that I can’t…”

Yu Suhwan smiled self-deprecatingly.

He was currently unable to practice martial arts.

Having trained since he was young and lived his life as a martial artist, losing his martial skills brought an indescribable sense of loss. However, Yu Suhwan thought this kind of feeling wasn’t all bad.

Ordinary people also lived like this.

There were many people who lived just fine without martial arts. If he was frustrated because he temporarily couldn’t utilize martial arts, he would feel too sorry for ordinary people.

“Is it possible for you to recover? You said that no ordinary doctors can treat your body.”

“As I said before, there’s someone I know who can. If it’s him, he will surely be able to fix it. After all, it’s just my meridians being broken, and not my dantian.”

“He must be a man of great medical skill.”

“Yes. To the point that it wouldn’t be an overstatement to call his skills god-like.” 

“Why isn’t such a person well-known then?”

“Because being famous is not necessarily a good thing.”

“Is it a matter of gratitude and resentment?”2

“Yes!”

Pyo-wol didn’t ask any more questions.

Among those living in Jianghu, not a single one was free from the tangled web of gratitude and resentment with others.

After all, a martial artist ultimately proves their existence through strength.

If someone have the capability to project their power to others, there’s no way they won’t end up receiving someone else’s grievances. 

The same was true for the physicians active in Jianghu.

The doctor that Yu Suhwan knew was evidently swept up in the gratitude and resentment of Jianghu.

At that moment, the inn servant came with a tray of food.

“Enjoy your meal.”

The inn servant briefly looked at Pyo-wol with admiring eyes before quickly running back to the kitchen.

Yu Suhwan said,

“That kid seems to admire Master Pyo-wol.”

“How could he admire an assassin–”

“Do you really need to define yourself as an assassin? Master Pyo-wol is a great martial artist in his own right.”

“……”

“Assassins, mercenaries, they’re all martial artists. That’s how I see it.”

“How romantic. But, people of Jianghu are not as forgiving as you are. They’re frighteningly obsessed with origins to the extent that is how they define a person’s rank. Once a person is labeled as an assassin, they will always be an assassin.”

“Haha! I do tend to be like that.”

Yu Suhwan gave a good-natured laugh.

His face looked as if it had been pampered with love and free from any wrinkles. But that was just how he appeared on the surface.

In truth, Yu Suhwan was a sharp sword hidden inside a thick sheath. His true self was concealed within the sheath of his laughter.

The two began to eat their meal.

After tasting a few bites, Yu Suhwan’s eyes widened.

“This is really delicious. The cook must be quite talented.”

Closing his eyes, he savored the taste of the food.

Over the past few months, he thought his sense of taste had completely deteriorated, but tasting this delicious food felt like coming back to life.

He poured himself a drink.

Knowing that Pyo-wol didn’t drink, he drank alone.

It was good to drink alone.

The beautiful scenery, the cool breeze, and the delicious side dishes were enough.

“When I was in the Martial Sword Alliance, I didn’t think I could be happy with just this much… But now, this alone is enough.”

Yu Suhwan mumbled, shaking his drink.

A faint smile appeared on his face as he stared into the glass with his eyes downcast.

Suddenly, he raised his head and looked at Pyo-wol.

Pyo-wol was eating his food in silence, not even paying attention to him.

His demeanor as he ate little by little made him look like a devout, similar to a monk or a Taoist.

Yu Suhwan knew that a person who had reached such an extreme level of achievement would have such an atmosphere.

‘Don’t define yourself as an assassin. You have already surpassed the limit of an assassin.’

What Pyo-wol showed in a lightless underground space for the past month had truly been remarkable. 

He hadn’t let a single one of the martial artists who had followed him into the dark cave die.

It was truly surprising.

Although the martial artists were clinging to evil, their survival would have been impossible if Pyo-wol hadn’t unknowingly taken care of them.

In the pitch-black darkness, the only thing they could rely on was Pyo-wol’s back. Following that strong back, they advanced one step at a time, and as a result, everyone was able to return safely.

Now they have returned to their respective factions.

No one knew how many of them would fight and win against the power that sent them to the Prison of No Return. But if even one of them becomes a winner, they will definitely and unconditionally lend their strength and support to Pyo-wol.

The same was true for Yu Suhwan. 

There was no way he would feel this way about a mere assassin.

They had seen something more in him, which was why they all promised that they would come running when he called.

Drip!

Just as Yu Suhwan was about to refill his glass,

“Goodness!”

“It’s a corpse!”

Suddenly, the guests in the inn yelled while looking at the lake.

Pyo-wol and Yu Suhwan frowned.

Just as the people said, corpses could be seen floating down on the lake.

Yu Suhwan put down his glass and said,

“It seems we can’t eat in peace after all.”

Pyo-wol also put down his chopsticks and nodded.

The expression on the corpse’s face was still lively and his complexion was still there.

It was a corpse that hadn’t been dead for long.

That meant that a fight was taking place nearby.

Then, the faint sounds of weapons clashing and people shouting reached Pyo-wol’s ears.

“He’s dead!”

“Yaah!”

“Don’t let them get on the boat!”

Pyo-wol looked in the direction where the screams were coming from.

A large boat was visible in the distance.

About a dozen smaller boats were surrounding and attacking the large boat.

The martial artists on the smaller boats were trying to board the large boat with fierce determination, and in turn, the martial artists on the larger boat were swinging their weapons to knock them off.

The fight between the two groups was intense.

Those who wanted to get on the boat at all costs, and those who wanted to stop them, were turning Poyang Lake red with blood.

“AHH!”

“Euack!”

Spears and harpoons pierced the bodies of those who tried to climb aboard the larger boat.

Those who suffered minor injuries floundered on the water’s surface, but those who were fatally wounded sank to the bottom instantly.

The martial artists on the larger boat were fewer in number, but they were defending well since they were using the high ground and the superiority of their long weapons to their adavantage.

Typically, by this point, the attackers would have felt at a disadvantage and retreated. However, these attackers on the small boats were different.

They boarded the larger boat as if they had the conviction of invincible warriors.

Watching their comrades die seemed to only fuel their rage, and they shouted out loud,

“Damn it! Just let us board the boat! We won’t leave you be!”

“We’ll kill them all!”

Their efforts were not in vain.

Eventually, some of them made it onto the deck of the boat. They fought against the martial artists on the larger boat while waiting for their comrades to climb up.

While they were holding on with all their strength, their comrades from the small boats began to make their way onto the larger boat.

A man who seemed to be in charge of the large boat swung his weapon and shouted,

“You scums of the Blood Ant Gang dare to target the Imperial Yuan Merchant Group! We would never let you take the boat!”

“Damn it! Do you think we’re afraid of the Imperial Yuan Merchant Group?”

“Kill that bastard first!”

Their shouts reached Pyo-wol’s ears.

“Is a boat of the Imperial Yuan Merchant Group being attacked by the Blood Ant Gang?”

Before Pyo-wol entered the Prison of No Return, the Imperial Yuan Merchant Group had been handling the Blood Ant Gang like they were insignificant.

Because of this, the Blood Ant Gang didn’t dare to resist and had been hiding in the shadows. But now, they had come out into the open and were attacking a boat of the Imperial Yuan Merchant Group.

“Does this have something to do with Jang Hoyeon of the Rain Sword Mountain Manor?”

There was only one way to find out.

Pyo-wol lunged towards the boat.

Ta-ta-ta-ta!

Watching Pyo-wol’s back as he dashed across the surface of the water, Yu Suhwan muttered,

“Poyang Lake will turn even redder.”

He picked up the cup of alcohol he had put down earlier.


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