Light Novel: Volume 16 Episode 10
Manhwa: N/A

Namgung Seol’s aura was very unique.

What was especially distinctive about her were her deeply sunken pupils. Despite her dazzling beauty, her eyes were so deeply set that it was impossible to discern what she was thinking.

It was a characteristic often seen in people with profound minds. 

Namgung Seol looked at Pyo-wol with her deep and intense eyes.

Her radiant beauty like a rose, combined with her deep gaze, was enough to bewitch anyone who saw her.

In fact, the guests sitting behind Pyo-wol were spellbound, deeply mesmerized, even though her gaze was not directed at them.

Namgung Seol stared at Pyo-wol for a long time.

He too looked into her eyes without saying a word.

It was Namgung Seol who averted her gaze first.

She looked down and opened her mouth,

“I’ve always wanted to see you. You’re the first person Wol has ever talked about so much, and now that I’ve seen you in person, I can see why.”

“I don’t think you came all the way here because you’re worried about your brother. What are you really here for?”

“Would you believe me if I told you that I came to see you?”

“……”

“It’s true. One of the reasons I came here was to see you.”

“And the other reason?”

“I’m sorry. It’s a private matter…”

Namgung Seol apologized with a slight smile.

“Hmm!”

“Wow!”

The men around her all let out a gasp at her smile.

Pyo-wol’s eyes, on the other hand, sank deeply.

‘She’s like a well.’

Namgung Seol, whether she intended to or not, had the ability to excite and mesmerize men with just her gaze and expression.

Pyo-wol stood up from his seat.

“Then, now that you’ve seen my face, I guess there’s nothing more for us to discuss.”

“Ah!”

At Pyo-wol’s sudden action, Namgung Seol showed a bewildered expression for the first time.

She did not expect him to act like this in front of her.

Having a pretty face was a big weapon.

To be able to mesmerize a man with a slight smile was an even greater weapon, and she knew exactly how to maximize the power of the weapons she had.

Most men would be swept off their feet by her beautiful looks, causing them to readily blurt out what they were thinking. Even if they didn’t go that far, they would still usually let down their guard. But Pyo-wol was unaffected by her beauty.

Namgung Seol wiped the smile off her face.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to test Master Pyo-wol.”

At her apology, Pyo-wol sat back down in his seat.

“So, what are you here for?”

“You. Master Pyo-wol himself.”

“Did you come to see and judge me for yourself?”

“You’re giving me a headache.”

“……”

“You’re too smart, and it’s burdensome to be near someone too smart.”

“I don’t think that’s for you to say.”

“Is that so?”

“Do you see me as an enemy? An ally? What’s your judgment?”

“I’m putting my judgment on hold.”

“On hold?”

“It doesn’t seem to be a matter for me to judge. You seem to be someone beyond my comprehension, Master Pyo-wol…”

“It seems to me that you’re planning to meet someone in Poyang Lake. Are you going to leave the judgment to him?”

“Ha!”

Namgung Seol let out a sigh with an irritated expression.

She had met countless people in her life, but she had never met someone like Pyo-wol who could get to the heart of things with just a few words of conversation.

He was a tricky adversary to deal with.

Especially to someone like her, who hid her deepest thoughts behind a glamorous appearance. 

Namgung Seol looked directly at Pyo-wol and said,

“If I were an anti-hero, who wanted to take over Jianghu, the first person I would kill would be Master Pyo-wol. Master Pyo-wol is someone who is a pain in the ass in many ways.”

“Is your man also aiming to take over Jianghu?”

“No way– ah!”

Namgung Seol answered thoughtlessly, but she soon realized her mistake and glared at Pyo-wol.

“How did you know that I have a man?”

“The clothes and jewelry you’re currently wearing. They’re all too fancy for everyday use. I don’t think a level-headed woman like you would dress like that to show off. There’s only one reason a woman would dress up so extravagantly.”

“And that’s a man?”

“Am I not right?”

“I think you’d be better suited as a fortune-teller than a martial artist.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“A compliment, indeed. Anyway, I have a favor to ask.”

“……”

“Please don’t take advantage of Wol. He’s a good kid, full of determination, and if he keeps growing like this, he’s going to be a big figure in Jianghu.”

“I have a favor to ask of you too.” 

“What is it?”

“I’d like you to stop interfering in his life.”

“……”

“He’s doing well as it is now. I’m worried that your excessive attention could be toxic to him.”

“Hmph! You don’t let anything slide, do you? Fine. I won’t say anything unnecessary anymore.”

In the end, Namgung Seol had enough and surrendered.

But there was one thing she had certainly figured out.

‘He’s excellent in martial arts, but his mind is what I need to be more wary of.’

She was not afraid of a man with strong martial arts skills, instead, she was wary of those with strong minds. But above all, she was afraid of those who possessed both strong martial arts skills and deep minds.

Such as the case with Pyo-wol. 

As she looked at him, her eyes grew more and more wary.

“What are you doing here?”

Suddenly, someone with a sweet voice approached Pyo-wol’s side.

For a moment, a puzzled expression crossed Namgung Seol’s face.

Because the person who naturally sat next to Pyo-wol was a woman.

An ordinary-looking woman who possessed an uncanny beauty that was impossible to look away from. It was none other than Hong Ye-seol.

Hong Ye-seol snugly nestled next to Pyo-wol and looked at Namgung Seol.

“Oh my! You have a guest.”

Hong Ye-seol hummed as if she had just noticed.

Namgung Seol could read the strong vigilance and jealousy in Hong Ye-seol’s eyes. So she immediately understood what kind of feelings Hong Ye-seol had for Pyo-wol.

There was only one reason a woman would show such strong feelings of wariness and jealousy towards another woman.

It’s when she doesn’t want her man to be taken away from her. 

It was clear that Hong Ye-seol saw Namgung Seol as a potential rival.

Namgung Seol stared straight at Hong Ye-seol. Hong Ye-seol also glared back at Namgung Seol. 

Sparks seemed to fly between the two women.

Namgung Seol then said with a calm expression,

“My name is Namgung Seol. And you are?”

“Ah! So you’re Lady Namgung, I’m Hong Ye-seol.”

“Lady Hong, I see.”

“But what brings Lady Namgung here? Do you have some kind of business with this guy?”

“My business is done, I should get going.”

“Oh my, what a shame. I’d like to talk to Lady Namgung more.”

“Perhaps there will be another time. Well then…”

Namgung Seol smiled softly and stood up from her seat.

She cupped her fist before Pyo-wol and Hong Ye-seol and then walked out.

As soon as Namgung Seol’s figure completely disappeared, the smile on Hong Ye-seol’s face also vanished.

“That fox-like thing…”

“Do you know her well?”

“How could I not know the Thousand-Year-Old Fox of the Heavenly Guardian Association?”

“The Thousand-Year-Old Fox?”1

“Didn’t you know? It’s her nickname. Ah! You must have been too distracted by her face that you didn’t recognize her.”

There was a hint of anger in Hong Ye-seol’s eyes as she glared at Pyo-wol. 

Even Hong Ye-seol herself thought that what she said was ridiculous, but the emotion she was feeling right now was clearly jealousy.

She knew that Pyo-wol had many women.

It was only natural for a man with his good looks to have many women following him. After all, she was one of those women who had been drawn to him.

But she thought she was different from other women. Unlike the other women who blindly fell for him, she believed she was using Pyo-wol.

She thought that no matter how many women Pyo-wol had, she wouldn’t be jealous. However, when she saw Pyo-wol in front of her, conversing with another woman, her anger surged to the ends of her hair.

So she broke the taboo and revealed herself in front of others.

Even at this moment, her heart was beating much harder than usual, and her face was flushed red.

Whether he knew that fact or not, Pyo-wol spoke, 

“Tell me more about Namgung Seol.”

“Are you interested in her?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it!”

For a moment, Hong Ye-seol couldn’t hold back her anger and nearly exploded. But the moment she saw Pyo-wol’s coldly settled eyes, her anger subsided as if it was a lie.

The look in his eyes was not the look of someone interested in the opposite sex.

“Hoo!”

With a faint sigh, Hong Ye-seol’s reason returned.

Calming her wildly beating heart, she opened her mouth, 

“She is the second and only girl among the three children of the Heavenly Guardian Association’s leader, Namgung Yugum.  She has been famous for her beautiful appearance from a young age, but what made her even more special was her deep mind. It was said that her thinking was different from a young age, and as she grew older, she turned her gaze away from the Heavenly Guardian Association. Perhaps she thinks she has little chance of inheriting the Heavenly Guardian Association because of her elder brother, Namgung Jin. In any case, she spends half a year outside the association, and no one knows where she stays during that time, not even her own flesh and blood.”

“How fascinating.”

“That’s why we, the Hundred Wraith Union, have been watching her with interest, but we’ve learned nothing, which is proof that she’s careful enough to keep her movements under wraps.”

“Such a careful woman wouldn’t have come to Lake Poyang without any reason. Things are getting more complicated.”

“How about leaving this place?”

“Are you talking to me?”

“Yes!”

“Why should I?”

“I’m saying this for your own good. People of our kind are okay with being used and abandoned by others. You know, right? How much contempt is shown towards assassins and how convenient assassins are to use as someone’s scapegoats or justifications. You’re too exposed.”

He may not realize it, but many people are watching his every move.

In fact, there are some people in the inn who have been paying close attention to the conversation between Pyo-wol and Hong Ye-seol. They were trying not to give themselves away, but they have been straining their ears, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation between the two.

However, to their dismay, it was clear that Pyo-wol had drawn an invisible barrier to block their voices from reaching the outside world.

Pyo-wol looked around inside the inn and said,

“Being exposed isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like this, everyone comes and finds me all on their own.”

“……”

“Even you came here on your own.”

“Are you saying that you’re exposing yourself on purpose?”

“No, I’m just saying.”

“Ha! You’re really unfathomable. You are–”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It’s indeed a compliment because you’re the only one who I can’t guess what’s on their mind.” 

Hong Ye-seol sighed heavily.

Pyo-wol stared intently at Hong Ye-seol’s face. At this, Hong Ye-seol’s face turned red.

“W, What is it?”

“I was wondering if you’re ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“Be careful. As you said, people like us are the perfect scapegoats.”

“Are you worried about me right now?”

“Yes.”

“Wow! That makes me so happy!”

Hong Ye-seol looked exaggeratedly pleased.

Seeing her reaction, Pyo-wol was sure that his guess was right.

Her target was a big shot. A figure good enough to serve as someone’s justification.

It was clear that Hong Ye-seol also felt the pressure, as she reacted exaggeratedly to Pyo-wol’s uncharacteristic words.

‘The lake will be dyed with blood.’

In Pyo-wol’s eyes, he could already see Poyang Lake dyed red with blood.

The winds of war have already begun.

Just as it’s impossible for humans to stop the blowing wind, it was also impossible to artificially halt the tumultuous times.

Once the fierce current begins, it will not stop until everything is destroyed.

In the midst of this, the fate of each individual is no different from that of an ant facing a flood. They will be swept away in an instant without a chance to respond.

To survive the turbulent times, it is not enough for a person to just brace themselves.

They need to read the tides and respond wisely.

Although often equated, the words wisdom and cleverness are two different things.

A cunning and clever person lives for immediate gain in front of them, but a wise person moves by looking far into the future. 

Pyo-wol hoped that Hong Ye-seol had such wisdom.

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