Light Novel: Volume 22 Episode 14
Manhwa: N/A
Pyo-wol returned to the Sol Family Courtyard with Eunyo and Do Yeonsan.
Fortunately, Eunyo’s condition wasn’t too bad. It was thanks to the pill provided by the divine doctor.
Although the medicine didn’t heal her internal injuries completely at once, it improved her condition considerably. That alone was sufficient.
Eunyo went straight to the medical hall, while Do Yeonsan confined himself to the training grounds.
The incident served as his wake-up call. He realized that his martial arts were still lacking.
Do Yeonsan began his training with determination.
Pyo-wol considered this a positive development.
What Do Yeonsan had been lacking the most until now was precisely determination.
Having avenged his parents and sister, Do Yeonsan had little desire for anything else, and while meeting Eunyo had given him the strength to keep going and living, he hadn’t found any reason to become stronger beyond that.
He had trained because he wanted to make good use of the power the Ghost King had left him, but it was only because he wanted to make the most of what he had.
He had never thought about becoming stronger or unlocking power beyond what he possessed. But this incident changed his perspective.
Pyo-wol was willing to accept this change in Do Yeonsan, so he offered him a training hall.
Pyo-wol emerged as a sponsor. Then, the Elder Assassin approached cautiously and asked,
“Is Young Master Do okay?”
“He’ll be fine.”
That’s a relief. He’s a strong man.”
“Mmm!”
“By the way, may I ask one thing?”
“What do you want to know?”
“It’s about Lady Namgung.”
“You want to know the reason I just let her go?”
“Yes!”
The Elder Assassin answered honestly.
Namgung Seol was a very ambitious woman.
The fact that she wanted to somehow subjugate the Silver Lotus Society and give it to Lee Geumhan showed just how great her ambition was.
Leaving her alone would undoubtedly lead to a major incident. It was incomprehensible to leave such a dangerous element alone.
“It’s because of Lee Geumhan.”
“Are you afraid of him?”
“I’m not afraid of him. I just don’t want to turn him into an enemy at this time.”
“As expected…”
The Elder Assassin couldn’t help but give a look of admiration.
The clash between the Golden Heaven Society and the Silver Lotus Society alone was plunging Jianghu into deep chaos. If Lee Geumhan intervened, the confusion and turmoil would escalate even further.
If possible, Pyo-wol hoped that the Silver Lotus Society, where he knew many people, would emerge victorious in the Jianghu great war.
He thought that if they could gain dominance, the world would find a bit more stability.
It was destiny of assassin sects to thrive when the world was in turmoil.
The more chaotic the world was, the more clients and assignments would come in where they could make more money.
Living off the turmoil of war was in the nature of the assassin sects. However, with Pyo-wol becoming the Supreme Leader and subjugating the assassin guilds, their revenue streams were severely blocked.
They could survive and manage for a while, but as time went on, the flow of money would dry up and eventually die out.
This was a problem that would have to be solved by Pyo-wol, since he had agreed to become the Supreme Leader of the assassin sects.
The Elder Assassin was curious about how Pyo-wol would address this issue. But more than that, he was curious about Pyo-wol’s perspective.
Pyo-wol had unified all the assassin sects that had entered the vicinity of Poyang Lake.
Apart from the Hundred Wraith Union and a few other assassin guilds, most were just mediocre groups of assassins, but they were still a force to be reckoned with.
Just yesterday, they had quelled the disturbance in Duchang in one fell swoop, without a single casualty.
It wasn’t just an impressive display of force— it was a power that could contend for dominance over Poyang Lake.
While the assassin sects might not be able to take over the world, their support and allegiance to one side could definitely sway the course of events.
Pyo-wol’s actions the night before were a demonstration of force.
Now, the world would know.
That Pyo-wol has unified the assassin sects.
And those assassin sects had subdued all of the martial artists fighting in the city of Duchang without spilling a drop of blood.
Even though the warriors were busy and preoccupied fighting their own battles, subduing all of them without any injuries was a shockingly significant event.
Although it’s still quiet for now, the stories of the warriors who were subdued by the assassins of the recently unified assassin sects will spread. And everyone will come to know the true extent of the collective power of the assassin sects.
Through that single display of force, Pyo-wol has widely publicized the strength of himself and the unified assassin sects to the world.
From now on, the sects involved in the Jianghu great war will start to hesitate in rashly using assassin sects to eliminate their enemies.
This alone could slightly calm the storm of chaos and bloodshed sweeping through the world.
If Pyo-wol had not restrained his anger and had killed Namgung Seol yesterday, Lee Geumhan would have surely joined the great conflict without hesitation.
If the heir to one of the most powerful sects in the world, the Frenzied Warrior Sect, were to join the Jianghu great war, the chaos would have become uncontrollable.
Therefore, Pyo-wol restrained his anger and merely inflicted minor injuries on Namgung Seol.
He believed that should be enough for Lee Geumhan to owe him a favor.
Of course, whether the other party would accept it that way remained to be seen.
The Elder Assassin carefully asked,
“So, what are your plans moving forward? Will you just continue to stay in Sol Family Courtyard like this?”
“Hardly.”
“Then what will you do?”
“I’ll start with training the ragtag bunch.”
“Are you referring to the assassins you’ve taken in recently?”
“Everyone, including them.”
“Hmm!”
At Pyo-wol’s declaration, the Elder Assassin couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.
Even though all of the assassin sects gathered around Poyang Lake were united as one, there still existed a considerable gap in strength among them.
While the assassins from the Hundred Wraith Union, including the Ten Blood Assassins, possessed top-tier capabilities, the skills and martial arts of other assassins didn’t come close.
With the exception of a few assassins, most had learned their assassination techniques and martial arts in a haphazard manner.
It was primarily the assassins from the Hundred Wraith Union who had subdued the martial artists in Duchang the previous night.
In order for the unified assassin sects to start functioning properly, their skill and level had to be raised first.
Just like what So Yeowol and Song Cheonwoo had done.
Thinking of those two, Pyo-wol’s gaze turned cold.
Though they were hiding for now, it was clear they would intervene in Jianghu’s affairs in some way.
The current conflict in the martial world was the golden opportunity they had long been wanting and instigating.
A war of this magnitude was bound to bring in tremendous money, and the wealth they would earn here would be the nourishment that would expand their influence.
There was no way So Yeowol would pass up such a great opportunity.
At least the So Yeowol that Pyo-wol knew was someone who knew how to seize the opportunities that came her way.
In order to take on So Yeowol and the Kowloon Assassin Guild, Pyo-wol would first have to raise the skill level of the assassins he had unified.
To do so, he would have them undergo rigorous training.
The Elder Assassin cautiously said,
“I understand your intention, Supreme Leader, but it will take a lot of time. Do you have a plan in mind?”
Instead of answering, Pyo-wol smiled.
His chilling smile made the Elder Assassin involuntarily shudder.
* * *
The details of the incident that occurred last night spread rapidly.
It was such a shocking event.
The clash between the Snowflake Sword Squad and the Ten Thousand Sword Squad, along with the intervention of martial artists in Duchang had caused the situation to spiral out of control.
Their battle had devastated Duchang to the point where its former appearance was unrecognizable. Then the shocking news came was that it was the assassins who had put an end to the fight.
At first, no one believed it.
The story was too unbelievable to be true. However, the truth of the incident was revealed through the mouths of the martial artists who had jumped into the fray the previous day only to be subdued by the assassins.
“We were fighting fiercely when they approached us like cats and put a sword to our necks. Resist? Damn it! How could we resist in that situation? If you don’t want to die, you have to quietly be subdued.”
“They quietly dragged us to an open field in Duchang. They hadn’t said a word until then. I tried to ask their identity, but as soon as I tried to open my mouth, they threatened to stab me with their sword. What could I do? Just stay quiet.”
Those dragged to the field soon had their acupoints sealed.
The assassins abandoned them, unconscious, and went on to subdue other martial artists.
This series of actions continued throughout the night, until the clearing was filled with subdued martial artists.
There were no deaths, no injuries.
Resistance was impossible.
They couldn’t even detect the assassins’ approach.
For every one of them, there were three or four assassins to subdue.
Thus, the major disturbance that seemed set to consume the night in Duchang was quelled by the assassins.
At the center of it all was Pyo-wol.
The only time Pyo-wol showed himself was when he subdued Namgung Seol.
All of the Snowflake Sword Squad following Namgung Seol had been subdued by the Black Assassination Squad led by Pyo-wol.
While most of the Snowflake Sword Squad’s martial artists were dragged to the field, there were still those who remained subdued and witnessed Namgung Seol being humiliated by Pyo-wol.
They kept their mouths shut to protect Namgung Seol’s honor. But with the blow to their spirits being too great, they ended up resorting to alcohol. In their drunken stupor, they unwittingly spilled and blurted out everything.
Thus, the truth about last night spread widely among the people.
People were astonished.
As shocked as they were to know that it was the assassins who had intervened in the incident in Duchang, they were even more shocked to know that those assassins had all listened and followed Pyo-wol’s commands.
Many thought of Pyo-wol as a one-man army, a lone wolf.
He might be strong enough to be called Reaper, but he was not seen as someone with the interpersonal skills to lead a group.
That was what people thought of Pyo-wol’s identity.
That was why they would never have imagined that he would unify all of the assassin sects in Poyang Lake under his command.
The combination of Pyo-wol and assassin sects was the worst possible combination.
For the warriors who live making enemies in the world of Jianghu.
The people who were most shocked by this series of events were the martial artists of the Golden Heaven Society and SIlver Lotus Society.
Everything became clear then.
The reason why the assassin sects, who had gathered around Poyang Lake, had not been accepting their requests for some time.
And the reason why the assassin sects who had initially accepted their requests ended up cancelling it and paying the penalty fees.
An emergency was declared in both the Golden Heaven Society and the Silver Lotus Society.
Because it was a situation they had not anticipated at all.
At least the situation was better for the Silver Lotus Society.
This was because Namgung Wol, who wielded the greatest influence within the Silver Lotus Society, had a close friendship with Pyo-wol.
Even if the assassin sects didn’t accept commissions from the Silver Lotus Society, there was confidence that they would not be hostile, at least.
On the other hand, an emergency was declared in the Golden Heaven Society.
This was because everyone from Jang Mugeuk, the leader of the Golden Heaven Society, to the second-in-command, Dok Gohyang, was working against Pyo-wol.
The fact that assassin sects were not accepting commissions from the Golden Heaven Society was a significant loss from the start.
This made the Golden Heaven Society feel the need to completely revise their strategy.
They had to review all the efficient methods they had employed so far from scratch.
Because of this, the Golden Heaven Society was in turmoil.
“Could it be that the Reaper has even taken over the Hundred Wraith Union? After all, the Hundred Wraith Union is considered the number one assassin sect in the world—”
“It seems like he has already taken it over.”
“If the Reaper has indeed taken the Hundred Wraith Union under his control, it’s the worst possible situation.”
“That’s right! It’s like a tiger gaining wings.”
Jang Mugeuk frowned at the voices coming from outside.
Although he was skilled at controlling his emotions, this time he could not.
The psychological impact he had suffered was too great.
“Was he a tiger and not a wolf? I underestimated his capacity.”
“I apologize. It seems we have sent you the wrong information.”
There was a man apologizing to Jang Mugeuk.
He was a middle-aged man dressed in black robes.
The headdress on his head, the clothes he wore, and the staff he held were all pitch-black. His skin, on the other hand, was extremely pale, creating a stark contrast.
Jang Mugeuk looked at the middle-aged man with a deeply sunken gaze.
The middle-aged man was not one of his subordinates.
He was a trusted aide of his father, Jang Cheonhwa.
He was Wi Shin-ho, the first of the Black and White Supremes, which could be considered Jang Cheonhwa’s right and left hands.
Wi Shin-ho was not only highly skilled in martial arts but also had a profound understanding, earning Jang Cheonhwa’s trust.
Not only did he have tremendous authority, capable of handling considerable matters without Jang Cheonhwa’s permission, he had never once disappointed Jang Cheonhwa.
Wi Shin-ho gently nudged his staff and said,
“If the young master is concerned, we can take care of it ourselves.”
“No need.”
“Is there any reason for you to go the harder route?”
“I have achieved everything on my own until now. I have no intention of tarnishing my record by relying on the old master’s help at this point.”
“If that is truly your intention, young master, then I will not insist any further. Just be cautious.”
“Why? Do you think I’ll be bested by him?”
“That’s not it, but—”
“Then that’s enough. Leave now, before others see…”
“Understood.”
Wi Shin-ho bowed his head.
His lips twitched slightly.
‘Demon Eye Seo Woo-il has died.’
He wanted to say those words before he left, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them to Jang Mugeuk.
If he were to disclose Seo Woo-il’s death then he would have to reveal the fact that he had secretly been looking after Jang Mugeuk.
Jang Mugeuk, with his strong pride, detested receiving such help.
‘I’m sure he’ll manage on his own, as always.’
LUNACAVE
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