Light Novel: Volume 20 Episode 25
Manhwa: N/A
Hong Ye-seol and the Elder Assassin stood shoulder to shoulder on the ruined rooftop.
The wind blew, tousling their hair.
Hong Ye-seol swept her long, white fingers through her hair.
While the Elder Assassin silently observed her profile.
Their silence continued for a while.
It was the Elder Assassin who broke the silence.
“What do you plan to do?”
“About what?”
“I will follow whatever decision you make, leader.”
“Is that alright?”
“Why not?”
Hong Ye-seol frowned at his response.
Had the Elder Assassin mobilized the Black Assassination Squad against her during her battle with the previous leader of the Hundred Wraith Union, she would have been dead. However, he prevented the assassins from intervening in her fight, allowing her to kill the previous leader without any interference.
Even after helping her, the Elder Assassin did not seek any reward.
“Why did you help me? You could have sided with the previous leader.”
“Because I am an assassin.”
“What?”
“People may despise our profession, but I take pride in it. Honestly, it’s a job that one can’t endure long without something to hold onto.”
“Was that pride your alternative?”
“Yes. Even though it’s a job that people look down on, I still do assassination of my own volition. That’s my pride. At least I had the freedom to choose my assignments. However, things changed when the previous leader contracted with the Kowloon Assassin Guild. I had to do assassinations I didn’t want to do, and it wasn’t just me. All the assassins of the Hundred Wraith Union were subtly coerced into doing so.”
Of course, there were some who actually liked the previous leader’s decision. Most of them were the younger assassins, eager to make a name for themselves in Jianghu. But the older assassins, like the Elder Assassin, who were nearing retirement, were not pleased with the decision.
They hoped for the leader to continue the Union’s longstanding principles. But they couldn’t stop the leader’s unilateral decisions.
The assassination of Noh Kang-hyun, the Scholar as Wise as Seven Sages, was also of the previous leader’s own accord. Knowing the chaos that would ensue if he were to be killed, the Elder Assassin refused to accept the assignment. However, the previous leader was not deterred and pushed through.
In the end, Noh Kang-hyun’s death led to public outrage in Jianghu, triggering a possible great war.
Even though they made a living through others’ deaths, they were not pleased with the Union causing such turmoil and loss of life.
That was one of the reasons the Elder Assassin sided with Hong Ye-seol.
The Elder Assassin laughed bitterly.
“Of course, I know it’s a sophism. What pride can a mere assassin have? But still, that’s how I feel.”
“Hoo!”
“It seems that your mind is made up as well, isn’t it leader?”
“It seems so.”
“You’re planning to be with the Reaper?”
“Does it not suit me?”
“You match well.”
“I thought so too.”
Hong Ye-seol smiled.
She had bumped into and fought with Pyo-wol countless times before, casually making love and then stabbing each other in the back. After so many times of bumping into each other, she realized something.
“I need him.”
“In what way?”
“For survival.”
“Survival? Aren’t we surviving now?”
“Just because we’re breathing doesn’t mean we’re alive. How can one be considered alive if they live at the behest of others? If we leave things as they are, there will always be people who want to take advantage of us.”
“Like the Kowloon Assassin Guild?”
“Exactly. The Silver Lotus Society, Golden Heaven Society, Celestial Martial Sect, Frenzied Warrior Sect, and any ambitious faction will try to use us. We are indeed valuable tools.”
“Hmm!”
Hong Ye-seol’s words caused the Elder Assassin to hum in agreement.
Her words had hit the nail on the head.
The Elder Assassin asked,
“Do you think we won’t be taken advantage of if we follow him?”
“Heh!”
Suddenly, Hong Ye-seol wore a mischievous smile.
This caused the Elder Assassin to look puzzled, wondering if he had said something wrong.
Hong Ye-seol flicked her index finger and said,
“We’re not following him. We’ll use him,”
“Use him? We?”
“That’s right, we’re using the Reaper as a shield. There’s no better shield than him in the current Jianghu.”
“That makes sense.”
The Elder Assassin nodded his head in agreement.
No matter what anyone said, Pyo-wol was the pinnacle among assassins.
Not only that, but he was also among the top martial artists recognized in Jianghu.
A person who was both an assassin and a martial artist, and one who was recognized by both sides.
Pyo-wol was the only one with such distinction in Jianghu.
If they could use Pyo-wol as a shield, no faction would dare attempt to manipulate the Hundred Wraith Union.
Hong Ye-seol laughed, showing her white teeth,
“Hoho, it’s a good plan, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it’s definitely a good idea. Only–”
“Only what?”
“You’re not being honest.”
Hong Ye-seol’s face twisted at the Elder Assassin’s unexpected comment.
“Huh? What do you mean I’m not being honest?”
“Heh, you know what I’m talking about.”
“Hmph! I have no idea what you’re talking about, Elder Assassin.”
Hong Ye-seol snorted, but she turned her head away, avoiding his persistent gaze.
* * *
Stepping outside, Pyo-wol declared,
“We are heading to Poyang Lake.”
“Really?”
“Brother?”
Eunyo and Do Yeonsan looked at Pyo-wol in surprise.
They might have thought it was a possibility, but hearing it directly from Pyo-wol was still a shock.
Pyo-wol’s words meant he intended to intervene in the current great turmoil of Jianghu.
Pyo-wol had thought about it all night.
He had no desire for fame or ambition to become the best martial artist in the world.
All he wanted was to live comfortably in Chengdu, Sichuan. But the situation would not allow him to live in peace back home.
The Kowloon Assassin Guild, now under So Yeowol’s control, remained hostile to him, and numerous threats loomed over him.
The best way to escape these threats was to become a force no one would dare confront. But he could only go so far alone.
He had always walked a solitary path, unaided, but he realized that he needed to build a stronghold to protect himself.
He declared.
“I will bring all the assassin sects in the world under my feet.”
“……”
His fierce and audacious declaration left everyone speechless.
If anyone else had said this, they would have immediately been met with ridicule but since such words were coming from Pyo-wol, it felt more realistic.
There was nothing he had ever said that hadn’t come true.
He always made his words come true, which is why his current declaration didn’t feel empty or hollow.
Hong Ye-seol then smiled and stood by Pyo-wol’s side.
“I’ve been waiting for you to say that. We, the Hundred Wraith Union, will join you.”
“If you’re planning to back out halfway, it’s better not to start at all.”
“What?”
“Because I won’t let you.”
“That’s—”
A look of bewilderment appeared on Hong Ye-seol’s face.
She hadn’t expected Pyo-wol to say such a thing.
Just then, the Elder Assassin joined the conversation and bowed his head.
“That will never happen.”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
“My opinion reflects the leader’s will. There will never be a change in the leader’s intentions.”
The Elder Assassin’s voice was calm and very respectful.
He respected the man before him.
The age difference didn’t matter.
The path Pyo-wol traveled made it impossible not to look up to him as a fellow assassin.
“Can you take responsibility for those words?”
“As humble as I am, I stake my life on it.”
“I’ll believe you then.”
“Thank you. I won’t let you down.”
the Elder Assassin replied as he bowed again.
Pyo-wol looked at Hong Ye-seol, who shrugged.
“My intentions won’t change to the point of killing the Elder Assassin. He is also very important to me as well.”
“Thank you, Leader!”
The Elder Assassin expressed his gratitude to Hong Ye-seol, who awkwardly crinkled her nose in response.
Do Yeonsan muttered,
“We need to acquire horses if we are to move this many people.”
It would be best to take a boat, but there were no boats that went directly from Qiyang to Poyang Lake, and using the waterways would increase their chances of being seen. It was much better to travel on horseback.
Eunyo said,
“I’ll handle the horses.”
“Do you have a place in mind?”
“There’s a horse market that used to deal with the New Moon Manor. We should be able to get horses there without much trouble.”
Large powers like the New Moon Manor regularly buy horses.
As a result, large horse markets would form around them.
With the overnight disappearance of the New Moon Manor, the horse market would be in chaos. Many merchants had bought and stocked horses to sell to the New Moon Manor, but now they had no buyer. This in turn should cause the price of horses to drop significantly.
Seizing the opportunity, Eunyo immediately took Nam Shin-woo to buy horses.
Do Yeonsan also headed to the market to purchase necessary items.
The Elder Assassin watched their decisive actions with a hint of admiration.
‘They all know exactly what they need to do.’
It wasn’t as if Pyo-wol had told them what to do. Those three each took the initiative in what they thought necessary. Such proactive action was not easy.
Yet, they all autonomously handled their tasks, proving their determination to assist Pyo-wol in any way possible.
Pyo-wol then said to Hong Ye-seol,
“There’s something you need to do for me.”
“What is it?”
“I want you to gather as much information about the assassin sects as you can.”
“Got it.”
Hong Ye-seol responded immediately.
Her face was flushed red.
She felt strangely pleased to see Pyo-wol issuing orders with such authority.
Pyo-wol then turned to the Elder Assassin.
“Do you know of any good workshops around here?”
“If it’s a workshop, is it for weapons?”
“That’s right.”
Pyo-wol nodded.
He had reached a level where he hardly needed weapons.
With the Soul-Reaping Thread alone, he could silently kill any formidable opponent. For stronger foes, the Snake Qi Thread sufficed.
As long as there were only a few enemies, that would be enough. But the number of adversaries he might face in the future was uncertain.
The more he could prepare, the better.
Snap!
The Elder Assassin snapped his fingers. Instantly, a member of the Black Assassination Squad appeared on the wall.
The Elder Assassin instructed,
“Bring me the weapons chest.”
“Yes!”
The assassin replied and disappeared. But he soon reappeared with a large box slung over his shoulder.
The assassin set the coffin-sized box down in front of the Elder Assassin.
The Elder Assassin lifted the lid and said,
“These are weapons we carry for supply. They should be of better quality than those made in ordinary workshops.”
The box was filled with an assortment of weapons used by assassins.
All were crafted by artisans affiliated with the Hundred Wraith Union, boasting top quality and performance.
Pyo-wol carefully examined the weapons in the box.
A short dagger the length of a child’s forearm.
A sickle with an attached chain.
Small axes designed for throwing.
Needles as thin as cow hair.
The variety was extensive.
Virtually every type of weapon an assassin could use was in the box.
Pyo-wol took them out one by one and examined them.
“Excellent!”
“Feel free to choose whatever you like.”
The Elder Assassin bowed even deeper.
After examining the weapons for a long time, Pyo-wol spotted a bundle of daggers.
They were smaller than a child’s palm.
Pyo-wol reminisced about the phantom daggers he used previously.
These were slightly inferior to the phantom dagger crafted by Tang Sochu but were much smaller and lighter. There were over twenty of them.
The Elder Assassin asked cautiously,
“Do they meet your expectations?”
“Very much so!”
LUNACAVE
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