Light Novel: Volume 22 Episode 6
Manhwa: N/A
Poyang Lake was truly vast.
It wasn’t just its size that was impressive, but also the richness brought by all sorts of sediments drifting down from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. This made the region around the lake extremely fertile, leading to the development of numerous cities.
Duchang was one of those cities.
Thriving alongside Poyang Lake, the city was beautiful, and its people once lived with a sense of leisure. However, since the outbreak of the Jianghu War, the atmosphere in the streets drastically changed.
With the influx of armed warriors, the ambiance turned grim, and the carefree expressions on people’s faces disappeared.
Duchang, being a large city and geographically significant, became a strategic point.
The faction that controlled this area could dominate Poyang Lake. Therefore, the Golden Heaven Society and Silver Lotus Society fiercely fought to seize control of Duchang.
Battles broke out several times a day.
One day the Golden Heaven Society would dominate, and another day the Silver Lotus Society would seize control.
Countless people died every day.
While most were warriors from the Golden Heaven Society and Silver Lotus Society, some civilians also got caught in the crossfire and met untimely deaths.
They died senselessly, with nowhere to turn for help or someone to hear their pleas.
The powerless could only stay home and wait for the fighting to end.
Because of this, the people’s resentment toward the two factions was at an all-time high.
In the deserted streets of Duchang, there was a young man and woman walking.
An ordinary-looking boy and a beautiful girl.
They were walking shoulder to shoulder and seemed to fit together quite well.
Suddenly, the girl stopped and turned around, but something was unusual about her eyes. They lacked focus.
It was clear that she couldn’t see. Nevertheless, she spoke as if she could see her surroundings clearly.
“There’s no one on the streets.”
“Most of them are at home.”
The boy’s response made the girl nod her head.
She could sense the gaze of people slightly opening their windows to watch them. They were cautious of the unfamiliar strangers in their midst.
Even though she couldn’t see, the girl, Eunyo, could discern the flow of the qi and the direction of people’s gazes around her. Always by her side, as usual, was Do Yeonsan.
Their reason for coming to Duchang was simple.
They wanted to directly observe the situation in Poyang Lake and gather information.
While they could have obtained information through the assassin sects or the Hao clan, it was still not as good as seeing it firsthand.
Especially Eunyo, who relied more on feeling the qi personally and understanding the atmosphere of the battlefield due to her blindness.
Pyo-wol’s ongoing efforts to unify the assassin sects were something Eunyo and Do Yeonsan couldn’t interfere with.
Although Eunyo had trained in martial arts at Xiaoleiyin Temple, she wasn’t a member of any assassin sect.
There were many ways she could help, besides helping in the affairs of assassin sects.
That was the reason the two had ventured all the way to Duchang.
Eunyo and Do Yeonsan disguised themselves as ordinary people. Yet, they still managed to attract the attention of the locals.
It was due to Eunyo’s mysterious aura and appearance.
Those peering at her through the gaps in their windows couldn’t easily look away, captivated by her mysterious vibe.
Do Yeonsan, surveying the surroundings, suggested,
“Shall we head to the Hao clan’s branch now?”
They had been wandering around ever since they entered the city this morning.
They had gathered all they needed.
Any more wandering would be a waste of time.
“Yes!”
Eunyo didn’t insist on staying.
Now that she had gotten a feel for the atmosphere of the city, it was time to meet Hong Yushin.
After stopping by Hong Yushin and hearing the Hao clan’s information firsthand, she would return to the Sol Family Courtyard, and the day’s schedule would be complete.
The two walked shoulder to shoulder.
They already know the location of the Hao clan branch from Pyo-wol.
Leaving Duchang, they walked towards the upper reaches of the river flowing into Poyang Lake.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Do Yeonsan’s mouth.
He enjoyed walking alone with Eunyo like this.
He reached out and gently took her hand. She didn’t reject his hand but rather held it more firmly.
He had long gotten used to walking like this.
He found it better to walk together than to walk alone, and it felt all the more special because it was with Eunyo and not someone else.
It was the same for Eunyo.
Despite her ability to see the world through her mind’s eye, it was still somewhat lacking compared to seeing with her own eyes.
Do Yeonsan was willing to be her eyes.
Thanks to him, Eunyo could walk and roam the streets without any discomfort.
“Pfft!”
Suddenly, Eunyo burst into laughter.
Do Yeonsan looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“Why?”
“Just happy.”
“That’s so simple…”
Though he said that, a smile similar to Eunyo’s appeared on Do Yeonsan’s lips.
It was then.
Do Yeonsan suddenly frowned.
He could see a group of people walking towards them from the front.
A beautiful woman and about ten warriors escorting her.
Even at a glance, the atmosphere surrounding them felt unusual.
Especially the woman leading the group exuded an unapproachable dignity.
The woman, reminiscent of a flower blooming in the snow, was none other than Namgung Seol. She was returning to Poyang Lake after leaving the Hao clan branch with the Snowflake Sword Squad.
Do Yeonsan and Eunyo stepped aside to let them pass.
Fortunately, Namgung Seol and her escorts passed by them without incident.
Just as the two were about to resume walking, they were halted.
“Wait a moment.”
Namgung Seol suddenly turned around and called out to them.
They stopped walking and looked at her. Then she walked over to them.
She greeted them in a domineering manner.
“I am Namgung Seol of the Heavenly Guardian Association. And you are?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your identities, I mean.”
“We’re not as famous as Lady Namgung, so you wouldn’t recognize us even if we told you.”
At Do Yeonsan’s sharp response, Namgung Seol slightly smiled.
“You knowing me means you are a warrior. Are you with the Golden Heaven Society or the Silver Lotus Society?”
“Neither.”
“You mean not yet?”
“Well, for now, yes.”
“I see.”
Namgung Seol nodded her head.
She seemed convinced, but the Snowflake Sword Squad behind her appeared not to agree.
They had risen to their feet in response to Do Yeonsan’s curt answer. But Namgung Seol didn’t care, and asked him again,
“So you’re not going to tell me your name?”
“My name is Do… Yeonsan.”
“And the lady here?”
“Eunyo.”
“Eunyo? A beautiful name, as beautiful as—”
“Thank you.”
“But where are you two headed? There’s nothing to see upstream.”
Namgung Seol’s eyes shone sharply.
Do Yeonsan was slightly taken aback by her penetrating look.
She was more persistent than he expected.
At that moment, Eunyo naturally stepped forward.
She raised her interlocked hands with Do Yeonsan slightly and said,
“It doesn’t matter if there’s nothing to see.”
“Mm!”
“Do you need more explanation?”
At Eunyo’s cool response, Namgung Seol was left without words.
It was natural for lovers to seek out a place where no one was around.
Namgung Seol apologized.
“I’m sorry, my nerves got the better of me and I overstepped my bounds.”
“It’s okay.”
“Safe travels, Lady Eun.”
“And to you as well.”
Eunyo replied coldly and then walked away with Do Yeonsan.
Namgung Seol watched the departing pair intently.
Ahn Ji-san approached her side.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I’ll send some of my men after them.”
“Pardon?”
“They don’t seem like ordinary lovers. Plus, they’re heading in the direction of the Hao clan branch—”
“Understood.”
Ahn Ji-san responded without any questions.
He knew.
How keen and sensitive Namgung Seol’s intuition was.
Her order might not seem to have any basis, but whenever she sensed something was off, something indeed was wrong.
If she was speaking seriously like this, she must have sensed something they didn’t.
Ahn Ji-san signaled a few of his men. Then, those men moved in the direction Do Yeonsan and Eunyo had gone.
* * *
“Namgung Seol? She’s the woman that the Snowflake Sword Squad follows, right?”
“That’s right!”
At Do Yeonsan’s inquiry, Eunyo nodded and looked back.
After walking for a while, Namgung Seol was nowhere to be seen. Yet, she stared intently as if she could see Namgung Seol for a long time.
“I have a bad feeling about her.”
“I felt the same way.”
“We should be careful.”
“Yes!”
Do Yeonsan nodded, agreeing with her sentiment.
Namgung Seol had an aura of danger about her.
The unpredictability and the unexpectedness that come with those who harbor great ambitions could also be sensed in her.
Such a person could pose a risk to everyone around them.
It was best not to attract her attention, but since they already did, it was best to keep their distance.
The two soon arrived at the abandoned warehouse.
After ensuring no one was around, they entered the underground of the warehouse in the same manner as Namgung Seol did.
“Welcome!”
Hong Yushin greeted them.
After exchanging greetings with Hong Yushin, they sat down.
Hong Yushin asked,
“Did you make it here safely? Or were there any trouble on the way?”
“We encountered Namgung Seol on the way.”
“Namgung Seol? Hmm!”
Hong Yushin stroked his chin thoughtfully with his hand.
He had thought it might be the case because of the vague timing of their arrival, but now that they had actually run into each other, his mind was in turmoil.
Hong Yushin then asked Eunyo,
“What do you think, based on what you saw?”
“Are you talking about Lady Namgung?”
“Yes.”
“She seems dangerous. If we give her an opening, we’ll surely face disaster.”
“Indeed.”
Hong Yushin nodded in agreement.
Eunyo’s response confirmed his decision.
‘We need to move the branch.’
It would have been one thing if they were exposed to someone else, but the fact that they were exposed to Namgung Seol made him particularly uneasy.
Despite the complex ant-like structure filled with traps and mechanisms, it still didn’t feel safe enough.
“Lady Namgung Seol has a sharp intuition. If she encountered you, she would surely have someone follow you.”
“We checked, but there was no one.”
“That must be because they stayed at a distance. In any case, it’s safe to assume your presence here has been exposed. When you leave, use a different exit. That way, we might buy some time.”
“Understood.”
Eunyo responded without a moment’s hesitation.
She, too, had been unable to shake off a feeling of unease.
Do Yeonsan asked,
“You mentioned she has a keen intuition, right?”
“She sensed the changes in the world of assassins and came straight here. Though she hasn’t made a request yet, she must have intuited that we are involved in this matter.”
“She sounds like a headache. What if we just eliminate her?”
“Then Lee Geumhan will take action.”
“Are you talking about Lee Geumhan of the Frenzied Warrior Sect?”
“Yes! He’s a man who could contest for the title of the strongest in the world alongside Jang Mugeuk. If he gets involved, the order we’ve maintained so far will be shaken to the core.”
“Hmm! We’ll have to be careful.”
“That’s right! That’s the best course of action for now.”
“Hoo!”
“By the way, how’s the work on unifying the assassin sects going? I have a feeling it’s almost finished.”
“Well, we’ve managed to subdue all the assassin sects that have flocked to Poyang Lake.”
“Good!”
Hong Yushin breathed a sigh of relief.
This was something he had asked Pyo-wol to do, but he knew it was a very difficult task.
He was tearfully grateful to Pyo-wol for taking on such a difficult request.
Hong Yushin pulled out a small booklet from the table and handed it over.
“I used all of the Hao clan’s intelligence resources to create this. This contains all the forces and personnel around the Poyang Lake area.”
It was a precious booklet that couldn’t be bought for all the gold in the world.
It would be of great assistance to Pyo-wol’s endeavors.
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