Light Novel: Volume 24 Episode 13
Manhwa: N/A
Dok Gohyang glared at the man with cold eyes.
“Go Il-won?”
“Yes!”
“I don’t know you.”
“Would you recognize me if I told you I’m the leader of the Phantom Fleet?”
“Phantom Fleet?”
Go Il-won didn’t miss the slight twitch in Dok Gohyang’s eyes.
“It seems you know about it.”
“I’ve heard of it.”
Dok Gohyang answered honestly.
Only few people living on land knew of the existence of the Phantom Fleet. However, the main stage for the Martial Sword Alliance’s activities was the sea.
It was impossible for them not to know about the Phantom Fleet.
The only reason they hadn’t paid attention to it so far was that there had never been a direct clash between the Phantom Fleet and the Martial Sword Alliance.
The Phantom Fleet had never touched any ship related to the Martial Sword Alliance. Therefore, Dok Gohyang hadn’t wasted any effort on them.
Go Il-won spoke.
“How long do you intend to keep me standing here like this?”
“There’s no reason for me let you in when we have nothing to do, is there? You pirates!”
Dok Gohyang’s voice dripped with sarcasm. Despite this, Go Il-won’s expression remained unchanged.
“How can you say we have no relation? When we’ve been deeply entangled with each other for a long time.”
“Nonsense!”
“You wouldn’t claim not to know about the Prison of No Return, would you?”
At that moment, Dok Gohyang’s expression stiffened like an iron armor.
Seeing Dok Gohyang like that, Go Il-won chuckled.
After glaring at Go Il-won for a while, Dok Gohyang took a step back from the window and spoke.
“Come in.”
“You’ve made a wise decision.”
Go Il-won didn’t hesitate and squeezed his body through the window.
It was not easy for him to squeeze his large frame through the small window, but Go Il-won eventually managed to get inside Dok Gohyang’s cabin safely.
Go Il-won looked around the cabin and spoke.
“It’s more modest than I expected.”
“I don’t like fancy things.”
“Same with me.”
“Now, tell me.”
“Tell you what? Ah! The Prison of No Return?”
“Yes.”
Dok Gohyang’s voice sank low.
The Prison of No Return was one of his weaknesses.
If the fact that he had sent Senior Brother Yu Suhwan to the Prison of No Return became known in Jianghu, it would be a fatal blow to his reputation.
No matter how intense the Great Jianghu War was, the people of Jianghu were not lenient enough to blindly follow someone whose morality had completely collapsed.
Dok Gohyang asked.
“Is the Phantom Fleet related to the Prison of No Return?”
“You can think of the two as different heads sharing the same body.”
“So, they are the same group.”
“If you dig deep enough, yes.”
“I didn’t know that the Prison of No Return and the Phantom Fleet were connected like that—”
“Of course, you wouldn’t know. It’s a secret.”
“Confessing such a secret so willingly? Do you take me for a fool?”
“It’s because I trust you enough to share the secret.”
“You trust me? That’s laughable.”
“There’s no need to be so hostile. At least, I’m not your enemy.”
“How can I believe that?”
“Because we have a common enemy, so trust me just this once.”
“A common enemy?”
Dok Gohyang’s eyes sank deeply.
“Pyo-wol!”
“……”
“I know that you’ve come all the way here in pursuit of him.”
“What is your connection to Pyo-wol?”
“He killed my father and grandmother.”
“So, he’s your mortal enemy.”
Dok Gohyang’s expression changed.
He, too, had lost Um Soso to Pyo-wol.
Both of them had the experience of losing someone precious to Pyo-wol.
Go Il-won smiled.
“How about now? Do you find me trustworthy enough?”
“Let me ask you one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“Are you sure Pyo-wol is here?”
“I’m sure. He tracked me all the way here.”
“Is that so?”
Dok Gohyang remained silent for a moment.
He looked at Go Il-won without saying a word.
This was the first time he had seen this man today. Yet, he didn’t feel unfamiliar because Go Il-won’s presence and appearance resembled Jang Mugeuk.
‘Even if he resembles Jang Mugeuk, it doesn’t matter. If I can use him, I will.’
Dok Gohyang bit his lip hard.
If it bothered him later, he could just use him and discard him.
Dok Gohyang was no longer the person he used to be.
He was a man who used to value loyalty very highly, but after his defeat by Jang Mugeuk, his heart had changed.
In any case, Go Il-won had come to him with the intention of using him. So, he felt no qualms about using him in return.
Dok Gohyang extended his hand.
“Very well, I will join hands with you.”
“You’ve made a wise decision.”
Go Il-won grasped his hand.
And so, a temporary alliance was formed.
* * *
So Gyeoksan gulped down his drink.
He drank so quickly that he emptied two bottles in an instant.
Though he already seemed quite drunk, Pyo-wol didn’t stop him.
He knew that even if So Gyeoksan was greatly intoxicated at the moment, he could sober up in an instant if wanted to.
Since Pyo-wol didn’t stop him, So Gyeoksan drank another bottle of liquor.
Only then did Pyo-wol speak.
“It’s time to get up now.”
“Already?”
“It’s getting late.”
“I see.”
So Gyeoksan stood up without protest.
Though he staggered a bit, he wasn’t completely unable to manage himself.
He walked out of the inn, shoulder to shoulder with Pyo-wol.
“What’s up with the weather? The moon is ridiculously bright.”
So Gyeoksan grumbled as he looked at the innocent moon.
Since losing the Heavenly Flower Variety Theater Troupe, he hadn’t lived a single day with a clear mind. He couldn’t bear the pain without drinking.
Suddenly, So Gyeoksan spoke to Pyo-wol.
“Walking with you like this isn’t so bad.”
“You’ve changed a lot.”
“Heh! You can’t live without changing. It’s actually more strange to live without changing, like you.”
“Is that so?”
“You’ve always been like that. You did things that everyone else found strange and difficult as if they were nothing. That made you who you are today, but at the time, I couldn’t understand you. You could have grouped up and be in a pack, but you stayed alone.”
“It’s because I thought it was more advantageous for my survival.”
“Moving alone than sticking with a pack is more advantageous for your survival? I can understand that somewhat now, but no one understood you back then.”
“It doesn’t matter. I never wished for others’ understanding. That thought hasn’t changed even now.”
“Yeah! You wouldn’t be Pyo-wol if you changed.”
So Gyeoksan chuckled.
A human specialized in survival and assassination.
That was Pyo-wol’s identity.
No matter the situation, that aspect of Pyo-wol wouldn’t change.
At that moment, Pyo-wol’s mood suddenly shifted.
His expression and eyes remained the same, but his aura had subtly changed.
So Gyeoksan didn’t miss the change in Pyo-wol’s demeanor.
“What’s the matter?”
“I see some suspicious people on the street.”
“Suspicious people?”
So Gyeoksan scanned the surroundings naturally.
Even though it was late in the evening, quite a few people were still out on the streets. It was a scene no different from usual. However, there were a few people whose actions seemed suspicious.
Their movements were so natural that only someone with the keen eyes of Pyo-wol or So Gyeoksan would notice.
Pyo-wol unfolded the Face Changing Art to alter his appearance in an instant.
“See that?”
So Gyeoksan raised his internal energy to dispel his drunkenness.
“It seems like they’re looking for someone.”
“Mm!”
“I’ll track them down.”
“I’ll be waiting for you at Hae-won Manor.”
“You won’t have to wait long.”
So Gyeoksan naturally distanced himself from Pyo-wol.
Pyo-wol also moved calmly, casually surveying his surroundings.
Strangers could be seen on every street.
Those who have lived in one place for a long time develop a unique sense. It’s not for nothing that locals can recognize outsiders.
Haimen had an unusually high number of outsiders.
This was mainly due to the influx of foreigners arriving by ship. But even they had a unique, somewhat similar aura.
There was a certain temperament, atmosphere, clothing, and skin color that only those who traveled to and from the sea could have.
The strangers in the streets now did not have that unique vibe.
It was clear that they had come to Haimen with a specific purpose.
‘Phantom Fleet?’
Given the current situation, the only group that came to mind was the Phantom Fleet.
Pyo-wol walked along, imprinting the faces of the strangers in his mind one by one. His demeanor was so natural that the strangers didn’t realize that Pyo-wol was observing them at all.
‘Twenty-two.’
That was the number Pyo-wol had identified so far.
Since he hadn’t covered every street, there were likely more he hadn’t accounted for.
“Have you returned?”
Elder Assassin greeted Pyo-wol upon his return.
Crack!
Pyo-wol responded by releasing the Face Changing Art.
Seeing Pyo-wol’s true face, Elder Assassin cautiously asked,
“Is something wrong?”
“I’ve confirmed that there are strangers scattered throughout the streets.”
“Is it the Phantom Fleet?”
“I’m not sure yet. Gyeoksan went to find out.”
“Is Gyeoksan the friend you mentioned before?”
“Yes!”
“Then we’ll have to wait until your friend returns.”
“Just in case, tell Tarha to strengthen the defenses of Hae-won Manor. I have a bad feeling.”
“Understood.”
“Where’s Soma?”
“He’s with Tae Musang. Shall I call him?”
“Send him to my quarters.”
“Understood.”
Pyo-wol headed straight to his quarters.
Once inside, he meticulously checked his equipment again.
He carefully inspected his arm guards, the hidden threads inside, and the condition of his phantom daggers.
It was just then that Soma entered the room.
“Big brother?”
Soma, upon entering the room, was surprised to see Pyo-wol’s actions.
If Pyo-wol was preparing to this extent, it meant the situation was quite serious.
“Is there an enemy?”
“Possibly.”
“So, it’s not certain yet.”
“Not yet.”
“Should I also prepare then?”
“Better safe than sorry.”
“Got it!”
Soma nodded, pulling the sword Gongbu he wore at his waist and started cleaning it with a dry cloth.
Originally, his weapon had been the seven-ring wheel called Seven Wounds Wheel, but he had changed it to a sword after training at Wudang.
Sage Il-gum had taught Soma how to use the sword.
He hadn’t imparted any special techniques or Wudang martial arts. He had merely taught him some of his own insights.
Though he had learned sword techniques that were vastly different from his wheel techniques, Soma wielded the sword skillfully.
Mastering one principle leads to understanding a thousand principles.1
Once you’ve mastered a certain skill, it’s not too difficult to master something else that’s similar.
Of course, it was extremely rare for someone to reach the pinnacle of a different path.
Soma had not yet reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship. But it was clear that he had begun to carve out a niche for himself.
After regaining his sword Gongbu, Soma devoted himself even more to swordsmanship.
He trained while recalling Sage Il-gum’s teachings.
As a result, Soma’s martial prowess had risen by leaps and bounds compared to when he had returned to Jianghu.
While the two were engrossed in maintaining their weapons, someone quietly slipped through the window.
It was So Gyeoksan, who had entered without making a sound.
He said.
He spoke.
“I’ve found out who’s behind them.”
“Who is it?”
“It’s the Martial Sword Alliance. Dok Gohyang himself is making a move.”
LUNACAVE
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