"He's completely gone."
Two men stood on a tall tree overlooking the swamp. One was an average-looking man with a familiar face, while the other had impressive dark skin.
They were Jang Mugak and Dokgo Hwang.
Jang Mugak frowned as he watched Pyo Wol facing the Black Cloud Corps.
Pyo Wol's martial arts were beyond common sense.
At least as far as Jang Mugak knew, there was nothing similar to Pyo Wol's martial arts that anyone could perform.
He had never even imagined pulling out the Soul-reaping thread and wielding a blade, let alone ten Soul-reaping threads.
Even just drawing a sword made ordinary warriors stumble, but Pyo Wol was using advanced skills with ease.
"Still, there are limits."
"It's the martial arts of an assassin."
"That's right! It's optimized for assassination but won't work against a real warrior."
"Jang Mugak said abruptly. "
Dokgo Hwang did not find Jang Mugak's words surprising. Although the Soul reaping threads that Pyo Wol used was a revolutionary martial art that went beyond common sense, it still had many weaknesses.
If he were to ambush, he would have a lot of advantages, but if he met a martial artist who had reached the level where an ambush would not work, there was a high probability of defeat.
Jang Mugak was one of those martial artists.
Although he was largely inactive and unknown to the masters, his prowess was extraordinary.
Likewise, to Dokgo Hwang, there were at least a few ways to overcome the current Soul reaping threads. But Dokgo Hwang did not feel the need to reveal such facts.
"In any case, he could be a good sword if used properly.
"Indeed. H would definitely be useful."
Jang Mugak nodded his head.
Despite the strange martial arts, his confidence and determination were not ordinary.
He chose the most advantageous battlefield for himself and lured the enemy in.
It meant that he could plan and use the terrain to his advantage.
There were several hidden swords for him, but no one as clever as Pyo Wol existed.
"What worries me, however, is whether we can control him. A sword that cannot be controlled should be disposed of rather than kept."
"He's still human. There's no reason why he can't be controlled. We just need to give him more than what he's used to. A pretty woman and money, and if that doesn't work, we may have to use extreme methods."
"Are you that interested in him?"
"I liked him from the moment I first saw him." A cold smile spread across Dokgo Hwang's lips.
Even now, Pyo Wol was engaged in a fierce battle with the remnants of the Black Cloud Corps.
At first, Pyo Wol seemed disadvantaged in the fight, but he soon overwhelmed the Black Cloud Corps.
"Don't you think the name 'Reaper' is fitting? If I take the Reaper's sword, I can easily kill whoever I want."
Jang Mugak wrinkled his nose at Dokgo Hwang's greedy voice.
He knew Dokgo Hwang's collector obsession well, but he had never seen him obsess over one person to this extent.
'He's like a child.'
But Jang Mugak didn't think it was a bad thing.
Desire exists in every human being.
Humans without desire no longer develop. That's why Jang Mugak didn't trust people without greed.
He believed that people who wrapped up their own laziness in the term "lack of greed" were not to be trusted.
On the other hand, Dokgo Hwang was faithful to his desires.
His desires had become the driving force of his progress and had led him to his current position.
'Am I the same?'
He, too, was one of the people overflowing with the desire to collect talented individuals.
He wanted to put any outstanding talent under his control somehow, and thus he only collected exceptional individuals.
However, for some reason, he was not drawn to Pyo Wol.
Even though he was a new type of talent that did not exist under his control.
"Is it my instinct that is warning me about him?"
Jang Mugak frowned.
It was a ridiculous thought.
He shook his head and denied his thoughts.
Dokgo Hwang looked at Jang Mugak with a curious expression.
"Why are you like that?"
"It's nothing."
"Really? Oh! Finally, it's over."
Dokgo Hwang suddenly cheered.
It was because Pyo Wol had defeated the last member of the Black Cloud Corps.
The swamp, which was filled with mud, was now stained red. So many warriors were eaten alive by the swamp.
Pyo Wol stood by the swamp, taking rough breaths.
It was a battle against over a hundred people.
No matter how tough he was, as a human being, it was inevitable for Pyo Wol to get injured and exhausted. There were numerous fresh wounds on his body.
Most of the wounds would heal and disappear soon, but some seemed too deep to disappear.
Pyo Wol didn't mind, though.
Paying this much price was a good deal, considering he had annihilated the Black Cloud Corps.
The tough and complicated relationship was finally severed.
He would never get involved with the Black Cloud Corps again.
When his inner strength recovered somewhat, Pyo Wol looked up at a tall tree.
His gaze met the two people who were on the tree.
Pyo Wol noticed their presence when he was fighting the Black Cloud Corps.
His senses had become extremely sensitive, and his expanded nerves detected every movement within a radius of about twenty meters.
That's when he felt the presence of the two people.
Even while fighting the Black Cloud Corps, Pyo Wol was on guard against the two people.
Just in case they intervened, he planned to flee without hesitation. Fortunately, they seemed to have no intention of intervening at all. However, Pyo Wol never let his guard down for a moment.
Giving your all while being watched by others was no different than exposing your weakness. That was why the fight with the Black Cloud Corps dragged on.
At that moment, Dokgo Hwang and Jang Mugak jumped out of a tree together.
Although dozens of yards were between the swamp and the trees, they crossed the distance instantly and stood in front of Pyo Wol.
"Long time no see, friend!" Dokgo Hwang shook Pyo Wol's hand and pretended to be friendly.
"It doesn't seem like it's been that long," Pyo Wol responded coldly.
"Haha! It's great to see you, that's all."
Even with Pyo Wol's chilly words, Dokgo Hwang didn't seem to mind.
Pyo Wol's gaze turned to the man beside Dokgo Hwang.
Jang Mugak spoke up, "He's quite impressive."
"...."
"I'm not being sarcastic. It's a compliment worthy of praise."
"Should I thank you for the compliment?"
Pyo Wol's unexpected response made Jang Mugak furrow his brows, but he quickly returned to his usual demeanor.
"My name is Jang Mugak. I'm from the Heavenly Armory."
"Heavenly Armory?"
"Yes! I am the owner of the Heavenly Armory."
"A nobleman has arrived. What brings you here?"
"I had to see it with my own eyes."
Jang Mugak didn't say anything more. But Pyo Wol seemed to understand what he didn't say.
"Is he a dragon waiting for the right moment?"
Ambition filled Jang Mugak's seemingly ordinary pupils.
Pyo Wol had never seen such a strong desire in anyone's eyes.
Compared to him, the eyes of ambitious people he had met until now seemed like those of children.
Dragons don't just soar into the sky.
They need a platform to take off from.
Similarly, ambitious people need a chaotic era to spread their ambition.
Jang Mugak wanted to see it with his own eyes.
He wanted to see with his own eyes whether what was happening in Yeonam would indeed be the beginning of the end.
Regardless of how many people died here, Jang Mugak was not interested.
He was only interested in one thing: how much impact the events in Yeonam would have on the world.
He could have heard about it from others, but Jang Mugak wanted to see it with his own eyes and make his judgment.
He was not the only one.
Dogko Hwang had also come to Yeonam for the same reason.
And they were not the only ones who came to Yeonam for that reason.
Jang Mugak stared intently at Pyo Wol.
"I guess you've figured out why I came here."
"..."
"You're too clever."
He couldn't afford to have a sword that was too thoughtful.
Those who are thoughtful can judge and decide for themselves.
The sword that Jang Mugak wanted was someone who could carry out the master's orders without any doubt.
By Jang Mugak's standards, Pyo Wol did not fit the criteria.
Pyo Wol suddenly felt like thousands of needles were piercing his entire body. It didn't take long for him to realize that it was Jang Mugak's qi that he was emitting.
The smile on Dokgo Hwang's face disappeared as he also realized that Pyo Wol was facing someone emitting qi.
Jang Mugak's qi was not something ordinary.
It penetrated deep into the heart and shook the veins like crazy.
Red blood flowed down Pyo Wol's lips.
He was injured just by Jang Mugak's qi alone.
Even considering Pyo Wol's abnormal physical condition, Jang Mugak's qi was far beyond common sense.
Pyo Wol had met many masters before.
Among them were Pungjon, an absolute master in Kangho, and Hyeolbul (Blood Buddha), the monk of Shaolin Temple. He also met King Gujin(Wolf King), one of the eight constellations.
They were strong, possessing formidable martial arts and a presence that could dominate an era. However, none gave off the same dangerous feeling as the man before him.
Their martial prowess was not the problem.
In Jang Mugak, there was a scent of danger in the air.
A weird smell that couldn't be described in words made Pyo Wol's hair stand on end.
Jang Mugak spoke calmly to Pyo Wol.
"Kneel."
"...."
"If you swear loyalty to me, I will give you the position of the third prince."
For a moment, Dokgo Hwang looked surprised and turned to Jang Mugak.
It was such a shocking proposal.
If you think about Jang Mugak's ambition, it wasn't different from saying that he would give the third highest position in the world.
Zurrr
The blood flowing from the corner of Pyo Wol's mouth became even darker. It meant that his internal injuries were severe.
Pyo Wol was still standing and had not knelt yet.
Dokgo Hwang thought that Pyo Wol would soon swear loyalty to him because the energy emitted by Jang Mugak was not simple.
It was the dignity that only those who ruled over all men could emit, the imperial Aura (제왕지세).
Very few could withstand that energy. One needed an unyielding will like steel and an unshakeable heart to resist it.
Jang Mugak spoke again.
"Kneel!"
His voice struck Pyo Wol's spirit like a giant bell.
Pyo Wol felt his mind go blank for a moment, but he held onto the reins of his reason with an unyielding determination.
He almost knelt under the energy but managed to resist it.
Pyo Wol bit his lip hard.
Blood gushed from his lips and dripped down his chin, staining his clothes.
Only then did he regain his clarity of mind.
Pyo Wol straightened his back, despite feeling an immense burden.
He knew that he would have to do it repeatedly once he bowed down. Bowing down twice would be admitting his inferiority.
He had not survived the hellish place to become someone's hunting dog.
Pyo Wol raised his head and met Jang Muk's eyes.
There was no trace of submission in his gaze.
Once crushed by the Imperial Aura, his spirit was now regaining its original strength.
But the Aura still had a hold on him.
At that moment, Pyo Wol held up a ghost blade and slashed it through the air.
With a whoosh, the Imperial Aura, which had been trapping Pyo Wol like a net, was sliced apart.
Like a net being cut, the Imperial Aura surrounding Pyo Wol dissipated instantly.
For a moment, Jang Mugak's pupils shook.
The fact that a tangible blade could slice the intangible Imperial Aura was incomprehensible.
Looking straight into Jang Mugak's eyes, Pyo Wol spoke.
"This is my answer."
Editor's Note:- Hello Guys, I am back and kickin. Will start uploading chapters regularly now.
One important update. I might do some updates to the website to optimize it better for the new comers to find it. Hope you understand. Thanks:)
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