Pyo-wol looked at So Gyeoksan with a blank expression on his face.
So Gyeoksan found it difficult to look Pyo-wol straight in the eyes.
He had always known that there was a gap between them before, but he didn’t expect it to be greater now, to the point of being immeasurable.
Even when he took on the role of the leader in a traveling theater group, So Gyeoksan made sure to continue taking on simple missions to prevent his skills from being rusty.
But even then, So Gyeoksan’s level was nowhere near Pyo-wol.
When So Gyeoksan first heard of the nickname, Reaper, he instinctively thought of Pyo-wol.
The first time he had heard the nickname was back at Chengdu in Sichuan. Since Chengdu and Sichuan were places that had given him unforgettable nightmares, he made sure to always keep a close eye on its movements even after leaving the city.
That’s why, when he heard the name Reaper, he immediately investigated Pyo-wol’s whereabouts.
Knowing Pyo-wol’s unusually beautiful face, coupled with his ruthless hands and bold behavior, So Gyeoksan was convinced that the Reaper that people were talking about was the Pyo-wol he knew.
Pyo-wol had already become someone on a completely different level.
He could tell it just with the way Pyo-wol looked at him.
Although assassins are used to hiding their innermost thoughts and feelings, they could read each other’s minds to a certain extent. They could do so by observing the other person’s eyes, and gestures.
In other terms, assassins could quickly grasp the other person’s body language. But So Gyeoksan could not read any body language from Pyo-wol.
On the contrary, it seems as if his nervousness and thoughts were the one being read by Pyo-wol.
He tried his best to hide his thoughts, but he couldn’t deceive Pyo-wol’s eyes.
Pyo-wol could clearly see how extremely anxious So Gyeoksan was at the moment. Although Pyo-wol didn’t exactly know the reason why So Gyeoksan was feeling that way, it was clear to him that So Gyeoksan was currently in a difficult situation.
“A request…”
“Yes. A request.”
“I refuse.”
“You don’t even want to hear about it?”
“I don’t think I need to know. It’s probably a request that’s too much for you to handle, but since refusing to do so will result in dire consequences, you’re passing it on to me.”
“Asshole.”
So Gyeoksan made a frustrated expression without realizing it.
He had indeed come to Pyo-wol for that reason.
If he could use him well, he could resolve the matter without getting blood on his hands. But now that Pyo-wol had seen through his intentions, his plan was as good as ruined.
“You’re a bastard with no ounce of kindness.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Forget it. Let’s just drink.”
Just then, Yi Okran arrived holding a tray filled with liquor and food.
“I was in a hurry, so the appetizers might not be much. I’ll treat you better next time.”
Yi Okran placed the liquor and food on the table with an apologetic expression, then she sat down right next to So Gyeoksan.
So Gyeoksan naturally wrapped his arm around Yi Okran.
She poured a glass of liquor for him.
“You said you don’t drink, right? I’ll be drinking alone then.”
“Do as you please.”
“Well, it’s impossible to find any trace of humanity in you anyway.”
So Gyeoksan downed a glass of liquor in one swift gulp.
“Mmm, delicious.”
“Drink slowly.”
“The faster you drink and get drunk, the more you’ll have left. You have to drink a lot slowly to get your money’s worth.”
He drank three more glasses in a row.
It was as if he was being chased by something.
The So Gyeoksan whom Pyo-wol knew was not someone who would reveal his emotions under any circumstance. But with the way he is right now, he was unintentionally revealing his impatience, as if he was backed into a corner.
But Pyo-wol didn’t ask the reason why.
He knew that if he crossed the line here, he would have no choice but to get deeply involved.
After breaking through the Heaven and Earth Net, they had lived their lives without any contact with each other.
And if Pyo-wol were to be honest, he hadn’t really cared about So Gyeoksan’s survival or any other person for that matter.
They weren’t that close, and they hadn’t promised to do anything together in the future.
In fact, their relationship was even worse than that of complete strangers. They knew each other’s undersides and weaknesses all too well, which precisely made it difficult to trust each other.
Thunk!
So Gyeoksan set his glass down and asked,
“How long are you planning to stay in Runan?”
“I don’t know. I won’t be here for long. I can leave as soon as tomorrow if I want to.”
“You’re too damned in a hurry. Where are you going anyway?”
“We’re not that close that we have to keep each other updated on our whereabouts, are we?”
“In short, you’re telling me to stop paying attention and get lost.”
“Exactly.”
“Bastard”
“If you’re done talking, I’m leaving.”
“What? Already? We haven’t seen each other in a long time. Why are you being like this? Let’s talk.”
“We haven’t seen each other in a long time so there’s nothing for us to talk about. We weren’t interested in each other in the first place. We have nothing in common, so what reason is there for us to have a conversation?”
At Pyo-wol’s cold words, So Gyeoksan’s expression stiffened.
Normally, no matter how badly they got along, they would hide their true feelings with a fake smile and keep the tenuous bonds of their relationship alive.
Human beings are creatures that cannot live alone. They tend to live by confirming their existence through their relationships with others.
This was true of everyone he met, and it was true for himself as well.
He needed a reason to exist in the world, so he formed a theater group to create a reason for himself.
But Pyo-wol was different.
He wasn’t interested in having others recognize his existence. He didn’t find it important either in having relationships with others.
Even in the underground cave, Pyo-wol was the same.
He only cared about his survival, and nothing else. That attitude of his hadn’t changed. It continued even up to this day.
“Selfish son of a bitch.”
Despite So Gyeoksan’s venomous words, Pyo-wol’s expression didn’t change. He just continued walking away.
So Gyeoksan glared at Pyo-wol’s retreating back as he walked up the stairs, but it didn’t change the situation.
At that moment, a white hand wrapped around So Gyeoksan’s neck.
“Stop being angry.”
“I’m not angry.”
“You are. You’re really furious. You’re like a child who had their toy taken away.”
“What did you say?”
“Hehe! How cute.”
Yi Okran laughed and kissed So Gyeoksan on the cheek.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s your reward for being cute.”
“If you do that again, I might have to kill you first.”
“Hehe, I would always welcome you killing me in bed.”
“You’re such a slut.”
“You made me that way.”
“Hmpf!”
“Don’t pout like that. It’s not like you’re really hurt.”
Yi Okran climbed and sat on So Gyeoksan’s thighs.
So Gyeoksan automatically held and caressed her backside. Enjoying his touch, Yi Okran said,
“You can’t just suddenly stop if you really want something.”
“Then what do I do?”
“You have to know how to push away, and how to tease and stimulate other person.”
“How do you tease them?”
“I’ll teach you now.”
Yi Okran pressed her lips to So Gyeoksan’s mouth.
“Hng…”
* * *
The morning was a busy one for the Heavenly Flower Variety Theater Troupe.
They woke up early in the morning and had breakfast.
Their breakfast was just as noisy as the dinner they had the night before.
“Can you pass me that over there?”
“What? The fruit?”
“Yes!”
“Give me the bowl. I’ll serve it for you..”
“Thanks!”
They served each other food, chatting as they passed the bowls around. They had so much to say even after talking late into the night, so their conversation continued into the morning.
Just then, the troupe’s leader, So Gyeoksan, and vice-leader, Yi Okran, came down the stairs.
“Did you sleep well?”
“You look good. I wonder what happened last night?”
“Something good?”
“What good thing?”
“A really good one.”
“Hehe! Sweating is good for your health too, right?”
“Hahaha!”
The troupe teased the two of them.
If it were any other woman, they would have blushed at the suggestive remarks, but Yi Okran calmly replied without batting an eye,
“Yes, it’s been a long time since I’ve exerted myself, so I feel really good right now.”
“Wahaha!”
The members burst out laughing in unison.
The women poked each other in the side with their elbows.
Yi Okran laughed and continued,
“Alright, since the performance is tomorrow, we have a lot of work to do starting today. Do you all know what to do first?”
“Yes!”
“Don’t worry, we won’t have to work for a day or two.”
The members replied with enthusiasm
Troupes were usually invited to create a festive atmosphere or to lighten up a gloomy mood.
It was the same thing for the Jin family.
They wanted to mend the public sentiment of Runan who had been devastated by the fight with the Snow Sword Manor, so they went out of their way to invite the troupe. They hoped that the troupe would be able to revive the depressed mood of Runan’s residents and warriors.
The troupe had an obligation to meet their expectations.
Now, after breakfast, they would pour out into the streets together. They would play instruments and sing songs to arouse people’s attention.
They only one day to attract the attention of Runan, and turn their eyes towards the Heavenly Flower Variety Theater Troupe.
So Gyeoksan said,
“Eat well, everyone. We have to move around all day today.”
“Yes!”
“Don’t worry, leader!”
So Gyeoksan nodded in agreement.
While the members did not know of So Gyeoksan’s true identity, to them, So Gyeoksan was still a leader they could trust and rely on.
If it weren’t for him, the members of the Heavenly Flower Variety Theater Troupe would have scattered and gone on to do other things.
To them, So Gyeoksan was more than just a leader.
“Let’s eat quickly and get to work.”
“Work it is, work.”
Just as the troupe members were about to chatter again, a man came down the stairs.
The first to react were the female members.
“Whoa!”
“What a handsome man!”
The person coming down the stairs was none other than Pyo-wol.
When the women saw his face, their faces turned as red as a tomato.
So Gyeoksan’s face twisted..
“That bastard always shows up at a moment like this and ruins the mood.”
So Gyeoksan, who lacked confidence in his own appearance, felt his self-esteem drop as he compared himself to Pyo-wol.
Bam!
He gritted his teeth, then thought about carving a scar on Pyo-wol’s beautiful face right then and there.
But he knew best that Pyo-wol wasn’t the type of person who would let that happen, so he had to grit his teeth and endure.
So Gyeoksan approached Pyo-wol.
“Did you come down here to eat? Or is it that you couldn’t sleep because of some noisy people?”
“I couldn’t sleep because of the noise.”
“My kids are a bit noisy, aren’t they? Understand that they’re just getting excited and hyped up for the incoming performance.”
Pyo-wol nodded in agreement.
Just then, the female members of the troupe shouted loudly,
“Leader! You know that guy?”
“Wow!”
“Could you please introduce us?”
“You’re friends with such a handsome man? Our leader is such a talented person!”
So Gyeoksan’s face contorted even more at his members’ words.
He shouted,
“Shut up! You guys should hurry up and get back to work!”
“Hiiik! Our leader is angry!”
“Let’s get out of here quick!
“Let’s go back to work!”
The troupe members quickly left the inn like an ebb tide.
Pyo-wol turned to So Gyeoksan and asked,
“Aren’t you also going to go out?”
“I’m the leader, so I have separate things to do.”
