Reaper of the Drifting Moon

Seong-un sat in a posture as if he had been reading Buddhist scriptures.

He seemed at peace, sitting cross legged with his half-lidded eyes. At first glance, he just looked as if he had fallen asleep while reading.

However, he stayed completely still. He didn’t move at all which was strange.

If Seong-un was inside the room, he would have to turn his head and answer Bo-kyeong’s call, but Seong-un just continued to gaze at the Buddhist scriptures without any movement.

Feeling uneasy, Bo-kyeong raised his voice,

“Senior brother!”

Even then, Seong-un did not answer.

Bo-kyeong hurriedly approached Seong-un.

He placed his hand on Seong-un’s pulse, but he couldn’t feel anything. Even when he put his hand to Seong-un’s nose, he couldn’t feel any breathing.

“Senior brother!”

“What’s going on?”

Surprised by Bo-kyeong’s screams, Namgung Wol went inside.

He too was shocked to see Seong-un’s condition. It took him a short time to understand what happened to Seong-un.

“What is this?”

“How can it be! Senior brother— he reached nirvana.”

Bo-kyeong murmured with a sorrowful expression.

Namgung Wol also couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

“How?”

Seong-un is a first-generation disciple of the Shaolin Temple.

Although he is not the best among the first-generation disciples since he is ranked third, the level of his martial arts was by no means trivial.

But Seong-sun still ended up losing his life.

What’s more is that he died in the Jin manor, and not anywhere else. He couldn’t even imagine what kind of consequences would happen. One thing is certain. Henan Jianghu would fall into extreme chaos because of this.

Namgung Wol hurriedly examined Seong-un’s body.

First of all, it is to find out whether it was a natural death or an assassination.

“This?”

A faint sword wound was visible on the back of Seong-un’s neck.

It was a faint scar, like a cut in paper. Not a single drop of blood was shed, but Namgung Wol instinctively figured out that this was the cause of Seong-un’s death.

Namgung Wol closed his eyes tightly.

‘Oh god!’

* * *

The Jin family was flipped over.

A first-generation disciple of the Shaolin Temple had just died in their manor.

Furthermore, it’s a monk who came as a messenger.

This was something that would not only turn the Jin family upside down, but also the entire Jianghu.

Within decades, there was no case of a Shaolin Temple disciple losing his life while traveling in Jianghu.

The same is true for a first-generation disciple.

Jin Siwoo looked at Seong-un’s body in front of him with a sad expression.

Seong-un’s expression was so peaceful that if some stranger saw him, he would have mistaken that he was asleep.

He didn’t appear to have been assassinated or killed. But it’s undeniable that he was dead.

He had no temperature, no pulse, no breathing.

His expression was peaceful, but his body was as cold as ice.

“What in the world…”

Jin Siwoo didn’t know what to say.

It wasn’t to make matters worse.

This was simply the worst.

This incident is something that could lead to a fight with the Shaolin Temple. Fighting against the Snow Sword Manor is not a problem. But against the Shaolin Temple? He wasn’t sure if the Jin family would be able to stay and survive in Henan if that were to happen.

If it turns out that the Jin family is involved in Seong-un’s death, no one in Henan will support the Jin family. Furthermore, all of the people who had gathered to help the Jin family would immediately leave.

Jin Siwoo couldn’t think of a way to fix this situation.

“Why give such an ordeal to the Jin family…”

Jin Siwoo couldn’t think of anything.

It was the same with the elders gathered in the room.

None of them could come up with a solution to the unprecedented situation.

Bo-kyeong opened his mouth,

“I will transport senior brother’s body to the Shaolin Temple.”

“We haven’t been able to identify the culprit yet—”

“Looking at the Jin family’s situation, I don’t think you’ll be able to find the culprit.”

Bo-kyeong’s voice was cold.

Even the most rational person could maintain his reason under such circumstances.

Bo-kyeong’s heart was currently full of guilt.

‘It’s my fault. This happened because I didn’t stay with senior brother.’

This incident happened when he was away so the guilt he felt was inevitably greater.

“It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”

Namgung Wol comforted him by his side, but Bo-kyeong couldn’t hear anything.

He only thought of taking Seong-un’s body to the Shaolin Temple. But Jin Siwoo couldn’t allow him to leave easily.

He had to at least reveal the cause of Seong-un’s death first, and guarantee that the Jin family is not responsible. If he just sent Seong-un’s body like this, the Jin family would have to take all the responsibility.

“I will leave the Jin family as soon as the day dawns.”

“Please wait a moment.”

“I can’t do that. I will take him to the Shaolin Temple as soon as possible. I will find the culprit by investigating the cause of his death.”

“You would be able to find the culprit here too.”

“How?”

“You can call him.”

“Who?”

“Pyo-wol. If it’s him, he will be able to reveal the cause of monk Seong-un’s death.”

Bo-kyeong was startled by Jin Siwoo’s suggestion.

The moment he heard the name Pyo-wol, he felt the chill as if ice water had been poured on him.

Pyo-wol is an assassin.

And one of the best assassins in the world at that.

He might be able to reveal the cause of Seong-un’s death.

But since Pyo-wol is also an assassin, he felt repulsed at the idea.

‘By any chance—?’

A seed of doubt bloomed in Bo-kyeong’s heart.

He wasn’t as calm or rational as Seong-un.

Although he is a member of the Shaolin Temple, he considers himself more of a warrior rather than a disciple of Buddhism. Perhaps that’s why, rather than judging something rationally, he had a stronger tendency to act based on instinct.

The moment he heard Pyo-wol’s name, Bo-kyeong suspected that Pyo-wol might have been the one who assassinated Seong-un.

He shook his head for a moment to shake off his doubts, but the buds that had blossomed deep in his heart still remained.

Namgung Wol, who was by his side, agreed with Jin Siwoo’s opinion.

“That’s a good idea. I’m sure he would be able to figure out how monk Seong-un was assassinated. Maybe he can even find the assassin.”

“What if he is the assassin who killed senior brother?”

“He’s not the type to do that. You’re being oversensitive.”

“Brother Namgung, please put yourself in my position. I’m in a situation where I can’t easily trust anyone.”

“I understand. But trust me this time and leave it to him.”

“Okay… I understand.”

In the end, Bo-kyeong accepted Namgung Wol’s opinion. However, the light of doubt in his eyes still lingered. Namgung Wol didn’t say anything more, and could only sigh.

It was the same with Jin Siwoo and others.

Jin Siwoo looked at Bo-kyeong and then sent someone to fetch Pyo-wol.

Right now, there was no one he could trust but Pyo-wol.

‘It’s really a mountain beyond a mountain.’

Jin Siwoo closed his eyes.

If he could, he wanted to be freed of this burden.

He wanted to pass this heavy burden on his shoulders to someone else. But unfortunately, he had no one to pass it on.

The moment he gives up, the fate of the Jin family would also be over. So he couldn’t give up.

After a while, Pyo-wol arrived in the room.

The first thing Pyo-wol felt after entering the room was Bo-kyeong’s hostile gaze at him. Not only that, but the elders of the Jin family were looking at him with uncomfortable eyes.

They were uncomfortable at the fact that they have to entrust the fate of the Jin family to an assassin.

Pyo-wol’s gaze turned to Seong-un lying on the floor.

As if he was in a deep sleep, his pale complexion contrasted with his calm expression.

Pyo-wol sat down in front of Seong-un without being surprised. He had already heard that Seong-un had died.

As Pyo-wol was about to examine the wound, Bo-kyeong opened his mouth,

“If you’re not confident, get out now.”

“………”

“I also consider you a suspect.”

Bo-kyeong made no effort to hide his hostility.

Pyo-wol stared at Bo-kyeong and replied,

“Back off.”

“Are you not confident?”

“No matter what I do, you’re going to end up doubting me anyway, isn’t that right?”

“………”

“Do as you like. Since I’m being suspected then I won’t touch the body.”

“Can you even guarantee that you would be able to find the culprit?”

“No.”

“Are you playing with me right now?!”

“What are you doing? Don’t pass the responsibility you couldn’t keep to anyone. It’s too obvious.”

“Keugh!”

Bo-kyeong clenched his fists tightly in a fit of rage.

Pyo-wol didn’t react even after seeing Bo-kyeong’s expression.

Bo-kyeong really tried to pounce on Pyo-wol. However, as soon as he saw Pyo-wol’s eyes, he came to his senses.

Pyo-wol’s eyes that didn’t even contain emotions seemed to gently dig into his inner thoughts and feelings.

Bo-kyeong felt ashamed.

He could not admit that he was no different from other humans and that he was intimidated by Pyo-wol.

Bo-kyeong shook his head.

“On second thought, I don’t think I can entrust senior brother’s body to him. I’d rather send a messenger pigeon to the main sect and ask them to send someone. Senior brother Un-ha is proficient in medicine, so he will surely be able to find the culprit through the autopsy. “

“But—!”

Namgung Wol tried to stop him, but to no avail.

Bo-kyeong pursed his lips and refused to listen to what he had to say.

Namgung Wol closed his eyes at his stubbornness.

‘If the Shaolin Temple sent their people, things would definitely become more complicated.’

Seong-un’s death was obviously regrettable, but this also gives the Shaolin Temple an excuse to intervene in the affairs of the Snow Sword Manor and the Jin family.

Now, the Shaolin Temple will try to get involved in this situation by sending not only Un-ha, but also its elite members.

Namgung Wol could not have imagined that things would turn out to be this complicated.

It was then.

“Young master!”

Someone’s urgent voice came from outside.

At that moment, everyone in the room felt their hearts sink. They instinctively felt that something bad had happened.

Jin Siwoo asked hurriedly,

“What’s going on?”

“We’re in trouble! The patrol team that was sent to monitor the movements of the Snow Sword Manor has been wiped out!”

Everyone in the room jumped to their feet in surprise at the subordinate’s report.

Jin Siwoo hurriedly slammed the door and left.

“Is that true?!”

“Yes! They say there was a collision with the Snow Sword Manor warriors, but not a single one came back.”

“How could—?”

Jin Siwoo’s complexion turned white.

“We can’t stand still! If we don’t respond even after being attacked, the warriors who came to help the family will leave!”

“That’s right. We need to send troops to punish them.”

The elders all insisted on a hard-line response.

If they hesitate here, they would inevitably lose in terms of momentum.

‘At a time like this…’

Jin Siwoo glanced at Bo-kyeong.

Bo-kyeong was no longer interested in the Jin family’s affairs.

His only interest was finding out who killed his senior brother, Seong-un. It seemed that there would be no use in claiming Jin family’s innocence to him who had already closed his eyes and blocked his ears.

In the end, Jin Siwoo decided to put off the matter of finding the truth about Seong-un’s death.

The important thing now is to seize the victory in the fight against the Snow Sword Manor.

“Summon the Iron Sword Corps1 right now.”

“Yes, young master!”

At Jin Siwoo’s command, the Jin family started to move.

The Iron Sword Corps is a response team created in case something like this happened.

Their purpose was thorough retribution and revenge.

The martial arts of the Iron Sword Corps, composed of the elites of the Jin family, were unquestionably outstanding.

Summoning of the Iron Sword Corps is just the beginning.

The whole Jin family started to move.

“This can’t be a coincidence— I can’t believe a conflict with the Snow Sword Manor just have to happen at this time.”

Namgung Wol murmured with a stunned and puzzled expression.

No one else knew, but he certainly knew.

The fact that they shouldn’t just bury Seong-un’s death and move on.

An incomplete suture is bound to cause a bigger problem.

They may be able to dodge the problem right now, but at some point, they will have to face the truth. No one would be able to predict how much it would cost then.

Pyo-wol said to Namgung Wol,

“Do you think it’s a coincidence?”

“You mean it’s not?”

“None of the things that happened today happened by chance. All of this was carefully planned by someone.”

“Who the hell—?”

“………”

Instead of answering, Pyo-wol looked at Seong-un’s body.

Even without looking closely, he could see the cause of Seong-un’s death.

It’s the skill of an assassin.

Among those who entered Runan, there were only a few who had this level of skill.

‘The assassins of the Hundred Wraith Union have begun to move.’

By using them to kill Seong-un, even the Shaolin Temple would be dragged into this mess.

Pyo-wol realized that the painting that person drew was much larger and more complex than he expected.

‘He’s not just after the hegemony of Runan…’

SoundlessWind21’s Notes:

Pyo-wol finally met a smart and cunning opponent. Anyway, thank you for reading!

Iron Sword Corps. Raws: 철검대(鐵剣隊). 鐵 tiě, dié – iron; strong, solid, firm 剣 jiàn – sword, dagger, saber 隊 duì, suì, zhuì – team, group; army unit