Chapter 349 Reaper of the Drifting Moon novel

Chapter 349 Reaper of the Drifting Moon novel

Pyo Wol gathered his belongings and left the inn.

All he had was a small bundle.

Neigh!

As Pyo Wol entered the stable, the horse seemed happy to see him and neighed.

The horse seemed to have gained some weight while Pyo Wol was staying at Taeho First Pavillion, as it had been in the stable the whole time.

Pyo Wol patted the horse’s neck and then left the stable together.

When he came out of the stable, an unexpected person was waiting for him.

“Are you leaving?”

The woman who spoke to Pyo Wol was Jo Yuseol.

Next to her stood Jo Jakyung, and behind them was Bok Ho-jin.

Bok Ho-jin looked completely smitten with Jo Yuseol. He stood as if he were her subordinate.

Pyo Wol asked Jo Yuseol,

“What’s going on?”

“I heard that you were leaving, so I came running.”

“Why?”

“Can’t you just stay here? My offer from before is still valid.”

“You have two other men to help you besides me.”

Pyo Wol’s gaze turned to Jo Jakyung and Bok Ho-jin.

Jo Jakyung spoke to Pyo Wol.

“I apologize for what happened before. I’m sorry. I misunderstood. I really didn’t know that Jo Ik-gwang would do such a cruel thing.”

He looked genuinely sorry.

Jo Jakyung witnessed with his own eyes how Jo Ik-gwang terrorized and tortured the women.

Furious, he caught Jo Ik-gwang’s close aides and made them confess everything.

The stories he heard were horrifying enough to make him nauseous. He never expected Jo Ik-gwang, the son of a prestigious family, to commit such heinous acts.

Jo Jakyung felt not only miserable but also wretched for having fought Pyo Wol because of Jo Ik-gwang. He could barely look Pyo Wol in the eye.

Pyo Wol said,

“Is the misunderstanding resolved now?”

“Yes! My body aches from the fight, but my mind is clearer than ever. For now, I plan to stay by Yuseol’s side and help clean up the mess caused by Jo Ik-gwang. Speaking of which, I’d like you to join me.”

“I have something to do.”

“What is it? I’ll help you if you stay here.”

“It’s something I have to do alone.”

“Hmm!”

Jo Jakyung sighed.

If someone else had said this, he would have beheaded them on the spot. But since it was Pyo Wol, he had no choice but to endure it.

Pyo Wol’s gaze turned to Bok Ho-jin. Bok Ho-jin quickly averted his eyes.

Pyo Wol didn’t bother to speak to him.

Jo Yuseol looked disappointed.

“I guess there’s no choice if you have to leave. But you won’t forget me, will you? We’re not the kind of relationship that can be easily forgotten. I’ll always be here. So if you think of me, come back anytime.”

“Alright!”

As Pyo Wol nodded, Jo Yuseol’s expression brightened a little, but the disappointment didn’t fade.

Seeing this, Bok Ho-jin clenched his fist.

‘That bastard…’

Just by looking at Jo Yuseol’s expression, he could tell what kind of relationship she had with Pyo Wol.

Yesterday, he went to find Jo Yuseol with his men.

The moment he saw Jo Yuseol for the first time, he fell for her at once. He cursed Jo Ik-gwang for not introducing her and keeping her hidden until the end.

He gladly decided to be on Jo Yuseol’s side. That was the reason he was standing behind her.

Bok Ho-jin gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger towards Pyo Wol.

The opponent was a skilled martial artist.

He was not someone to be recklessly messed with.

Even with thorough preparation, it would be insufficient, and if he let his emotions get the better of him, there would be endless consequences. So, he had no choice but to endure it.

Jo Yuseol sneakily glanced at Bok Ho-jin.

She saw him bowing his head and suppressing his anger and smiled subtly.

‘With this, he’ll become more attached to me.’

It wasn’t that hard to manipulate a man obsessed with her.

Although she couldn’t keep Pyo Wol, she managed to have Bok Ho-jin under her skirt, so it wasn’t a complete loss.

His influence in Taeho Province was much more significant, so she didn’t even know if it was actually a better outcome. That’s why Jo Yuseol didn’t actively try to keep Pyo Wol.

Pyo Wol mounted his horse without saying goodbye and left Taeho First Pavillion without looking back.

***

Pyo Wol headed south, leaving Taeho.

Perhaps because the horse was running freely after a long time, it sprinted at full speed. Pyo Wol even had trouble calming the horse down.

Horses were incredibly sensitive animals, and if left running uncontrolled, accidents could occur. They needed proper rest.

Pyo Wol took breaks once every hour, allowing the horse to rest. Thanks to Pyo Wol’s consideration, the horse was able to run all day and still have some energy left.

Pyo Wol found a suitable place to spend the night before the sun set.

It felt strange to sleep outdoors after having comfortably stayed at the inn for a long time. It seemed like his body had accumulated a lot of grease in just a few days.

Pyo Wol thought that it was for the better.

This way, the grease on his body would be drained as he slept outdoors.

Pyo Wol gathered some twigs and started a campfire.

Even though he was in the middle of the mountains with no one around, he didn’t feel scared at all.

Leaning against a rock, Pyo Wol silently watched the blazing fire. His dinner was dried meat provided by the inn.

As he chewed the dried meat, the night deepened.

Countless stars rose in the dark sky. One by one, the stars lit up, eventually forming a vast galaxy. However, Pyo Wol didn’t pay any attention to the stars, lost in his own thoughts.

‘Wasn’t it said that Hong Yushin disappeared near Poyang Lake?’

The Taeho First Pavillion where Pyo Wol had stayed until now boasted an enormous size, but it was inferior compared to Poyang Lake.

Leading to the Yangtze River, Poyang Lake was a transportation hub in itself. Not only was it connected to the Yangtze River, but many other large and small rivers were connected to it, and even overland routes were developed as well, allowing countless people and goods to spread across the river.

Frankly, it was not a good environment for tracking someone’s whereabouts.

It wouldn’t be easy to find traces of Hong Yushin, who had disappeared long ago in such a crowded place. The reason Pyo Wol took on this task was that it involved So Geoksan.

After the performance, So Geoksan left Yeonam with the Heavenly Flower Troupe.

The fact that So Geoksan’s and Hong Yushin’s paths coincided couldn’t be a coincidence.

Hong Yushin had told Pyo Wol that he was tracking Guryongsalmak.

The fact that Hong Yushin was chasing So Geoksan meant that So Geoksan had some connection with Guryongsalmak.

‘Why did So Geoksan go to Poyang Lake?’

Finding out why So Geoksan went to Poyang Lake was an urgent matter. Pyo Wol never thought that he would be entangled with So Geoksan again like this.

His mind was complicated.

Pyo Wol put more dry branches into the fire. Then, the campfire burned even brighter.

That’s when it happened.

“Oh my! There’s a light over there.”

“Now we’re saved.”

Suddenly, voices broke the silence.

Pyo Wol slightly frowned and looked in the direction the voices came from.

A short while later, a man and a woman emerged from the darkness, rustling through the bushes.

They were a plump middle-aged woman, like a ball, and a skinny middle-aged man, like a bamboo pole.

The couple rushed towards the campfire Pyo Wol had started.

Upon reaching the campfire, the two pleaded with Pyo Wol.

“Excuse us. We got lost, but could we please stay here for a while? We’ll definitely repay your kindness.”

“Please, help us out. This man said he was confident with mountain trails, but we missed the time to find a place to sleep and wandered around the mountain. I’ll treat you with delicious food in return. Please let us stay here.” akhi buy me a coffee

“Please, great man!”

The man was overly humble, and the plump woman was more confident.

After watching them for a moment, Pyo Wol opened his mouth.

“Are you a couple?”

“Yes, my name is Deung Mochang, and this woman is my wife, Dae Juhwa. I don’t know what kind of grudge we had in our past lives, but we’re going through these hardships together.” akhi buy me a coffee

“Whose fault is it that we’re suffering? If you hadn’t missed the time for lodging, we wouldn’t have had to go through this.”

“Right! It’s all my fault. It was me who suggested taking the mountain path and crossing it. But that’s only because my wife pressured me, isn’t it?”

“So what? What do you want me to do?”

“Just saying…”

As Dae Juhwa’s voice grew louder, Deung Mochang’s shoulders shrank in response.

They seemed to share the same frustration.

Dae Juhwa spoke to Pyo Wol.

“Anyway, given the situation, we’d appreciate it if you could help us out a bit.”

Their voices sounded quite coarse, as if a man and woman had switched places. It made sense that Deung Mochang couldn’t muster any energy.

Dae Juhwa continued.

“Then I’ll take it as permission granted.”

She sat down near the bonfire.

Deung Mochang cautiously sat down next to Dae Juhwa, glancing at Pyo Wol.

Dae Juhwa unloaded the baggage from her back and placed a large pot on the bonfire. She then started to steam dumplings.

The dumplings were the size of a child’s fist. Ten of these dumplings, which seemed filling enough with just one, were put in the pot.

As the dumplings began to cook, a delicious aroma spread throughout the mountain.

However, for some reason, Pyo Wol frowned slightly as he looked at the dumplings and Dae Juhwa.

At that moment, Dae Juhwa seemed to notice Pyo Wol’s gaze and smiled.

“You must like the smell too. Since you allowed us to rest here, we’ll share some dumplings with you.”

“You won’t regret it if you try them. My wife’s cooking skills are unmatched, especially her dumpling-making skills. Hehe!” Deung Mochang’s mouth was watering already. akhi buy me a coffee

He rubbed his hands together, waiting for the dumplings to cook.

Once the dumplings were fully cooked, Dae Juhwa scooped them out. She put a few dumplings on a wooden plate and handed it to Pyo Wol.

“Try them. They should be pretty tasty.”

“I’m good. I ate earlier.”

“Please, just try a little. It’s a heavenly taste you won’t regret.”

“I told you, I already ate.”

“Hmph! Don’t regret it.”

Dae Juhwa glared at Pyo Wol with fierce eyes for a moment before taking the plate back.

Deung Mochang chimed in.

“You’ll really regret it if you don’t try it.”

“Enough! If he says he doesn’t want to eat, then why…?”

“Tsk! No choice. We’ll eat it ourselves.”

The two lost interest in Pyo Wol and started enjoying their dumplings.

Slurp!

With each bite of the dumplings, the juices flowed.

The two devoured the dumplings greedily.

They even licked the juices running down their fingers, as if not to waste a drop.

The dumplings were gone in no time, but the two still looked hungry and unsatisfied.

Deung Mochang asked cautiously.

“Is there no more? My dear.”

“You know, right? We’re out of ingredients. We need to get more to make dumplings.”

“Ugh! Of all times to run out of ingredients…”

“You should have worked harder.”

“How’s that my fault? There hasn’t been any work lately.”

“Ugh! You’re such a nuisance. Anyway, from now on, work harder.”

“That’s why I came out.”

Deung Mochang said everything he wanted to while still watching Dae Juhwa’s reaction.

Dae Juhwa gave her husband a displeased look. She soon cleaned up the pot and wooden dishes on the bonfire.

Deung Mochang leaned against a rock and patted his stomach.

“Great! My wife’s dumplings are the best. With a full stomach and a warm body, there’s nothing more I could ask for in this world.”

“Hmph! To be satisfied with just that… A man with such small dreams, what good are you?”

“Forget it! I’ll just follow my wife around for the rest of my life, enjoying delicious food. That’s my idea of happiness.”

“Tsk!”

Dae Juhwa snorted, but her expression wasn’t displeased.

After looking at Deung Mochang for a moment, Dae Juhwa shifted her gaze to Pyo Wol.

“By the way, where are you headed without any companions?”

“To Poyang Lake!”

“Ah! Poyang Lake? I know of it. But why are you going there? Do you know someone there?”

“Well, you could say that.”

“You sure are fearless.”

“What do you mean?”

“To camp alone in these wild mountains. What do you think is in these mountains?”

“Why, is there something?”

“Well…”

Dae Juhwa trailed off mysteriously.

At that moment, Deung Mochang, who had been leaning against a rock, sat up straight.

He scrutinized Pyo Wol’s face and said,

“Now that I look at you, you’re really good-looking. Ordinary women wouldn’t dare boast their beauty in front of you. How can your skin be so radiant?”

“Indeed! It looks very smooth.”

“Hehe! Must be delicious, right?”

Deung Mochang licked his lips with his tongue.