Reaper of the Drifting Moon

“Unlike a courtesan working in a brothel, an ordinary woman wouldn’t bother to grow her nails and sprinkle pearl powder on them to make them look elegant. This goes the same goes for her hair. Do you think an ordinary woman who had been assaulted in the middle of the night would take the time and effort of wearing such fancy hairpins? And several of them adorning her hair at that? And what about the clothes you’re wearing? They may seem plain and ordinary at first glance, but they’re actually made of high-quality silk. Above all, there’s a scent emanating from your body that can only be found in brothels. You probably didn’t have time to properly wash and came here with traces of perfume still lingering on your body.”

“W-What?”

“If word got out that a woman got assaulted and raped, it would tarnish her reputation. Thus, an ordinary woman wouldn’t normally come out in the open like this and accuse the perpetrator. But a courtesan is different. Since they’re already involved in the red-light district, it wouldn’t matter even if such rumors circulated. You probably received an offer out of the blue last night to frame me like this, which was why you couldn’t completely get rid of the perfume scent from your body and came here today.”

The woman became visibly agitated.

Pyo-wol spoke as if he had witnessed the situation firsthand.

Goosebumps crawled all over the woman’s body.

She was exactly what Pyo-wol described– a courtesan. Last night, while she was in the middle of doing her work, she unexpectedly received a visit from the sect leader of the Sword Blossom Pavilion.

The offer of the Sword Blossom Pavilion’s leader to her was simple.

Go Yeonsu wanted her to testify that she had been assaulted by Pyo-wol.

Like Pyo-wol said, if she were an ordinary woman, she would have probably refused immediately. But to her, who is a courtesan, such a thing wasn’t that much of a big deal.

Besides, she had no reason to refuse when she was offered a considerable amount of money in return for her efforts.

That was why she was here.

The problem was Pyo-wol.

If he were an ordinary man, he would have been flustered and confused in the face of a sudden accusation, but that didn’t happen. Instead, he manages to successfully reveal her nature as a courtesan.

Seeing the woman flustered, Pyo-wol didn’t miss the opportunity to dig into her weakness,

“It won’t take me long to figure out which brothel you belong to. With your kind of beauty, you must be quite popular and have numerous regular clients. How long do you think you can hide it? Once it becomes known that you falsely accused a young martial artist in Jianghu, do you think you and your brothel will be safe?”

In the next instant, the courtesan’s face turned pale.

She unconsciously glanced back and forth between Pyo-wol and Go Yeonsu’s faces. It was a sign of her dilemma between the two.

Go Yeonsu shouted,

“Pull yourself together! Are you going to succumb to some man’s threat?”

“Well, but–”

“What are you afraid of? The Sword Blossom Pavilion will protect you. Didn’t you come crying to me earlier in the morning? Asking me to redress your grievances?”

“Y-Yes!”

“Then just stick to your initial statement! Don’t fall for that guy’s trick!”

“Yes!”

The courtesan barely managed to respond.

Seeing the woman like that, Go Yeonsu gritted her teeth.

‘Useless bitch.’

Go Yeonsu didn’t even ask her to play a big role. She simply told her to play the role of a victim.

For a worn-out and tattered courtesan like her, such a role should not have been difficult to play. Yet, the woman couldn’t even properly refute and respond Pyo-wol’s words, even to the point of showing her flustered state.

Once this matter was over, Go Yeonsu decided he would have to deal with the courtesan, After all, there was no telling when the courtesan might change her mind and start talking again.

If word got out that Go Yeonsu had fabricated this incident, it would be her and the Sword Blossom Pavilion who would suffer the blow.

Go Yeonsu glared at Pyo-wol and said,

“A criminal speaking useless words. Do you think your reckless attempt will work?”

“Is this how you’ve been raising the Sword Blossom Pavilion? Through schemes and slander?”

“How dare you insult me!”

“Insult you? Isn’t it the other way around? Look what you’ve done, falsely claiming to be a victim, and spreading rumors about me in Jianghu. That’s what a real insult is.”

“Shut up! The tears of the woman who had been harmed by you are still fresh in my eyes! If you continue to act like this, I will denounce you as a public enemy of Jianghu!”

“Public enemy of Jianghu…”

“Once you’ve been declared Jianghu’s public enemy, there will be no place for you to stand on. All the sects in the world will be hunting you down. So, you should kneel down and beg for forgiveness right now! Ho-ho! Do you understand? Will you comply now?”

Go Yeonsu erupted in rage.

Eum Yujeong who was behind her smiled along.

To a martial artist, there was nothing more terrifying than being labeled as Jianghu’s public enemy. After all, this meant that they had committed a grave offense, and once labeled as such, their activities would become restricted and tracked down.

However, to be denounced as a public enemy, there were many verifications that had to be done.

Even if a mid-sized faction like the Sword Blossom Pavilion designated someone as a Jianghu’s public enemy, the major factions would not readily accept it without proper confirmation.

Go Yeonsu and Eum Yujeong knew that fact, yet they wanted to put pressure on Pyo-wol mentally so they said such a thing.

“What are you going to do? Will you become Jianghu’s public enemy or follow me and receive the punishment you deserve? The decision is yours.”

“Who decides what is an appropriate punishment?”

“It would be me, of course. Who else in this place has the authority to pass judgment besides me?”

“What about the courtesan? You said she was the victim.”

“Since she entrusted everything to me, naturally, I also have the final say.”

Go Yeonsu said that as if it were obvious.

A smile of victory appeared on her lips.

Time and circumstances were on her side.

Regardless of the truth, just spending time like this would put Pyo-wol at a disadvantage.

Even if the truth were to come out in the end, by then, Pyo-wol’s reputation would be stained with filth that could not be washed away.

No matter how much he defends himself, since his reputation would already be stained at that time, no one would listen to him.

In the end, this young man, with only strength to show for it but no experience to back him up, would submit to her.

Go Yeonsu’s eyes gleamed with malice.

Once Pyo-wol surrendered, there were countless ways she would use Pyo-wol to gain power.

It wasn’t for no reason that they say old ginger is spicy.1

It was usually impossible for a woman to navigate through the chaotic world of Jianghu alone.

It was only yesterday when Eum Yujeon had first heard about Pyo-wol, yet within a day, she had devised and executed a plan to trap him.

Her determination and resourcefulness were truly beyond imagination.

Pyo-wol was genuinely impressed.

“How impressive. You’re so much better than most men.”

“Hmph! Do you think I would be pleased by your praise? Make your choice quickly. Will you become Jianghu’s public enemy, or will you face my punishment?”

“Neither of those choices appeals to me.”

“What?”

“There’s no reason for me to choose the answer sheet you’ve presented.”

Pyo-wol slowly rose to his feet.

His unexpected reaction caused the complexions of the Eum Yujeong and the rest of the Sword Blossom Pavilion disciples to stiffen.

“You mentioned me becoming Jianghu’s public enemy, didn’t you? Let’s see you try.”

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“It seems you haven’t learned much about me. If you had, you would know that being labeled as ‘Jianghu’s public enemy’ holds no pressure over me.”

“What?”

“I’m already been denounced as Sichuan’s public enemy. The Qingcheng sect, Emei sect, and numerous other sects have already tried hunting me down in hopes of killing me.”

“……”

“But, do you know what happened in the end? All those who sought to kill me ended up dead. Since then, no one dares to label me as a public enemy, because they knew it would be useless.”

Pyo-wol waved his hand.

Thunk, thunk, thunk!

In an instant, all the doors in the inn became closed.

“W, What happened?”

“The doors–!”

The disciples of Sword Blossom Pavilion visibly panicked as all the doors closed.

Go Yeonsu shouted,

“There’s no need to be intimidated by his bravado! Stay alert, everyone!”

“U-Understood!”

The Sword Blossom Pavilion disciples replied in unison, but the anxiety and unease on their faces didn’t disappear.

The one who was frightened the most was none other than the courtesan.

‘She told me it was a simple matter. She said that the man would be scared once I testified…’

So how come there’s no trace of fear on the man’s face at all? Rather, it’s the disciples of the Sword Blossom Pavilion, who stormed into the inn, who are frightened to the core.

It was only now did the courtesan regretted her decision, but she couldn’t retract it now.

Go Yeonsu raised her voice,

“If you think you can intimidate the Sword Blossom Pavilion with force, you’re mistaken! The prestigious Sword Blossom Pavilion will never succumb to such pressure!”

Boom!

Her powerful voice caused the objects in the inn to vibrate, a testament to the depth of her cultivation and strength. However, it didn’t evoke any reaction from Pyo-wol.

Among the people Pyo-wol had ever fought, there was not a single one who did not possess strong cultivation and internal energy like Go Yeonsu.

But of those people, Pyo-wol was not afraid of those who showcased their strength and pressured their opponents out in the open like this.

It was because the truly fearsome individuals are those who possess absolute confidence in their own strength and can exert their full power. And such people oftentimes do not exert pressure on their opponents like Go Yeonsu was currently doing.

The actions Go Yeonsu was taking now were no different from a scared dog baring its teeth and barking.

“H, How dare you go against the Sword Blossom Pavilion!”

Go Yeonsu shouted again.

In the meantime, a phantom dagger was released without a sound.

Swoosh!

“AH!”

Go Yeonsu cried out in pain as she stepped back. The phantom dagger was deeply embedded in her shoulder.

A fearful expression appeared on her face, as she contorted in pain.

She was unable to sense the presence of the incoming weapon not until it struck her.

Pyo-wol walked towards Go Yeonsu.

Even though Pyo-wol was right in front of her, she couldn’t sense his presence at all. It felt as if she was dealing with a ghost.

“E, Everyone, attack! Take him down!”

Go Yeonsu finally ordered her sect members to attack.

“Iyaa!”

“Ha!”

The Sword Blossom Pavilion disciples rushed towards Pyo-wol.

Countless swords flew towards Pyo-wol, hoping to strike him down. The sight was as beautiful as watching the fluttering wings of dozens of butterflies.

However, the situation that unfolded shortly after was far from beautiful.

Swish!

Dozens of invisible qi threads called the Soul-Reaping Thread, shot out from Pyo-wol’s hand.

Whoosh!

The Soul-Reaping Threads were so thin that it was hard to distinguish them with the naked eye, and they all pierced through the female disciples’ bodies without mercy.

“Ack!”

“Keuk!”

The Sword Blossom Pavilion disciples screamed in pain as they fell to the ground.

The marks of the Soul-Reaping Thread on their bodies were clear as day.

Though the holes were no bigger than a needle, the pain from the tiny punctures was unimaginable.

The pain was excruciating, like being burned by fire.

“Ugh!”

“Geugh!”

The Sword Blossom Pavilion disciples fell to the ground, crying and screaming.

As the martial artists who had charged at the front fell to the ground, all wounded, the ones left behind them hesitated and exchanged glances with each other.

“What are you doing?! Attack him!”

Go Yeonsu shouted in frustration, but the frightened disciples couldn’t find the courage to make a move.

Meanwhile, Pyo-wol approached closer.

The fearful expression on Go Yeonsu’s face deepened.

“Eek!”

She swung her sword frantically.

Thirteenth Stance: Blossoming Shadows.2

It was a graceful martial art technique with elegant sword movements. Normally, when the technique is unleashed, the image of a flower’s shadow would be seen blowing in the wind.

But this time, no shadow of a flower scattered in the wind.

Swoosh!

Pyo-wol’s phantom dagger pierced Go Yeonsu’s hand that was holding her sword.

“Keugh!”

Go Yeonsu collapsed, screaming.

‘Oh no!’

Eum Yujeong, who was behind Go Yeonsu, quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

Eum Yujeong’s eyes shook violently, as if there was an earthquake.

She couldn’t comprehend the situation unfolding inside the inn.

She thought that with her Master Go Yeonsu and the Sword Blossom Pavilion disciples, they would at least be able to pressure Pyo-wol, if not subdue him.

No matter how powerful and skilled a martial artist was, there was a limit to fighting alone. And according to conventional wisdom, it’s not in man’s nature, more so a martial artist’s, to intimidate or hurt women.

But those beliefs didn’t apply to Pyo-wol.

Go Yeonsu suddenly raised her head and glared at Pyo-wol.

“Do you think you’ll get away with this unscathed? I’ll– ugh!”

Thud!

At that moment, a Soul-Reaping Thread pierced through Go Yeonsu’s thigh.

Blood flowed out from the needle-sized hole, thus staining her clothes.

Go Yeonsu’s body trembled uncontrollably.

It was only now that she realize.

Pyo-wol was different from any other opponents she had faced before.

The manners and concepts commonly adhered to by Jianghu martial artists did not apply to Pyo-wol.

Go Yeonsu looked at her apprentice,

“E, Eum Yujeong! Help me!”

“I… I can’t!”

Eum Yujeong refused to help her master.

She quickly turned her body and tried to run away. But before she could take more than two steps, Eum Yujeong felt a searing pain in her calf.

A Soul-Reaping Thread had pierced through her calf.

“AHH!”

Eum Yujeong stumbled forward in the same posture as she had been running.

Swoosh!

As Pyo-wol pulled the Soul-Reaping Thread, Eum Yujeong’s body was dragged along.