The Reaper.
There wasn’t a single member of the Golden Heaven Society who didn’t know of that title.
But, their knowledge didn’t stem solely because the owner of the title had a formidable reputation that shook Jianghu, but rather because they have received a specific order from above.
[Avoid direct contact and conflict with the Reaper, Pyo-wol.]
It was just a single line, but the meaning contained within it was far from simple.
It meant that the newly appointed leader of the Golden Heaven Society, Jang Mugeuk, had a strong opinion of Pyo-wol.
Although Zhao Yiguang and Bok Hojin have yet to personally meet their leader, they both knew well enough about his prowess, which was why they willingly acknowledged him as the new head.
Among the martial artists of his age, there were only a handful of warriors Jang Mugeuk recognizes as exceptional and skilled. Neither Zhao Yiguang nor Bok Hojin was among them.
Yet, the two of them have no complaints because Jang Mugeuk was truly an outstanding martial artist. Jang Mugeuk was not just someone who can be confined within the boundaries of a late-stage cultivator.
And for an existence like Jang Mugeuk, one of the people he acknowledges, although begrudgingly, was none other than the Reaper, Pyo-wol.
Zhao Yiguang’s eyes sank deeply.
‘The Reaper…’
The significance of having a title in Jianghu was extraordinarily special. It contained all the information about the other person.
A prime example of this was the Three Saints.
The title, War Saint, was bestowed upon someone who had reached the pinnacle of martial prowess.
Then for the title of Wind Saint, the person was given such a nickname because of his free-spiritedness.
And as for the title, Sword Saint, it was given to Han Yucheon because he had achieved unparalleled mastery of the sword.
Titles are more often than not symbolic that reflect the personality of their beholder and the characteristics of their martial arts. Just by knowing the person’s title, one could discern the level, disposition, and temperament of the title holder.
The man in front of them possessed the title Reaper or the God of Death.
It was extremely rare for someone to bear the title of ‘God’.
It was a title that could only be bestowed upon someone who had reached the pinnacle in a certain field and reached a level of excellence that no one else could match.
Furthermore, Pyo-wol had the word, ‘death’ attached to his title.
This could only mean that Pyo-wol had reached a level similar to a god when it comes to killing people.
It was difficult to imagine how skilled a person must be at killing to earn the title of Reaper.
Usually, those who bestowed such grandiose titles upon themselves often turned out to be braggarts, with no actual skill to show for it.
But, Pyo-wol was different.
It was the people of Chengdu who had first called him the Reaper.
At that time, the title of Reaper was hardly known in Jianghu.
Of course, those who were well-informed about the affairs in Jianghu or dealt with a lot of information knew of that title. However, they didn’t pay much attention to it.
They all thought of it as a self-proclaimed title of a braggart.
This was especially true since Sichuan was a very closed province with its own independent martial system.
Many people believed that having the title, God of Death, in such a secluded province was of little value since it would be of no use once the title holder actually steps into the real world, or in Jianghu.
And sometime later, Pyo-wol appeared in Jianghu.
If he had truly been just a braggart, the title of Reaper would have been a subject of ridicule. However, his title continued to be consistently maintained even after that.
At the very least, it meant that the title Pyo-wol obtained in Chengdu was not a lie.
What mattered was that everyone who encountered Pyo-wol in the Jianghu recognized him as the Reaper due to his unparalleled martial prowess and skill.
Zhao Yiguang was a very cautious man. He didn’t listen to the rumors circulating in Jianghu lightly.
‘Why did the Reaper come here?’
Jiangsu, with its access to the sea and a major trading port called Haimen, was more prosperous than any other province in Jianghu.
There were no absolute sects like the legendary Two Factions, Three Great Sects, or Three Manors. However, various factions such as the Nanjing sect and the Changjiang Fortress, maintained a delicate balance and exerted their influence.
In a sense, Jiangsu Province could be seen as a peaceful lake.
There was an abundance of resources, and there was only a minimal number of external threats. It was truly a place suitable for stable growth.
But now, an external threat named Pyo-wol had entered this tranquil place.
Naturally, Zhao Yiguang and the other members of the Golden Heaven Society couldn’t help but be on guard.
If Pyo-wol was simply passing through without any hidden intentions, then there would be no problem. But, if there was even a slight possibility of him settling here, then that’s a different matter. Pyo-wol would end up becoming a serious threat.
Pyo-wol is someone who is so formidable that he could end up shaking the entire hierarchical system and power dynamics in Jiangsu Province if he decided to stay.
Zhao Yiguang made a concerted effort to maintain a calm expression as he cupped his fists,
“You must be Master Pyo-wol. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You don’t seem like it at all—”
“I apologize. I have been rude to you upon our first meeting. I hope you would be so open-minded to forgive me of my fault.”
Zhao Yiguang’s tone instantly changed.
With Pyo-wol being much older than him, and above all, his great reputation in Jianghu, there was no doubt about his superiority.
No matter how capable and skilled Zhao Yiguang was, he could only exercise his authority and power within Jiangsu Province. On the other hand, Pyo-wol was a master encompassing the entire Jianghu.
The difference between the two was so stark that Zhao Yiguang couldn’t help but show deference and respect to Pyo-wol.
Bok Hojin, who finished tending to Tang Ik-gi’s wounds, also rose from his seat and cupped his fists,
“It’s a pleasure to meet the famous Master Pyo. If it’s alright with you, I would like to invite you to visit our Changjiang Fortress.”
Bok Hojin’s eyes were burning with strong ambition.
Pyo-wol knew what that meant.
The next person to greet Pyo-wol was Eum Yujeong.
She flashed him a bright smile as she similarly cupped her fists,
“It’s truly an honor to meet you, Master Pyo. I hope you’ll take the time to visit our Sword Blossom Pavilion as well.”
Among them, the only one who remained stunned and confused was Tang Ik-gi. He was staring blankly at Pyo-wol, almost forgetting the piercing pain in his shoulder.
‘Oh my goodness! The Reaper!’
Tang Ik-gi was not oblivious to the current events in Jianghu.
On the contrary, due to his strong ambition for success, he was more knowledgeable about the current state of affairs and information in Jianghu than anyone else.
Therefore, Tang Ik-gi also knew that Pyo-wol was undoubtedly the most exceptional among the high-level experts who had recently emerged in Jianghu.
But since Tang Ik-gi had attacked Pyo-wol without knowing his identity, he would have to bear the brunt of the consequences.
‘What should I do–! Oh, I should apologize first–!’
It was not a time to be concerned about one’s pride.
Tang Ik-gi tried to kneel, enduring the pain in his shoulder. However, someone moved before him.
It was none other than Zhao Yiguang.
Zhao Yiguan stood in front of Tang Ik-gi, blocking his path.
“I’m revoking your temporary membership position.”
“What?”
“Since you attacked Master Pyo-wol recklessly and tarnished the honor of the Golden Heaven Society, I will strip you of your membership position.”
“How could you do that to me?!”
“Just accept your expulsion obediently. If you continue to deny or resist then you will never have a chance to be reinstated.”
Zhao Yiguang’s voice was as cold as ice.
Tang Ik-gi’s face twisted in anger, but he didn’t act rashly.
It was because of the word ‘reinstated’ that Zhao Yiguang had mentioned.
Although it was Tang Ik-gi who directly confronted Pyo-wol, it was Eum Yujeong who manipulated him behind the scenes.
As long as he shoulders all the blame now and not mention Eum Yujeong, then there’s a possibility that he would be accepted back as a member in the future.
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