Hong Yushin’s role in the Hao clan was by no means insignificant. Despite the wariness that came with the position of chief inspector, his ability to handle matters fairly and respond swiftly to changes in the world’s affairs was welcomed by everyone.
It is to Hong Yushin’s credit that many scattered branches throughout the land were able to function relatively smoothly. He would regularly visit every branch from time to time and diligently perform his primary task of gathering information.
Furthermore, he possessed excellent skills in coordinating numerous branches. Even if the branches all belonged to the same organization, conflicts of interest sometimes happen among neighboring regions.
But Hong Yushin would wisely resolve such issues every time, causing him to earn the support of many branch managers.
That was why when Hong Yushin disappeared, problems began to erupt in many branches.
The Hao clan became in a state of emergency.
Pyo-wol understood the situation of the Hao clan through the old butcher’s explanation.
Since Hong Yushin’s disappearance, the Hao clan’s Lake Tai branch had not received proper support, leading to a decline in their activities.
Furthermore, since this branch uses a slaughterhouse as a front, unlike other places which use a brothel, there was a significant difference in the quantity and quality of information.
While a courtesans’ laughter can make a person let down their guard, a butchers’ presence only makes the other person heighten their vigilance.
“Of course, it’s not that we have no information capabilities at all. It’s just that the process of gathering information takes time, which inevitably delays our handling of tasks.”
“How long will it take?”
“Two days. I will thoroughly have everything about the Cheolsan Manor investigated and provide you with all the information after two days.”
“Very well, do so.”
Pyo-wol nodded.
If the capabilities of the Hao clan’s Lake Tai branch was only to that extent, then there was no reason for Pyo-wol to push and rush them any further. It wasn’t like he was in a hurry anyway, so Pyo-wol should be satisfied with that.
“I’m staying at Lake Tai’s First Pavilion for the time being, so send the information there.”
“Understood.”
The old butcher replied obediently.
There was a faint hint of fear in his eyes as he looked at Pyo-wol.
He had lived his whole life seeing the blood of beasts.
While others dismissed it as a lowly job, he considered it his calling and had done his best in it.
Having his life spent on slaughtering animals, he eventually reached the level of a master.
Even if he’s dealing with the large cattle, he would be able to painlessly end its life with a single cut of his knife.
And because the cattle he kills never experience the pain of death, the meat of the cattle he kills were unusually tender. This was also the reason why many of his customers wanted to be supplied with cattle that he had killed himself.
If the old butcher set his mind to it, he could kill a person just as easily.
Whenever he looked at a person, he could see the other person’s weakness.
He could pinpoint the area where he could kill the other person in an instant.
The old butcher couldn’t explain it in words, but he knew that once he sliced through that area, any living creature would inevitably meet its end.
He had seen such weakness in every creature he had come across.
There might have been slight differences in the location every time, but the point of weakness was undoubtedly there.
However, as the old butcher continued to stare at the man in front of him right now, he saw no such thing.
No matter how hard he squinted, he couldn’t see any traces of weaknesses.
Instead, he felt as if something sharp was piercing through his own forehead.
‘Huh?’
He was startled by the unfamiliar sensation he was experiencing for the first time in his life. But it didn’t take him long to realize.
That the sensation he was feeling right now was the same sensation that the cows and pigs he had killed felt.
‘Am I having my weakness pinpointed instead?’
The old master felt shivers running through his whole body.
The ‘weakness’ the old butcher was referring to that was present in every living creature, was what Pyo-wol referred to as the Acupoint of Life and Death.
The Acupoint of Life and Death changes its location at every moment, in accordance with a person’s constitution, the surrounding environment, and the changing seasons.
Even if it’s a minor strike, if a person, or any living creature for that matter, is hit in their acupoints, then they could easily have their life ended.
If Pyo-wol had not worked at the slaughterhouse, he would never have discovered such a principle.
‘People refer to him as the Reaper in Jianghu. I guess the rumors weren’t exaggerated.’
If Pyo-wol had harbored any evil intentions, then the old butcher would no longer be standing here, alive, right now. It was certain that he would have died without knowing how his breath had been cut off– just like all the other cows and pigs he had slaughtered so far.
The fact that the other party had shown leniency made him feel even more fearful.
‘He is a man I must never turn against.’
The old butcher rubbed his arms, which were filled with goosebumps, as he watched Pyo-wol’s retreating figure.
When Pyo-wol was finally out of sight, the old butcher turned to the younger butchers.
“For the next two days, close the slaughterhouse and collect all information about Cheolsan manor and their workshop.”
* * *
Pyo-wol left the slaughterhouse and strolled along the riverbank.
Lake Tai was not only connected to the Yangtze River, but also to other small streams. When combined with nameless small rivers and streams, there were dozens of branches extending like branches of a tree, interconnected.
The place where Pyo-wol was walking was one of these unnamed streams.
The scenery along the riverbank was so beautiful that not only Pyo-wol, but also many others were walking around, enjoying the view.
‘Cheolsan manor.’
If Pyo-wol’s memory serves him right, then someone from Cheolsan manor was definitely the one who had hired the Hundred Wraith Union’s assassin to steal the vision and legacy of the Tang clan from Tang Sochu.
It was because of them why Tang Sochu had to move his workshop to Pyo-wol’s mansion, still living in seclusion.
Pyo-wol had promised Tang Sochu that he would solve this problem for him.
While Pyo-wol hadn’t come to Lake Tai knowing beforehand that Cheolsan manor was located here, now that he knew about the existence of Cheolsan manor and workshop, he couldn’t just ignore it and pass by.
That was why he had hired the Hao clan to gather information about Cheolsan’s manor.
He needed to confirm whether or not someone from Cheolsan’s manor was responsible for commissioning the Hundred Wraith Union to harm Tang Sochu.
Waiting for two more days will make it certain.
It wouldn’t be too late to make a move by then.
Pyo-wol could hear people laughing around him.
As Pyo-wol looked around, he could see couples walking together, excitement evident on their faces. There were also scholars busy painting and writing beneath a large tree, and people who had their feet dipped in the river, laughing and talking around. Pyo-wol could also see children running and playing along the riverbank.
It was truly a peaceful scene.
But the peace did not last long.
“AHH!”
Suddenly, a woman’s piercing scream rang out.
“What was that?”
“What happened?”
People in the area rushed towards the source of the scream, alarmed by the sudden commotion.
A moment later, people began to chatter,
“It’s a corpse!”
“A body has been washed up!”
“Oh my god! It’s a dead body of a young girl!”
Pyo-wol walked to the place where the people had gathered.
The group of people had gathered by the riverside, where the reeds were in full bloom.
Pyo-wol pushed his way through the crowd, and there, he saw the partially submerged body of a young girl in the water.
The sight of the girl’s corpse was extremely gruesome.
Her body was swollen from the water, making it impossible to recognize her original face, and her flesh was covered with fish-like gills.
Pyo-wol noticed that all of the girl’s fingernails and toenails had also been pulled out of her body.
It was undoubtedly marks of torture.
Not only had someone committed a heinous act against the girl, but they had also cruelly tortured her.
The brutality of the method was so gruesome that it made even a cold-blooded man like Pyo-wol frown.
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