Chapter 98: When Many Gather, Each Raises Their Voice (2)

Dam Ho raised his head to look at the sky.

Clouds were gathering, and it looked as though rain might come at any moment.

He was currently in the courtyard of the annex at the Seopung Inn. He should have been staying in a guest room, but because of Bang Jin-bo, he spent more time here.

The view of Dongting Lake from the annex was truly magnificent. But no matter how beautiful the scenery, Dam Ho's heart felt nothing.

He simply looked at what was before him because it was there.

While Dam Ho gazed at Dongting Lake, Bang Jin-bo was busy preparing food. Eun So-cheong stood beside him, holding a knife and waiting.

She was insisting on learning to cook from Bang Jin-bo. The sight amused Cho Yeon-woon, who kept laughing.

"Can you even trim ingredients with that knife? Instead of getting hurt, why don't you stand back and watch?"

"Hmph! Don't laugh. I can do it too."

"You'll hurt yourself. When you do, don't cry—just come to me."

"I told you, no."

Eun So-cheong snorted and turned away. Cho Yeon-woon taunted her.

"Tch! So you have pride? Fine! Do as you like. But don't come crying when you hurt yourself."

"Oh, honestly, you are so annoying."

Eun So-cheong covered her ears.

The two bickered all day yet stayed together. By this point, one would expect someone to leave in a huff.

Bang Jin-bo enjoyed the commotion.

Listening to Cho Yeon-woon and Eun So-cheong argue made him feel energized, and cooking became enjoyable.

'I wish we could stay here a long time.'

Bang Jin-bo glanced at Dam Ho, praying this happiness would last.

Dam Ho leaned against a large tree, gazing at Dongting Lake. Like a statue, his motionless figure somehow looked lonely.

His presence was alien, incompatible with any of the surrounding scenery. Only Dam Ho seemed to live in a different world entirely.

A small worry nagged at Bang Jin-bo—would he suddenly leave again someday? But knowing that Dam Ho never broke a promise once given, he felt somewhat reassured.

Before Bang Jin-bo lay a large fish. It had been freshly caught from Dongting Lake that very morning.

Bang Jin-bo intended to make Suja-eo with the fish.

Suja-eo was a dish in which fish was sliced into fillets, lightly fried in oil, then boiled with various seasonings and chili oil.

"Hehe!"

Bang Jin-bo began to expertly fillet the fish with his knife.

Swish! Swish!

After a few deft strokes, the skin was removed and the bones were extracted. In the next instant, the fillets were sliced paper-thin.

"Wow!"

Eun So-cheong, watching from the side, gasped in admiration.

Cho Yeon-woon could not suppress his amazement either. He knew Bang Jin-bo's cooking skills were exceptional, but he had not expected his knife work to be this impressive.

'If he learned sword techniques, he would be a natural.'

Though he was chubbier than other boys, that was not particularly important.

Once he learned martial arts, the weight would come off naturally. What mattered were his senses and talent.

With the skill Bang Jin-bo now displayed in handling his knife, he would learn any saber technique far faster than others.

Cho Yeon-woon glanced at Dam Ho. From morning until now, Dam Ho had maintained the same posture, standing still.

No human being could stand in one position for that long. No matter how strong one's patience, it was impossible. Yet Dam Ho did it as if it were nothing.

Come to think of it, there was very little he knew about Dam Ho.

Only the two characters of his name and the epithets Fist Demon or Sin-gang Blood Star.

"Truly an interesting fellow."

As Cho Yeon-woon smiled faintly, a voice suddenly rang out in the courtyard of the annex.

"My lady!"

A stranger's voice echoed through the courtyard.

Eun So-cheong was the first to respond with delight.

"Eun-geom."

The one who appeared was Jong-ri-su, Eun So-cheong's bodyguard.

Jong-ri-su hurried to Eun So-cheong.

"My lady."

"What is it?"

"Do not be alarmed. The Lord is here outside."

"Father?"

Eun So-cheong's eyes widened.

Her father, Eun Il-myeong, was not the kind of person who left the Eun-ga Pavilion easily.

At that moment.

"Haha! So-cheong!"

With a hearty laugh, a man of generous build entered the annex. He was a middle-aged man with a double chin and thick belly, draped in splendid garments.

"Father!"

Eun So-cheong rose from her seat and ran to the man.

He was none other than the master of the Eun-ga Pavilion, one of the Five Great Sects of Hunan, Eun Il-myeong. Eun Il-myeong opened his arms wide and embraced Eun So-cheong tightly as she threw herself into them.

"What brings you here, Father?"

"I came on business. Have you been well, you rascal?"

Eun Il-myeong patted Eun So-cheong's head with a smile. On his face, his tender feelings for his daughter were plainly visible.

Eun Il-myeong held Eun So-cheong in his embrace for a time, savoring their reunion.

"But what is the real reason you are here, Father?"

"Before that, should you not introduce the people with you?"

"Ah!"

Only then did Eun So-cheong come to her senses and pull away from her father's embrace. She began introducing the people around her.

"This is Jin-bo. Bang Jin-bo."

"Ah, it is a pleasure to meet you, Great Hero Eun."

At Eun So-cheong's introduction, Bang Jin-bo stepped forward awkwardly and bowed.

Eun Il-myeong's eyes gleamed.

'So this is the fat boy…'

Jong-ri-su had told him.

That Eun So-cheong had given her heart to a certain boy.

For twelve years, he had raised Eun So-cheong as his precious jewel. When he heard that she had given her heart to an outsider, the sense of betrayal he felt was beyond words.

Naturally, Eun Il-myeong's gaze toward Bang Jin-bo was fierce.

"So you are Jin-bo."

"It is my… my first time meeting you."

"A pleasure."

There was a threatening edge to Eun Il-myeong's voice.

The next person Eun So-cheong introduced was Cho Yeon-woon.

"This is a good-for-nothing, freeloading old man."

"Hey!"

Cho Yeon-woon protested, but Eun So-cheong only snorted and had no intention of correcting herself.

In the end, Cho Yeon-woon had to introduce himself.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Great Hero Eun. My name is Cho Yeon-woon of the Hundred Battles Hall."

"How could I not know the world-famous Cloud Dragon, Hero Cho? I trust the Lord is in good health?"

"That man is in good health as I am. He will probably outlive me."

"To think I would meet Hero Cho in a place like this. You must come to the Eun-ga Pavilion. I will give you a proper reception then."

"I am already receiving a fine reception. This young man's cooking skills are quite extraordinary."

Cho Yeon-woon glanced at Bang Jin-bo. Bang Jin-bo blushed. At that, Eun Il-myeong's expression soured slightly.

Cho Yeon-woon smiled seeing Eun Il-myeong's reaction.

'Daughter and father, exactly alike.'

But he could not reveal his thoughts.

After glaring at Bang Jin-bo for a moment, Eun Il-myeong's gaze turned to Dam Ho.

"And that one over there…"

"He is Mister Dam Ho. He is Jin-bo's older brother."

"Dam Ho?"

At Eun So-cheong's answer, Eun Il-myeong furrowed his brow.

Since he was Bang Jin-bo's brother, his mood soured immediately.

"In the Murim world, they call him the Sin-gang Blood Star, or the Fist Demon."

"Good heavens!"

But as Eun So-cheong's explanation continued, his furrowed brow relaxed in an instant.

He had heard much of Dam Ho's infamy. Any martial artist residing in Hunan Province could not help but know of Dam Ho.

Eun Il-myeong was no exception. He too had been warily eyeing the recently appeared Dam Ho, who had been carrying out a bloodbath. But he had never imagined that Bang Jin-bo's brother, whom his daughter associated with, would be Dam Ho.

'If the Eun-ga Pavilion mobilized all its forces, could we kill him?'

Suddenly, such a temptation struck. But Eun Il-myeong quickly shook his head.

It was a deal that did not add up.

Though called one of the Five Great Sects of Hunan, the Eun-ga Pavilion was fundamentally closer to a trading house than a martial house. They were accustomed to resolving matters through wealth rather than force.

The other party was the martial artist who had earned the greatest infamy in Hunan. There was no need to provoke him needlessly and invite trouble.

Though Eun Il-myeong stared, Dam Ho did not spare him a glance.

If anyone else had done such a thing, Eun Il-myeong would surely have flown into a rage. But he could not do so with Dam Ho.

It was like a powder keg before the fire. An ominous aura seeped from Dam Ho's body. That was why he dared not even address him.

Dam Ho continued to gaze at Dongting Lake without giving Eun Il-myeong a single glance.

An awkward silence hung between them. It was Cho Yeon-woon who broke it.

"Do not worry about that ice-cold fellow. He rarely speaks a word, so we are lucky to hear more than one sentence from him a day."

"I see…"

Eun Il-myeong forced a nod. An awkward smile hung on his face.

"Father!"

"Y-yes?"

"What brings you here?"

"I came on business."

"Business?"

"I am to meet someone here."

"Who?"

"You will see soon enough. We arranged to meet here."

"At the Seopung Inn?"

"That is correct."

Eun Il-myeong patted his daughter's shoulder.

He had put aside his interest in Dam Ho. Though Dam Ho himself was a burden, there were more important matters at hand.

'Who on earth is he meeting?'

Eun So-cheong furrowed her brow slightly.

Eun Il-myeong rarely left the Eun-ga Pavilion unless something significant arose. As the master of one of the Five Great Sects of Hunan, he had his pride, and most people came to him to ask for favors.

Eun So-cheong looked around.

Though invisible, Eun Il-myeong's Iron Sword Guard would surely be stationed nearby. Eun Il-myeong never moved without their protection.

Eun Il-myeong spoke to Eun So-cheong.

"Let me borrow this place for a moment."

"Pardon?"

"The other locations are not suitable for meeting them."

"Father, but…"

Just as Eun So-cheong was about to speak, the door burst open and an Iron Sword Guard rushed in to report to Eun Il-myeong.

"They have arrived."

"What? Already?"

A look of dismay appeared on Eun Il-myeong's face.

He had not yet prepared anything, and they had already come.

Before he could even give orders to his men, the visitors entered.

"Haha! Lord Eun!"

A middle-aged man in a light blue scholar's robe entered the annex with a jovial smile. Three people followed behind him.

They were none other than Namgung Chang, Oh Gun-ui, Namgung Su, and Hae So-wol.

"Mmm!"

"I am Namgung Chang of the Namgung Family. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Eun."

"I am Eun Il-myeong of the Eun-ga Pavilion. It is an honor to meet Great Hero Namgung."

Eun Il-myeong offered a cupped-fist salute.

'Well, well.'

Cho Yeon-woon's eyes lit up.

He knew that martial artists of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families were gathering in Akyang, but he had not expected to encounter an elder of the Namgung Family—a pillar of the Five Great Families—at this very place.

It was too coincidental to be mere chance.

While he was thinking, Oh Gun-ui stepped forward to introduce himself.

"I am Oh Gun-ui of the Hainan Sect. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Following Namgung Chang, Oh Gun-ui's introduction was enough to throw Eun Il-myeong into confusion.

The Hainan Sect appearing after the Namgung Family.

Though the Eun-ga Pavilion's fame was enough to encompass all of Hunan, the reputation of the Namgung Family and the Hainan Sect shook the entire world.

Whichever it was, they were figures beyond the Eun-ga Pavilion's ability to handle.

Behind the two, Namgung Su and Hae So-wol offered cupped-fist salutes.

"I am Namgung Su of the Namgung Family. I greet Lord Eun."

"I am Hae So-wol of the Hainan Sect. I offer my respects to Great Hero Eun."

"A pleasure. I regret that this is not my own home, and I cannot offer you a grand reception."

They exchanged customary greetings.

On the surface, the atmosphere was cordial. But between them, an invisible tension hung.

Eun Il-myeong spoke first.

"May I ask what brings all of you to seek me out?"

At that, Namgung Chang smiled.

"I merely came to pay my respects."

Wei Zong was watching the meeting in the main hall with boredom.

They were in the middle of discussing how to divide up business rights. Everyone had fire in their eyes. They were all desperate to gain even a little more profit.

‘Foolish b*st*rds.’

Wei Zong sneered inwardly.

It was like the story of three in the morning and four in the evening. They might be happy now that their businesses would increase and they’d make big money, but they would have to pay a portion of those profits to Poison Valley for the rest of their lives.

Looking outside the main hall, it was already dark even though it was still afternoon.

In any case, it was about time to wrap up the discussion. After all, shouldn’t he declare himself the first leader of the unified poison sects and conclude the assembly?

But then a warrior rushed up to Wei Zong urgently and handed him a bamboo slip and a silver plaque.

The moment Wei Zong saw the silver plaque, his eyes narrowed.

It was a silver plaque symbolizing the rank of investigator in the Martial Arts Alliance.

“Ahem.”

Wei Zong turned the bamboo slip around and read the characters written inside.

㑌密入 (You Mi Ru)

The moment he read it, Wei Zong was greatly surprised.

㑌 means limping 

‘The limping one has secretly entered?’

Wei Zong frowned.

The person who sent this bamboo slip was most likely Mang Ryo.

The authenticity of this information was somewhat questionable.

Mang Ryo had changed his story countless times. To him and the Shadow Bureau, he had said that the culprit behind this incident was a single limping man, but to the righteous faction’s Five Birds Sect, he had said there were other forces and the limping one was merely their lackey.

How could he trust the words of such a person?

But…

Wei Zong checked the enclosed silver plaque.

Even if Mang Ryo had other intentions, he couldn’t use the Martial Arts Alliance’s silver plaque privately.

The fact that he had enclosed the silver plaque probably meant he was guaranteeing the authenticity of the information as much as possible.

“Who sent this?”

“Advisor Mang sent it through a messenger.”

It was indeed Mang Ryo.

Wei Zong stared intently at the characters on the bamboo slip.

‘The limping one… is here right now?’

Let’s assume the information is true for now. With so many people coming and going, the limping one could have mixed in among them.

However, to be honest, it was hard to think that he would be so bold as to enter here.

This was a place where not only Poison Valley but also the leaders of all the small and medium poison sects had gathered.

‘Come to think of it…’

Mang Ryo had been very eager to catch the limping one. Perhaps that’s why he had sent this information so urgently.

‘But why didn’t he come himself?’

It was somewhat suspicious.

He didn’t feel like trusting this information.

It wouldn’t be difficult to verify. He could just call together all the outsiders except for the uninvited poison sect members and check if the limping one was among them.

But what if he was wrong? What if the information was false?

Just when he was about to become the leader of the unified poison sects, he didn’t want to be seen as someone who made a fuss over just three characters written on a bamboo slip.

That would make people doubt Wei Zong’s abilities and seriously damage his authority.

Most of all, the fact that he had to move based on Mang Ryo’s words was extremely irritating.

But he couldn’t just not verify it either…

After pondering for a while, Wei Zong made his decision.

Wei Zong gave orders to the warrior.

“Gather all the outsiders and servants in the valley in front of the main hall. Everyone, including those doing odd jobs.”

“Yes, understood.”

Wei Zong went in front of the poison sect members who were in heated discussion and said:

“Have you finished your deliberations?”

The poison sect members looked awkward.

“Well, not yet…”

Since it involved their interests, they couldn’t help but be sharply opposed.

Wei Zong suggested:

“Then, shall we take a break and look at this?”

“What is that?”

“Elder Mang Ryo… ah, Advisor Mang, who is now serving as an advisor to the Poison Control Bureau of the Martial Arts Alliance, has sent some interesting news.”

Wei Zong showed them the bamboo slip.

“The limping one!”

The expressions of the poison sect members froze. They had heard all sorts of rumors about the limping one. So the fact that the limping one was here made them shudder.

Didn’t that mean they were targets!

“Whether the limping one is truly the culprit… or just a lackey. Or whether this information sent by Advisor Mang is true… aren’t you all curious?”

The poison sect members swallowed dryly and reluctantly nodded.

Some hoped it wasn’t true.

“Then let’s play an interesting game.”

Wei Zong smiled slyly.

“I’ll wager one of the wine houses that our valley owns by Kunming Lake. How about it?”

* * *

‘Something’s happened!’

Jin Ja-gang realized that the hall had suddenly become noisy. Warriors were running around everywhere.

A warrior approached where Jin Ja-gang was sitting.

“Hey, you. You’re a construction worker, right?”

His nerves were on edge. Had he been discovered?

“Come to the front of the main hall. The Valley Master has something to say.”

The warrior’s attitude wasn’t particularly hostile. But he couldn’t relax his tension.

Jin Ja-gang followed the warrior to the front of the main hall.

In front of the main hall, not only Jin Ja-gang but also servants, workers, and cooks working in Poison Valley had been summoned in large numbers.

Their number reached nearly fifty.

Soon, an elderly man with the feel of a village school teacher walked out from the end of the main hall.

The workers who recognized him as the Valley Master hurriedly knelt on the ground.

“Valley Master!”

Jin Ja-gang also knelt following the others.

‘That’s Wei Zong, the Valley Master of Poison Valley!’

His eyes were sharp and his face was as smooth as someone in their twenties. You could tell at a glance that he was a master.

The greatest master of Yunnan’s poison sects…

As Jin Ja-gang was sizing up Wei Zong with sidelong glances, a warrior standing below Wei Zong spoke.

“Thanks to your hard work, the important event has been completed successfully. Therefore, the Valley Master will personally commend your efforts and pour you each a cup of wine.”

The workers looked puzzled.

‘Wine?’

The warrior urged the workers.

“Come forward one by one!”

As if pushed along, one servant hesitantly walked forward.

The servant clearly looked terrified. And rightly so, since Wei Zong alone was scary enough, but behind him stood a crowd of poison sect leaders.

The servant trembled and dropped the cup while receiving wine from Wei Zong. The servant’s face turned pale.

“I-I’m sorry!”

“It’s alright, it’s alright.”

Wei Zong smiled and poured wine into the cup again and gave it to the servant.

“Drink it.”

The poison sect leaders praised Wei Zong’s magnanimity.

“As expected, the Valley Master is truly magnanimous.”

“For the Valley Master to personally care for even the lowly servants moves us to tears.”

“Consider it an honor and drink, you fools. Hahaha!”

The servant hurriedly drank the wine and returned.

The warrior pushed the next person. He too went out, received wine, and returned.

Jin Ja-gang observed them carefully.

He wondered if they had been given poisoned wine. But for now, there seemed to be no major problems.

‘Are they really just pouring wine to thank us for our hard work?’

Since they weren’t scolded even for making mistakes, and there was no intention to interrogate or torment them, the workers’ faces became much more relaxed.

Looking at the expressions of the warriors pushing them to drink, Wei Zong pouring the wine, and the poison sect leaders standing behind Wei Zong, there seemed to be nothing special.

However, Jin Ja-gang remained uneasy throughout. This situation felt awkward somehow.

Most of all, wasn’t it suspicious to call fifty people forward one by one!

Something felt wrong…

A thought flashed through Jin Ja-gang’s mind.

Distance.

To receive wine from Wei Zong, you had to go to the main hall.

That distance was ten steps.

When Jin Ja-gang’s turn came, the distance Jin Ja-gang would have to walk would be ten steps.

‘Ah…’

Only then did Jin Ja-gang realize the subtle point of the current situation.

‘They’re looking for me!’

What could be confirmed by making someone walk ten steps?

It was aimed at the limping one.

Jin Ja-gang bit his lower lip.

If he wanted to hide his limp, it was possible. But that was only when glimpsed briefly – with dozens of martial arts masters staring intently, he couldn’t walk normally enough to fool them.

He looked at the sky.

The sky was overcast as if it would pour rain at any moment.

But it still wasn’t time.

Dark clouds gathered in Jin Ja-gang’s eyes.

* * *

“Next!”

The bored warrior was about to push the next person’s back.

But before he could even touch him, a young man stepped forward first.

The young man took one step.

Limp.

At that moment, Wei Zong’s eyes changed.

Limp, limp.

As the young man walked forward, the expressions of the poison sect leaders behind Wei Zong gradually hardened.

Unlike just moments before when they had been joking and praising Wei Zong, the poison sect leaders completely shut their mouths.

The young man must have clearly felt that the atmosphere had completely changed.

Even the workers were looking around nervously, thinking that Wei Zong and the leaders had somehow changed.

However, the young man himself was walking toward the main hall as if nothing was wrong.

Limp, limp.

Everyone’s attention was focused on walking that short distance of ten steps. The young man’s each step was very slow, and he limped each step as if showing off.

The young man finally reached Wei Zong and stopped.

The young man held up a wine cup and offered it to Wei Zong. Unlike the previous workers who received it while cowering or being afraid, he was very confident. He looked like he was naturally receiving what he deserved.

Wei Zong was quietly looking at the young man.

The young man also stared directly at Wei Zong while holding out the cup.

A warrior beside them shouted:

“Insolent fool! Kneel!”

The young man didn’t resist and knelt on one knee. Then he held out the cup again.

A smile slowly formed on Wei Zong’s lips.

It wasn’t a comfortable smile.

It was a smile that contained meanings of admiration, or perhaps brazenness, or ridiculousness.

Wei Zong poured wine with a smiling face.

Trickle.

The young man looking up at Wei Zong’s smiling face also smiled.

But it was definitely not an awkward reciprocal smile.

So it’s you?

The b*st*rd who did terrible things to the Medicine Sect. The ringleader of the poison sects who ordered all those past evil deeds.

Wei Zong also understood the meaning of the young man’s smile. That’s why he smiled even more coldly, raising the corners of his mouth.

Yes, it was you. The one Mang Ryo had been desperately searching for.

You’re the one who attacked our poison sects and massacred them cruelly?

Jin Ja-gang’s smile also deepened. The more it did, the more killing intent showed, making even his eyes glisten.

Trickle, trickle, trickle.

The wine Wei Zong was pouring had already overflowed the cup and was flowing to the ground.

But there was no movement in the actions of the two glaring at each other.

Drop.

Finally, one bottle of wine was completely emptied and the last drop fell.

The corners of smiling Wei Zong’s mouth stretched so long they almost reached his ears.