Chapter 341

Chapter 341 – The Age of Chaos Calls for Heroes (1)

"Phew!"

Bang Jin-bo crouched beneath a large tree and let out a sigh. His face clearly showed exhaustion.

With his back against the tree, he looked down the mountain. Beneath the rolling clouds, Huayin County was faintly visible.

He stood on the peak of Luoan Peak, which rose majestically above the clouds south of Mount Hua. Luoan Peak, known for its picturesque scenery, was especially famous for its cloud seas viewed from here. Many Taoist priests frequented it for their beauty.

Bang Jin-bo gazed blankly at the cloud sea. When he first arrived at Mount Hua, the clouds had appeared so beautiful. Now they stirred no particular emotion.

That's when it happened.

"What are you doing here?"

A familiar voice echoed in Bang Jin-bo's ears.

"Oh, sister?"

Lifting his head, he saw Jong Ri-yeon.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just resting. I'm feeling a little tired somehow."

"You should be tired. I'm tired too."

"You too, sister?"

"Yes!"

Jong Ri-yeon nodded and crouched beside Bang Jin-bo.

Indeed, consecutive forced marches had left her quite exhausted as well.

With the single determination to distribute Plum Blossom Divine Pills to all Mount Hua disciples, she had been refining pills all this time. As a result, she had recently completed all the Plum Blossom Divine Pills. Bang Jin-bo's help had been tremendous in achieving this.

Thanks to Bang Jin-bo's mastery of the Five Elements Gentleman Technique, they could maximize the Plum Blossom Divine Pills' potency. Through the process of refining them, Bang Jin-bo's Five Elements Gentleman Technique also advanced significantly.

Now Bang Jin-bo's Five Elements Gentleman Technique had reached complete mastery. He had learned it with the single intention of helping people through food, yet his internal energy had inexplicably surged dramatically.

While enthusiastically making Plum Blossom Divine Pills, he hadn't noticed. But now that all were completed, Bang Jin-bo fell into extreme emptiness.

The Mount Hua disciples who received Plum Blossom Divine Pills were immersed in martial arts cultivation. Their internal energy would now surge dramatically.

Originally, Mount Hua disciples had enjoyed gradually increasing internal energy through food Bang Jin-bo prepared. But now that they consumed Plum Blossom Divine Pills, his food provided incomparable benefits. Consequently, Bang Jin-bo's services had become unnecessary.

Due to this, Bang Jin-bo was essentially out of business. Since he had trained substitute cooks, there was no need for him to cook anymore.

Losing his sense of purpose, all motivation vanished. Jong Ri-yeon regarded Bang Jin-bo with a sympathetic expression.

"Jin-bo."

"Hehe! I'm fine. If I rest a bit longer, I'll be okay again. Please don't worry."

Bang Jin-bo forced a smile. After losing weight, he was increasingly called a beautiful youth, and the smile made him look even more refined. Yet even his smile couldn't hide his emptiness.

That's when it happened.

"Jin-bo!"

A Mount Hua disciple called him while approaching Luoan Peak.

"What is it?"

"Senior Brother Won-jong."

Jong Ri-yeon and Bang Jin-bo rose simultaneously to greet him. The disciple's name was Won-jong, one of Mount Hua's senior disciples.

Won-jong looked at Jong Ri-yeon.

"So you were here too, Divine Physician."

"What's the matter?"

"The sect leader commanded that Jin-bo be brought. There's a guest."

"A guest?"

Bang Jin-bo's eyes widened.

***

The Upper Palace at the peak of Lotus Peak was the Mount Hua Sect Leader's residence.

The sunset viewed from the Upper Palace, located at Mount Hua's highest point, was truly spectacular.

As the sky turned completely red, someone came rushing toward the Upper Palace. Moving with incredible elasticity like a mountain goat was Bang Jin-bo.

When he approached, the guarding Mount Hua disciples opened the door. Bang Jin-bo thanked them and rushed inside.

Bang Jin-bo saw a man's back sitting across from Woon Kyung, Mount Hua's sect leader. Instantly, joy appeared on Bang Jin-bo's face.

Even seeing just the back, Bang Jin-bo immediately recognized the man's identity.

"Big Brother!"

"You came?"

The moment the man turned around to respond, tears welled up in Bang Jin-bo's eyes.

"Big Brother Yeon-woon!"

"It's been a while."

The man smiling quietly was precisely Cho Yeon-woon.

"Big Brother!"

Bang Jin-bo rushed into Cho Yeon-woon's embrace.

Though Bang Jin-bo had matured greatly over three years, before Cho Yeon-woon he remained like a child.

"You brat!"

Cho Yeon-woon smiled and patted Bang Jin-bo's back. Though they had frequently quarreled and bickered before, seeing him after so long stirred his heart.

"Are you alright now?"

"Alright about what?"

"That…"

Bang Jin-bo trailed off, looking at Cho Yeon-woon's leg.

Cho Yeon-woon's leg appeared perfectly fine externally. But hidden beneath the clothes was an iron prosthetic leg.

Cho Yeon-woon ruffled Bang Jin-bo's hair and laughed.

"Haha! It's fine now."

"Big Brother!"

"I've caused you much worry these years. There's no need to worry anymore. I've recovered completely. Look!"

Thud-thud!

Cho Yeon-woon tapped his leg with the back of his hand, producing a clear metallic sound.

"How about that? Impressive, right? Iron Foot as they call it. Hehe!"

"……"

"I've wanted one for ages."

At Cho Yeon-woon's banter, Bang Jin-bo's expression brightened considerably.

Three years ago, Cho Yeon-woon had been completely broken. The death of his father-like teacher Jang Il-san and brother-like senior fellow disciples had plunged him into an abyss.

Because of this, he had cut ties with the world and lived in seclusion on Lesser Mount Hua. Even when Bang Jin-bo visited, he rarely met him, so directly seeing his face had been rare.

The last time Bang Jin-bo saw him, Cho Yeon-woon's expression was filled with despair and helplessness. Those eyes, devoid of any hope, remained painfully etched in Bang Jin-bo's heart.

Smack!

Suddenly Bang Jin-bo struck Cho Yeon-woon's abdomen.

"Ouch!"

Cho Yeon-woon, caught off guard, opened his eyes wide and dropped his jaw. Then Bang Jin-bo snorted.

"Hmph! You only cause worry."

"Ow! That really hurts!"

"You made me worry for three years, so that punishment is appropriate."

"Your fists have gotten much harder. Kid! Quite impressive."

"Hmph!"

Bang Jin-bo snorted and turned away. Seeing him, Cho Yeon-woon smiled. He felt Bang Jin-bo's growth. While he had been secluding himself on Lesser Mount Hua, Bang Jin-bo had steadily grown both as a cook and as a martial artist. That fact brought him joy. Though they had constantly bickered and fought, Cho Yeon-woon cared deeply for Bang Jin-bo. So Bang Jin-bo's growth made him happier and more grateful than anyone.

"But what brought you here? Are you completely coming out now?"

"Yes! I can't stay secluded anymore. I'm feeling antsy."

"That's good. You looked pretty pathetic, honestly."

"What?"

"Hehe! Just joking."

"You…"

"I'm really glad. Really…"

Tears formed at Bang Jin-bo's eyes.

Cho Yeon-woon loosened his fist that was about to flick him and gently stroked his head instead.

Woon Kyung quietly watched the two and cleared his throat.

"Ahem!"

"Oh! I apologize. Disciple Bang Jin-bo greets the Sect Leader."

Only then did Bang Jin-bo realize this was Woon Kyung's residence and apologized.

"It's fine."

"Hehe!"

"You worked hard all this time making Plum Blossom Divine Pills. Thanks to you, all disciples received one each. I won't forget this gratitude."

"Not at all."

Bang Jin-bo assumed an embarrassed expression and scratched his head. He felt awkward.

Woon Kyung looked at Bang Jin-bo with warm eyes. Bang Jin-bo didn't realize what an incredible feat he had accomplished. He had raised the entire Mount Hua Sect's military strength by an entire level. Without him, the Plum Blossom Divine Pills wouldn't have surged so dramatically.

To Mount Hua, Bang Jin-bo was a great benefactor. Therefore, Woon Kyung treated him with extreme care and valued him above others.

"But why did you call for me?"

"Actually, it wasn't I who called, but Cho Xiao-xia wanted to see you."

"Big Brother Yeon-woon?"

Bang Jin-bo's gaze turned toward Cho Yeon-woon. His face was filled with anticipation. His heart began pounding without his knowledge.

As if reading his heart, Cho Yeon-woon nodded.

"I've been shut away in Lesser Mount Hua too long. It's suffocating. So I decided to venture into the world."

"Really?"

"Yes! My body has recovered and I now have confidence in my martial arts."

"Big Brother!"

"I made a promise with Dam Ho. To become strong enough for him to trust me with backing him. I think I can fulfill that promise now."

Cho Yeon-woon spoke casually, but his cultivation during this time had reached inhuman levels. He had staked his life on training.

The training he underwent, incomparable to anything before, had surged his martial power dramatically. Most importantly, what helped most was the Plum Blossom Divine Pill he received from Mount Hua.

Woon Kyung had sent Cho Yeon-woon a Plum Blossom Divine Pill through an emissary.

Already standing at the edge of a precipice, Cho Yeon-woon knew that one more step would open another world, but taking that step was harder than dying.

Then the Plum Blossom Divine Pill reached his hands. Originally distributed only to Mount Hua disciples, he had hesitated momentarily. But ultimately, after deliberation, he consumed it and shattered the wall blocking his way.

"It's all thanks to you."

"Not at all. Without Divine Physician, I couldn't have dared refine the Plum Blossom Divine Pills."

"Of course I'm grateful to her too. I'll express my gratitude separately."

"Naturally. But where will you go?"

"I heard the Martial Alliance retreated to Shaolin."

"So you're going to Shaolin?"

"Yes!"

Cho Yeon-woon nodded.

"Then I want to go too. To Shaolin."

Suddenly Bang Jin-bo raised his hand excitedly.

Energy suddenly appeared on his previously lifeless face.

"Jin-bo!"

"Don't you want to meet Big Brother Ho? I want to see him too. Please?"

"That's precisely why I called for you. To go together."

"Really?"

"Yes! Fortunately, the Sect Leader consented."

At Cho Yeon-woon's words, Bang Jin-bo looked at Woon Kyung. Woon Kyung silently nodded in approval.

"Thank you, Sect Leader. Thank you so much."

Bang Jin-bo repeatedly bowed. Woon Kyung watched him with a smile, though his thoughts were complex.

'I wonder if this is truly the right decision.'

Bang Jin-bo was Mount Hua's treasure. If possible, he wanted to protect him forever in safe Mount Hua. But after completing all Plum Blossom Divine Pills, Bang Jin-bo lost his sense of purpose and became listless.

Bang Jin-bo was still a young boy.

An age when emotions should dominate. Such behavior was entirely natural.

He needed new stimulus to invigorate him.

That's when Cho Yeon-woon arrived. Cho Yeon-woon asked Woon Kyung to let him take Bang Jin-bo to Shaolin. After deliberation, Woon Kyung consented.

Bang Jin-bo possessed the martial strength to protect himself. Most importantly, Cho Yeon-woon would accompany him.

If Cho Yeon-woon was with him, he could trust it. Whatever enlightenment Cho Yeon-woon gained in Lesser Mount Hua seclusion, the momentum now emanating from him was truly remarkable. Enough to make Woon Kyung's heart race.

That was why Woon Kyung consented to Bang Jin-bo venturing into the world.

'Within safe walls, trees don't grow large. Trees become strong and gain power to grow through enduring the world's harsh winds.'

Woon Kyung had no doubt that Bang Jin-bo would become a towering tree.

That day, Bang Jin-bo and Cho Yeon-woon descended from Mount Hua.