Chapter 160: There Are Things That Must Never Be Touched (1)

Pitter-patter!

Rain fell.

Raindrops struck the water's surface, creating countless concentric rings that appeared and vanished. The clamor of the rain assailed the ears of all.

When the rain poured down, most people hurried inside to the cabins. But there were exceptions. The warriors guarding the carriage.

They stood unmoving in the downpour, guarding the carriage without so much as a tremor. Their fierce, unwavering gaze lent them an air of solemn determination.

Dam Ho sat on the railing, watching them in silence.

Beside him stood the Dark Horse. Rainwater streamed down its ink-black coat.

Perhaps sensing Dam Ho's gaze, the leader of the warriors guarding the carriage raised his head and looked at him.

A middle-aged man with a sturdy build reminiscent of a millstone. His gaze was as piercing as his frame, the sort of man no one of faint heart could face directly.

The moment the middle-aged man's brow twitched.

Thud!

The boat had reached the landing on the opposite bank.

"Everyone, disembark!"

The crewmen shouted heartily.

The middle-aged man withdrew his gaze from Dam Ho and shouted to his men.

"Hurry and unload the carriage!"

"Yes, sir!"

The warriors responded with vigor and began to unload the carriage.

The carriage passed directly before Dam Ho.

Screech!

The deck groaned under the wheels, threatening to give way at any moment. Through the crack in the carriage, a pair of dark eyes was visible once more.

In that instant, one warrior moved to block the crack with his body, and the dark eyes disappeared from view. The carriage was unloaded from the boat and quickly receded into the distance.

Dam Ho also led the Dark Horse off the boat. The rain showed no sign of letting up.

Dam Ho rode on regardless. The Dark Horse seemed to revel in the gallop through the rain, snorting with enjoyment.

The Dark Horse lived up to its reputation as a thousand-li steed. It had been galloping fiercely through the rain for nearly half a day, yet showed not a trace of exhaustion.

In the distance, a city appeared.

It was called Huaxian, one of the larger cities in Anhui Province. But Dam Ho did not know this.

The sun was setting, and the rain refused to cease. He decided it was time to rest.

Perhaps because of the rain, the streets of Huaxian were remarkably deserted. Dam Ho entered the first inn he saw.

A young girl, appearing to be no more than ten years old, hurried out to greet him.

"Welcome!"

"Is there a stable?"

"Of course! We just laid fresh straw on the floor, so it's wonderfully dry. Your horse will love it."

"Put the horse in the stable and give it good oats."

"I will! You'll be staying the night, right?"

"Mm!"

"Please wait inside. I'll put the horse away and be right back."

The girl took the Dark Horse's reins and headed for the stable. The sight of the small girl straining to lead the massive Dark Horse was quite endearing.

Dam Ho entered the inn.

Perhaps because of the rain, the inn was quite empty. Of the dozen or so tables, only two were occupied by guests, the rest were vacant.

Dam Ho took one of the empty seats and gazed out the window. After sitting for a moment, the girl came running back.

"Huff! I put the horse in the stable and gave it oats and good hay. I also drew a fresh bucket of water, so you won't need to worry about it tonight."

The girl smiled brightly, her face flushed from the exertion.

Dam Ho handed her a copper coin. The girl's smile widened even further.

"Wow! Thank you."

"Bring me something simple to eat."

"Yes! Shall I bring wine as well?"

"Yes!"

Dam Ho nodded, and the girl scurried off to the kitchen like a squirrel.

Though Dam Ho did not normally drink, today he felt the urge for a cup. Perhaps it was the rain.

Dam Ho sat in silence, watching the rain fall.

After some time had passed, the girl came struggling back with a tray larger than herself.

"Duck roast and our inn's specialty, the red wine. My father brewed it himself, so the taste is exceptional."

As the girl had promised, the red wine gave off a sweet, inviting aroma. Any wine connoisseur would have been enraptured by its magnificent fragrance.

"Very good."

"Enjoy. If you need anything, just call. Oh, your room is the first one at the top of the stairs."

"Mm!"

Hearing Dam Ho's response, the girl darted back to the kitchen. She still had the air of a flying squirrel.

Left alone, Dam Ho poured the red wine into a cup and drank.

The taste was as exquisite as the aroma. Anywhere in the world, this would be regarded as a fine vintage.

The duck roast was also delicious. The lean, well-rendered meat suited Dam Ho's palate perfectly.

Dam Ho enjoyed the red wine with the duck roast and the rain falling outside as his accompaniment. This was perhaps the first time since entering the world that he had enjoyed such a moment of solitude.

While Dam Ho was savoring his solitude, two horses came galloping toward the inn through the rain.

A rider sat atop each horse. The girl ran out to take the reins, and the two riders entered the inn.

"The rain is really coming down."

"My Lady, please sit here."

The two who entered were wearing large rain hats and raincoats.

The moment they stepped inside, they removed the large rain hats from their heads. A refined woman and an elderly man with a face full of wrinkles were revealed.

The refined woman possessed a mysterious aura. Her hair, tinged with a faint crimson sheen, was mesmerizing enough to captivate anyone who beheld it.

The woman went ahead and removed the cumbersome raincoat as well. Beneath it, her figure was surprisingly curvaceous, at odds with her refined features.

She brushed back her rain-dampened long hair and spoke.

"With the rain coming down like this, there is nothing to be done. We will have to stay here tonight."

"When heaven rains, no man can defy it. Since even the weather does not cooperate, let us rest comfortably today."

"That is well said."

"You have been through much. Shall we have a hearty meal tonight?"

"Will you be paying, my Lady?"

"Fire Hand has more money than I do."

"My funds are all public money."

"Must you be such a miser?"

"Public and private funds must be strictly separated, my Lady."

"Hah!"

The woman shook her head at the old man's shameless reply. But only for a moment. She soon smiled and spoke.

"Very well. I will treat Fire Hand to a meal today."

"Thank you, my Lady. I shall feast well today."

"Just this once."

"Of course."

"Come here, child."

The woman raised her hand and called the girl.

The girl, who had been hovering nearby, quickly ran over.

"You called?"

"What dishes do you do well here?"

"We do everything well! My father is a wonderful cook."

"Excellent."

The woman ordered food from the girl. The girl gazed at the woman, utterly mesmerized.

The woman tilted her head at the girl's reaction.

"What is it?"

"You're just… so beautiful."

"Thank you. You are beautiful now, and when you grow up, you will be even more so."

"Really?"

"Of course!"

The woman's answer drew a radiant smile from the girl.

"What is your name, Miss?"

"My name is Jong Ri-yeon."

"Even your name is beautiful. Mine is so rustic. They called me Dong-i because I was the second child born in winter. I don't know what my father was thinking when he named me."

Dong-i pouted her lips, and even that was utterly charming. Jong Ri-yeon smiled brightly and stroked Dong-i's head.

"Dong-i is also a very beautiful name. And above all, it is a name given to you by your father. Treasure it."

"Yes, Miss! Then I will go place your order."

Dong-i responded with vigor and ran off to the kitchen.

Jong Ri-yeon watched Dong-i's retreating figure with a smile.

"You are simply too kind for your own good, my Lady. To show such concern for a mere errand girl in an inn. She is nothing more than a servant."

"Speak no such words, Fire Hand. No one can know what the future holds for that child. Who is to say that she might not become a female hero who shakes the Murim one day?"

Jong Ri-yeon's words drew only a silent smile from Fire Hand.

His mistress was too naive about the world.

'The reality of today's world is that a parent's limits are a child's limits. Unless that child Dong-i possesses extraordinary martial talent, becoming a martial artist is impossible.'

But Fire Hand did not voice his thoughts.

He liked Jong Ri-yeon's innocence. In this harsh world, it was not so bad to have one person who still dared to dream.

While waiting for the food, Fire Hand surveyed the inn. His eyes fell upon Dam Ho.

Disheveled black hair and tattered black robes. Dam Ho was the kind of figure that drew attention wherever he went.

The moment Fire Hand saw him, he felt every hair on his body stand on end.

When he had not been paying attention, he had not noticed. But the moment he became aware, every nerve in his body screamed in alarm.

'Who on earth is that man?'

Though he had retired from the Murim to serve as Jong Ri-yeon's bodyguard, Fire Hand had once been a renowned martial artist in his prime.

He had weathered every storm and met countless individuals, yet never had he encountered a man who could chill his spine just by looking at him, the way Dam Ho did.

"What is wrong, Fire Hand?"

Jong Ri-yeon asked when Fire Hand's expression hardened, not understanding the reason. Fire Hand quickly shook his head.

"It is nothing."

"Just now your expression was quite frightening…"

"I was merely lost in thought."

Fire Hand hastily changed the subject.

Jong Ri-yeon looked toward Dam Ho. She had noticed that Fire Hand's gaze had been fixed upon him.

'Is there something special about that man?'

Jong Ri-yeon tilted her head.

It was said that you could only see what you knew.

At Jong Ri-yeon's level, she could not perceive Dam Ho's terror.

Dam Ho, seemingly aware or unaware of Jong Ri-yeon's gaze, simply continued to sip his wine.

Time passed, and the rain did not cease. Before long, the wine bottle before Dam Ho was empty.

Dam Ho rose from his seat without hesitation. It was time to rest for tomorrow.

Just as Dam Ho was about to leave.

Clatter!

The inn door suddenly burst open, and a group of men strode inside.

Some twenty men, all of them exuding an extraordinary presence, surveyed the inn before making their way with heavy strides toward where Jong Ri-yeon and Fire Hand sat.

The man who appeared to be their leader addressed Jong Ri-yeon.

"Are you Miss Jong Ri-yeon, the Divine Healer?"

"That is correct."

"We are from the Namgung Family. The Namgung Family currently requires Miss Jong Ri-yeon's assistance."

Jong Ri-yeon, the Divine Healer.

She was one of the most renowned figures in Anhui Province.

She was a physician. And an exceptionally gifted one at that.

It was said that as long as the breath had not ceased, she could save anyone. There were even rumors that she had brought back the dead.

What other explanation could there be for the title "Divine Healer"?

Anyone who lived in Anhui Province would know her name. And they would all seek to forge a connection with her.

To know the Divine Healer was to have secured an extra life.

The warrior who had introduced himself as being from the Namgung Family bowed politely.

"Please, help the Namgung Family, Miss Jong."

Jong Ri-yeon wore a troubled expression.

"What shall I do? I am on my way to treat a critically ill patient."

"I do not know the circumstances, but could you change the order of your visits? Our compensation will be generous."

"That is difficult. A patient whose life hangs in the balance is waiting."

"Our situation is equally dire."

The voice of the Namgung Family warrior turned stern.

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes widened greatly.

Jin Ja-gang hurriedly looked around his surroundings.

He could see Soso sitting in the shade of a tree. Soso was just quietly watching so as not to disturb Jin Ja-gang’s training.

It wasn’t Soso.

‘Who is it!’

However, Jin Ja-gang soon felt his heart beating rapidly again. It beat loudly then quickly became slow and sluggish. As blood circulated slowly, strength drained from his arms and legs, leaving him feeling powerless.

Nausea came over him, he broke out in sweat, and his body trembled. The poison didn’t seem to directly affect his eyes, but perhaps due to his reduced heart rate, even his vision became blurred.

The poison energy that had spread in an instant had erupted before being neutralized.

Soso approached and examined Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang grimaced but reassured Soso that he was fine.

The poison energy quickly subsided, but Jin Ja-gang had become drenched in sweat in that short time.

‘Did I sense something wrong because of the poison?’

Jin Ja-gang continued to pay attention to his surroundings, but there was no particular movement. Perhaps a hunter or woodcutter had passed by.

Jin Ja-gang calmed the poison energy and regained his composure.

In any case, having learned a new method of absorbing poison energy, Jin Ja-gang had achieved great results.

“Shall we go back for today?”

Soso nodded vigorously, then seemed to think of something and shook her head again.

Soso opened her mouth and tried to say something.

“Ah? Ah-uh-uh.”

Suddenly she grabbed Jin Ja-gang’s arm and gestured for him to go somewhere. Jin Ja-gang was bewildered but followed Soso’s lead.

The place Soso went to was a quiet valley beside the adjacent ravine. There was a small spring where medicinal water flowed out from the side of the valley.

Soso pointed to the spring.

Jin Ja-gang knelt in front of the spring. When he took a sip of water, a refreshing sensation spread through him. It was certainly medicinal water with beneficial effects for the body.

When Jin Ja-gang looked at Soso asking what he should do next, Soso drew water and wiped Jin Ja-gang’s sweaty face.

Splash, splash.

The cool and refreshing feeling of this medicinal water was different from ordinary well water.

Jin Ja-gang suddenly realized. This medicinal water was the same water Soso had used when washing his body.

‘So that’s how it was…’

She had come to this not-so-close place to draw water and wash his body with it.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Soso. Receiving Jin Ja-gang’s gaze, Soso became embarrassed and turned her head away as she stood up.

Soso climbed onto a wide rock beside the spring. Seeming to be in a good mood, she sat there swinging her feet back and forth while looking at the sky.

Jin Ja-gang also sat next to Soso.

Winter bird songs, cold wind, fragments of clouds floating right overhead.

This leisurely scenery that would come if one let their guard down even a little.

The small joy that daily life brought kept dulling the sharp blade of revenge.

Jin Ja-gang scratched his head. This awkward atmosphere was somewhat uncomfortable, but his heart was peaceful.

‘Until I leave… shall I stay like this for a while.’

Jin Ja-gang quietly closed his eyes and decided to enjoy this brief moment of leisure that might never come again.

* * *

Near Sichuan’s capital.

Centered around one enormous square mansion, large and small mansions were clustered together with narrow alleys in between.

Overall, it was a strange-looking village where hundreds of mansions seemed to form one square estate.

Since multiple mansions shared a single wall, each area appeared open while actually being closed off to outsiders – a unique formation.

Tang Family Great Compound!

This was the name for this clan village where the Tang family and surrounding vassal surnames lived together.

The fact that this village was called not a village but a great compound from the beginning was representative of their collective and exclusive nature.

The Tang Family Great Compound boasted an enormous scale, consisting of ninety courtyards and three thousand rooms, with countless houses built outside the Tang Family Great Compound as well.

To enter the Tang Family Great Compound, one had to pass through walls as high as castle walls and gates. Though the gates were wide open, it was a building that inevitably created tremendous pressure for outsiders to casually enter and exit.

Mang Ryo was looking at the main gate of the Tang Family Great Compound from the window of a shabby house outside the compound.

An old craftsman was crouched at Mang Ryo’s feet, tinkering away.

He was fitting Mang Ryo with a new prosthetic leg.

The old craftsman hammered with a wooden mallet to precisely adjust the prosthetic leg, then wiped his sweat and stood up.

“Be careful not to operate it incorrectly. If you’re unlucky, it’ll explode and blow off what’s left of your leg too.”

“Well, it’s a prosthetic leg made by the Tang Clan’s finest hidden weapon master, so it should be quite useful.”

Calling the Tang family a Tang Clan was something said to please the Tang family people. For the Tang family, who wanted to rise beyond being a martial family to become a sect, these were words they most wanted to hear.

However, Mang Ryo’s words weren’t meant to please the old craftsman. They were said for the Tang family’s young master standing behind him to hear.

A clean-looking young master who appeared to be just past twenty stood behind the old craftsman with his hands clasped behind his back.

Mang Ryo sat and tapped his new prosthetic leg, testing it by stepping on the ground.

“In any case, thank you for your hard work. Next time, I’d like to receive assembly comfortably sitting in the inner compound rather than the outer compound. I’d also like to see the inner compound of the Tang Clan, famous for its beauty.”

The young master snorted.

“Hmph. Did you coat your mouth with honey? My ears are itching unbearably. Do you think you could dare set foot in the inner compound?”

“Hey, it’s hurtful if you keep treating me like an outsider. How many years have we been working together?”

The bamboo hat wearer who had met Mang Ryo at Poison Valley was precisely this young master.

The young master wore green clothing and had his hair pulled back without leaving a single strand, tied with a blue cord. Looking closely, he had delicate features and a slender build. He was too pretty for a man.

His eyes were slightly upturned, making his gaze appear sharp, his skin was fair, and his nose was small and straight.

Though dressed as a man, she was a girl.

The Tang family valued family secrets more than other sects, and due to the nature of handling poison, skilled hands were precious. Therefore, even girls received the same treatment as boys until marriage, and even when marrying, they necessarily took in husbands as live-in sons-in-law.

Tang Ha-ran.

Despite being only twenty-one years old, she held the important responsibility of managing the Tang family’s external business and possessed outstanding martial arts to match.

Tang Ha-ran said.

“The fellow has been discovered.”

Mang Ryo’s face, which had been all smiles until then, hardened.

“Who are you talking about?”

“The fellow you so cherish and protect. We found him near one of the dark path’s safe houses in Dayi.”

Mang Ryo’s expression became strange.

“He entered Dayi? But you just left him alone?”

“Dayi has many dark path safe houses. Of course, we have all their locations secured. Not just us, but Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect too.”

Mang Ryo quickly understood. Dayi was a place where three tigers watched like shadows under a lamp – as long as one didn’t cause trouble, it could be safer than anywhere else.

“Thanks to that, it’s become very troublesome.”

Tang Ha-ran turned around with displeasure and laughed helplessly.

“I told you to handle it cleanly without leaving future troubles, but what on earth has been happening until now? Breaking through the Nine Palace Eight Trigram Formation commanded by a Zhuge family vassal and defeating Silent Dragon? Haha, and Advisor Mang even brought the half-dead Silent Dragon here. It’s a complete mess, really displeasing.”

“Everything is going according to plan.”

“According to plan? The world’s attention has focused on that fellow. Do you know what people are calling him now?”

Mang Ryo didn’t answer and just smiled while looking at Tang Ha-ran.

“Since he defeated Silent Dragon, they can no longer call him by that mocking name Snake Scorpion Poison King. So they’re calling him Poison Dragon?”

Her displeasure was evident. From the Tang family’s perspective, it would even feel like the title Poison Dragon had been stolen.

“Ah, Poison Dragon.”

Mang Ryo already knew this. He just wanted to hear it through someone else’s mouth, to hear Tang Ha-ran say it.

A thrill ran through him.

Poison Dragon!

Having the character for dragon attached to one’s nickname in the martial world was truly an honorable thing. It was a character that could only be attached to nicknames of rising stars or sacred figures floating in the martial world.

The ten-year-old child who had been nothing had finally come to be called Poison Dragon.

Of course, his reputation preceded his actual ability, but the bigger Jin Ja-gang’s existence became, the happier Mang Ryo was.

Mang Ryo checked the report letter Tang Ha-ran handed him.

The letter contained the location of the safe house, the number of residents, and even Jin Ja-gang’s recent condition.

“Remarkably fast healing… gets along well with one girl and climbs the mountain together daily…”

The smile wouldn’t leave Mang Ryo’s lips.

“Heaven is helping.”

Wasn’t this exactly the situation Mang Ryo had most wanted!

“Don’t worry too much, young master. I’ve prepared all the follow-up measures.”

“Whatever you do, it would be good to start quickly. It looks like Wishful Fairy will be leaving for Shandong again soon. Grandfather hasn’t said anything yet, but I don’t want to disappoint him.”

“It’s all ready. I just need a few letters and a cart with escorts. Of course, this time I’m thinking of putting in some effort myself.”

Mang Ryo explained his plan.

“I’ll use Baek Li-gwon as bait to draw out Shandong Wishful Fairy.”

“Who will catch Shandong Wishful Fairy? Let me tell you, the Martial Arts Alliance’s upper combat organizations cannot set foot in Sichuan. That would touch the pride of us Sichuan people.”

“Shandong Wishful Fairy will be caught not in Sichuan but in Guizhou. The Zhuge family and I will do it.”

“What about Poison Dragon?”

“Poison Dragon is still useful. I need to raise him a bit more.”

Every time Mang Ryo spoke the words Poison Dragon, his heart tingled. He felt that good.

Tang Ha-ran frowned slightly and said.

“Even if we leave Poison Dragon alone, Qingcheng and Emei won’t let him live. Rather, it’s perfect for arousing suspicion only toward us.”

“Well, don’t worry too much about that and let’s prepare to catch the big fish together.”

But Mang Ryo suddenly asked as if something had occurred to him.

“Ah, by any chance, don’t you want to see that fellow’s face once?”

* * *

This matter required good timing between all parties. If even one thing went wrong, they couldn’t catch the big fish.

Mang Ryo finished his preliminary preparations and immediately went to Guizhou.

Guizhou’s red-light district.

It was still early evening, when red lanterns were beginning to be lit one by one in the red-light district.

He stood in front of one of the pleasure houses there.

It was in front of Luocheng Tower.

Mang Ryo looked up at Luocheng Tower for a moment, then went around to the back through the back alley. He knocked on a door blocked by wooden planks.

Knock knock.

A person’s eye flashed through a hole in the middle of the door, then the door soon opened.

The back door was connected to the pleasure house’s kitchen, and someone dressed as a pleasure house errand boy recognized Mang Ryo and bowed his head.

“Have you arrived? Shall I gather the children?”

“No need. I’m just stopping by briefly today. Don’t make a fuss and let them work.”

Few people knew that Mang Ryo was the owner of this Luocheng Tower. Only a few working at Luocheng Tower knew this fact.

“That friend, is he here?”

“Do you mean the fellow with the goat beard? If it’s him, he’s on the fourth floor.”

“Let’s go see.”

Mang Ryo went upstairs guided by the person dressed as an errand boy.

Thump, thump.

When Mang Ryo first came from the frontier Yunnan to the center of the martial world, he was essentially a martial world newcomer.

Therefore, Mang Ryo had prepared three things early on to establish himself in the central martial world.

Martial arts sufficient not to be looked down upon by others.

Connections with high-ranking figures who could provide backing.

Finally, information sufficient not to be swept away by the rapidly changing currents of the martial world, and furthermore, to utilize the political situation.

Among these, Mang Ryo was obsessed with information. Therefore, he established connections everywhere he could reach, regardless of orthodox or unorthodox paths. This Luocheng Tower was also one of the bases he had prepared for this purpose.

The fourth floor of Luocheng Tower was a place for entertaining distinguished guests.

When Mang Ryo arrived at the fourth floor, the person dressed as an errand boy gestured to a courtesan who had been waiting in front.

The courtesan guided Mang Ryo to the front of one room.