Chapter 236 – The Small Forest Where the Giants Reside, Shaolin Temple (2)

Dam Ho and the Morning Fire Merchant Group climbed Mount Song.

The first thing that greeted them at Xiaoshi Peak was a massive mountain gate. Dozens of monks were lined up in front of the gate, maintaining a state of full alertness.

The monks with staffs and clubs had distinct blue-tinted precept marks on their foreheads. They were the monks of Shaolin Temple.

The monks scrutinized everyone trying to enter Shaolin with wide, stern eyes. Their vigilance was at its peak following the recent fall of the Shouzhou branch.

Anyone even slightly suspicious couldn't pass through the gate and had to undergo strict questioning in isolation. This was a measure to catch any potential spies from the Demon Cult.

While their inspection applied to everyone, there was one exception: the Morning Fire Merchant Group.

"Master Yoon."

A middle-aged monk recognized Yoon Sa-il.

"Hello, Monk Yucheon."

"It's been about a month since we last met, Master Yoon."

"Indeed it has. You seem to have become more devoted to your prayers."

"Amitabha! You flatter me."

The monk called Yucheon smiled slightly, showing a pleasant expression.

"As promised before, we've brought fifty carts loaded with grain and other essential supplies. Please verify them."

"Though I trust you've brought everything properly, it's still my duty to check at least briefly."

"Yes! We'll wait in the meantime."

Yoon Sa-il had the Morning Fire Merchant Group's warriors step away from the carts. Despite his words, Yucheon thoroughly checked the cargo.

It was a time when they needed to stockpile as many supplies as possible. Any problem with supplies could endanger the lives of the numerous warriors staying at Shaolin.

While the inspection of supplies was thorough, the examination of the Morning Fire Merchant Group's warriors was somewhat relaxed, due to their familiar faces from previous trades.

After checking everyone from Won Seol-hwa to the lowest-ranking warrior of the Morning Fire Merchant Group, Yucheon's final stop was Dam Ho's group.

"And these visitors?"

Suddenly, a strong look of wariness appeared on Yucheon's face.

The moment he noticed Dam Ho, a powerful scent of blood assaulted his senses. The blood scent was so strong it made him dizzy, causing him to unconsciously grip his staff tightly. The other monks reacted similarly.

*Clang!*

Yucheon pointed his staff at Dam Ho and shouted.

"Who are you, visitor? How dare you bring the stench of blood to this sacred Buddhist ground?"

"He is…"

Just as Yoon Sa-il was about to answer.

"Where is Gwanghae?"

Dam Ho's cold voice echoed at the mountain gate.

"How do you know Master Gwanghae?"

"I've met him before. Call him."

"Before that, you must identify yourself. Even if you came with the Morning Fire Merchant Group, we cannot call anyone without confirming your identity."

Yucheon raised his voice.

By now, dozens of monks had gathered around him, pointing their staffs and clubs at Dam Ho.

The warriors waiting to enter Shaolin watched the unexpected commotion from a distance.

Yucheon and the monks pressured Dam Ho with their imposing aura. Dam Ho scanned each monk's face one by one.

*Shudder!*

The monks who met his gaze trembled. Dam Ho's indifferent gaze shook their souls to the core.

'What is this?'

'This person must be a great demon of the murim.'

Their hands unconsciously tightened on their staffs and clubs as sweat trickled down their spines.

It was a powder keg moment where anyone could strike at the slightest sound.

Then Dam Ho spoke.

"My name is Dam Ho. Tell Gwanghae I'm here."

"Ah!"

"The, the Fist Demon?"

Exclamations burst out from everywhere.

Yucheon's eyes widened.

"Are you really the Fist Demon Dam Ho?"

"Yes, he is the great hero Fist Demon Dam. Our Morning Fire Merchant Group vouches for him."

Yoon Sa-il finally stepped forward to confirm Dam Ho's identity. Only then did Yucheon and the monks lower their weapons.

"Ah, Amitabha! My apologies, Visitor Dam."

Yucheon apologized with a half-bow. Dam Ho didn't respond, just staring at him indifferently. Unable to bear his gaze, Yucheon unconsciously lowered his head.

One of the monks hurriedly ran inside the mountain gate.

The weight carried by the title "Fist Demon" was truly immense. The combined reputation of everyone present couldn't match up to that title. The monk's steps were naturally hurried as he rushed to report Dam Ho's arrival to his superiors.

'That's the Fist Demon?'
'He's truly terrifying, just as the rumors say.'

Outside the gate, numerous warriors observed Dam Ho with furtive glances. However, none dared to approach him.

His all-black attire made him appear even more ominous. Everyone present knew of his notorious reputation, which made him all the more intimidating.

'Incredible. All these masters are overwhelmed just by brother's presence.'

As Muk Il-gwang was looking at Dam Ho with renewed respect,

"Great Hero Dam."

An elderly monk with a white beard reaching his chest came running from beyond the gate. The nine distinct precept marks on his forehead proved he was a Shaolin elder.

The elderly monk who arrived like the wind was Elder Gwanghae of Shaolin Temple.

"Amitabha! It's been a long time, Great Hero Dam."

Gwanghae treated Dam Ho with utmost respect. People were once again surprised by this sight.

A Shaolin elder was equivalent to the head of a major sect – not someone easily met without special connections or circumstances.

Yet such an important figure had rushed out barefooted to receive Dam Ho with great courtesy.

'Was the Fist Demon's influence this great?'
'To think someone called a demon would receive such treatment at Shaolin. Truly astonishing.'

The warriors couldn't hide their amazement.

Now the title "Fist Demon" was no longer just a name for one of many martial arts masters. It was a title symbolizing someone even the heads of the Nine Great Sects couldn't treat carelessly.

"Let's not stand here – please come inside. I'll escort you personally."

None other than Shaolin Elder Gwanghae himself offered to guide Dam Ho. Even Shaolin disciples were greatly surprised by this.

Dam Ho entered Shaolin, bringing Muk Il-gwang and Bang Jin-bo with him.

Won Seol-hwa watched everything from inside her carriage.

'Indeed, he is the Fist Demon.'

A secretive smile played on her lips.

Her heart swelled at the thought that such an extraordinary man would soon be hers. Despite Yoon Sa-il's concerns, Won Seol-hwa believed in her Brain Control Technique.

Though it might take some time, Dam Ho would surely return to her. Thinking this, Won Seol-hwa closed her carriage window.

Shaolin Temple had a thousand years of history. The weight of those millennia could be felt in everything from its halls to the smallest ornaments.

"All martial arts under heaven come from Shaolin."

There was a saying that all martial arts in the world originated from Shaolin. Perhaps that's why Shaolin's atmosphere felt somehow both sacred and solid.

Muk Il-gwang and Bang Jin-bo were overwhelmed by the sturdy atmosphere that suggested it would endure another thousand years, just as it had for the past millennium.

Crushed by the weight of a thousand years of history, they quietly followed Dam Ho without daring to breathe loudly.

"You must be tired from your long journey. Please rest here first and recover from your travel fatigue."

The place Gwanghae led them to was a separate building among Shaolin's guest quarters. It was a place usually reserved for heads of the Nine Great Sects, yet it was offered to Dam Ho without hesitation.

Dam Ho nodded and entered the building.

The separate quarters were very modest. There were no fancy decorations, and it wasn't particularly large. However, it possessed an undeniable elegance and gravitas that commanded respect.

"We've been eagerly awaiting your arrival. I'm truly moved to see your face, Great Hero Dam."

"I didn't come to hear such empty flattery."

"Then?"

"I heard you're protecting people who fled from the Shouzhou branch."

"That's correct."

"Help me find someone among them."

"Just tell me who."

"Cho Yeon-woon… Find out if Cho Yeon-woon, the Drunken Cloud Dragon is here."

"Understood. I'll check right away."

Gwanghae responded clearly without frowning at Dam Ho's request.

He immediately called a subordinate monk to check if Cho Yeon-woon had entered Shaolin.

"Amitabha! News will arrive shortly if you wait a moment."

As he spoke, Gwanghae observed Dam Ho carefully. Something seemed different from when he last saw him, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what.

'One thing is certain – he has grown stronger again. Truly frightening.'

Gwanghae shook his head.

Then Dam Ho's voice broke through his thoughts.

"What's Shaolin's current military strength?"

"Counting both temple disciples and lay disciples, we have about 3,500. Adding the warriors from Shouzhou and those who joined from Henan Province, it exceeds 5,000 in total."

"Five thousand…"

"Soon, forces sent by the Murim Alliance will join us. Then we'll likely reach six to seven thousand."

Muk Il-gwang was internally amazed at Gwanghae's explanation.

'A single sect like Shaolin commanding over five thousand warriors. Truly incredible.'

And these weren't just any warriors, but those who had reached a certain level of skill. It was clear why they were called the Northern Star of the martial world.

He realized Shaolin alone could probably annihilate most of the green woods sects. That made it even more chilling.

'And even Shaolin fears the Demon Cult. Just how powerful is the Demonic Cult?'

The more he thought about it, the more frightening it became. So Muk Il-gwang stopped thinking about it.

As if reading Muk Il-gwang's thoughts, Gwanghae smiled and continued his explanation.

"We've gathered forces just in case, but it's unlikely the Demon Cult will actually attack Henan Province. They must know that clashing with this many forces would lead to mutual destruction."

However, his words provided no comfort to Muk Il-gwang or Bang Jin-bo.

Just then,

"Master!"

A young monk's voice came from outside.

"Come in."

When Gwanghae gave permission, the young monk opened the door and entered. Behind him was a familiar warrior.

Dam Ho's eyebrows twitched. He recognized the warrior.

It was one of the Hundred Battles Sect disciples who had accompanied Cho Yeon-woon. The man knelt before Dam Ho.

"Great Hero Dam!"

"What about Yeon-woon?"

"Senior brother is now…"

Cho Yeon-woon's junior disciple hesitated. Instantly, Dam Ho's eyes turned cold.

"Don't stammer. Is Yeon-woon safe?"

"Yes! Yes! Though seriously injured, fortunately he survived."

"Then why isn't he here?"

"We got separated in the crowd while retreating from the Shouzhou branch. We were supposed to retreat to Mount Zhongnan, but only I and a few fellow disciples ended up here."

"So he's still alive?"

"Yes. Our master and fellow disciples protected him desperately, so he should be safe."

"That's good enough."

At Dam Ho's indifferent words, Cho Yeon-woon's junior disciple fell silent. Though the words might have seemed cold, he had caught a momentary flash of relief in Dam Ho's eyes.

It moved him deeply that the man known as the most ruthless in the world had come all this way out of concern for his senior brother.

*Drip*

Thick tears rolled down his cheeks. He lowered his head and sobbed.

Dam Ho watched Cho Yeon-woon's junior disciple impassively.

'As long as he's alive, that's enough.'

Roll, roll, thud.

The eyeball’s movement stopped.

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol had read Mang Ryo’s thoughts.

“That’s right. So you’re the Listening Order Master. The Heroic Heaven Squad is a position you can give to anyone you want at your discretion.”

But Mang Ryo almost answered that he would do so. It was such an attractive proposal.

The Heroic Heaven Squad was a gathering of rising stars from medium and small sects.

It was quite exciting beyond measure. Couldn’t he picture Jin Ja-gang mingling with the rising stars of the Heroic Heaven Squad and criticizing the martial world!

As a stepping stone to reign over others, it wasn’t bad.

‘Should I give up today?’

Mang Ryo was extremely conflicted.

However, he couldn’t accept immediately like this. He couldn’t tell how much the man knew from start to finish. He might fall for probing tricks.

Mang Ryo tried to pull back. He pretended to laugh and declined.

“What would I need a Heroic Heaven Squad position for?”

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol pulled his wrinkled mouth wide and made a strange smile.

“You’ll need it.”

Roll, roll!

The pupil of his eyeball moved up, down, left and right to the point where it couldn’t be seen, examining Mang Ryo’s eye. Reading the Mang Ryo deep inside his eye.

“I can see it all. I said I can see it. If you keep denying it, I’ll get angry.”

Mang Ryo stepped back.

“If you insist so much, the Heroic Heaven Squad would be good too, but…”

At that moment, Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s pupil became as small as a dot. Without even listening to Mang Ryo’s answer to the end, the yellowish energy of his eyeball became even thicker.

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s expression changed greatly.

His voice even naturally rose in admiration.

“Amazing! You have a truly frightening fellow as an enemy! You have an ogre-like fellow as an enemy who would devour anything if left alone!”

Mang Ryo had to ask.

“How did you know I have an enemy?”

“Those who try to catch monsters, you see. After being tormented so much by monsters, they eventually become the same kind of monster. Because it’s difficult to catch a monster without becoming a monster yourself.”

“Hehe…”

If he knew that much, there was no point in hiding it. Mang Ryo now spoke openly.

“That’s right. He’s truly a monster-like fellow. In my lifetime, I’ve never heard or seen such a…”

“No, no.”

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol shook his head. However, only his pupil continued to watch Mang Ryo, which made it even more chilling.

“What are you talking about now? The monster I mentioned isn’t that fellow.”

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s smile deepened and his lifted eyeball emitted even more yellowish energy.

“You. You are that monster.”

Creepy.

“The one who became a monster himself to catch a monster is you.”

Mang Ryo didn’t know what expression to make.

For some reason, King of Hell Tang Qing’s laugh that seemed to see through him completely echoed in his ears, making his head confused.

Ehihihihi! Ehihihi-hit!

He forced a smile, but the dizziness continued.

Then.

“Kaaaaaaah!”

Some screaming sound came from outside. A desperate scream that could never be heard from within the Martial Alliance.

Probably no one could have thought of it. That included Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol as well.

But Mang Ryo had been waiting for it.

Roll, roll.

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s pupil turned to the side.

Instantly, the false smile that Mang Ryo had been wearing until then disappeared. The shell of the fake personality he had been forcibly putting on was peeled away.

Mang Ryo’s mouth opened wide enough to tear. Mang Ryo gritted his teeth so hard they might break.

Pop.

Before the smell of gunpowder could even spread, just as Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s pupil turned toward the window and was about to return to Mang Ryo!

Mang Ryo used all his strength to consecutively trigger the devices in both his prosthetic feet.

Assassination!

Mang Ryo had been waiting only for an opportunity to assassinate Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol from the beginning.

Assassinate the leader of the Martial Alliance!

The reason he had no interest in Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s proposal was precisely this.

The distance between Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol and Mang Ryo was very close. They had been facing each other directly. Therefore, the distance between Mang Ryo’s prosthetic feet and Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol was only about a span.

At the same time Mang Ryo triggered the device, before even a moment had passed, the area around Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s eyes filled with golden light. Golden sweat sprouted and swelled between the deep wrinkles. The thin white hairs on his arms stood up one by one, flowing golden sweat to the front. In an instant, his face, neck, chest and stomach were filled with golden sweat.

Golden Bell Cover that hardens the skin like an iron bell!

And then once more.

Internal energy burst from every pore, making his clothes taut. All the wrinkles in his clothes were smoothed out and they bulged as if filled with air.

Iron Cloth Shirt that makes clothing stronger than steel!

And once more on top of that.

A reddish, opaque barrier of energy was hazily draped over.

The protective energy barrier created by Wudang sect’s Red Yang Divine Mystery Technique.

Three layers of protective energy barriers were created.

And then an explosion rang out.

BANG! BANG! Hundreds of projectiles poured into Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s chest and abdomen.

A tremendous explosion and smoke thickly filled the room. Mang Ryo was bounced all the way to the wall from the tremendous impact.

However, he had already experienced fighting Dan Ryeong-gyeong once before. Since he was prepared, he gathered internal energy in his left hand and struck the wall.

CRASH!

The wall shattered and Mang Ryo used the recoil to rush through the smoke toward Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol. When he pulled the head of the staff he was holding in his right hand, a blade was drawn out.

“You said I neglected this eye for ten years? Do you think I forgot the pain of losing this eye even for a single day in ten years!”

Originally, the travel bag he had entrusted to Yi Suk earlier had poison needles hidden inside.

Mad Mushroom Poison using mad mushrooms as the main poison.

If military strategist Yi Suk couldn’t stand the boredom and put his hand in, his finger would be pricked.

When poisoned by Mad Mushroom Poison, blood flows from the seven orifices and one goes insane. The personality becomes violent and one rampages until just before death.

But if Yi Suk didn’t touch the travel bag, Mang Ryo was planning to give up today’s task.

Attacking a Martial Supreme with skill alone was close to impossible. Heaven’s luck had to follow.

Half had to be left to luck.

But since Yi Suk had touched the poison, the first condition of luck was satisfied. And secondly, he had succeeded in firing the hidden weapons while Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol was distracted.

No matter how great Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol was, he couldn’t withstand being hit by projectiles right in front of his nose!

“You read minds? Then you must have known this too!”

Mang Ryo raised his internal energy to the extreme with Mad Blood Heaven technique and swung his blade.

SLASH!

Even the smoke was split by the sword energy.

CLANG!

However, Mang Ryo’s blade stopped at some point and couldn’t advance.

It was caught on a tea brush that Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol had raised above his head. An ordinary brush used to clean tea boards or dust off tea leaves.

Mang Ryo’s eyes widened greatly.

‘Did I fail!’

Did I not penetrate the protective energy barriers?

However, Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s appearance revealed after the smoke cleared was not neat at all.

The projectiles from his prosthetic feet were blackly embedded in Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s front chest and abdomen. Most of the screw-shaped projectiles were crushed and stuck on his clothes, some had penetrated the clothes and were half-embedded in his flesh. Only about ten or so had completely penetrated through Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s flesh and passed through. They had also torn through his shoulders and sides.

Though not extremely severe wounds, the projectiles were coated with poison. Just wounding him would cause poisoning.

Finally, he had succeeded in ambushing a Martial Supreme!

But Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol spoke in the same tone as before, though with somewhat diminished energy.

“Well now, what kind of madman is this? I cast a fishing line and a proper madman got hooked from somewhere.”

But every time he spoke, blood dripped from the wounds on his body.

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s Golden Pearl Eyes were no longer visible either. With the hand that had been lifting his eye holding the tea brush, his eyes were hidden behind heavy eyelids and long white eyebrows.

‘Now’s my chance!’

Mang Ryo gained courage. To not give him time to expel the poison, he raised his internal energy to the extreme and put strength into his blade.

Crack, crack.

Cracks appeared in the tea brush, then it was crushed to pieces under Mang Ryo’s strength. He shattered the tea brush and struck Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s shoulder. However, perhaps Iron Cloth Shirt still remained, as it made a metallic sound and the blade caught on his shoulder clothing.

CLANG!

If he couldn’t cut through the clothes and the sword energy was damaged, Mang Ryo would instead suffer internal injuries. Mang Ryo immediately withdrew his internal energy.

The blade with vanished sword energy instantly became chipped.

Mang Ryo abandoned the blade and immediately struck Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s chest with his palm.

“Die!”

THUMP! THUMP!

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s body vibrated. Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol staggered from Mang Ryo’s palm strike and said.

“Hehe, you prepared quite a lot. Projectiles that professionally destroy protective energy barriers. Is this Tang family craftsmanship?”

Crack, crack.

Sounds of joints twisting and bones dislocating came from Mang Ryo’s hands striking Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol. Mang Ryo was also being injured by the internal energy’s rebound force.

But Mang Ryo didn’t stop. If he gave even a little time, Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol could expel the poison.

“I said die!”

THUMP!

Nevertheless, Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol still grumbled. His body swayed from being hit on the shoulder and head, but he spoke nonchalantly.

“Geez, I have too much curiosity even at this age, that’s my problem. I didn’t need to get hit but got hit out of curiosity, so now he’s getting false hopes.”

Mang Ryo was the one hitting and Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol had suffered considerable injuries, yet Mang Ryo became even more impatient.

‘Didn’t the Absolute Yellow Corpse Poison work?’

That couldn’t be. If the Tang family said it could kill the Three Martial Supremes, then it could.

Black blood flowed from Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol’s eyes and nose.

Even though Mang Ryo kept striking with palm force making his body ring, Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol nonchalantly wiped the blood from his eyes and nose and said.

“But I’m a bit disappointed? If you wanted to kill me, you should have brought at least the Tang family’s Three Absolute Lethal Poisons to make it worth trying.”

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol gathered phlegm and spat, with blood and yellow liquid mixed together. After spitting phlegm several times, the blood flowing from his eyes and nose changed from black to bright red fresh blood, then even that stopped flowing.

He had completely detoxified it.

At that moment, the lukewarm attitude shown by the Tang family’s old craftsman came to Mang Ryo’s mind. When asked if he could kill the Three Martial Supremes, he had hesitated once in answering.

“Tch.”

Doesn’t the Absolute Yellow Corpse Poison work?

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol spoke as if reading Mang Ryo’s thoughts.

“Absolute Yellow Corpse Poison is one of the Tang family’s Eight Great Extreme Poisons. But to me it’s just a common poison. If I thought I’d be defeated by something like Absolute Yellow Corpse Poison, I probably would have erased the Tang family long ago.”

“Hehehe. They said muscles would rot and blood would putrefy from rotting sinew and putrid blood. It was just a common poison.”

Mang Ryo laughed like he was splitting his sides while shaking his wrist. The dislocated joints snapped back into place.

This was all because of Jin Ja-gang. If Jin Ja-gang hadn’t suddenly caused a disturbance by setting fires, he could have taken time to obtain the Three Absolute Lethal Poisons.

“Anyway, a fellow who’s unhelpful to the end.”

Mang Ryo didn’t hide his savagery and revealed it. He emitted killing intent toward Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol and raised Mad Blood Heaven technique to its limit.

But Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol waved his blood-covered hand up and down as if telling him to stop.

“Hey hey, come to your senses. With this commotion happening, can’t you tell from the fact that no one has entered this place yet?”

Only then did Mang Ryo realize that no sound had been coming from outside at all. Even though he had broken walls and caused a disturbance, there wasn’t the slightest sign of human presence. At minimum, someone should have come running!

Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol had used energy barriers to cut off this entire room space from the outside.

‘When?’

Once again, Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol spoke as if reading Mang Ryo’s thoughts.

“Naturally, from after the screaming happened outside.”

Mang Ryo looked at Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol with squinted eyes in surprise. Alliance Leader Taoist Haewol laughed.

“Hihihi, so I told you. I know all your thoughts. That eye told me everything.”