Chapter 270 – Being a Friend Means Being Cold (2)

Little Hua Mountain was located about three hundred li northwest of Mount Hua. True to its name, the scenery here was reminiscent of Mount Hua in many ways. No wonder it was named Little Mount Hua.

Dam Ho released Black Ghost at the mountain's entrance before climbing Little Mount Hua. Eum Yu-kyung followed behind, not knowing why they were there.

'Why here?'

A look of doubt appeared on Eum Yu-kyung's face. But since Dam Ho never did anything without reason, she simply trusted and followed him.

Little Mount Hua was beautiful. Like its name suggested, white plum blossoms were in full bloom everywhere. The subtle plum fragrance filling Little Mount Hua made it seem like a realm of immortals.

Dam Ho walked deep into Little Mount Hua. After passing through rough mountain paths, they entered a treacherous valley. The snow that had accumulated all winter was melting, creating rapids in the valley.

Dam Ho stopped briefly by the valley to scoop and drink some water. The melted snow water was so cold it cleared his mind.

Eum Yu-kyung also drank from the valley following Dam Ho. Once her thirst was quenched, she noticed the surrounding scenery.

Though the path here was beautiful, the valley scenery where they stood was especially stunning. Plum blossoms were blooming everywhere, and all kinds of rare flowers and herbs were in full bloom along the valley.

Dam Ho walked upstream along the beautiful valley. When they reached the upper stream, there was a large clearing. And on the clearing stood a modest thatched cottage.

On a wooden platform in front of the cottage sat a woman in plain clothes sorting medicinal herbs. Deeply focused on her work, she raised her head at the unfamiliar presence.

"Ah!"

An exclamation burst from the woman's lips when she saw Dam Ho. She quickly approached Dam Ho while wiping her hands on the towel tied around her waist.

"How could you come without any news…"

The woman looked surprised yet pleased. A bright smile bloomed on her sun-tanned face.

Dam Ho spoke respectfully to her:

"Have you been well?"

"As you can see."

The woman answered calmly, but Eum Yu-kyung was very surprised.

The Dam Ho she knew was not someone who showed respect to others. The only person he showed respect to was Sage Hyeon-so. Otherwise, he never showed respect to anyone, no matter what martial arts master he met. Yet here he was showing partial respect to this woman.

It was a sight that would surprise anyone who knew Dam Ho even slightly.

'Just who is this woman?'

A look of doubt appeared on Eum Yu-kyung's face.

Dam Ho asked:

"Where is he?"

"He went up the mountain. It's almost time for him to come down. Come here and wait a bit."

The woman led Dam Ho to the wooden platform.

Eum Yu-kyung followed Dam Ho while examining the cottage.

The thatched cottage, roughly made of woven wood, looked like it might collapse at any moment. Yet despite this, it somehow exuded a peaceful feeling.

"…"

Eum Yu-kyung's gaze suddenly stopped on a large flag hanging on one side of the cottage. The shabby flag hanging from a pole as large as a flagpole particularly caught her eye. The flag looked like a patchwork of countless worn and torn rags sewn together.

It was such a shabby object that normally she wouldn't have given it a second glance. But what kept Eum Yu-kyung's gaze fixed on the flag were the five faint characters remaining on it.

Banner of Hundred Battles.

Those five characters were embroidered on the flag that had been patched and sewn countless times.

Eum Yu-kyung's pupils wavered.

'How is this here?'

That's when it happened.

Suddenly, with rustling sounds from the bushes, someone appeared. Everyone's gaze turned in that direction.

It was a man dressed as plainly as the woman. With shabby clothes reminiscent of a farmer, sun-tanned black skin, and a generous smile that left an impression.

The man spotted Dam Ho.

"Haha! Who do we have here?"

Laughter burst out immediately.

He walked toward Dam Ho.

Tap! Tap!

But his footsteps were unusually distinct. Eum Yu-kyung's gaze naturally turned to the man's legs.

The man's left leg, with pants rolled up to the knee, was unusual. Instead of normal flesh color, it was metallic black.

'An artificial leg?'

A leg made of metal rather than human flesh. That's why intense vibrations rang out with each step.

Eum Yu-kyung's gaze moved to the man's upper body. Only then did his face register.

‘Drunk Cloud Dragon?'

The man was Cho Yeon-woon, the Drunk Cloud Dragon.

His appearance during the Mount Hua bloody catastrophe three years ago, defending the Banner of Hundred Battles to the end against the Demon Cult's invasion, was still legendary among martial artists.

Now no one would say Drunk Cloud Dragon was below Nine Martial Dragons. Rather, they placed him above. That's how impressive Cho Yeon-woon's actions had been.

'But he clearly disappeared suddenly three years ago.'

Three years ago, he lost one leg and vanished from the world. Many people searched for him out of respect for his achievements, but he was nowhere to be found. So many thought he might have died. Yet here he was, alive.

Though he had replaced his lost leg with an artificial one, he still appeared in good health. He strode over and embraced Dam Ho warmly.

The woman smiled watching this scene. Only then did Eum Yu-kyung realize the woman's identity.

'Dan Hwa-ran.'

The woman who had been Flying Plum Hall Master of the Martial Alliance.

She too had suddenly disappeared after Mount Hua's bloody catastrophe, and unexpectedly, she was here with Cho Yeon-woon.

Cho Yeon-woon was a trained warrior. Moreover, he had skills that could be considered the best among the younger generation. Such a person had lost his leg. The sense of loss Cho Yeon-woon felt was beyond words.

Dan Hwa-ran was the woman who comforted him then. She threw away her position as Flying Plum Hall Master of the Martial Alliance and devotedly cared for him at his side. Thanks to this, Cho Yeon-woon was able to escape extreme despair.

Dan Hwa-ran was shedding slight tears watching Dam Ho and Cho Yeon-woon's reunion.

'These two have been living in seclusion at Little Mount Hua.'

This was a fact completely unknown to the world. And it was also a fact completely unknown to Eum Yu-kyung.

"Well, everyone come inside."

Cho Yeon-woon smiled at Eum Yu-kyung. His smile somehow looked generous and unaffected.

The inside of the cottage looked much more comfortable than it appeared from outside. Traces of a woman's touch were evident everywhere. Traces of Dan Hwa-ran's care over the past three years.

Once seated, Dan Hwa-ran brought tea. "It's tea made from chrysanthemums picked in autumn and dried. You'll find it palatable."

"Dan Hwa made it herself. It's delicious."

Cho Yeon-woon added with a smile. It was a pleasant sight. Dam Ho stared at such a Cho Yeon-woon.

"I don't see any alcohol."

"I quit."

"…"

"Don't look at me like that. It's true. I drank a lot before. It's time to quit now."

Cho Yeon-woon shrugged his shoulders.

Dan Hwa-ran chimed in:

"It's true. He quit completely last year."

"See? I really quit now."

"I suppose it's true."

"Your problem is you don't trust people enough. I quit completely early last year. Thanks to that, my body feels refreshed now. Want to see?"

Cho Yeon-woon suddenly stood up from his seat and repeatedly sat down and stood up. Each time, his iron leg was particularly noticeable.

Dam Ho's gaze turned to the iron leg. Feeling his gaze, Cho Yeon-woon shook his head as if helpless.

"It doesn't hurt anymore. I don't need to rely on alcohol anymore. Really."

"I believe you."

"Good! Believe me."

Only then did Cho Yeon-woon smile broadly. Beside him, Dan Hwa-ran also smiled and firmly gripped Cho Yeon-woon's hand. They looked so bright.

Though they're laughing together now, the first year was extremely difficult. The tremendous internal injuries and wounds, plus the severed leg – it was a miracle he survived at all. If not for the outstanding physician Jong Ri-yeon, he would have died long ago.

Above all, what troubled Cho Yeon-woon most was the feeling of being left alone in the world. During Mount Hua's bloody catastrophe, all his martial siblings from Hundred Battles Sect who followed him died. And his master Jang Il-san had died at Mount Zhongnan.

Now he was the only disciple of Hundred Battles Sect. There was no longer any master or martial siblings to trust and rely on.

Though his physical wounds healed, his mental wounds remained. Moreover, his severed leg caused tremendous pain at all hours.

He lived drunk for nearly a year. He would become unconscious and cause disturbances, or jump into the valley water saying he wanted to die.

If Dan Hwa-ran hadn't cared for him, he wouldn't be in this world now. Dan Hwa-ran took extreme care of Cho Yeon-woon, and two years ago they came to Little Mount Hua together.

Whatever happened during the past two years, Cho Yeon-woon's eyes had become very clear and deep.

Eum Yu-kyung felt an indescribable thrill seeing such a Cho Yeon-woon.

'This person too has risen from rock bottom.'

She knew.

How difficult it is for someone who has fallen to the bottom of life to climb back up. And what great inner strength those who climb back from the bottom gain.

Eum Yu-kyung too had climbed up from the bottom of life, so she knew this fact better than anyone.

She quietly brought the teacup to her lips.

Everyone connected to Dam Ho was changing. The Mount Hua Sect warriors were like that, and so was Cho Yeon-woon.

'He's making everyone change.'

Small fish in a peaceful pond don't live long and aren't strong. But the moment a large predatory fish is put into the pond, everything changes.

To survive, the small fish must move desperately. The fish that survive this way become stronger and gain greater vitality.

The Mount Hua Sect disciples and Cho Yeon-woon were such cases. Dam Ho was the beast that caused great waves in their small world. His existence was changing those around him.

Dam Ho was drinking chrysanthemum tea with his eyes half-lowered. The subtle yet slightly bitter fragrance seemed to clear his mind.

"It's good."

"I'm glad. That the tea suits Dam Ho's taste. Shall I pack some for you to take when you leave?"

At Dan Hwa-ran's words, Dam Ho quietly shook his head.

"Next time."

"Why are you…"

"You're going somewhere, I see."

Cho Yeon-woon put down his teacup and looked directly at Dam Ho. His eyes demanded an explanation.

Dam Ho also put down his teacup.

The two exchanged glances briefly.

"I'll be leaving Mount Hua for a while."

"Where are you going?"

"Sichuan Province."

"What's in Sichuan Province?"

"…"

"The Demon Cult, I suppose."

"Perhaps."

"I'll go with you."

Cho Yeon-woon immediately stood up. Dam Ho stared up at him.

"Sit down!"

"I'll go with you."

"No!"

"Dam Ho!"

Cho Yeon-woon raised his voice. But there wasn't a trace of wavering in Dam Ho's eyes as he looked at him.

He quietly answered:

"No!"

"Why?"

"Because you'll just be a burden."

"Me?"

"Isn't that right?"

At Dam Ho's callous words, Cho Yeon-woon's shoulders trembled. His face was full of anger. He looked ready to punch Dam Ho in the face.

That's when it happened.

"Senior Brother, his words are true."

Dan Hwa-ran joined in. Cho Yeon-woon's gaze turned sharply.

"You too?"

"It's the truth. With Senior Brother's current physical condition, following Dam Ho would only be a burden. Senior Brother needs to become stronger."

Dan Hwa-ran was cold. Her coldness cooled Cho Yeon-woon's boiling heart.

Cho Yeon-woon had certainly become stronger than before. He had lived obsessed with martial arts day and night. But practicing martial arts with a prosthetic leg after losing a healthy leg was by no means easy.

Dam Ho said:

"If you're frustrated, become stronger."

"Kugh!"

"Strong enough that I can trust and leave things to you."

Dam Ho's cold words stabbed Cho Yeon-woon's heart like a dagger.

Jin Ja-gang saw a single master coming up from far away while descending the stairs. Though he couldn’t see the face clearly, by watching how he leaped up several stairs with each step, he could easily guess who it was.

It was Baek Li-jung.

If they continued straight down the stairs, they would meet Baek Li-jung in one or two moments.

Jin Ja-gang briefly stopped walking and said to the Evil Sect members.

“You haven’t forgotten what I told you, have you? Even if something happens to me…”

Bian Bu answered.

“Fish-Shaped Taiji. The life gate that allows survival is in the death gate, and the death gate is within the scene gate. I remember it clearly.”

But Bian Bu soon showed annoyance as if fed up.

“But what good does it do for us to know? The gates and palaces of Fish-Shaped Taiji are constantly changing, so how could we possibly find them?”

Gam Chung sighed and said from the side.

“Oh my, the only exit, the life gate, is in the death gate? So even if we find the death gate, we’re told to die?”

Bian Bu, who had been grumbling, snapped back at Gam Chung.

“This Poison Dragon fellow has escaped from the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation once before, hasn’t he?”

“It’s Poison Dragon.”

Gam Chung said it so matter-of-factly that Bian Bu felt embarrassed instead.

“Ah, right? That makes sense then.”

Jin Ja-gang smiled slightly and looked at Eight Flying Demon Hero Gu Ryun.

Gu Ryun read Jin Ja-gang’s eyes and snorted.

“Don’t look down on the world, youngster. Do I look like someone who needs to worry about some milk-smelling brat?”

Though he had lost his right leg from a single blow from Baek Li-jung, he was someone who had overcome countless crises in warfare. He wasn’t someone who needed Jin Ja-gang’s concern.

Jin Ja-gang was impressed by Gu Ryun’s unwavering appearance.

“Understood.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong asked from the side.

“Which direction should we go now?”

“West. We’ll go with our backs to the sun.”

If they went down westward, the Martial Alliance warriors would face east. When the sun began to rise, they would be looking directly into it.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong bit her teeth tightly while looking at the person coming up the stairs below. She had heard from Jin Ja-gang that Baek Li-jung had returned. If she didn’t have companions to take care of, she would have rushed down recklessly to fight to the death.

Soso saw Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s stern face and tugged at her collar. Dan Ryeong-gyeong forced herself to smile at Soso.

“You’re more mature than me. I understand. Let’s focus only on escaping for now.”

Soon the Evil Sect members looked at Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang looked at the slightly cloudy sky with some concern before saying.

“Then let’s go.”

* * *

Baek Li-jung saw the Evil Sect members veer off to a side path from the middle of the stairs. They seemed to have chosen the western forest path as their escape route.

But only one person broke off toward the opposite direction, east. Wearing silk clothes and limping as he walked…

Baek Li-jung’s eyes naturally turned that way.

Those who split in both directions entered the forest and instantly became invisible.

Baek Li-jung’s brow furrowed deeply as he pondered briefly.

“Playing tricks to the very end.”

As soon as Baek Li-jung finished speaking, he leaped up and left the stairs. He headed east.

* * *

Finally, the Evil Sect members entered the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation. Whistle sounds rang out from all directions.

Zhuge Ming took out eight flags.

They weren’t simple Five Element Flags, but had written on them the characters representing the eight trigrams: Qian, Kun, Kan, Li, Xun, Dui, Gen, Zhen.

Using these eight flags, he could command large groups starting with eight clusters, then sixty-four, and as small as three hundred eighty-four clusters.

Flutter!

Zhuge Ming successively waved three flags of Qian trigram, Kan trigram, then Qian trigram, Xun trigram, and Dui trigram.

Tweet! Tweet!

Accordingly, the massive Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation began to move. As if it were alive.

* * *

Baek Li-jung followed Jin Ja-gang’s trail deep into the forest.

Seeing him flee far from his companions using even lightness techniques, it was clear he intended to separate Baek Li-jung.

But after chasing Jin Ja-gang for a considerable time, Baek Li-jung suddenly stopped.

At a distance, Jin Ja-gang was no longer running away but waiting. He was openly luring Baek Li-jung like playing hide and seek.

However, Baek Li-jung wasn’t annoyed and sent his voice far using voice projection.

“Stop this. Don’t you think we’ve come far enough?”

Indeed, they had circled halfway around Qingcheng Mountain’s peak.

From the distance, Jin Ja-gang, no, Gu Ryun answered with voice projection.

“Should we? If you won’t run away.”

“Run away?”

Baek Li-jung snorted lightly and took a step forward. With each step, he advanced several zhang.

Gu Ryun waited.

Baek Li-jung came right up to Gu Ryun and stopped.

Gu Ryun grinned and said.

“Well well, who do we have here? How does it feel to be fooled?”

Gu Ryun was wearing Jin Ja-gang’s clothes instead. Since Jin Ja-gang had been wearing such conspicuous silk clothing, from a distance he would have looked like Jin Ja-gang.

“And my foot is like this too.”

Gu Ryun showed a prosthetic leg made by tying thick wood together. With shoes on and covered by clothes, it looked perfect from afar.

“So you were fooled, but unfortunately, Poison Dragon’s foot is the left one and mine is the right one.”

While Gu Ryun chuckled, Baek Li-jung’s expression didn’t change. No, he actually smiled.

“Do I look like such a fool who wouldn’t know that?”

“Stop bluffing. You wouldn’t have followed me this far if you knew. You didn’t even realize I was buying time.”

“You’re more stupid than I thought.”

“What?”

“If someone of my level came chasing, you should think there’s a reason worthy of that. How can you think I came because I was fooled? You end up like that because you don’t know your opponent.”

Gu Ryun frowned.

“Ah, right. What reason would a big shot like you have to chase a worthless deserter like me? Because you don’t want to leave future troubles? Because you regret letting me live?”

But Baek Li-jung’s answer was completely unexpected to Gu Ryun.

Baek Li-jung answered in a low voice.

“Because I’m hungry.”

“…”

Gu Ryun stared at Baek Li-jung incredulously.

“What kind of bullshit is that, you crazy bastard.”

Baek Li-jung’s voice became increasingly ominous.

“That bastard’s poison was so vicious that I had to put considerable effort into detoxifying it. I couldn’t bear the hunger.”

“Then go eat some food instead of following me.”

At Gu Ryun’s words, Baek Li-jung bared his fangs and smiled without answering.

Gu Ryun frowned and took out the shield he had hidden behind him.

“I don’t know what you’re scheming, but you’ll regret it.”

“The one who should regret is you, not me.”

At Baek Li-jung’s words, Gu Ryun emitted killing intent.

“Do you think I’ll fall for the same trick twice? That technique from last time won’t work anymore!”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

Baek Li-jung’s face became bloodshot and his eyes began to shine strangely. As he raised his internal energy, blue blood vessels protruded on the back of his hands. An ominous blue aura also gathered at his fingertips.

Gu Ryun’s eyes flinched.

“What is this!”

No matter how generously one looked at it, this wasn’t the appearance of someone who had learned orthodox sect internal energy methods.

Crack, crunch.

Even his skeleton showed abnormalities. Baek Li-jung even seemed to be in some pain. But he wasn’t struggling because of the pain. Rather, he seemed to be enjoying it.

“You said I’d regret it?”

Baek Li-jung said in a hoarse voice.

“There’s no one watching. Then naturally, the one who should regret is you.”

Baek Li-jung struck out with his palm bare-handed without even drawing his sword.

Gu Ryun felt the ominous atmosphere and raised his internal energy to maximum to prepare.

Bang!

Baek Li-jung’s palm struck the shield. Gu Ryun’s body trembled like an aspen tree.

Not only was his supporting strength weakened by having lost one leg, but Baek Li-jung’s power was different from before. Enough to make his entire body shudder.

Gu Ryun opened his eyes wide and gritted his teeth.

“This son of a…”

* * *

The Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation is subdivided by “one gate, one palace, four symbols, five elements.” Within the large space called Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation, the wheel of eight gates rotates, and within the eight gates exist one palace and four symbols, and within that, the five elements move ceaselessly.

Not only that, but due to Fish-Shaped Taiji, yin changes to yang and yang changes to yin, so the countless variations could truly be called thousand changes or ten thousand changes.

Jin Ja-gang, having already experienced it, judged that the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation couldn’t be broken through by force. Either by using external factors like terrain and features, or by destroying the interior.

However, Zhuge Ming’s operation as a true blood of the Zhuge family was more meticulous than Jin Ja-gang had thought.

Tweet! Tweet!

The constantly sounding whistles not only scattered one’s concentration but attacks came frantically from all directions.

While blocking sword strikes, arrows suddenly flew from the side.

“Arrows are pouring down! Dodge to the side!”

The Evil Sect members rushed to empty positions. But spears were waiting there. Spears suddenly jutted out from three sides made of trees and grass bushes on the front, left, and right.

“Damn!”

The moment they retreated to avoid the spears, the formation’s composition changed and the direction of the blocked three sides changed. The front and left-right rotated so the left side opened while the other three sides were blocked by warriors.

When they moved to where there were gaps, different attacks waited there. Unable to move where they wanted, they were swept along by the enemies’ movements.

Therefore, the pressure continued endlessly. There was no leisure to let their guard down even for a moment. No matter where they fled, fatal attacks were hidden.

“Get out of the way!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Dan Ryeong-gyeong went ahead to forcibly open a path. Five sword-wielding squad leaders attacked from the front then retreated to the left.

Four spear-wielding warriors came to that position and thrust their spears. Dan Ryeong-gyeong leaped into the air to avoid the spears while catching all four spear shafts under one arm. She intended to throw the warriors along with the spear shafts. But soon the warriors who had retreated to the left changed and Zhuge family warriors appeared, throwing iron rings made of chains at Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

If she got entangled in the iron rings while holding the spear shafts, it would be harder to escape. Dan Ryeong-gyeong pushed away the spear shafts like throwing them to knock down the warriors and shot palm wind with her left arm to make the iron rings bounce away. Warriors from the side filled the empty positions of the spear-wielding warriors. The warriors picked up spears and attacked Dan Ryeong-gyeong again. Dan Ryeong-gyeong used footwork to avoid the spears.

Suddenly, two sect leaders from Sichuan’s small and medium sects jumped out from behind at diagonal angles and attacked Dan Ryeong-gyeong. With only one remaining arm, and while receiving spear attacks from the side, it wasn’t easy to face two opponents from behind. Dan Ryeong-gyeong rotated her body to avoid the spear blades and continuously shot palm force. The two sect leaders deflected the palm force and leaped over Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

While the two sect leaders held Dan Ryeong-gyeong briefly, the warriors from the side passed Dan Ryeong-gyeong and attacked the Evil Sect members behind her. From the Evil Sect members’ perspective, it was like being hit in the back of the head while trusting Dan Ryeong-gyeong was there.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong couldn’t move to save the Evil Sect members behind her. The two sect leader-level opponents had already passed over Dan Ryeong-gyeong and were targeting the back of her head. If Dan Ryeong-gyeong didn’t turn around, they would immediately attack.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong burned her breathing to maximum and turned around to wave her hand. Palm force shot out in two streams, pressuring the two sect leaders. Both sect leaders immediately retreated.

But already the personnel on both sides had been replaced. Warriors from one side came out with shields to block Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s palm force, while from the other side, Zhuge Ming’s cousin Zhuge Son-gi jumped out and targeted Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong exchanged palm force with Zhuge Son-gi.

Boom!

Zhuge Son-gi hadn’t intended to fight with his life completely on the line from the start. When his palm force was pushed back, he retreated without regret and switched with the warriors.

Frustrated, Dan Ryeong-gyeong gritted her molars.