Chapter 357 – Two Lives Wouldn't Be Enough to Survive This Danger (1)
"Wow! To have such a downpour after coming all this way. I'm soaked to my underwear."
"Still, it's fortunate there's an inn nearby."
The martial artists who came with the woman each shook off water while making comments.
Tssss!
At that moment, steam rose from the woman's body. She was using internal energy to evaporate the water from her clothes. Seeing the woman's display, the guests inside the inn lit up their eyes.
Most people inside Clear Flow Inn were martial artists. Therefore, they knew how remarkable the skill the woman was displaying was.
'This is a level impossible without opening the Conception and Governing Vessels.'
'To think a woman has reached such a level.'
Having opened the Conception and Governing Vessels meant internal energy circulated throughout the body without obstruction. In other words, it meant at least peak-level or above.
Among the young women of the martial world, not that many had achieved such a level.
'Who could she be?'
'Perhaps the Phantom Fairy?'
They thought of the most famous female martial artist in today's martial world. But the moment they saw the sword at her waist, they realized their guess was wrong.
Two characters carved on the handle.
Jade Frost.
Though countless martial artists existed under heaven, only one person owned a sword with such a name.
"Ah! She's Miss Hae So-wol of the Hainan Sect."
"To see the Flower in the Sea here. What good fortune."
People's murmuring grew louder.
Flower in the Sea Hae So-wol.
The young sect leader of the Hainan Sect and one of the Nine Martial Dragons. Though her fame had dimmed somewhat with the emergence of the Four Divine Stars, they were still the greatest rising talents of the martial world.
Especially Hae So-wol had achieved notable merit in the battle against the Demon Cult three years ago. Because of this, she was famous enough that any martial artist would know her.
Having dried her clothes instantly, Hae So-wol said to the disciples who came with her:
"Whew! First check if there are any rooms available."
"Yes! Fourth Sister."
The Hainan Sect martial artists who came with her began moving busily. One negotiated with the inn owner for rooms, while the rest prepared a place to dine.
They gathered three empty tables together to create seating.
"Fourth Sister, please sit here for now."
"There are three empty rooms left. One for Fourth Sister to sleep in, and the rest of us can sleep in the remaining rooms."
Hae So-wol nodded and took a seat.
The three years had made her even more beautiful.
She had been beautiful before, but now she exuded the mature beauty of a woman. Because of this, people in the inn couldn't take their eyes off her.
"Sigh!"
Hae So-wol let out a quiet sigh.
Such gazes were quite familiar to her. Normally she could ignore them without care, but when her heart was heavy like now, even that was burdensome.
She looked at the martial artists positioned around her. They were all disciples of the Hainan Sect who had become her junior brothers and sisters. Hae So-wol was the one who bore the heavy responsibility of leading them now.
Hae So-wol looked around the inn.
She could feel the gazes of countless people looking at her with admiring eyes. If the disciples weren't around her, they would have approached long ago.
The disciples with her were all elite members of the Hainan Sect. They were first-generation disciples of the Hainan Sect whose martial achievements were not inferior to first-generation disciples of the Nine Great Sects.
Even while laughing and chatting, the momentum they emanated was extraordinary, so people in the inn could only swallow dry saliva.
Her gaze, which had been casually looking over people, stopped abruptly at the window. More precisely, it fixed on the man in black clothes occupying the window seat.
He was a man with disheveled black hair like a lion's mane wearing a pitch-black long robe. Though his face was hidden by his hair, his atmosphere reminded her of someone she knew.
"That person…"
Just as she was about to say something to the man, suddenly a booming voice was heard from the stairs leading to the second floor.
"What's this? I wondered why it was so noisy, and it's because a bunch of small fry have gathered."
Hooong!
The booming voice, like a large temple bell ringing out, painfully stimulated the eardrums of people in the inn.
"Urgh!"
"Cough!"
Most people covered their ears with both hands and suffered in pain.
Hae So-wol and the Hainan Sect disciples looked toward the owner of the voice.
Thud! Thud!
With footsteps, the stairs bent under the man's weight, unable to bear it. The creaking made it seem like they would collapse at any moment.
He was truly a man with a bear-like massive build. Indeed, he wore clothes made of bear fur, and the forearms visible between the clothes were as thick as logs, packed with muscles reminiscent of granite.
His face, appearing to be in his late forties to early fifties, was full of scars, frightening just to look at.
The man looked at Hae So-wol and showed his yellow teeth.
"Ho! There's quite a pretty wench here. What's your name, girl?"
"Who might you be?"
"Impudent wench. When an elder asks, you should answer obediently instead of asking back. Despite your pretty face, you have no manners."
"Isn't it proper etiquette to reveal one's own name first when asking for someone else's name?"
Hae So-wol frowned. Then the Hainan Sect disciples beside her stepped forward.
"Fourth Sister, there's no need to listen to such a madman's words."
"That's right."
They showed wariness while looking at the bear-like large man. Seeing the Hainan Sect disciples' appearance, the bear-like large man laughed.
"Kahaha! To be looked down upon like this after coming out to the martial world after so long. How interesting."
Hooong!
At the man's laughter, objects in the inn vibrated. It was truly tremendous internal energy.
The faces of Hae So-wol and the Hainan Sect disciples hardened stiffly.
Such internal energy was comparable to the Hainan Sect elders they respected.
Then the man stopped laughing abruptly and glared at Hae So-wol and her disciples.
"For this Great Strength Black Bear Jang Cheon-so to be so disrespected. How absurd. Even though it's been decades since I came out to the martial world."
Instantly, the air in the hall turned cold.
"My goodness! The Great Strength Black Bear?"
"Isn't Jang Cheon-so a martial artist from twenty years ago?"
Some knowledgeable people recognized Jang Cheon-so's identity and couldn't contain their shock.
Great Strength Black Bear Jang Cheon-so was a martial artist active twenty years ago. Born with natural divine strength and having learned martial arts called Iron Tower Divine Technique, it was known that not many under heaven could match him. However, his personality was so brutal and hot-tempered that many people feared him.
He had strutted around boasting that the martial world was small, but one day he disappeared from the martial world and was forgotten from people's memories. That same person had leaped across twenty years of time and space to appear before people again.
Hae So-wol's eyes sank heavily.
"Are you truly the Great Strength Black Bear senior?"
"Hehe! That's right. Who else under heaven could use the title Great Strength Black Bear besides me?"
"I heard you went into seclusion twenty years ago. What brings you back to the world?"
"So you're displeased? Young wench. Come to think of it, I still haven't heard your name. What is your name?"
"I am called Hae So-wol of the Hainan Sect."
"Ho! The wench called Flower in the Sea. This old man is quite fortunate."
"What do you mean? Fortunate?"
"It was lonely drinking alone, but now I can receive wine service from a pretty wench like you, so how could I not be pleased?"
"Who said anything about serving wine? Watch your words. No matter if you're a senior, I cannot tolerate such careless speech."
"Hehe! The wench has quite a temper too."
Jang Cheon-so let out a sinister laugh.
Though countless people were in the inn, he paid them no mind. His originally arrogant personality had become even more eccentric after living in seclusion for twenty years.
"Why has someone who already went into seclusion twenty years ago come out to the martial world?"
"Naturally to protect the martial world."
"What?"
"Are your ears blocked? I said I came out to protect the martial world from the Demon Cult's hands."
"What?"
"Since the martial world is in crisis, wouldn't this old man be of great help? So naturally, junior martial artists like you should treat this old man well. That's the way of the martial world."
"……"
Hae So-wol was left speechless.
A martial artist of Jang Cheon-so's caliber would certainly be of great help in the fight against the Demon Cult. But that didn't mean it was a reason for her to pour wine for him.
"You are quite shameless. No one can force junior martial artists to drink with them for such reasons. Rather, shouldn't a senior martial artist like you set an example for juniors?"
"Well now, wench. You talk too much. When an elder tells you to sit beside him, you should quickly sit down."
"Watch your words. You are now insulting not only Miss Hae but the entire Hainan Sect. If you continue like this, we can no longer tolerate it."
Unable to bear it any longer, one Hainan Sect martial artist flared up and shouted. Anger was clearly revealed on his face.
Nor was he alone. The other Hainan Sect disciples' expressions were the same. Insulting Hae So-wol was no different from insulting the Hainan Sect. Having greater pride in the Hainan Sect than anyone, they could never tolerate it.
Jang Cheon-so looked down at them.
"What if you don't tolerate it?"
"Grr!"
"Want to have a go? Do you have the confidence to handle it?"
The smile that appeared on Jang Cheon-so's lips was clearly mocking. At this, the Hainan Sect disciples trembled with their bodies.
"Hehe! I know. I know why you left the Hainan Sect to crawl thousands of li away to Shaolin Temple. Since the Demon Cult has seized the Central Plains' waist, it's only a matter of time before the Hainan Sect in the south is occupied. So you're going to ask Shaolin Temple for help, aren't you?"
"Grr!"
The Hainan Sect disciples' jaws twitched. Because Jang Cheon-so's words were true.
Jang Cheon-so's mockery deepened.
"But do Shaolin and the Martial Alliance really have the capacity to help the Hainan Sect? They're already struggling to protect themselves. Moreover, what if I suggest to the Martial Alliance not to help the Hainan Sect as a condition for helping them? Hehehe!"
"Senior Jang!"
Instantly Hae So-wol's eyes sank sharply. She couldn't bear it any longer.
Right now Jang Cheon-so was making threats.
What was frustrating was that Jang Cheon-so's threats weren't entirely baseless. If a martial artist with Jang Cheon-so's fame and martial prowess offered to help, the Martial Alliance would certainly accept with joy.
"So what does Senior Jang want?"
"Didn't I tell you? I want to drink wine served by you. If you attend to me at my side, I'll speak well of you to the Martial Alliance. Or I could help directly."
"……"
"The choice is yours. Bearing the consequences is also your responsibility."
The corners of Jang Cheon-so's mouth curled up.
"Fourth Sister, there's no need to listen to his words. We are the Hainan Sect. We don't yield to any threats, much less need to listen to words from a madman like him."
Shing!
The disciple who stood in front of Hae So-wol drew his sword. Then others also drew their swords.
Resolute expressions appeared on their faces.
Having greater pride in the Hainan Sect than anyone, they couldn't bear receiving such insults.
Hae So-wol's expression also turned colder than ever. But her inner thoughts were extremely complicated.
Normally she would have drawn her sword regardless of whether he was a senior, unable to contain her anger. But as Jang Cheon-so said, the Hainan Sect's circumstances were not good in many ways.
After the Demon Cult seized Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces, southern Central Plains had come under their sphere of influence. Though Hainan Island where the Hainan Sect was located was still holding out taking advantage of its geographical benefit of being an island, it was certain to become isolated as time passed.
She wasn't afraid of Jang Cheon-so. But she was concerned about relations with the Martial Alliance becoming strained if they made enemies with him.
Reading Hae So-wol's inner thoughts, Jang Cheon-so burst into loud laughter.
"Hehe! Young wench. There's no need to complicate your thoughts. You just need to pour wine beside this elder. Then everything will be resolved, so there's no need to make the problem big."
"Sigh!"
Hae So-wol let out a sigh.
Suddenly her eyes changed.
She didn't want to cause trouble if possible, but if she endured such insults, everyone would look down on her.
She knew too well what happened to those who were once looked down upon in the martial world.
Above all, enduring while receiving such insults was not her nature. She grasped the handle of her beloved sword Jade Frost.
"Hehe! This is interesting."
Seeing this, Jang Cheon-so laughed even louder. His eyes were gleaming with red light.
This time that was agonizing for Hae So-wol was extremely exciting for him. The past twenty years had been too boring for him, making it even more so.
Actually, he knew better that Hae So-wol wouldn't serve him wine. He just needed an excuse. An excuse to release his long-suppressed destructive urges.
"Hehe!"
He hoped Hae So-wol would deploy martial arts soon. Only then would he have justification to deploy his martial arts.
Screech!
Then a completely different sound echoed through the inn. It was the sound of chair legs scraping the floor. Because of this, the excitement that had heated up cooled down as if cold water had been poured on it.
"What?"
Jang Cheon-so looked irritably toward where the sound came from. In his eyes appeared a man in black clothes rising from his seat.
Jang Cheon-so frowned at the sight of the man black from head to toe.
"Who are you?"
"……"
The man walked over without answering.
"Ah!"
Suddenly an exclamation burst from Hae So-wol's mouth.
The man walking straight toward them was limping slightly with his leg.

The Mount Hua Sect master, Ham-geun, briefly cupped his fists and greeted Sword Empress Im Yi-eon, Namgung Geol, and Yuk Ha-seon. Those who had already arrived at the inn also stood up from their seats and cupped their fists in return.

Jin Ja-gang guided them to empty seats.

“Please sit.”

Ham-geun looked down at Jin Ja-gang and replied in a cold voice.

“Do I look like I came here to play?”

When Jin Ja-gang just stared without answering, Ham-geun pursed his lips and asked again.

“I asked if I look like I came here to play.”

Yuk Ha-seon spoke mockingly.

“Look here. Do you think the people here came because they were idle? Among those here, there’s not a single person who came to play…”

“Ahem.”

Namgung Geol cleared his throat awkwardly. Namgung Geol had made the excuse that he came to play. So saying there wasn’t a single person who came to play would be a lie.

Yuk Ha-seon also seemed to remember this and stopped speaking.

Ham-geun hadn’t yet adapted to the atmosphere of Funeral Inn, so he thought they were mocking him and became very displeased.

“If you start speaking, you should finish.”

To that, Namgung Geol answered.

“We were wondering who would come as Indestructible Heavenly Sword’s representative. But we never expected Great Hero Ham of Mount Hua Sect to come.”

Saying he was Indestructible Heavenly Sword’s representative rather than the Righteous Alliance’s representative was clear mockery. Though Yangtze River Sword Sect and the Righteous Alliance both started with the goal of realizing Taoist Haewol’s great cause, they were currently in opposition.

Tendons stood out on Ham-geun’s jaw.

“Mount Hua, unlike the Namgung family, is not a place that moves at anyone’s command.”

“There’s a misunderstanding. I came to play.”

Ham-geun’s lips twitched, showing his tightly clenched teeth.

“Disaster Sword Guest brings disaster not with his sword but with his words.”

Namgung Geol raised his hand with sharp eyes but a gentle smile.

“Then I should be more careful with my words. Go about your business.”

Snap.

Ham-geun’s beard and hair stood stiffly. He seemed to be barely containing his anger.

Ham-geun didn’t drag out his words. He immediately looked at Jin Ja-gang and spoke.

“I know you have King of Hell’s personal letter. You must know what the contents are. Either tell me the letter’s contents immediately or hand over the letter.”

The Righteous Alliance wanted to know the contents before the personal letter was delivered to Shaolin Temple.

They wanted to know whether Tang family had declared war on Shaolin Temple or planned some other deal, so they could respond accordingly.

All the other martial artists in the inn focused their gazes on Jin Ja-gang. The representatives of the factions Jin Ja-gang wanted had roughly gathered. They became curious whether Jin Ja-gang would actually produce the personal letter.

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“I’ll serve you two bowls of thin noodles.”

“Don’t think you can waste time with your shabby innkeeper act.”

But Ham-geun’s threats were useless.

It was because Sword Empress Im Yi-eon threw in a comment.

“Poison Dragon’s cooking is worth trying.”

Ham-geun glared at Im Yi-eon with bulging eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think threats will work when you don’t even have confidence to eat Poison Dragon’s cooking?”

Ham-geun didn’t back down.

“Sword Empress, Southern Sea Sword Sect shouldn’t be on bad terms with Indestructible Heavenly Sword. Why do you help Poison Dragon and try to antagonize me?”

“I’m just curious whether Great Hero Ham truly has the qualifications to be here. And I don’t understand why you keep linking Indestructible Heavenly Sword with our sect. All we had was one marriage proposal discussion.”

“Don’t you know the answer to that better than I do, Sword Empress? They say smoke doesn’t rise from a chimney without fire.”

Im Yi-eon became upset and slammed down her chopsticks with a sharp sound.

“Are you saying my disciple chased after Silent Dragon! Don’t you know I hate such disgusting rumors most!”

Ham-geun didn’t soften his gaze as he cupped his fists.

“If I was rude, I apologize. But if you try to obstruct Mount Hua’s business today, your disciple will face even more suspicion from people.”

Im Yi-eon’s face turned red and blue. The marriage proposal discussion was fact. Ham-geun was warning that if she interfered with him, rumors might spread that she had betrayed Baek Li-jung because the marriage proposal didn’t work out.

“I shouldn’t scold Disaster Sword Guest. There’s another person with a long tongue!”

With those words, Im Yi-eon shut her mouth.

Ham-geun looked around the inn.

Everyone had an empty bowl in front of them.

They had all eaten cleanly without leaving a drop of broth. In such an atmosphere, being the only one to refuse would also look ridiculous.

“Qualifications…”

Ham-geun spoke to Jin Ja-gang in a commanding tone.

“Let me see your skills. Bring it.”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t immediately go to boil noodles but asked back.

“Would you like to taste what I’m good at, or would you like something edible?”

Hearing Jin Ja-gang’s words, Yuk Ha-seon smiled. It was exactly what Jin Ja-gang had asked when she first visited.

Only now did the other martial artists read Jin Ja-gang’s intention. Their eyes all filled with curiosity.

Jin Ja-gang hadn’t stayed at the inn and endured for no reason.

He was distinguishing between his side and the other side.

If they ate the food Jin Ja-gang made, it meant they either trusted Jin Ja-gang or were confident enough in their martial arts. If not, they would be the side that found Jin Ja-gang uncomfortable.

Ham-geun’s expression hardened.

He had already told him to bring it, so refusing immediately would spread rumors that he tucked his tail because he wasn’t confident in his martial arts. But he also couldn’t openly drink the absolute poison Asura Blood that was rumored to have brought even Indestructible Heavenly Sword to his knees. If he acted rashly and something went wrong, he’d just be called stupid.

In the end, he couldn’t retreat.

Could he let rumors spread that a Mount Hua Sect veteran was scared of Poison Dragon’s poison!

Ham-geun gritted his teeth.

“You use the situation very well. Let’s see how good this ‘good’ thing of yours is.”

The watching martial artists became excited about how Jin Ja-gang would respond.

Given Jin Ja-gang’s personality, he definitely wouldn’t go easy.

“Then just a moment.”

Jin Ja-gang returned to the kitchen. Sounds of boiling noodles and broth could be heard.

It would be awkward to just stand there until Jin Ja-gang came. Ham-geun sat at an empty table. But even then, he didn’t stop being vigilant while observing those in the inn.

If he had to use force against Poison Dragon, he was gauging who would be enemies and allies.

Southern Sea Sword Sect’s Sword Empress wouldn’t easily interfere in his business, and since poison sects and the Righteous Alliance had just decided to join hands, Pleasure Heaven Lord Yuk Ha-seon would also find it difficult to openly interfere.

However, if necessary, he would have to fight with Namgung Geol of the Namgung family.

Ham-geun placed his sword on the table so he could draw it at any time. Then he scolded So-min, who still had tears hanging in her eyes.

“Pull yourself together. If I had known you couldn’t control your emotions to this extent, I wouldn’t have brought you.”

“I understand, Master.”

So-min forcibly swallowed her tears while burning with desire for revenge.

After some awkward time passed, Jin Ja-gang came out of the kitchen.

Jin Ja-gang held one bowl of noodles and one small wine cup. He placed the noodles in front of So-min and the wine cup in front of Ham-geun.

Jin Ja-gang lightly dipped his finger in the wine cup then withdrew it. A stream of blood spread in the wine cup and an indescribable rich flower fragrance filled the inn.

Namgung Geol savored the flower fragrance and said.

“My. So this is the famous Asura Blood.”

At the mention of Asura Blood, Ham-geun’s expression hardened further.

So-min glared at Jin Ja-gang, not understanding why poisoned wine was served to her master Ham-geun while food was served to her.

“Do you think I’d eat something like this?”

“After you eat, I’ll tell you about Brother Pyo.”

“How dare you mention Brother Pyo’s name!”

So-min gritted her teeth and glared at Jin Ja-gang with reddened eyes, then picked up chopsticks.

But Ham-geun said.

“Don’t eat it.”

So-min hesitated.

“You’re going to eat what that guy gave you when who knows what tricks he played?”

Guilt briefly flickered in So-min’s eyes. Without realizing it, she had been trusting Jin Ja-gang. But the more she had trusted him, the greater her sense of betrayal toward Jin Ja-gang who killed Pyo Sang-guk, and tears welled up again.

However, because she wanted to know the reason Pyo Sang-guk was killed, she couldn’t easily put down her chopsticks despite her master’s words.

Then Ham-geun struck the bowl in front of So-min with his palm.

The innocent bowl flew sideways. At the same time, Namgung Geol picked up an empty bowl and flew sideways using movement techniques.

Pat pat pat!

He gathered all the noodles flying in all directions with chopsticks, wrapped them up greatly and made them into one lump. Simultaneously, he caught the spilling broth with the empty bowl.

Namgung Geol even caught So-min’s falling bowl with his back foot. Then he kicked to return the bowl to So-min and came back to his seat after putting the noodles into the bowl containing broth.

Only a few drops of broth had fallen to the ground.

Namgung Geol ate the noodles while making deliberate sounds.

Slurp! Slurp!

Namgung Geol exclaimed.

“Delicious. Delicious. Why don’t you eat such tasty food?”

Ham-geun and So-min’s faces both reddened simultaneously.

Ham-geun’s face heated up from being mocked for suspecting poison, while So-min reddened from the complicated feelings of betrayal toward Jin Ja-gang… and simultaneously trusting him, which conflicted.

Jin Ja-gang said calmly.

“What I gave Miss So-min is only chicken broth, noodles bought from the market, salt, and some coriander.”

Ham-geun gestured with his chin as if asking what the small wine cup in front of him was.

“That’s Asura Blood. If poisoned, red flowers will bloom all over your body and you’ll die from internal destruction in a short time. After you drink it, I’ll tell you everything you want before you die.”

Im Yi-eon and Namgung Geol’s eyes sparkled anew. They were martial artists at the highest level in the martial world. They couldn’t help being curious about Jin Ja-gang’s Asura Blood.

Ham-geun looked at Jin Ja-gang with a frightening expression. But even he couldn’t readily touch Asura Blood.

Yuk Ha-seon threw out words.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t drink it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Leper Mound’s Piercing Ghost had a body immune to all poisons. But he died with flowers blooming all over his body. According to Poison Dragon’s words, that would be traces of dying from Asura Blood poisoning.”

So-min flinched. Her shoulders trembled involuntarily. So-min had directly witnessed Jin Ja-gang and Piercing Ghost competing with poisons. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her master Ham-geun, but he wasn’t immune to all poisons!

Namgung Geol mocked.

“You confidently told Poison Dragon to bring what he’s good at, but now you’re not drinking it – this is truly a ridiculous sight! If you can’t keep what you said yourself, you’re worse than a dog, so when you leave this place you should crawl out on all fours.”

Ham-geun’s face reddened.

A small wine cup that wasn’t even half a sip. But the fragrance emanating from it was extraordinary. His entire skin, fine hairs, and spine kept tingling. His lifelong instincts were sending tremendous warnings.

‘This…’

Ham-geun clenched his molars tightly.