Chapter 418 – Though Gathered in One Place, They Dream Different Dreams (3)

Intense light shot out through the veil covering the woman's face.

Her voice was thorned with anger, having reached its peak.

Dam Ho looked at the woman silently. Such behavior from Dam Ho seemed to provoke the woman. She threw Seo Il-myeong and the Hao Sect martial artist she had been holding in both arms to the ground and walked toward Dam Ho with firm steps.

"Wait a moment."

Sensing the ominous atmosphere, Bang Jin-bo stepped in front of Dam Ho.

"Move aside!"

Instantly the woman's snow-white hand shot out like lightning.

'Golden Claw Hand?'

Bang Jin-bo immediately noticed that the woman's hand technique was extraordinary martial arts and reacted.

Thwack!

His hand whipped out as if chasing shadows and struck away the woman's hand.

It was Shadow Chasing Palm Technique, one of Mount Hua Sect's supreme techniques.

Though not as deeply mastered as Plum Blossom Swordsmanship, he could deploy it freely enough.

When Golden Claw Hand was neutralized by Bang Jin-bo, the woman's eyebrows shot up to the sky.

"Hmph! So you have some hidden skills. These fools trusted you and acted so arrogantly."

"Ah, that's not what I…"

Bang Jin-bo hurriedly tried to explain, but the woman's anger had already reached its peak. She rushed at Bang Jin-bo recklessly.

Her small palm reached toward Bang Jin-bo and then instantly split into dozens.

Swoosh!

"Chaht! Six Harmonies Phantom Dance."

For a moment Bang Jin-bo felt as if heaven and earth were trapped within her palm. It was proof that the palm technique the woman deployed was no ordinary martial art.

"Tch!"

Bang Jin-bo had no choice but to draw his sword and deploy Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.

Clang clang clang!

Palm and sword clashed, sending violent energy waves swirling in all directions.

'She's not ordinary.'

Even though it clashed with the sharp sword, the woman's hand remained unharmed. This was impossible without learning special hand techniques like Dam Ho.

The woman was equally surprised.

'This can't be! To so easily receive Phantom Shadow Divine Palm.'

She suddenly felt her mind clearing.

She had entered the gambling house because of a tout's enticement. When she was looking for lodging, they deceived her with words about a place to rest comfortably and brought her here. When she tried to leave after realizing she'd been tricked, the tout and Hao Sect martial artists blocked her way, resulting in this incident.

True masters could gauge an opponent's level with just one clash. Similarly, the woman realized from one clash that Bang Jin-bo's level matched her own.

She shouted:

"You should be ashamed. To learn such martial arts and yet be in league with these swindlers."

"Ah, wait! I'm not…"

"No questions asked."

The woman didn't listen to Bang Jin-bo's answer and launched palm strikes repeatedly.

Crash crash crash!

Under her fearsome palm force, the gambling house that had driven countless people to madness just moments before was destroyed.

"Ahhh! Take cover!"

"This can't be! My gambling house…"

Those who had been gambling fled from the unexpected calamity, and branch leader Seo Il-myeong was dumbfounded.

The foundation of life he had built over his entire lifetime was being destroyed by that demon-like woman's hands.

"Kill that bitch!"

Seo Il-myeong lost his reason and screamed at his subordinates. But not one person stepped forward willingly, only looking at each other nervously.

'Jump into a fight like that?'

'Not unless we're crazy.'

The fight between Bang Jin-bo and the woman was deadly.

Tremendous palm force made the air ripple, and sharp swords cut through the atmosphere.

It was a fight between those far beyond their level. They lacked the courage and boldness to dare jump into such a battle.

The same was true for Seo Il-myeong.

"Who the hell let that woman into the gambling house?"

Meanwhile, the two people's fight continued fiercely.

Bang!

A huge hole was punched through the ceiling and walls crumbled. The exchange between the two became increasingly intense.

Dam Ho watched their fight without blinking once.

This was Bang Jin-bo, called by the epithet Mount Hua Great Chef. Though the epithet might sound a bit ridiculous, everyone knew that his skills surpassed the Four Death Stars, considered the martial world's greatest talents.

The unidentified woman was fighting on equal terms with such Bang Jin-bo. Every time she waved her hand, palm shadows swept the area like phantoms. Her shadow created countless illusions.

Seo Il-myeong, who had been continuously venting anger, suddenly shut his mouth. Because he recalled someone from the woman's fantastic appearance.

"Nok Su-bing! She's Phantom Fairy Nok Su-bing. Damn it! Of all things, to bring one of the Four Death Stars into the gambling house."

Seo Il-myeong thought everything was ruined.

The Hao Sect was basically an organization that bought and sold information. Of course, the main branch had many fearsome masters, but such masters couldn't possibly be dispatched to such a remote branch.

Just as Seo Il-myeong covered his head with both hands:

Whoooosh!

An incomparably tremendous energy wave swept through the inn. The gambling house that had been precariously holding up collapsed in an instant.

Crash!

The historic Hao Sect branch completely collapsed. Only then did the two people stop fighting.

"Amazing. You're not ordinary."

Nok Su-bing looked at Bang Jin-bo with admiring eyes.

She no longer misunderstood Bang Jin-bo.

Though she hadn't given her all, she had demonstrated sufficient skill. And Bang Jin-bo had shown skills that didn't fall behind her at all.

Such an opponent couldn't possibly belong to a mere gambling house run by the Hao Sect.

Nok Su-bing greeted Bang Jin-bo.

"I'm called Nok Su-bing. Though embarrassing, I'm called by the epithet Phantom Fairy."

"I'm Bang Jin-bo of Mount Hua Sect."

"Mount Hua Great Chef? Really?"

Nok Su-bing opened her eyes wide.

She looked genuinely surprised. Her gaze naturally turned toward Dam Ho behind Bang Jin-bo.

"Could it be? Then…"

"That's right. He's my brother, Fist Demon Dam Ho."

"This can't be!"

Nok Su-bing's surprise reached its peak. She hurriedly bowed to Dam Ho.

"N-Nok Su-bing greets Great Hero Dam."

"Phantom Fairy?"

"Though embarrassing, that's what I'm called."

Though she spoke that way, she didn't look embarrassed at all. Rather, her eyes showed great pride in the epithet Phantom Fairy.

Nok Su-bing suddenly removed the veil covering her face. A dazzlingly beautiful face was revealed. She was a beauty armed with fresh youth who looked no more than twenty.

"It's an honor to meet you like this. I really never imagined I'd meet Great Hero Dam in a place like this."

Nok Su-bing stared intently at Dam Ho's face. Strange heat was circulating in her expression.

The man before her eyes was the absolute martial artist currently moving the world. Among those who had set foot in the martial world, none existed who didn't know Dam Ho, and countless people regarded him as their idol.

The same was true for Nok Su-bing. Walking the path of a martial artist, she had Dam Ho as her goal.

Though she was one of the Four Death Stars, the martial world's greatest rising talents, that level wasn't enough to satisfy her. She dreamed of becoming an absolute being like Dam Ho and commanding the martial world. Therefore, she welcomed this sudden meeting with Dam Ho more than anyone.

She looked up at Dam Ho's face with dreamy, hazy eyes.

***

After a long time, vitality circulated through Silver Treasure Escort Agency.

This was because Eun So-cheong had returned with the merchant group. Until now, Silver Treasure Escort Agency had been almost empty. When the Demon Cult expelled the Martial Alliance and seized Yueyang, chief Eun Il-myeong had quickly moved Silver Treasure Escort Agency's valuable assets outside.

Thanks to this, the Silver Treasure Escort Agency currently in Hunan Province was only a shell.

Since Eun Il-myeong himself had also evacuated outside Hunan Province with key personnel, only a few people remained at Silver Treasure Escort Agency to manage it.

Those who had remained to manage Silver Treasure Escort Agency were delighted to see their master return after so long. After Eun So-cheong greeted them one by one, she assigned lodging to the suicide squad that had come with her.

"Whew! This is truly amazing."

Cho Yeon-woon naturally exclaimed in admiration seeing Silver Treasure Escort Agency's splendid interior.

The beautiful estate and splendid pavilions cultivated over long years harmonized together, and beautiful sculptures, ceramics, paintings, etc. hung everywhere, adding charm.

Though Cho Yeon-woon had visited quite many prestigious families by now, this was the first time he'd seen such a beautifully decorated place.

The same was true for the suicide squad that came with Cho Yeon-woon.

"I heard Silver Treasure Escort Agency's wealth ranked among the world's best, and it was true."

Even Jang Jin-myeong exclaimed in admiration at the beautiful scenery.

The suicide squad including Jang Jin-myeong was assigned to an annex. The annex was also surrounded by an estate with beautiful scenery, creating an excellent quiet atmosphere. It was also perfectly isolated from the outside, making it suitable for avoiding attention.

"Please stay here until everyone assembles."

"Thank you, Miss Eun. Thanks to you we can rest and prepare much more comfortably. I won't forget this kindness."

"Not at all."

Eun So-cheong shook her head and withdrew.

Left alone, Jang Jin-myeong looked around the annex interior with a satisfied smile.

Choosing Eun So-cheong and Silver Treasure Escort Agency was truly an excellent decision.

"Very good!"

From now on it was a race against time.

There was much to prepare before other suicide squads assembled, and information had to be gathered. They would have to move busily to barely make it in time.

Jang Jin-myeong began moving secretly from that day.

One day passed like that, then two more days. The suicide squads that had scattered and entered Yueyang began assembling one by one.

The suicide squad led by Red Star Divine Monarch Yu Seong-wol entered Silver Treasure Escort Agency first. Next came the group led by So Bo-won, called Tianshan Snow Flower.

Cho Yeon-woon smiled and welcomed them.

"Welcome."

"Amitabha! Did you wait long?"

"Not really!"

"It's fortunate we meet again safely."

So Cheon, who had entered with So Bo-won, brightened upon seeing Cho Yeon-woon.

Following them, Hae So-wol and Cheong-woon entered, and Heavenly Thunder Martial Guest Nam Hak and Shadowless Divine Dragon Eom Tae-cheon also joined.

Four of the Nine Martial Dragons had gathered in one place. Naturally, morale had to rise.

The young martial artists participating in the suicide squad gathered at Silver Treasure Escort Agency and were busy boasting about their heroic tales from entering here.

"I'm telling you we almost got caught by Demon Cult bastards and a big fight nearly broke out. Fortunately we wisely overcame the crisis, otherwise there would have been big trouble already."

"Just from that? Do you know what happened to us? We met Demon Cult elites and…"

The boasting of those who had safely assembled continued.

Though they had volunteered for the suicide squad to protect martial world justice, they were still young martial artists with youthful spirit remaining. They were relieving tension by greatly exaggerating even small heroic tales.

They were young martial artists who had stepped forward for the martial world. Some had stepped forward with pure righteousness, others might have stepped forward due to personal ambition.

Eun So-cheong wanted to do something for them. So she prepared alcohol and meat to treat them.

Cho Yeon-woon approached Eun So-cheong and joked:

"Aren't you overdoing it? At this rate Silver Treasure Escort Agency's pillars will be uprooted."

"This much won't even make a dent, so don't worry."

"That's fortunate then."

"When is the operation date?"

"We'll proceed as soon as the last group assembles."

"Is there still a group that hasn't assembled?"

"Mm! They're a bit late."

A slightly anxious expression appeared on Cho Yeon-woon's face.

Most suicide squads had assembled at Silver Treasure Escort Agency, but exactly one group hadn't assembled yet.

It was the group led by Snow Mountain Blade Guest Lee Seol-hwi.

Particularly, Lee Seol-hwi's group included many young martial artists. Cho Yeon-woon didn't look favorably upon their inclusion in the suicide squad.

Their average age was too young for fighting with their lives on the line.

"I just hope they assemble safely."

"They're probably just a little late. Don't worry. They'll assemble soon."

"That would be good."

Cho Yeon-woon smiled faintly. But soon his expression hardened. At the place his gaze stopped, familiar faces were visible.

Martial artists from the previous suicide squad including Jang Jin-myeong.

They were having a serious discussion about something.

'Old monsters.'

Cho Yeon-woon's gaze turned cold. ​

“This fellow?”

Haewol raised his eyebrows.

Glitter glitter.

Golden Beads! Large pupils with golden energy moved left and right, examining Baek Li-jung.

Baek Li-jung’s smile became fishy.

Master Haewol tilted his head.

“Eh… what…?”

It’s not visible.

Baek Li-jung’s thoughts.

“This damn fool. You…”

Killing intent filled Master Haewol’s voice.

“You’ve crossed the line!”

Instantly a tremendous gale swept from behind Master Haewol.

Master Haewol’s hair stood on end.

CRASH!

A deep hole formed where Master Haewol had been standing and the deck was smashed. Demon Cult’s Vanishing Master behind Master Haewol had sneakily struck Master Haewol’s back.

Vanishing Master’s palm had passed through Master Haewol’s back and protruded forward. But that was Master Haewol’s afterimage. The afterimage faded and disappeared. Master Haewol had already moved his body to avoid it and was standing on the bow side where cargo was piled up.

All four masters from Demon Cult looked at Master Haewol and revealed hostility.

“What.”

Master Haewol said looking at the four masters.

“I was the one who brought you in, so why are you taking Baek Li-jung’s side?”

The four masters’ expressions were impassive. As if they already knew Master Haewol’s thoughts.

Baek Li-jung mocked Master Haewol.

“Now you’re finally revealing your scheme. You intended to bring in Demon Cult and make both sides destroy each other.”

Master Haewol looked at Baek Li-jung.

“You know that yet you’re interfering? You bastard! Not content with accepting both pure and turbid, you’re aiming for ultimate evil?”

Ultimate evil is the extreme of evil.

“Interfering? Ultimate evil?”

Baek Li-jung clenched his fists tightly. Crack, rough sounds came from his joints.

“You knew I was interested in Demon Cult’s Five Thunder Toad Art. And ten years ago, you finally told me the secret between Enlightened Master and my wife. Until then I thought Woo-am was the child’s father.”

Master Haewol only listened silently with a frowning expression.

“You incited me like that to make contact with Enlightened Master who had entered the martial world. Why did you do that? Why did you want me to have ties with Demon Cult?”

Baek Li-jung spat out words as if vomiting blood.

“From then you were laying stones for the future. You only thought of me as one of the go stones. A stone to be discarded someday.”

Master Haewol answered quietly.

“Correct. It’s true that I incited you to connect with Demon Cult. To understand Demon Cult’s situation, as you said… I needed bait. To catch the big demon.”

“You failed, didn’t you.”

“I failed.”

“The fact that you’re in this place is proof that your plan failed.”

Baek Li-jung glared at Master Haewol while grinding his teeth. Killing intent mixed with anger spread out instantly.

“You dared use me as bait that would fail? I had originally given up my greed for martial arts. If you hadn’t incited me, it wouldn’t have come to this. Thanks to you, I even lost my son.”

“Are you acting spoiled now?”

“Spoiled? Not at all. I will surpass you with my own power without depending on you. The Martial Alliance is now mine.”

Master Haewol clicked his tongue looking at Baek Li-jung.

“You fool. Northern Heaven and even Demon Cult. How do you intend to handle the aftermath? If you don’t have the capacity, at least know your place.”

Baek Li-jung glared with a murderous expression.

“You were the one who incited me to join hands with Demon Cult, so why do you blame me?”

“So. Did you beg for Demon Cult’s martial arts?”

Master Haewol shouted.

“If you had been a proper person, would you have been bewitched by such wicked words! This is exactly what it means that your capacity was insufficient.”

“Bullshit!”

Baek Li-jung ground his teeth.

“Don’t pretend to be the only good one, righteous one, great hero. It’s disgusting. You too are ultimately just a hypocrite who used others for your own benefit.”

“Yes. You can see it that way. Anyway, it’s true that I made you like this. Direct your resentment at me. I’ll carry it all.”

Master Haewol pointed at Baek Li-jung with his hand.

“But you crossed a line that shouldn’t be crossed. Since I raised you, I’ll take you with my own hands.”

Baek Li-jung’s eyes turned up as if he got chills. But he mocked Master Haewol.

“Demon Cult has been in contact with me since before you brought them into this matter. From then I had already left your hands. So now there’s no one on your side here. But what will you do alone?”

Master Haewol shook his head.

“Many think that I became alliance leader just to drink tea and play around, but do you know what I worked hardest at without others noticing after becoming alliance leader?”

Master Haewol spoke as if chanting while slowly raising his internal energy.

“Precisely martial arts training.”

Master Haewol’s hair all rose toward the sky, and the sacks under his feet stirred.

Then the transport ship loaded with tremendous weight began to shake entirely.

ROOOOOAR!

The river surface rippled.

“Ugh!”

“Urk!”

The ordinary sailors on the transport ship swayed, unable to maintain their balance. Unable to endure the pressure, the sailors chose to jump into the sea.

Splash, splash.

The splashed water droplets didn’t sink but continued floating up. Water droplets floated up beyond the gunwales, creating a mystical scene.

Several unorthodox sect masters frowned and resisted the momentum with internal energy, but except for them, almost no one was shaken.

Master Haewol stood tall before them and said.

“If I kill too many today, only trash will remain later and it’ll be hard to clean up.”

Mang Ryo raised the corners of his mouth.

“Why worry about such things? Just leave the aftermath to us and die comfortably.”

“That fellow’s really got a mouth on him.”

Master Haewol pointed at Mang Ryo with his finger.

Mang Ryo swung his left hand forcefully.

CLANG!

The finger wind Master Haewol shot was hit by Mang Ryo’s hand and bounced toward the river. A sailor who had jumped into the river was accidentally hit by the finger wind. A finger-sized hole was punched through the sailor’s head and blood and brains burst out the back.

Mang Ryo shook his hand as if it was numb. But his left hand drooped and dangled from below the wrist.

“What. It’s broken.”

Mang Ryo laughed like a madman.

Master Haewol also snorted at Mang Ryo’s behavior in disbelief.

“Are you crazy?”

“Well of course I’m crazy, but aren’t only you people here the same?”

Displeased with Mang Ryo’s retort, Master Haewol shot another finger wind. But this time Baek Li-jung blocked that finger wind.

CLANG! Baek Li-jung blocked Mang Ryo’s front with his undrawn sword sheath and deflected the finger wind.

Master Haewol spoke words that were unclear whether praise or lament.

“Your skills have rapidly improved. How much have you done against human relations while aiming for ultimate evil?”

Baek Li-jung ignored Master Haewol’s words and said to Mang Ryo.

“I said Red Shadow Pills weren’t enough. You’re getting in the way, so get out.”

“Well, alright then.”

Mang Ryo was sufficiently satisfied just from blocking Master Haewol’s finger wind, so he withdrew without complaint.

Baek Li-jung drew his sword.

SWISH.

It was Heaven Vermillion Sword containing the energy of the red sunset.

“Now let’s die.”

Taking that as a signal, Demon Cult’s four masters and five unorthodox sect masters slowly approached, pressuring Master Haewol.

Thunder Emperor Ga Mu-ru didn’t move, but Master Haewol seemed concerned about him as he glanced at him. Even just staying still, Ga Mu-ru was threatening.

“I’m here, where are you looking!”

Instantly Baek Li-jung placed his sword-holding hand against the back of his opposite hand and released palm force.

It was Baek Li-jung’s special technique, Thunderous Song Palm. Master Haewol swept both hands to trap the Thunderous Song Palm’s force between his sleeves. He spun it round like a ball then shot it up to the sky.

RUMBLE!

The internal force of Thunderous Song Palm spread out making thunder sounds in the air.

Baek Li-jung bared his teeth.

Master Haewol’s martial prowess in casually receiving and deflecting the Thunderous Song Palm used as a surprise attack was indeed not something to be taken lightly.

Master Haewol mocked.

“Subordinated to power, acting like a beast. What would someone dominated by power have to fear from you?”

Baek Li-jung’s eyes bulged.

Then among Demon Cult’s four masters, Vanishing Master spoke in a calm tone.

“Sacred Fire Good God Ahura Mazda, how long must we wait?”

The three masters also spoke one by one.

“We have no interest in martial world affairs. Let the conversation end there.”

“When it gets boring, concentration scatters.”

“We just do our job and welcome Ahura Mazda, that’s all.”

Master Haewol frowned.

“What deal did you make with them that they’re so desperate to kill me?”

From the stern, Mang Ryo shouted noisily.

“I’m curious what kind of deal it is too!”

Baek Li-jung made a desolate expression.

“Freedom. Freedom of missionary work. Freedom to distribute doctrine.”

Mang Ryo stuck out his tongue, and Master Haewol’s expression also became quite distorted.

Allowing Demon Cult to proselytize in the martial world ultimately means an increase in believers, and the increase of believers means expansion of religious power.

Moreover, it’s not simple proselytizing, as Demon Cult worships a monotheistic god.

But in the Central Plains, Taoism’s Taoist sects and Buddhism’s Buddhist sects are already established as the two pillars. So permitting proselytizing in the Central Plains contains the meaning that Demon Cult will eliminate even the Taoist sects represented by Wudang and Qingcheng sects, and Buddhist sects like Shaolin and Emei!

It couldn’t be simple proselytizing.

“You’ve gone mad! Captured by personal desire, handing the Central Plains over to them!”

When Master Haewol shouted, Baek Li-jung also shouted back.

“You brought this upon yourself!”

Simultaneously, Demon Cult’s four masters rushed in.

FLUTTER!

Fire Flame Master in red clothes swung a flag taller than himself.

Fire caught on the fluttering energy.

WHOOSH! Even though fire caught, the red cloth of the flag remained intact. Made of special material, fire blazes but the cloth itself doesn’t burn.

“Be extinguished and cleanly erased before the sacred fire!”

WHOOOM! The swinging speed wasn’t fast. But if touched by the flames, Master Haewol’s flesh would burn together.

Master Haewol was about to strike down the middle of the flagpole with his hand, but for some reason lowered his head.

CRASH!

The flag was driven into the piled sacks. Those heavy sacks flew into the air, pushed by Fire Flame Master’s strength while on fire.

SPLASH! SPLASH! They were so heavy that when thrown into the river, they created great water sprays.

More surprising was that even submerged in water, the fire on the sacks didn’t go out for a while.

Fire Flame Master struck the deck with the flagpole.

CRACK! The thick deck split as is. The flagpole also wasn’t an ordinary flagpole but iron. Made by twisting thousands of thin iron threads into a flagpole. It has the flexibility of a spear but is hundreds of times heavier.

Small Truth Master extended her palm toward the retreating Master Haewol.

POP POP BANG! The piled sacks burst and salt powder scattered.

The giant with rough beard, Earth Store Master, used axes. He continuously threw two hand axes the size of human heads. The hand axes flew making loud sounds, then drew parabolas and returned to Earth Store Master’s hands.

The hook-nosed old man, Myriad Enlightened Master.

He was the most sinister of the four, and whenever gaps appeared between the three masters’ attacks and Master Haewol tried to counterattack, he immediately stepped forward to attack Master Haewol’s back.