Chapter 78: Those Destined to Meet Will Always Meet Again (3)

The Yueyang Sword Gate was situated at the very heart of Eakyang, as if to prove its dominance. At the gate, a dozen or so warriors stood guard.

Those who passed before the Yueyang Sword Gate walked with their heads bowed, lest they accidentally meet the warriors' eyes.

In the grand hall of the Yueyang Sword Gate—the largest and most magnificent building—Sat the Sect Leader, Sa-ma Gyeong-won.

It was Sa-ma Gyeong-won who had elevated the Yueyang Sword Gate to its place among Hunan's Five Great Sects. Now entering his mid-fifties, he still maintained a robust physique and commanding gaze.

Before Sa-ma Gyeong-won sat Hae So-wol.

It was the Yueyang Sword Gate that had restored order along the shores of Dongting Lake after the previous night's assassination attempt.

Sa-ma Gyeong-won, his lips having been firmly sealed, finally spoke.

"Is it truly confirmed that a Heaven-Shaking Thunder was used?"

"As far as I know, yes."

"Hmm!"

At Hae So-wol's answer, Sa-ma Gyeong-won uttered a heavy sound.

His face was rigid with tension.

A mass assassination attempt in a place crowded with people was serious enough. But the greater problem was that the assassins had used a Heaven-Shaking Thunder—a weapon of mass destruction—as their final resort.

Over a hundred years ago, there had been a sect called the Fire Forge Sect. They specialized in crafting firearms. One day, an artisan there had mistakenly mixed gunpowder incorrectly and produced an unintended device.

A Thunder Shock Bomb with three to four times the power of a conventional one, and portable to boot. That was the Heaven-Shaking Thunder.

When the Heaven-Shaking Thunder first appeared, people recoiled at its horrifying destructive power.

With the Heaven-Shaking Thunder, even an untrained person could kill hundreds of people. More than hundreds.

Such an event had actually occurred. At a martial world gathering, someone had detonated a Heaven-Shaking Thunder. Hundreds of martial artists were killed or injured, and as a result, the Fire Forge Sect became a pariah of the martial world.

Friends and family of those who had lost loved ones at the gathering attacked the Fire Forge Sect. But the Fire Forge Sect did not simply take the assault lying down.

They fought back with various firearms and Heaven-Shaking Thunders, and in the process, hundreds more martial artists lost their lives.

Enraged, the martial artists attacked the Fire Forge Sect with even greater ferocity. In the end, the sect could not overcome its numerical disadvantage and was annihilated.

The secret formula for creating the Heaven-Shaking Thunder was destroyed in the fire of that day.

Thus the Heaven-Shaking Thunder faded from memory, and a hundred years passed.

"And now, after a hundred years, the Heaven-Shaking Thunder has resurfaced."

If the assassins had truly used a Heaven-Shaking Thunder, this was not a matter Sa-ma Gyeong-won could handle alone.

Though the Yueyang Sword Gate was counted among Hunan's Five Great Sects, it did not possess power on a national scale.

Sa-ma Gyeong-won asked:

"Do you know the assassins' identities?"

Hae So-wol quietly shook her head.

"You mean to say you don't know, even though they attacked with a Heaven-Shaking Thunder?"

"It's the truth."

On her journey here, she had fought in numerous duels. But among them, there was not a single person who harbored such deep enmity as to use a Heaven-Shaking Thunder to kill her.

"This is grave."

The incident had occurred in none other than Eakyang. Like it or not, it was inevitably connected to the Yueyang Sword Gate.

Then—

"Perhaps…"

"What? Do you have a suspicion?"

Sa-ma Gyeong-won asked, but Hae So-wol could not easily answer. It was related to the reason she had come here.

Sa-ma Gyeong-won's face hardened.

"Lady Hae, I am treating you with all due courtesy and sincerity. Though the Yueyang Sword Gate is a minor sect compared to the Hainan Sect, we do claim to be masters of Eakyang. It is our duty to know every detail of what transpires here. So if you have even the slightest suspicion, I would appreciate your candor."

A formidable pressure emanated from Sa-ma Gyeong-won's body.

In Hunan Province, there were no massive sects like the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families.

In the past, the Great Guardian Sect had been a powerful force that claimed leadership of Hunan, but over thirty years ago, it had been destroyed in battle against the Demonic Cult.

After that, countless sects had risen to claim leadership of Hunan, resulting in the emergence of the Five Great Sects of Hunan, including the Yueyang Sword Gate and the Medical Benevolence Gate.

Though they were the five most powerful sects within Hunan Province, they did not possess the influence or martial strength of the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families.

They had insufficient power to claim regional dominance, but the five similarly-sized sects had achieved a delicate balance of power, creating the current state of affairs.

Because of this, those affiliated with the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families tended to look down on Hunan's Five Great Sects.

"Sigh."

Hae So-wol let out a soft sigh. Sa-ma Gyeong-won's pressure was not what frightened her. But as he said, she had a duty to know what was happening here.

After all, this was the territory the Yueyang Sword Gate governed.

"Then I will speak frankly."

"I am listening."

"A great gathering will soon be held on Dongting Lake."

"A gathering?"

"I don't know the details either. Only that several influential sects of the Central Plains are organizing a meeting here."

"What does that mean?"

Suspicion clouded Sa-ma Gyeong-won's face.

If such a grand gathering were to take place on Dongting Lake, he—the Sect Leader of the Yueyang Sword Gate—should naturally have been informed. Yet he had been kept entirely in the dark.

"It's of the highest secrecy. Few know about this. If my master had not given me a hint, I would never have known either."

"No. Having a secret gathering in my own front yard without so much as a word to me—is that reasonable?"

"I was told that a message would be sent to Sect Leader Sa-ma in due course. That is what I was told."

Sa-ma Gyeong-won's cheeks trembled. Overwhelmed by humiliation, his face flushed red.

"So, a secret gathering is being held in my own front yard, and it may be connected to this crisis? Is that what you're saying?"

"Yes."

"Hmm!"

Sa-ma Gyeong-won tapped his chin with his finger.

'The term "influential sect" is not used for just any sect. They must be at least on the level of the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families.'

Though the Yueyang Sword Gate wielded considerable influence in Hunan, he knew well that it could not compare to the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families.

No matter how angry he was, he could not simply explode. Picking a fight with a massive sect like the Nine Great Sects would only bring ruin to the Yueyang Sword Gate.

He had to remain as calm as possible.

"Do you know why they are gathering here, Lady Hae?"

"I don't know. I'll only know once they arrive."

"Sigh!"

In the end, Sa-ma Gyeong-won let out a sigh.

He realized that pressing Hae So-wol further would yield nothing.

"So I must wait until the gathering takes place to learn the truth."

"That's correct."

"I have one request, Lady Hae."

"Please speak."

"Would you remain here until the gathering is held?"

"Why?"

"There's no telling when assassins might attack you again."

"I am more than capable of protecting myself."

"There's no guarantee they won't use the Heaven-Shaking Thunder again. If something were to happen to you here, I would not be able to show my face. So I ask that you honor my wishes this once."

"Hmm!"

This time, Hae So-wol murmured in agreement. Sa-ma Gyeong-won's reasoning was sound.

Though Sa-ma Gong-cheon weighed on her mind, there seemed to be no alternative at the moment. The appearance of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder was as significant as the secret gathering.

"Very well. I will stay here for a time."

"A wise decision. I will send my men to fetch your belongings. I will provide the finest private villa here—please rest comfortably."

"Thank you."

Hae So-wol nodded reluctantly.

After concluding all conversation, Hae So-wol left the grand hall.

"Lady Hae."

Sa-ma Gong-cheon, who had been waiting outside the hall, brightened at the sight of her. The bird he thought had flown away had returned.

"Sigh."

Hae So-wol let out a soft sigh.

She suddenly thought of that man.

The man in the black robe who had, with a single strike, sent the assassin wielding the Heaven-Shaking Thunder flying.

She had deliberately omitted any mention of him during her conversation with Sa-ma Gyeong-won. She herself was uncertain whether her memory of the event was not simply a delusion.

She had asked those who had been nearby at the time, but none of them could recall anything.

Of course, it was impossible for ordinary people who did not know martial arts and had been caught up in the Heaven-Shaking Thunder's explosion to remember such a sight.

'If that man truly sent the assassin flying with a single strike, we will meet again.'

In the early hours of dawn, Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo left the West Wind Inn.

Their destination was Eakyang's pier, where sightseeing barges for Dongting Lake were moored.

Though smaller than the Cloud-Running Yangtze Ferry, it was still a considerable vessel. The two purchased tickets and boarded.

By taking this barge, they could easily reach the opposite shore of Dongting Lake, where the Heaven's First Tower stood. On the opposite shore was the Yuan River, and on the Yuan River stood the Heaven's First Tower, famed throughout the land.

If they hurried, they could make the round trip within the day.

"Finally, I'm going to the Heaven's First Tower!"

Bang Jin-bo's face was already flushed with excitement.

This had been his father Bang Woo-gwang's lifelong wish, and it would be a pivotal moment in his own life as well.

"A Food Immortal—they say he's truly remarkable. Just what level of mastery must a cook reach to earn the title of Food Immortal?"

The Food Immortal was the epithet of Do Hak-gyeong, the greatest chef in the world.

It was said that anyone who had tasted his food even once could never forget the flavor and would return again and again.

His food was said to taste of heaven itself and contained the power to make people happy.

Bang Jin-bo could not even begin to fathom what level of mastery was required to produce such flavors.

"Ugh! I can't wait."

Bang Jin-bo stamped his feet, eagerly awaiting the barge's arrival at the Yuan River.

Dam Ho watched him in silence.

There were roughly fifty passengers on the barge. They wore expressions of anticipation, waiting for departure.

Shortly after, carrying everyone's hopes, the barge set sail. The wind-filled sail billowed tautly.

"Wow!"

Exclamations erupted from the passengers.

For some, it was a dream long awaited. For others, it was a perfect opportunity to enjoy refined pleasures.

The barge sailed smoothly.

"Haha!"

"Receive my wine cup."

Here and there, small pleasure boats with courtesans enjoying revelry could be seen. They were vessels owned by the pleasure houses along the lakeshore.

The boats were laden with delicacies from land and sea, and the laughter of gentlemen flanked by courtesans never ceased. It was truly an earthly paradise.

Many passengers on the barge watched with envious eyes. But no sight could capture Dam Ho's attention.

After half a day's sail, the barge moored at the Yuan River. Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo disembarked and headed for the Heaven's First Tower.

Finding the Heaven's First Tower was not difficult. From the pier, one could see it atop a hill—a magnificent five-story pavilion.

As imposing as its appearance suggested, the Heaven's First Tower was lavishly decorated. Near its entrance, numerous carriages and coachmen waited. They were there for the masters who had gone inside.

Anyone who could afford the Heaven's First Tower was certainly not ordinary in status or wealth. Elaborate horse-drawn carriages were the norm, and even more splendid ones were plentiful.

At the front gate of the Heaven's First Tower stood two large men who appeared to be martial artists.

When Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo approached, the men blocked their path.

"Do you have a reservation?"

"No."

"Then you cannot enter."

At Bang Jin-bo's reply, the older of the two men stated flatly.

"Must one have a reservation to enter?"

"That is correct. Only those with reservations may enter the Heaven's First Tower."

Bang Jin-bo's face fell.

He had come with such high expectations, only to be denied even entry. He was deeply disappointed.

In that moment, Dam Ho stepped forward.

"If I make a reservation now, how long would I have to wait?"

"You would need to wait approximately one month."

"One month?"

"That is correct! And that is the minimum. It could take longer."

The large man looked Dam Ho up and down. A mocking smile played on his lips.

Though Dam Ho's black leather robe was distinctive, it appeared rather shabby. With such attire, he would never gain entry to the Heaven's First Tower, not even in his dreams.

"Then I'll make a reservation now."

"To make a reservation, a deposit is required. Do you have gold? A minimum of one tael of gold must be placed as a deposit."

Before he had even finished speaking, Dam Ho produced a tael of gold and tossed it over. The large man's eyes widened slightly at the sight of Dam Ho readily producing gold.

But it was only momentary, and he quickly spoke in his flat tone.

"If you would state your name, I will add you to the reservation ledger."

"Dam Ho."

"Please wait a moment."

The large man opened a massive ledger before him. Running his finger along the page, he finally spoke.

"The first day of next month is open. Will that do?"

When Dam Ho silently nodded, the large man wrote his name in the ledger.

"That is all. Please return at that time."

"Very well."

Dam Ho turned to leave.

Bang Jin-bo followed with a disappointed expression. But pestering would accomplish nothing, so he had no choice but to trudge along.

At that moment, a carriage entered the Heaven's First Tower.

It was a six-horse carriage. Six pure white horses, without a single mixed hair, pulled a carriage adorned with elaborate patterns, and it stopped before the front gate.

A flag bearing the words "Silver Fortress" fluttered from the carriage's roof.

"It's a carriage of the Silver Fortress."

The large men who had been so dismissive toward Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo rushed forward in a panic at the sight of the Silver Fortress flag.

Bang Jin-bo instinctively stopped and watched. He was curious about what could move these arrogant gatekeepers of the Heaven's First Tower.

Shortly after, the carriage door opened, and a small foot lightly stepped onto the running board. A young girl in magnificent garments emerged.

She was a doll-like girl with striking obsidian-black eyes.

"My lady, have you arrived?"

The large men quickly bowed in greeting.

The moment he saw the girl's face, Bang Jin-bo's pupils dilated rapidly.

"So…cheong?"

The time it took to climb back up was shorter than the time it had taken to come down.

Because of this, Jin Ja-gang realized that it wouldn’t take him long to discover the source of his uneasiness.

Even as he climbed closer, strangely, he couldn’t hear any human voices.

The flames and smoke were still rising, but unlike before, there were no sounds of people searching for acquaintances and causing a commotion.

‘That’s strange?’

Jin Ja-gang immediately hid himself as soon as he felt uneasy.

Carefully crawling forward, he peered into the Shadow Bureau’s interior.

At that moment.

Jin Ja-gang was shocked.

It had been barely two hours.

That was how long Jin Ja-gang had been away.

In that short time, the villagers who had come to the Shadow Bureau were now corpses, rolling haphazardly on the ground.

‘Wh-what is this!’

Jin Ja-gang could only stare at the villagers’ corpses in bewilderment, feeling the hair all over his body stand on end.

***

Read only at nineheavens.org

Translated by Nine Heavens!

https://discord.gg/XC9DTsTQ9Z

***

Jin Ja-gang pondered with a grave expression.

A master had been here.

Someone Jin Ja-gang wouldn’t dare to even look at.

Moreover, their methods were incredibly cruel.

The villagers had died with their heads burst open, throats torn, ribs caved in, or limbs severed. It was clear they hadn’t been killed with precision, but rather slaughtered indiscriminately.

‘What happened?’

Could someone have survived?

He had thoroughly searched for and killed all members of the Shadow Bureau.

So why were there traces of yet another person?

Of course, there was something suspicious.

The owner of that killing intent…

Jin Ja-gang walked toward the burning house he had been watching earlier. The wall of the house was half-collapsed and broken.

The person who had slaughtered the villagers had definitely been here.

The beam that had broken through the wall, the footprints left on the ground, and the three corpses gathered nearby all proved it.

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

‘Is this person not from the Shadow Bureau?’

If he was from the Shadow Bureau, he wouldn’t have left Jin Ja-gang alone after he had killed his people.

‘Then why? Why did such a master hide instead of attacking me?’

His mind became complicated.

This cruel master had remained hidden until the end, then killed the villagers when they arrived and left.

They had shown Jin Ja-gang nothing but a slight killing intent, without causing him any harm.

‘Why?’

Jin Ja-gang was confused.

‘No… wait.’

While looking at the villagers’ corpses, something suddenly came to mind.

Rumors he had heard on his way to the Shadow Bureau.

Words he had heard and casually dismissed at the time.

‘They say he massacred hundreds of people from Stone Forest Gang and the surrounding villages?’

That was what the cook at the inn who had poisoned Jin Ja-gang had said.

‘I heard he killed all the members of Stone Forest Gang and even slaughtered all the nearby people?’

Words he had heard at a teahouse by the lake on the way to the Shadow Bureau.

At the time, he had thought they were just rumors, but…

‘Could it be… those words were true?’

Jin Ja-gang felt a chill.

‘Has someone been following me all this time?’

Cold sweat broke out all over his body.

What was this person’s intention in following him?

Why did he commit such acts?

He tried to stay calm, but his heart was racing.

‘Is he on my side?’

No, if he had goodwill toward Jin Ja-gang, he wouldn’t have sent that strange killing intent earlier.

‘An enemy?’

It was difficult to call them an enemy either.

If he was truly an enemy, he would have had numerous opportunities to kill Jin Ja-gang. At the very least, when Jin Ja-gang was trapped in the storage shed, he was completely defenseless.

Yet he didn’t kill Jin Ja-gang, which meant he had no immediate intention to kill him. This suggested that originally, he had planned not to interfere with Jin Ja-gang but only to clean up afterward.

Today’s direct and indirect encounter was probably a mistake on their part.

This was incredibly fortunate for Jin Ja-gang.

If he hadn’t come back to check, he would have continued unaware of these circumstances!

Jin Ja-gang thought for a moment.

The reason this person was following Jin Ja-gang must be because he was currently benefiting from Jin Ja-gang’s actions, or would benefit from them in the future.

The thought of being used didn’t sit well with him. Moreover, the other party was thoroughly concealing his identity, leaving Jin Ja-gang no trail to follow.

The fact that he refused to reveal themselves even when cornered in a burning house to the point of death proved this.

‘I need to think calmly. Just because someone is using me doesn’t mean what I need to do changes.’

However, now that he knew someone was following him, he would need to move more cautiously in the future.

Jin Ja-gang took a deep breath.

He had been trapped in an underground tunnel for eight years.

He didn’t know much about the current state of the martial world. He could barely guess the general situation, but knew nothing about the intricate details and relationships within it.

He just needed to kill those who deserved to die.

That was his only thought.

Avenging his enemies didn’t require complex political calculations. Or rather, he thought it didn’t.

Yet in the midst of this, someone was already trying to use Jin Ja-gang…

‘I don’t know who they are, but he’ll regret trying to use me someday.’

Jin Ja-gang clenched his teeth tightly.

* * *

Mang Ryo was leaving Fumin with his body scorched, burned, and in a complete mess.

Thud! Thud!

Every time he pushed his crutches, he leaped several steps forward, moving rapidly.

However, Mang Ryo’s expression was extremely bizarre.

His mouth was split in a wide grin, yet his face was deeply furrowed.

“Kekeke! What an audacious b*st*rd!”

It was truly a strange sight.

His expression seemed annoyed yet also incredibly exhilarated.

Of course, it made sense.

For the past eight years, Mang Ryo had been waiting for this moment.

He had lived busier than anyone else for this moment.

If Jin Ja-gang had turned out to be ordinary, Mang Ryo would have been greatly disappointed and torn him apart on the spot.

But Jin Ja-gang wasn’t ordinary. Rather, he had grown beyond Mang Ryo’s expectations.

To the point where Mang Ryo didn’t regret waiting at all.

Thanks to that, all the preparations Mang Ryo had made wouldn’t go to waste, so how could he not be pleased?

“Ah! This is something!”

Mang Ryo stopped walking. Having seen Jin Ja-gang in person, he was so excited that his heart was pounding wildly.

Seeing traces of Jin Ja-gang at Stone Forest Gang was nothing compared to encountering him in person, even from a distance. He felt so good that he was almost breathless, making it impossible for him to continue running.

He simply couldn’t contain himself. If he didn’t share this rising emotion with someone, he felt like he would burst and die.

But who could he share it with?

“Call me sentimental if you will, but I can’t help it! Let’s see…”

Mang Ryo, extremely excited, scanned the surroundings with his gleaming single eye, then suddenly leaped forward.

* * *

“…so I said… that’s why I…”

The old beggar woke up slightly. Someone kept noisily talking to him.

The old beggar struggled to open his eyes, which were crusted with sleep.

It was still dark outside. Rubbing his eyes, he realized he was in his usual spot under the bridge.

There, next to where he had been sleeping on his straw mat, someone was sitting.

However, who it was didn’t particularly matter.

Somehow, a bottle of liquor and a boiled chicken had appeared in front of the beggar.

The beggar swallowed hard as he looked at the man.

“Ah, you’re awake? Since you’re up, help yourself to this.”

The man appeared quite old, and his appearance was even more wretched than the beggar’s own. He looked as if he had just escaped from a burning house, wearing clothes with burn holes, and pitifully, he had no legs and was using crutches.

It was strange that someone who looked even more like a beggar than himself would offer sweet-smelling liquor and fresh chicken, but it wasn’t something to refuse. After all, a beggar should eat when food is available.

The beggar, having woken up mid-sleep, hurriedly tore into the chicken and drank the liquor.

“While you’re eating, may I continue with what I was saying?”

At the man’s gentle voice, the beggar nodded as if to say, “What do I care?”

The man looked at him with satisfaction and continued.

“I’ve been troubled. Wondering how to torment him in the most painful way. But you know, physical pain is actually nothing. Even I, when I lost both my legs, found it very difficult at first, but after some time, it became nothing.”

The beggar, tearing at the chicken skin, glanced at the man’s severed legs. The man continued.

“Besides, I was with that guy for about three months? He seems more resistant to physical pain than I expected. He’s not the type to feel pain from just a hit or two. So what should I do? It was quite a dilemma.”

The man’s tone was very serious and grave.

“But then, I had a thought. When was I most desperate? Do you perhaps know?”

The beggar shook his head and focused on eating. The man might change his mind and take the food away at any moment.

“Others might think it was when I lost my eye and legs. But surprisingly, the time I felt most desperate wasn’t when I lost my eye and legs. It was when everything I had worked hard to build turned to nothing. It wasn’t when my body hurt. It was when this hurt, right here.”

He poked his own chest repeatedly with his finger.

“Once I realized that, I thought I should do the same to him. But how? He’s an orphan with nothing to protect and nothing particularly accomplished.”

The beggar pretended to think for a moment, then took a swig of liquor.

“So I thought differently. I can’t take anything away from him, but I can make him feel exactly what I felt.”

The man continued speaking, regardless of what the beggar was doing.

“It’s a bit complicated to explain, but it’s like this. I felt as if the whole world was against me when I was helpless, as if the entire world was hostile to me. With nowhere to rest my body comfortably… feeling like an outcast in the world, with no one to listen to me, and no one on my side. That kind of anxiety. I felt like I was going crazy back then. So much so that even my colleagues looked at me with contempt, calling me insane.”

The beggar nodded in agreement.

“So I decided to do the same to him. Of course, it was a very difficult task. How could I bring that guy into this world…”

The beggar seemed to realize that the conversation was becoming increasingly strange, and his eating pace slowed a bit.

“Anyway, over the past eight years, though it was a bit of a struggle, I’ve sown seeds here and there. You could say I’ve been planting with the heart of a farmer hoping for a good harvest. There was a first seed I planted with special care, called Stone Forest Gang, and now I’ve successfully harvested it. It was the perfect sacrifice to celebrate his return.”

The beggar swallowed dryly. It seemed like increasingly dangerous words were coming out.

The beggar stopped chewing and glanced up at the man, their eyes meeting.

The man grinned, showing his teeth.

“Hehehe, this friend is quite perceptive. That’s right. These are words no one else should hear. Thanks to you, I feel much better now. I’m quite satisfied. Now I can live.”

The beggar felt uneasy and his hands trembled.

He dropped the chicken leg he had been eating onto the ground.

The man picked up the chicken leg. Despite the beggar having already eaten half of it, he put it in his own mouth without hesitation and stripped off the meat.

Pulling out only the bone, the man asked the beggar.

“Ah, are you done eating? Is this enough? I’m a bit busy.”

The man stabbed the chicken leg bone into the beggar’s head.

Thunk! The chicken leg bone went completely into his head, disappearing from sight.

Immediately, the beggar’s eyes rolled back, showing the whites. The beggar’s emaciated body fell to the side. Not a single drop of blood appeared. At a glance, it would be impossible to tell why the beggar had died.

“Thank you for listening to my story today. I just realized that I used to be such a talkative person. Somehow, I’ve been living with fewer words all this time.”

He chuckled heartily.

He felt refreshed.

It was for a day like today.

Everything he had done until now.

Sowing seeds…

The seeds that Mang Ryo had carefully planted over several years were gradually beginning to bear fruit.

* * *