Chapter 85: When the Blood Star Moves, a Storm of Blood Follows (1)

Someone murmured.

"Why am I here…"

It was a sentiment that echoed the feelings of everyone present. But they could not bring themselves to sympathize with his words. The scene before their eyes was simply too horrific.

"Huuuk!"

A mass of flesh was barely drawing breath.

Like an octopus dragged onto land, every bone in his body had been shattered. Could such a being still be called human?

The people in the gambling house recoiled in horror at the gruesome spectacle Dam Ho had wrought. Though the target had been different, the merciless violence Dam Ho had displayed left them with indelible scars.

Though he had reduced a man to something that could no longer be called human, Dam Ho's expression remained utterly indifferent.

It would have been more human had he shown anger or madness. But Dam Ho possessed no such human sentiments whatsoever.

His manner of crushing humans with mechanical precision transcended mere horror and instilled a profound terror in all who witnessed it.

No Cheol babbled wildly. Not to avoid death—he did it to escape the fear and pain. His jaw had been shattered, so his words were garbled. Yet he babbled nonetheless. It was the only way he knew to cope.

But Dam Ho did not seem to listen. Or at least that was how it appeared.

Dam Ho seemed to regard the sole objective of dismantling No Cheol with meticulous precision, and as a result, No Cheol could not die.

"Pl… please kill me…"

"Humans don't die that easily."

"Please…"

"Trust me. You will not die easily."

"Kill me… and I will tell you one thing."

"I'm not interested."

"No, you will definitely be interested."

Dam Ho's gaze shifted. No Cheol was desperate.

He whispered something into Dam Ho's ear.

Despite his shattered jaw, he spoke. Though his pronunciation was mangled, Dam Ho could still understand him clearly.

The moment his words ended, Dam Ho's expression changed.

His eyes grew colder, and the air around him became infinitely heavier. He had been terrifying before, but now they could barely breathe.

The people wondered why, but none dared to ask.

"How can I believe that?"

"I swear it. I stake everything I have."

"……"

Dam Ho closed his eyes for a moment.

No Cheol might have been speaking nonsense in his desperation to die. But his words had indeed shaken Dam Ho's heart.

Dam Ho asked No Cheol.

"Do you want to die?"

"Yes!"

No Cheol nodded frantically. What he must have looked like to others, he did not know—but he was utterly desperate.

"You are the first, so I will end it here. It will not be so easy for the others."

"Thank you. Hhuuk! Thank you…"

No Cheol was moved to tears that Dam Ho would grant him death. The people in the gambling house fully understood his sentiment. Had they endured the same torture, they would have made the same choice.

Dam Ho pressed his finger against No Cheol's forehead. No Cheol's hard skull crumbled like tofu, and Dam Ho's finger sank in.

'Good! I can die now.'

Even as his consciousness faded, No Cheol worried about the companions who would face Dam Ho next. And he felt relief that he would die before them.

That was the last thought No Cheol had in this life.

Dam Ho rose. His black robe was drenched entirely in the blood No Cheol had shed.

Do Sang-cheon's eyes rolled back in his head.

He felt as though he was truly going mad. He wanted desperately to run, but the knowledge that he could not crushed him with despair.

Dam Ho looked at Do Sang-cheon. In that instant, Do Sang-cheon drew a sharp breath. Through his blood-matted hair, Dam Ho's eyes held a power that devoured the human soul.

Do Sang-cheon's heart raced, uncertain what Dam Ho would say next. But to his surprise, Dam Ho said nothing and turned to leave.

Dam Ho vanished, limping as he went. But not a single person among them mocked his limp.

Boom!

Finally, Dam Ho closed the door and disappeared.

"Ahhh!"

Thump!

Immediately after, sighs of relief and the sound of people collapsing to the floor followed in succession.

"Damn it!"

Do Sang-cheon's legs gave out and he slumped into his chair.

Only after a considerable time had passed since Dam Ho's departure did their shocked hearts gradually calm and reason return.

"No Cheol was babbling something for a while—what did he say?"

At the time, they had been too preoccupied to listen closely to No Cheol's words. But now that the storm had passed, curiosity stirred.

The people murmured among themselves.

"Just who is that butcher?"

"When I saw those eyes, I really thought my heart had stopped."

The people wondered about Dam Ho's identity. But Do Sang-cheon already knew.

Not long ago, a classified dossier from the main headquarters had included a man who matched Dam Ho's description.

'Shin Gang-hyeol-seong.'

An peerless martial artist who walked with a limp.

The man who had single-handedly destroyed Seocheon Mountain Villa beyond the borders.

Those were the words that described Shin Gang-hyeol-seong.

Honestly, when he had first received the information, he had scoffed. By his common sense, the story simply did not add up.

That was why, despite Dam Ho's glaring characteristics, he had failed to recognize him at first. But as time passed, he had gradually recalled Dam Ho's identity.

'Damn it! The information from headquarters doesn't even capture half of it.'

A few words on paper could not convey Dam Ho's terror. His terror could only be understood by facing him directly.

Do Sang-cheon learned this truth to his bones in this encounter.

"Oh no! I need to report to the Agyang branch immediately…"

Now that Dam Ho's martial prowess had been confirmed as real, he had to report to the main headquarters at once.

He hastily ran to the room where the carrier pigeon was kept.

Outside, Dam Ho mounted the Black Demon.

"Let's go."

The Black Demon understood Dam Ho's command and surged forward.

As the horse galloped, Dam Ho sank into thought.

The fact that he had killed No Cheol no longer remained in his memory. Unfortunately, No Cheol did not know the whereabouts of the others.

But Dam Ho was not disappointed. Instead, another name had been seared into his mind.

Dam Ga-ryeong.

His only little sister. The child who had always followed her older brother around.

So much time had passed that he could no longer even recall her face. But she had been beautiful, he was sure of it. And Dam Ho himself had clearly cherished her dearly.

One side of his chest ached.

The place people commonly called the heart—the place where human emotions first manifest.

Thirty-seven bandits had descended upon the village, and the house had burned. Dam Ga-ryeong was nowhere to be found. So he had lived on, believing she had burned to death.

But today, he had heard unexpected words from No Cheol.

'Ga-ryeong might still be alive? That child.'

Jo Yun-san, who had led the Black Tiger Band, had taken Dam Ga-ryeong. To sell the child to whomever he wished.

It might have been a lie told out of a desperate desire for a painless death. But No Cheol's words had indeed shaken Dam Ho's heart.

For the first time in twelve years, his heart had been stirred.

No Cheol did not know Dam Ga-ryeong's whereabouts after that either. Not long after raiding the village where Dam Ho had lived, Jo Yun-san had disbanded the Black Tiger Band.

No Cheol did not know why Jo Yun-san had disbanded the band. Fortunately, Jo Yun-san had distributed generous sums before disbanding, so he had lived without major hardship. Of course, he had gambled it all away.

'You little brats, stay well. I'm going to play in bigger waters. Follow me if you dare.'

Those were Jo Yun-san's last words at the disbandment.

Dam Ho did not know what the bigger waters were. But he would find out. And he would make them pay.

No Cheol's death was merely the beginning.

Sensing Dam Ho's feelings, the Black Demon was running at a frenzied pace. The harsh wind battered Dam Ho, and perhaps because of that, the tightness in his chest eased somewhat.

The Black Demon, carrying Dam Ho, headed for Heng Mountain in central Hunan Province. It was far from Dongting Lake, and even from Seongeum County, it would take three more days of riding to reach.

The Five Sacred Mountains of the Central Plains, as they were commonly known. The five great mountains that symbolized the Central Plains.

The Eastern Sacred Mountain: Mount Tai.

The Western Sacred Mountain: Mount Hua.

The Northern Sacred Mountain: Mount Heng.

The Central Sacred Mountain: Mount Song.

And finally, the Southern Sacred Mountain: Mount Heng.

Mount Heng was worthy of its place among the Five Sacred Mountains, boasting beautiful scenery and deep mountain terrain.

Its beauty and spiritual energy attracted many people. Many settled at the base of the mountain, and among them were quite a few who had grown wealthy.

The An Family Manor was one such place.

Having established itself here over a decade ago, the An Family Manor had developed with remarkable stability.

Its master was named An Gyo-ik.

Now a man in his late forties, he was praised by those around him for his generous character. He knew how to share what he had with others, and for that he had earned the reputation of a great hero.

Thanks to An Gyo-ik's renown, many people came to the An Family Manor. An Gyo-ik was happy to receive them, and the estate was always filled with the sound of laughter.

Today was no different.

Many had come to the An Family Manor, and An Gyo-ik happily engaged with them.

"That is why, to govern the world, one must always keep an empty mind and avoid being swept up by the currents of the times."

"Haha! Young Hero So's insight leaves even this old man in awe."

An Gyo-ik slapped his knee in admiration at the words of his guest seated across from him.

An Gyo-ik was a man of generous stature and a kind face.

The man who sat opposite him and spoke with such passion was named So Jin-pung.

He was known as a wise man in the Heng Mountain region.

So Jin-pung burst into hearty laughter.

"Haha! I never expected to get along so well with Sect Master An. I should have come and shared a drink with you long ago."

"It is not too late even now. Let us continue to build our friendship henceforth, shall we?"

"Indeed. In that spirit, I offer you three cups of wine. Please do not refuse."

"How could I refuse Young Hero So's wine? I gladly accept."

"Thank you."

So Jin-pung filled An Gyo-ik's cup to the brim.

After draining three cups in succession, An Gyo-ik filled So Jin-pung's cup as well.

"Haha! To have found a kindred spirit—how could this not bring joy?"

An Gyo-ik was about to erupt in hearty laughter when—

CRASH!

Suddenly, a thunderous sound erupted from the direction of the An Family Manor's main gate. The entire estate trembled, and the shockwave traveled through the soles of their feet.

"What—?"

An Gyo-ik's expression changed completely.

He hastily rose from his seat and shouted.

"What is happening?"

"An— an intruder, Sect Master!"

A subordinate came running from the main gate to report. His face was ashen.

"An intruder? What—"

At that moment, Dam Ho appeared.

His hands were drenched in the blood of those whose identities he did not know. Blood dripped from both his fists as he walked forward—a sight of unspeakable horror.

"Who are you?"

So Jin-pung shouted in anger before An Gyo-ik could respond.

Though known as a wise man, So Jin-pung had also attained a high level of martial arts. He considered An Gyo-ik a man worthy of friendship. He could not forgive anyone who would harm such a man.

But Dam Ho's eyes were not looking at So Jin-pung. His gaze was fixed on An Gyo-ik.

"It has been a while."

"Have we met before? If you came to see me, you could have come quietly."

"You don't seem to remember."

An Gyo-ik's face stiffened.

Without needing to hear more, he could sense that Dam Ho had not come with good intentions.

At that moment, Dam Ho's voice reached him.

"Don't worry. You'll remember soon enough."

Kang Gyu and the two experts, who had been traveling since dawn using lightness skill, arrived at the village late in the afternoon.

A warrior from Iron Umbrella Sect who had gone ahead to prepare accommodations was waiting at the village entrance to greet the sect leader.

“Is the inn ready?”

“Yes. It’s over there.”

The warrior guided the sect leader and the two experts.

Two warriors who had departed earlier were standing in front of Hehe Inn, bowing their heads to the sect leader.

“Welcome!”

“We’ve prepared hot water in the inner room. Please relax in the bath while we prepare the food.”

Kang Gyu went to the upstairs guest room and stood in front of the prepared bath. However, he didn’t immediately immerse himself but instead took out a silver hairpin from his head and dipped it into the water.

He was being cautious because there were people targeting them.

Seeing no issues, he finally undressed and entered the bath.

While Kang Gyu was relaxing, the cook prepared food, and the innkeeper and servants brought it out. The food began to be set on several tables in the center of the first floor.

There were no other guests staying at the inn, making it feel spacious and even somewhat desolate.

However, Kang Gyu and the two experts seemed accustomed to such an atmosphere, sitting at the center table and eating the dishes brought to them. Naturally, they tested each plate with the silver hairpin and tasted a little to check for anything suspicious.

But nothing unusual happened until they finished their meal.

In truth, they had been anxious about something happening, so this was actually reassuring.

After Kang Gyu finished his meal, the thirty warriors finally arrived at the inn. Covered in dust, they lined up before Kang Gyu and greeted him.

“We’ve arrived safely.”

“Good work.”

Kang Gyu acknowledged their greeting and went up to rest in his room.

The inn became lively again. The warriors were making a commotion as they ate their late dinner on the first floor.

But then.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

A sudden chicken’s crow disrupted the night at the inn.

Kang Gyu, who had been lost in thought while drinking tea at the table in his room, frowned.

It seemed like someone was killing a chicken, perhaps to have a drink.

“Hmm.”

It was common for people to enjoy themselves when away from the sect.

But this wasn’t the time for such things!

Their sect was under attack by unknown enemies and facing possible annihilation.

“These foolish bastards can’t get their act together.”

However, the recent anxious atmosphere within the sect had likely dampened everyone’s spirits.

For the sake of morale, he thought he should tolerate it just for today.

Kang Gyu, with a displeased expression, brewed another cup of tea.

His mind was troubled.

‘Who on earth is targeting us? The Martial Arts Alliance? Are there still people in the righteous factions who oppose us?’

There was too much to think about.

‘Or is it the unorthodox factions? But they have no particular reason to feud with us…’

Originally, the poison sects were closer to the unorthodox factions, so they rarely fought with other unorthodox groups.

‘True, they were displeased when we joined the Martial Arts Alliance… but we couldn’t help that. Besides, they wouldn’t go so far as to try to wipe us out over that.’

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

When the threat wasn’t as severe, when news of Stone Forest Gang’s annihilation had just spread, one of the division leaders had casually mentioned:

“Remember when Extreme Poison Sect was destroyed years ago? Could that be related to what’s happening now?”

At the time, he had dismissed it as nonsense. It seemed unreasonable to connect something that happened eight years ago to the present.

But seeing how persistently only the poison sects were being targeted, that comment seemed to have some merit.

‘This is maddening. Are we, who dominate Yunnan’s poison sects, supposed to be frightened by something like this?’

Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-cock-cock!

Kang Gyu became increasingly irritated as the chicken sounds continued.

The crowing had been going on for some time.

“How many chickens are they killing? One or two should be enough to eat!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Kang Gyu kicked open his door and stormed out.

The structure of the inn had an open center, allowing those on the second-floor balcony to see the first floor clearly.

Coming out of his room to the balcony, he saw a strange scene unfolding below.

Cock-a-doodle-doo! Flutter-flutter!

A chicken was flying around inside the inn. A young man was chasing it, floundering about trying to catch it.

He wasn’t from Iron Umbrella Sect. He appeared to be a chicken seller from the market, carrying several chicken cages stacked high on an A-frame carrier. But he had loaded too many cages and was struggling to maintain his balance.

Wobbling back and forth, he moved around the cramped inn with his carrier pole touching the ground, trying to catch the chicken.

The Iron Umbrella Sect warriors were watching and snickering, finding it amusing.

It was indeed comical. He could have put down the carrier and caught the chicken, but instead, he was trying to do it while still carrying the load.

How could he possibly catch a fleeing chicken like that?

“Is he some kind of idiot?”

But the very fact that this was happening displeased Kang Gyu.

What time did they think it was to be so carefree!

And with two experts from Poison Valley watching!

The fools weren’t the young man but his own sect members who were laughing.

Kang Gyu shouted angrily.

“What’s all this commotion!”

At his words, all eyes turned to Kang Gyu standing on the second-floor balcony.

“Ah, Sect Leader!”

The warriors quickly stood at attention.

The young man chasing the chicken also stopped, sensing the tense atmosphere.

“Report in detail why this commotion is happening!”

One warrior hastily explained.

“We were eating when suddenly a chicken flew in through the window.”

“And then?”

“This guy came from outside saying his chicken had flown in and asked if he could catch it…”

“So?”

Kang Gyu’s face contorted.

“And you just left him like that?”

“Well… it was so funny that we couldn’t help but watch.”

Kang Gyu gritted his teeth.

“You pathetic fools.”

Cock?

The chicken was pecking at the floor, wandering around the inn as if nothing had happened.

Kang Gyu was about to order them to catch it and throw it out.

“Immed-!”

The young man with the chicken cages bowed deeply in a panic.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’ll catch it and leave right away!”

Kang Gyu’s mouth fell open.

“You idiot!”

He was carrying the A-frame with chicken cages stacked higher than his head, and he bowed while still wearing it!

Crash!

All the cages tumbled down, and chickens burst out.

Cock-a-doodle-doo! Cluck-cluck-cluck!

The chickens began flapping their wings and running in all directions as if they owned the place.

“Ah…!”

Kang Gyu was furious.

The warriors were alarmed but didn’t dare move freely, watching Kang Gyu for cues.

“My chickens! My chickens!”

Meanwhile, the young man fell while trying to catch the chickens and rolled around. He clutched his ankle as if he had sprained it, rolling back and forth.

“Aaagh!”

Yet he still got up and continued chasing the chickens.

It was absolute chaos.

Kang Gyu was so dumbfounded he couldn’t speak.

The chickens ran around causing havoc. Dishes of food on the tables were overturned and broken. Chicken feathers flew everywhere, and the dirt and sand from the chickens’ bodies scattered in all directions.

Moreover, whatever the chickens had been fed, they were leaving droppings and urine everywhere they went-on the floor, on the tables… white droppings and urine splattered wherever the chickens passed.

Chicken droppings are particularly foul-smelling. In an instant, the smell of chickens and their excrement filled the inn.

Kang Gyu had to hold his nose because of the stench.

A few chickens even flew up to the second floor. Kang Gyu’s face turned red with anger.

How could there be such a commotion over a few chickens when they had important matters ahead!

What if this guy was up to something? Why were they so defenseless!

Snap!

Kang Gyu grabbed a chicken by the neck as it passed by him.

He glared at the young man, then, suspicious, took out his silver hairpin and stuck it into the chicken’s wing and rump.

But only chicken blood appeared; the color of the hairpin remained normal.

‘Was I being too sensitive?’

Kang Gyu tightened his grip on the chicken’s neck.

Crack!

With a chilling sound, the chicken’s neck broke.

Kang Gyu threw the dead chicken down to the first floor.

“Clean this up immediately!”

At that moment, one of the Poison Valley experts moved.

“Let me handle this.”

It was Yang Tae, a Poison Valley expert with the title “Life-Ending Master.”

Yang Tae was in his fifties with a thin body, but he always wore loose, baggy robes that made him appear somewhat plump.

Yang Tae picked up a chopstick container that had fallen and was rolling on the table, then jumped onto the tabletop. The container held bamboo chopsticks.

Yang Tae took out one chopstick, held it with his thumb, index, and middle fingers, and threw it with all his might.

Whoosh!

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

A rooster that was flapping its wings and about to jump onto the table had its eyes pierced by the two-span-long chopstick. The chopstick went through both eyes simultaneously, skewering the head like a kebab.

The rooster fell, flapping its wings with the chopstick stuck in its head.

The Iron Umbrella Sect warriors were amazed by Yang Tae’s martial skill.

Yang Tae began to continuously take out and throw chopsticks.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

With each chopstick cutting through the air, one chicken’s cry was silenced. He was killing them by accurately piercing their eyes and skewering their heads with chopsticks.

It took less than a quarter of an hour to clean up the chaotic situation.

During this time, the young man continued running around trying to catch chickens but hadn’t caught a single one.

The last chicken flew onto a table. The young man desperately rushed to catch it.

Yang Tae threw a chopstick with a sneer.

Whoosh!

Right in front of the young man’s eyes, the bamboo chopstick was forcibly inserted into the chicken’s head.

Flutter.

The chicken with pierced eyes spun in place, flapping its wings before falling headfirst.

“Ah…!”

The young man could only kneel in despair, watching the dead chicken.

The Iron Umbrella Sect warriors gathered the dead chickens. They were easy to carry because of the chopsticks skewering their heads.

Yang Tae glanced at Kang Gyu.

It would have been nice to cook and eat a few since they were already killed, but the atmosphere was not conducive to that.

Yang Tae nodded to the warriors.

The warriors gathered the chickens and brought them to the young man. He staggered to his feet and accepted them. Even dead chickens were better than nothing to minimize his losses.

Yang Tae tossed a few coins in front of the young man who couldn’t speak.

“Be grateful you’re leaving here in one piece.”

The young man hung his head low.

“If you understand, take that and get out.”

The young man hastily picked up the coins and bowed his head in thanks. Then he loaded the blood-dripping chickens onto his carrier and left the inn.

Limp, limp.