Chapter 99

Chapter 99: When Many Gather, Each Raises Their Voice (3)

Eun Il-myeong's face hardened.

When it came to martial strength, the Namgung Family and Hainan Sect were second to none in the world. Such people would not come seeking him and the Eun-ga Pavilion because they needed martial force.

That left only one possibility.

'They want wealth.'

He could feel Namgung Chang's burning gaze. Behind it, Oh Gun-ui's intense eyes blazed.

Eun Il-myeong sighed quietly to himself.

The Eun-ga Pavilion possessed the greatest wealth in Hunan.

Though called the greatest in Hunan, it was not much different from the Jinju Eon Family, which was the wealthiest in the world.

Countless people and organizations had coveted the Eun-ga Pavilion's wealth over the years. Through scams, plots, and the threat of plunder, Eun Il-myeong had protected the Eun-ga Pavilion from them all.

Now was the time to be cold and calculating.

"This does not seem like the place for such a discussion."

"Oh? I find this place rather pleasant. In fact, it is open and ideal for laying one's cards on the table."

Namgung Chang looked around the annex and smiled.

His gaze suddenly stopped on Eun So-cheong and Bang Jin-bo.

Namgung Chang had dismissed Bang Jin-bo as a mediocre cook. The shabby appearance of the boy holding a ladle clouded his judgment.

Eun So-cheong, on the other hand, was dressed in fine clothes and bore the bearing of a noble house.

"Is this your daughter?"

At that, Eun Il-myeong let out a soft sigh.

He did not wish to expose Eun So-cheong to them like this, but he had no choice.

Eun Il-myeong beckoned to Eun So-cheong.

"Pay your respects. These are elders of the Namgung Family and the Hainan Sect."

"I am Eun So-cheong of the Eun-ga Pavilion. I am honored to meet you. Please regard me kindly."

Eun So-cheong offered a cupped-fist salute.

"Hoho! A pleasure. Your eyes are clear and deep."

"Thank you."

Eun So-cheong exchanged customary greetings.

Her sharp mind told her that this meeting was no ordinary occasion.

She had to be careful with every word and every gesture. Nothing could be seized upon.

Meanwhile, Eun Il-myeong's mind raced furiously.

Namgung Chang and Oh Gun-ui.

It would be difficult enough to handle one, yet two had come together. The balance of power was off.

If only there had been time to prepare—but with their sudden notice, he had not been able to prepare at all. Perhaps that was precisely what they had intended.

Suddenly, Eun Il-myeong's eyes lit up.

Come to think of it, there were two unexpected masters present.

'If I were to draw them in?'

He glanced at Cho Yeon-woon and Dam Ho.

Dam Ho still gazed at Dongting Lake with an indifferent expression, while Cho Yeon-woon watched the proceedings with an interested look.

Eun Il-myeong gave up on Dam Ho.

The risk was too great. If word spread that the prestigious Eun-ga Pavilion was connected to the demon known as the Fist Demon, it could be devastating.

In these uncertain times, the burden was too heavy to bear.

Unlike Dam Ho, Cho Yeon-woon seemed safe to draw in. Though he was known by the slightly mocking epithet Cloud Dragon, he was spoken of as being on par with the Four Dragons.

Moreover, his sect was the Hundred Battles Hall. All the sects of the Murim had inscribed their names on the Hundred Battles Victory Banner.

The Namgung Family and Hainan Sect had also inscribed their names on the banner. Naturally, they could not disregard the Hundred Battles Hall.

Eun Il-myeong completed his calculations in an instant.

"Ah, I forgot to introduce them. This is Hero Cho Yeon-woon of the Hundred Battles Hall."

When Eun Il-myeong mentioned his name, Cho Yeon-woon furrowed his brow slightly. But he quickly smiled and offered a cupped-fist salute to Namgung Chang and the others.

"Cho Yeon-woon of the Hundred Battles Hall greets the senior masters. I apologize for the late introduction."

"Oh! So you were here. A pleasure to meet you. I am Namgung Chang."

"Oh Gun-ui. A pleasure, Hero Cho."

As they greeted each other, Namgung Chang and Oh Gun-ui showed surprise.

They had not expected the Eun-ga Pavilion to be connected with the Hundred Battles Hall.

Namgung Chang's gaze cooled for an instant. But he quickly recovered his usual expression, and no one noticed.

When Cho Yeon-woon revealed his identity, Namgung Su, who had been standing to one side, stepped forward.

"I am Namgung Su."

"A pleasure to meet you, Hero Namgung. I am the unworthy Cho Yeon-woon."

Cho Yeon-woon smiled and offered a cupped-fist salute.

While Cho Yeon-woon exchanged greetings with Namgung Su and the others, Hae So-wol's gaze was fixed on Dam Ho, who stood with his arms crossed to one side.

Black hair, black leather robe.

An aloof demeanor, as though the affairs of the world were of no concern to him.

All of it was familiar.

Hae So-wol recalled that she had met him before.

At Dongting Lake, when unidentified assassins had attacked her, he had been there as well.

"Miss Hae, this is Hero Cho…"

Namgung Su was about to introduce Cho Yeon-woon to Hae So-wol when he noticed her expression and stared blankly for a moment.

In that time, Hae So-wol had arrived before Dam Ho.

"We have met before, have we not?"

"…"

"My name is Hae So-wol."

Instead of answering, Dam Ho looked at her intently.

In the air, their gazes met.

Hae So-wol's eyes, endlessly clear, and Dam Ho's eyes, deep beyond measure—reflected in each other were their own images.

The moment she met Dam Ho's gaze, Hae So-wol felt a dizzying vertigo. From his eyes, she felt the weight of a force that seemed to overwhelm her very soul. But she did not look away.

After gazing at Hae So-wol for a moment, Dam Ho finally spoke.

"I am Dam Ho."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Hero Dam."

Dam Ho silently nodded.

His manner seemed quite arrogant. Namgung Su looked at him with a slight frown.

She was one of the Four Dragons, Hae So-wol.

To see an unknown man treat Hae So-wol with such arrogance was deeply vexing.

"I am Namgung Su of the Namgung Family. Forgive the intrusion, but might I know Hero Dam's sect?"

There was a mocking edge to Namgung Su's voice.

Dam Ho turned his head toward Namgung Su. He looked at him in silence.

Thud!

In that instant, Namgung Su felt as though part of his chest had dropped. The pressure radiating from Dam Ho's gaze bore down upon him.

"Ngh!"

Namgung Su gritted his teeth involuntarily. A thick vein bulged on his forehead.

In that instant, Dam Ho's lips parted.

"I have no sect."

"Grrk!"

Namgung Su ground his teeth. He thought Dam Ho was looking down on him.

It made no sense that a man radiating such an aura had no sect. A martial artist without a worthy master and sect could never cross a certain threshold.

That was Namgung Su's common sense, and the fact acknowledged by most who lived in the Murim world.

"If you do not wish to say so, say you do not wish to say so. Do not shame a sect without reason."

"Hero Namgung."

Hae So-wol, unable to stand it, called out to Namgung Su. But his agitated emotions did not subside easily.

Something about Dam Ho had touched Namgung Su's nerves. But Namgung Su did not know why he was so hostile toward Dam Ho.

At that moment, Namgung Chang approached.

"You said your name was Hero Dam? A pleasure. I am Namgung Chang. As you can see, I come from the Namgung Family. Seeing you here, it seems you are on close terms with the Eun-ga Pavilion."

"No. He has nothing to do with the Eun-ga Pavilion."

Eun Il-myeong panicked and denied any connection with Dam Ho. At that, Namgung Chang's eyes gleamed.

'So there is something.'

The fact that Eun Il-myeong denied the connection meant that Dam Ho was a figure of considerable burden.

He turned the matter over in his mind.

'Who in Hunan Province could be a burden to the Eun-ga Pavilion even while having it as an enemy?'

Namgung Chang prided himself on knowing everything in the world, but such a figure did not easily come to mind.

As he searched his memory, Namgung Chang suddenly recalled a thread of the rumors he had heard here.

The description in the rumor matched the man before him.

"Not long ago, I heard a rumor that was difficult to believe. A single martial artist had single-handedly destroyed Seocheon Mountain Lodge. He caused a stir at Hongam Mountain Lodge as well, and recently he entered Hunan Province and carried out a bloodbath."

"…"

"His most recent act of villainy was presumably the killing of the Hyeongsan Sect Leader, was it not? Sin-gang Blood Star. Or should I say, it might be better to call you the Fist Demon?"

Dam Ho's eyebrow twitched. Namgung Chang smiled.

"Does that matter?"

"It does matter. You have committed indiscriminate slaughter. It is more than enough to earn the fury of the Murim world."

"Indiscriminate slaughter?"

"If we examine your actions thus far, you have killed so many that it would not be strange to call you a demon. If these were not extraordinary times, you would be declared a public enemy of the Murim world, and no one could fault it."

"It sounds as though you intend to declare me a public enemy once this period is over."

"That depends on how you conduct yourself henceforth."

Namgung Chang smiled.

He believed that Dam Ho had understood his words. For ordinary people, this much was enough to make them bow their heads.

Meanwhile, Oh Gun-ui was scowling deeply.

Namgung Chang was more of a strategist than a martial artist. He was strong in martial arts, but most of his faculties were developed for analyzing opponents and situations and devising countermeasures.

Oh Gun-ui, on the other hand, was a pure martial artist.

And one who pursued the ultimate in swordsmanship.

In his eyes, Dam Ho's body was perfection itself.

Not all large men possessed great strength. Depending on how one trained, the limit of power one could wield differed even among those of the same build.

The muscles visible between Dam Ho's collar were the unmistakable evidence of training pushed to the absolute limit. Every fiber of muscle seemed woven from elastic thread, as though they might burst at any moment.

Oh Gun-ui felt his body itch.

He had been following Namgung Chang without even having time to properly warm up, and now, looking at Dam Ho, his blood boiled.

But he had to suppress his rising blood. Namgung Chang's business was not yet finished.

"If you do not wish to become a public enemy, you need only use your strength for good."

"…"

A powerful light blazed in Namgung Chang's eyes. His gaze could overwhelm everyone in the annex and then some.

"A great change is soon to come to the Murim world. A time will come when much strength will be needed."

"And?"

"I would like you to volunteer for that cause. Use the martial strength you possess for good. Then the suspicious eyes watching you will naturally disappear. And the talk of you being a public enemy will fade as well."

"You want me to become your dog?"

"How dare you!"

At Dam Ho's words, Namgung Su flared up. His hand had already found the sword at his waist.

He looked ready to draw at any moment.

But Namgung Chang raised his hand to restrain him.

"That is enough."

"Uncle."

"This is not a place we came to draw blood."

Namgung Su finally let out a groan and removed his hand from the sword. But his gaze, fixed on Dam Ho, did not waver.

A fierce storm seemed to churn in his eyes. But Dam Ho did not spare him a glance.

Dam Ho's gaze was fixed on Namgung Chang. Namgung Chang smiled.

"You have quite the backbone. Good! One needs such fortitude to navigate the treacherous Murim world. But young man, be careful. The Murim world changes without warning. Those who showed you kindness yesterday may show hostility tomorrow. Always be vigilant."

"I will."

At Dam Ho's informal speech, Namgung Chang's eyebrow twitched. But like a seasoned veteran of the Murim, he quickly regained his usual composed expression.

Namgung Chang turned to Eun Il-myeong.

"Lord Eun."

"Speak."

"This does not seem like a suitable place for an important discussion. Forgive me, but I would prefer to speak inside."

"So be it."

Eun Il-myeong answered as though he had no choice.

Having witnessed the confrontation—though not quite a confrontation—between Dam Ho and Namgung Chang, Eun Il-myeong feared that the Eun-ga Pavilion might appear to be at odds with the Namgung Family because of Dam Ho.

That was why he had to change his mind.

"Please, come inside."

Eun Il-myeong led the way inside.

Namgung Su's lips moved. He sent a sound transmission to Namgung Chang as he moved to follow.

—Uncle, do you intend to let that man go as is? If this gets out, the Namgung Family may be made a laughingstock.

—Attach the Family's Shadow Guard to him.

Namgung Chang replied via sound transmission as well.

Sound transmission was a highly refined technique of compressing sound to transmit it. It was nearly impossible for others to intercept such a conversation.

—Shall I kill him?

—Just surveil him for now. There will be a use for him later.

—What use?

A look of displeasure appeared on Namgung Su's face.

—Following the Heavenly Thunder, a blood-crazed demon has appeared. Would that not make for a fine picture?

—And?

—It will serve as excellent momentum for the founding of the Murim Alliance.

A meaningful smile appeared at the corner of Namgung Chang's lips. But the displeased expression on Namgung Su's face did not fade.

Namgung Chang left Namgung Su and Hae So-wol behind and entered the annex with Oh Gun-ui and Eun Il-myeong.

'Heaven assists the Murim Alliance. What perfect timing for a suitable scapegoat to appear.'

Dam Ho watched until Namgung Chang and the others disappeared into the annex.

"Hyung?"

Bang Jin-bo approached with a worried expression.

Dam Ho silently rubbed his head. But his eyes burned more fiercely than ever before.