Chapter 139: The Wind Relentlessly Shakes the Branches of the Great Tree (2)

Huangshan boasted seventy-two peaks and two vast lakes. It encompassed three great waterfalls and sixteen streams, making its scale truly immense.

Among them, the most renowned was the Emerald Valley. Named for its jade-colored waters, the valley lived up to its name, with its luminous, jade-hued river forming a great stream that flowed on without end.

Dam Ho and his party had entered a small village at the end of the Emerald Valley. The village, such as it was, was home to barely fifty households, some two hundred people.

Even so, the village possessed a small inn that provided ample rest for weary travelers.

Dam Ho and his party decided to rest briefly at an inn so modest it did not even have a name.

Upon arriving at Huangshan, smiles appeared on the faces of Hwang Hye-ryeong and Muk Il-gwang.

Huangshan was now visible nearby. This was practically the outer courtyard of the mountain.

"Young Mistress!"

The innkeeper approached Hwang Hye-ryeong with a warm smile.

Though it appeared to be a simple inn, its owner was connected to the Overlord's Banner.

Many such inns existed around Huangshan. They served as the eyes and ears of the Overlord's Banner, reporting any suspicious individuals the moment they appeared.

The inn where Dam Ho and Hwang Hye-ryeong had stopped was one such establishment. Naturally, the innkeeper and Hwang Hye-ryeong were acquainted.

"It has been too long, Uncle."

"Haha! I heard you ran away again. Are you quite well?"

"Who told you that?"

"The news has spread throughout the vicinity of Huangshan."

"Hmph!"

At the innkeeper's jest, Hwang Hye-ryeong pouted her lips. Yet a smile still lingered on her face.

"Is everything well at the Overlord's Banner?"

"Of course! Who would dare provoke the Overlord's Banner? The Chief Banner Master is in good health, so there is nothing to worry about."

"Is that so?"

"I hear the Chief Banner Master has been quite worried. You should make your way up."

"I will, if you treat me to a delicious lunch."

"Haha! How could I refuse, on whose authority? It shall be served immediately."

The innkeeper laughed heartily and walked toward the kitchen.

Hwang Hye-ryeong leaned back in her chair and kicked her feet idly. She exuded a sense of ease.

Through the open window, the majestic form of Huangshan was visible. Though the peaks were shrouded in mist, in Hwang Hye-ryeong's eyes, they seemed as clear as day.

It was the place where she had lived for nearly twenty years. She remembered the location of every small stone and blade of grass with perfect clarity.

"It is good to come home."

Hwang Hye-ryeong's voice brimmed with vitality.

Dam Ho listened to Hwang Hye-ryeong's voice, yet his gaze remained fixed outside the window.

Jade-colored water reflected fragments of light as it flowed onward. The jade hue swirled even in Dam Ho's eyes.

With the Demonic Cult taking the field, the world was descending into chaos.

The countless sects that had sustained the Murim were now arming for war. They gathered resources, recalled disciples who had been away, and a pall of conflict hung over the entire martial world.

The common folk suffered greatly as well. With the martial artists on edge, the slightest misstep could result in a beating.

In such circumstances, the common people avoided venturing outside as much as possible, and the streets grew quiet.

Even those few who gathered in small groups worried about the future of the Murim.

The future they envisioned was bleak, filled only with darkness.

On the journey here, Dam Ho had seen and heard much.

The Murim was in turmoil, consumed by confusion.

Dam Ho observed all of it with a cold gaze. But he was not merely cold.

That night, something within Dam Ho had changed.

He could not pinpoint exactly what had changed, but change it had.

Dam Ho found this transformation somewhat unsettling. Yet he had carved a single word deep into his heart.

'Even should fierce storms come, a steadfast heart will suffice. I will not be shaken by any wind.'

Dam Ho felt that he could now meet Hyeon-so Sage. After his business at Huangshan was concluded, he intended to seek out Mount Hua.

He wished to speak with Hyeon-so Sage.

How he had lived.

He wished to ask.

How he should live going forward.

And he wished to share a cup of wine with Hyeon-so Sage. At last, he felt he could understand why his Master had drunk so much.

"Brother!"

Dam Ho's reverie was broken by the sound of Bang Jin-bo's voice.

"What is it?"

"Your meal has arrived. Please try it."

"Very well."

Dam Ho nodded.

Bang Jin-bo watched Dam Ho pick up his chopsticks and tilted his head.

"What?"

"No, it's nothing. You just seem a little different. Hehe! I suppose it's my imagination."

Bang Jin-bo scratched his head with his characteristic laugh.

From beside them, Hwang Hye-ryeong made a remark.

"When you look closely, Jin-bo, you really do seem to care for Big Brother."

"Me?"

"You pay such close attention to his every movement."

"D-do I?"

Bang Jin-bo's face reddened slightly.

"You're just like a real younger brother."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Hehe!"

"Could you really be that happy? Tsk!"

In the end, Hwang Hye-ryeong could not help but burst into laughter.

At that moment,

"What is so amusing?"

A booming voice suddenly echoed through the inn.

Hwang Hye-ryeong turned in surprise. The moment she recognized the face of the man standing at the inn's entrance, a radiant smile spread across her entire face like a wave.

"Father!"

"Tsk tsk! You little troublemaker."

The man clicking his tongue at Hwang Hye-ryeong was a man in his sixties. Though approaching twilight, his seven-chi frame radiated a presence as unyielding as a cliff face. He was none other than the Chief Banner Master of the Overlord's Banner, the Overlord, Hwang Gyeong-mun, who stood at the apex of the Eighteen Greenwood Strongholds.

Hwang Gyeong-mun spread his arms wide. Hwang Hye-ryeong leapt into them as lightly as a butterfly.

"You rascal!"

"Father! How did you come here?"

"How indeed? Word came that you had arrived at the base of the mountain, but when a long time passed and you did not come up, I came down to escort you myself."

"Hehe!"

Hwang Gyeong-mun rubbed Hwang Hye-ryeong's head with his large hand. Even as her carefully arranged hair was mussed, the smile did not leave her face.

The reunion of father and daughter brought smiles to the faces of all who watched. But there was one exception—Dam Ho.

His gaze deepened still further.

'So you are not Ga-ryeong, but Hwang Hye-ryeong.'

Only now did it seem he could fully accept that truth. And strangely, his heart felt at ease.

Hwang Gyeong-mun's gaze fell upon Dam Ho.

"And this is?"

"Ah! This is Big Brother Dam Ho, the Fist Demon."

"The Fist Demon?"

In that instant, Hwang Gyeong-mun's eyes flickered.

He might not have known the name Dam Ho, but he knew the epithet Fist Demon. No, it would have been stranger if he did not.

Dam Ho was that famous in the Murim.

People considered him a far greater martial artist than Gu Mu-ryong. He was recognized not merely as a rising talent, but as one of the supreme masters of the Murim.

Hwang Gyeong-mun clasped his fist in salute toward Dam Ho.

"I did not know we had such an honored guest. I am Hwang Gyeong-mun of the Greenwood."

"Dam Ho."

Dam Ho returned the salute.

"Haha! A pleasure to meet you. It is a great honor to meet the renowned Hero Dam, who has brought my daughter safely home. I do not know how I can ever repay this debt."

Hwang Gyeong-mun laughed heartily. Yet his gaze remained keen.

'So the Fist Demon lives up to its reputation.'

One who had reached the summit of a great mountain could easily view other peaks from there.

The realm known as, in a word, Supreme Ascension.

Hwang Gyeong-mun's martial prowess had reached the level of standing atop a towering peak and surveying the mountains beyond.

To Dam Ho's eyes, Hwang Gyeong-mun was a figure standing atop another summit. A mountain of solid rock.

That he had reached such a peak was enough to earn Dam Ho's respect.

"I trust my daughter has not been a burden to you, Hero Dam."

"Father…"

Hwang Hye-ryeong cast him a glare.

That she could look lovely even in annoyance made Hwang Gyeong-mun burst into a hearty laugh. He was the very picture of a doting father.

"Come now, let us not stand here. Let us go up to the stronghold. I have fine wine from last year. It should be worth drinking."

Hwang Gyeong-mun seized Dam Ho's hand and pulled him along.

His demeanor was so unpretentious that it was hard to believe he was the supreme ruler of the Greenwood. But Dam Ho understood his behavior.

It was a sign of confidence in his own strength. Because he was strong, he could afford to be at ease.

Stepping outside, they found several dozen Greenwood warriors waiting. They were Hwang Gyeong-mun's guards.

"Young Mistress!"

They lit up at the sight of Hwang Hye-ryeong. Hwang Hye-ryeong greeted them with a smile as well.

"Uncle Song, Uncle Yun, you came too!"

"Haha! We missed you so much, we came at once."

The Greenwood warriors chattered noisily. Their voices were loud enough, yet Hwang Hye-ryeong responded to each one without losing her smile.

It was not a forced smile, but a natural warmth that shone through. One could see how deeply she was loved by the people of the stronghold.

Hwang Gyeong-mun scowled at them and shouted.

"Shouldn't you be at the stronghold? What interesting sight drew you all out?"

"Oh, come now! When we heard the Young Mistress was here, we had to come out, of course."

"That's right, Chief Banner Master. The Young Mistress is our daughter too. Don't be so greedy."

The Greenwood warriors booed Hwang Gyeong-mun.

Such a scene would be unimaginable in any ordinary sect. But they were the freemen of the Greenwood.

They could converse freely with the Chief Banner Master and joke without reservation. They fit together remarkably well.

Hwang Gyeong-mun clicked his tongue.

"Tch! You scoundrels!"

Though his words were sharp, his expression was not displeased.

"Come, let us go up. Since we have an honored guest, we should slaughter a pig and a cow."

"Truly?"

"Have I ever deceived you? You wretches!"

"Waaah!"

At Hwang Gyeong-mun's shout, a tremendous cheer erupted.

"A feast! A feast!"

"It's been too long since we've had a good feast on meat. What luck! That stingy Chief Banner Master is throwing a feast!"

The hall was instantly filled with boisterous voices.

A smile touched the lips of Hwang Gyeong-mun as he looked at his people.

He had been thinking of holding a boisterous feast to boost morale. His daughter's return provided a fine pretext.

'One needs to eat well to have the strength to fight.'

Hwang Gyeong-mun turned and began walking toward the summit of Huangshan.

At that moment, an excited voice reached his ears. Turning, he saw the chubby boy standing beside his daughter, clenching both fists and muttering.

"Meat, meat!"

Bang Jin-bo's eyes were glistening with tears.

Bian Bu’s laughter contained such deep contempt that even Jin Ja-gang was becoming uncomfortable.

“What do you mean?”

“Did you come out of living in some mountain? Or have you been only in the frontier region of Yunnan and are ignorant of martial world affairs? Perhaps you’re a martial master from a hundred years ago who achieved rejuvenation?”

“Except for being a martial master from a hundred years ago, both apply.”

“Hehe.”

Bian Bu’s laughter grew even deeper.

“The righteousness of the martial world disappeared quite some time ago.”

Bian Bu looked into Jin Ja-gang’s eyes and spoke each word slowly.

“Since Taoist Hae-wol became the alliance leader… the words chivalry and justice no longer remain in the martial world.”

“Taoist Hae-wol…”

Jin Ja-gang knew of him too.

Ten years ago, he was the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance.

He was the first in martial arts history to establish the Martial Arts Alliance that encompassed all orthodox sects without any common enemy opposing the orthodox faction, and ascended as the first alliance leader.

Therefore, in Jin Ja-gang’s memory, many people respected and revered Taoist Hae-wol.

“Is he still the alliance leader?”

“He’s still the alliance leader now.”

The tone was subtle.

Bian Bu sighed, realizing that Jin Ja-gang truly knew nothing about martial world affairs.

“Now I understand why you keep wandering around in the middle of whirlpools.”

“I’ve never wandered around.”

“People trapped in a maze don’t even know they’re trapped. A frog trapped in a well thinks the visible sky is everything.”

Just as Jin Ja-gang was about to argue that his words were excessive, Bian Bu cut him off first.

“There are people in the world who live with various thoughts and ideologies. In such times, if one must fight over what is the right path, the decision process is very simple. Either take one side or don’t take any side. This is something that can be decided solely according to one’s own convictions.”

Jin Ja-gang found something resonant in Bian Bu’s words and listened with his mouth closed.

“However, if one becomes entangled in economic interests beyond norms and basic principles, the situation becomes very different. People entangled in interests will, without exception, adjust their purposes and actions in directions favorable to themselves. If there are a hundred people, all hundred situations are completely different.”

Bian Bu caught his breath and continued.

“Therefore, among those hundred people, depending on whose side I take, and whose side the person I support is taking, hundreds of new interest relationships are created. Eventually, at this point, one has no choice but to act according to very complex judgments, and this is precisely what is called political behavior.”

“I have no interest in political behavior.”

“Really? There’s only one type of person in the world who can have no interest in political behavior. Someone who has power strong enough to transcend all those interest relationships. Someone who forces others to suffer losses and offer up their benefits.”

Bian Bu raised the corners of his mouth and asked back.

“Are you that strong? Strong enough to transcend everyone’s interest relationships?”

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t answer.

Not only that, but he felt a chilling sensation in his chest.

He had thought he could just kill his revenge targets without considering complex situations.

Until now, that had been possible. Due to Yunnan’s geographical characteristics, in regions with somewhat narrow and closed interest relationships, he could focus only on revenge without thinking about complex cases.

However, now that he had left one person from Baek Li-jung remaining, the situation had changed. The Central Plains martial world had very complex relationships.

Jin Ja-gang realized he had been forcibly entangled in the complex interest relationships that Bian Bu mentioned. Though he hadn’t wanted it himself, Jin Ja-gang wasn’t strong enough to transcend the interest relationships surrounding him or using him, which led to his current situation.

That was an undeniable fact.

“Then are you saying that I must act according to political judgments from now on… to achieve what I want?”

Bian Bu smiled, sensing the changed tone in Jin Ja-gang’s speech.

Jin Ja-gang hadn’t asked “Can I survive?” but “Can I get what I want?”

In situations entangled with interests, death is not a consideration. The moment one dies, all interest relationships become useless, so what would be the point? What use are power and money to the dead?

Bian Bu realized that Jin Ja-gang understood this fact.

“If you have the power to create a new framework, you don’t have to live within frameworks made by others. But if you don’t have that much power, you’ll have no choice but to remain within the order created by others until you build up enough strength.”

Bian Bu spoke with a much more serious expression than before.

“The martial world is vast and those who live by the sword are more numerous than grains of sand. The martial arts world has had countless factions from before, and the orthodox faction likewise had innumerable forces. No one could unify them with a single thought or ideology. The virtue of the orthodox faction was to never bend their beliefs even unto death. It was impossible to make them submit with any noble ideology.”

Bian Bu continued speaking while stroking his beard with his fingers.

“However, Taoist Hae-wol unified the orthodox martial world with a new standard. What he put forward was precisely ‘profit and loss.'”

“Profit and loss…”

“Taoist Hae-wol didn’t reject ideologies or thoughts while cleverly utilizing them. On the surface he spoke of justification, but in reality he made all judgment standards based on profit and loss, creating results according to interest relationships. As a result, a new ruling system was established in the orthodox martial world. After that, chivalry and justice disappeared from the martial world. Only ‘profit and loss’ came to run rampant.”

Bian Bu stopped speaking and looked at Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang understood Bian Bu’s words but couldn’t completely comprehend them. It was difficult to understand based on his common knowledge of the martial world.

“If you want to overthrow or utilize the new order created by others, you don’t need to conform to it. But first acquire the qualifications to match it. Abandon the belief that everything can be solved by risking your own life, that the world will change just because one youngster runs wild.”

Thinking his words were a bit harsh, Bian Bu softened his tone slightly.

“Of course, looking at your expression, it seems you realized that fact just now, which is fortunate.”

Indeed, Jin Ja-gang was receiving a different kind of shock from the topic Bian Bu had thrown at him.

He had thought he just needed to kill Baek Li-jung as an individual, but in reality Jin Ja-gang was fighting against the order—power—that Baek Li-jung was using without even meeting Baek Li-jung.

“Unfortunately…”

Bian Bu interrupted Jin Ja-gang’s contemplation.

“Even though I’d like to tell you more, we don’t have that kind of time. Soon their corpses will be discovered, and then their next plan will proceed. I don’t want to be trapped helplessly in this backwater place and burn to death as black ash.”

Jin Ja-gang sighed briefly and asked.

“Are you certain that the Zhuge family will… burn this village?”

Bian Bu nodded.

“Almost.”

“Do you have grounds to be confident?”

Bian Bu chuckled.

“Well, I’ve experienced such situations several times. I’ve seen villages several times larger than Lan Family Village burn and disappear in a single night. A village of this scale with at most two or three hundred people is nothing. Ah, of course, such facts are usually officially determined to be the work of bandits or evil factions.”

Jin Ja-gang stared into Bian Bu’s eyes and said.

“But I still can’t believe your words, old man.”

Bian Bu frowned.

“Then don’t believe them! Who asked you to believe? After taking up all of someone’s precious time, what you’re saying…”

“That’s why I need to confirm it.”

“Huh?”

Bian Bu tilted his head.

“Are you going to run away, or what are you planning to do?”

“Exactly as I said, I’ll confirm it. And if your words are true, old man.”

Jin Ja-gang pressed his lips tightly together.

“I’ll make them pay the price.”

A chilling killing intent flowed from Jin Ja-gang’s eyes.

“Those who harm other people to catch me must definitely pay the price.”

Bian Bu frowned due to the killing intent.

However, that expression contained the doubt of “What can you do about it?”

As if reading Bian Bu’s expression, Jin Ja-gang said firmly.

“That is my conviction.”

* * *

Jin Ja-gang looked up at the sky through the window inside the shrine.

Bian Bu asked curiously what Jin Ja-gang was doing.

“What are you doing?”

“Since the sun is still up, it hasn’t passed the Hour of the Monkey (3-5 PM). The corpses won’t have been discovered yet.”

“How do you know that?”

“Someone who does evening business comes to that path after the Hour of the Monkey. That person started doing business there three days after I came to this village. If they’re discovered, it will be then.”

Bian Bu’s mouth fell open in bewilderment.

“How do you know all that…”

“Because I’ve been here for a month.”

For Jin Ja-gang, who had to use everything around him to survive, understanding the surrounding situation was always something he had to do. One small thing overlooked could take his life.

Bian Bu’s face contorted.

“Then coming to me asking for fortune telling was also?”

It meant he had come knowing full well that the watchers were observing, asking questions and even deliberately mentioning Wishful Fairy Maiden. It was no different from using Bian Bu as bait to die.

“Damn it! I misjudged you. You asked me why I kill people, then you throw me as food for the hunting dogs?”

“Because they hadn’t moved for a whole month, I needed to create change. And as a result, you didn’t die, did you?”

“I became a cripple… no, almost became one.”

Jin Ja-gang had planned to follow Bian Bu from the beginning. He used Bian Bu as a ripple to shake up the watchers and confuse them, ultimately finding that gap to achieve his purpose.

“Really vicious. Vicious. Snake Scorpion Poison King – whoever came up with that nickname really named it well.”

Bian Bu was burning inside and looked around, then saw clean water in a ritual water vessel and tried to drink it with a gourd ladle.

Without even looking, Jin Ja-gang stopped him.

“I’m telling you in advance, don’t use the gourd ladle next to you. It has poison.”

Bian Bu was startled and dropped the gourd ladle just as he was about to drink.

“Wh-when?”

“If you’re thirsty, scoop water with your hands.”

Bian Bu looked at the gourd ladle rolling on the ground with frightened eyes. Come to think of it, this gourd ladle hadn’t been there earlier. It meant Jin Ja-gang had placed it after they entered.

The situation was so natural that he almost got poisoned without thinking.

But Jin Ja-gang said nonchalantly.

“Because I didn’t know your identity, old man.”

For almost killing someone, he was too casual, making Bian Bu grind his teeth.

“Ah, is that so? I suppose you trust me now?”

“I still don’t know for sure. That’s why I’m keeping you alive.”

“Huh…”

Bian Bu was dumbfounded but also had no words to refute. Unless he carried his identity written on a sign or nameplate, he couldn’t complain about being suspected.

Bian Bu ground his teeth.

“But I don’t like you confidently saying you can kill me anytime. You should also remember that I can stick a needle in the back of your neck anytime…”

Jin Ja-gang silently fiddled with the knot of the bundle Bian Bu was carrying beside him.

He pulled out a short needle that was barely visible from inside the knot and conspicuously inserted it into the leather belt on his forearm.

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Isn’t that… a poison needle?”

“That’s right.”

“…Why is it coming out of my luggage?”

“Don’t you have bamboo needles and bamboo tubes in your luggage, old man?”

“They’re there.”

“I did that because it seemed like you might attack me with those.”

“…Ah, I see… No, that’s not right!”

If Bian Bu had harbored ill intentions toward Jin Ja-gang and opened his luggage, nine times out of ten he would have been pricked by the poison needle.

Thinking about that made Bian Bu’s spine chill.

‘This guy is really a bad one!’