Chapter 205: Mistaking a Tiger for a Cat (2)

After the storm had passed, a brief peace descended upon the Shouzhou branch. But no one believed it was true peace.

Before a great storm, the calm is always deepest. Most people felt that this was precisely that moment.

The unexpected death of the Ten-Li Reaper, So Cheonsan—one of the Seven Great Demon Masters—at Dam Ho's hands had dealt a severe blow to the Demonic Cult as well.

The Cult had taken the series of events with utmost seriousness. They judged that if they were not careful, they might lose their momentum entirely.

At the former site of the Mount Heng Sect, the Demonic Cult's principal forces were gathering one after another. The Cult was beginning to concentrate its strength.

Naturally, the Murim Alliance had also obtained this intelligence. After repeated meetings, the Alliance likewise decided to dispatch its main forces to Shouzhou.

They requested cooperation from nearby sects and dispatched the Five Elements Brigade.

The Shouzhou branch was no longer merely one of many theaters of war. It had become a critical battlefield that would decide the fate of the martial world. Naturally, the attention of countless warriors was drawn to it.

Not only the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, but even warriors with no connection to the Murim Alliance made their way to Shouzhou. The branch was suddenly overflowing with people, and they scrambled to prepare lodgings for the influx of warriors.

"Is that where the Fist Demon resides?"

"Is he not coming out today either?"

Warriors who had entered the Shouzhou branch whispered among themselves as they looked toward the cottage.

No one was unaware that Dam Ho was staying in the cottage. At least, no one within the Shouzhou branch.

People hovered near the cottage, hoping to catch even a distant glimpse of the rumored Dam Ho, but he never showed himself. As a result, curiosity about him only intensified.

Dam Ho's position within Shouzhou was currently very precarious.

It was well known that the Murim Alliance had named him a public enemy of the martial world. For that reason, the Namgung Family had suffered grievous damage, and the Murim Alliance's prestige had once fallen to rock bottom.

Normally, such a designation would have made him a target for execution. But Dam Ho's contributions could not be ignored.

If not for Dam Ho, countless warriors in the Shouzhou branch would have been slaughtered by So Cheonsan. Those with strong internal energy might have endured by protecting their meridians, but warriors below that level could have been annihilated entirely.

Dam Ho's killing of So Cheonsan had not only reduced immediate casualties—it had saved countless lives that So Cheonsan might have taken in the future.

The problem arose from this.

For the Murim Alliance, Dam Ho was a thorn in their side, yet many had begun to shield him.

The Zhongnan Sect had taken that stance, and several other sects had followed suit. The one placed in a difficult position by all of this was the Murim Alliance, and even now, deep within the Shouzhou branch, fierce debate raged over Dam Ho's fate.

Sage Hyeon-geom of the Mount Hua Sect, Yeom Jung-hwa of the Zhongnan Sect, and other renowned figures of the martial world had gathered in one place.

"Impossible. To revoke his designation as a public enemy at this point? If we did, the prestige of the Murim Alliance would hit rock bottom."

"What does the Murim Alliance's prestige matter? Consider only how useful he can be in the current situation. If he becomes an ally, how reassuring that would be."

"Does that mean we should forgive a bloodthirsty killer just because he is useful?"

"It is true that his methods are somewhat excessive. But it is not as though he killed without reason. From what I have found, he never struck first."

"Look at his cruelty. Look at his relentlessness. Does such a man truly seem the type to be grateful if we remove his designation as a public enemy?"

"Then what do you propose? That you stand before him and say, 'You are a public enemy, so accept your death'? Go ahead. Try it. Let us see how he responds."

"Urgh!"

The hall was noisy as a marketplace.

Countless voices rose in argument, making it impossible for the meeting to proceed properly. But as time wore on, the faction arguing for revoking Dam Ho's designation began to gain the upper hand.

Sage Hyeon-geom's expression grew increasingly twisted as he watched it all unfold. He had remained silent throughout.

Stepping forward to argue that the designation should be maintained was laughable, and his pride would not allow him to argue for its revocation.

He simply burned with silent fury.

Yeom Jung-hwa watched Sage Hyeon-geom with a subtle smile. The tide had already turned toward revoking Dam Ho's designation. No matter how Sage Hyeon-geom struggled, he could not reverse the current.

In the end, the people decided to release Dam Ho from the noose of his designation as a public enemy.

Given the circumstances, the strongest justification was that Dam Ho needed to be utilized to the fullest.

Gong Son-jung, the Shouzhou branch leader, walked toward the cottage.

As the branch leader, he was presumably going to inform Dam Ho of the decision reached at the meeting.

Tension was plain on Gong Son-jung's face.

It could not be helped. The newly arrived warriors had only heard tales of Dam Ho's martial prowess, but he had witnessed it with his own eyes.

The decisive blow that had ended So Cheonsan's life. The overwhelming presence that had dominated the entire battlefield.

With that single man, the tide of battle had been completely reversed.

Gong Son-jung prided himself on being a seasoned veteran, yet he had never once imagined such a scene.

'Why on earth did Heaven grant such a demonic master such power?'

Gong Son-jung shook his head.

Before he knew it, the cottage was before him. Many people still lingered outside the front gate. Gong Son-jung saw in their faces the gleam of youthful hope.

It was the hope and yearning of those who beheld a savior of the martial world.

'No! That is wrong. He is not a savior who will rescue the martial world. The martial world may well meet its ruin because of him.'

Gong Son-jung bit his lip. Blood seeped between his teeth, but he felt no pain.

He raised his voice before the front gate of the cottage.

"Young Hero Dam! I am Gong Son-jung, Branch Leader of the Murim Alliance's Shouzhou branch."

After a moment, Dam Ho opened the door and stepped outside. In that instant, Gong Son-jung's face froze.

The mere act of facing him directly stiffened his entire body, and cold sweat streamed down his back.

Dam Ho stared at Gong Son-jung.

That gaze, devoid of any emotion whatsoever, made Gong Son-jung all the more afraid.

"What is it?"

"I have come to inform Young Hero Dam of the decision reached at the leadership council. I am pleased to tell you that you are no longer a public enemy of the martial world."

"Public enemy?"

"That is correct. The Murim Alliance, in recognition of your great merit, has reached this decision."

"……"

"S-So we ask that you continue to fight against the Demonic Cult."

"And if I refuse?"

"What?"

"Why should I fight the Demonic Cult?"

"Is the Demonic Cult not the common enemy of the martial world? Should we not naturally rally our strength against them?"

"Use the demon to fight the demon, is that it?"

"Th-that…"

Gong Son-jung could not find words. Dam Ho's piercing remark left him speechless, and his face flushed red with embarrassment.

Using one demon to suppress another.

That was the outcome they desired above all else. But there was no reason for Dam Ho to move as they wished.

"I don't mind remaining a public enemy."

"What?"

"So I would advise you to abandon any thoughts of using me. If you wish to use me, put your life on the line. If that doesn't appeal to you, you are welcome to attack me right now."

"Th-that…"

Gong Son-jung stammered.

His mind had gone blank, and not a single word came to him.

Just then, a voice came to his rescue.

"Branch Leader."

"Ah, Miss Hae."

The newcomer was Hae So-wol.

Her appearance brought a look of relief to Gong Son-jung's face. When the branch leader had been away, Hae So-wol had served as his deputy, and the two had grown quite close.

"I will speak with him. Please return for now."

"You would do that? Thank you! Miss Hae."

Gong Son-jung answered eagerly and withdrew at once.

Dam Ho did not attempt to stop the retreating Gong Son-jung. Instead, he turned to Hae So-wol. She offered a bitter smile.

"Don't be too hard on him. He is a man who takes his duties seriously, in his own way."

"So you were here."

"I came here right after we parted at the Murim Alliance. I ended up staying, more or less."

"I see."

"Oh, and congratulations on reuniting with your master. I met him briefly—he seems like a wonderful person."

"He is."

"What do you intend to do now?"

"I'm leaving this place."

"Will you go to Mount Hua?"

"No."

Dam Ho shook his head.

After his confrontation with Sage Hyeon-geom, returning to Mount Hua was out of the question.

"Anywhere, as long as it is a place where my master can rest."

"That won't be easy. You have already stepped deep into the martial world. The debts and grudges of the martial world are tenacious—once entangled, it is not easy to extricate yourself."

Hae So-wol's voice was thick with regret.

She had been in the martial world for barely a year, yet it felt as though ten years had passed. The mental burden she bore was immense.

She wished she could return to Hainan Island at once. But too many things held her in place.

Dam Ho looked at Hae So-wol in silence.

"I'm sorry. I brought it up and then became lost in my own thoughts. I'm sure you will manage well in your own way. I will take my leave now. Please convey my regards to Sage Hyeon-so."

Hae So-wol hurried out of the cottage with quick steps.

Dam Ho watched her retreating figure for a moment, then sat down.

The air was hot.

It was not merely the presence of many people that heated the air. It was the atmosphere of the battlefield that had turned it so.

He knew well what this stifling, clinging sensation foretold.

As much hostility filled the air, so too would blood flow upon the earth. And so too would many perish.

In Dam Ho's eyes, this place appeared as nothing more than a massive tomb. And yet he felt little—perhaps because his emotions had grown too calloused.

It was then—

"Ho-ya!"

Sage Hyeon-so opened the door and stepped outside.

Dam Ho looked up at him.

"What are you thinking so deeply about?"

"Nothing at all."

"Is that so?"

Sage Hyeon-so smiled and sat beside Dam Ho. Shoulder to shoulder, they gazed ahead together.

"Ho-ya."

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"……"

"Thank you for not forgetting this useless old man, for finding me, and for being alive."

"Master."

"As a master, I have done nothing but bring trouble to my disciple."

"If not for you, Master, there would be no me."

"Thank you."

Sage Hyeon-so reached out and placed his hand upon the back of Dam Ho's broad hand. A gentle warmth was felt.

Though more than ten years had passed, the warmth was the same as it had always been.

"What do you intend to do henceforth?"

"……"

"I could not help but overhear your conversation with Miss Hae. Are you truly thinking of leaving this place?"

"Yes."

"Because of me?"

"……"

"Thank you. For thinking so highly of this worthless master. That is enough for me."

Dam Ho turned his head to look at Sage Hyeon-so's face.

"Never… be bound by me. There is no need to sacrifice yourself for my sake, nor to bow your head to anyone on my account. If I thought I would become a burden to you, I would sooner end my own life. Live freely, Ho-ya."

"Master!"

"I believe in you."

Sage Hyeon-so tightened his grip on Dam Ho's hand. His knuckles, now bony and worn, felt rough against Dam Ho's skin.

Dam Ho nodded silently.

Myowol became dizzy and staggered in zigzag steps for several paces before finally managing to steady herself by gripping the wall.

“Urgh!”

Saliva dripped from her mouth. Myowol was flustered.

“Could you wait a moment?”

Mang Ryo brought his face close to Myowol’s face. He even placed his hand on Myowol’s face!

“What are you…!”

Not being ignorant of matters between men and women, but for a man to touch a nun! Myowol was greatly enraged but found it difficult to respond due to her dizziness. However, when Mang Ryo pulled something out from Myowol’s left eye patch, she felt somewhat relieved.

In Mang Ryo’s hand was a bloody needle.

“Wh-when!”

Mang Ryo laughed.

“It seems your left eye has become completely useless. You didn’t know that brat had embedded it earlier?”

Myowol ground her teeth thinking of Jin Ja-gang. There was a reason Jin Ja-gang had aimed for her eyepatch.

“That… that bastard I’ll chew to death!”

“That’s how he originally is. Even when about to die, he never dies alone without struggling.”

“My eye! My eye, kyaaaah!”

Myowol was about to have a fit. For a master like Myowol, losing one eye and completely losing vision on the left side was a great burden. She couldn’t help but be despondent.

Mang Ryo comforted Myowol.

“Well, it’s fine. You’ll get used to it quickly. Seeing the world with one eye also has unexpected advantages.”

“Are you mocking this poor nun!”

“How could that be? At my age, would I enjoy mocking a nun, tsk.”

Mang Ryo pointed to his own single eye and smirked.

“When you see with only one eye, the world becomes very simple. Others say it’s biased, but then let them try having eyes like mine. Don’t try to see what can’t be seen and give up. If you only look at what you want to see, distracting thoughts disappear and your mind becomes peaceful.”

Myowol felt a strange emotion while listening to Mang Ryo’s words. Perhaps because they were similar in age and shared the same affliction? Looking more closely, she even felt wisdom in his seemingly random words.

“Seeing the world with one eye makes distracting thoughts disappear?”

Those were words like a fresh shock to Myowol, who as a disciple of Buddhism constantly struggled between Buddha’s mercy and killing, unable to control herself between killing and not killing.

Myowol’s expression became much more stable.

“Truly… it’s been a long time since I’ve heard words that pleased my heart…”

Tang Ha-ran stood dazed in front of the wall in her room that was completely filled with clothes.

Phoenix Crown and Rosy Cloud Cape.

A crown embedded with various jewels in phoenix patterns and bright red silk clothing embroidered with gorgeous gold thread depicting flowers, clouds and other designs.

“Wedding dress…”

Tang Ha-ran could only stare blankly at the Phoenix Crown and Rosy Cloud Cape.

She had always dreamed since childhood about when she might be able to wear these clothes, and now that matter had become reality.

But would she really be able to properly wear the Phoenix Crown and Rosy Cloud Cape?

Would she even be able to safely hold the wedding ceremony?

She felt stuffiness and sadness at the same time. Depending on Jin Ja-gang’s actions, she might never get to wear these clothes in her lifetime.

Even so, Tang Ha-ran still had lingering attachment.

Tang Ha-ran caressed the dreamlike soft silk sleeves and was lost in sentiment for quite a while.

A maidservant beside her said.

“The King of Hell says to wear those clothes and prepare.”

Jin Ja-gang was invited to dinner.

He was told it was not a banquet but a meeting where Tang Ha-ran’s parents would meet Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang wore the martial uniform the Tang family had provided. Light green clothing with a dark jade-colored outer robe worn over it.

Peculiarly, the inner sides of the outer robe’s sleeves had strings and lining attached, so when pulled, the opening of the lining would tighten, allowing items to be safely stored inside.

It seemed the Tang family’s characteristics of using hidden weapons and poison had influenced even their clothing.

Jin Ja-gang checked the shape of the sleeve’s inner pocket once more and stood up to meet Tang Ha-ran’s parents.

A maidservant was waiting outside to guide him.

As expected, he had to pass through long corridor-like paths several times.

After walking more than a li, he reached an inner room of a large hall.

A middle-aged man wearing splendid clothes was waiting for Jin Ja-gang and welcomed him with cupped fists.

“Welcome. So you’re the famous Poison Dragon?”

The middle-aged woman also covered her mouth with her sleeve and smiled with her eyes as she greeted Jin Ja-gang.

“I’ve long heard of young hero’s reputation. I am Ha-ran’s mother. Thank you for coming all this way.”

Jin Ja-gang cupped his fists and lightly bowed his head in return.

His feelings were strange. Upon entering the room, he felt as if he had entered inside a beehive, with all his bodily senses oddly disturbed and becoming dull with a buzzing sensation.

“Please sit. The meal will be prepared soon.”

The three people sat at a square dining table.

Two women came and began bringing food. Various dishes that dazzled the eyes were brought out.

However, Tang Ha-ran was not present.

But Jin Ja-gang didn’t ask anything and remained quietly seated.

Awkwardly, it was Tang Ha-ran’s parents who seemed embarrassed instead.

The man smiled and said.

“As you know, when you come into our family, you’ll need to change your surname. Regardless of what family you belonged to in the past, by receiving the Tang surname, you’ll finally be accepted as a member of the Tang family.”

The woman also said.

“Of course we’ll set the date and prepare the dowry, but if there’s anything else you want, please let us know.”

“There isn’t.”

“…”

“You must have been hungry. Please eat plenty.”

“I’m not particularly hungry.”

The middle-aged couple’s faces soured at Jin Ja-gang’s response.

Even so, Jin Ja-gang was busy tasting the dishes that filled the table. He continued eating the dishes without refusing anything, in case they might contain poison.

It was as if he was possessed by a glutton.

No matter how poorly he had eaten at Qingcheng Mountain, this was excessive behavior.

Thanks to this, conversation kept breaking off and a silent atmosphere continued, but Jin Ja-gang didn’t care at all.

The middle-aged couple’s expressions gradually hardened.

“It seems we’re not to your liking?”

“Not really.”

His tone was strange.

“Please tell us. If there are any uncomfortable points… or things you don’t like…”

“I’m not sure yet.”

Jin Ja-gang was still making strange remarks.

As the atmosphere became odd, the woman asked with a forced smile.

“Could you tell us your birth time? We need it for the wedding, and also for fun we’d like to read your fortune.”

Clack!

Suddenly Jin Ja-gang put down his chopsticks. This was after he had tasted every single dish.

The middle-aged couple’s faces turned red and blue. The middle-aged man, unable to endure any longer, shouted angrily.

“I’ve been watching and watching, but isn’t this going too far!”

Jin Ja-gang stood up from his seat.

The middle-aged couple tensed and stood up simultaneously. Screech, the chairs scraped making loud noises.

But Jin Ja-gang wasn’t looking at them. He looked in turn at the three wall surfaces excluding the entrance he had come through. The wall with hanging scrolls, the wall with a side table holding flower vases, the large ten-panel folding screen with ink paintings.

“Are you listening to what I’m saying!”

The middle-aged man became angry.

But Jin Ja-gang looked around at other places without looking at the middle-aged man and said.

“You told me to speak if anything displeased me.”

“That’s right. If you don’t like something you should say so. For a person to behave so rudely…”

“I don’t like the Tang family’s hospitality toward guests.”

Jin Ja-gang turned around immediately.

Then he tried to leave the room without delay.

But the two women who had been serving had somehow blocked the door.

Jin Ja-gang cracked his neck left and right.

Crack crack.

It was an expression of fighting spirit showing he wouldn’t refuse a fight.

Then at that moment.

“That’s enough.”

An old man’s voice from behind.

At the same time, the middle-aged couple who claimed to be Tang Ha-ran’s parents knelt and prostrated themselves.

And two walls excluding the door and right wall opened.

Screech, screeeeech!

The entire walls had been sliding doors.

Inside the right wall was a large sitting room where numerous Tang family warriors could be seen standing, and inside the wall that had the folding screen in front of Jin Ja-gang, two people could be seen sitting and drinking tea behind hanging curtains.

A white-haired old man with rough hair sticking up like a lion’s mane and a beautiful nun wearing a monk’s cap.

The nun put down her teacup and smiled.

“See? This poor nun said he would notice.”

Hearing the nun’s voice, Jin Ja-gang felt strange. How could a nun’s voice flow so seductively!

The old man also laughed.

“The nun was right. Our house dog will have to go hungry today.”

“No matter what, would Poison Dragon not know the subtle orchid fragrance of the finest Iron Goddess of Mercy tea?”

“No. That brat definitely didn’t know it was Iron Goddess of Mercy. It’s difficult for someone that age to know tea fragrances.”

“Anyway, this poor nun won. Please bring different food for the dog.”

“Hmph. Still, he wasn’t the sort of fellow to just throw dog food to.”

At their unrestrained way of speaking, Jin Ja-gang frowned. That was the reason he had tasted each dish. Though there were no orchids in the room, there was an orchid fragrance, so he had tasted the food wondering if orchid fragrance spices had been used in the dishes.

Sure enough.

The orchid fragrance was indeed coming from the tea those two were drinking.

But Jin Ja-gang had one more question besides that.

Including the old man and nun, plus the warriors in the right wall, about thirty people had been surrounding the room Jin Ja-gang was in.

And from very close range at that.

Yet he had felt no presence at all.

Could this make sense?

Jin Ja-gang opened his eyes sharply and examined the sliding doors. Small black things could be seen attached to and moving on the sliding doors.

‘Insects?’

Jin Ja-gang strode toward the right room.

Even at his sudden action, the warriors didn’t move. The old man and nun only quietly continued drinking tea and saying what they had to say.

“Quite a curious benefactor, isn’t he?”

“That’s why he came all the way here.”

Jin Ja-gang closed one of the sliding doors. Then he grabbed and tore off the wallpaper attached to it.

Inside the sliding door was an empty space where thousands of small insects were crawling about disgustingly. It was as if there was a beehive.

‘Blood-sucking lice!’

Blood-sucking lice were lice. The annoying insects commonly called head lice. The white spots sitting on beggars’ heads were none other than the eggs of these head lice called nits.

The blood-sucking lice had swollen bellies from sucking blood for a long time. Their swollen bellies were dotted black.

No wonder he had felt something strange from the moment he entered the room – this seemed to be one of the reasons.

Blood-sucking lice were clinging to each door, interfering with Jin Ja-gang’s senses.

‘To think of deceiving attention with such methods.’

Jin Ja-gang admired and extended his left hand. The blood-sucking lice swarmed up Jin Ja-gang’s fingers. Though their bellies were already swollen, the blood-sucking lice seemed to want to suck Jin Ja-gang’s fresh blood and busily crawled around looking for blood vessels. However, they hesitated without actually biting. They seemed to be contemplating whether to bite or not.

The old man said.

“Even lowly creatures don’t seem to want to suck Poison Dragon’s blood.”

The nun snorted derisively.

“Lowly creatures indeed. How can poison blood lice raised on the blood of venomous creatures be lowly creatures?”

Jin Ja-gang said.

“They seem full.”

The nun spoke to Jin Ja-gang as if warning him to be careful.

“Poison blood lice digest the blood of venomous creatures but cannot digest the poison. So naturally when they bite to suck blood, they transfer the poison.”

At Jin Ja-gang’s expression looking at the poison blood lice, the old man grinned wider, tearing his demon-like mouth to the sides.

“Why? Do you want to taste the poison blood lice?”