Chapter 306 – Truth Always Comes Heavy (3)

Dam Ho looked around with deeply sunken eyes.

The entire area had literally become a wasteland. The ruins that had barely maintained their form were completely overturned, and traces of destruction were clearly visible everywhere.

The traces of the battle between Geom Yul-cheon and the Ten Soldiers had left great scars on the earth and ruins. The terrain of the entire area had changed so completely that one could hardly believe a human fight had taken place there.

The ground surface was exposed, and the large rocks that had been visible everywhere had disappeared without leaving a trace.

Clear traces of their clashes remained everywhere on the earth. Geom Yul-cheon had displayed tremendous martial prowess, facing five of the Ten Soldiers alone.

Dam Ho moved his steps following the traces. The traces of destruction became even more intense.

Dam Ho discovered through the traces remaining on the ground that two more people had joined their fight.

One person moved so lightly that barely any traces remained, while the other left footprints in disarray. This was evidence that the martial arts deployed were equally complex.

Dam Ho knew who possessed such characteristics.

'Eum Yu-kyung, Shin Moo-wol.'

Eum Yu-kyung was light in movement because she was a woman, and Shin Moo-wol's movements had to be complex because he used five swords as weapons.

They had definitely joined the battle between Geom Yul-cheon and the Ten Soldiers. After they joined, the traces became even more intense.

They attacked, defended, coordinated attacks, and scattered as they raced. Dam Ho continued moving his steps following the traces of their race.

The traces of destruction that seemed like they would never end were completely cut off at a nearby large river. Though Dam Ho carefully examined the surroundings, no traces left by them could be seen anywhere.

Dam Ho, who had been standing blankly looking at the river for a long time, turned his body around. The traces were completely cut off. Tracking them any further would be difficult. It would be much better to return as it was.

The Geom Yul-cheon he knew was not someone who would easily fall to others. If he was alive, he was someone who would find a way to seek him out no matter what. Therefore, Dam Ho decided to leave this place.

Dam Ho moved his steps along the river. How far had he walked?

Snort!

Suddenly, the sound of a horse snorting came from ahead. When he raised his head, he saw a jet-black horse with not a single stray hair mixed in. Black Ghost had come to find him.

Black Ghost approached as if glad to see him. Dam Ho patted Black Ghost's neck several times before mounting.

Once he mounted Black Ghost, fatigue finally came rushing in. Dam Ho entrusted his body to Black Ghost and entered energy circulation.

As he operated the Dark Soul Cultivation Method, hazy mist rose around his body.

Heavy energy arose from his dantian and swept through his entire body. The energy created by the Dark Soul Cultivation Method was like a living being with its own will. It connected severed places and opened blocked areas while healing wounds.

The Dark Soul Cultivation Method, created by combining Mount Hua Sect's Middle Heaven Cultivation Formula with the Demon Cult's cultivation method, was now moving to a new realm.

The realm of Unobstructed Mutual Communication where internal and external energy flowed and merged with each other without obstruction or interruption.

At this level, accumulating more internal energy became meaningless. Since external energy synchronized with internal energy, it could be drawn upon at any time.

This was Dam Ho's current level. He was drawing external energy to use for recovering his body.

Just circulating his energy for the great circulation a couple of times had greatly improved Dam Ho's physical condition. Even his face, which had been only pale, now had a subtle flush of color returning.

Dam Ho opened his eyes. His already jet-black pupils had sunk even deeper.

Dam Ho, who had opened his eyes, looked around his surroundings.

While he had been circulating his energy, Black Ghost had already descended to below the snowy mountains. But since it had already grown dark, moving further would seem difficult.

Eventually, Dam Ho found a suitable place to spend the night while circulating his energy.

He gathered wood, lit a fire, and leaned his back against a rock.

The fiercely burning red flames cast deep shadows on his face.

It had been an arduous journey.

From leaving Mount Hua to coming here, he had fought countless times and shed blood. Still, Dam Ho didn't think it was difficult.

Hardships made him stronger.

As much as he shed blood, he became stronger and more poisonous.

The countless scars on the back of his hand stirring the embers proved this fact.

Before the scabs covering wounds could even fall off, new wounds appeared, and the accumulated scabs and calluses hardened to become like iron armor. The back of his hand was more similar to an animal's paw than a human hand.

Dam Ho's life was completely contained in his hands. His life of struggle.

He didn't know how many more scars would be carved on top of these wounds in the future. The wounds that accumulated might become so heavy that he might kneel down someday.

Dam Ho clenched his fist tightly.

'Still, I don't regret it.'

His struggle was not yet over.

Losing his parents and entering Mount Hua was not his will. Somehow ending up abandoned and walking the path of blood was not the life he wanted either.

Life's turning points came without warning and led him to this path.

Though it wasn't his will that made him walk this treacherous path, he had no thoughts of regretting it or blaming others.

Even if he might break someday, he would continue walking this thorny path.

Because that was his life.

***

"Brother!"

Bang Jin-bo suddenly muttered.

"What's wrong?"

One of the nearby cooks asked with a puzzled expression.

This was because Bang Jin-bo, who had been cooking busily, was suddenly standing blankly.

"Oh, nothing."

Bang Jin-bo shook his head and concentrated on cooking again. Moving the heated pot, he instantly created several dishes.

It was work making food for hundreds of people. The kitchen was literally like a battlefield. More than ten assistant cooks were moving busily to help Bang Jin-bo, and intense flames were shooting up from every stove. Therefore, the inside of the kitchen was as hot as a steamer.

Everyone was sweating profusely. Though it should be tiring, everyone had smiles on their faces.

Even though they were assistant cooks, they too were disciples of Mount Hua Sect. They were those who had witnessed both the revival and downfall of Mount Hua Sect.

When Mount Hua Sect suffered a blood catastrophe, they thought there was no hope whatsoever. But after Master Hyeon-so returned, Mount Hua Sect was quickly reorganizing and regaining its former majesty.

Although people in the world didn't know this fact, those living within Mount Hua Sect felt this reality more keenly than anyone else.

A wind of hope was blowing. Mount Hua Sect was rapidly recovering its strength, and in some aspects, it was even surpassing the past. Having seen all this with their own eyes, their faith in Mount Hua Sect became even more solid.

Though it had been pushed to the periphery for now, Mount Hua Sect would return to the center of the Central Plains martial world. No, they had firm belief that it would enjoy an even greater golden age. That's why each day was joyful for them.

What did it matter if the hot heat made breathing a bit difficult? The food they were making would become nourishment for their martial brothers.

Several cooks were staring intently at Bang Jin-bo cooking with wide eyes. They now knew that Bang Jin-bo's cooking was not ordinary food.

Everyone who ate Bang Jin-bo's food experienced a subtle increase in their internal energy. Though it was difficult to feel the effect immediately, as it continued for dozens or hundreds of days, it accumulated to achieve tremendous improvement.

They didn't know how it was possible, but through cooking, he had dramatically increased the internal energy of Mount Hua Sect disciples.

All Mount Hua Sect disciples now knew this fact. Therefore, though he was young in age, they respected him and he was treated as an important figure within Mount Hua Sect.

The same was true for the assistant cooks. They respected Bang Jin-bo while being desperate to learn his secret methods. But Bang Jin-bo's cooking was not ordinary enough to be learned just by watching from the side.

First, one had to know how to harmonize ingredients, be well-versed in medicinal herbs, be able to handle fire freely, and above all, learn the Five Elements Gentleman Technique to achieve harmony of energies.

Without all of these being harmonized, even if one died and came back to life, one couldn't cook food that enhanced internal energy like Bang Jin-bo.

Bang Jin-bo had no intention of revealing his secrets yet. There were still many parts to research, and he thought many aspects were incomplete even by his own standards.

"Phew!"

Bang Jin-bo, who had finally finished cooking, let out a sigh. His entire body was drenched in sweat. No matter how skilled Bang Jin-bo was, making food for hundreds of people all at once was not an easy task.

Bang Jin-bo looked at the assistant cooks and said:

"I'll go out and rest a bit."

"We'll take care of the rest."

"Don't worry about here and rest."

The assistant cooks answered vigorously. This showed how much they respected Bang Jin-bo from the depths of their hearts.

Bang Jin-bo greeted them and came out of the kitchen. Cool wind blew and cooled his sweat.

"Wow!"

A smile appeared on Bang Jin-bo's face.

Though his whole body felt languid, his mood was still good.

Then a familiar voice was heard.

"Jin-bo!"

"Oh, sister?"

Bang Jin-bo made a pleased expression. It was Jong Ri-yeon's voice. When he turned his head, he saw Jong Ri-yeon walking gracefully toward him.

Jong Ri-yeon also had a slightly tired expression.

"Did you finish making all the Plum Blossom Divine Pills?"

"No! I came to rest a bit."

"Please do. Sister, you haven't been sleeping much lately either."

"You should rest a bit too, shouldn't you?"

"I'm doing that now. Hehe!"

Bang Jin-bo showed his characteristic smile. Jong Ri-yeon smiled along with him.

She suddenly said:

"Good."

"Right?"

"Yes!"

"Hehe!"

They were two people who had struggled together for several years. Because they knew each other well, they easily understood the meaning contained in words casually thrown out.

Jong Ri-yeon was devoted to refining Plum Blossom Divine Pills all day long. Bang Jin-bo also helped her make Plum Blossom Divine Pills except for the time spent cooking. The Five Elements Gentleman Technique he had learned had optimal efficacy in drawing out and harmonizing the medicinal power of the Plum Blossom Divine Pills.

"Jin-bo."

"Yes?"

"I'm going to go down the mountain briefly."

"Why?"

"I'm short on several medicinal herbs. I asked Uncle Jang to get them, but there's still no news, so I want to go see for myself."

The Uncle Jang that Jong Ri-yeon mentioned was someone who ran the largest herbal medicine shop in Huayin County. He was also someone who had steadily supplied herbs to Jong Ri-yeon even after Mount Hua Sect closed its gates.

His son was also a lay disciple of Mount Hua Sect, so his loyalty to Mount Hua Sect was very firm. Therefore, if it was herbs needed by Mount Hua Sect, he would definitely obtain them no matter what means necessary.

There had never been a single time when such a person had no news for this long. So it was true that she was worried.

"Then I'll go with you."

Bang Jin-bo, who had listened to the entire story, raised his hand high.

"Why you?"

"Hehe! I also want to get some ingredients."

"Really?"

"Let's go down together."

"Let's do that."

Jong Ri-yeon readily agreed.

Actually, going down together was much better than going down alone.

The two people asked permission from the sect leader Woon Kyung. After thinking briefly, Woon Kyung gave permission.

Jong Ri-yeon and Bang Jin-bo were somewhat difficult for him to handle. They were not complete disciples of Mount Hua Sect. They were staying at Mount Hua Sect and helping because of their friendship with Dam Ho, but if they changed their minds, they could leave at any time.

Of course, they weren't people who would leave that easily, but Woon Kyung couldn't help but be concerned. Above all, the herbs Jong Ri-yeon was trying to obtain were absolutely necessary for making Plum Blossom Divine Pills. Therefore, he had to give permission.

After giving permission to the two people, Woon Kyung called Won-myeong, the leader of the Plum Blossom Sword Masters.

"Did you call for me? Sect Leader."

"Won-myeong."

"Please speak."

"Take several Plum Blossom Sword Masters and secretly protect Divine Doctor and Jin-bo."

It was just going down to Huayin County, right at Mount Hua Sect's doorstep. Nevertheless, Woon Kyung was absolutely not letting his guard down.

"Understood."

Won-myeong answered immediately without complaint. He too knew how important Jong Ri-yeon and Bang Jin-bo were. Still, he had to confirm once more.

He asked:

"Though it won't happen, but if there are any targets or beings that threaten those two people, how far should we go?"

"Nothing takes priority over their safety."

Woon Kyung spoke as firmly as a blade, and Won-myeong understood the meaning contained within.

"Understood. I will protect them with my life."

Won-myeong's voice answering was filled with determination.

The three people, Yeong-woon, Pyo Sang-guk, and So-min, ended up following Jin Ja-gang into a gambling den.

“Cough cough!”

So-min coughed as soon as she entered.

Thick tobacco smoke rose so densely it was hard to see ahead, and the noisy voices of people rang in their ears. The smell of cheap liquor stung their noses.

“Ugh! My eyes are stinging.”

Several people near the entrance chuckled at So-min’s childish voice full of complaints.

Yeong-woon and Pyo Sang-guk looked around the gambling den as if amazed. People of all ages and genders sat around gambling tables, getting heated up. Money and betting slips changed hands. On one side, someone was lending money at high interest using one table.

The thugs even gave Jin Ja-gang money, telling him to enjoy comfortably before leaving. They repeatedly urged him to let them move him to better lodging if he wanted.

Yeong-woon asked Jin Ja-gang.

“Brother Jin. Those people don’t seem like ordinary thugs but members of Hao Sect. Do you have connections with Hao Sect too?”

“I once saved someone from a Northern Heaven master.”

“Then you’re their benefactor. Hao Sect is in the middle between orthodox and unorthodox, but they’re famous for not forgetting kindness.”

Pyo Sang-guk’s eyes sparkled as he asked Jin Ja-gang.

“Brother Jin, since we’re here, can we play a bit?”

“Go ahead. We’ll stay until closing.”

Even So-min excitedly went to play with Pyo Sang-guk.

Jin Ja-gang also found a suitable card table and sat down. Yeong-woon didn’t join and watched Jin Ja-gang from behind.

Jin Ja-gang’s sudden visit to a gambling den after coming all the way to Chongqing seemed incredibly strange.

The dealer held eighty picture cards and distributed five cards each to five customers including Jin Ja-gang.

The pictures on the paper cards each represented numbers, and players combined three of their five cards to make ten, twenty, or thirty. Then they competed with the remaining two cards for points.

“Damn, it’s a bust. Bust. Tsk.”

If you couldn’t make a multiple of ten with three cards, that round was disqualified. A middle-aged man with a goatee folded his cards.

The remaining four laid out their three cards and competed with the remaining two. As the pot increased, one person gave up halfway.

“Damn, everyone seems to have caught good points.”

The woman sitting next to him swore and revealed her cards.

“I got Bird General! This round is mine.”

Another person clicked his tongue and threw down his cards. Jin Ja-gang showed his cards without much interest. Both cards had people drawn in cursive script style.

“Double ten. I caught People General.”

“…”

“…”

Everyone else looked at Jin Ja-gang with incredulous expressions.

The picture of a person meant the number ten, and double ten with two people was People General. This was called Emperor, the highest hand in card gambling.

When Emperor appeared, participants had to pay three times the pot to whoever caught Emperor.

“Hey hey, Emperor on the first round? Are you kidding?”

Therefore, when Emperor appeared, that round was as good as over. Everyone looked dumbfounded while emptying their remaining money.

The woman who had lost a fortune right before her eyes sat there stunned after losing all her money, then jumped up to borrow from loan sharks.

“Oh! If not for that young man, I would have won it all. Still, my luck today isn’t bad. Lend me some money.”

The other three people cleared out and got up.

“I guess today isn’t the day. What’s this right from the start?”

“Ah, how deflating.”

The dealer took his cut from the pot and pushed the rest toward Jin Ja-gang.

“Emperor right from the start, the young friend is impressive.”

“My luck seems decent today.”

Yeong-woon watched from behind and was so surprised he couldn’t close his mouth.

He had swept up money in just one round. It looked like several hundred nyang at least.

“Making money is easy.”

To Yeong-woon’s admiration, Jin Ja-gang answered calmly.

“Losing it is easy too.”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t bother changing seats and continued gambling there, and as if deliberately trying to keep his word, this time he lost a considerable amount.

Then he repeated winning and losing.

To Yeong-woon’s eyes, it definitely seemed like he had lost a lot, but when dawn came at closing time, silver coins and betting slips were piled high in front of Jin Ja-gang.

It was nearly a thousand nyang. Jin Ja-gang exchanged the money he had won for a single slip and tucked it into his bosom.

In contrast, Pyo Sang-guk, who had lost all his money, looked at Jin Ja-gang with envious eyes.

“Is there nothing Brother Jin can’t do?”

“I’m not good at making friends.”

“Ah… that’s not very comforting.”

So-min had actually won a little and was grinning happily.

“I’ll buy breakfast!”

* * *

Jin Ja-gang went to the gambling den every day. He repeated winning and losing, but anyway, looking back, he never lost money. Before long, he had accumulated a large sum amounting to several thousand nyang.

However, the three people still couldn’t understand why Jin Ja-gang was doing this. Only Pyo Sang-guk got hooked on gambling and enjoyed it, while Yeong-woon and So-min quickly lost interest in gambling.

Following him to gambling dens lasted only a day or two. After more than ten days, even watching became boring.

When they asked Jin Ja-gang what he was doing here, he only answered that he was waiting for the right time.

It was when the three were starting to think they should return to Marvelous Youth Squad.

[TL Note- Mysterious Youth Squad changed to Marvelous Youth Squad.]

Jin Ja-gang brought up something to say.

“I have something to tell you three.”

Since it was rare for Jin Ja-gang to initiate conversation, the three perked up their ears.

“What is it?”

“From today, the atmosphere will become somewhat dangerous.”

“…?”

“If you continue to stay, you might become more deeply involved in my affairs.”

“What does that mean?”

Pyo Sang-guk was puzzled. So-min elbowed Pyo Sang-guk’s side.

“Ugh. He’s saying if we stay together any longer it’ll become dangerous, so if we want to back out, now’s the time.”

Pyo Sang-guk said emotionally.

“That’s looking down on us too much!”

Jin Ja-gang looked at So-min with a slightly bitter smile.

“I deliberately chose my words carefully so you wouldn’t feel looked down upon.”

“That’s exactly looking down on us.”

Pyo Sang-guk got excited.

“What’s the use of choosing words? The meaning is the same! We disciples of Zhongnan don’t retreat before injustice and prioritize chivalrous spirit…”

So-min covered Pyo Sang-guk’s mouth.

“Brother keeps getting excited like that, so Young Master Jin can’t speak properly!”

“Mmph! Mph mph!”

Jin Ja-gang had no choice but to say.

“I’ll be clear. I don’t know where, how, or what kind of people will attack. You’ll have to take such risks.”

A slight tension appeared on the three people’s faces. Whenever Jin Ja-gang said something was dangerous, it had never not been dangerous.

“They move boldly even in broad daylight, don’t fear impersonating officials, and have enough power to mobilize Northern Heaven masters.”

Yeong-woon asked.

“Do you know who that is, Brother Jin?”

“I don’t know the opponent’s identity. I don’t know their intentions either. I only know they’re related to Northern Heaven masters. I came here to catch that clue.”

“That means…”

The three looked at each other.

As they had worried, Jin Ja-gang seemed to be involved in serious matters.

Originally, the three were just about to leave. However, they couldn’t leave after hearing such talk.

Beyond simple curiosity, they were even excited at the thought that they might be able to find shadowy forces plotting schemes in the martial world.

Pyo Sang-guk removed So-min’s hand and put his arm around Jin Ja-gang’s shoulder while saying.

“Good thinking. That’s exactly what our Marvelous Youth Squad does. We rising talents don’t fear any danger to become heroes…”

Yeong-woon and So-min looked at Pyo Sang-guk with stiffened faces.

“Huh?”

Pyo Sang-guk realized he had carelessly put his arm around Jin Ja-gang’s shoulder and flinched.

Even ordinary people would feel bad if someone suddenly put their arm around them, and for martial artists to touch each other’s bodies carelessly was absolutely rude.

Pyo Sang-guk slowly removed his arm from Jin Ja-gang’s shoulder and smiled awkwardly at him who was staring intently.

“Br, Br, Brother Jin said he’s ba, bad at ma, making friends, so he really is ba, bad at making friends. Ha, haha.”

So-min stared at Pyo Sang-guk.

“Brother seems bad at speaking.”

“Qu, quiet, Sister Min! I’m also do, doing my best!”

Yeong-woon laughed heartily.

“Brother Pyo will get severely scolded someday doing that. So please forgive him just this once, Brother J…”

Rustle.

Suddenly there was a fragrance.

The three got goosebumps. Yeong-woon also stopped talking mid-sentence and froze.

Common words floated up in all three people’s minds.

‘Asura Blood!’

‘Nirvana Flower!’

Startled, Pyo Sang-guk stepped back.

Thud thud thud.

Three needles that had been stuck in Pyo Sang-guk’s sleeve collar fell to the floor.

“…”

Jin Ja-gang had somehow stuck needles there, but Pyo Sang-guk, who had needles stuck in his sleeve, didn’t even know.

Pyo Sang-guk protested.

“Using Asura Blood for such a prank is too much!”

Jin Ja-gang answered as if asking what he meant.

“I was also just pranking.”

The three gaped.

‘Who uses Asura Blood for a prank!’

Jin Ja-gang said.

“Ah, you misunderstood because of the fragrance. I bought a sachet in case my techniques might be exposed due to fragrance.”

Jin Ja-gang took out a sachet pouch from his sleeve and shook it.

The three stepped back and glared at Jin Ja-gang.

“It’s deliberate. Definitely deliberate.”

“This has to be deliberate. Why did fragrance come out at that exact moment?”

“Really terrifying…”

Jin Ja-gang smiled broadly for the first time in a while.

“Then I’ll trust you three and make a request. I need help. Will you help me?”

“Well, of course…”

They couldn’t say no at this point.

Pyo Sang-guk thought he couldn’t just accept because he felt wronged by what Jin Ja-gang did to him.

“But tell me just one thing!”

“What?”

“How can you win so much at gambling? No matter how lucky you are, you can’t win continuously. Teach me just one secret technique. Let me win some too.”

Jin Ja-gang held out his hand in front of Pyo Sang-guk.

“What?”

“Watch carefully.”

When Jin Ja-gang turned his hand to show his palm, a card suddenly appeared on his palm. As if it had been there originally.

“Huh?”

Pyo Sang-guk’s eyes widened.

Then Jin Ja-gang flipped his palm. Cards popped out from between his fingers. The cards became two, then three. When he closed his hand, all the cards disappeared instantly.

“What is this!”

Pyo Sang-guk was really surprised. Even when he focused his internal energy and sharpened his eyesight, he couldn’t see Jin Ja-gang’s hand movements. Pyo Sang-guk grabbed Jin Ja-gang’s hand and examined it but couldn’t find the cards.

“Teach me this too!”

“I heard it takes thirty years to learn.”

Pyo Sang-guk was startled.

“Brother Jin, don’t tell me you’ve returned to youth?”

“That’s not it, but if you learn this, you can guarantee victory nine times out of ten.”

“What about the remaining one time?”

Jin Ja-gang smiled slightly.

“Sorry, but I’ll tell you that after this is over.”