Chapter 341 – The Age of Chaos Calls for Heroes (1)

"Phew!"

Bang Jin-bo crouched beneath a large tree and let out a sigh. His face clearly showed exhaustion.

With his back against the tree, he looked down the mountain. Beneath the rolling clouds, Huayin County was faintly visible.

He stood on the peak of Luoan Peak, which rose majestically above the clouds south of Mount Hua. Luoan Peak, known for its picturesque scenery, was especially famous for its cloud seas viewed from here. Many Taoist priests frequented it for their beauty.

Bang Jin-bo gazed blankly at the cloud sea. When he first arrived at Mount Hua, the clouds had appeared so beautiful. Now they stirred no particular emotion.

That's when it happened.

"What are you doing here?"

A familiar voice echoed in Bang Jin-bo's ears.

"Oh, sister?"

Lifting his head, he saw Jong Ri-yeon.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just resting. I'm feeling a little tired somehow."

"You should be tired. I'm tired too."

"You too, sister?"

"Yes!"

Jong Ri-yeon nodded and crouched beside Bang Jin-bo.

Indeed, consecutive forced marches had left her quite exhausted as well.

With the single determination to distribute Plum Blossom Divine Pills to all Mount Hua disciples, she had been refining pills all this time. As a result, she had recently completed all the Plum Blossom Divine Pills. Bang Jin-bo's help had been tremendous in achieving this.

Thanks to Bang Jin-bo's mastery of the Five Elements Gentleman Technique, they could maximize the Plum Blossom Divine Pills' potency. Through the process of refining them, Bang Jin-bo's Five Elements Gentleman Technique also advanced significantly.

Now Bang Jin-bo's Five Elements Gentleman Technique had reached complete mastery. He had learned it with the single intention of helping people through food, yet his internal energy had inexplicably surged dramatically.

While enthusiastically making Plum Blossom Divine Pills, he hadn't noticed. But now that all were completed, Bang Jin-bo fell into extreme emptiness.

The Mount Hua disciples who received Plum Blossom Divine Pills were immersed in martial arts cultivation. Their internal energy would now surge dramatically.

Originally, Mount Hua disciples had enjoyed gradually increasing internal energy through food Bang Jin-bo prepared. But now that they consumed Plum Blossom Divine Pills, his food provided incomparable benefits. Consequently, Bang Jin-bo's services had become unnecessary.

Due to this, Bang Jin-bo was essentially out of business. Since he had trained substitute cooks, there was no need for him to cook anymore.

Losing his sense of purpose, all motivation vanished. Jong Ri-yeon regarded Bang Jin-bo with a sympathetic expression.

"Jin-bo."

"Hehe! I'm fine. If I rest a bit longer, I'll be okay again. Please don't worry."

Bang Jin-bo forced a smile. After losing weight, he was increasingly called a beautiful youth, and the smile made him look even more refined. Yet even his smile couldn't hide his emptiness.

That's when it happened.

"Jin-bo!"

A Mount Hua disciple called him while approaching Luoan Peak.

"What is it?"

"Senior Brother Won-jong."

Jong Ri-yeon and Bang Jin-bo rose simultaneously to greet him. The disciple's name was Won-jong, one of Mount Hua's senior disciples.

Won-jong looked at Jong Ri-yeon.

"So you were here too, Divine Physician."

"What's the matter?"

"The sect leader commanded that Jin-bo be brought. There's a guest."

"A guest?"

Bang Jin-bo's eyes widened.

***

The Upper Palace at the peak of Lotus Peak was the Mount Hua Sect Leader's residence.

The sunset viewed from the Upper Palace, located at Mount Hua's highest point, was truly spectacular.

As the sky turned completely red, someone came rushing toward the Upper Palace. Moving with incredible elasticity like a mountain goat was Bang Jin-bo.

When he approached, the guarding Mount Hua disciples opened the door. Bang Jin-bo thanked them and rushed inside.

Bang Jin-bo saw a man's back sitting across from Woon Kyung, Mount Hua's sect leader. Instantly, joy appeared on Bang Jin-bo's face.

Even seeing just the back, Bang Jin-bo immediately recognized the man's identity.

"Big Brother!"

"You came?"

The moment the man turned around to respond, tears welled up in Bang Jin-bo's eyes.

"Big Brother Yeon-woon!"

"It's been a while."

The man smiling quietly was precisely Cho Yeon-woon.

"Big Brother!"

Bang Jin-bo rushed into Cho Yeon-woon's embrace.

Though Bang Jin-bo had matured greatly over three years, before Cho Yeon-woon he remained like a child.

"You brat!"

Cho Yeon-woon smiled and patted Bang Jin-bo's back. Though they had frequently quarreled and bickered before, seeing him after so long stirred his heart.

"Are you alright now?"

"Alright about what?"

"That…"

Bang Jin-bo trailed off, looking at Cho Yeon-woon's leg.

Cho Yeon-woon's leg appeared perfectly fine externally. But hidden beneath the clothes was an iron prosthetic leg.

Cho Yeon-woon ruffled Bang Jin-bo's hair and laughed.

"Haha! It's fine now."

"Big Brother!"

"I've caused you much worry these years. There's no need to worry anymore. I've recovered completely. Look!"

Thud-thud!

Cho Yeon-woon tapped his leg with the back of his hand, producing a clear metallic sound.

"How about that? Impressive, right? Iron Foot as they call it. Hehe!"

"……"

"I've wanted one for ages."

At Cho Yeon-woon's banter, Bang Jin-bo's expression brightened considerably.

Three years ago, Cho Yeon-woon had been completely broken. The death of his father-like teacher Jang Il-san and brother-like senior fellow disciples had plunged him into an abyss.

Because of this, he had cut ties with the world and lived in seclusion on Lesser Mount Hua. Even when Bang Jin-bo visited, he rarely met him, so directly seeing his face had been rare.

The last time Bang Jin-bo saw him, Cho Yeon-woon's expression was filled with despair and helplessness. Those eyes, devoid of any hope, remained painfully etched in Bang Jin-bo's heart.

Smack!

Suddenly Bang Jin-bo struck Cho Yeon-woon's abdomen.

"Ouch!"

Cho Yeon-woon, caught off guard, opened his eyes wide and dropped his jaw. Then Bang Jin-bo snorted.

"Hmph! You only cause worry."

"Ow! That really hurts!"

"You made me worry for three years, so that punishment is appropriate."

"Your fists have gotten much harder. Kid! Quite impressive."

"Hmph!"

Bang Jin-bo snorted and turned away. Seeing him, Cho Yeon-woon smiled. He felt Bang Jin-bo's growth. While he had been secluding himself on Lesser Mount Hua, Bang Jin-bo had steadily grown both as a cook and as a martial artist. That fact brought him joy. Though they had constantly bickered and fought, Cho Yeon-woon cared deeply for Bang Jin-bo. So Bang Jin-bo's growth made him happier and more grateful than anyone.

"But what brought you here? Are you completely coming out now?"

"Yes! I can't stay secluded anymore. I'm feeling antsy."

"That's good. You looked pretty pathetic, honestly."

"What?"

"Hehe! Just joking."

"You…"

"I'm really glad. Really…"

Tears formed at Bang Jin-bo's eyes.

Cho Yeon-woon loosened his fist that was about to flick him and gently stroked his head instead.

Woon Kyung quietly watched the two and cleared his throat.

"Ahem!"

"Oh! I apologize. Disciple Bang Jin-bo greets the Sect Leader."

Only then did Bang Jin-bo realize this was Woon Kyung's residence and apologized.

"It's fine."

"Hehe!"

"You worked hard all this time making Plum Blossom Divine Pills. Thanks to you, all disciples received one each. I won't forget this gratitude."

"Not at all."

Bang Jin-bo assumed an embarrassed expression and scratched his head. He felt awkward.

Woon Kyung looked at Bang Jin-bo with warm eyes. Bang Jin-bo didn't realize what an incredible feat he had accomplished. He had raised the entire Mount Hua Sect's military strength by an entire level. Without him, the Plum Blossom Divine Pills wouldn't have surged so dramatically.

To Mount Hua, Bang Jin-bo was a great benefactor. Therefore, Woon Kyung treated him with extreme care and valued him above others.

"But why did you call for me?"

"Actually, it wasn't I who called, but Cho Xiao-xia wanted to see you."

"Big Brother Yeon-woon?"

Bang Jin-bo's gaze turned toward Cho Yeon-woon. His face was filled with anticipation. His heart began pounding without his knowledge.

As if reading his heart, Cho Yeon-woon nodded.

"I've been shut away in Lesser Mount Hua too long. It's suffocating. So I decided to venture into the world."

"Really?"

"Yes! My body has recovered and I now have confidence in my martial arts."

"Big Brother!"

"I made a promise with Dam Ho. To become strong enough for him to trust me with backing him. I think I can fulfill that promise now."

Cho Yeon-woon spoke casually, but his cultivation during this time had reached inhuman levels. He had staked his life on training.

The training he underwent, incomparable to anything before, had surged his martial power dramatically. Most importantly, what helped most was the Plum Blossom Divine Pill he received from Mount Hua.

Woon Kyung had sent Cho Yeon-woon a Plum Blossom Divine Pill through an emissary.

Already standing at the edge of a precipice, Cho Yeon-woon knew that one more step would open another world, but taking that step was harder than dying.

Then the Plum Blossom Divine Pill reached his hands. Originally distributed only to Mount Hua disciples, he had hesitated momentarily. But ultimately, after deliberation, he consumed it and shattered the wall blocking his way.

"It's all thanks to you."

"Not at all. Without Divine Physician, I couldn't have dared refine the Plum Blossom Divine Pills."

"Of course I'm grateful to her too. I'll express my gratitude separately."

"Naturally. But where will you go?"

"I heard the Martial Alliance retreated to Shaolin."

"So you're going to Shaolin?"

"Yes!"

Cho Yeon-woon nodded.

"Then I want to go too. To Shaolin."

Suddenly Bang Jin-bo raised his hand excitedly.

Energy suddenly appeared on his previously lifeless face.

"Jin-bo!"

"Don't you want to meet Big Brother Ho? I want to see him too. Please?"

"That's precisely why I called for you. To go together."

"Really?"

"Yes! Fortunately, the Sect Leader consented."

At Cho Yeon-woon's words, Bang Jin-bo looked at Woon Kyung. Woon Kyung silently nodded in approval.

"Thank you, Sect Leader. Thank you so much."

Bang Jin-bo repeatedly bowed. Woon Kyung watched him with a smile, though his thoughts were complex.

'I wonder if this is truly the right decision.'

Bang Jin-bo was Mount Hua's treasure. If possible, he wanted to protect him forever in safe Mount Hua. But after completing all Plum Blossom Divine Pills, Bang Jin-bo lost his sense of purpose and became listless.

Bang Jin-bo was still a young boy.

An age when emotions should dominate. Such behavior was entirely natural.

He needed new stimulus to invigorate him.

That's when Cho Yeon-woon arrived. Cho Yeon-woon asked Woon Kyung to let him take Bang Jin-bo to Shaolin. After deliberation, Woon Kyung consented.

Bang Jin-bo possessed the martial strength to protect himself. Most importantly, Cho Yeon-woon would accompany him.

If Cho Yeon-woon was with him, he could trust it. Whatever enlightenment Cho Yeon-woon gained in Lesser Mount Hua seclusion, the momentum now emanating from him was truly remarkable. Enough to make Woon Kyung's heart race.

That was why Woon Kyung consented to Bang Jin-bo venturing into the world.

'Within safe walls, trees don't grow large. Trees become strong and gain power to grow through enduring the world's harsh winds.'

Woon Kyung had no doubt that Bang Jin-bo would become a towering tree.

That day, Bang Jin-bo and Cho Yeon-woon descended from Mount Hua.

Jin Ja-gang persuaded the frightened Woon-jeong to head toward Henan.

“You have to deliver Master Beom-mong’s life-lock to Shaolin Temple anyway.”

“Ah yes, that’s right. But the monks are so scary.”

Woon-jeong imitated Beom-mong’s stern voice.

“Righteous law! Only righteous law is the sole truth!”

Woon-jeong shook his head as if he felt faint just thinking about the bloody battle on the ship.

“I never knew Breaking Sect monks were that frightening.”

“It should be fine since you have the life-lock.”

Woon-jeong touched the life-lock he had wrapped and tied tightly to his waist for fear of losing it.

“Ah, normally if you’re scared, it’s natural not to go. In our Taoism, it’s right to follow the world’s flow like water without going against it.”

“If you don’t go, Master Bok-cheon will scold you, and since that would be worse, wouldn’t it be more natural to go to Shaolin Temple now?”

“Huh? Come to think of it, being scared once and done seems better than getting severely scolded by Master. Poison Dragon is really sharp.”

Woon-jeong admired Jin Ja-gang anew.

Jin Ja-gang smiled silently.

The two set their course from Wuhan along the official road to Runan. Though they had to go much further to reach Shaolin Temple, the estate where Physician Bell Healers was located was in Runan, which was on their path.

Following the straight official road, they could arrive within six days.

The bored Woon-jeong walked along teaching Jin Ja-gang about light movement techniques.

“I’m telling you this prepared to get scolded. This is a light movement technique that only direct disciples can learn. It’s called Divine Mysterious Step.”

Woon-jeong lightly swayed his body back and forth, then leaned forward and stepped off.

Tap.

Instantly Woon-jeong advanced almost three zhang in one go. After a few steps, having distanced himself more than ten zhang in the blink of an eye, Woon-jeong turned around and gestured.

Jin Ja-gang breathed as Woon-jeong taught him, gathering his Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art internal energy at his toes and releasing it through the palm points of his soles.

Whoosh!

Jin Ja-gang shot forward as if someone had pushed him from behind. His center shifted too far forward, and when he tried to take the next step, his ankle twisted. Jin Ja-gang flailed and barely managed to straighten his posture. Jin Ja-gang’s face reddened, having nearly fallen ungracefully.

“Oh my, that’s not it! Speed isn’t important – you need to control your internal energy so you can walk stably for a long time. Long, looong.”

Woon-jeong, riding high spirits for the first time in a while, chattered excitedly.

Jin Ja-gang tried practicing Divine Mysterious Step several more times but couldn’t manage as gracefully as Woon-jeong.

“It’s not working well.”

Woon-jeong raised his nose smugly.

“Of course! If just anyone could do it, wouldn’t everyone be a master? You have to get up at dawn every day without sleeping and train steadily for several years.”

However, this was Jin Ja-gang who had mastered Wudang’s Inch Force in just half a day.

Knowing all the internal energy guidance and operation methods but not being able to grasp it at all was strange.

‘Is it because of the left-right imbalance?’

Jin Ja-gang’s body was filled with turbid energy on the left and pure energy on the right.

The two types of internal energy moved at completely different speeds and forces. No matter how much attention he paid, balancing left and right wasn’t easy.

This was advantageous for using Reverse Afterimage Soul Deception technique, which created afterimages by instantaneously changing speed, but it was rather inconvenient for light movement techniques that required steady, even use of internal energy over long periods.

Moreover, even now when walking without thinking, he unconsciously limped with his left foot. That would also be a cause making the left-right imbalance worse.

“Then there’s nothing to be done. Since Divine Mysterious Step doesn’t suit Poison Dragon, I’ll teach you the light movement technique that beginning disciples learn. I also learned this technique for the first three years.”

Woon-jeong ran taking large steps. It didn’t have the smooth, natural feeling of Divine Mysterious Step. Rather, it was closer to hopping with large strides.

Still, it was much faster than just running.

The internal energy operation method was also simpler and easier than Divine Mysterious Step. There was only the part where you had to reduce stride length and change direction when inhaling and exhaling alternated.

But Jin Ja-gang couldn’t manage even that properly. The speed of stepping with his left and right feet was different, and his stride length varied greatly with each step, so he kept losing his center.

“Ah…”

Watching this scene, Woon-jeong finally discovered Jin Ja-gang’s problem.

“I didn’t think of it. Poison Dragon can’t do ordinary light movement techniques because your leg is uncomfortable.”

“It seems so. It’s hard to fix old habits.”

“I heard there are specialized light movement techniques for people with uncomfortable legs. Unfortunately, I don’t know them well.”

“Thank you for your concern. I’ll practice a bit more.”

When Jin Ja-gang’s internal energy was low, he didn’t need to pay much attention to light movement techniques.

But as he increasingly met masters, the necessity of footwork and light movement techniques was growing. Wasn’t he quite troubled on the sea recently?

Jin Ja-gang tried light movement techniques while modifying the internal energy operation methods Woon-jeong taught him in various ways.

‘I can’t force the internal energy to twist – with minimal internal energy, as if walking on a calm sandy beach.’

Light movement techniques were methods to make the body as light as possible to travel far distances or climb high places. Even if you poured out internal energy recklessly to increase speed, it was meaningless if you got tired in the middle.

Jin Ja-gang walked along the road absorbed in thought for a while.

Woon-jeong also walked quietly beside him so as not to disturb Jin Ja-gang.

Since it was an official road, they encountered several passing carriages, carts, and merchants.

Each time, Woon-jeong recited blessings for them.

When Jin Ja-gang said he could go ahead with light movement techniques if he was uncomfortable, Woon-jeong absolutely refused.

They passed through the checkpoint at the border between Huguang and Henan and entered Xinyang.

Now it was only three hundred li to the estate in Zhuma Station where Physician Bell Healers was located.

Since the official road continued and they didn’t need to pass through rough terrain, it was a distance they could reach in two days.

However, Henan was completely Shaolin Temple’s territory, and it was only eight hundred li to Shaolin Temple’s main temple. The possibility of encountering Shaolin monks was that much higher.

From passing the checkpoint, Woon-jeong was noticeably tense.

“Since Poison Dragon is busy thinking, I’ll keep a good watch on our surroundings instead.”

Xinyang was a place with active traditional industry and much economic exchange, so countless people traveled the official roads. Woon-jeong stared wide-eyed at people one by one. Even then, when their eyes met, he habitually clasped his hands and greeted them.

After doing this for a while, Woon-jeong seemed tired and dozed while walking.

Suddenly, Jin Ja-gang stopped walking. Woon-jeong, who had been walking forward while dozing, was startled and looked up.

“Huh? Why?”

“Didn’t you notice anything strange?”

“St-strange?”

Woon-jeong rubbed his eyes and looked around. It was still early afternoon. The sun was harsh but the surroundings were quiet with nothing happening.

“I don’t think so?”

“For about ten li, no one has been passing in front or behind us.”

“What?”

Only then did Woon-jeong check again. Indeed, there were only Jin Ja-gang and Woon-jeong on the official road. Until just now, at least dozens of people had been traveling this road.

“What, what is it? What? Why is this happening?”

Woon-jeong panicked.

Jin Ja-gang said calmly.

“It seems we’ll meet Shaolin Temple monks soon.”

It was as Jin Ja-gang had predicted.

Just before entering the plains after passing through Xinyang’s city center surrounded by mountains and lakes.

As soon as they rounded a mountain corner, the two encountered Shaolin Temple monks.

There were three in total, all tall with broad shoulders. Their muscles were incredibly solid, with forearms matching the calf thickness of ordinary men.

Their heads, trained with Iron Head technique, bore scars from all kinds of bladed weapons, and their necks were thick enough to look twice as thick as normal people’s from their training.

The temple points at their eye corners, traces of external martial arts training, protruded as much as their cheekbones, showing their external martial arts had reached the peak.

The Shaolin Temple monks, looking like triplets, glared down at Jin Ja-gang and Woon-jeong with fierce, tiger-like eyes.

Woon-jeong trembled with goosebumps.

For someone small like Woon-jeong, it seemed his waist would break just from being embraced.

The foremost monk asked in a low voice.

“Are you Poison Dragon?”

Even his voice was intimidating. A chilling aura could be felt in the powerful bass voice.

Unlike ordinary monks, he didn’t call out Buddhist titles or add words like “benefactor.” Even Beom-mong wasn’t gentle in speech, but compared to these, he was kind.

Jin Ja-gang looked over the three monks.

They were barehanded without prayer beads or Buddhist staffs, but wore swords at their waists.

Moreover, they had shin guards tied tightly with strings on both wrists and calves, wide sashes around their waists, and very short robe hems. There were clear traces of care so clothes wouldn’t be cumbersome for movement.

But if there was a difference, the two behind were in their twenties to thirties wearing gray monk robes, while the monk in front appeared to be about forty and wore yellow golden orchid robes. Though short, it was similar attire to what Beom-mong had worn.

“Vajra Monk. Are you the current Vajra Monk?”

[TL Note – Changed Diamond Monk to Vajra Monk.]

Jin Ja-gang asked back without answering. It was behavior that could make the one who asked first flare up.

However, the foremost monk asked back without the slightest change in expression.

“Are you Poison Dragon?”

Jin Ja-gang stared at the foremost monk in golden orchid robes, then after a long while opened his mouth again.

But what came from his mouth wasn’t an answer.

“Are you the current Vajra Monk?”

Woon-jeong, who had stepped back and was watching, flinched.

The foremost monk asked again.

“Are you Poison Dragon?”

Jin Ja-gang looked at the monk with a calm expression and asked back the same way.

“Are you the current Vajra Monk?”

The foremost monk’s eyes narrowed somewhat and faint tendons appeared in his jaw.

“Are you… Poison Dragon?”

Jin Ja-gang immediately retorted as if he didn’t need to hear more.

“Are you the current Vajra Monk?”

The foremost monk stopped asking and glared at Jin Ja-gang. His temple points bulged. The two monks behind slid their feet slightly into a triangular formation.

Woon-jeong swallowed dry saliva in terror. Though there was no clash of internal energy, murderous aura was flying about wildly. The atmosphere was such that it wouldn’t be strange if they acted at any moment.

“W-wait, wait!”

Unable to endure it, Woon-jeong rushed forward.

“Primordial Heavenly Venerate. This poor Taoist is a disciple of Qingcheng.”

The three monks didn’t budge but only their eyes moved to look down at Woon-jeong. That was even more chilling.

Woon-jeong slowly untied the life-lock bound to his waist. But since he had tied it so tightly, the knots wouldn’t come undone easily. With his hands shaking too, the untying was even slower.

“Ah, why won’t this come undone? Did I tie it too tightly?”

The brief time felt as slow as an eternity.

Woon-jeong sweated profusely under the sharp gazes piercing the back of his head.