Chapter 353 – Time Does Not Make Everyone Wise (3)

Finally, all three finished their bowls completely.

Though Gyeong Ha-jin, being a woman, seemed relatively full, Seo Woo-jong and Ju Jin-gwang, being men, still looked at their empty bowls as if still hungry. However, they too had dignity and soon put on nonchalant expressions.

Cho Yeon-woon asked them:

"Are you somewhat full now?"

"Yes! Thank you."

"You should thank Jin-bo. Jin-bo made all the food."

Cho Yeon-woon pointed at Bang Jin-bo with his chin.

Bang Jin-bo had already gotten up and was cleaning the bowls they had eaten from.

"Ahem! Thank you."

"We ate well."

The two belatedly expressed their gratitude to Bang Jin-bo.

"Not at all. It would have been good if there was more. It's a bit regrettable."

Bang Jin-bo rather felt sorry for them. Bang Jin-bo's appearance seemed refreshing to Gyeong Ha-jin.

She had set out following Seo Woo-jong and Ju Jin-gwang with the single-minded determination to make a name for herself. The behavior Seo Woo-jong and Ju Jin-gwang showed during the journey here felt very disappointing to her.

Both of them were all talk but had no experience camping out, only suffering. They had heard much but could actually do almost nothing.

In contrast, Bang Jin-bo was good at cooking and seemed sincere, so he couldn't help but appear different.

That's when Cho Yeon-woon told the three:

"Since it's late at night, sleep here tonight and return to your respective sects when dawn breaks."

"We cannot do that."

"We will definitely go to Shaolin Temple."

Seo Woo-jong and Ju Jin-gwang shouted simultaneously. At this, Cho Yeon-woon made an incredulous expression.

"Look at yourselves. You don't even know how to camp out but want to go to Shaolin Temple? It's better to stop causing trouble and return to your respective sects."

"We will definitely protect martial world justice against the Demon Cult."

"That's right. Though we may be new to the martial world, our spirit is second to none among martial artists."

"All mouth and no substance."

Cho Yeon-woon looked at them with a pathetic expression. At this, the two forgot they had received food and got angry.

"Don't disparage our spirit just because you gave us one meal."

"Who might you be, Great Hero?"

"My! How quickly you ask."

Cho Yeon-woon propped his chin on his hand and spoke mockingly. At this, both their faces turned red with anger.

"I have no name to tell youngsters like you, so hurry up and settle down to sleep."

"If you don't want to tell us, don't. We won't say anything more either."

"Hmph! Just giving one bowl of rice and acting like…"

"Please calm down, both of you."

Unable to bear watching, Gyeong Ha-jin stepped forward to stop them.

"Miss Gyeong?"

"Thanks to them, we barely avoided starvation. Then we should show proper courtesy."

"Ahem!"

"Mm!"

Both looked at her reaction. Anyone could see they had feelings for Gyeong Ha-jin.

Gyeong Ha-jin bowed her head to Cho Yeon-woon.

"I'll apologize on behalf of Young Master Seo and Young Master Ju. Please forgive us."

"You said Miss Gyeong?"

"Yes!"

"As I said earlier, return home when dawn breaks. The situation at Shaolin Temple won't be easy enough for youthful vigor to handle."

Cho Yeon-woon spoke with sincerity.

Cho Yeon-woon had already experienced hell three years ago.

In that battle, those who died most weren't old or cunning martial artists, but young martial artists like those before his eyes.

Those overflowing with vigor and spirit but lacking experience died most on the front lines. Having clearly witnessed that sight, Cho Yeon-woon wished for them to return.

At Cho Yeon-woon's sincere advice, Gyeong Ha-jin bit her lips tightly. But the conflict didn't last long.

"I'm sorry. Though we're new to the martial world and inexperienced, we're also martial artists. We want to add our meager strength before the martial world's crisis."

"It's not something that can be handled with youthful determination. You could die."

"Great Hero… when did you first enter the martial world?"

"Hm?"

"Great Hero wasn't an adult from when you first entered the martial world either. We're the same. Though we may look precarious now due to lack of experience, everyone grows that way. Isn't that the life of a martial artist?"

At Gyeong Ha-jin's words, Cho Yeon-woon momentarily wore a blank expression. And he realized how arrogant his thinking had been.

He too had first entered the martial world at their age. Back then, he thought it would be fine to risk his life to protect justice.

That same person had now become an adult and was forcing his thoughts on young martial artists under the guise of advice.

It was their decision.

They would bear the responsibility that came with it.

"Sigh!"

Cho Yeon-woon took a deep breath.

Since leaving Mount Hua, his mind that had been cloudy as if covered by fog felt cleanly cleared.

It was natural for young martial artists to have spirit. Even if it originated from youthful heroism. Then protecting them was the job of existing martial artists like himself.

"I must have been buried in the mountains too long. When did I become so arrogant? Yes, that's what martial world people are like. A life staking one's life on the sword's edge, where age doesn't matter."

Cho Yeon-woon's eyes changed.

Even in the darkness, his eyes shone brilliantly. Gyeong Ha-jin, facing that appearance head-on, couldn't dare breathe deeply.

"Ah!"

"My name is Cho Yeon-woon. Let's go together, to Shaolin."

"Dr-Drunken Cloud Dragon?"

Gyeong Ha-jin's eyes widened. It was the same for Seo Woo-jong and Ju Jin-gwang.

They remembered.

The legend of the Hundred Battles Sect that fought gloriously during the Demon Cult's invasion three years ago.

Their bravery in fighting the Demon Cult until the last person.

Cho Yeon-woon was at the center of it.

The martial artist called the Drunken Cloud Dragon.

It was the moment when he revealed himself to the martial world again, transcending three years of absence.

***

Dam Ho left Wudang's mountain gate.

Only Taoist Cheong-heo and Yeon So-ha came to see him off.

"Thank you."

Dam Ho silently looked at him. Complex emotions appeared on Taoist Cheong-heo's face.

As soon as the conversation with the previous generation elders ended, Dam Ho immediately left the Wudang Sect. No matter how well the conversation ended, the resentment built between them hadn't disappeared.

Countless martial artists in the Wudang Sect had been injured by Dam Ho's hand, and among the heroes, some had died. They didn't want Dam Ho in the same space. Dam Ho felt the same way.

Though he had achieved the desired result, the Wudang Sect wasn't a place he wanted to be.

Yeon So-ha looked at Dam Ho with pitying eyes. Since the conversation between Dam Ho and the previous generation elders went well, her house arrest was also lifted. But she didn't know what conversation had passed between Dam Ho and the previous generation elders. Taoist Cheong-heo also kept his mouth shut and didn't tell her.

The Wudang Sect didn't provide Dam Ho even one night's comfort, and Dam Ho didn't desire it. Yeon So-ha only felt regretful about that fact.

"I pray that good fortune accompanies Great Hero Dam's journey. Be careful."

"Take care. The promise with you will definitely be kept, so don't worry."

Dam Ho nodded and mounted Black Ghost.

"Let's go!"

Snort!

As if waiting, Black Ghost exhaled rough breath and galloped down the mountain path.

Watching Dam Ho's figure rapidly disappearing, Yeon So-ha murmured:

"He's leaving."

"Yes! He's leaving."

"Will peaceful days ever come for him?"

"Who knows!"

Taoist Cheong-heo blinked his bloodshot eyes.

He already knew the answer. That comfortable days wouldn't exist in the life of someone like Dam Ho.

Like it or not, he was already at the center of the martial world.

Countless grudges were entangled more complexly than spider webs. During his lifetime, he would never escape from the web of grudges.

"May the True Martial Emperor accompany his path."

His quiet murmur scattered across Wudang Mountain.

Dam Ho, who descended Wudang Mountain, rode Black Ghost without rest. Only when Wudang Mountain was no longer visible did Dam Ho stop Black Ghost at a small stream.

Dam Ho dismounted Black Ghost and walked into the stream. Cold water mercilessly dug into his wounds.

He had faced the heroes and also countless masters of the Wudang Sect. Subduing them without a single wound was close to impossible even for Dam Ho. And fighting while protecting his body to avoid wounds also wasn't Dam Ho's way.

Throwing his entire body into battle and overcoming it. That was precisely Dam Ho's Solitary Path style.

Wounds upon wounds formed, and deeply carved scars were covered by other scars. Thus Dam Ho's body was covered with countless scars, resembling armor.

The armor made of wounds was the trace of the life Dam Ho had walked and the history of struggle. New scars were carved on top of that history again.

Blood flowing from Dam Ho's wounds spread over the stream. Dam Ho even immersed his head in the stream to cleanly wash the blood from his body. But the bloody scent embedded in his body didn't easily disappear. And Dam Ho didn't expect the bloody scent to completely disappear either.

Dam Ho walked out of the water and circulated his internal energy.

Hiss!

The moisture remaining on his body instantly evaporated and disappeared.

"Huff!"

Though he washed the wounds, the pain hadn't disappeared.

His entire body ached and throbbed as if being dismantled. Still, Dam Ho didn't show a single pained expression and continued circulating the Dark Soul Heart Technique. Then new scabs formed over the wounds that had been gaping like fish gills.

Only then did Dam Ho end his circulation.

His entire body was hot and itchy.

It was a good sign.

Because it was proof that the wounds were gradually healing.

Snort!

Only then did Black Ghost approach and rub its cheek against Dam Ho's face. Dam Ho lightly patted Black Ghost's neck and said:

"Let's rest here today."

As if understanding Dam Ho's words, Black Ghost rubbed its cheek a few more times before entering the forest.

Dam Ho leaned against a nearby large tree trunk and searched his belongings. Then dried jerky came into his hand.

Dam Ho chewed the jerky bit by bit while recalling the battle at the Wudang Sect.

His entire body felt tingly not only because the wounds were healing. The heat from that time still remained.

After stuffing all the remaining jerky into his mouth, Dam Ho clenched his fist tightly.

Whoosh!

Dam Ho lightly threw a punch toward the air. But the aftermath was never light. The air burst with a 'pop' sound.

It was the Shattering Palm Strike.

Along with the Charging technique, it was the most fundamental technique of the Solitary Path style.

It was a technique he thought had already been completed.

It possessed powerful might, and until now he had defeated countless enemies with just the Shattering Palm Strike. That's why it was also the technique Dam Ho used most often.

Dam Ho repeatedly deployed the Shattering Palm Strike several times.

Pop pop!

The air continuously burst.

As if that wasn't enough, Dam Ho stood up.

He approached a large rock nearby.

It was similar in size to that rock at his former master Taoist Hyeon-so's residence at Mount Hua Sect.

Dam Ho picked up a tree branch and drew a straight line on the ground.

One zhang, two zhang… A line reaching five zhang was drawn straight from the base of the rock.

Dam Ho stood at the opposite side of the rock, at the end of the line.

'Let's do this together.'

He recalled those old days when he first created martial arts with his master.

Those rookie days when he drew straight lines like this and leaped straight toward rocks. Because those days existed, the current Dam Ho could exist, and the Solitary style could be completed.

Suddenly Dam Ho shook his head.

He had once thought that way.

Through three years of training at Mount Hua Sect, he thought he had made the Solitary Path style nearly perfect. But it wasn't so.

Through fierce battles in Sichuan Province, through countless battles from Guizhou Province to the Wudang Sect, he felt that the Lone Walker style wasn't yet complete.

Perhaps the word 'completion' was an illusory word that didn't exist. Still, those who pursued the ultimate had to do their best to perfect themselves.

Dam Ho leaped toward the rock. It was the Charging technique.

Thud!

The Shattering Palm Strike exploded on the rock. But the rock didn't break. Because he hadn't raised his internal energy.

Dam Ho carefully observed the scars on the rock and the footprints on the ground. After pondering something deeply, Dam Ho returned to the starting point again. And he deployed the Charging technique and Shattering Palm Strike again.

Ten Thousand Training.

Repeating and training ten thousand times.

This was what Dam Ho was doing now.

The female master’s and Yuk Ha-seon’s eyes met.

A pause.

Just as silence seemed to settle, the atmosphere turned hostile.

Storm-like killing intent swept through the inn.

The female master’s body became blurred. In an instant, Yuk Ha-seon rose like lightning and retreated backward.

Clang!

Without knowing when she had drawn it, Yuk Ha-seon held her sword forward, and the blade was trembling finely.

Clatter clatter.

In contrast, the female master had already returned to where she had been standing. Seeing chopsticks in her hand, it appeared she had attacked Yuk Ha-seon with chopsticks from the table.

The female master’s gaze as she glared at Yuk Ha-seon was extraordinary.

“I thought your skills would have deteriorated from being in brothels, but you’ve improved considerably.”

As Yuk Ha-seon tried to respond with a smile to the female master’s words, the female master’s body became blurred again.

Clang! Clash!

Sparks flew continuously in the air.

Yuk Ha-seon hastily swung her sword while spinning her body around and retreating one step. Steam rose from her sword as if hot water had been poured on it. Again, the female master had returned to her position.

Yuk Ha-seon tapped the sword blade with the inside of her sole to dissipate the steam.

“If you ask a question, shouldn’t you give time for an answer, Sword Empress?”

Sword Empress!

This was Sword Empress Im Yi-eon of the Southern Sea Sword Sect.

The region south of the great Dayuling mountain range that crosses Jiangxi and Guangdong is called the Southern Sea, and Sword Empress Im Yi-eon was the greatest master of that Southern Sea.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Im Yi-eon and the beautiful young lady standing behind her. The young lady with an expression radiating cold feelings was undoubtedly Ice Phoenix Son Bi, the Sword Empress’s disciple.

“If you’ve seen me, you should greet me. What’s with that insolent face?”

Then Jin Ja-gang intervened.

“Those chopsticks belong to the shop. Put them down.”

Im Yi-eon glared at Jin Ja-gang, then seemed to understand and tried to put the chopsticks down.

At that moment, this time Yuk Ha-seon rushed like lightning to attack Im Yi-eon. Im Yi-eon couldn’t put down the chopsticks and had to block Yuk Ha-seon’s sword.

Im Yi-eon’s face reddened with damaged dignity.

“How dare…”

Jin Ja-gang threw something between the two as if he had expected this.

Pop!

Reddish powder burst and scattered.

It was powder thrown by none other than Poison Dragon. Even the Sword Empress couldn’t ignore it.

Im Yi-eon and Yuk Ha-seon simultaneously covered their mouths with their sleeves and retreated. Ice Phoenix Son Bi also stepped back a couple of paces.

Im Yi-eon shouted.

“What are you doing!”

Jin Ja-gang asked calmly.

“What about you, old woman? Why are you causing a disturbance in someone else’s shop?”

Im Yi-eon’s eyebrows twisted. Having heard herself called Sword Empress but then being called old woman meant either he didn’t know her or knew but was ignoring her.

Either way, it was unpleasant.

“Old woman? Did you just call me old woman?”

At that moment, Son Bi burst into laughter.

“Pfft!”

Im Yi-eon glared at Son Bi. Son Bi turned her head away.

Im Yi-eon frowned and asked Jin Ja-gang.

“Fine. That’s not wrong. But is this your inn?”

“No.”

Im Yi-eon’s eyes flickered.

“Then?”

“I borrowed it temporarily. So I’m the owner right now.”

“This is a place where the owner sprinkles poison on guests…”

Son Bi knelt and lightly dabbed some powder to taste it. Then she looked at Jin Ja-gang with a strange expression.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“It’s millet powder. It’ll be bland since it’s not seasoned.”

Son Bi’s expression became strange. It was an expression of forcibly suppressing laughter. She clenched her fists and even her hands trembled from holding it in. But soon she frowned and returned to an expressionless face.

Jin Ja-gang was watching this scene intently, so he felt puzzled.

“Anyway, if you want to eat, sit anywhere. There’s only one dish available: thin noodles.”

“Hmph!”

Im Yi-eon stuck the chopsticks into the middle of an empty table.

Thunk! The front part of the chopsticks embedded as the chopsticks stood vertically.

Then she fluttered her long robe hem once and went to sit at a corner table.

However, she didn’t take her eyes off Yuk Ha-seon. This was because Yuk Ha-seon had muttered “What a temper.”

When Jin Ja-gang went to the kitchen as if unconcerned, Im Yi-eon asked Yuk Ha-seon with an unpleasant face.

“Are you accompanying Poison Dragon on his way to Shaolin Temple? Why is Poison Dragon acting as an innkeeper instead of going to Shaolin Temple?”

“I didn’t expect the Sword Empress to be interested in this matter.”

“I’m very interested. He killed someone who was discussing marriage with my disciple.”

“For that, you don’t seem very upset.”

“Would it be an answer if I said he was someone I didn’t like from the beginning?”

“Then do you like Poison Dragon?”

Im Yi-eon just turned her head as if it wasn’t worth responding.

“Considering this is Shaolin Temple’s territory, I’ll let it be for now, but if you interfere with my business even slightly, I won’t stand for it.”

“We’ll have to see about that. I didn’t come here to play either.”

Im Yi-eon frowned while Yuk Ha-seon smiled as they looked at each other.

As the awkward atmosphere continued in silence, before long Jin Ja-gang brought three bowls of thin noodles.

“There are two people, so why three bowls?”

“There are two people but you sat at a place with three chairs, so I thought one more person might come.”

Interest flickered in Im Yi-eon’s and Son Bi’s eyes.

“You’re excessively perceptive.”

Jin Ja-gang was right.

Before long, a familiar face to Jin Ja-gang came to the inn.

It was An Ryeong from the An family medical house.

An Ryeong had bandages wrapped around both arms. She entered the inn and was startled to see reddish powder scattered about.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“Come in. It’s millet powder.”

An Ryeong looked at Jin Ja-gang and nodded slightly.

“We meet again so soon.”

An Ryeong glanced at Yuk Ha-seon, then greeted Im Yi-eon and Son Bi and joined them at the table. An Ryeong was exactly the person Im Yi-eon and Son Bi had been waiting for.

Yuk Ha-seon clapped her hands.

“Ah, now I understand. The An family medical house has connections with the Southern Sea Sword Sect. It wasn’t because you had direct business with Poison Dragon, but to help the An family medical house?”

“Shut that mouth!”

“It’ll all be revealed anyway. There’s no particular reason to hide it, is there?”

Yuk Ha-seon addressed An Ryeong.

“Isn’t that right, Burning Phoenix?”

An Ryeong looked back at Yuk Ha-seon.

“And you are?”

Im Yi-eon answered. Son Bi was surprisingly quiet.

“She’s Pleasure Heaven Lord Red Flower Immortal.”

Red flower is the flower used as material for rouge that women apply to their lips or dab on their cheeks. Yuk Ha-seon’s identity was already revealed in the nickname Red Flower Immortal.

“I’m called An Ryeong. As the Heaven Lord said, it’ll all be revealed anyway, so let’s just speak here and now.”

An Ryeong said to Jin Ja-gang.

“I came wanting to know the contents of the letter Tang family sent to Shaolin Temple. Can you tell me?”

Jin Ja-gang seemed to think for a moment before hesitating to answer.

“Well…”

“We’ve already extended our hand to you. It would benefit you if anything, there’d be no loss.”

“I remember you extending your hand but also threatening that it was the last proposal.”

An Ryeong puffed out her cheeks and pouted her lips.

“People can be like that during negotiations!”

Since An Ryeong was also quite beautiful, her sulking appearance looked cute.

But Jin Ja-gang’s expression didn’t change at all.

An Ryeong grumbled only with her mouth movements without making sound.

Jin Ja-gang asked.

“What do you plan to do after knowing the letter’s contents?”

An Ryeong answered.

“Actually, the letter’s contents don’t matter much. Shaolin Temple plans to attack poison sects and poison sects plan to stop Shaolin Temple. I, our An family medical house, hopes that letter won’t be delivered to Shaolin Temple. Then Shaolin Temple will proceed with righteous law practice as scheduled.”

In the end, she was saying she hoped poison sects would disappear while facing them. Yuk Ha-seon showed a light smile as if she had already guessed.

It was truly a strange story.

The An family medical house had cooperated with poison sects in the past to elevate Physician Bell Healers to the Six Poison Cliques. But actually they held antipathy toward poison sect actions and had decided to attack poison sects when the opportunity came.

So they were in a position where they had to interfere with poison sects trying to prevent Shaolin Temple’s righteous law practice. Despite killing Shaolin Temple’s Vajra monks and Arhat monks as bloody payment for Physician Bell Healers, in the worst case they would have to join hands with Shaolin Temple.

Then it made sense that the Sword Empress had stepped forward to protect An Ryeong. Without a master of the Sword Empress’s level stepping up, An Ryeong might find it difficult to preserve her life from Shaolin Temple.

However, naturally for the Six Poison Cliques, Pleasure Heaven Lord Yuk Ha-seon, who had to prevent Shaolin Temple’s advance, this couldn’t be overlooked.

“Sorry, but it can’t go as you think.”

At Yuk Ha-seon’s words, An Ryeong cupped her fists with bandaged hands and said.

“Though it may be presumptuous toward senior, preventing the letter from being delivered is my mission.”

“Ensuring the letter reaches Shaolin Temple is my mission.”

Yuk Ha-seon’s and An Ryeong’s eyes met. Both were smiling brightly but had no intention of backing down.

At this, Sword Empress Im Yi-eon cleared her throat from the side.

“Hmm. These thin noodles are quite tasty.”

It wasn’t rudely butting into others’ conversation for no reason. She was subtly revealing her presence, suggesting she might intervene if An Ryeong’s proposal wasn’t accepted.

But it didn’t end there.

One more person appeared at the inn’s entrance.

Things were proceeding as Jin Ja-gang had expected.

From when Jin Ja-gang had settled down, there had been considerable surveillance around. As the involved parties began entering one by one, others who had been waiting would continue to enter as well.

“Excuse me.”

A swordsman with the sharp gaze of middle age entered the inn.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the swordsman.

Im Yi-eon recognized him.

“The Namgung family’s Disaster Sword Guest!”

“It’s been a long time, Sword Empress.”

Disaster Sword Guest Namgung Geol was the younger brother of the Namgung family’s absolute master Sword King. Though his martial arts were somewhat inferior to his older brother the Sword King, he was still a master with skills strong enough to be called a disaster of the sword.

Namgung Geol looked around the inn and exclaimed.

“Ho. All the outstanding heroines have gathered.”

Come to think of it, all four who had already entered were women.

Namgung Geol went toward the table with chopsticks stuck in the middle.

Namgung Geol smoothly extended his sword handle forward in front of the table.

In an instant his hand moved quickly.

Swish swish!

The lower part of the embedded chopsticks was cleanly cut to match the table surface, and cut once more vertically to become two pieces. Namgung Geol sat down casually with the paired chopsticks in front of him.

He had substituted a greeting with his skills.

Jin Ja-gang soon brought out thin noodles.

Im Yi-eon asked Namgung Geol.

“How is the Alliance Leader?”

“He’s been staying home, so it’s been a while since I’ve seen him.”

“For the Alliance Leader who should be looking after the martial world to be staying home. You should offer loyal advice that he’s neglecting the martial world’s safety too much.”

“I’ll definitely convey that.”

“Then what brings Disaster Sword Guest here?”

“I heard there was something interesting, so I came to see.”

The Namgung family was a sect remaining in Yangtze River Sword Gate and on Taoist Haewol’s side. Sword Empress Im Yi-eon couldn’t be unaware of this.

“Let me ask directly. Which side is Yangtze River Sword Sect on?”

“My, it seems much has been discussed while I was away. I hurried so as not to miss anything.”

“I’ll ask once more.”

Namgung Geol waved his hand.

“No, you needn’t. I can’t make the Sword Empress say the same thing twice.”

Namgung Geol said with a smile.

“I have no interest in the letter.”