Chapter 373 – In the Storm, It's Not Just a Small Boat That Sways (2)

Dam Ho and Cho Yeon-woon were sitting across from each other on a small pavilion in the guest hall.

"Hehe! Did I keep you waiting long?"

At that moment, Bang Jin-bo came up to the pavilion carrying a lavishly prepared table of food. On the table were various dishes that were hard to eat at Shaolin Temple. They were all made by Bang Jin-bo.

Though they were all vegetable dishes since meat couldn't be prepared, the aroma alone was truly amazing.

"So-cheong also gave me Shaoxing wine. It's at least twenty years old, so the wine fragrance is really amazing. Hehe!"

Bang Jin-bo kept bursting into laughter.

Just the fact of being in the same space as Dam Ho made Bang Jin-bo happy.

When the bottle containing Shaoxing wine was opened, a rich wine fragrance spread throughout the pavilion. Even Dam Ho, who rarely changed expression over most things, showed a slightly surprised expression.

Cho Yeon-woon muttered while holding the wine bottle.

"A good gift indeed."

"So-cheong also obtained it with great difficulty. She set aside several bottles and said she'll bring more after the meeting ends."

"Really? To think she'd consider us even while busy. How grateful!"

After Namgung Chang's death, the merchant leaders who had entered Shaolin Temple were holding a separate gathering.

Since Namgung Chang, the main source of pressure who had forced unreasonable donations, was dead, they too had to discuss countermeasures. Therefore, Eun So-cheong couldn't easily excuse herself either.

Cho Yeon-woon filled Dam Ho's wine cup with Shaoxing wine to the brim, then filled his own cup as well.

The two clinked their cups and drank the wine in one gulp. Instantly, Cho Yeon-woon's eyes widened.

"Whoa! This is amazing."

"Good!"

Dam Ho also nodded, agreeing with Cho Yeon-woon's opinion.

The throat sensation and the aroma felt in the mouth were completely different. Though Cho Yeon-woon loved alcohol, he had never once tasted such fine wine.

The two drank two more cups in succession before eating the appetizers. The dishes Bang Jin-bo had prepared paired wonderfully with the Shaoxing wine.

Cho Yeon-woon also offered wine to Bang Jin-bo.

"You have a drink too."

"Me too?"

"Why are you acting innocent now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I know you secretly sip wine. So stop pretending and take the cup."

"That's just for tasting when making dishes that pair with wine."

"Excuses. So won't you drink?"

"No, I will. Hehe!"

Bang Jin-bo smiled and held out his wine cup. Cho Yeon-woon filled Bang Jin-bo's cup with wine as well.

Dam Ho extended his wine cup to Bang Jin-bo. When he first met Bang Jin-bo, he was still just a child. That child had grown up and was now doing his part properly.

Though he hadn't completely shed his childish nature yet, Bang Jin-bo was already no different from an adult. Dam Ho's extended wine cup contained the meaning that he acknowledged Bang Jin-bo as a full-grown adult.

Clink!

Bang Jin-bo lightly tapped his wine cup against Dam Ho and Cho Yeon-woon's cups before bringing it to his lips.

"Kugh!"

An exclamation burst forth involuntarily.

Seeing this, Cho Yeon-woon chuckled.

"See? You haven't just had one or two drinks before."

"Hehe!"

Bang Jin-bo just smiled without making excuses. Bang Jin-bo's unchanged appearance made even Dam Ho smile slightly.

Then Cho Yeon-woon put down his wine cup and spoke.

"Well! How have you been getting by?"

He had already heard rumors about Dam Ho's activities. But Cho Yeon-woon wanted to hear directly from Dam Ho.

Dam Ho spoke in a calm voice about what had happened – the clashes with the Demon Cult in Sichuan Province, the death match with Cheon Oh-kyung, the fight with the Tang family, and even the conflict with Wudang Sect.

As Dam Ho's story continued, Cho Yeon-woon and Bang Jin-bo's expressions changed moment by moment. During that short time away from Mount Hua, Dam Ho had experienced countless tremendous events that an ordinary person couldn't experience even once in a lifetime.

'Big brother really is…'

Bang Jin-bo was simply amazed at Dam Ho telling such stories as if they were nothing.

Finally, when Dam Ho's story was completely finished, Cho Yeon-woon closed his eyes tightly.

He wanted to kill Cheon Oh-kyung with his own hands, if no one else. But since Cheon Oh-kyung had died by Dam Ho's hand, such an opportunity would never come.

That fact was regrettable yet also made him grateful to Dam Ho. After all, Dam Ho had taken his revenge for him.

"Thank you! For avenging Master."

"It was something that had to be done."

"Master would be grateful too."

Cho Yeon-woon raised his wine cup. He drank wine in honor of his deceased master. Dam Ho silently watched such Cho Yeon-woon.

Until he left Mount Hua, Cho Yeon-woon had been no different from a cripple. But now Cho Yeon-woon showed no trace of that appearance.

He seemed calmer and more refined than before. In that short time, Cho Yeon-woon had made significant progress.

Dam Ho sensed calm anger from Cho Yeon-woon. Cho Yeon-woon was calmly aging his anger. And his mental cultivation had deepened to the point where he wouldn't express such anger.

His friend had grown to the point where he could be trusted to watch his back. Dam Ho was pleased with this fact.

Then Cho Yeon-woon spoke.

"But you said you turned Wudang Sect upside down now?"

"Yes!"

"My word! It's truly unbelievable. To turn the renowned Wudang Sect upside down. You're my friend, but you really are…"

Cho Yeon-woon shook his head.

Wudang Sect was a place with prestige rivaling Shaolin Temple, called the North Star of the martial world. Why else would Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect together be called the two great pillars?

It was one of the sects with the longest history in the martial world, and accordingly had many outstanding figures. Such a Wudang Sect had been almost devastated by Dam Ho alone.

It was hard to believe, but he had to believe it. The story came from none other than Dam Ho's mouth.

"Anyway, turning Wudang Sect upside down seems to have been the right thing to do. Though I'm saying this now, they were too complacent. When Mount Hua Sect and others were shedding blood, they preserved their strength intact – that says it all. It's fortunate they came to their senses now because of you."

When Dam Ho was nodding at Cho Yeon-woon's words:

"Um…"

Suddenly a cautious voice was heard from below the pavilion. Cho Yeon-woon recognized him.

"So-cheon!"

"Amitabha! I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but may we join you?"

The one looking up at the pavilion where Dam Ho and others sat was precisely So-cheon, Shaolin's prodigy. Behind him, another young martial artist could be seen standing.

Cho Yeon-woon raised his eyesight to look at the young martial artist. Instantly, his eyes lit up with interest.

"Cheong-un?"

"You recognize me, Yeon-woon. It's good to see you like this."

"How did you come to be here?"

At Cho Yeon-woon's question, the young martial artist called Cheong-un stepped forward.

He was precisely Cheong-un, the senior disciple of Qingcheng Sect. Called the Star of Sichuan, he was a promising prodigy and one of the Nine Martial Dragons.

Cheong-un suddenly bowed to Dam Ho.

"I am Cheong-un of Qingcheng Sect. Thanks to Great Hero Dam, our Qingcheng Sect was able to regain its freedom. I thank Great Hero Dam for his help."

"…"

"If not for Great Hero Dam, our Qingcheng Sect would still be under shameful seclusion. I wanted to convey words of gratitude on behalf of all martial artists of Qingcheng Sect."

Cheong-un's voice trembled involuntarily.

When Qingcheng Sect was forced into seclusion by the Tang family, he had run all the way to the Martial Alliance to request help. But the Martial Alliance and Namgung Chang couldn't readily provide troops to Cheong-un's request.

The Martial Alliance had also suffered great damage after losing their headquarters to the Demon Cult. Since they were staying at Shaolin Temple and their internal situation was chaotic, they couldn't readily decide on support.

While support was being delayed like this, unexpected good news arrived. The unbelievable rumor that the Tang family had suffered great damage from Dam Ho and gone into seclusion. But the rumor was true, and thanks to this, Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect, who had been forced into seclusion, could regain their freedom.

"If it really weren't for Great Hero Dam…"

Cheong-un couldn't continue speaking.

There was once a time when he had been jealous of Dam Ho. But not now. Dam Ho was not someone he could dare compare himself to.

There was once a time when Cheong-un, intoxicated by the prestige of being one of the Nine Martial Dragons, looked down on everything in the world. But only after experiencing his sect's crisis did he realize that Dam Ho was truly a martial artist worthy of respect.

Cheong-un had completely abandoned his contemptuous feelings toward Dam Ho. His eyes looking at Dam Ho were full of respect.

Cho Yeon-woon gestured to such Cheong-un.

"Don't just stand there like that, come up here. So-cheon, you too…"

At his gesture, the two carefully climbed up to the pavilion. Then Bang Jin-bo got up from his seat.

"I need to bring more wine cups and appetizers. I'll be right back, so continue your conversation."

Bang Jin-bo instinctively realized this wasn't where he should be. He could catch up with Dam Ho later, so he made way like this.

Cho Yeon-woon said to the two who were still standing:

"Don't stand there so awkwardly, sit down."

"Amitabha! Thank you."

"Mm!"

So-cheon and Cheong-un carefully sat in front of Dam Ho. Even until then, Dam Ho showed little reaction.

Though they knew he was originally a man of few words, facing Dam Ho's silence directly made their mouths go dry.

"No need to be so tense. He's not refusing to speak because he dislikes you. This friend is originally like that."

"Mm!"

Even at Cho Yeon-woon's words, the two couldn't relax their tension.

'This person is the Fist Demon!'

'Truly living up to his reputation.'

Both vividly remembered the martial prowess Dam Ho had shown at Shaolin Temple's mountain gate. The scene where one person had overwhelmed Shaolin's warrior monks and numerous heroes was that shocking.

Then Dam Ho opened his mouth.

"What's the matter?"

"We wanted to meet and talk with you directly."

"Talk?"

Instantly, a determined light appeared on Cheong-un's face.

"What does Great Hero Dam think about the Martial Alliance?"

"Well!"

"I'll speak first. I think the current Martial Alliance is rotten. They were created only to represent and protect the interests of existing sects."

During his stay here, Cheong-un had visited Nam Cheon-san and Namgung Chang without fail every day to ask for help. But all that came back were ambiguous answers and vague attitudes.

They had continued to delay support with the excuse that Qingcheng Sect was too far away, making it difficult to dispatch the Martial Alliance's forces. The mental anguish Cheong-un experienced during this time was indescribable.

Each day was like hell, and his insides burned black. Still, he endured because he was the weak one.

He endured and endured again. In doing so, he realized how difficult it was for the weak, not the strong, to live in the martial world. How much those without strong backing were neglected.

When Qingcheng Sect was strong, Cheong-un too received respect. But when Qingcheng Sect was forced into seclusion, all that glory disappeared like snow.

Only then did he realize.

All those things he thought he naturally enjoyed because he was outstanding were actually thanks to the great sect called Qingcheng Sect.

Realizing all these facts made him ashamed to death.

Walking around with shoulders full of pride as Sichuan's greatest prodigy, looking down on martial artists from smaller sects as one of the Nine Martial Dragons.

From the beginning, there was nothing he had achieved himself. He was just a lucky person who had joined a good sect.

He couldn't walk around with his face up due to shame.

During that period, Cheong-un went around meeting not high-ranking martial artists of the Martial Alliance or scions of prestigious families, but lower-level martial artists.

Meeting and talking with them, he realized there were very many others who thought the same as him.

The Martial Alliance was merely an organization to preserve the existing order, not an organization for the entire martial world.

As Cheong-un's words continued, deep furrows formed on Dam Ho's brow.

"So what do you want to say?"

"I will follow Great Hero Dam."

At Cheong-un's thunderbolt declaration, Cho Yeon-woon looked at him with a surprised face. He hadn't expected Cheong-un to bring up such a topic.

Most of the Nine Martial Dragons, including Cheong-un, disliked Dam Ho.

They were similar in age and living in the same era. That meant they would constantly be compared to Dam Ho while living in the martial world.

Martial artists with pride reaching the heavens wouldn't meekly accept such comparisons. Especially not the top prodigies of the martial world like the Nine Martial Dragons.

In that regard, Cheong-un's words were definitely shocking.

"This isn't something I thought of impulsively. It's something I've thought about and decided over a long time. Please accept me."

Cheong-un looked straight at Dam Ho. There wasn't a trace of wavering in his eyes.

That's when it happened.

"This humble monk has the same thoughts as Young Hero Cheong-un."

Following Cheong-un, So-cheon also joined in.

At their declaration, Cho Yeon-woon held his breath and looked at Dam Ho.

An Ryeong dropped her sword.

Her face was instantly soaked with sweat from the pain.

“This… this…!”

Though Ham-geun’s gaze was cold, the corners of his eyebrows were trembling. Ham-geun tried to say something but closed his mouth instead.

An Ryeong panted while sneering.

“What… do you feel guilty or something?”

Ham-geun didn’t answer. But judging from how he closed his lips tighter than before, he was clearly feeling some remorse.

“Plum blossoms… are symbols of gentlemen… They don’t suit Great Hero Ham at all right now.”

Ham-geun cut off An Ryeong’s words.

“You seem to be in pain. Let me end your suffering.”

If Ham-geun just twisted his sword, An Ryeong would die with her belly split open.

But Im Yi-eon was flying in from behind.

“You old bastard!”

Im Yi-eon was flying in right behind An Ryeong. Ham-geun’s eyes went up very briefly then came back down.

Then An Ryeong grabbed Ham-geun’s hand firmly.

“Hm?”

Ham-geun tried to cut An Ryeong’s belly in half, but his hand wouldn’t move. The sword embedded in An Ryeong’s belly wouldn’t budge at all.

An Ryeong gripped Ham-geun’s hand with all her strength.

Crack.

Ham-geun’s hand began to crumble under the tremendous grip strength.

Ham-geun’s face contorted as if crumpling. No matter how much internal energy he used, he couldn’t pull his hand free.

Crack snap.

The back of his hand broke and his fingers bent at will.

Ham-geun’s face flushed red with bulging veins. The pain was one thing, but Im Yi-eon was right above his head.

Ham-geun kicked up at An Ryeong’s elbow. Snap, the elbow broke and the force crushing Ham-geun’s hand weakened.

“Agh!”

Ham-geun immediately kicked An Ryeong’s abdomen to push her away.

An Ryeong was blown backward as the sword slid out.

At the same time, Im Yi-eon’s sword slashed Ham-geun’s right wrist.

Ham-geun immediately switched the sword to his left hand and swung at the air.

Clang!

Im Yi-eon’s and Ham-geun’s swords became entangled. Im Yi-eon continuously kicked Ham-geun’s chest while in mid-air.

Thud thud thump! Ham-geun was pushed back several steps.

Im Yi-eon landed and shouted in great anger.

“You shameless scoundrel!”

Ham-geun tore the sleeve of his severed right wrist and tied it tightly with his teeth, then laughed.

“Heh… hehe.”

“Shameless bastard! What are you laughing at!”

“We’re all going to die here anyway, so what use are shame and pride?”

“Since when did Mount Hua Sect become like this! Even with death before our eyes, fulfilling one’s duty is the pride of the righteous path!”

“Sword Empress…”

Ham-geun asked back with suddenly sunken eyes.

“Is Southern Sea Sword Sect different?”

Im Yi-eon’s face reddened.

“What… are you talking about?”

“If you can confidently say Southern Sea Sword Sect is different from Mount Hua, I’ll immediately apologize and commit suicide.”

Im Yi-eon couldn’t immediately refute. Her face only became redder.

“Wasn’t Southern Sea Sword Sect trying to marry Indestructible Heavenly Sword’s adopted son Silent Dragon with Sword Empress’s disciple Ice Phoenix until recently? Then when Silent Dragon died, you tried to send Ice Phoenix elsewhere. Right to the An family medical house.”

“This bastard…!”

Ham-geun said with sharp eyes.

“Tell me if I’m wrong.”

“…”

“As expected, you can’t speak. So…”

Ham-geun regulated his breathing and slowly began drawing sword steel.

“I don’t know where it went wrong. Perhaps the times made us this way. But one important thing.”

Swish!

Ham-geun thrust forward his brilliantly shining sword.

“Even if you want to change the world, you must survive to do so. And only our Mount Hua can do that.”

Im Yi-eon gritted her teeth.

“Arrogant and full of conceit. Even without Mount Hua Sect, someone will accomplish that task.”

“You’re saying Southern Sea Sword Sect can do it?”

Ham-geun sneered.

“Then show your skill. So far, you haven’t lived up to the Sword Empress’s reputation.”

Crack, Im Yi-eon gritted her teeth while drawing sword steel. Pure white lightning flickered at her sword tip.

“You should have done this from the start.”

Ham-geun slowly walked forward, closing the distance. Im Yi-eon likewise approached Ham-geun.

Im Yi-eon’s sword moved first.

Whooom! A streak of light extended long. Ham-geun also received Swallow Brave Slanted Cliff Sword with the complex trajectory of plum blossom sword technique. But their swords didn’t clash directly. They barely avoided clashing by deflecting their swords at the last moment.

Swish! Swoosh swoosh!

Wind sounds continued endlessly, but the swords never collided once. Sword light flashed frantically and brilliantly. In the blink of an eye they exchanged dozens of moves, yet still hadn’t clashed.

Then they grazed each other once.

Screeech!

As the swords scraped past each other, tremendous light scattering occurred. Instantly, nosebleeds burst from both Im Yi-eon’s and Ham-geun’s noses simultaneously. And the sword steel’s light visibly diminished.

Ham-geun injected more internal energy to maintain his original sword steel. In contrast, Im Yi-eon greatly reduced her sword steel to almost sword energy level.

Im Yi-eon quickly deployed Swallow Brave Slanted Cliff Sword. Ham-geun lowered his sword toward her ankle to block.

Zing! The moment the swords clashed, blood flowed slightly from Im Yi-eon’s nose again. Im Yi-eon paid no attention and continued slashing with her sword. Flashes of light completely surrounded Ham-geun and swept over him.

Im Yi-eon continuously bled slightly from her nose and mouth. The plum blossom sword technique’s forms were very mysterious, preventing Im Yi-eon’s fast sword from penetrating.

However, though Im Yi-eon seemed to suffer small losses, it was actually Ham-geun who was being pushed back. Im Yi-eon was handling internal energy very delicately. She only increased sword steel when necessary. If time continued like this, Ham-geun’s internal energy would be depleted first.

Though the fight had only just begun, smoke was already rising from Ham-geun’s sword.

* * *

The confrontation between Jin Ja-gang and Gong-hon tilted faster than expected.

Vajra monk Gong-hon’s movements had become very disorderly, unlike before. With himself suffering internal injuries while worrying about Mu-gak’s condition, it naturally became difficult to fend off Jin Ja-gang’s offensive.

Thump!

Jin Ja-gang’s energy release exploded on Gong-hon’s back.

Gong-hon and Mu-gak simultaneously spewed blood. Especially in the blood Mu-gak spat, there were even fingernail-sized black chunks mixed in.

Gong-hon’s attention was scattered.

“Four hundred trillion!”

Mu-gak shouted sharply.

“Concentrate!”

At that moment, Jin Ja-gang showed no mercy and tripped Gong-hon’s leg. When Gong-hon staggered, Jin Ja-gang stepped on his knee to climb up and kicked his neck, then grabbed Gong-hon’s head to strike his philtrum with his knee.

Smack! Thump!

Gong-hon’s head jerked back then returned. When Gong-hon grabbed Jin Ja-gang’s leg to counterattack, Jin Ja-gang kicked Mu-gak who was held in his chest. Gong-hon had no choice but to crouch with both arms to protect Mu-gak.

Thud! Thud thud!

Jin Ja-gang repeatedly kicked Gong-hon’s arms. Due to internal injuries, even Golden Silk Iron Beads were almost completely broken. Gong-hon’s previously solid arms began to shake.

Jin Ja-gang placed his finger on Gong-hon’s forehead.

Gong-hon quickly turned his head sideways to avoid the energy release.

Whoosh! The energy release Jin Ja-gang generated disappeared while creating a fierce whirlwind where Gong-hon’s head had been.

Jin Ja-gang landed on the ground and struck up the arm Gong-hon was blocking with his left palm.

Thump! The energy release burst, pushing away one of Gong-hon’s arms. Gong-hon’s chest was completely exposed.

Jin Ja-gang immediately extended his right hand to target Mu-gak exposed in Gong-hon’s chest.

Mu-gak tried to extend his finger to block but hesitated as he suddenly spewed blood.

A look of “oh no” mixed into Mu-gak’s gaze.

If Jin Ja-gang struck Mu-gak with energy release, Mu-gak couldn’t resist and would die from the direct hit.

“KRAAAAH!”

Gong-hon shouted a battle cry while lifting the hand that had been holding Mu-gak upward to throw Mu-gak.

Though Mu-gak possessed tremendous power, he was simultaneously Gong-hon’s weakness.

Jin Ja-gang’s finger touched the empty space of Gong-hon’s chest.

Thump!

Gong-hon’s body shook greatly.

Mu-gak, who had been thrown upward, fell back down.

Gong-hon stood still in place and caught Mu-gak.

Mu-gak extended his finger to try striking Jin Ja-gang. But Mu-gak’s finger couldn’t reach Jin Ja-gang this time either.

Mu-gak moved away from Jin Ja-gang along with Gong-hon, who was falling like an old tree.

Thud.

Gong-hon collapsed completely spread-eagle.

“Cough-hack!”

Gong-hon spat up blood greatly while lying down. Mu-gak likewise spewed blood together.

Jin Ja-gang looked down briefly at fallen Gong-hon and Mu-gak, writhing in agony with his twisted body on his chest.

Mu-gak, whose eyes had turned red, trembled while speaking with a pained expression.

“This is…”

He was breathing heavily, as if feverish.

It was because of poisoning. Though Mu-gak had deep internal energy, except for his fingers, his entire body’s energy and blood were twisted and damaged, so when poison invaded other parts, it wasn’t easy to expel. He was barely enduring with internal energy.

“Was this it? Is this why you told me not to eat it?”

“I said you’d regret it.”

Jin Ja-gang soon turned his head at a single scream that could be heard.

“AAAAAGH!”

Yang Yang from Red Sword Sect was spewing blood just like Mu-gak. When Yang Yang suddenly spewed blood, all the Cherry Blossom Corps youngsters fled from her side.

Jin Ja-gang approached Yang Yang. Yang Yang grabbed Jin Ja-gang’s leg and pleaded.

“P-please save me. Cough hack, cough hack!”

But unfortunately, there was nothing Jin Ja-gang could do for her now.

No matter how he thought about it, the Cherry Blossom Corps were people who didn’t belong in this place.

Moreover, these people had been sent by Mang Ryo. Mang Ryo wouldn’t have sent them with poison disguised as antidote without any meaning.

‘Don’t tell me…’

Jin Ja-gang found himself thinking something absurd.

‘On purpose?’

That he had demonstratively sent them with poison.

Given Mang Ryo’s usual behavior, it really could have been something he did for Jin Ja-gang to see.

Jin Ja-gang was becoming increasingly convinced as he watched Yang Yang’s poisoning symptoms.

‘It’s the same as back then!’

Zhuge Yeon.

Shin Yong.

Baek Li-gwon.

They had all been poisoned before meeting Jin Ja-gang, and all had the common point of carrying poison resistance pills.

And both Mu-gak and Yang Yang in this place had also eaten poison resistance pills and were poisoned in the same way.

All of this was connected to Mang Ryo.

And the reason for revealing this in this situation was…

Jin Ja-gang hurriedly examined Yang Yang’s condition.

Her eyes were sunken as if collapsing, the area under her eyes had turned black, and she coughed constantly. She occasionally vomited blood, and her breathing was wheezing from phlegm.

Her stomach also rumbled and churned. If left alone, she would urinate and defecate blood.

Though it might seem like ordinary symptoms at first glance, diseases that cause such complex symptoms simultaneously are not common.

Fortunately, Jin Ja-gang had recently encountered similar symptoms several times.

‘Epidemic!’

Jin Ja-gang could be increasingly certain.

This was very similar to symptoms when afflicted with epidemic disease, that is, plague. If there were someone nearby afflicted with plague, eight or nine times out of ten, one would think they had contracted the same plague.

Moreover, seeing that Mu-gak’s poisoning manifested before Yang Yang’s, this poison seemed to act more severely the higher one’s internal energy. In other words, it was poison that acted more fatally on martial artists.

‘This was it!’

Summer, water.

Rainy season and floods.

Epidemic, and poison that causes symptoms similar to epidemic.

Suddenly, the clues were fitting together as one.