Chapter 387 – When the Way is One Foot High, the Devil is One Zhang Tall… (3)

Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo, who had left Mount Song where Shaolin Temple was located, rode their horses without rest. They took rest on horseback and even ate simple rations on horseback. But no matter how much Black Ghost was a legendary steed unmatched in the world, as a living creature, it inevitably had to get tired.

The horse Bang Jin-bo was riding was even worse. With its tongue hanging out long, it looked like it could collapse at any moment.

In the end, Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo had no choice but to decide to rest briefly. The place they decided to rest was a small clearing by a riverbank.

"Whew!"

Only after dismounting did Bang Jin-bo let out a sigh of relief. His entire body was soaked with sweat.

Even for a martial arts master like Bang Jin-bo, spending an entire day on horseback was extremely arduous work. He was trembling all over as if he had caught a body-wide cold.

On the other hand, Dam Ho looked no different from when he first mounted Black Ghost. Bang Jin-bo couldn't help but admire Dam Ho's appearance inwardly.

People commonly think that riding a horse doesn't take much effort, but it was actually very strenuous work.

Bang Jin-bo dismounted and briefly practiced breathing regulation. Then the fatigue accumulated in his body instantly disappeared.

"Brother, please wait a moment."

Bang Jin-bo immediately began preparing a meal.

Dam Ho nodded and silently looked at the river where darkness had fallen. The countless small lights visible on the water's surface were fireflies. The sight of innumerable fireflies flying across the water's surface like brushstrokes was even fantastical. But Dam Ho's mind was filled entirely with thoughts of Hwang Hye-ryeong.

Though she was still safe, who knew how the situation might change as time passed. His heart was urgent, but Dam Ho's reason remained cold.

Being impatient wouldn't change the situation. Rather, only when his reason stayed cold could he judge coolly and devise countermeasures.

Dam Ho mentally mapped out the shortest route to Anhui Province where Hwang Hye-ryeong was. After revising it several times, he calculated the optimal route.

Meanwhile, Bang Jin-bo was busily making food.

He took out dried meat and grain flour to boil, adding flavor with spices he had prepared in advance. In an instant, a decent porridge was made. Bang Jin-bo ladled a bowl of porridge and offered it to Dam Ho.

"Brother, please eat."

"Thank you."

"Hehe!"

Bang Jin-bo sat beside Dam Ho with his characteristic smile.

Though he didn't know what dangers awaited in Anhui Province, Bang Jin-bo wasn't afraid. Because he was going with Dam Ho.

Hwang Hye-ryeong, Dam Ho's sister, also had deep ties with him. When he stayed at Overlord's Stronghold, they had become close and gotten along without reserve, so she was like a real older sister. Rescuing her was definitely not someone else's business.

Dam Ho silently moved his spoon.

The porridge Bang Jin-bo made was truly delicious. It was puzzling how he could create such taste with just a few types of grain flour and dried meat. But since it was food made by Bang Jin-bo, Dam Ho thought it was natural.

Originally, people who have reached the level of masters in anything don't blame their materials. People who can draw out the best effects with simple materials that others can't understand. Dam Ho thought Bang Jin-bo was one of such people.

It was when Dam Ho had half-emptied the hwagwa Bang Jin-bo gave him. Suddenly Dam Ho put down his spoon and looked at the riverbank shrouded in darkness.

"Why? Brother."

Bang Jin-bo looked at Dam Ho with a puzzled expression.

At that moment, Dam Ho opened his mouth.

"Come out!"

Only then did Bang Jin-bo also sense the unusual atmosphere and look toward where Dam Ho's gaze was directed. He concentrated his inner power to heighten his eyesight, but all he could see was complete darkness. However, Bang Jin-bo didn't give up and continued staring into the darkness.

That's when it happened.

Something stirred and rose from within the darkness.

"Wha, what?"

Bang Jin-bo was startled and took a defensive stance.

"This old man surprised you. Sorry."

The being that rose from the darkness spoke.

He soon parted the bushes and revealed himself.

When Bang Jin-bo saw his appearance in the campfire light, he unconsciously muttered.

"A, a beggar?"

"That's right! An old, sick beggar. Won't you offer this old man a bowl of porridge? I'm so hungry."

The one who fully revealed himself was indeed an old beggar.

His gray hair was full of grime and greasy, and his tattered clothes were covered with stitching marks from countless repairs. What was unusual was the bamboo staff in his hand.

The surface of the bamboo staff was polished smooth from countless years of use. But even more unusual was that the bamboo staff was covered with mysterious patterns whose meaning was unknown.

"Hmm! The porridge smells so good. Won't you please give charity of one bowl to this old beggar? I'm so hungry."

When the old beggar opened his mouth, only a few remaining teeth were visible. Even those looked rotten and ready to fall out at any moment.

Bang Jin-bo unconsciously looked at Dam Ho beside him.

Dam Ho was silently looking at the old beggar. Though his gaze stained with darkness should have been eerie, the old beggar still looked cheerfully at the porridge boiling over the campfire.

When Dam Ho's answer didn't come no matter how long he waited, the old beggar briefly frowned.

"My, what stingy hearts people have. You won't give it for free? Fine! Then how about this?"

What the old beggar took out from his waist was a fairly large gourd bottle. When he shook the gourd bottle, a sloshing sound was heard.

"This is liquor more precious than this old man's life. Wouldn't this be enough?"

"Sit!"

Only then did Dam Ho's mouth open.

The old beggar grinned and sat across from Dam Ho, twitching his nose.

"Hmm! The aroma is excellent. The smell was so good that I parted the pitch-black darkness and came here. Please ladle some out."

He held out the gourd he wore at his waist to Bang Jin-bo. His appearance of demanding food was like a child, so Bang Jin-bo smiled and ladled the hwagwa full.

The old beggar ate a spoonful of hwagwa with a happy expression.

"Mmm! My thinking wasn't wrong after all. This is really excellent."

He went ahead and opened the bottle cork. Then fragrant liquor aroma spread in all directions.

'Wow!'

The moment he smelled the liquor aroma, Bang Jin-bo couldn't help but admire it. The liquor aroma was excellent beyond his expectations.

He had naturally thought cheap rice wine would be in it, but it seemed to contain fine liquor.

The old beggar took a sip of liquor and handed the bottle to Dam Ho. Dam Ho silently received the bottle and took a sip.

When the liquor entered his mouth, Dam Ho was also slightly surprised. Both the aroma and taste were the finest he had ever experienced. For something this good, it must have been made with the finest ingredients and aged for several years.

Dam Ho also handed the bottle to Bang Jin-bo, whose eyes were sparkling on one side.

"Hehe!"

Bang Jin-bo smiled awkwardly and took a sip. Instantly his eyes changed.

"Wow! This is really excellent."

"Hehe! Good, right? It's bamboo liquor. I made it myself."

"Yourself?"

"Yes! Making liquor is this old man's only hobby."

The old beggar suddenly lifted his clothes that were no better than rags. Then more than ten small gourd bottles hanging in clusters inside were visible.

Bang Jin-bo's eyes widened greatly.

"Don't tell me all of those?"

"Hehe! This old man's blood-like liquor. I specially brought them out to drink during this journey in the martial world."

"Do you really mean all of those contain liquor?"

"You, young man! Have you lived being deceived all your life?"

"I'm sorry."

When Bang Jin-bo quickly apologized, the old beggar chuckled.

"No, rather, did you make this porridge?"

"Yes!"

"Your skill is quite good. It's the best porridge this old beggar has tasted in his lifetime."

"Th, thank you."

"With good liquor and excellent side dishes, this old man doesn't envy the immortals. Kah!"

The old beggar continuously ate porridge while letting out exclamations. Such an appearance of the beggar made viewers smile naturally.

When someone called his own cooking the best, there was no reason to dislike it. Bang Jin-bo remained wary of the old beggar but couldn't erase his pleased smile.

"Excellent!"

The old beggar quickly finished a bowl of porridge.

"Shall I give you another bowl?"

"Hehe! Good!"

The old beggar didn't refuse.

Slurp!

He completely drained the bowl at once. Bang Jin-bo stared blankly at such behavior of the beggar, then quickly turned his gaze to Dam Ho.

Dam Ho was eating hwagwa without even glancing at the old beggar. Little by little, slowly.

He was treating the old beggar as if he didn't exist. The old beggar also seemed to notice Dam Ho's attitude belatedly and frowned.

"My, the young friend is cold as ice. It's late, but let's introduce ourselves. I am…"

"Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar, right."

"How did you know that?"

The old beggar was surprised and gaped. That appearance was exactly like a fish brought up on land.

Bang Jin-bo was surprised, wondering if the old beggar had such an appearance.

The old beggar's, Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar's expression became serious.

"How did you know that?"

"Chu Gyeol-gae."

"Did that guy already tell you?"

"After drinking a few cups, he talked."

"That damn guy. To spill the sect's greatest secret being distracted by a few drinks."

Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar grumbled.

Though he said that, he didn't seem to care at all.

His eyes changed.

"Right! Let me formally introduce myself. I am Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar, Supreme Elder of the Beggar Sect."

"……"

Dam Ho was silent. At this, Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar made an awkward expression.

Normally in such situations, the junior should introduce himself, but Dam Ho just stared and seemed to have no intention of saying his name.

"Ahem!"

Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar just coughed unnecessarily. Still, since Dam Ho seemed to have no intention of speaking, he opened his mouth first.

"When a senior of the martial world reveals his name, it seems proper etiquette for a junior to also reveal his name."

"Since when do beggars seek etiquette?"

"Well, that's true but…"

"You already know and came looking."

"……"

"Isn't that right?"

At Dam Ho's words, Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar seemed at a loss for words and briefly made an awkward expression. But that was only for a moment, soon he laughed good-naturedly.

"Hahaha! This is really too much for me. Sorry! I apologize."

"……"

"But don't misunderstand. I didn't come with other thoughts, but because I was truly curious. Coming out to the martial world after a long time, your reputation was resounding most loudly. So I wanted to see. The appearance of a junior at the peak of the current martial world."

The good-natured appearance from just before completely disappeared, and the aura of an absolute master rose heavily, overwhelming the surroundings.

Bang Jin-bo watched such changes in Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar while holding his breath.

'This person is a Supreme Elder of the Beggar Sect?'

Though much weakened now, the Beggar Sect was once called one of the Nine Sects and One Gang. The Nine Sects naturally meant the Nine Great Sects, and One Gang referred to the Beggar Sect. It had tremendous power and strength comparable to the Nine Great Sects.

Though its power had greatly diminished due to the aftermath of the first Righteous-Demon Great War, making it hard to find its former majesty, there still existed no sect or person in the martial world who could ignore the Beggar Sect.

Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar was the Supreme Elder of such a Beggar Sect.

Knowing the tremendous weight that the word "Supreme" carried, Bang Jin-bo could only look at Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar while holding his breath.

Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar looked at Dam Ho while emanating tremendous dignity. For an ordinary person, it would have been impossible to even lift their head, crushed by his dignity. But this level of intimidation couldn't affect Dam Ho.

Dam Ho stared straight at Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar. Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar slightly frowned at the pitch-black, deep pupils that showed no emotion at all.

He wasn't accustomed to such eyes.

Most people looked at him with respect and admiration when he revealed his status, they couldn't stare at him like looking at a cow or chicken. No one in the martial world could.

But Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar smiled.

"Haha! It's embarrassing being stared at like that. It's just like that. So don't worry too much about it. Since we already know each other, what need is there for introductions? Let's just drink."

Bang Jin-bo blinked his eyes as if finding such Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar amazing.

Until now, those who had dealt with Dam Ho invariably either reddened their faces with humiliation or became mentally intimidated and couldn't lift their heads. This was the first time for a reaction like Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar's. That's why it felt more amazing.

'Indeed, not just anyone becomes a Supreme Elder of the Beggar Sect.'

Bang Jin-bo newly realized how wide the world was.

The world was wide and there were as many extraordinary people as grains of sand. Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar was also one of such people. The only difference was that among them, he belonged to a very outstanding category.

Forbidden Demon Divine Beggar abruptly stopped laughing.

"I have something to tell you."

He stood up from his seat.

Due to the incessant rain, the ground was full of puddles, and occasionally mountains collapsed with piles of earth blocking the roads. Streams and rivers had already overflowed, completely submerging the low-lying rice fields and farmland.

Damage from the rainy season was already everywhere.

Jin Ja-gang, carried on Yeong-gwi’s back, said.

“It’s too late.”

Yeong-gwi got angry.

“I’m already doing my best!”

“By the time we arrive in Sichuan, more than half the rainy season will have passed. I don’t know how much time we’ll have to stop King of Hell.”

“Our purpose is to replace the Tang family’s head, not to stop King of Hell’s conspiracy.”

“We need to crush King of Hell’s conspiracy to reveal the identities of those who joined hands with him.”

“That’s fortunate at least. You’re not acting like a great hero saying countless people will die.”

“That’s included too.”

Yeong-gwi shuddered.

“Then we should hope the Shaolin monks succeed in striking King of Hell.”

“I said that won’t do.”

Yeong-gwi’s words became faster in her anger.

“According to you, there are eighteen Shaolin monks. Just eighteen people sent to strike the Tang Family Main House. They’re not even traveling fast. They’re going at their own pace as if it doesn’t matter whether King of Hell knows or not. Don’t you know what that means?”

“We’ve already had this same conversation thirteen times.”

“You’ve also just said it won’t do without any countermeasures thirteen times.”

Jin Ja-gang closed his mouth and fell into thought. They kept having the same conversation like a hamster wheel. And after that, long periods of silence usually followed.

“It seems we need to slow down.”

Jin Ja-gang said.

Yeong-gwi also noticed something strange and stopped. Jin Ja-gang got down from Yeong-gwi’s back.

They had encountered corpses killed by Shaolin monks several times.

But this time was different.

A massive aura of death could be felt from the entire road ahead.

The two heightened their nerves and moved forward.

Corpses were scattered on both sides of the road.

Limbs and intestines washed by rainwater floated in deeply dug puddles. Banners symbolizing organizations were broken and stuck here and there.

Yeong-gwi’s expression became serious.

Looking at the banners, they were all from Shaanxi’s martial sects. At least ten sects’ martial artists seemed to have gathered here.

And all were dead.

Just the corpses visible to the eye numbered fifty to sixty. Considering the bodies hidden in the bushes or further ahead, the number would easily exceed hundreds.

It wasn’t just small and medium sect martial artists; Mount Hua Sect and Mount Zhongnan Sect martial artists were also visible.

For such a group of martial artists to be massacred in one place…

Yeong-gwi bit her lip and looked ahead.

Someone was standing in the middle of the road, getting rained on.

Whoosh…

The cap on his head was dented and his hair was disheveled and hanging long.

It was a Mount Zhongnan martial artist.

Whoooosh…

Even though Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi had approached close by, the martial artist still showed his back, standing motionless in the rain.

When Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi stopped at about ten paces distance, only then did the martial artist turn around.

It was Gi-san of Mount Zhongnan Sect.

His eyes were sunken and his lips were pale. His pupils were unfocused and blank as if his soul had left him.

Gi-san asked in a hoarse, subdued voice, stumbling over his words.

“Who are… you people?”

It sounded like a voice that hadn’t spoken for a very long time.

Jin Ja-gang asked.

“How long have you been standing here?”

“Me? Ah…”

Only then did Gi-san look around his surroundings.

“Ah… that’s right. I was spared to collect these friends’ corpses. Right. I had forgotten…”

Looking at the corpses, they seemed to have been dead for at least a full day.

Gi-san had been standing in this spot continuously since then.

Gi-san’s body was stiff and he moved with difficulty as he turned to look at Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi.

“But… who are you people?”

Yeong-gwi signaled not to answer, but Jin Ja-gang answered straightforwardly.

“I am Jin Ja-gang.”

“Jin Ja-gang? Ah… Poison Dragon…”

The sunken-eyed Gi-san muttered something and grasped his sword hilt.

“Right. Poison Dragon… they said Poison Dragon would pass through. You harmed our Mount Zhongnan disciples and Brother Benevolent Hero Bulgi.”

“That’s right.”

“Then I can’t just… let you pass.”

Gi-san drew his sword.

Clang!

The sword was broken in the middle. However, sharp sword energy extended about a zhang from the broken part. The sword energy was so sharp that raindrops would be cut in half when they hit it.

It was hard to believe this was the martial prowess of someone who had been standing in the rain with his mind gone for a full day.

However, this was also proof of how fierce a battle he had fought before losing his mind. His body was broken but his fighting spirit was raised to the extreme.

Even with his mind gone, he was still moving according to his duty.

But trying to fight with such a body was nothing more than saying he wanted to die.

Yeong-gwi advised Jin Ja-gang.

“Poison Dragon. That person isn’t normal right now. There’s no need to fight. Don’t create resentment.”

But hearing those words, Gi-san shook his head.

“No… no. As long as I’m guarding, Poison Dragon cannot pass this place… If you want to pass, you must get past me. Do you… understand?”

Jin Ja-gang nodded.

“Poison Dragon!”

Yeong-gwi tried to stop him, but Jin Ja-gang looked at Yeong-gwi briefly then stepped forward.

Gi-san also approached toward Jin Ja-gang.

“Mount Zhongnan disciples… do not retreat.”

Though his legs were stiff and he staggered, he maintained his balance with reflexes trained over many years and swung his sword energy.

The sword energy was sharp, but the sword wasn’t fast.

Jin Ja-gang could easily avoid Gi-san’s sword even in the rain. Gi-san stumbled and fell on his own.

Splash!

Gi-san knelt and raised his head. Jin Ja-gang placed his finger on Gi-san’s forehead. Gi-san muttered.

“Mount Zhongnan disciples do not yield to threats.”

Jin Ja-gang said.

“I will collect the corpses for you.”

“Ah…”

A faint smile appeared at the corners of Gi-san’s mouth.

Jin Ja-gang released his energy.

Thud!

Gi-san’s head shook greatly as blood flowed from his eyes, nose, and mouth. Gi-san’s body fell to the side.

Jin Ja-gang immediately picked up Gi-san’s corpse and moved it to the roadside. Then he began gathering the other corpses in one place.

Yeong-gwi watched Jin Ja-gang quietly then rubbed her forehead.

Jin Ja-gang really intended to gather and collect over a hundred corpses in one place.

Little by little, she began to understand Jin Ja-gang’s thoughts.

Yeong-gwi silently helped Jin Ja-gang move the corpses together.

* * *

Sichuan.

The nine who came from Shaanxi met with the nine who crossed over from Chongqing.

Finally, eighteen Shaolin monks had entered Sichuan’s capital.

“Namo Amitabha, Sichuan is quiet.”

Despite the pouring rain from the rainy season befitting a capital, countless people were coming and going. At first glance, calling it quiet didn’t seem fitting.

However, originally Sichuan was considered like an iron wall to martial artists from other regions. The three powers of Sichuan – Qingcheng Sect, Emei Sect, and Tang Family Main House – were positioned everywhere. From the moment they set foot in Sichuan until they left, the watchful eyes of Sichuan’s three powers followed everywhere.

But now they couldn’t feel the gazes pouring from all directions like before.

Beom-hae said.

“Among Sichuan’s three powers, Emei Sect has secluded themselves and Qingcheng Sect has disbanded. The absence of the two sects is significant.”

The monk standing beside Beom-hae asked.

“Shall we go to the Tang Family Main House?”

“Let’s go.”

The Shaolin monks headed directly to the Tang Family Main House without any hesitation.

The Tang Family Main House stood tall like a massive fortress.

Hundreds of houses and dozens of halls gathered together gave an even stronger sense of exclusion. Moreover, it was very quiet. Misty clouds formed by rainwater hitting and bouncing off the halls’ roofs made the Tang Family Main House’s atmosphere extremely desolate.

Normally, people should be busily coming and going at the Tang Family Main House, but there wasn’t a single person moving about.

Instead, with the outer courtyard gates wide open, one scholar holding a rain shield waited in front.

The scholar bowed his head politely toward the Shaolin monks.

“King of Hell is waiting.”

But Beom-hae didn’t move.

“Tell King of Hell to come out.”

The scholar repeated the same words with his head bowed.

“King of Hell is waiting.”

Beom-hae took out and unfolded the personal letter Tang Qing had sent.

“We did not come to exchange friendship. We came to take King of Hell’s head in exchange for accepting his surrender!”

It was talk that would shock anyone from the Tang family to hear. Yet the scholar still didn’t raise his head.

“King of Hell is waiting.”

Beom-hae’s eyes narrowed. The momentum of the Shaolin monks standing behind Beom-hae became menacing.

“If he doesn’t come out, the Tang family will pay the price.”

Only then did the scholar raise his head. But his expression wasn’t one of agreement. The scholar backed away and entered the outer courtyard.

Without leaving any word that he understood, would inform them, or any hint at all.

Then.

Creeeeak.

The outer courtyard gates began to close.

Bang! Bang! Click!

Sounds of locking the gates and even setting the crossbar could be heard.

One of the Shaolin monks said.

“King of Hell apparently has no intention of surrendering. He seems unwilling to meekly offer his neck.”

Another monk said.

“Or he wants to maintain his pride even while surrendering.”

Beom-hae answered.

“Master already predicted King of Hell’s behavior and commanded us. If King of Hell doesn’t comply obediently, sweep away the Tang family.”

“It seems the time has come.”

Beom-hae nodded and raised his hand to point at the tightly closed gates.

“Open them.”

Two monks stepped forward and went to the gates.

They were solid gates made of thick wood with tough lacquer coating, bound with iron bands and fixed with studs. They looked like they could only be broken by a battering ram. But the two monks clenched both fists, placed them at their waists, gathered their internal energy with all their might, then simultaneously struck the gates.

Bang! Bang!

The wood split and cracked. The iron bands dented deeply. The studs broke and flew off.

Crash!

It took less than fifteen minutes for the outer gates to be destroyed by the two monks’ punches.

Creak… creak…

The large gates were half-destroyed and barely hanging on their hinges, swaying.

“Great compassion and transformation, Bodhisattva breaking and subduing. Namo Amitabha Guanyin Bodhisattva.”

Beom-hae said with an angry face.

“Clear the path and bring King of Hell’s head. I will not tolerate retreat. Today, King of Hell will confess all his sins before Buddha and fall into hell’s flames!”

Beom-gon stepped forward first, took a deep breath, and unleashed a lion’s roar.

ROOOOOAR!

Like a trumpet sound announcing war, a tremendous lion’s roar shook the Tang Family Main House.

Dozens of Tang family martial artists revealed themselves beyond the broken gates. Twenty archers climbed onto the walls and aimed their bowstrings at the Shaolin monks. Those carrying hidden weapons also waited nearby. They put their hands in their sleeves, ready to strike.

Beom-hae’s mouth twisted as killing intent flowed out.

“Go!”

And the Shaolin monks pushed through the broken gates and entered the Tang Family Main House.