Chapter 417 – Though Gathered in One Place, They Dream Different Dreams (2)

It was precisely the Hao Sect that had as many branch halls and divisions as the Beggar Sect. Although their activities had been greatly reduced after the Demon Cult seized control of Anhui Province and many branches had withdrawn, several branches were still thriving.

The Hao Sect branch Dam Ho sought was one of those thriving places. The Hao Sect here was disguised as a gambling house.

Once someone became addicted to gambling, they couldn't help but return to the gambling house even if their parents died. Outside, countless people were dying swept up in bloody chaos, but inside the gambling house was filled with fervent heat.

"Hurry up and throw it."

"Damn it! If I lose this time too…"

People blinded by gambling were glaring at the gambling tables with fiery eyes.

The sound of dice rolling could be heard everywhere, and exclamations from mahjong players burst forth.

The types of gambling were extremely diverse – dog fighting matches were even taking place in one corner.

"Damn it! Go for the neck."

"Yes! Bite the neck and twist it around, just like that…"

Madness rippled across the faces of people shouting at the top of their lungs while holding betting slips.

To them, the fall of the Namgung Family or the Demon Cult ruling the world didn't matter. Only the results happening at the gambling tables before their eyes mattered.

"Wahhh!"

"Ahhh!"

Exclamations and sighs, joy and sorrow crossed everywhere.

Creak!

The gambling house door opened and new figures entered, but not a single person gave them a glance. Their gazes were focused solely on the gambling tables unfolding before their eyes.

The ones who newly entered the gambling house were precisely Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo.

"This place is the Hao Sect?"

Bang Jin-bo's eyes, entering a gambling house for the first time in his life, were wide with shock. The interior was thick with smoke, and the human spectacle radiating madness within gave Bang Jin-bo a great shock.

Probably anyone seeing such a scene would receive the same shock.

This was a place where the bottom of human nature was revealed. What status they had outside didn't matter. The moment they entered here, they were all the same humans mad with gambling.

Dam Ho fully understood the shock Bang Jin-bo must have received. But he didn't deliberately speak to comfort him.

The martial world didn't only have glamorous and good aspects. Dirty things like mud puddles also existed, and this too was one aspect of the martial world.

For Bang Jin-bo to grow into a proper martial artist rather than a half-baked one, he had to naturally accept the fact that such places existed. That was why he had left the Namgung brothers outside and brought only Bang Jin-bo into this place.

That's when it happened.

"Wait there. How did you get inside?"

The Hao Sect martial artists who were monitoring to prevent incidents in the gambling house approached Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo.

Naturally there were those guarding outside the gambling house. When new customers visited, they would naturally inform those inside. But they hadn't received any word from the martial artists guarding outside. It was natural for them to think it strange.

Some burly martial artists approached with fierce momentum. Ordinary people would be intimidated just by their appearance. But unfortunately for them, Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo were not ordinary people.

Rather, the closer they got to the two, the more their faces contorted. Because they instinctively felt fear.

'Damn it!'

'What, what is this? Could they be Demon Cult members?'

Finally their steps stopped.

It wasn't their will. Their two legs were refusing to approach Dam Ho.

Their legs trembled, and cold sweat flowed down their spines. Suppressing the urge to scream, they looked at Dam Ho with fearful gazes.

'Different.'

'This man is different from us.'

The moment they met Dam Ho's emotionless gaze, this was the common thought that arose in their minds.

That's when it happened.

"Move aside! He's not someone the likes of you should deal with."

Someone came running hurriedly from inside shouting. It was a middle-aged man with a goatee and small build. The Hao Sect martial artists hurriedly bowed their heads to him.

"Branch Leader."

"Move! You bastards. Are you trying to kill me?"

"Pardon?"

"Get lost already."

The goateed middle-aged man burst into anger. Only then did the martial artists hurriedly retreat backward. Their faces clearly showed relief at being alive.

The goateed middle-aged man hurriedly approached Dam Ho, bowed his head and said:

"Welcome, Great Hero Dam. This humble person is Seo Il-myeong, branch leader of the Hao Sect's Hexian division. I sincerely welcome Great Hero Dam's visit."

Seo Il-myeong's impression was exactly like a rat. In reality his personality was also gloomy like a rat and he was quick-witted. Thanks to this, he was able to instantly recognize Dam Ho's identity.

'If I fail to please Fist Demon's mood, today will be the last day of the Hexian branch.'

He tried his best to smile as naturally as possible. Hoping his smile wouldn't offend Dam Ho's mood.

Fortunately, Dam Ho didn't seem particularly offended. Seo Il-myeong, who had been carefully reading his mood, cautiously opened his mouth again.

"Please follow me. I'll guide you to a quiet place."

When Dam Ho silently nodded, Seo Il-myeong took small quick steps to lead the way.

The place they entered following him was a small room located inside the gambling house. The room that reminded one of a secret chamber with all sides tightly enclosed was Seo Il-myeong's office.

"Please sit here."

Seo Il-myeong offered Dam Ho the seat of honor. Dam Ho sat without declining. Bang Jin-bo stood behind Dam Ho, while Seo Il-myeong looked at Dam Ho with the most respectful attitude possible, hands folded.

After staring at Seo Il-myeong for a moment, Dam Ho finally opened his mouth.

"I want to know the world's current situation."

"What specifically would you like to know?"

"The Demon Cult and Martial Alliance."

"Neither is difficult. Then I'll start with the Demon Cult. First, thanks to Great Hero Dam, the Demon Cult's power in Anhui Province has greatly weakened. With all their core forces wiped out, they're scattered without a focal point. Thanks to this, our gambling house has also become safer, so we're grateful for this."

As Seo Il-myeong said, the Demon Cult's power within Anhui Province had greatly weakened. Even their momentum that had soared to the heavens after annihilating the Namgung Family had been broken, and their forces greatly weakened, so they were retreating their power to the outskirts of Anhui Province near Hunan Province.

Thanks to this, people who had been oppressed by the Demon Cult's momentum were now breathing sighs of relief, and sects that had persistently resisted also felt much more breathing room.

"It can't be said to be completely stable yet, but compared to when the Demon Cult was ascendant, it's become livable. All of this is thanks to Great Hero Dam. Thank you, thanks to you I don't have to lose my job either, so I'm extremely grateful. Hahaha!"

"……"

Seeing Dam Ho's indifferent reaction, Seo Il-myeong realized his mistake and hurriedly continued.

"Yes! I'll stop the nonsense and move on to the next topic. Anyway, despite the failure in Anhui Province, the Demon Cult's forces still seem to be intact. The work of annexing the southern Central Plains is also continuing without rest."

Currently, the Hao Sect was doing everything possible to uncover the Demon Cult's reality. But the more information they gathered, the more the Hao Sect's despair only grew.

The Demon Cult's forces were truly beyond imagination.

They still had solid forces, and there seemed to be even more undisclosed forces.

"Recently, unusual movements have been detected in Yueyang."

"What's that?"

"Weapon-making workshops are running busily, and wagons loaded with provisions are entering in continuous lines. I believe Great Hero Dam also understands well what this means."

"They're trying to move large-scale forces."

"Correct. We also understand it that way. Weapons and provisions are absolutely necessary items for those preparing for war. And with this scale, it's enough for thousands of people to last over a month. It's truly enormous."

At Seo Il-myeong's explanation, Dam Ho's expression hardened. Seo Il-myeong continued while reading his mood.

"There will probably be a large-scale offensive of a different dimension than before. And that target is…"

"The Martial Alliance."

"Exactly. Our superiors also judge it that way. There will probably be a major clash with the Martial Alliance soon."

"Does the Martial Alliance also know this fact?"

"They didn't know until now, but they'll find out soon. We plan to secretly leak the information."

"You intend to intervene?"

"Don't we also have to survive? If the Demon Cult gains power, those who die are underlings like us."

Seo Il-myeong grinned, showing his yellowed teeth.

His words were true. In regions where the Demon Cult held sway, situations where the Hao Sect was oppressed were occurring. Because of this, dozens of branches had already closed. At this rate, it was obvious the Hao Sect's influence would shrink, so they too were taking action.

Dam Ho's gaze sank deeply.

Seo Il-myeong watched Dam Ho lost in thought and quietly opened his mouth.

"By the way, there's something else to tell you. This isn't certain but…"

"……"

"It seems the Martial Alliance has also secretly dispatched elite forces targeting the Demon Cult's main base."

Instantly Dam Ho raised his head to look at Seo Il-myeong. The moment Seo Il-myeong met Dam Ho's pitch-black pupils, he felt his heart ominously pounding and hurriedly turned his head away.

'Wh-what kind of gaze is that…'

Just from looking at his eyes, his breath was blocked and his mind went blank. This was another first-time experience.

Dam Ho opened his mouth.

"A suicide squad?"

"Based on the circumstances, that possibility is high."

At Seo Il-myeong's answer, Dam Ho's gaze rippled.

He had somewhat expected this from when they said they were reorganizing the suicide squad.

Human beings tend to repeat methods that were most effective in the past. Because they had organized a suicide squad in the past and seen excellent results, they think it will work this time too.

Conversely, those who experienced unexpected nightmares always prepare for them. Dam Ho thought the Demon Cult would be the same. If it had been such a careless place, they wouldn't have been able to recover their former strength in just a few decades.

The problem was that the suicide squad included many people Dam Ho knew.

Dam Ho asked.

"Yeon-woon?"

"He hasn't been seen at Shaolin Temple for a long time."

"He's moving with the suicide squad."

"It seems so."

Seo Il-myeong made an expression as if he had committed a crime.

'Yeon-woon.'

The suicide squad included many of Cho Yeon-woon's acquaintances. Given Cho Yeon-woon's personality, he couldn't have turned his back on them.

Where Dam Ho was located was the eastern end of Anhui Province. It was over a thousand li away from Yueyang in Hunan Province where the Demon Cult was. No matter how fast he rode, it would take more than seven days and nights. Most importantly, there was no guarantee he could enter Hunan Province without any conflicts.

Dam Ho's gaze sank deeply. Given this situation, it seemed he had no choice but to trust Cho Yeon-woon. Cho Yeon-woon had the ability to extract himself from any situation.

Then Bang Jin-bo, who had been silent until now, opened his mouth.

"Yeon-woon hyung will be fine. Who could do anything to the world's Drunken Cloud Dragon? I believe in Yeon-woon hyung."

At Bang Jin-bo's confident words, Dam Ho silently nodded.

He also trusted Cho Yeon-woon.

The current Cho Yeon-woon was different from the Cho Yeon-woon of three years ago. He had achieved incomparable growth and been reborn as a complete martial artist.

If he couldn't trust such a Cho Yeon-woon, there would be no one trustworthy in the martial world. Dam Ho trusted Cho Yeon-woon.

After that, Dam Ho continued to hear from Seo Il-myeong about the current martial world's situation.

After he had destroyed the Demon Cult's heavenly net, many things had happened in the martial world. Among them, the biggest news was that sects opposing the Demon Cult were beginning to appear one by one. They had all stepped forward gaining courage from Dam Ho's divine might.

That's when it happened.

"How dare you deceive me!"

CRASH!

A sharp shout followed by a loud noise came from outside the secret room.

"F-fighting!"

"It's a martial artist!"

Following that, people's screams echoed.

"What?"

Seo Il-myeong's complexion completely changed. Someone was causing a disturbance outside.

Having just overcome the great mountain that was Dam Ho, another disaster had occurred. Without even asking Dam Ho's permission, he hurriedly ran outside.

Bang Jin-bo looked at Dam Ho.

"Brother!"

"Let's go!"

Dam Ho went outside the secret room with Bang Jin-bo.

The first scene they saw upon going outside was people flying through the air and crashing to the floor. They were the martial artists who had blocked Dam Ho when he entered the gambling house.

In the direction they had flown from, a woman wearing a veil stood coldly. In her arms, one Hao Sect martial artist was held by the neck in each hand. One of them was Seo Il-myeong, who had just been explaining everything to Dam Ho.

"Great Hero, please!"

He looked at Dam Ho with a tearful face.

The gaze of the woman holding Seo Il-myeong's neck naturally turned toward Dam Ho as well.

"Are you also one of them?"

Her cold voice echoed through the gambling house. ​

From the Tang Family Main House to Dujiangyan wasn’t very far.

Master Haewol leisurely took a ferry toward Dujiangyan.

He had an appointment to meet with Demon Cult, and knowing that salt was tied up at Dujiangyan and not moving elsewhere, there was no need to hurry.

While slowly going up the river, he could see Tang family warriors preparing to withdraw everywhere. They seemed to have already received contact through messenger birds and beacon fires.

“Tang Family Head was overshadowed by King of Hell, but she was a decisive heroine. Her judgment is swift.”

Master Haewol rowed while briefly thinking of Tang Gwi-ok.

Upon arriving at Dujiangyan, Demon Cult didn’t seem to have arrived yet. However, he needed to find Tang Qing’s hidden salt storage warehouse at Dujiangyan before Demon Cult came.

“Let’s see.”

After arriving at Dujiangyan, he casually walked around with his hands behind his back as if he were originally from there. Dressed as an ordinary villager, he didn’t particularly stand out.

As soon as he walked a little, the salty smell of salt was already vibrating.

This place, which was formerly part of Shu territory, has salt mixed in the groundwater, so salt springs flow out just by digging the ground. Salt wells were dug to draw water, and workplaces where that water was boiled with fire to obtain salt were located everywhere. With fires lit and steam rising from workplaces in all directions, the villages resembled volcanic regions.

As time passed, Master Haewol made a strange expression.

This was like hide and seek.

Where were hundreds of thousands of geun of salt hidden?

Small amounts of salt were piled everywhere. With so many workplaces, small-scale warehouses were constantly visible. Those were precisely the salt well warehouses Baek Li-jung had mentioned.

But those were amounts naturally accumulated while obtaining salt. They couldn’t possibly have divided hundreds of thousands of geun into mere dozens of geun and scattered them throughout this area for storage.

There were also medium-scale warehouses, but they only stored at most a few dozen seok.

“How very strange.”

Salt wasn’t the only problem. Work to mix poison with salt was also necessary.

So it must definitely be piled up in large-scale warehouses or storage yards. The places where it was stored to avoid rain must have roofs.

Then it would be visible no matter how far away.

But it’s not visible. No warehouse or storage yard of that size.

Master Haewol couldn’t stand it and climbed the highest peak nearby to look down.

“Salt well warehouse… salt well warehouse…”

Even looking from above, no giant warehouse that could store hundreds of thousands of geun of salt was visible.

Salt was being made at nearby salt wells, and downstream there were widely spread fields.

But where on earth was the salt?

Then Master Haewol suddenly realized that what should be visible wasn’t visible.

There were no boats.

Dujiangyan was still in a blockaded state. Boats could enter but couldn’t leave. Yet the numerous boats that should have entered during this time were not visible.

Master Haewol looked toward the upstream of the Min River from atop the peak. Mountain-like peaks blocked layer upon layer like a folding screen, so the upstream scenery wasn’t visible from Dujiangyan.

“Oh ho.”

Master Haewol went down the peak and headed upstream on the Min River.

Following the winding waterway upstream, he reached the uppermost reaches of the Min River. Unexpectedly, the uppermost reaches looked like a lake spread wide like the sea.

And there, hundreds of boats were floating leisurely. Seeing that their gunwales were all low, they were clearly loaded with cargo. Probably sacks containing salt!

Master Haewol laughed incredulously.

“These guys, did their guts come out of their boats? They truly have thick nerve?”

The salt well warehouse Baek Li-jung mentioned was false. The truth was on those boats on the river. They had remained just as they came loaded with salt.

But something caught Master Haewol’s senses.

A boat in the middle of the wide river.

He could feel sharp fragments of energy flying from inside a boat at least dozens of zhang away.

“Hmm.”

Master Haewol briefly thought whether to retreat like this or check.

Then he saw a hawk circling in the sky above.

It was a signal that Demon Cult had arrived.

“No need to drag it out further.”

Wheeet!

Master Haewol blew a long whistle and immediately leaped up.

Thump!

He stepped on the water surface with flat water steps, advancing three to four zhang at once toward the boat in the middle of the river.

Chaos erupted from boats on the sides as Master Haewol passed by.

“What, what is it!”

Those on the boats hastily brought bows and grabbed nets in the sudden emergency, but Master Haewol had already passed them.

Master Haewol instantly arrived at the boat in the middle.

It was a transport ship with a wide beam and low gunwales that could stack lots of cargo. Master Haewol scattered twin palms toward the water while running.

Splash!

Water sprayed up and Master Haewol’s body rose. Master Haewol stepped on the gunwale and leaped onto the deck.

Hiss.

A smile appeared at the corner of Master Haewol’s mouth.

On the two-story deck at the stern of the ship, over ten figures were already there as if waiting for Master Haewol.

Most conspicuous among them were Baek Li-jung and Mang Ryo flanked by unorthodox sect masters, and one figure sitting in a chair at the highest place on the platform.

A giant with extraordinary eyes, wearing a leopard skin band around his forehead and armor like a general on his body. He had stuck a great sword as tall as an adult between his spread legs and placed both hands on the handle. The middle of the great sword even had dozens of blood lines carved like rain marks, making it extremely chilling.

One of the Three Martial Venerables and the leader of Northern Heaven unorthodox sect.

Thunder Emperor Ga Mu-ru.

With his particularly dark eye rims, he pressed his turned lips together and looked down at Master Haewol without saying anything.

Master Haewol looked up at Ga Mu-ru and snorted.

“What did you crawl here to get and eat?”

Ga Mu-ru gave no answer. He just continued looking down with bulging eyes. Even so, he emanated enough intimidating presence to make ordinary people’s knees weak.

Knowing he had always been a man of few words, Master Haewol didn’t expect an answer either.

“Oh, it’s been a long time. Alliance Leader.”

It was Mang Ryo who spoke naturally.

“The elixir you gave me last time was very deliciously consumed.”

Master Haewol also answered with a smile at the corners of his mouth.

“You were still alive? You have a tenacious life.”

Mang Ryo scratched his throat as if gathering phlegm and spat out saliva mixed with blood.

“Must be a defective product.”

“Oh dear. How unfortunate.”

After giving a frivolous response, Master Haewol next looked at Baek Li-jung.

Master Haewol’s eyelids slightly frowned.

Baek Li-jung stared straight at Master Haewol and asked back.

“Haewol. What business did you come here to do?”

“Such an impudent fellow. Am I your friend?”

Master Haewol looked at Thunder Emperor Ga Mu-ru, Baek Li-jung, and the unorthodox sect masters in turn and said.

“I’ll advise only once.”

Master Haewol grinned.

“I intend to take over all the boats on this river, so if you all get off the boats without wagging your tails, I’ll spare your lives.”

Mang Ryo giggled and said.

“Oh my, I thought the noble Alliance Leader had boarded, but some bastard thief without even a sword has come visiting.”

Master Haewol looked around casually and said without concern.

“No one? Nobody? I’ll advise only once and won’t advise further.”

Thunder Emperor Ga Mu-ru remained silent, but rather Baek Li-jung snorted.

“Coming here alone to tell us to hand over the boats?”

“No.”

Suddenly.

Swoosh! Water columns shot up and four masters descended behind Master Haewol.

They were all masters of three men and one woman with outstanding energy, wearing unique attire with their entire bodies wrapped in white cloth rarely seen in the Central Plains.

Master Haewol said without looking back.

“You came not too late.”

Thunder Emperor Ga Mu-ru opened his mouth for the first time.

“One Leader… Six Enlightened Body!”

It was a heavy bass voice so rough it grated on the ears, but everyone heard it clearly.

One Leader Six Enlightened Body refers to Demon Cult’s leader and six great masters. Four of them had come to this place!

The young woman who covered her head, neck, and face entirely with gauze was Demon Cult’s Vanishing Master who governed good devotion.

The giant with a rough beard was Earth Store Master who governed rule.

The old man with a bald head and hooked nose was Myriad Enlightened Master who governed perfection.

[TL Note- Enlightened Teacher changed to Enlightened Master.]

Unlike the others, the middle-aged man wrapped in red cloth all over his body and holding a burning flag was Fire Flame Master who governed fire.

Moreover, there were more Demon Cult followers besides these. Ferry boats appeared one after another from upstream, enveloping the river in tension.

Baek Li-jung’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You brought in Demon Cult. You said I joined hands with unorthodox sects, but you’re the one who has fallen.”

“Does it look that way?”

“I’m ashamed of myself for once admiring you, following you, and trying to be even a little like you. Your current appearance is nothing but an ugly old man who can’t let go of his position of power.”

“Hehe, to dare say such things in front of me without hesitation. You’ve grown up a lot.”

Baek Li-jung spoke heavily.

“Haewol. I’ll ask you just one thing.”

“I permit it.”

“Why aren’t you surprised?”

“Should I be surprised?”

“Since you met me in an unexpected place, naturally you should be surprised, shouldn’t you?”

“That’s true too.”

The corners of Baek Li-jung’s lips twitched.

“There’s no reason to be surprised. Because you must have known.”

Master Haewol didn’t answer.

Baek Li-jung’s expression twisted like a demon laughing. But immortal energy was visible in his eyes. His expression and eye light were completely opposite!

“Originally, it was you who drove me to change. So you’re not surprised. Am I wrong?”

Master Haewol looked at Baek Li-jung with a frowning expression.

Then he suddenly scolded Baek Li-jung.

“What on earth are you doing? When removing evil and following good wouldn’t be enough, you’re accepting both pure and turbid?”

Removing evil and following good means abandoning evil and following good, while accepting both pure and turbid means accepting both clear and murky things, that is, good and evil without discrimination. Originally it means having a broad mind, but in the current situation it’s different.

What would happen if you can’t properly distinguish between good and evil, yet don’t have that much capacity, but recklessly accept good and evil?

“Damn fool. You disappoint my expectations to the end.”

Baek Li-jung’s lips lifted and his teeth showed. Baek Li-jung growled like a wolf in a low, deep voice.

“When… did you ever have expectations? You… abandoned me who believed in and followed you. Is this the reward for serving you?”

Master Haewol answered in a calm yet somewhat cold tone.

“Originally, you weren’t the vessel I wanted. You were too corrupt, intoxicated with power, and coveted authority. Look at yourself now. Could I trust someone like you and entrust great plans to you? I gave up expectations of you long ago.”

“Then why did you incite me to the end? Until I became like this?”

A smile appeared on Baek Li-jung’s twisted lips.

“Shall I tell you? You tried to use me as bait. So you drove me until I was pushed to the worst situation.”

Master Haewol stared at Baek Li-jung. He didn’t deny it. Baek Li-jung spat out words filled with killing intent.

“You’re trash. So whatever happens to you from now on, it’s all something you brought upon yourself. Do you understand?”

Baek Li-jung’s smile deepened.