Chapter 443 – The Land and Rivers Are Stained with Blood (3)

"Huu!" ​

Bang Jin-bo let out a sigh. ​

Before him stood a pyre built from an enormous quantity of branches, atop which lay the villagers' corpses. Bang Jin-bo and the Namgung brothers had done this. ​

On one side, weeping village women and children gathered. Their faces, having lost all family and relatives overnight, were filled with sorrow. Still, they could take comfort in the fact that the bandits who raided the village were all dead. ​

Dam Ho had been death itself. ​

He'd mercilessly killed even bandits kneeling and begging forgiveness. ​

No mercy, no compassion. ​

Though too cruel a sight, the villagers rather found solace in it. They'd lost everything to the bandits, loved ones and the homes they'd struggled to build. ​

Though Dam Ho was frightening, their gratitude was greater. Without Dam Ho, the women would have been brutally violated then killed. ​

Whoosh! ​

Fierce flames rose from the pyre. ​

The fire consumed not only wood but also the villagers' corpses. Seeing this, women and children collapsed wailing. ​

Bang Jin-bo watching this bowed his head. ​

Somehow he felt unbearably sorry toward them, as if he'd committed a sin. ​

In this chaotic age, even humanity's minimum decency wasn't upheld. In such troubled times, those who learned martial arts should remain vigilant protecting the weak, people like Bang Jin-bo. ​

Bang Jin-bo's gaze suddenly turned toward Dam Ho standing aside. ​

Deep shadows fell on Dam Ho's face watching the flame-engulfed pyre. Especially deep shadows descended on his eyes, making his thoughts unreadable. ​

Today Dam Ho had stained himself with many times more blood than Bang Jin-bo. Bang Jin-bo knew all this was to dilute his guilt. ​

Dam Ho said Bang Jin-bo did nothing wrong. ​

What he did was what any human should do. ​

In such chaos, if the strong don't protect the weak, the world becomes hell. ​

"Huu!" ​

Bang Jin-bo sighed again, but this sigh had different meaning. ​

It was the moment when one walking the martial artist's path as a cook decided by his own will the path forward. ​

The Namgung brothers watching Bang Jin-bo couldn't say anything. ​

Those most shocked by Bang Jin-bo's martial prowess were the Namgung brothers. They never knew such decisive action was hidden in always-kind Bang Jin-bo. ​

Most shocking was Bang Jin-bo's martial prowess. ​

They never knew he could display such prowess with a cooking knife. Though rage had consumed reason, Bang Jin-bo's displayed prowess greatly shocked them. ​

They found reasons to necessarily grow stronger from Bang Jin-bo, and therefore came to like and respect him more. ​

Dam Ho said to Bang Jin-bo. ​

"Let's go." ​

"Yes!" ​

Bang Jin-bo answered without hesitation. ​

Before, he'd have watched the cremation to the end helping with conclusion, but now he couldn't. ​

He couldn't share the sorrow of those left behind. Enduring sorrow was their burden, and Bang Jin-bo had other things to do. ​

That was the fate of those who learned martial arts. ​

Bang Jin-bo finally deeply felt and accepted a martial artist's fate. ​

Dam Ho calmly watched such Bang Jin-bo. He felt Bang Jin-bo's eyes had changed. ​

A cook's purity and a martial artist's resoluteness coexisted in his eyes. Before, quite a gap existed between the two, but now it had narrowed considerably. ​

Dam Ho thought that alone was sufficient. ​

Bang Jin-bo was steadily growing, faster than expected, and in the right direction. ​

Unlike himself who lacked something. ​

Dam Ho mounted Black Ghost and looked at the sky. ​

Clouds flowed rapidly like the era's currents. A chaotic age where one couldn't see even an inch ahead. ​

In such times, there must be a reason why a demon like himself was born. ​

Or he hoped there was. ​

Because then reasons to live would become clearer. ​

***

Runan was a fairly large county located at the border of Henan and Anhui provinces. With nearby Mount Tianzhong and passing official roads, it was a transportation hub where many gathered even normally. ​

Dam Ho's destination was precisely Runan. From Runan taking the official road, Dengfeng County where Shaolin Temple was located was only five days away. But to enter Runan, they had to pass Mount Tianzhong. ​

Mount Tianzhong was called a famous mountain even in Henan Province. Ancient academies existed there, and historic sites were scattered throughout the mountain. ​

Dam Ho, Bang Jin-bo and others were crossing Mount Tianzhong. Though ancient academies and historic sites appeared everywhere, neither gave them a glance. Only the accompanying Namgung brothers occasionally exclaimed admiration. ​

Dam Ho suddenly turned his head to look at Bang Jin-bo riding beside him. Though his youthful face remained, somehow a mature feeling strongly emanated. ​

It felt like he'd become an adult overnight. Dam Ho thought Bang Jin-bo's change was natural. ​

No one remains a youth forever. Whether they like it or not, people become adults through numerous experiences, and once adult, hardened perspectives don't easily change. ​

While still young, experiencing much and establishing proper values was important. Though Dam Ho couldn't know what values Bang Jin-bo would have, he was certainly experiencing growing pains of becoming an adult. ​

Dam Ho turned his gaze from Bang Jin-bo to look ahead. ​

From now on, it was Bang Jin-bo's burden. No room for Dam Ho's involvement existed there, and he didn't think it proper either. ​

Just as Dam Ho had his own path, Bang Jin-bo had his. Further involvement would only harm Bang Jin-bo. ​

Snort! ​

Then suddenly Black Ghost snorted roughly and stopped. Continuously scratching the ground with his forelegs as if sensing strange presence looked unusual. ​

The moment Dam Ho frowned looking ahead. ​

"Krgh! Damn!" ​

Suddenly with rough cursing, someone burst through foliage ahead. A man covered entirely in blood. His clothes were torn like rags, and countless wounds covered his entire body. Though injured enough that ordinary people would have died, the man still moved. ​

The blood-soaked man seemed to sense Dam Ho and others' presence, raising his head while lifting his sword. ​

"Who's there?" ​

"……" ​

"You are?" ​

The man recognized Dam Ho, eyes widening. Relief appeared on his blood-stained face. He ran toward Dam Ho shouting. ​

"D-Dam brother! It's me, Nam Hak! I'm being chased now. Please help!" ​

As if proving his words, over ten martial artists emerged from the foliage he'd burst from. While rushing to chase Nam Hak, they froze upon discovering Dam Ho. ​

"The Fist Demon?" ​

"No way!" ​

Disbelief appeared on their faces. ​

In vast Central Plains, meeting Dam Ho at Mount Tianzhong of all places. Too coincidental to dismiss as mere chance. ​

Nam Hak hurriedly stood beside Dam Ho saying. ​

"They're Heavenly Evil Cult pursuers! I barely escaped while being captured. Please help!" ​

Urgency filled Nam Hak's face. ​

Nam Hak called Heavenly Thunder Martial Guest. A prodigy Kongtong Sect produced and one of the Nine Martial Dragons, requesting help so urgently was impossible. Considering his arrogant temperament. ​

Nam Hak was that seriously wounded. Blood flowing from wounds deep to bone reddened the ground beneath his feet. ​

Dam Ho dismounted from Heuk-gwi and spoke. ​

"Heavenly Evil Cult?" ​

"Right! Must inform the world of their true nature, so take me to the Martial Alliance……" ​

Nam Hak couldn't finish speaking, collapsing unconscious. From serious wounds and excessive blood loss. ​

"Ah!" ​

Bang Jin-bo hastily dismounted and stanched Nam Hak's wounds. ​

Dam Ho briefly watched such Nam Hak then looked at hesitating Heavenly Evil Cult pursuers. Clear bewilderment showed on their faces. ​

They'd pursued Nam Hak but never imagined meeting the Fist Demon here. To complete their mission, they had to overcome the wall called Dam Ho. ​

The pursuers looked at each other's faces. After briefly exchanging glances, their expressions became resolute. ​

"Attack!" ​

They all charged at Dam Ho simultaneously. ​

Swoosh! ​

Air screamed as their swung swords cut through it. ​

As if coordinating long, their combined swordplay was extremely precise. Disregarding defense, throwing whole bodies in one-hit-kill attacks poured toward Dam Ho. ​

Whoosh! ​

That moment, rough airflow swirled around Dam Ho's entire body. Violent Demon Energy activating. ​

In that state, Dam Ho charged toward pursuers. ​

Using charging steps, throwing his whole body. ​

Boom! ​

An explosion erupted. And over ten chunks of meat flew in all directions. Horribly crushed losing original form, they could no longer be called human. ​

That was the pursuers' end. ​

Dam Ho straightened while standing in place. ​

A large crater was hollowed centered on him. Spiral patterns were carved into the ground as if an artisan had carefully sculpted them. ​

The Namgung brothers looked aghast at Dam Ho who'd instantly dispatched pursuers. Though they'd traveled with Dam Ho quite long, they still weren't accustomed to such scenes. ​

Then Bang Jin-bo said to Dam Ho. ​

"The wounds are serious. Moving seems impossible. We should find nearby shelter and treat his wounds briefly." ​

Dam Ho silently nodded. Then Bang Jin-bo carefully carried Nam Hak to a suitable camping spot. ​

After lighting a fire, he removed Nam Hak's upper garment. Then terrible wounds came into view. Wounds deep enough to show bone writhed like worms, crisscrossing chaotically. ​

Bang Jin-bo first took out a Wondrous Healing Pill from his bosom, administered it, then thickly applied golden wound medicine to the wounds. ​

Both the pill and medicine were gifts from Jong Ri-yeon. Befitting the Divine Physician epithet, they demonstrated excellent efficacy. Blood immediately stopped, and color gradually returned to his face. He'd passed the crisis. ​

Bang Jin-bo wiped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve saying. ​

"Fortunately. If wounds were slightly deeper he'd have died, but fortunately all just missed vital points by a hair's breadth. Heaven surely helped." ​

Though he said that, anxiety clearly showed on Bang Jin-bo's face. ​

Nam Hak was a suicide squad member. ​

They already knew the suicide squad failed its mission and the Demon Cult's main force marched toward the Martial Alliance. ​

The suicide squad included Eun So-cheong and many others he knew. Especially Eun So-cheong's safety worried him, but he could remain composed because Cho Yeon-woon accompanied her. He believed Cho Yeon-woon would surely protect Eun So-cheong. But seeing Nam Hak, one of the Nine Martial Dragons, in such miserable state, anxiety suddenly struck. ​

"What on earth happened? Why would someone who participated in the suicide squad raiding the Demon Cult suddenly be chased by the Heavenly Evil Cult?" ​

Bang Jin-bo looked extremely confused. ​

His heart was filled with worry for Eun So-cheong. ​

He wanted to run to where Eun So-cheong was immediately. He wanted to know if she was safe, wanted to check if she was hurt. ​

Then Dam Ho placed his hand on Bang Jin-bo's shoulder. ​

"So-cheong will be safe." ​

"Brother?" ​

"Trust Yeon-woon." ​

He was the only friend Dam Ho trusted. He would protect acquaintances in any situation. Dam Ho believed so. ​

The Great Buddha Beom-bon, abbot of Shaolin Temple, was squatting in his quarters reading Buddhist scriptures. Due to his enormous build, even in the not-so-small room, he alone seemed to fill half of it.

Demon-Destroying Monk Mu-gak, along with Breaking Sect leader Hee-neung and high-ranking monks of the Breaking Sect, came to find Beom-bon.

They all had angry faces.

The Breaking Sect monks complained.

“Just how long are you going to keep delaying!”

“It’s already been more than a month since you declared the Righteous Dharma March!”

“Look. While the Righteous Dharma March was stopped due to floods and plague, see what’s happening in the martial world. Everyone’s eyes are bloodshot trying to devour each other. Isn’t this all because the Righteous Dharma March was delayed!”

Hee-neung coldly looked down at Beom-bon and said.

“Are you forgetting that stopping and waiting for the Righteous Dharma March was already a very exceptional thing? If the head monk is opposing the Breaking Sect’s Righteous Dharma March because he’s the leader of the Embracing Sect, I won’t be able to tolerate it any longer.”

Beom-bon smiled with his narrow, nearly invisible eyes and pushed forward the Green Jade Buddha Palm.

“If you’re referring to this, I’ll give it to you.”

The Breaking Sect monks’ eyes filled with intensity.

“Do you think we came to receive the Green Jade Buddha Palm?”

Beom-bon raised his thick palm and spoke in his characteristic rumbling voice.

“I know why you came and why you’re angry. I have one thing I’d like to say, so please calm your minds. I’ll prepare tea for you.”

With his large frame and pot lid-sized hands, Beom-bon brewed and served tea.

The Breaking Sect monks sat down with displeased expressions.

Hee-neung glanced at Mu-gak, then picked up a teacup to taste it.

Beom-bon asked.

“How does it taste?”

Mu-gak, who couldn’t use his arms properly, had another monk help him drink from the teacup.

As soon as Mu-gak drank the tea water, he immediately spat it out.

“Ptui! What is this?”

All the Breaking Sect monks who drank the tea frowned.

“It’s bitter, astringent, and bland.”

“Head monk. Frankly, this is very unpleasant. No matter how unwelcome our visit might be, this is going too far.”

“I know that premium tea comes from all regions, so why are you serving us such tea?”

However, even after receiving complaints, Beom-bon maintained a satisfied smile.

“It doesn’t taste good. But if you hear the reason, you’ll understand.”

“Hmm?”

“This tea was actually made by roasting tea leaves from tea trees that grew behind the abbot’s quarters.”

“Hmm.”

The Breaking Sect monks made disapproving sounds.

Behind the abbot’s quarters were wide pits. They weren’t simple pit sites but compost pits where all excrement from the temple’s latrines was collected. Straw and chaff were mixed and fermented to make fertilizer. Naturally, flies and insects swarmed and the smell was overwhelming.

And that smell directly wafted into the abbot’s quarters.

Beom-bon turned around and said.

“If you cannot endure even such filth, how can you bear the more painful lives of common people? The head monk is not someone who stands above others, but someone who stands at the very bottom. The founder also said that if someone must go to hell, the first should be the abbot… That’s why he made the compost pit behind the abbot’s quarters.”

“That’s right…”

Beom-bon continued.

“Since the year I became abbot, I’ve been curious about one thing and have continuously scattered tea tree seeds over the compost pit.”

A monk said matter-of-factly.

“Tea trees can’t grow in compost pits. Tea trees need deep roots to survive.”

“That’s right. Not only the roots, but as you know, due to the toxic gases from filth, plants can hardly grow in compost pits. Even if you scatter seeds, if excrement covers them again, they can’t grow and die.”

Beom-bon paused briefly then continued.

“But I didn’t give up. Then a few years ago, a few tea trees finally began to grow in a place somewhat away from the compost pit. Whether the seeds were blown there by wind or dropped while moving fertilizer, I don’t know… Anyway, they couldn’t grow in the fertilizer but sprouted elsewhere.”

Beom-bon explained.

“I waited several more years to finally obtain this much tea leaves. But as you just tasted, they’re still astringent and tasteless. Insects ate them so much that there were hardly any proper intact tea leaves. While fertilizer helps crops grow well when used appropriately, it’s too toxic by itself to create an environment for blooming. I only learned this after more than ten years.”

The Breaking Sect monks felt something strange. Didn’t the tone before and after somehow subtly mismatch?

They also couldn’t understand why he had done such useless things for over ten years.

Beom-bon took out a small jar and poured out the tea leaves inside in front of the monks.

Unlike before, a fragrant smell wafted richly.

Just from the smell, they could tell it was extremely expensive tea leaves.

“This is West Lake Dragon Well. The taste and fragrance are very clean and clear, unlike the previous one.”

The monks drank the West Lake Dragon Well tea. Compared to before, the fragrance and taste were exceptional. They brewed and drank it several times to rinse away the bitter taste remaining in their mouths.

After cleansing his palate, Hee-neung asked.

“What is the head monk trying to say? What’s the reason for specifically comparing tea grown in compost pits with West Lake Dragon Well?”

Beom-bon slowly stood up and opened the window facing the compost pit direction.

Being the end of summer, an even more toxic smell wafted over. It was a nauseating smell that ordinary people couldn’t bear. Contrasted with the fragrant tea scent they had just smelled, it was even more torturous.

The monks frowned.

However, Beom-bon breathed deeply as if nothing was wrong and smiled.

“Do not fear the filth of the world. Immerse yourself in filth to guide sentient beings. If we don’t go to hell, who will go to hell? These are the words the master said.”

The Breaking Sect monks found it even harder to bear. Something had been strange about his words from the beginning.

But Beom-bon remained silent for a while, then pointed outside the window.

“Look at that. It’s beginning now.”

The Breaking Sect monks got up and looked out the window.

Then they were startled.

“What?”

Workers were pulling carts full of dirt to fill in the compost pit. The compost pit that had been made with symbolic meaning since the founder’s time!

“What is this deed!”

To the shocked cries of the Breaking Sect monks, Beom-bon answered.

“I will fill in the compost pit.”

“What?”

Beom-bon turned around with a slight smile. Then he said.

“I think both the founder and the master were wrong. If you mix with filth, you become filth, and if you mix with fertilizer, you become fertilizer. How can you save the world from within that?”

The Breaking Sect monks just stared at Beom-bon in surprise.

Beom-bon held up the jar containing West Lake Dragon Well tea leaves.

“The elders also continued drinking West Lake Dragon Well tea rather than tasting the bitter tea, didn’t you? You even complained to me about why I served such tasteless tea. Like this fragrant tea, there are many good things in the world that can be obtained with appropriate money. Dirty, smelly filth makes people stay away, but wealth attracts people. You need something to give for people to gather, and they need something to gain from you to be ready to listen. Only then can you guide and save them. That’s the principle of the world I’ve realized.”

The Breaking Sect monks’ faces reddened.

Hee-neung shouted in anger.

“Head monk! I can no longer listen to your sophistry! I came to know about resuming the Righteous Dharma March, not to hear your nonsensical enlightenment!”

Suddenly, Beom-bon picked up the jar containing West Lake Dragon Well and struck Hee-neung’s head.

CRASH!

The jar broke and dried tea leaves scattered everywhere.

Beom-bon said with a smile.

“My words aren’t finished yet.”

Everyone froze.

This behavior from Beom-bon was truly unbelievable.

How dare he strike an elder’s head with a tea jar!

Hee-neung’s eyebrows shot up. Due to his Iron Head Technique, not even a scratch remained on his head. However, his face turned red with anger at Beom-bon’s behavior. His wrinkled cheeks trembled.

Hee-neung glared at Beom-bon grinding his teeth, not even thinking to brush off the tea leaves that had poured on his head.

“Say what you want to say to your heart’s content… But that will be the last words you can speak as head monk.”

Hee-neung finally intended to strip the head master position with the Green Jade Buddha Palm!

Beom-bon said with a laugh.

“Thank you. I was about to say something very important.”

The Breaking Sect monks glared at Beom-bon waiting for his words.

“Hurry up!”

Beom-bon’s mouth opened wide and his teeth showed.

Beom-bon said.

“From today onward, there is no longer a Breaking Sect in our Shaolin.”

Everyone had already felt the ominous atmosphere. Therefore, as soon as Beom-bon finished speaking, Hee-neung didn’t wait any longer and immediately shouted.

“Subdue him by force!”

The Breaking Sect monks drew up their internal energy.

However, soon bewilderment appeared on their faces.

Hee-neung was also greatly shocked while drawing up his internal energy.

“Internal energy…!”

It was poison. Poison had clung to their blood vessels and the moment they drew up internal energy, it began rapidly spreading throughout their bodies, destroying their organs.

Hee-neung ground his teeth and glared.

“You bastard!”

The shadow of Beom-bon’s pot lid-sized palm fell over Hee-neung’s shouting face.

THWACK!

Hee-neung staggered from Beom-bon’s strike and immediately fell to his knees.

Hee-neung briefly lost consciousness, then quickly composed himself and forcibly drew up internal energy to thrust both fists.

THUD THUD! Hee-neung’s fists struck Beom-bon’s belly, but the fists only sank into Beom-bon’s stomach. Hee-neung’s fists that could crush rocks had no effect whatsoever.

Beom-bon again struck Hee-neung’s head with his thick palm.

CRACK!

Hee-neung’s nose was crushed and teeth flew out. Hee-neung collapsed as if crumbling.

“Throw me!”

It was Demon-Destroying Monk Mu-gak’s voice. A monk threw Mu-gak at Beom-bon.

Mu-gak extended his index finger to touch Beom-bon’s crown.

Beom-bon wrapped Mu-gak’s bone-thin frail fingers in his large hands.

Mu-gak’s eyes flashed open.

GROOOOO!

Beom-bon’s hand gripping Mu-gak’s hand vibrated greatly. Beom-bon put strength in his hand and squeezed it shut.

CRUNCH!

Blood flowed down. Beom-bon opened his hand. His palm was covered in blood.

However, Beom-bon’s palm was uninjured and intact. What was torn and broken were Mu-gak’s fingers.

Mu-gak made a pained expression.

“You bastard…”

“Elder. When you get old, I think you should know how to watch over and cheer for your juniors’ lives. Even moral standards you believed were absolute change along with the times.”

“This old fool! Were we pursuing some mere truth that changes just because times change!”

Beom-bon grabbed Mu-gak’s head with one hand and threw him out the window.

CRASH!

Mu-gak’s small body broke through the window and flew into the compost pit. Unable to move his body, Mu-gak wouldn’t be able to get out of the compost pit by himself.

The workers looked up at Beom-bon.

Beom-bon commanded.

“Don’t mind him and bury it.”

The workers had no choice but to follow Beom-bon. The workers began filling the compost pit where Mu-gak had fallen with dirt from their carts.

One of Mu-gak’s hands stuck up between the fertilizer and dirt pile.

“How cruel! How can you bury an elder alive!”

The Breaking Sect monks attacked Beom-bon’s back. No matter how they kicked, punched, and struck with palms, Beom-bon didn’t budge.

Beom-bon turned his head. His narrow eyes opened and his pupils became visible.

The Breaking Sect monks ground their teeth.

“Stop this immediately…!”

Beom-bon swung his palm. The monks hit by his palm had their limbs broken and were sent flying into the wall.

“Urgh…”

“Ugh…”

The monks spat blood and looked at Beom-bon with flickering eyes.

Beom-bon smiled.

“I promise you one thing. Our Shaolin’s Righteous Dharma March will continue without stopping.”