Chapter 117

Chapter 117: The One Who Walks Alone—The Solitary Path (2)

"We'll have to camp out tonight."

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

Despite their hurry, darkness was already gathering across the land.

Bang Jin-bo no longer needed Dam Ho's instructions to know how to set up camp. He lit a fire in a hollowed-out space beneath a large boulder and prepared their meal. They could have eaten simple rations, but Bang Jin-bo insisted on setting up a pot and fetching water from a nearby spring.

In the meantime, Dam Ho closed his eyes in meditation.

He had fought many battles. In the Divine Stronghold, of course, but also continuously after entering the Central Plains. There was perhaps no one who had fought as frequently in as short a time as Dam Ho.

The relentless battles had honed his combat instincts to their peak. At the same time, the deficiencies of the Shadow Fist became apparent.

The Shadow Fist he had created in darkness was certainly destructive. In a one-on-one fight, there were few fists that could rival its devastating power.

He had confirmed this fact in countless battles. The problem was when facing multiple opponents. When fighting numerous enemies at once, the Shadow Fist clearly lost its effectiveness.

But Dam Ho did not rush. Improving a martial art whose framework was firmly established was never easy—even for Dam Ho, who had created it.

While Dam Ho was deep in thought—

"Hyung, your meal is ready."

Bang Jin-bo's voice broke through his musings.

Dam Ho opened his eyes and looked at Bang Jin-bo. He had already set out a respectable-looking meal and was waiting.

"Heh heh!"

Bang Jin-bo's cooking skills had improved remarkably. He could now create something delicious with only a handful of simple ingredients.

What he had made today was beef porridge. He had used pre-prepared beef jerky and dried grain flour to make it.

"Good work."

"No need to thank me. Please eat, Hyung."

Bang Jin-bo scooped a bowl of porridge and handed it to Dam Ho.

For a porridge made in the wilderness, the aroma and taste were remarkably refined. Dam Ho felt fortunate to have met Bang Jin-bo.

Watching Dam Ho eat with relish, Bang Jin-bo picked up his own spoon. Even though he had made it himself, it was delicious.

"Heh heh! It's good."

"Good work."

"It was nothing. I just threw it together, so it wasn't difficult."

Bang Jin-bo waved his hand dismissively. Dam Ho watched him in silence.

Bang Jin-bo's face, which had once been purely youthful, now bore a mature expression. Through his many experiences, he had grown stronger in his own way.

Dam Ho found this endearing.

"Hyung, can I ask just one thing?"

"Go ahead."

"The Mount Hua Sect… are you all right? Leaving without meeting them?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Really? You said you were a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect."

"That's in the past."

Dam Ho answered with a calm expression.

After the incident at the Azure Sun Sword Sect, Han So-yu had come looking for him. But Dam Ho had not met her.

The bond between them had already been severed. Though a thin thread remained because of his Master, it was so fragile it could break at any time.

"Someday I will visit Mount Hua. But it doesn't have to be now."

Han So-yu had said that Sage Hyeon-so was doing well.

That was enough. For the time being, he had more than enough reasons not to concern himself with the Mount Hua Sect.

"So you won't be going to the Mount Hua Sect?"

"Not for now."

"Aww!"

"Are you disappointed?"

"They say the scenery at Mount Hua is exquisite. I've always wanted to see it at least once."

"Someday you'll be able to go."

"When that time comes, you have to take me."

"Agreed."

Dam Ho answered calmly.

A bright smile spread across Bang Jin-bo's face.

"Now go to sleep. We need to set out early tomorrow, so you should rest well."

"Yes!"

Bang Jin-bo answered cheerfully and went to bed. Perhaps it was the fatigue from the forced march, for he quickly fell into a deep slumber.

Dam Ho watched the sleeping Bang Jin-bo for a moment, then closed his eyes.

The next day, the two departed the campsite at dawn.

The descent from the mountain was not particularly difficult. The slope was gentle enough to descend on horseback, so they made their way down comfortably.

"Whew!"

When they reached a small stream at the base of the mountain, Bang Jin-bo let out a sigh of relief.

Descending the mountain on horseback had been quite exhausting. Though he had only ridden for half a day, he felt as though he had lost three or four catties of weight.

Bang Jin-bo dismounted briefly to wash his face. The cold water refreshed him and eased his fatigue.

"That's refreshing."

Bang Jin-bo smiled brightly.

With the heat gone, he had the leisure to look around.

Before them stretched vast rice paddies. The sight of rice stalks swaying in the wind was truly magnificent.

"Wow!"

An exclamation burst from Bang Jin-bo's mouth.

He had never seen such a vast expanse of rice fields. Dam Ho was no different.

Farmers could be seen tending the paddies here and there. With their trousers rolled up to their waists, they pulled weeds, and their sight stirred something in Dam Ho.

"Hahaha!"

Their laughter reached Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo even from this distance.

What could be so amusing? They chattered non-stop, their faces wreathed in smiles.

Sweat dripped heavily from their foreheads and chins, but not a single one complained of fatigue.

Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo watched the farmers in silence for a while. This was a different world from the harsh one they had experienced.

Women approached, balancing large baskets on their foreheads.

"Come have a snack while you work!"

The women called out to their husbands and children in loud voices. The farmers, who had been working with beads of sweat on their brows, smiled and walked toward their wives.

Suddenly, a middle-aged farmer seemed to notice Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo and looked their way. After watching them for a moment, he swaggered over.

"I don't believe I've seen your faces before. Did you come over that mountain?"

"Yes! We're from Hunan Province."

Bang Jin-bo answered.

A smile appeared on the farmer's face.

"Is that so? You've come a long way. Are you hungry?"

"Heh heh! I'm starving."

Bang Jin-bo grinned amiably. The farmer seemed to like his manner, for he smiled broadly and looked at Dam Ho.

"If it's all right, would you care to join us? It's nothing special, but…"

"That would be fine."

"But that one there doesn't seem to agree."

At Dam Ho's words, the farmer pointed at Bang Jin-bo.

Bang Jin-bo was looking at Dam Ho with an expression that suggested he might cry at any moment. His eyes were filled with desperate longing.

'Hyung, please.'

Bang Jin-bo was infinitely weak in the face of food.

At his desperate plea, Dam Ho nodded with a look of resignation.

"If we won't be a bother…"

"What bother could there be? It's just leftover food anyway."

The farmer led them beneath a large tree. Beneath it, a middle-aged woman with a child strapped to her back in a carrying cloth was spreading out a cloth.

On a tray atop the cloth sat steaming potatoes and a jug of homemade liquor.

"Dear, are you hungry?"

The woman welcomed her husband warmly, then paused when she noticed Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo. It was unusual to see strangers with him.

The farmer said gruffly, "They're travelers passing through. It's more fun to eat with others than alone."

"Again with this?"

The woman shook her head with a look of resignation. Her reaction suggested this was far from the first time.

But after a moment, she smiled brightly and said, "All we have are potatoes, but please eat."

Like husband, like wife—she, too, seemed to enjoy sharing with others.

"Thank you."

Bang Jin-bo sat down without the slightest hesitation, bowing gratefully. The woman covered her mouth and laughed.

Dam Ho also sat down heavily beside Bang Jin-bo.

The farmer picked up a large potato and handed it to Dam Ho.

"Please eat."

"Much obliged."

"Don't mention it. We have plenty of potatoes."

The farmer answered gruffly and began eating. His wife smiled softly at the sight of him.

He was truly a man of great warmth. When travelers passed by, he could not let them go without offering them at least a piece of potato.

It might be called foolish, but his wife loved him for it. His generous heart and tender nature.

The farmer picked up the jug and said to Dam Ho, "It's homemade liquor. Would you care for some? It may not taste refined, but it will quench your thirst."

When Dam Ho nodded, the farmer poured a full bowl and filled his own as well. Then he immediately began drinking heartily.

"Mmm! Good."

Wiping the liquor from his lips, the farmer smiled. He drank with such relish that Bang Jin-bo swallowed his own saliva without realizing it.

The farmer noticed and asked, "Do you want some?"

"Yes!"

"Liquor is best left until you're grown. When there's hair on your chin, then you can drink."

"Yes!"

Bang Jin-bo's face fell immediately. But it was only for a moment—soon he was eating potatoes with gusto, setting aside his disappointment.

Dam Ho also ate the potatoes with relish. Though they were simple fare without even salt seasoning, they seemed all the more delicious because they contained the farmer's wife's devotion to her husband.

The woman crouched in place and watched Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo with curious eyes.

She could tell at a glance that Dam Ho was no ordinary person. His appearance and bearing were clearly different from any traveler she had seen before.

Driven by curiosity, she asked, "Where are you headed?"

"We have no particular destination."

"Then are you wandering?"

"That's right."

At Dam Ho's answer, the woman nodded. Envy was clearly written on her face.

Born here, she had married a man from here.

To her, the world was only this place. That was why she still harbored longing for the outside world. When she saw people traveling freely like this, she often felt envious.

"Have you traveled far? Where was the most beautiful place?"

"Ah! This woman…"

The farmer clicked his tongue, and the woman flinched slightly. But the curiosity in her eyes did not fade.

Dam Ho answered without hesitation, "Of all the places I have seen, Mount Hua was the finest."

"Mount Hua? In Shaanxi Province?"

"Yes."

"Is Mount Hua truly that beautiful?"

"Of all the places I have seen…"

"What scenery at Mount Hua was so beautiful?"

"Well…"

Dam Ho searched his memories.

"Mount Hua is a mountain of stone, with vertical stone steps represented by the Hundred Fathom Cliff and the Thousand Fathom Hall. Climbing them makes you sweat as though rain were pouring down. But once you pass them, the Dragon Ridge comes into view, and beyond that stands Lotus Peak. Lotus Peak is most beautiful at sunset—the colors are exquisite. On the East Peak, the plum blossoms are unparalleled. The scent of plum blossoms carried on the spring wind can make one's head spin. When the plum blossoms fall, all of Mount Hua turns white with petals."

The words flowed from him of their own accord.

Since being trapped alone in the Thousand-Gold Demon Prison, memories that had not surfaced burst forth like a dam breaking.

The small thatched hut atop Cloud Peak, the view of Mount Hua from there, and his own figure with his Master.

The memories of his youth—striving so hard with his small fists to break rocks—swept through his mind like a flood.

Dam Ho's gaze sank deep.

The image of Mount Hua, long forgotten, came alive once more in his memory.