Chapter 121

Chapter 121: The Threads of Fate Are Tangled in Ways Beyond Prediction (3)

The first thing Dam Ho did upon waking that morning was seek out the stable where the Dark Stallion was kept.

The Dark Stallion whinnied in greeting. Dam Ho lightly slapped the horse's neck. Through his hand, he could feel the creature's contentment.

"Good."

Dam Ho closed his eyes as well. Nearly three months had passed since he and the Dark Stallion had come together. In that time, the bond between them had grown ever stronger.

After spending a long while with the Dark Stallion, Dam Ho returned to the first-floor restaurant of the inn. There, Bang Jin-bo was chatting away with the inn's cook. The cook's name was Jong Mun-yeon, the husband of the inn's proprietress and the man in charge of the kitchen. As one would expect of someone who had served as cook for many years, Jong Mun-yeon possessed an extensive knowledge of all matters related to cuisine. Though this was his first meeting with Bang Jin-bo, he had been courteous, engaging him in much conversation and even teaching him personally. Bang Jin-bo had been so caught up in the joy of cooking that he had stayed up through the entire night.

Despite this, not a trace of fatigue showed on Bang Jin-bo's face; he was simply smiling, so thoroughly absorbed was he in the pleasures of cooking.

"Hyung!"

Bang Jin-bo's face lit up at the sight of Dam Ho.

"Good."

"You must be hungry?"

"Mmm."

"Hehe! Cook Jong made mapo tofu. The taste is absolutely divine."

"Is that so."

"Take a seat. I'll bring it right out."

"Mmm."

Dam Ho made his way to a table by the window. Since it was still early, the restaurant was quite empty. Only five or six people occupied the tables, all eating in silence. Thanks to this, Dam Ho was able to enjoy his tea in peace.

But his tranquility did not last long.

"Block this side off."

"We must capture the demoness."

The clamor of voices from outside grew louder as a group of men burst into the inn. They wore Daoist robes and caps—Daoists, every one of them. They surveyed the interior of the inn with menacing auras.

At the sudden appearance of the Daoists, Jong Mun-yeon stepped forward. As a man who had lived here for a long time, he knew exactly what manner of people these Daoists were.

"What brings the Daoists of the Nine Palaces Gate here?"

"We are searching for the demoness who attacked our sect."

The oldest-looking of the Daoists stepped forward. His Daoist name was Iron Crown. He was the martial brother of Sage Iron Sun and the head of the Nine Palaces Gate's Nine Great Elders.

"What? A demoness?"

"Last night, our sect leader was ambushed by a demoness and gravely injured."

"What!"

Jong Mun-yeon's eyes widened. The sect leader of the Nine Palaces Gate—Sage Iron Sun—was a Daoist among Daoists, respected throughout the entire region.

"We have received intelligence that the demoness who attacked the sect leader stayed at this very place."

"Oh! How can that be…"

Jong Mun-yeon's face went white as a sheet. If they spoke of a woman who had stayed here last night, there was only one possibility.

"Where? Where is the room where the demoness was staying?"

"In the—the detached cottage out back."

At Jong Mun-yeon's reply, the eyes of Iron Crown Sage glinted fiercely.

"Until the demoness is caught, not a single person inside this inn shall leave."

"Yes!"

Several of the Daoists answered and moved to block the main entrance. A murderous aura emanated from their bodies.

This was no ordinary place—this was the very headquarters of the Nine Palaces Gate, and their sect leader had been ambushed and gravely injured. It was an humiliation from which the Nine Palaces Gate could never recover. They had to capture and punish the one who had assaulted their Grandmaster. Only then could they begin to restore their damaged honor.

Iron Crown Sage led the Daoists into the detached cottage. But it was empty. No trace of human presence—it seemed no one had entered at all the previous night.

"De… demoness!"

Iron Crown Sage ground his teeth.

"Seal all roads leading out of Shouzhou. Not even an ant is to escape!"

"Yes!"

Several Daoists answered and rushed outside. Iron Crown Sage returned to the first-floor restaurant. All those who had stayed at the inn the previous night had been herded there—the Nine Palaces Gate's Daoists had rousted every last one of them.

Sleepy and bewildered, the faces of those who had been dragged out were full of discontent. But none dared voice their complaints openly. They had heard the gist of what was going on. This was a major incident—the sect leader of the Nine Palaces Gate had been attacked. A misstep could earn them the enmity not just of the Nine Palaces Gate, but of every righteous sect in the region.

The Nine Palaces Gate's Daoists surrounded the gathered crowd. Most were too intimidated by the Daoists' pressure to say a word.

Iron Crown Sage finally opened his mouth.

"You must have heard the general outline. We are searching for the culprit who attacked our sect leader. I expect your full cooperation."

"But we know nothing about her."

A diminutive merchant spoke up, sounding aggrieved. But Iron Crown Sage's response was frigid.

"That is for us to determine. All you need to do is tell us what you know."

"That, that is…"

"Do you understand?"

"I… understand."

The merchant shrank back, his spirit broken.

"Start with you. Tell me what you know about her."

"All I know is that she arrived here suddenly last evening. She dealt with several ruffians who tried to get close to her, and then dined alone."

"Did anyone else speak with her?"

The merchant shook his head.

"No. She didn't say a word after that. And after she finished eating, I didn't see her again."

"Is that the truth?"

"Yes."

Iron Crown Sage questioned several more people after that, but their answers were identical to the merchant's.

"Grrr!"

Finding nothing useful, Iron Crown Sage's expression soured. His gaze suddenly fell upon Dam Ho, who sat in a corner of the restaurant. While everyone else wore anxious expressions under the Nine Palaces Gate's oppressive aura, Dam Ho alone continued eating as though nothing were happening.

"You there!"

Iron Crown Sage strode toward Dam Ho. But Dam Ho did not so much as glance up, continuing to eat as if he had not heard a word.

"Did you not hear me?"

Iron Crown Sage bellowed in anger.

Only then did Dam Ho set down his chopsticks and look up at Iron Crown Sage.

"Ngh!"

The moment their eyes met, a chill ran through Iron Crown Sage's spine. It was as though his neck had been laid bare before a predator. His hand moved instinctively to the sword at his waist.

"What is the matter, Elder?"

The other Nine Palaces Gate Daoists rushed over and surrounded Dam Ho at the sight of their elder's reaction. But Dam Ho himself simply stared back at Iron Crown Sage with a look of complete indifference.

"What?"

"Grr! Did you not hear what I said? If you know anything about the demoness, speak!"

"Don't know."

"What did you say?"

"I said I don't know. So I have nothing to say."

"You!"

Iron Crown Sage's face twisted in fury. The younger Daoists were the first to erupt.

"How insolent! You dare ignore the Elder's words?"

"Insolent?"

Dam Ho's gaze shifted to the young Daoist who had spoken. The young man staggered backward in alarm. The instant he met Dam Ho's eyes, he saw a vision of his own death. A damp chill crept up his spine.

'What is this?'

The young Daoist shuddered. He could not tell whether what he had just seen was real or not. But the goosebumps were undeniably genuine.

Dam Ho rose to his feet.

In that instant, Iron Crown Sage and the Daoists felt as though a massive black shadow had materialized before them, barring their way.

'How can this be!'

Iron Crown Sage and the young Daoists finally realized that the man before them was no ordinary martial artist. Disheveled black hair and a long black robe as dark as the abyss. And deep, fathomless dark eyes.

He vaguely recalled hearing a story about such a martial artist. But he could not quite place it.

Dam Ho took a step toward them.

When they saw his slightly limping left leg, a scream tore from their throats.

"F-Fist Demon?"

A legendary name that shook all of Murim. Dam Ho's reputation had spread far and wide even in Hubei Province. For a sect like the Nine Palaces Gate, the Fist Demon was a figure to be guarded against above all others. It was well known that the Fist Demon acted solely on his own inclinations, without distinction between the righteous and the demonic. The codes of justice and morality held no sway over him.

Iron Crown Sage's face went rigid.

"Are you the great hero Dam Ho, the Fist Demon?"

"And if I am?"

"Mmm!"

Iron Crown Sage was momentarily at a loss for words. Every rumor he had heard about the man before him was more terrifying than the last. What was certain was that not a single sect or martial artist who had opposed him had survived unscathed.

Iron Crown Sage glanced sidelong at his disciples. Their faces were pale as ghosts, like lambs who had encountered a tiger. He could not help but sigh. But he could not blame them entirely—he himself felt the pressure of Dam Ho's overwhelming presence. The presence of an absolute master like Dam Ho was not something ordinary martial artists could endure.

When Dam Ho had been quiet, they had not noticed it, but now that his identity was revealed, his immense presence was suffocating. Still, they could not simply retreat without saying a word.

"We did not know that the great hero Dam Ho was staying here. I apologize for the inconvenience, but we are desperate for any information regarding the demoness. If you happen to know anything, might you share it with us?"

"I told you. I don't know."

"Truly?"

"Would I have any reason to lie to you?"

"Then what brings you to Shouzhou?"

"Just passing through."

"Where is your destination?"

Dam Ho did not answer. Iron Crown Sage's interrogating tone irritated him.

Iron Crown Sage asked once more.

"Where are you headed?"

"Why should I tell you that?"

"To clear up any misunderstandings between us. It's not such a difficult request, is it?"

"Amusing."

"What did you just say?"

"Want me to repeat it? I said it's amusing."

"How dare you!"

"Looking for a fight?"

Dam Ho stared directly at Iron Crown Sage. The elder could not withstand his gaze and quietly looked away.

"Mmm!"

"If you want to catch the culprit, get moving. Stop harassing innocent people."

"Grr!"

Dam Ho's caustic words twisted Iron Crown Sage's face into a grimace. The younger Daoists bristled but did not dare act rashly.

Iron Cup Sage cupped his fist in salute toward Dam Ho.

"As the great hero Dam Ho says, we shall get moving. And one last word from an old man's heart—I sincerely hope you had no involvement with that demoness. That is my honest wish."

"How kind of you!"

"Then, may fortune favor your path."

Iron Cup Sage cupped his fist, turned on his heel, and departed. As he did so, he ground his teeth until they could have shattered.