Chapter 133

Chapter 133: Blood is Thicker Than Water (2)

Gwak Geo-cheol had gritted his teeth, determined to endure. He truly intended to do so. Yet in this moment, he learned just how weak his will truly was. And that no man could withstand violence.

Dam Ho never rushed.

Methodically, yet relentlessly, he dismantled Gwak Geo-cheol's body and mind.

In the end, Gwak Geo-cheol confessed everything he knew.

For the first time, a change that might be called a human expression appeared on Dam Ho's face.

"So… So Hye-ryeong is the child your people abducted?"

"That is correct! We intended to sell her into slavery… but the Chief of the Banner took a liking to her, and she was taken from us."

The child thus taken became the daughter of Hwang Gyeong-mun and was called Hwang Hye-ryeong.

"We were afraid. That girl might one day recall her true identity and seek revenge."

"So you tried to kill her?"

"Yes! One must eliminate all future trouble."

"Where did you bring her from when you abducted her?"

Though he asked calmly on the surface, at this very moment Dam Ho's heart was pounding more violently than ever before.

"It was a remote village in the foothills of Taebaeksan in Sangsi Province. A small settlement of perhaps a hundred people. That was where I encountered that vicious brat. He bit through his comrade's neck and killed him. Kuhgh!"

Thud!

In that instant, Dam Ho squeezed his eyes shut.

The muscles in his jaw twitched.

'So that was why?'

From the very first time he had seen her, the child had felt different from others. Perhaps it was the pull of blood.

When she was abducted, Hwang Hye-ryeong had been only two or three years old. As much as Dam Ho had changed, Hwang Hye-ryeong's face had changed as well. It was only natural that he had not recognized her at first glance.

Above all, Hwang Hye-ryeong had no memories of her early childhood. She had been taken so young.

It did not matter that she did not recognize him.

Hwang Hye-ryeong might have forgotten everything, but Dam Ho remembered it all with perfect clarity.

Suppressing his agitation, Dam Ho asked.

"Where is the Black Water Banner's stronghold?"

"On Okhwasan in Gangseo Province."

"Okhwasan."

Dam Ho's fist clenched. Seeing this, Gwak Geo-cheol begged.

"I have told you everything I know. So spare me. I will not forget this debt of mercy."

Gwak Geo-cheol did not want to die.

He had committed many evil deeds in his life, but he did not believe that was reason enough to die.

He wanted to live.

He wanted to live with every fiber of his being.

In that moment, Dam Ho's voice came.

"Her name is not Hwang Hye-ryeong."

"What?"

"Her name is Ga-ryeong. The name of my sister, whom you stole from us."

"Th-then?"

Gwak Geo-cheol's eyes went wide.

His pupils trembled.

Dam Ho's face was superimposed upon the face of the boy he had encountered over twenty years ago in a small village in the foothills of Taebaeksan.

"C-could it be that you are—"

"Yes! Now you understand why you must die?"

"Nnngh!"

Despair clouded Gwak Geo-cheol's eyes.

He shook his head frantically.

"It was not I. It was all Jo Yun-san's doing. I only followed orders. I am innocent of any crime. Please, spare me!"

Gwak Geo-cheol clutched Dam Ho's leg and begged. Yet Dam Ho's gaze, looking down at him, remained as cold as ever.

"My parents did the same. They begged for their lives. And what did you do then?"

"Th-that was…"

"You killed them. You toyed with them for a long time, tormenting them as though they were mice."

"Spare me! I was wrong. Please… aaargh!"

Crack!

In that instant, Dam Ho seized Gwak Geo-cheol's right arm and twisted.

Muscle fibers tore, and bone shattered. The shoulder, once intact, was ripped clean away.

Gwak Geo-cheol watched his own arm torn from his body and screamed like a madman, thrashing wildly.

But Dam Ho's retribution was not yet finished. He seized Gwak Geo-cheol's left arm.

"N-no, don't!"

Gwak Geo-cheol pleaded.

Rrrip!

"Aaaargh!"

But Dam Ho was merciless. He tore away the left arm as well.

With both arms ripped from his shoulders, blood poured down like rain. He had lost so much blood so quickly that all color had drained from his face.

The light of life was fading from Gwak Geo-cheol's eyes.

Dam Ho observed this impassively.

"You… you demonic wretch! You will not die cleanly either. You will surely…"

Gwak Geo-cheol gathered his last strength and cursed Dam Ho. Those were the final words he would speak in life.

Dam Ho turned away without a word.

Gwak Geo-cheol's curse held no place in his mind.

He had already killed countless men and heard their venomous words. Adding one more curse from Gwak Geo-cheol would make no difference.

Dam Ho walked toward the cave where he had hidden Hwang Hye-ryeong.

Though his expression remained impassive on the surface, his mind was in utter turmoil.

He needed to sort through his thoughts quickly.

What was truly best for Hwang Hye-ryeong?

Dam Ho suddenly looked down at his fists.

His knuckles were stained red with another's blood, and a thick scent of iron rose from them. The foul stench of blood was enough to muddle even Dam Ho's mind.

'Where did it all go wrong?'

Dam Ho felt that something within him was broken.

He had not given it much thought before, but now, reunited with his sister, the weight of it all pressed upon him.

Dam Ho closed his eyes. Yet he continued walking without difficulty.

A short while later, when he opened his eyes again, the light of conflict was gone. The same emotionless gaze, revealing nothing, had settled firmly in its place.

At last, they reached the cliff where the cave was hidden. Parting the dense undergrowth revealed the concealed entrance.

Hwang Hye-ryeong was there.

"Brother!"

The moment he entered the cave, Bang Jin-bo greeted him first. Dam Ho patted Bang Jin-bo on the head and looked inward.

"Big Brother."

Hwang Hye-ryeong spoke to him.

Her complexion looked considerably better than the previous night. He was relieved, though he did not show it.

"And him?"

"He has regained consciousness. Thanks to you."

"I am grateful for your help."

Muk Il-gwang offered his thanks.

Dam Ho nodded silently.

He did not look at Hwang Hye-ryeong again.

He had lived his life as a wanderer thus far. Just as his own life existed, so too did Hwang Hye-ryeong have her own.

He could not drag her into his life, a life stained with blood.

He believed that letting her live her own life, as she had been doing, was the way to care for her.

'Ga-ryeong.'

Hwang Hye-ryeong's expression looked more at ease.

That was enough.

The four of them left the cave.

They were currently on a hillside on the outskirts of Akyang. It was the very mountain Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo had crossed only a few days prior.

Having crossed it once, the second passage was not difficult. The problem was the pursuit of the Martial Alliance.

That they would never give up the chase was something even a three-year-old could grasp with a moment's thought.

Setting aside Hwang Hye-ryeong and Muk Il-gwang, Dam Ho had been designated a public enemy of the Murim. Cheong-gu Sage had been gravely injured at his hands, and Namgung Su had lost his life.

If they let him slip away now, the prestige of the Martial Alliance would suffer a grievous blow.

For the Alliance, which had only just been established, this was a blow it could not afford.

Dam Ho spoke to Hwang Hye-ryeong and Muk Il-gwang.

"Mount the horses."

"But…"

"If you can walk, I will not stop you."

At Dam Ho's words, Muk Il-gwang fell silent.

His current physical condition was far from normal. He could not perform even the most basic movement techniques, and walking itself was difficult.

It was the internal injury he had sustained protecting Hwang Hye-ryeong. His face was still pale. It would take several days of circulating his energy before the injury healed.

Dam Ho looked at Hwang Hye-ryeong.

"You ride as well."

"Yes!"

Hwang Hye-ryeong answered immediately.

Her eyes, fixed on Dam Ho, shone with trust.

It was not simply because he had saved her and Muk Il-gwang's lives. For reasons she could not explain, she instinctively trusted Dam Ho.

She could trust this man.

From the very first moment she saw him, that thought had taken root in her mind.

She did not know why. But Hwang Hye-ryeong trusted her instincts.

To her, Dam Ho was a being she could trust and rely upon.

Above all, when she looked at him, something surged up from the depths of her heart.

Even Hwang Hye-ryeong did not know what that emotion was. But she did not dislike the unfamiliar feeling.

Dam Ho placed Hwang Hye-ryeong upon Heuk-gwi, the Dark Ghost. Muk Il-gwang mounted Bang Jin-bo's horse.

Though he was suddenly forced to walk, Bang Jin-bo showed no displeasure. Having spent considerable time with Dam Ho, walking and running were no hardship. His stamina had improved greatly, and he could walk for hours without tiring.

Muk Il-gwang looked at Bang Jin-bo with an apologetic expression.

"I am sorry, young brother."

"It's nothing."

"I will repay this kindness someday."

"Hehe!"

Finding it difficult to respond, Bang Jin-bo simply smiled.

"Let's go!"

Dam Ho took the reins of Heuk-gwi and set off. Bang Jin-bo took the reins of the horse carrying Muk Il-gwang and followed behind.

Hwang Hye-ryeong, riding atop Heuk-gwi, asked.

"Where are we going?"

"Huangshan."

"Huangshan? Are you taking me to the Overlord's Banner?"

"Yes!"

"There is no need to go to such trouble."

"It is no trouble."

"Bi… Big Brother."

At Dam Ho's blunt reply, Hwang Hye-ryeong's expression momentarily softened with emotion.

Just escaping Akyang unharmed would have been reason enough for gratitude. Yet he was willing to escort her thousands of li to the Overlord's Banner. Not knowing the full circumstances, Hwang Hye-ryeong could not understand Dam Ho's generosity.

But she did not have the courage to refuse. Muk Il-gwang had sustained grave injuries, and she herself was not yet fully mobile.

"Thank you."

Dam Ho did not reply. He simply walked forward, gazing straight ahead.

"Brother!"

Bang Jin-bo came up beside him.

He too was aware of the situation. He knew that Dam Ho had been declared a public enemy of the Murim. Yet the thought of leaving Dam Ho's side never crossed his mind.

Whether it meant death or survival, he intended to stay with Dam Ho until the end.

"Hehe!"

Bang Jin-bo smiled.

Smiling had become a habit for him now.

Hwang Hye-ryeong asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

"What's so amusing?"

"I just like being with Big Brother."

"Is that so?"

A faint smile graced Hwang Hye-ryeong's lips. She felt she might understand how Bang Jin-bo felt.

Dam Ho was a frightening man.

She had seen with her own eyes just how merciless he could be toward those he deemed enemies.

To be his enemy was a terrifying thing. But knowing that such a man was on her side filled her with a sense of security she had never known.

For the first time in her life, she felt this sense of warmth and safety. Though the situation was dire, for some reason she was not afraid.

A gentle smile lingered on her lips.

Hwang Hye-ryeong could not take her eyes off Dam Ho's back for a long while.