Chapter 135

Chapter 135: What is Emptied is Filled in Turn (1)

Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo walked slowly, each holding the reins of their horses. Upon the horses, Hwang Hye-ryeong and Muk Il-gwang were circulating their energy.

The internal injuries they had sustained were far from minor.

In particular, the injuries Muk Il-gwang had suffered were extremely grave.

The only saving grace was that the internal energy he cultivated was stable enough to be circulated even on horseback, allowing him to continuously heal himself throughout the journey.

Thanks to this, Muk Il-gwang's condition was improving rapidly.

Hwang Hye-ryeong's expression was also considerably more at ease than before. She rode atop Heuk-gwi and gazed down at Dam Ho.

She found the sight of Dam Ho walking steadily forward, holding the reins in silence, reassuring.

She did not know why, but whenever she looked at him, her heart warmed, and a sense of comfort washed over her, as though she were being protected.

It was the first time she had ever felt such a thing, and the unfamiliarity brought a measure of bewilderment. Yet even that bewildering feeling was not unpleasant.

Whether Dam Ho was aware of Hwang Hye-ryeong's gaze or not, he continued walking in silence. After some time, he suddenly halted.

A man stood blocking the mountain path ahead.

"Brother!"

Bang Jin-bo immediately broke into a wide grin.

"You rascal! You seem to have put on even more weight since we last met."

The man who smiled and teased Bang Jin-bo was none other than Cho Yeon-woon.

"Tch! Where have I gained weight? I've only lost it."

"Heh heh! You rascal. You don't realize how round and plump your cheeks are? Take a look in a mirror before you speak."

"Really? After not seeing each other for so long, this is what you greet me with?"

"I'm only teasing because I'm happy to see you."

Cho Yeon-woon ruffled Bang Jin-bo's hair roughly and approached Dam Ho.

Dam Ho asked.

"How did you find us?"

"The path you would take is obvious. A little thought and it was easy to figure out."

"Is that so?"

"You don't need to worry. There will be no more pursuers."

"Why is that?"

"A terrible commotion has erupted. The fuss you caused has been rendered insignificant by comparison…"

"…"

"The Demonic Cult has finally taken the field. Three hundred of the martial artists who were sent to track you were massacred by a single individual."

"Three hundred?"

"Yes! Everyone within a ten-li radius was killed. And all by one person."

Dam Ho's eyebrow twitched. It was a story difficult to believe.

"Massacred by a single individual?"

"As hard as it may be to believe, it is the truth. The opponent is a master of sonic arts. The attack came without warning, and over three hundred men were wiped out in an instant."

"Sonic arts…"

"Truly a terrifying master. No one within ten li survived."

So Cheonsan had vanished as suddenly as he had appeared. But just before his disappearance, a martial artist stationed outside the ten-li radius had witnessed the aftermath.

So Cheonsan had smiled and revealed his identity to the man. It was the confidence of the strong, but for the Martial Alliance, it was tantamount to humiliation.

"Because of that, the Martial Alliance is in chaos. The entire organization has been toyed with by a single man."

Dam Ho's gaze deepened.

He recalled the conversation he had overheard through Eum Yu-gyeong and Sin Mu-wol's transmission. The name So Cheonsan had certainly been mentioned.

'They spoke of needing to prevent the Cult Leader's unchecked advance. Is there a rift within the Demonic Cult?'

It was not yet certain.

"They have recalled all the pursuit squads they sent to track you. With the Demonic Cult's invasion becoming a reality, they will not be able to concern themselves with you for some time."

"I see."

"It is fortunate. For you, and for the Martial Alliance."

In truth, the one in the most difficult position had been Cho Yeon-woon himself.

Over twenty pursuit squads had been organized to track Dam Ho. Cho Yeon-woon had been forced to lead one of them, against his own will.

When the dozen or so squads were massacred by So Cheonsan, he had been only a few hundred zhang from the site.

Had he been any closer, he too would have suffered grievous damage from So Cheonsan's sonic attack.

Though he had escaped with his life, the shock he had received was far from trivial.

The fact that men with whom he had been breathing and conversing only moments before had been annihilated by a single sonic attack filled him with a profound terror.

"During the Demonic Cult's first invasion decades ago, the one who inflicted the greatest casualties on the Righteous Alliance was a monster who practiced sonic arts. I suspect this Ten-Li No Life employs the same art."

"…"

"In any case, I must return now."

"To fight the Demonic Cult?"

"I am a disciple of Baek Jeon-mun. By now, Master should be leading the disciples to the Martial Alliance as well."

Jang Il-san's hatred for the Demonic Cult was truly fearsome. Upon hearing word of their emergence, he had immediately raised the Baek Jeon Banner and was marching south.

Once the Baek Jeon Banner was raised, the disciples of Baek Jeon-mun were obligated to gather beneath it. Even Cho Yeon-woon, a former banner master, was no exception.

Dam Ho looked at Cho Yeon-woon in silence. Cho Yeon-woon smiled faintly.

"My, what a burning gaze."

"…"

"Be careful! The Demonic Cult has diverted much of the attention from you, but you are still a wanted man."

A look of genuine concern was evident on Cho Yeon-woon's face.

Dam Ho nodded.

"I will."

"Farewell."

"Take care."

In that instant, Cho Yeon-woon's eyes went wide.

He had not expected to hear Dam Ho tell him to take care.

"Haha! Don't worry about me. I am Cho Yeon-woon, after all!"

Cho Yeon-woon thumped his chest and declared boldly. Dam Ho watched him intently.

"Then farewell. Fatty, you take care as well."

"I told you I'm not fat!"

"Haha!"

Cho Yeon-woon waved his hand and departed.

Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo watched Cho Yeon-woon's retreating figure in silence.

When Cho Yeon-woon had finally vanished from sight, Hwang Hye-ryeong spoke.

"He seems like a truly wonderful person."

"He is!"

Dam Ho nodded.

Though they had not known each other long, Cho Yeon-woon had always been sincere. In the Murim, such men were rare.

'A friend…'

Dam Ho did not move until some time later.

As Cho Yeon-woon had said, no one pursued them further. Bang Jin-bo was relieved.

The thought that no more people would die at Dam Ho's hands brought peace to his heart.

Though Bang Jin-bo had grown accustomed to Dam Ho, watching people die before his eyes was never easy.

"Hehe!"

Without realizing it, Bang Jin-bo smiled as he walked.

After parting from Cho Yeon-woon, Dam Ho, Bang Jin-bo, and the others swiftly left the hillside and at last entered Hubei Province.

The first rumor they heard upon entering Hubei was, as expected, about the Demonic Cult.

The shock left by So Cheonsan, the Ten-Li No Life, was truly immense. Because of that single individual, the people of the Central Plains came to understand the terror of the Demonic Cult.

Everywhere one went in the Central Plains, the talk was of the Demonic Cult, and people feared the unknown—when the cult would launch its full-scale invasion.

"The Demonic Cult…"

Hwang Hye-ryeong shook her head.

Though young in years, she was well aware of how fearsome the Demonic Cult was. From her earliest childhood, Hwang Gyeong-mun had drilled it into her ears.

Even Hwang Gyeong-mun, who feared nothing in the world, would inadvertently show a flash of fear whenever the Demonic Cult was mentioned. That impression had been so vivid that fear had quietly taken root in Hwang Hye-ryeong's heart as well.

'How many more people will die this time?'

The mere thought cast a shadow over her heart.

Just as Hwang Hye-ryeong sighed without realizing it,

"Let us camp here for the night."

Dam Ho's voice resonated beside her ear.

Hwang Hye-ryeong, snapping back to her senses, looked around.

Dam Ho had stopped at a clearing near a reed thicket along an unnamed river. The reeds encircling the area gave it a rather cozy appearance.

Having decided to camp, Bang Jin-bo approached Muk Il-gwang.

"Brother!"

"Hm?"

Muk Il-gwang blinked, not understanding.

His appearance was fearsome to behold. An ordinary person would have wet themselves at the mere sight of his face, yet Bang Jin-bo treated him with complete ease.

'Does this child not fear me?'

The question crossed his mind.

But Muk Il-gwang did not know. He did not realize how thick-skinned Bang Jin-bo had become from following Dam Ho around.

No matter how fearsome Muk Il-gwang's appearance, it could not compare to Dam Ho. Dam Ho was the most terrifying person Bang Jin-bo had ever known, and simultaneously the most trustworthy.

No matter how fearsome Muk Il-gwang might be, he could not rival Dam Ho. Thus, Bang Jin-bo could behave comfortably even in his presence.

"You know how to build a campfire, right?"

"Of course!"

"That's good. Brother, please start a fire."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to catch us some dinner."

"Dinner?"

"Yes! Since the river is large, there should be plenty of good fish."

Bang Jin-bo intended to go fishing.

While in Akyang, he had purchased fishing line and a hook.

Bang Jin-bo found a long branch, attached the line and hook, and baited the hook with lard he had bought at a village they had passed through on the way here, mixed with grain.

Hwang Hye-ryeong watched Bang Jin-bo prepare his fishing gear with an expression of wonder.

"Can I come with you to fish?"

"Of course."

Bang Jin-bo nodded readily.

The two of them walked toward the riverbank together.

Muk Il-gwang, suddenly left alone with Dam Ho, wore an awkward expression.

As a warrior of the Dragon-Rising Banner, Muk Il-gwang had feared nothing. Yet Dam Ho was unlike any martial artist he had ever encountered. He was the only one who made Muk Il-gwang feel fear.

Muk Il-gwang spoke cautiously.

"B-Brother."

Dam Ho looked at him in silence.

His jet-black eyes were so deep they seemed to have no end. Within them, not a single fragment of emotion existed.

"I-I'll just go gather some wood."

Muk Il-gwang stammered involuntarily.

When Dam Ho nodded, Muk Il-gwang exhaled a breath of relief and hurriedly departed.

Dam Ho, now alone, gazed toward the river.

He could see Bang Jin-bo and Hwang Hye-ryeong fishing, chatting softly as they did so.

A fragment of emotion surfaced in Dam Ho's eyes.

It had been nearly twenty years since he had last seen his sister. But his sister did not even know of his existence.

Perhaps that was only natural. When Dam Ho and Hwang Hye-ryeong had been separated, she had been only two or three years old.

It was only to be expected that she could not remember his face, or even their parents'.

But Dam Ho remembered Hwang Hye-ryeong perfectly. He remembered how much their parents had cherished her.

Their father had always told Dam Ho to look after Hwang Hye-ryeong well, saying,

"If I am gone, you will be the head of the household! Ah ha ha!"

He had always said that.

So much time had passed that her face no longer came to mind easily, yet the hearty laughter of their father and the scent of his sweat remained remarkably vivid in his memory.

He had no intention of revealing to Hwang Hye-ryeong that he was her brother.

They had lived such different lives. He simply wished for each of them to continue living their own lives, as they always had.

'Ga-ryeong.'

Now living under the name Hwang Hye-ryeong, she was Ga-ryeong. A strange brother's presence was not something she needed.

While Dam Ho was sorting through his thoughts, Muk Il-gwang returned with an armload of branches.

Muk Il-gwang skillfully set the branches alight. When the campfire was burning, Bang Jin-bo returned with Hwang Hye-ryeong.

In Bang Jin-bo's hands was a rather large carp.

He scaled and gutted it right there by the river.

"Tonight, it's roasted carp!"

Bang Jin-bo set the carp on the ground and said. He produced various spices and dried grains, stuffed them tightly into the fish's belly, and then coated the outside with river mud before placing it over the fire.

Bang Jin-bo never wasted a moment. While waiting for the carp to cook, he boiled porridge with grain flour.

Watching the meal come together so quickly, Hwang Hye-ryeong and Muk Il-gwang's jaws dropped.

"Young brother, you are a true genius."

Muk Il-gwang raised his thumb in approval. Hwang Hye-ryeong nodded in agreement.

Mouths of both were watering.

A short while later, their exclamations of delight echoed through the reed thatch.

"Wow! This is absolutely incredible!"

"It's delicious."

Dam Ho watched silently as Hwang Hye-ryeong ate the roasted carp with a look of pure happiness.