Chapter 169

Chapter 169: The Fist Demon and the Sword King Collide (1)

"Whew! I feel alive again."

Cho Yeon-woon drew the cold air deep into his lungs and exhaled a long breath. He was aboard a large vessel, sailing upstream along the Yangtze River.

In high spirits, Cho Yeon-woon smiled and declared loudly:

"'He who is known by few is precious indeed.' To have few who understand me is proof of my worth."

"There he goes again, pretending."

"As usual, his habit of spouting literary quotes whenever he has free time hasn't changed a bit."

The dozen-odd martial artists surrounding Cho Yeon-woon chattered and mocked him. At this, Cho Yeon-woon's expression soured.

"Quiet, all of you!"

"Whoa! Look at that expression of his."

"That expression alone could kill a man. He's gotten worse since we last saw him."

"It was already bad before. If it's gotten worse, that makes it the worst."

Cho Yeon-woon had spoken only once, but dozens of words flew back at him.

The scene reminded him of a marketplace, and Cho Yeon-woon scowled deeply. But the martial artists around him only laughed and joked at the sight.

"Damn it! This doesn't look good. I shouldn't have ended up with these guys."

Cho Yeon-woon shook his head.

The martial artists around him were all disciples of the Hundred-Character Sect.

Some of those who had joined the Murim Alliance along with Jang Il-san had been assigned to accompany Cho Yeon-woon.

"You think it's a privilege to be with Senior Brother? Don't say things like that."

"That's right! Of all people, to be stuck with Senior Brother."

Having spent so much time together, they knew each other better than anyone. That was why they exchanged jokes with such ease.

Of course, some of the words did sting, but it was a level of teasing one could tolerate and move past.

Cho Yeon-woon turned his head slightly. Across from him sat a woman. She cradled a single sword, her three-tiered hair flowing in the river breeze—a beautiful woman.

'Hae So-wol.'

She was none other than the Young Sect Leader of the Hainan Sect, Hae So-wol.

Around Hae So-wol, a dozen or so martial artists of the Hainan Sect were also positioned.

Cho Yeon-woon rose from his seat and walked toward Hae So-wol.

"Ooh!"

"He's got nerve."

The Hundred-Character Sect disciples let out a collective cry of admiration.

Cho Yeon-woon's expression soured once again.

"It's not like that, you beasts."

"Kahaha!"

The Hundred-Character Sect disciples burst into laughter.

Cho Yeon-woon shook his head with a look of disgust and continued walking.

"Miss Hae."

"Yes! Hero Cho."

Hae So-wol rose from the railing and answered.

"I hear the Hainan Sect has also been assigned to Shanxi Province. Is that correct?"

"That's right. Specifically, the northern region of Shanxi Province."

"My junior brothers and I have been assigned to the southern region of Shanxi, so I imagine we will encounter each other frequently."

"It would seem so."

Hae So-wol answered calmly.

After the Tianhua Palace in Yunnan Province was destroyed by the Demonic Cult, the Murim Alliance had been placed on high alert.

While their own base was fully exposed, everything about the Demonic Cult was shrouded in complete secrecy.

The Demonic Cult's military strength and even the location of their headquarters were entirely unknown. For that reason, the Murim Alliance was struggling to deal with them.

The Murim Alliance had committed all its resources to identifying the enemy's headquarters. The Hawoon Gate had been mobilized, and young martial artists were dispatched throughout the Murim to investigate.

Cho Yeon-woon and Hae So-wol had received similar orders.

Each was to lead the disciples of the Hundred-Character Sect and the Hainan Sect and patrol the Shanxi region.

The martial artists of the two sects exuded contrasting atmospheres. While the Hundred-Character Sect disciples had a free-spirited air, the Hainan Sect martial artists carried a restrained, disciplined bearing.

While the Hundred-Character Sect disciples joked and laughed freely with their eldest senior brother, Cho Yeon-woon, the Hainan Sect martial artists maintained their silence, just as Hae So-wol did.

Cho Yeon-woon asked cautiously.

"Just in case, perhaps we should share an emergency contact network?"

"That would be wise."

Hae So-wol agreed readily.

"In Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, there is a place called the Im family tavern. It is run by a retired disciple of the Hundred-Character Sect. If you ever need our help, send word there. I will come at once. The same applies in reverse—please keep the Im family tavern in mind at all times."

"I understand."

"However…"

Cho Yeon-woon's voice suddenly dropped. Hae So-wol looked at him with a questioning gaze.

"Have you heard anything from that man?"

Cho Yeon-woon did not specify exactly whom he meant. But Hae So-wol understood at once.

"Not a word."

"I see. I heard he had entered Anhui Province, but there has been no word since."

"……"

"I just hope nothing has happened…"

Even as he said it, he lacked confidence. The man he knew was never one to back down.

Hae So-wol gazed at the river.

'Dam Ho.'

Complex emotions surfaced in her eyes.

In the current Murim, Dam Ho's notoriety had reached its peak.

The title of Fist Demon held a terror equal to the Demonic Cult. At least for those living in the Murim, Dam Ho was an object of fear.

Naturally, many harbored hostile feelings toward Dam Ho. The Hainan Sect was no exception. From Elder White Sword Gu Ok-bi to the lowest disciple, many feared and despised Dam Ho.

Dam Ho was strong.

So strong that even Gu Mu-ryong, commonly regarded as the foremost of the younger generation, was no match for him.

He had already risen beyond the ranks of the younger generation to stand among the supreme masters of the Murim. Though he should have been the object of universal admiration, he had instead become an object of fear.

Hae So-wol still could not comprehend Dam Ho's path.

'Perhaps I never will…'

***

Dam Ho had stripped off his upper garment and stood in a stream.

He washed the blood and grime from his body with cold water. Every time the cold water touched his wounds, a sharp pain shot through him.

Dam Ho endured without a single change in expression as he doused himself. Each time, his muscles, honed to their utmost limit, twitched.

"Phew!"

Having finished his bath, Dam Ho let out a breath.

Though he had washed away the blood from his body, the heavy scent of it still lingered.

He could not remember how many he had killed. But the blood of those he had slain was seared deep into his body, indelible.

It was a burden he would carry for the rest of his life.

Dam Ho stepped out of the stream.

At that moment, Jong Ri-yeon emerged from the nearby undergrowth and spoke.

"Cold water is not good for the body. Well, you've already bathed, so it can't be helped."

In her hand she held several herbs. She had gathered them from the nearby forest while Dam Ho bathed.

Jong Ri-yeon placed the herbs on a flat stone and crushed them finely.

"I will apply these to your wounds. It should at least help with the external injuries."

Without even asking Dam Ho's permission, she daubed the crushed herbs generously over his wounds.

Where the herbs touched, a searing pain erupted. It was pain on an entirely different level from the cold water. But Dam Ho did not let out a single groan.

Jong Ri-yeon stared intently at Dam Ho's face.

"As I thought."

"What?"

"To be so indifferent to your own pain—you must be indifferent to the pain of others as well."

"……"

"I don't know what is driving you to such extremes, but I think you should allow yourself a little more leniency. There, it's done."

Slap!

With a final pat on the treated area, Jong Ri-yeon dusted off her hands. Dam Ho regarded her with a slight furrow of his brow. But Jong Ri-yeon simply smiled brightly.

"Now, let us go. We cannot stay here forever."

"You intend to travel with me?"

"My goodness! You would leave a lady stranded here?"

"There is nothing good that comes from being with me."

"Because the Namgung Family has marked you as a target?"

"……"

"So have I. As you can see, I refused the Namgung Family's request, so I cannot remain in Anhui Province. I don't ask for much. Just accompany me until we leave Anhui."

"Do you have somewhere to go?"

"There is a patient waiting for me in Yunan, Henan Province."

"Another patient?"

"I am a physician. If someone awaits my help, I must go to them."

"Then why did you not go to the Namgung Family?"

"The Namgung Family has many fine physicians besides me. But Yeon had only me."

"And you made an enemy of the Namgung Family for that?"

"It cannot be helped."

Jong Ri-yeon answered with a nonchalant expression.

As she walked, she continued.

"When you practice medicine, countless temptations arise. Those in power have an especially strong desire for life extension, and they believe money and power can buy anything. If you succumb to such people, you cannot use your medicine for those who truly need it."

"Are you not afraid of them?"

"And what about you? They call you the Fist Demon, don't they? You have killed countless people and become the enemy of the Murim Alliance. What about you?"

"I don't care."

"Nor do I. I don't care."

Jong Ri-yeon smiled a refreshing smile.

Dam Ho looked at her for a moment.

Yunan in Henan Province was, in any case, on the way to the Mount Hua Sect. There was no reason to turn back, nor any need to spend extra time.

"It could be dangerous."

"It might be."

"And yet you would still go with me?"

"Well, it would be better than a woman traveling alone."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. The Murim is far too dangerous for a woman to travel alone. Especially a woman as lovely as myself."

Jong Ri-yeon smiled.

Dam Ho turned and walked away without a word. Jong Ri-yeon hurried after him in a fluster.

"What? I'm not pretty? I hear that all the time, though."

"……"

"I'm serious."

Jong Ri-yeon pressed close to Dam Ho's side, afraid of falling behind. She chattered away brightly.

"Mount."

Dam Ho had her mount Heuk-gui.

Jong Ri-yeon did not refuse and climbed onto the horse. Dam Ho moved to mount as well. But at that moment, his movements froze.

"What is it?"

Jong Ri-yeon looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Ride Heuk-gui and leave this place immediately."

"What?"

"We have a visitor."

"A visitor?"

Jong Ri-yeon's expression hardened.

In that instant, the air grew cold and goosebumps rose on her skin.

"This is…"

"……"

Dam Ho did not answer.

He could feel it—a sharp aura like a blade scraping against nerves, and a powerful presence that dominated the entire area.

The opponent was a single person.

But it was no laughing matter.

What kind of person could fill this entire area with their presence alone?

Dam Ho turned around.

There, hundreds of zhang away, towered an enormous tree. With every gust of wind, the branches at its crown swayed dizzyingly.

And upon a branch as slender as a whip, someone stood.

An elderly man in his early-to-mid fifties, holding a sword to his chest.

The moment she saw the old man, Jong Ri-yeon felt as though an invisible blade had torn through her heart, and her face went pale.

"Th-the Sword King?"

The words had escaped her involuntarily. And her guess was correct.

The old man standing upon the great tree was none other than Namgung Cheon.

The Head of the Namgung Family and a swordsman who had reached the pinnacle of the sword—the supreme martial artist had appeared here.

"We finally meet. Fist Demon!"

He kicked off the slender branch. The branch, bent like a bow, launched Namgung Cheon forward.

He cleared tens of zhang in a single leap, but the distance to Dam Ho still remained hundreds of zhang.

As Namgung Cheon's body fell, a sword suddenly flew from his robes toward Dam Ho.

Tap!

Namgung Cheon used the soles-and-heels movement technique, kicking his right foot against his left heel, and alighted upon the sword.

In that instant, Jong Ri-yeon let out a cry that was almost a scream.

"S-sword Riding Flight Technique?"