Chapter 172

Chapter 172: Chapter 8. Even the Fierce Wind Cannot Wash Away the Scent of Blood (1)

CRASH!

Dam Ho rolled roughly across the ground. It was only after tumbling a dozen or so times that he finally came to a stop.

"Cough!"

Dam Ho lay face down on the ground and vomited blood. His face was completely devoid of color.

His entire body's muscles screamed with extreme agony, as though they had been pounded by a massive pestle. The sword still piercing his lung made even breathing painful.

"Hagh! Hagh!"

Dam Ho let out a metallic wheeze and glared ahead.

Where his gaze fell, Namgung Cheon lay sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving with labored breaths.

His condition was no less wretched than Dam Ho's.

One cheekbone was caved in, distorting his face. Broken ribs pressed against his lung, allowing him only shallow, hurried breaths.

Dam Ho's Six Harmonies Blood Mountain and River had shattered more than ten bones throughout his body. He had barely survived by drawing up his Protective Energy at the last moment.

If he had been struck by the Six Harmonies Blood Mountain and River with his bare body, his life would have ended already. The mere thought of it sent a chill through his spine.

At that moment, Dam Ho rose to his feet.

With the sword blade still lodged in his chest, the sight of him standing sent a wave of fear even through Namgung Cheon.

Dam Ho's body swayed as if it might collapse at any moment. Yet somehow he remained standing and began walking toward Namgung Cheon.

Even in such a state, the killing intent in Dam Ho's eyes had not diminished in the slightest. His unwavering resolve to kill Namgung Cheon was displayed plain for all to see.

"Stub…born…"

Even Namgung Cheon, who had faced the world, was sickened by Dam Ho's tenacity.

He too staggered to his feet with great effort.

They had reached a state of mutual destruction, but that didn't mean he could simply sit and let Dam Ho finish him off.

"Very well! Let's end this today! Cough!"

Namgung Cheon forced his voice louder, but he ended up vomiting blood. The internal injuries he had sustained were far from trivial.

Dam Ho limped slowly closer. His blood-soaked figure looked like an evil spirit crawling out of hell.

Namgung Cheon stared at Dam Ho's figure and shuddered.

In all his years, he had never imagined a human being could be so demonic. Even among the Demonic Cult warriors he had faced thirty-odd years ago, not a single one had been this terrifying.

'If I let him live, the consequences will be endless.'

His hands trembled violently.

He couldn't tell whether it was from fear of Dam Ho or from the pain of his wounds. There was no room to distinguish.

Scrape! THUD! Scrape! THUD!

Dam Ho's characteristic off-beat footsteps stimulated Namgung Cheon's heart with ominous foreboding.

"Kugh!"

Namgung Cheon bit his lip hard. But the fear refused to subside.

That was when—

"Patriarch!"

Suddenly, a shout echoed from the distance, and a group of warriors came running toward them. They were the Namgung Family warriors who had been following Namgung Cheon.

At their arrival, Namgung Cheon pointed at Dam Ho and screamed.

"Kill him!"

His voice boomed across the battlefield.

The Namgung Family warriors changed course and rushed toward Dam Ho.

Dam Ho looked at the approaching warriors with dimming eyes. With their arrival, whatever chance he had left was gone.

The Namgung Family warriors surged forward with terrifying momentum. Even seeing them, Dam Ho felt no fear.

'Master.'

He only regretted that he would never see Sage Hyeon-so again.

The corners of Dam Ho's mouth curled upward.

When it came time to die, he would kill at least one more before dying.

He had no desire to leave his name in the world, but neither would he give up and simply lie down to die.

'Come.'

As Dam Ho steeled himself for one final stand—

"Foolish! Get on!"

Suddenly, Jong Ri-yeon's voice came from behind.

When he turned his head, Jong Ri-yeon was riding the Dark Steed, charging toward him. She stopped before Dam Ho and pulled him onto the Dark Steed's back.

"Hiya!"

The moment Dam Ho was aboard, Jong Ri-yeon spurred the Dark Steed and burst from the battlefield.

"Stop!"

"Damn it!"

The Namgung Family warriors who arrived late deployed their movement techniques, but they couldn't catch up to the Dark Steed.

The Dark Steed vanished from their sight in an instant.

In the end, the Namgung Family warriors abandoned the pursuit and ran to Namgung Cheon.

"Are you all right, Patriarch?"

"Track him down!"

Namgung Cheon screamed, vomiting blood.

"Yes!"

"He must be eliminated no matter what. If we let him live, he will become a great calamity in the years to come."

Bloodshot madness filled Namgung Cheon's eyes.

The Namgung Family warriors caught a glimpse of a sliver of fear hidden within that madness.

'Why is the Patriarch—'

'Could it be that the Patriarch fears the Fist Demon?'

Doubt arose in the minds of the Namgung Family warriors.

At that moment, Namgung Cheon shouted again.

"You must track him down and kill him! By any means necessary… Do you understand?"

"We understand!"

In the end, the Namgung Family warriors answered with all their might.

Namgung Cheon stared with bloodshot eyes in the direction Dam Ho had disappeared.

"I must kill him. If he lives, he will become a great catastrophe. Ugh!"

Namgung Cheon vomited blood and collapsed.

"Patriarch!"

The Namgung Family warriors caught his falling body.

***

"Hm?"

Bang Jin-bo suddenly raised his head and looked at the sky.

"What's wrong?"

Hwang Hye-ryeong looked at Bang Jin-bo with a puzzled expression.

"Ah, it's nothing. I just had a strange feeling."

"Really?"

"It's probably nothing. Heh heh!"

Bang Jin-bo let out his characteristic laugh.

After Dam Ho descended the mountain, Bang Jin-bo had remained at the Yellow Mountain, adapting to his new surroundings.

Following the rebellion of Yoon Chung and Jo Yun-san, Hwang Gyeong-mun was reorganizing the Overlord's Nest and the Green Forest.

He expelled those who had sided with the rebels and the remnants of the Demonic Cult, and appointed new, trustworthy individuals.

As a result, a bloodbath had swept through the Overlord's Nest and the Green Forest. The bloodbath that swept the Green Forest was truly terrifying—countless people had died or been wounded.

Bang Jin-bo had witnessed every bit of it with his own eyes.

Hwang Gyeong-mun had ruthlessly punished the traitors. His iron-fisted measures, worthy of the title Overlord, left many Green Forest bandits trembling in fear.

Many words were spoken about Hwang Gyeong-mun's actions, but Bang Jin-bo paid them no heed.

He had traveled the world with Dam Ho.

He had witnessed scenes even more violent and terrible than this. That was why he understood that Hwang Gyeong-mun had no choice but to act as he did.

Of course, that didn't mean he could accept it without limits, but at least he no longer rejected it blindly as before.

"Let's go."

"Where?"

"Father is calling for me."

"The Chief?"

"Yes!"

At Hwang Hye-ryeong's words, Bang Jin-bo looked puzzled.

He had been at the Overlord's Nest for over a month now, and in all that time, Hwang Gyeong-mun had never once sought him out.

Bang Jin-bo followed Hwang Hye-ryeong to Hwang Gyeong-mun's residence.

"Come in."

Hwang Gyeong-mun welcomed Bang Jin-bo warmly.

"You called for me?"

"Yes! I have something to give you."

"Something to give me?"

"Yes!"

Hwang Gyeong-mun smiled.

Though he had ruled with an iron fist to punish the traitors, the eyes with which he looked at Bang Jin-bo were filled with warmth.

He reached into his robes and produced a book.

"While clearing out the stronghold, I found this."

"The Five Elements Gentleman Art?"

"That's right. It's not well-known in the Murim, but it is a superior martial art that utilizes the energy of the Five Elements."

"Why give this to me?"

"He said so. That a martial art governing the Five Elements' energy would suit you."

"He did?"

"Yes!"

Tears welled in Bang Jin-bo's eyes.

It had been over a month since Dam Ho left this place. In that time, Bang Jin-bo had missed Dam Ho dearly.

Dam Ho had left without a word, and Bang Jin-bo had even harbored a small grudge. He never imagined Dam Ho would think of him until the end.

'Brother!'

Suddenly, he wanted to see Dam Ho.

Hwang Gyeong-mun held out the Five Elements Gentleman Art to Bang Jin-bo.

"Master this."

"But I don't even have the basics of martial arts."

"Don't worry. I will teach you personally."

"The Chief himself?"

"That's right."

"But it must be troublesome for you."

"I received a great favor from him. The least I can do is this. The cleanup of the Green Forest is also finished, so now seems like the perfect time."

"Thank you. I will practice diligently."

"You must."

Hwang Gyeong-mun smiled as he watched the moved Bang Jin-bo.

Honestly, he didn't think Bang Jin-bo could achieve great mastery in the Five Elements Gentleman Art. Superior martial arts were not so easily mastered by just anyone.

But with his help, Bang Jin-bo could at least achieve a fifth-level accomplishment. That would be more than enough to preserve his life in the Murim.

"I will begin teaching you tomorrow. Come at dawn."

"I will."

"You may go now."

"Yes!"

Bang Jin-bo bowed to Hwang Gyeong-mun and ran outside. After Bang Jin-bo left, Hwang Hye-ryeong asked carefully.

"Will you really have the time?"

"If I don't, I'll have to make it. Otherwise, that friend might come looking for me."

Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled softly, knowing exactly who "that friend" was.

"Brother must be well, right?"

"Who would dare harm him? He'll be fine. Don't worry."

"Yes!"

Hwang Hye-ryeong nodded.

Hwang Gyeong-mun gazed at her with a contented expression.

Even after learning that he was the Gae-ryeong, Hwang Hye-ryeong's affectionate manner toward him had not changed.

He was grateful for such a daughter, and proud of her as well.

Hwang Hye-ryeong suddenly asked.

"Is the reorganization of the Green Forest complete?"

"Yes, it is."

"You've worked hard."

"Their roots were deeper than I expected. That's why more blood had to be shed."

Hwang Gyeong-mun closed his eyes gently. His face looked extremely weary.

He had spent decades in the Green Forest.

The people he had purged were all individuals he had known for decades. Disposing of them was never easy. But it had to be done.

Yoon Chung had corrupted the Green Forest over a truly long period. To eliminate them completely, much blood had to be spilled.

That series of actions had exhausted Hwang Gyeong-mun profoundly. Not physical fatigue, but mental exhaustion and damage.

"I'm afraid."

"Of what?"

"That there may be Demonic Cult infiltrators in other sects as well."

"That's…"

Hwang Hye-ryeong could not answer rashly.

Hwang Gyeong-mun rose and walked to the window.

"The bloodbath in the Green Forest is but a gentle breeze. A greater, more vicious wind will swallow the world. We must stockpile our strength to prepare for that time."

"Fa…ther!"

"At its center, your brother will surely be there. He may wish to live freely, but once one steps into the Murim, that is impossible."

A shadow fell over Hwang Hye-ryeong's face.

Hwang Gyeong-mun patted her shoulder.

"Don't worry too much."

"Yes!"

"No calamity can do him any harm."