Chapter 205

Chapter 205: Mistaking a Tiger for a Cat (2)

After the storm had passed, a brief peace descended upon the Shouzhou branch. But no one believed it was true peace.

Before a great storm, the calm is always deepest. Most people felt that this was precisely that moment.

The unexpected death of the Ten-Li Reaper, So Cheonsan—one of the Seven Great Demon Masters—at Dam Ho's hands had dealt a severe blow to the Demonic Cult as well.

The Cult had taken the series of events with utmost seriousness. They judged that if they were not careful, they might lose their momentum entirely.

At the former site of the Mount Heng Sect, the Demonic Cult's principal forces were gathering one after another. The Cult was beginning to concentrate its strength.

Naturally, the Murim Alliance had also obtained this intelligence. After repeated meetings, the Alliance likewise decided to dispatch its main forces to Shouzhou.

They requested cooperation from nearby sects and dispatched the Five Elements Brigade.

The Shouzhou branch was no longer merely one of many theaters of war. It had become a critical battlefield that would decide the fate of the martial world. Naturally, the attention of countless warriors was drawn to it.

Not only the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, but even warriors with no connection to the Murim Alliance made their way to Shouzhou. The branch was suddenly overflowing with people, and they scrambled to prepare lodgings for the influx of warriors.

"Is that where the Fist Demon resides?"

"Is he not coming out today either?"

Warriors who had entered the Shouzhou branch whispered among themselves as they looked toward the cottage.

No one was unaware that Dam Ho was staying in the cottage. At least, no one within the Shouzhou branch.

People hovered near the cottage, hoping to catch even a distant glimpse of the rumored Dam Ho, but he never showed himself. As a result, curiosity about him only intensified.

Dam Ho's position within Shouzhou was currently very precarious.

It was well known that the Murim Alliance had named him a public enemy of the martial world. For that reason, the Namgung Family had suffered grievous damage, and the Murim Alliance's prestige had once fallen to rock bottom.

Normally, such a designation would have made him a target for execution. But Dam Ho's contributions could not be ignored.

If not for Dam Ho, countless warriors in the Shouzhou branch would have been slaughtered by So Cheonsan. Those with strong internal energy might have endured by protecting their meridians, but warriors below that level could have been annihilated entirely.

Dam Ho's killing of So Cheonsan had not only reduced immediate casualties—it had saved countless lives that So Cheonsan might have taken in the future.

The problem arose from this.

For the Murim Alliance, Dam Ho was a thorn in their side, yet many had begun to shield him.

The Zhongnan Sect had taken that stance, and several other sects had followed suit. The one placed in a difficult position by all of this was the Murim Alliance, and even now, deep within the Shouzhou branch, fierce debate raged over Dam Ho's fate.

Sage Hyeon-geom of the Mount Hua Sect, Yeom Jung-hwa of the Zhongnan Sect, and other renowned figures of the martial world had gathered in one place.

"Impossible. To revoke his designation as a public enemy at this point? If we did, the prestige of the Murim Alliance would hit rock bottom."

"What does the Murim Alliance's prestige matter? Consider only how useful he can be in the current situation. If he becomes an ally, how reassuring that would be."

"Does that mean we should forgive a bloodthirsty killer just because he is useful?"

"It is true that his methods are somewhat excessive. But it is not as though he killed without reason. From what I have found, he never struck first."

"Look at his cruelty. Look at his relentlessness. Does such a man truly seem the type to be grateful if we remove his designation as a public enemy?"

"Then what do you propose? That you stand before him and say, 'You are a public enemy, so accept your death'? Go ahead. Try it. Let us see how he responds."

"Urgh!"

The hall was noisy as a marketplace.

Countless voices rose in argument, making it impossible for the meeting to proceed properly. But as time wore on, the faction arguing for revoking Dam Ho's designation began to gain the upper hand.

Sage Hyeon-geom's expression grew increasingly twisted as he watched it all unfold. He had remained silent throughout.

Stepping forward to argue that the designation should be maintained was laughable, and his pride would not allow him to argue for its revocation.

He simply burned with silent fury.

Yeom Jung-hwa watched Sage Hyeon-geom with a subtle smile. The tide had already turned toward revoking Dam Ho's designation. No matter how Sage Hyeon-geom struggled, he could not reverse the current.

In the end, the people decided to release Dam Ho from the noose of his designation as a public enemy.

Given the circumstances, the strongest justification was that Dam Ho needed to be utilized to the fullest.

Gong Son-jung, the Shouzhou branch leader, walked toward the cottage.

As the branch leader, he was presumably going to inform Dam Ho of the decision reached at the meeting.

Tension was plain on Gong Son-jung's face.

It could not be helped. The newly arrived warriors had only heard tales of Dam Ho's martial prowess, but he had witnessed it with his own eyes.

The decisive blow that had ended So Cheonsan's life. The overwhelming presence that had dominated the entire battlefield.

With that single man, the tide of battle had been completely reversed.

Gong Son-jung prided himself on being a seasoned veteran, yet he had never once imagined such a scene.

'Why on earth did Heaven grant such a demonic master such power?'

Gong Son-jung shook his head.

Before he knew it, the cottage was before him. Many people still lingered outside the front gate. Gong Son-jung saw in their faces the gleam of youthful hope.

It was the hope and yearning of those who beheld a savior of the martial world.

'No! That is wrong. He is not a savior who will rescue the martial world. The martial world may well meet its ruin because of him.'

Gong Son-jung bit his lip. Blood seeped between his teeth, but he felt no pain.

He raised his voice before the front gate of the cottage.

"Young Hero Dam! I am Gong Son-jung, Branch Leader of the Murim Alliance's Shouzhou branch."

After a moment, Dam Ho opened the door and stepped outside. In that instant, Gong Son-jung's face froze.

The mere act of facing him directly stiffened his entire body, and cold sweat streamed down his back.

Dam Ho stared at Gong Son-jung.

That gaze, devoid of any emotion whatsoever, made Gong Son-jung all the more afraid.

"What is it?"

"I have come to inform Young Hero Dam of the decision reached at the leadership council. I am pleased to tell you that you are no longer a public enemy of the martial world."

"Public enemy?"

"That is correct. The Murim Alliance, in recognition of your great merit, has reached this decision."

"……"

"S-So we ask that you continue to fight against the Demonic Cult."

"And if I refuse?"

"What?"

"Why should I fight the Demonic Cult?"

"Is the Demonic Cult not the common enemy of the martial world? Should we not naturally rally our strength against them?"

"Use the demon to fight the demon, is that it?"

"Th-that…"

Gong Son-jung could not find words. Dam Ho's piercing remark left him speechless, and his face flushed red with embarrassment.

Using one demon to suppress another.

That was the outcome they desired above all else. But there was no reason for Dam Ho to move as they wished.

"I don't mind remaining a public enemy."

"What?"

"So I would advise you to abandon any thoughts of using me. If you wish to use me, put your life on the line. If that doesn't appeal to you, you are welcome to attack me right now."

"Th-that…"

Gong Son-jung stammered.

His mind had gone blank, and not a single word came to him.

Just then, a voice came to his rescue.

"Branch Leader."

"Ah, Miss Hae."

The newcomer was Hae So-wol.

Her appearance brought a look of relief to Gong Son-jung's face. When the branch leader had been away, Hae So-wol had served as his deputy, and the two had grown quite close.

"I will speak with him. Please return for now."

"You would do that? Thank you! Miss Hae."

Gong Son-jung answered eagerly and withdrew at once.

Dam Ho did not attempt to stop the retreating Gong Son-jung. Instead, he turned to Hae So-wol. She offered a bitter smile.

"Don't be too hard on him. He is a man who takes his duties seriously, in his own way."

"So you were here."

"I came here right after we parted at the Murim Alliance. I ended up staying, more or less."

"I see."

"Oh, and congratulations on reuniting with your master. I met him briefly—he seems like a wonderful person."

"He is."

"What do you intend to do now?"

"I'm leaving this place."

"Will you go to Mount Hua?"

"No."

Dam Ho shook his head.

After his confrontation with Sage Hyeon-geom, returning to Mount Hua was out of the question.

"Anywhere, as long as it is a place where my master can rest."

"That won't be easy. You have already stepped deep into the martial world. The debts and grudges of the martial world are tenacious—once entangled, it is not easy to extricate yourself."

Hae So-wol's voice was thick with regret.

She had been in the martial world for barely a year, yet it felt as though ten years had passed. The mental burden she bore was immense.

She wished she could return to Hainan Island at once. But too many things held her in place.

Dam Ho looked at Hae So-wol in silence.

"I'm sorry. I brought it up and then became lost in my own thoughts. I'm sure you will manage well in your own way. I will take my leave now. Please convey my regards to Sage Hyeon-so."

Hae So-wol hurried out of the cottage with quick steps.

Dam Ho watched her retreating figure for a moment, then sat down.

The air was hot.

It was not merely the presence of many people that heated the air. It was the atmosphere of the battlefield that had turned it so.

He knew well what this stifling, clinging sensation foretold.

As much hostility filled the air, so too would blood flow upon the earth. And so too would many perish.

In Dam Ho's eyes, this place appeared as nothing more than a massive tomb. And yet he felt little—perhaps because his emotions had grown too calloused.

It was then—

"Ho-ya!"

Sage Hyeon-so opened the door and stepped outside.

Dam Ho looked up at him.

"What are you thinking so deeply about?"

"Nothing at all."

"Is that so?"

Sage Hyeon-so smiled and sat beside Dam Ho. Shoulder to shoulder, they gazed ahead together.

"Ho-ya."

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"……"

"Thank you for not forgetting this useless old man, for finding me, and for being alive."

"Master."

"As a master, I have done nothing but bring trouble to my disciple."

"If not for you, Master, there would be no me."

"Thank you."

Sage Hyeon-so reached out and placed his hand upon the back of Dam Ho's broad hand. A gentle warmth was felt.

Though more than ten years had passed, the warmth was the same as it had always been.

"What do you intend to do henceforth?"

"……"

"I could not help but overhear your conversation with Miss Hae. Are you truly thinking of leaving this place?"

"Yes."

"Because of me?"

"……"

"Thank you. For thinking so highly of this worthless master. That is enough for me."

Dam Ho turned his head to look at Sage Hyeon-so's face.

"Never… be bound by me. There is no need to sacrifice yourself for my sake, nor to bow your head to anyone on my account. If I thought I would become a burden to you, I would sooner end my own life. Live freely, Ho-ya."

"Master!"

"I believe in you."

Sage Hyeon-so tightened his grip on Dam Ho's hand. His knuckles, now bony and worn, felt rough against Dam Ho's skin.

Dam Ho nodded silently.