Chapter 377

Chapter 377 – Who Questions Whose Qualifications? (2)

"Huff! Huff!"

Bang Jin-bo's shoulders heaved as he lay prostrate. His mouth, opened wide like a fish, kept gulping air.

It felt as if his lungs were being torn apart. His heart cried out in agony. He could taste blood in his mouth. All his joints were moving on their own as if his whole body was being dismembered.

At that moment, a cold voice devoid of emotion was heard.

"Under no circumstances should you stop the Five Elements Gentleman Art. Just because you're resting doesn't mean you should cease the Five Elements Gentleman Art."

It was Dam Ho. He was looking down at Bang Jin-bo with his arms crossed. At this, Bang Jin-bo gritted his teeth and operated the Five Elements Gentleman Art.

The five types of energy accumulated in his body were rampaging wildly. The energies that had previously obeyed his will were going berserk like this because of Dam Ho.

The sparring with Dam Ho had caused his Five Elements Gentleman Art to fluctuate violently. Like an untamed colt, the Five Elements Gentleman Art was going wild. Bang Jin-bo tried his best to calm the Five Elements Gentleman Art, but it was useless.

"Grr!"

Bang Jin-bo's face turned red and blood vessels bulged out prominently. He was truly on the verge of his blood vessels bursting. Dam Ho's internal energy that had penetrated his body was stimulating the Five Elements energy.

Dam Ho looked down at such Bang Jin-bo indifferently.

If he helped, he could easily stabilize the energy and blood. But then no further development could be expected from Bang Jin-bo.

The wall blocking Bang Jin-bo's path had to be broken by himself. Only then could he move forward.

Pop!

The blood vessels that had already been bulging became even more prominent. Even his eyes became bloodshot, truly on the verge of bursting.

He had bitten so hard that Bang Jin-bo's lips split and blood flowed down. But Bang Jin-bo couldn't even feel the pain. Because an even greater pain was dominating his entire body.

Bang Jin-bo endured and endured again as he operated the Five Elements Gentleman Art. How much time had passed like this?

Bang Jin-bo truly wanted to die. That's how painful it was.

Enlightenment came so suddenly in the midst of such pain.

'If I just let go instead… Ah! Natural energy doesn't constrain. If I release it, it will find its own place.'

Bang Jin-bo released the control of the Five Elements Gentleman Art he had been desperately holding onto. Then the wildly rampaging Five Elements energy went even more wild, and Bang Jin-bo's entire body swelled greatly. As if it would burst.

A miracle happened at that moment. The Five Elements energy that had been raging savagely like a storm suddenly began to interact.

Metal energy and water energy that seemed completely incompatible endlessly switched positions and harmonized, and the opposing wood energy and fire energy blended together. With earth energy added, the five types of energy finally began to achieve mutual understanding.

As the Five Elements energy achieved mutual understanding, Bang Jin-bo, who had swelled as if about to burst, was quickly returning to his original form. Only then did Bang Jin-bo sit in lotus position and focus even more on his cultivation.

Dam Ho watched this indifferently.

The crisis had passed. Bang Jin-bo had excellently broken the wall blocking his path with his own strength.

Dam Ho stayed by Bang Jin-bo's side.

Though the biggest crisis had passed, it was still a time when he was vulnerable to external shocks. He needed to stand guard until the energy and blood stabilized and the mutually understood Five Elements energy found its place.

Bang Jin-bo's cultivation ended quite some time later.

"Hyung?"

Bang Jin-bo opened his eyes and looked at Dam Ho.

"You worked hard."

"This is…?"

Bang Jin-bo couldn't continue speaking.

Because he felt tremendous energy incomparable to before from within his body.

"Is this the realm where the Five Elements achieve mutual understanding?"

"That's right."

"Thank you, hyung. How can I repay this kindness…"

"Enough, go wash up."

"Huh?"

At Dam Ho's words, Bang Jin-bo looked down at his body.

His body was covered with dark red liquid and emitted a terrible stench. This was because all impurities in his body had been expelled as the Five Elements energy achieved mutual understanding.

Realizing this fact, Bang Jin-bo hurriedly ran to the well to wash his body. Only after pouring water several times did all the impurities clinging to his body wash away.

Bang Jin-bo took the opportunity to change into clean clothes. Then his face seemed to glow. Indeed, Bang Jin-bo had changed significantly from before.

His facial features had changed slightly, and his height had noticeably increased. Though not complete body transformation, his physical body had changed to the optimal state for deploying martial arts.

It was a miracle created by the harmony of the Five Elements Gentleman Art's power and the internal energy Bang Jin-bo had accumulated through food and Plum Blossom Divine Pills.

Bang Jin-bo moved his hands this way and that. Then he felt tremendous energy incomparable to before.

"Whoa!"

Bang Jin-bo involuntarily let out an exclamation.

The powerful strength felt from within his body changed how he saw the world. It felt like looking down from above.

Now it seemed he could deploy Mount Hua Sect's martial arts that had been blocked and showed no progress.

It was when Bang Jin-bo couldn't easily adapt to his changed appearance.

Knock knock!

Someone carefully knocked on the annex door.

Only then did Bang Jin-bo snap to attention and say:

"Who is it?"

"I am Jo Myeong-yul, Inner Hall Leader of the Martial Alliance."

"Inner Hall Leader?"

Bang Jin-bo's eyes widened.

Because the Inner Hall Leader of the Martial Alliance was an extremely high position. At least by Bang Jin-bo's standards.

Bang Jin-bo hurriedly opened the door. Then Jo Myeong-yul, the Inner Hall Leader of the Martial Alliance, appeared.

Jo Myeong-yul's gaze turned toward Dam Ho behind Bang Jin-bo.

"I've brought a message from the Alliance Leader, Great Hero Dam."

"A message?"

"Yes! There's an important meeting in the great hall soon, so the Alliance Leader earnestly hopes Great Hero Dam will also attend."

Dam Ho slightly frowned. Then tension naturally appeared on Jo Myeong-yul's face.

Dam Ho had killed Namgung Chang, the Martial Alliance's strategist, before everyone's eyes. Yet no one in the Martial Alliance had been able to stop him. Because Dam Ho was such a terrifying existence.

This was why Jo Myeong-yul couldn't help but be sensitive to even Dam Ho's slightest expression change.

Jo Myeong-yul hurriedly bowed his head and said:

"The Alliance Leader said that since it's a gathering where all the martial world's renowned masters including the Alliance Leader will meet, please attend if possible. Great Hero Cho and Lady Hae will also attend. I've already conveyed the message to them."

"……"

Dam Ho looked at Jo Myeong-yul silently. Jo Myeong-yul's pupils shook violently under his gaze. Jo Myeong-yul felt his mouth go completely dry.

At that moment, Dam Ho's mouth opened.

"Where should I go?"

"To the Alliance Leader's quarters… Ah! Please come to the largest hall."

Jo Myeong-yul hurriedly answered. Relief appeared on his face. Because he had at least accomplished the Alliance Leader's command for now.

"Then I'll wait at the Alliance Leader's quarters."

Fearing Dam Ho might change his mind, Jo Myeong-yul hurriedly left. Dam Ho silently watched his retreating figure.

Bang Jin-bo called to Dam Ho.

"Hyung?"

"Let's go."

"Are you really going?"

"Yes!"

Dam Ho nodded and moved his steps. Bang Jin-bo hurriedly followed behind.

He had no intention of entering the Alliance Leader's quarters following Dam Ho. Since he had been cut off from the outside world learning martial arts, he wanted to get some fresh air for a while.

It was his first outing in several days.

Though he had only crossed a single wall, the air felt different. No, everything felt new.

Whether this was because of the outing after several days or because the Five Elements Gentleman Art had reached the realm of mutual understanding was unclear.

"Ah!"

Bang Jin-bo, who had been following Dam Ho for a while, suddenly stopped.

He could see a group climbing the mountain in the distance. Bang Jin-bo recognized them at a glance.

"It's So-cheong."

Eun So-cheong and the martial artists of Eun Family Merchant House were climbing the mountain.

A welcoming light immediately appeared on Bang Jin-bo's face. He too hadn't seen Eun So-cheong for several days because he had been with Dam Ho.

Bang Jin-bo left Dam Ho behind and walked toward Eun So-cheong.

"So-cheong! Huh?"

Bang Jin-bo tilted his head. It was because of a young martial artist walking closely beside Eun So-cheong. The martial artist who appeared only about two years older than himself was constantly talking to Eun So-cheong.

Eun So-cheong seemed burdened by such a martial artist and tried to keep distance. But the more she did so, the more closely the young martial artist stuck to her side. For some reason, the Eun Family Merchant House martial artists weren't restraining the young martial artist's behavior. No, they seemed to be reading the situation carefully.

Bang Jin-bo raised his voice.

"So-cheong!"

"Ah! Jin-bo."

Eun So-cheong ran over with delight. Relief flashed across her face as she looked at Bang Jin-bo.

She hurriedly asked:

"Is your training finished?"

"Yes!"

Bang Jin-bo's gaze turned toward the young martial artist behind Eun So-cheong. He was glaring at Bang Jin-bo with a frown, seemingly dissatisfied about something. The naked hostility in his gaze was vividly transmitted through the air.

"Who is he?"

"Ah! That person is…"

"Dae Gun-sang. Cruel Demon Swordsman Dae Gun-sang is my name. What might this young brother's name be?"

The young martial artist who had been sticking to Eun So-cheong's side suddenly interrupted. He was precisely the Cruel Demon Swordsman Dae Gun-sang.

He looked at Bang Jin-bo with very unpleasant eyes. Indeed, he wasn't in a very good mood.

Dae Gun-sang felt attracted to Eun So-cheong. Not only was her appearance beautiful enough, but most of all, the fact that she was the successor of Eun Family Merchant House, which possessed Hunan Province's greatest wealth, captivated him.

Though there were countless talented women in the world, those who harmonized beautiful appearance and wealth like Eun So-cheong weren't very common.

Dae Gun-sang had tremendous pride in his own martial prowess. He was a member of the Four New Stars who were evaluated as succeeding the Nine Martial Dragons, and indeed he had achieved great merit against Demon Cult martial artists.

Having great pride in himself and his martial arts, he thought his companion should also be qualified accordingly. Though countless women had approached him until now, none had satisfied his standards. The only exception was Eun So-cheong.

He had met Eun So-cheong only about an hour ago, but he felt great interest and attraction toward her. So he stuck closely to Eun So-cheong's side trying to seduce her.

His status as a member of the Four New Stars, handsome face, and eloquent speech had harmonized to conquer countless women. But none of what he was so proud of worked on Eun So-cheong.

Eun So-cheong only treated him formally and didn't truly open her heart. As if she had built a great wall around her heart. So he was in a slightly angry state. Perhaps that's why his voice asking Bang Jin-bo's name had sharp thorns.

Dae Gun-sang's sharp presence was enough to make observers naturally intimidated. But Bang Jin-bo answered with a relaxed expression without showing any such sign.

"Ah, so you're Young Hero Dae. I'm called Bang Jin-bo."

"What about your alias?"

"Huh?"

"Don't you have an alias?"

"I don't have anything like that."

"Really?"

Instantly the corners of Dae Gun-sang's mouth curled up. It was obvious mockery to anyone watching.

Bang Jin-bo also noticed this fact. Naturally his expression had to harden.

Dae Gun-sang asked once more:

"Then what's your relationship with Lady Eun?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"If you're nothing special to Lady Eun, don't approach her anymore."

At Dae Gun-sang's confident words, deep furrows formed on Bang Jin-bo's brow.

Though he had traveled the martial world countless times following Dam Ho, this was the first time he met someone like Dae Gun-sang who spoke so selfishly without considering others' feelings.

"Why?"

"Because I've taken a liking to Lady Eun. She will marry me."

"Who's marrying whom?"

Unable to watch anymore, Eun So-cheong raised her voice. But Dae Gun-sang didn't care. As if Eun So-cheong's opinion had nothing to do with it.

That's when it happened.

"Nephew! What are you doing here? Coming to Shaolin Temple, you should visit this uncle instead."

Suddenly with a heavy voice, a middle-aged martial artist walked toward where they were. He was six feet tall with broad shoulders, the type of physique anyone would call powerful.

His face overflowed with vigor as much as his voice.

A welcoming light appeared on Dae Gun-sang's face.

"Ah, uncle."

"Haha! Nephew!"

The middle-aged martial artist spread both arms wide and embraced Dae Gun-sang.

The moment she confirmed his face, Eun So-cheong's pupils shook. Because she recognized his identity at a glance.

'Isn't that Great Hero Yan Ju-cheon of the Jinzhou Yan Family?'

The Jinzhou Yan Family was one of the Five Great Families. And Yan Ju-cheon was an elder of the Jinzhou Yan Family who wielded tremendous influence next to the family head.

Yan Ju-cheon had been dispatched to the Martial Alliance representing the family head. She hadn't known he was Dae Gun-sang's uncle.

Yan Ju-cheon stared intently at Dae Gun-sang's face and said:

"I was just hearing news that you were making a name for yourself in the martial world and waiting for when you'd come. What were you doing here?"

"I was talking with a woman qualified to become this nephew's wife."

"Really?"

Only then did Yan Ju-cheon's gaze turn toward Eun So-cheong.