Chapter 450

Chapter 450 – Yet Hope is Not Abandoned (4)

After a while, when Gi San-wol returned to the inn, his attire had changed beyond recognition. Wearing a headpiece, dressed in a pure white robe, and holding a folding fan unsuited to the season, his appearance somehow looked transcendent.

In Gi San-wol's hands were bundles of clothes.

"My lord seems to prefer black, so I bought clothes accordingly."

The clothes Gi San-wol handed to Dam Ho were black robes and garments. Dam Ho silently received the clothes and changed.

Bang Jin-bo and the Namgung brothers also each changed into new clothes. Once they put on new clothes, the fact they'd returned to reality felt real.

When everyone had changed, Gi San-wol smiled and said.

"I ordered food from the innkeeper when I came in. Everyone must be hungry, so let's go out together."

"Wow!"

At Gi San-wol's words, the Namgung brothers shouted with joy. Their stomachs had been continuously signaling hunger.

They followed Gi San-wol to the inn's first floor. The inn used the entire first floor as a dining hall.

Inside the dining hall were about twenty tables, most of them occupied. Half of those occupying seats appeared to be martial artists carrying weapons, the rest merchants.

At Dam Ho's group's appearance, merchants briefly glanced at them but soon focused on their own conversations.

"Ha! What's becoming of the world? We relied on the Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple, yet they're being pushed back so helplessly."

"Indeed. Who could have imagined the Demon Cult's momentum would be this terrifying? Sigh!"

"At this rate, Henan Province will soon become the Demon Cult's territory, wouldn't you say?"

"Unless there's a significant variable, wouldn't it?"

"Ha! This is serious."

Those appearing to be merchants sighed heavily.

In contrast, the martial artists said nothing and only ate their food. A grim atmosphere even surrounded them.

They kept their heads down eating food, not even glancing at Dam Ho's group.

Bang Jin-bo spoke in a low voice.

"At least the Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple are still holding out. That's fortunate."

Relief appeared on his face.

Unable to gauge time's flow while trapped in Avici Hell, he'd worried whether Shaolin Temple or the Martial Alliance had collapsed in the meantime.

Then the innkeeper approached carrying a tray full of food.

"You've come out. Here's the food I prepared."

"Ha!"

When the owner set food on the table, Gi San-wol's expression changed as if about to cry. His pupils moistened with humidity, and saliva unknowingly dripped from his mouth corners.

He didn't know how long it had been since tasting food. Though he hadn't felt hunger before, seeing human-like food for the first time made his stomach churn madly. The same was true for the others.

"Thank you for the food."

"Wow!"

Led by Gi San-wol, they began eating food competitively.

"There's plenty of food, so eat slowly."

The flustered owner tried to stop them but it was useless. Once their salivary glands exploded, their appetite was terrifying.

Unlike them, Dam Ho ate as usual. Chewing bit by bit contrasted with the others.

Even the experience in Avici Hell seemed not to greatly affect his mind.

"Ah!"

Thick teardrops flowed down Gi San-wol's cheeks.

In that place, one could live without eating. Not knowing hunger, he didn't need to worry about food. But he always felt hungry. One doesn't desire food only when hungry.

Appetite was one of humanity's greatest desires and the driving force making humans live as humans. With such primal desire forcibly blocked, unable even to know time's flow, going mad might have been natural.

The feeling of warm food entering his mouth, the sensation of it smoothly passing down his esophagus made Gi San-wol emotional.

The still young Namgung brothers couldn't readily understand Gi San-wol's reaction. But Bang Jin-bo, whose profession was cooking, understood and empathized with the intense emotions Gi San-wol was feeling.

"Try this too."

Bang Jin-bo even yielded dishes he'd served himself to Gi San-wol. Gi San-wol was moved.

"Thank you, young master. I won't forget this kindness."

"Haha! It's hardly a kindness. I'll make you proper food later."

"Oh right, you said you're a cook?"

When Gi San-wol's eyes sparkled, the Namgung brothers beside him spoke.

"Jin-bo hyung's cooking is incomparable to this. It's truly heavenly."

"Really. I think Jin-bo hyung's cooking is the most delicious in the world."

"Oh! That good?"

Bang Jin-bo subtly turned his head. Gi San-wol's gaze was burdensome.

His gaze suddenly stopped at Dam Ho.

Dam Ho was silently eating the food before him. That appearance of eating bit by bit, slowly, looked just like a practitioner. He'd originally had such tendencies, but spending time in Avici Hell had inclined Dam Ho's disposition even more in that direction.

'It really was hellish time.'

Just recalling those memories made him involuntarily shudder.

As Bang Jin-bo briefly trembled, a gleam appeared in his eyes. Because of martial artists visible behind Dam Ho.

The martial artists gathered around tables naturally conversed while eating. Nothing strange was visible on the surface. But their slightly stiff faces and pupils ceaselessly scanning the dining hall's interior and exterior as if guarding the surroundings.

Most of all, they hadn't lifted a single cup of the drinks before them. Though clearly bringing them to their mouths, the amount didn't decrease at all.

Something was strange. Just as he tried to observe more carefully.

"Young master."

Suddenly Gi San-wol called Bang Jin-bo in a low voice.

"Yes?"

"Staring at others' faces so intently isn't polite."

"But…"

"Not just them. Behind Master Bang too, and those in that corner are the same."

"What? Then…"

"My lord already knows."

"S-since when?"

"From the moment we entered? No matter how peaceful one disguises the exterior, hiding gaze, breathing, and even heartbeat isn't easy. They haven't reached that level yet. But even so, young master recognizing their strangeness is truly impressive."

Gi San-wol looked at Bang Jin-bo with eyes like an older brother praising a younger one. Bang Jin-bo's face slightly reddened.

Gi San-wol turned his head toward the window and continued.

"Not just this inn. In the inn across the street, and the inn next to it, there are many martial artists like them."

"What?"

"They're probably targeting someone passing in front of our inn. Their heartbeats are quickening, so though I don't know who their target is, they'll approach soon."

Bang Jin-bo looked at Dam Ho. Gi San-wol's words were hard to believe easily.

If Gi San-wol's words were true, it meant his senses had developed to grasp the entire street beyond this inn.

Dam Ho slightly nodded. Meaning Gi San-wol's words were true. Bang Jin-bo was inwardly shocked.

'Is sorcery that amazing? Even without strong internal energy, extending senses that far.'

Though Dam Ho could be understood as possessing tremendous internal energy and senses, Gi San-wol demonstrating such wide-ranging senses was somewhat intimidating. But Bang Jin-bo soon recovered his usual composure.

'No need to mind others. I just need to walk my own path. Comparing myself to others will only prevent me from fully displaying my skills.'

Thinking so, his heart calmed. He was also curious. Who exactly was their target for so many martial artists to be mobilized?

Then horse hoof sounds and wheel rolling noise came from outside simultaneously. Looking out the window, a group was entering Xiping's outskirts.

An endless procession of carts continued. Carts pulled by oxen and horses were loaded with mountain-high loads covered by tarps.

At the group's head was a four-horse carriage with a large flag embroidered with golden thread fluttering in the wind atop the roof.

Bang Jin-bo and the Namgung brothers, casually watching letters embroidered on the flag, almost simultaneously groaned.

"That's?"

"Divine Flower… Merchant Guild?"

Bang Jin-bo's and the Namgung brothers' pupils shook. They hadn't expected to meet Divine Flower Merchant Guild again here.

No one anymore didn't know that Divine Flower Merchant Guild, called the world's greatest merchant guild, was actually the Demon Cult's outer circle.

The Demon Cult, defeated in the first war, could recover its original power so quickly because of the reliable money source called Divine Flower Merchant Guild.

The world's greatest wealth both fattened and strengthened the Demon Cult, resulting in half the world falling into the Demon Cult's hands.

Anyone with some insight knew. To topple the Demon Cult, one must first eliminate Divine Flower Merchant Guild to cut the money supply.

'Then their target is Divine Flower Merchant Guild?'

Bang Jin-bo concentrated power in his eyes to look at the carts. Between tightly wrapped tarps, grain sacks were glimpsed.

'Food?'

If over fifty carts were fully loaded with food, it would greatly help the Demon Cult fighting the Martial Alliance.

As with any battle, if prolonged, victory ultimately went to whoever more smoothly secured supplies and food. Therefore the Demon Cult was supplying food using Divine Flower Merchant Guild.

Then.

"Everyone be quiet."

A cold voice echoed through the inn. One appearing to be the leader among martial artists spoke.

The sharp-featured middle-aged man in his early forties looked around at people inside and continued.

"We are martial artists from sects based in Henan Province. We gathered to add even a little strength to the Martial Alliance. We intend to block supplies going to the Demon Cult's main force here. It may be inconvenient, but please stay quiet without leaving. We'll minimize inconvenience."

At the leader's words, merchants who'd been conversing held their breath. They too realized martial artists intended to ambush Divine Flower Merchant Guild.

Martial artists also appeared at other inns' windows. They exchanged glances. Their eyes were full of determination.

The cart procession loaded with grain now completely entered the street. But Divine Flower Merchant Guild's martial artists didn't let down their guard, watching the surroundings.

Whoosh!

Then suddenly a burning cart burst out blocking their path.

"Ambush."

"Everyone be careful."

Divine Flower Merchant Guild's martial artists didn't panic, drawing swords to guard surroundings. Befitting the Demon Cult's outer circle, composed of veteran martial artists, their reaction was nimble.

A burning cart also burst out behind Divine Flower Merchant Guild's procession blocking retreat. Divine Flower Merchant Guild was isolated on the street where inns gathered.

"Now."

With the leader's order, martial artists inside the inn rushed out simultaneously. Martial artists waiting in other inns also ambushed Divine Flower Merchant Guild accordingly.

"Iyaa!"

"Eliminate the Demon Cult's lackeys."

Numerous martial artists simultaneously wielding weapons leaping from inns was spectacular. But even more spectacular were Divine Flower Merchant Guild's martial artists reacting nimbly.

"Chaat!"

"Protect the food."

Though they could have panicked at the sudden ambush, they formed battle formations familiarly without such signs.

Clang clang clang!

Swords clashed with swords, martial artists entangled in bloody battles.

A bloodstorm instantly blew through the previously quiet street. Guests inside inns trembled fearfully at the sudden bloodshed, and merchants worried harm might come to them.

"All the food going to Mount Song must be burned."

The ambushers' leader urged loudly.

If they just burned the grain Divine Flower Merchant Guild was transporting, they could greatly damage the Demon Cult. If so, it would greatly help the Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple under pressure.

The leader and ambushers mostly had connections to Shaolin Temple. Some learned martial arts at martial halls established by lay disciples, others learned directly at Shaolin Temple. So their desire to protect Shaolin Temple was very great.

"Kraak!"

"Uk!"

Screams burst out everywhere as the street reddened with blood.

Creak!

Then the four-horse carriage's window at Divine Flower Merchant Guild's head quietly opened, someone showing their face.

A middle-aged man with a round face covered thickly with flesh. So fat his chin had three layers, eyes and nose buried in flesh barely distinguishable.

"Hmm!"

The middle-aged man briefly looking around outside finally opened the door revealing himself. He wore splendid garments, his body as thickly fleshed as his face.

"Guild Master."

At his appearance, Divine Flower Merchant Guild's martial artists guarding the four-horse carriage all bowed heads.

He looked around muttering.

"Hm! Martial Alliance's riffraff?"

"Our apologies. It will be settled soon."

The martial artists guarding the four-horse carriage answered apologetically. They were Divine Flower Merchant Guild's supreme masters, the Blood Moon Ten Swords.

Only Divine Flower Merchant Guild's true owner and the Demon Cult's Outer Circle Leader, Ten Thousand Gold Insect Won Hoe-sang, could give them orders.

The fat middle-aged man who descended from the carriage was precisely Won Hoe-sang, the world's richest man. He who'd stayed secluded promoting his daughter Won Seol-hwa was showing himself to the world for the first time in years.

Small eyes buried in flesh glinted sharper than blades.

"To dare target goods entering the Divine Cult, these aren't ordinarily bold fellows. Search not only inns but all residences, root out and eliminate everyone connected."

"By your command!"

The Blood Moon Ten Swords scattered in all directions with spirited answers.

One of them leaped into the inn where Dam Ho's group stayed, and Won Hoe-sang watched the scene with sharp eyes before entering the carriage again.

"Once Blood Moon Ten Swords move, it'll be settled soon."

Standing long made his body tired. He should rest in the carriage waiting for the disturbance to subside.

As he sat on the chair.

Bang!

An explosive sound echoed.