Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Strong Enough to Walk Alone (3)

The man in the black robe was Dam Ho. Beside him, Bang Jin-bo stood with his mouth agape, craning his neck in every direction.

"The Yangtze is truly as vast as the sea, just as they say. I've never seen such a wide river before."

Dam Ho nodded silently without a word.

It was his first time seeing the Yangtze as well. Though not quite as awestruck as Bang Jin-bo, he was sufficiently impressed.

When passing through the steep gorges on either side, the current grew fierce and violent, but once they emerged into such a wide, open expanse, the water flowed gently onward.

The ever-changing visage of nature stirred deep emotion within Dam Ho as well.

'When narrow, it flows fast; when wide, it flows slowly. Perhaps the flow of life is much the same.'

Dam Ho shook his head.

He was being uncharacteristically sentimental.

The light in Dam Ho's eyes returned to its usual emotionless state.

After leaving Hongam Mountain Manor, Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo had headed south without any particular destination in mind. Half a month had passed, and they had finally reached the Yangtze.

The entire journey had been spent sleeping in the open. Thanks to that, they were free from the gaze of others.

Dam Ho briefly looked down at his own hands.

He had not been out in the world for very long, yet the blood of countless people already stained his hands. Truly, there seemed to be no day when the blood dried from his palms.

What was terrifying was that despite having killed so many, he felt not the slightest trace of guilt.

Sage Hyeon-so had always warned him to beware of the Heart Demon.

'Demons come without warning in unexpected moments, gnawing at the heart before one even realizes it. Always remain vigilant.'

The light in Dam Ho's eyes deepened.

Perhaps he had not merely fallen prey to the Heart Demon—perhaps he had become the demon itself.

Even now, the Dark Soul Heart Method whirled within his body, fueling his internal energy. It had begun from the Heavy Heaven Heart Method, but it had now transformed beyond recognition.

The Dark Soul Heart Method was incomparably dark and sinister. Much like Dam Ho himself.

While Dam Ho was lost in these thoughts, Bang Jin-bo was looking around at the scenery, gasping in wonder.

"Wow!"

It was a sight he had never beheld in his life. The magnificent Yangtze and its surroundings stirred great ripples in young Bang Jin-bo's heart.

Then, suddenly—

"Ho ho!"

A clear, bright laughter rang out.

When Bang Jin-bo turned his head, he saw a girl of roughly his age gazing at him.

She appeared to be about twelve or thirteen years old, beautiful and adorable like a doll. Especially striking were her large, dark eyes.

Her black eyes, dark as obsidian, sparkled like morning stars. Bang Jin-bo had never seen a girl with such luminous eyes before.

The girl wore magnificent silk garments, and with bodyguards surrounding her, she appeared to be of very high station.

The girl approached Bang Jin-bo with a bright, beaming smile.

She spoke to him.

"What's so fascinating?"

"Oh, uh? I was just…"

"Is this your first time seeing the Yangtze?"

Bang Jin-bo's face flushed crimson and he could not utter a word.

"Why aren't you saying anything? I asked if it was your first time."

Bang Jin-bo thought the girl's voice sounded exactly like a skylark. All other sounds around him seemed to vanish, leaving only her voice.

Bang Jin-bo stared blankly at the girl. Finding his dazed expression amusing, the girl burst into laughter.

"Pfft! You're a really funny boy. What's your name?"

"I—my name is Bang Jin-bo."

"I'm Eun So-cheong. Nice to meet you."

The girl who introduced herself as Eun So-cheong seemed to possess a wonderfully bright personality.

One of her bodyguards approached her. He was a strikingly handsome man with a cold, sharp appearance, as if carved from ice.

"My lady, you mustn't do this."

"It's fine! We're on a boat. What could possibly happen?"

"Nevertheless, one cannot be certain of the world."

"Eum Geum will protect me."

"That is true."

"Then it's settled."

Eun So-cheong smiled broadly.

Eum Geum Gwi-su—Jong Ri-su.

He was a bodyguard raised specifically for her by her family. Having been by her side since she first learned to walk, they shared a special bond.

Eun So-cheong called him Eum Geum and treated him with deep respect.

Jong Ri-su looked at Bang Jin-bo. His gaze was filled with warning.

Bang Jin-bo gave a wry smile.

One could tell at a glance that her station in life was entirely different from his own.

"So, Jin-bo, where are you headed?"

"D-Dongting Lake."

"Why Dongting Lake?"

"To reach the Heaven's First Tower there."

"Really?"

Eun So-cheong's eyes went wide. Her face was animated with lively energy.

"I'm going to the Heaven's First Tower too."

"Really?"

"Yes! I'm supposed to meet someone there."

"My lady!"

"Hm? Oh, it's a secret."

Eun So-cheong stuck out her tongue.

Jong Ri-su looked at her with an expression that said there was nothing he could do. But seeing her innocent smile, he could find no words to say.

Jong Ri-su shook his head and took a few steps back. He had judged that Bang Jin-bo posed no threat to Eun So-cheong.

Bang Jin-bo was visibly an untrained, portly young man. With that physique, he could not possibly harm Eun So-cheong. Moreover, Eun So-cheong herself was no weakling in martial arts.

Eun So-cheong's gaze shifted to the bundle on Bang Jin-bo's back. The handle of a cooking pot protruded from between the parcels.

"What's this?"

"Ah, this is a pot I use for cooking."

"Really? Then you're a cook?"

"Yes!"

Bang Jin-bo answered with a flushed face. Eun So-cheong looked even more surprised.

"Wow! That's amazing. When did you start learning to cook? What are you good at making?"

"Well, that's…"

Under Eun So-cheong's barrage of questions, Bang Jin-bo did not know how to respond. In the end, he sent a pleading look toward Dam Ho. But Dam Ho showed no reaction whatsoever.

Following Bang Jin-bo's gaze, Eun So-cheong's eyes naturally turned to Dam Ho. Only then did she realize that this stone-like man was part of Bang Jin-bo's party.

"Hello, sir. My name is Eun So-cheong."

Eun So-cheong greeted him warmly with her characteristically unreserved manner.

Dam Ho looked at Eun So-cheong intently. She smiled sweetly. Seeing her innocent smile free of malice, Dam Ho spoke.

"My name is Dam Ho."

It was a rough, gravelly voice, but Eun So-cheong thought it carried a deep resonance.

"Nice to meet you, sir!"

"Mm!"

"But your surname is different from Jin-bo's. I take it you're not brothers?"

Eun So-cheong, driven by insatiable curiosity, probed with question after question. Dam Ho gazed silently at her face for a long while before speaking.

"You're a clever child."

For an instant, a faint blush crossed Eun So-cheong's face.

Dam Ho gave her no further attention and walked toward the stairs leading below the deck.

In that moment, a fleeting glint of interest flickered through Eun So-cheong's eyes before vanishing.

She turned to Bang Jin-bo with a smile.

"Will you show me your cooking pot?"

"What?"

"I want to see it. I've never been inside a kitchen before."

"Well, that's…"

"Show me!"

As Eun So-cheong persisted, Bang Jin-bo shook his head with a helpless expression and untied his bundle.

When the cooking pot, knife, and ladle emerged, Eun So-cheong gazed at them with wonder.

'My lady.'

Jong Ri-su watched her in silence. His eyes were filled with a tender pity.

Because of her high-born station, Eun So-cheong had been denied many things that others of her age took for granted. As a result, she possessed a great curiosity toward ordinary things.

'This much freedom should be fine.'

Eun So-cheong cheered at the simple cooking implements and listened attentively to Bang Jin-bo's stories. And Jong Ri-su's attention was entirely focused on her.

Dam Ho descended to the level directly below the deck. This was where the horses and carts belonging to the passengers were stored.

The moment he stepped down, the smell of horse dung assailed his nostrils. But Dam Ho did not so much as wrinkle his brow as he walked forward.

Neighhh!

As Dam Ho approached, the black stallion whinnied and stamped. Dam Ho stroked the stallion's neck. The horse swished its tail, feeling his touch.

Dam Ho whispered into the horse's ear.

"Be patient for just a little longer. Once we reach land, I'll let you run as much as you wish."

"Was that the horse you were speaking of, sir?"

At that moment, someone spoke to Dam Ho.

When he turned around, he saw a shabbily dressed boatman holding a large shovel. He appeared to have been cleaning up the horse dung.

When Dam Ho looked at him, the boatman grinned.

"It's such a fine horse, that's why. I've worked on the Cloud-Running Yangtze Ferry for years, but I've never seen a horse as fine as yours."

"…"

"Do take care. A horse that fine draws the covetous eyes of many."

It was an ambiguous statement—whether it was advice or a threat was unclear.

Dam Ho's gaze sank deep and heavy as he looked at the boatman.

"You cannot imagine how many have lost their lives over this horse."

His voice was very low, yet strangely clear and distinct.

The moment he heard Dam Ho's voice, the boatman's entire body trembled with a chill. Simply hearing his voice felt as though his mind were plummeting into an abyss.

Only then did the boatman realize that Dam Ho was what the martial world called a master.

"I—I was merely offering some advice—forgive my overstepping."

In the end, the boatman apologized to Dam Ho.

If there was one thing he knew well, it was what happened when one provoked a martial artist without cause.

"Take good care of him until we reach land. Give him fine fodder as well."

"O-of course. Have no worries. I shall attend to him with my life."

"Let me ask you something. How does one find the Ha-o Gate in Dongting Lake?"

"Why ask me that?"

Dam Ho suddenly tossed something to the boatman. The boatman reached out with a swift hand and caught it.

A silver coin gleamed in his palm.

The boatman's face broke into a wide grin.

Money could move even spirits. For a gleaming silver coin, the boatman was willing to risk his life.

"Try searching the pleasure quarters."

"Pleasure quarters?"

"Yes! I've heard that some of the courtesans there are connected to the Ha-o Gate. I know nothing beyond that."

The boatman bowed deeply to Dam Ho and withdrew.

Alone, Dam Ho gazed outward.

Rain had begun to fall without his noticing.