Chapter 86

Chapter 86: When the Blood Star Moves, a Storm of Blood Follows (2)

Bang Jin-bo's eyes were filled with intense focus.

Before him, blue flames danced. The flames heated the pastry to a perfect crisp.

"Now!"

Bang Jin-bo seized the moment and stuffed the prepared vegetables into the pastry.

He rotated the pastry with his wrist and stirred the filling inside with a large ladle. The pre-applied oil mixed with the vegetables, and a stimulating aroma spread in all directions.

When the finely minced meat was added, the aroma grew even more intense. Bang Jin-bo cooked, lost in a trance, oblivious to the passage of time.

There were women watching Bang Jin-bo as he cooked.

The woman with tanned skin sniffed the air and could not contain her admiration.

"Wow! That's really impressive."

"Isn't it, Sister? But the real thing starts now."

Eun So-cheong chimed in from beside her.

The tanned woman in the tiger-leopard vest was none other than Hwang Hye-ryeong.

"Honestly, I didn't believe you when you told me, but I have to admit it now."

"Right? Even the Head Chef of the Cheonha Jeil Ru acknowledged his skill."

Eun So-cheong puffed out her chest as though she herself had received the praise. At the sight, Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled.

'Cheong-mae is still as bright as ever.'

Eun So-cheong, despite being the precious only daughter of the Eun Family, possessed a refreshingly unpretentious demeanor. It was that aspect of her that had won over Hwang Hye-ryeong, who formed friendships regardless of social standing.

They were currently in the detached wing of the West Wind Inn. Eun So-cheong had rented the entire wing. She had then essentially kidnapped Bang Jin-bo and brought him there. And she had said one thing:

"I'm hungry!"

That was why Bang Jin-bo was cooking in the detached wing.

"Heh heh!"

Eun So-cheong rested her chin on her hand and watched Bang Jin-bo cook. The smile never left her lips.

Hwang Hye-ryeong watched Eun So-cheong with fascination. The bright and energetic Eun So-cheong was not unfamiliar—but seeing her so completely open and unguarded like this was a first.

"Hmm!"

As Hwang Hye-ryeong wore an intrigued expression, Eun So-cheong suddenly looked at her.

"By the way, is it alright for you to be out here on your own like this, Sister?"

"It doesn't matter."

"But…"

"It's fine! They're all so busy they won't even notice I'm gone."

Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled. Her smile seemed mischievous.

At that, Eun So-cheong sighed.

"What if the Green Forest gets stirred up again?"

"Ilgwang came with me, so it's fine."

The Ilgwang Hwang Hye-ryeong spoke of was her personal bodyguard. He was a master ranked among the best in the Green Forest.

"Sister, honestly…"

Eun So-cheong shook her head helplessly.

People did not know. They did not know what kind of person Hwang Hye-ryeong was.

When people spoke of the martial world, they typically thought of the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families. But one did not have to belong to a famous sect to be a martial artist.

Everyone who lived by the blade was a martial artist, and that category included the bandits of the Green Forest.

When people spoke of the Green Forest bandits, they thought of outlaws hiding in the mountains and looked down on them. But when their numbers exceeded ten thousand, the story changed entirely.

The Eighteen Green Fortresses.

It was a collective of the mountain fortresses that currently controlled the Green Forest. The eighteen fortresses were scattered throughout the Central Plains.

Each fortress stationed anywhere from several hundred to over a thousand men. Though their martial arts could not match the disciples of the sects that ruled the martial world, no sect could afford to dismiss their overwhelming numbers.

Above all, the Eighteen Green Fortresses had a Grand Fortress Master—Hwang Gyeong-moon.

Having entered the Green Forest at the age of thirteen, Hwang Gyeong-moon had fought for decades before ascending to the position of Grand Fortress Master.

With his formidable leadership and martial arts, he led ten thousand Green Forest bandits without difficulty.

It was said that Hwang Gyeong-moon's martial arts were in no way inferior to the elders of the Nine Great Sects.

So much so that he had earned the nickname 'Overlord Saber.'

Even the righteous martial artists who looked down on the Green Forest bandits did not dare mock Hwang Gyeong-moon.

Hwang Gyeong-moon had one daughter, born in his later years.

Her name was Hwang Hye-ryeong—the very woman sitting with Eun So-cheong.

Hwang Gyeong-moon was said to cherish Hwang Hye-ryeong beyond anything. If anything were to happen to her, he would mobilize the entire Eighteen Green Fortresses to punish the one responsible.

Whether she was aware of these circumstances or not, Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled at Eun So-cheong.

It was then that Bang Jin-bo brought a dish to where the two women sat.

"Here. The food is ready."

"Wow!"

Eun So-cheong beamed at the plate laden with food.

"I'll eat well, Jin-bo."

"Thanks!"

The two women picked up their chopsticks and began eating the food Bang Jin-bo had prepared.

"Just look at how tender this meat is."

"How did you get this flavor? I've never tasted anything like it."

What Bang Jin-bo had served was Dongpo Pork.

Hwang Hye-ryeong had eaten enough Dongpo Pork to grow tired of it. She thought she knew its flavor well. But Bang Jin-bo's Dongpo Pork was different.

"How can ordinary Dongpo Pork taste like this?"

"Because the chef who made it is not ordinary."

At Hwang Hye-ryeong's question, Eun So-cheong gave a simple answer.

"I see."

"I told you you wouldn't regret it."

"You were right. I'm glad I decided to stay here."

"Mm!"

Eun So-cheong nodded, then suddenly looked at Bang Jin-bo.

"But I don't see that man around?"

"What man?"

"Oh, the man who travels with Jin-bo. He's really scary."

"Is he?"

Hwang Hye-ryeong looked indifferent.

As the daughter of the Grand Fortress Master of the Green Forest, having grown up among rough men, she did not truly understand the meaning of fear.

In truth, her martial prowess was remarkable, and among the Green Forest bandits, there were few who could match her.

But Eun So-cheong, who had witnessed Dam Ho's martial strength firsthand, felt differently. Though young, she was acutely aware of how terrifying Dam Ho was.

"That man?"

"He went out on business. He said he might be gone for a few days."

"What business?"

"I don't know."

Bang Jin-bo looked dejected.

Dam Ho had said he would return soon, but being left alone for the first time made everything feel uncertain.

The thought that Dam Ho might not return at all crossed his mind, and he grew increasingly troubled.

Eun So-cheong noticed Bang Jin-bo's mood and patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry. He'll be back soon."

"You think so?"

"Of course!"

Only then did Bang Jin-bo's expression brighten.

'Hyung, please come back soon.'

On Heng Mountain existed the Hengshan Sect, one of the Five Great Sects of Hunan.

At its peak, it had rivaled the Nine Great Sects in prestige. But now its influence had diminished to the point where it barely qualified as one of the Five Great Sects of Hunan.

Still, it possessed enough power to be called the dominant force of Heng Mountain and central-western Hunan. At least in this region, there was no person or sect that could afford to disregard the Hengshan Sect.

The Hengshan Sect's Sect Leader, Jwa Mun-hyo, was known for his fiery temper. He was especially devoted to his people—once he formed a bond, he would care for them until death.

In the great hall, Jwa Mun-hyo and the elders of the Hengshan Sect were engaged in a heated debate.

"Sect Leader, do we truly need to construct the Imperial Temple at a time like this?"

"This is the perfect opportunity. Once the Imperial Temple is completed, we can demonstrate the sect's strength and attract more disciples."

"But we lack the financial means."

Chae Gyu, an elder of the Hengshan Sect, shook his head.

Chae Gyu managed the sect's finances. The Hengshan Sect's coffers were nearly empty. Yet Jwa Mun-hyo insisted on building a new hall—and not just any hall, but the most magnificent and grand one in the region.

He intended to showcase the Hengshan Sect's prestige to attract a large number of new disciples. In the eyes of Chae Gyu and several other elders, Jwa Mun-hyo's resolve looked worrying.

"Do not worry about the finances."

"How?"

"I have already spoken with several influential families who support us. They will provide funding."

"But…"

"Since the financial burden is resolved, I hope the elders will no longer oppose the construction of the Imperial Temple. This is not something I do for my own benefit. It is for the entire Hengshan Sect."

"We… understand."

"Haa!"

Chae Gyu and the other elders replied with resigned expressions. As Jwa Mun-hyo had said, with the financial problem resolved, they could not simply oppose it.

'But still. Building a grand hall to display prestige? What kind of absurd notion is that?'

The rise and fall of a sect had nothing to do with the size of its halls. What mattered most was the leadership and philosophy of the sect leader who guided it.

The decline of the Hengshan Sect could largely be attributed to the misguided policies of past sect leaders. The problem had arisen from always selecting the strongest martial artist as sect leader.

The strongest person in the current Hengshan Sect was indeed the Sect Leader, Jwa Mun-hyo. But unfortunately, his mind had not developed as much as his body. If that was the Hengshan Sect's tragedy, then it was a tragedy indeed.

Just as Chae Gyu was sighing, someone suddenly knocked on the hall door and called out.

"Sect Leader."

"What is it?"

"So Jin-pung, the great hero, is here."

"So Jin-pung?"

Jwa Mun-hyo rose from his seat.

So Jin-pung was a name he knew well. His martial arts were not particularly remarkable, but his reputation in the martial world was excellent, making him a worthy acquaintance. And Jwa Mun-hyo had built a friendship with So Jin-pung over many years.

When the hall door opened, So Jin-pung and a warrior of the Hengshan Sect appeared.

So Jin-pung was drenched in sweat, as though he had hurried here from a great distance, and he was panting heavily.

"What is it, Jin-pung?"

"Terrible—terrible news. The An Family Manor has been attacked."

"The An Family Manor?"

Jwa Mun-hyo's face contorted.

The An Family Manor's master, An Gyo-ik, was one of the Hengshan Sect's largest benefactors. Jwa Mun-hyo's sudden proposal to rebuild the Imperial Temple was partly because An Gyo-ik had pledged a considerable sum.

"Who would dare attack the An Family Manor without fear?"

"It was a single person."

"One person?"

"That one person devastated the entire An Family Manor. I barely escaped with my life to bring you this news."

"How dare he!"

Flames of fury seemed to burn in Jwa Mun-hyo's eyes.

Everyone in this region knew that the An Family Manor operated under the Hengshan Sect's protection. To attack it knowing this was nothing short of a deliberate insult to the Hengshan Sect.

"Summon the disciples at once. We march to the An Family Manor immediately."

"Sect Leader! But shouldn't we investigate further before—"

"To disregard the An Family Manor is to insult the Hengshan Sect. As a man who lives by the martial world, how can one endure such an insult?"

Jwa Mun-hyo's words held some logic, and Chae Gyu could say nothing more to dissuade him.

"Haa!"

His sigh echoed hollowly through the hall.

Jwa Mun-hyo led over a hundred warriors and departed the Hengshan Sect.

The distance from the Hengshan Sect to the An Family Manor was a mere thirty li. With lightness skill, they would arrive in less than half an hour.

In fact, Jwa Mun-hyo and the Hengshan Sect's warriors reached the An Family Manor in less than half an hour.

"What—?"

The Hengshan Sect warriors' eyes trembled at the sight of the An Family Manor.

They remembered it as a place of great beauty. After settling here, its master An Gyo-ik had devoted tremendous care to its cultivation.

But now, the An Family Manor before them was unrecognizable—reduced to utter ruin. Throughout the devastated estate lay mangled corpses, as though they had been struck and crushed by enormous hammers.

Though they belonged to one of the Five Great Sects of Hunan, the Hengshan Sect warriors had rarely seen such corpses with their own eyes.

Some could not bear to look and turned their heads away.

"Where is the culprit?"

Jwa Mun-hyo rushed into the An Family Manor.

There, he could see it.

A single mangled corpse. And a man sitting before it.

"Who are you, wretch?"

Jwa Mun-hyo's furious roar echoed through the An Family Manor.