Fist Demon of Mount Hua ( Novel ) - Chapter 223
Chapter 223 – Leaving No Lingering Attachments (2)
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The next morning at dawn, Dam-ho loaded Sage Hyeon-so and the children into a large carriage. Having decided to leave, there was no reason to hesitate.
Sage Hyeon-geom and the disciples of Mount Hua Sect watched Dam-ho with complex expressions. To them, Dam-ho was an object of both love and hate.
Although Dam-ho himself denied being a disciple of Mount Hua Sect, they already thought of him as one of their own.
Dam-ho’s martial prowess and actions had naturally earned their respect. Nevertheless, they could not stop him from leaving. They knew Dam-ho’s personality – once he made a decision, he never went back on it.
Sage Hyeon-geom approached Dam-ho.
“Do you really have to go?”
“I’ve already decided.”
“Where do you plan to go? If you haven’t decided yet, how about coming to Mount Hua?”
“If Master recovers and wants to, maybe. But not right now.”
“Sigh! I was planning to take Hyeonso to Mount Hua… But things have changed.”
Sage Hyeon-geom sighed.
He would have liked Dam-ho to go to Mount Hua Sect, but things don’t always go as one wishes.
Sage Hyeon-geom quickly cleared his mind. If there was one thing he realized while breaking through the wall blocking his progress, it was that everything has its own time.
Water flows separately on long journeys but eventually meets in the sea. Likewise, human connections will eventually come together. There was no need to be hasty.
“Farewell. Don’t worry, I will protect this place.”
Sage Hyeon-geom waved his hand.
His gaze, which had always been as sharp as a honed blade, changed to be like a different person. Even the Mount Hua Sect disciples were not yet accustomed to Sage Hyeon-geom’s dramatic transformation.
Knowing that being gentle can make one stronger, Sage Hyeon-geom’s gaze had also changed. But the Mount Hua Sect disciples’ attainment was still insufficient to understand this fact.
Dam-ho drove the carriage away from the Shouzhou branch.
Woon Gyeong and the other Mount Hua Sect disciples watched the back of the departing carriage. Their gazes were truly complex.
“Cheon Gyeong, please go safely.”
“Ma…ster!”
It is said that one’s arm bends inward.
Seeing Dam-ho being rejected by the warriors of the Murim Alliance, an attachment to Dam-ho grew in their hearts instead.
Chuk! Chuk!
Several disciples made fist-and-palm salutes towards the departing Dam-ho. And the wave of salutes spread to everyone.
Dam-ho suddenly stopped the carriage.
It was because of a man and a woman blocking the road. Both were people Dam-ho knew.
‘Cho Yeon-woon, Hae So-wol.’
The man was Cho Yeon-woon, and the woman was Hae So-wol.
Cho Yeon-woon approached.
“I wonder if you’re leaving because of me.”
“I’m just leaving because there’s no reason to stay here.”
“Then that’s good.”
Cho Yeon-woon’s complexion was not good, as the shock of receiving the Jinmu Formation had not yet faded. But his eyes still shone as brightly as ever.
This time Dam-ho asked:
“Will you stay here?”
“Unlike you, this is my battlefield. It’s where I belong. So I can’t leave yet.”
“Is that so?”
“When desires differ, paths also differ. I will face the Devil Cult here. Baekjeonmun was created to face the Devil Cult after all.”
Knowing Cho Yeon-woon’s pride in Hundred Battles Sect, Dam-ho silently nodded.
The Hundred Battles Victory Flag, symbol of Hundred Battles Sect, was a gift from the martial allies for standing at the forefront of war. Cho Yeon-woon was prouder of the Hundred Battles Victory Flag than anyone.
“The Hundred Battles Victory Flag will arrive here soon. Fighting the Devil Cult under the Hundred Battles Victory Flag is everything in my life. So this place is a seat of glory for me.”
Cho Yeon-woon smiled.
His master was coming here with the Hundred Battles Victory Flag. Cho Yeon-woon was waiting for the moment when the Hundred Battles Victory Flag would unfurl.
This time Hae So-wol spoke:
“Where will you go?”
“Somewhere quiet.”
“I see.”
Hae So-wol gazed at Dam-ho intently. Complex and subtle emotions swirled chaotically in her eyes.
Dam-ho was the eye of the storm.
He could slaughter enemies with tremendous power, but the aftermath affected allies as well. That’s why even those on the same side couldn’t feel at ease around Dam-ho. That was the reason Dam-ho had to leave this place.
“Please send word. I’ll visit sometime.”
“Sure.”
“Then see you next time.”
Hae So-wol said goodbye first.
There was regret left, but she decided not to linger. She turned around coldly. Cho Yeon-woon followed after her.
Dam-ho also set off on his journey, leaving them behind.
At that moment, Jong Ri-yeon poked her head out the carriage window.
“Won’t you regret it?”
“What regret?”
“Leaving them behind.”
“They’re not children. They’re true martial artists with unwavering beliefs. The decisions made by such people who stake their convictions should rightfully be respected.”
Hae So-wol and Cho Yeon-woon had firm convictions. Those with convictions were trying to do what they believed was right, trusting in their own strength. There was no room for Dam-ho to intervene.
Jong Ri-yeon nodded. Somehow she felt she could understand Dam-ho’s words.
Jong Ri-yeon suddenly asked:
“But do we have a place to go?”
***
The world was in turmoil.
It was said that a full-scale clash between the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult had begun in Shouzhou. Rumors circulated that fierce battles were taking place daily, resulting in numerous casualties.
The war with the Demonic Cult was not just happening in Shouzhou. Large and small conflicts were occurring throughout the Central Plains, plunging the world into chaos.
The great war between the righteous and evil sects was like an endless swamp, swallowing up numerous sects and martial artists. Rumors of hundreds dying here and hundreds more dying there were endlessly heard.
It was an era of chaos. The war showed no signs of ending, and was rather expanding.
While the winds of chaos engulfed the world, there were places that were slightly removed from it.
One of those places was the Green Forest.
In times of chaos, the bandits of the Green Forest should have been rampant, but for some reason they were quiet as mice this time. It was strange enough to question, but people preoccupied with the great war had no leisure to wonder about it.
In Mount Huang was Overlord’s Stronghold, the headquarters of the Green Forest. And Hwang Gyeong-mun, the overall leader of the Green Forest, reigned in Overlord’s Stronghold*.
[Note from TL- Overlord’s stronghold was previously translated as Emperor’s Palace in Manhwa.]
Recently, the Green Forest experienced a great calamity. Jo Yunsan, the leader of Black Water Stronghold, had incited other leaders to attempt rebellion.
Fortunately, Hwang Gyeong-mun was able to suppress the rebellion, but the damage to the Green Forest was enormous. Immediately after suppressing the rebellion, Hwang Gyeong-mun began reorganizing the Green Forest.
Prohibiting plunder, selecting new stronghold leaders, and other busy activities meant several months quickly passed.
In that time, the Green Forest found stability, and Hwang Gyeong-mun gained some breathing room. As Hwang Gyeong-mun found leisure, some peace came to Overlord’s Stronghold as well.
“Haah!”
A boy with a slightly plumper build than average was lying spread-eagled on a hill. Rough breaths escaped through the boy’s lips.
The boy’s face was drenched in sweat and flushed red.
“Martial arts really are tough.”
Though he said that, a pleased smile appeared on the boy’s face.
The boy was Bang Jinbo.
In just a few months, Bang Jinbo’s face had changed beyond recognition. Especially, he had lost a lot of weight, and his jawline was starting to show on his face.
It was a change that occurred while learning the Five Elements Gentleman Technique. The Five Elements Gentleman Technique that Hwang Gyeong-mun had passed down was a martial art that handled the energy of the five elements.
To handle the energy of the five elements required extremely delicate control of inner power. A sensitive personality that naturally felt energy keenly and didn’t miss even small changes was essential.
Those aspects matched well with Bang Jinbo. To distinguish the tastes of numerous ingredients and create harmony, a delicate sense naturally had to develop.
Bang Jinbo tried to feel and harmonize the energy of the five elements with the delicate senses he had naturally acquired while cooking. Thanks to those efforts, he noticeably lost weight and his skin gained a glow. Above all, the most encouraging thing was that his sense of taste became even more sensitive.
It was the greatest achievement for Bang Jinbo, whose main occupation was cooking.
“Hmm!”
Bang Jinbo took a deep breath. The fresh air pleasantly filled his lungs.
At that moment, someone approached Bang Jinbo.
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
“Ah, Sister!”
Bang Jinbo immediately got up.
The person who had quietly approached without a sound was Hwang Hye-ryeong.
“Were you practicing martial arts?”
“Yes!”
“You’re working hard.”
“I have to, so I can be of help when I meet Hyung later.”
Hwang Hye-ryeong nodded at Bang Jinbo’s answer.
Bang Jinbo was learning martial arts with the sole intention of being of even a little help to Dam-ho. Knowing that effort made her even more proud of him.
“What about the Stronholdl Leader?”
“The same as always.”
“Is he training too?”
“Yes!”
“The Stronghold Leader is working hard too.”
“Father learned a lot from that incident too.”
“I guess so…”
Bang Jinbo nodded his head.
In the martial world, those without strength were not respected. Only those with power had the right to make their voices heard. Hwang Gyeong-mun must be working hard at training because he keenly felt that fact.
Bang Jinbo patted his bottom and said:
“Let’s go, Sister.”
“You’re not going to train more?”
“I’m not in the mood somehow. I think I’ll cook instead.”
“That’s fine with me.”
Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled pleasantly.
Now she was used to Bang Jinbo’s cooking. After eating Bang Jinbo’s cooking, food made by others tasted bland.
The two walked side by side down the hill.
A wind blew. The wind that had been only cold now carried warmth.
‘It seems summer will come unusually early this year.’
Somehow it felt that way.
It was then.
“Oh, Sister?”
Bang Jinbo suddenly called out to Hwang Hyeryeong.
“What?”
“Over there!”
Bang Jinbo pointed his finger towards the base of the mountain. Hwang Hye-ryeong’s gaze naturally followed where Bang Jinbo’s finger was pointing.
In that moment, Hwang Hye-ryeong’s eyes wavered.
A carriage was climbing up the steep slope of Mount Huang. Although it was said that Overlord’s Stronghold had recently improved the road leading up to Mount Huang, it was not an easy path for such a large carriage to climb.
An ordinary horse would have collapsed from exhaustion before even reaching halfway up the mountain. Yet a single horse was pulling that heavy carriage up the rough mountain slope.
It was a jet-black horse without a single mixed hair.
Purururu!
Seeing the jet-black horse that kept going without ever stopping, even while constantly blowing rough snorts as if struggling, Bang Jinbo’s eyes widened greatly.
“Black… Ghost?”
He immediately recognized the identity of the horse. It was the same for Hwang Hye-ryeong.
The two looked at each other’s faces for a moment.
“Could it be?”
Almost simultaneously, the two ran down the mountain slope.
Bright smiles had already appeared on their faces. They ran down with their bodies bent forward as if about to fall, and barely managed to stop by grabbing onto the wall of the carriage.
“Haa! Haa!”
They looked up at the carriage while exhaling rough breaths. There was a familiar face of a man in the driver’s seat.
“Hyung!”
“Oppa!”
“It’s been a while.”
The man looking down at them with unusually black eyes was none other than Dam-ho. Bang Jinbo and Hwang Hye-ryeong threw themselves into Dam-ho’s arms.