Chapter 232 – When the Wind Blows, the Era Moves (1)

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“Whew!”

Jong Ri-yeon slowly opened her eyes.

Before her was a fairly large brazier. Blue flames were rising, with a small cauldron placed on top, inside which numerous medicinal and poisonous herbs were boiling and blending in an ideal ratio.

Jong Ri-yeon understood the cauldron’s state just by its smell.

‘The flames need to be a bit stronger.’

She added more wood to the brazier and fanned the flames. The flames rose even more intensely.

Sweat droplets formed on Jong Ri-yeon’s forehead from the intense heat. Her shoulders ached as if they might fall off, but she never stopped fanning.

She had been sitting in front of the cauldron for two days now. Her eyes were tired and painful, but she didn’t blink even once.

Her concentration was at its peak.

Her eyes were fixed on the brazier’s flames, and her ears didn’t miss even the slightest sounds from inside the cauldron. Her nose was sensitively responding to the smallest odors emanating from the pot.

At the moment when the flames, smell, and sound formed a trinity, Jong Ri-yeon’s eyes sparkled.

“Now!”

She opened the cauldron lid. A sticky, melted liquid was visible. The medicinal and poisonous herbs had melted and mixed together.

Jong Ri-yeon poured the liquid into a pre-prepared tray. The liquid slowly solidified, finally reaching the viscosity she desired.

She placed the somewhat solidified liquid in her palm and rolled it gently. The liquid became a round pill in her hand. In total, two pills were created.

“Phew!”

Only then did Jong Ri-yeon exhale the breath she had been holding. A subtle smile appeared at the corners of her mouth.

She wrapped each pill in prepared hanji paper.

***

“Master.”

At his disciple’s call, Sage Hyeon-so raised his head. Dam-ho, wearing a black wind robe, stood right in front of him. Dressed entirely in black with shadows draped around him, his face was barely distinguishable.

“Ho-ya.”

“I need to go out for a while.”

Sage Hyeon-so was not surprised by Dam-ho’s words.

“As expected.”

“Did you know?”

“I just thought it might turn out this way.”

Sage Hyeon-so looked at Dam-ho with kind eyes. A deep profound energy flickered in his eyes.

It was a gaze that made one’s heart feel refreshed just by looking at it.

“Master.”

“Don’t worry about me. Go and come back with peace of mind.”

“Thank you.”

Dam-ho bowed his head.

He had barely met his master after more than a decade. Leaving such a master was not an easy decision for Dam-ho. But now was the time to descend the mountain.

Since that day, there had been no news about Cho Yeon-woon.

He couldn’t even tell if he was alive or dead. Only ominous rumors were circulating.

Cho Yeon-woon had remained in Shouzhou to protect his beliefs.

That was Cho Yeon-woon’s battlefield. Although he had retreated because it wasn’t his battlefield, that didn’t mean their personal friendship had disappeared.

Cho Yeon-woon was his only friend.

He had an obligation to find out what had happened. And there was one more reason.

‘Demonic Cult.’

It was like a thorn stuck in his throat. If left unchecked, it would not only harm his neck but attack his chest and heart.

A subtle killing intent flickered in Dam-ho’s eyes.

Sage Hyeon-so sighed slightly while looking at Dam-ho. But only for a moment, soon revealing a subtle smile.

‘Everything will flow according to its natural course…’

All things in the world had a reason for existence. Dam-ho would surely have such a reason too. Sage Hyeon-so believed in Dam-ho.

“When will you go?”

“I’m going down now.”

“So quickly? No. There must be a reason. Are you going alone?”

“I’ll go with Il-gwang.”

“If it’s that child, I can trust him. You thought well. Since you’ve already decided, I won’t stop you. But promise me one thing. Take care of yourself.”

“I will.”

“And… no, never mind.”

Sage Hyeon-so seemed about to say something but then hesitated.

“Please speak.”

“Well…”

“Master, it’s okay.”

“Whew! Your words give me courage. Please find out what happened to the Mount Hua disciples who escaped from Shouzhou. Senior Brother Hyeon-geom probably already took care of it, but I can’t help worrying.”

“Understood.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me. Because you are… my master.”

At Dam-ho’s blunt response, Sage Hyeon-so smiled softly.

Having such an excellent disciple sometimes made him forget that he was Dam-ho’s master.

“I want to follow you too, but I might just be a burden now. Go quickly.”

“Then…”

Dam-ho bowed to Sage Hyeon-so, stood up, paid his respects once more, and went outside.

Left alone, Sage Hyeon-so closed his eyes.

‘Amitāyus Buddha!’

The first person Dam-ho met outside was unexpectedly Jong Ri-yeon. When Dam-ho looked at her, she smiled softly.

“I knew you would leave now.”

“…”

“Here.”

Suddenly, Jong Ri-yeon extended her hand. In her small hand were two small wooden boxes.

“What’s this?”

“Take it. My hand hurts.”

Jong Ri-yeon forcefully placed the wooden boxes in Dam-ho’s hand.

Opening the boxes revealed pills wrapped in hanji paper. A subtle fragrance that could purify one’s mind and body emanated from the pills.

“It’s Poison Neutralizing Elixir.”

“A poison pill?”

“Yes.”

Jong Ri-yeon nodded with a bright expression.

Dam-ho looked at her with questioning eyes.

“Poison Neutralizing Elixir is indeed a poison pill. But poison, when used correctly, can become a miraculous medicine. It has little effect on ordinary wounds, but when life hangs in the balance, it might be worth trying. The poison in Poison Neutralizing Elixir will stimulate the original energy, temporarily boosting vitality, and the herbal energy will protect the meridians.”

“So, it’s a life-saving medicine.”

“Exactly.”

“Thank you.”

“Didn’t I say I’d save you as long as you’re breathing? This is proof of that. So go ahead… really go all out.”

“I will.”

Suddenly, Jong Ri-yeon hugged Dam-ho tightly. A warm temperature filled the embrace.

“I’ll be waiting.”

With a small whisper, she quickly pulled away. Her face was as red as a persimmon.

Embarrassed, she quickly turned and ran away. Dam-ho watched her disappear, holding the Poison Neutralizing Elixir.

At the stable, Muk Il-gwang was already prepared, and unexpectedly, another person was with him.

“Jinbo?”

“Brother!”

The boy carrying a turtle shell-like backpack filled with various supplies was Bang Jinbo.

“Why are you here?”

“I’m coming too.”

“…”

“I won’t be a burden to you. I promise.”

Bang Jinbo wore a determined expression. Muk Il-gwang added from beside him.

“I’ll take full responsibility for Jinbo, brother.”

Muk Il-gwang’s face was tense with determination.

“Brother! Please!”

“It will be a difficult journey.”

“I know. But we can’t just sit still when Yeon-woon is missing.”

Bang Jinbo was biting his lips hard enough to draw blood.

Cho Yeon-woon was Dam-ho’s only friend, but to Bang Jinbo, he was like an older brother. Though they seemed to fight constantly, no one had cared for Jinbo as meticulously as Cho Yeon-woon. Therefore, Jinbo’s feelings for her were especially deep.

Dam-ho stared intently at Bang Jinbo’s face.

It was still a young and innocent face. But his eyes had changed. They now contained a determination and resolve that was previously unseen.

Dam-ho nodded.

“Alright! Let’s go together.”

“Wow! Thank you, brother.”

Bang Jinbo clenched his fist. Seeing this, Muk Il-gwang exhaled a relieved sigh.

It was Muk Il-gwang who had told Bang Jinbo about Cho Yeon-woon’s disappearance while injured. He had been blaming himself for possibly saying unnecessary things.

“Let’s go!”

Dam-ho mounted the black horse. Muk Il-gwang and Bang Jinbo quickly mounted their own horses.

The three became one with their horses and rushed down the mountain slope.

In the distance, two people watched them.

Hwang Gyeong-mun, the owner of Overlord Stronghold and the king of the Green Forest, and his daughter Hwang Hye-ryeong.

“He’s leaving.”

“Yes!”

“Aren’t you sad?”

“About what?”

“He’s your biological brother. Aren’t you anxious about letting him go like this?”

“He’s my brother, but also a martial artist. He’s more suited to the rivers and lakes than this remote mountain village.”

“You brat! So this is a remote mountain village?”

“Isn’t it?”

Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled softly.

“You’re probably the only one who would call Overlord Stronghold, the headquarters of the Green Forest, a remote mountain village.”

“Because it’s true.”

“Ugh!”

Hwang Gyeong-mun let out a groan.

“Stop pretending to be hurt.”

“Was it obvious?”

“Very much.”

Hwang Hye-ryeong rolled her eyes. Hwang Gyeong-mun burst into laughter.

“Hehe!”

“Father seems to be getting more mischievous as time goes on. Like a child.”

“To survive in chaotic times, you must be like this. We can’t sit passively like old men forever. Now, we must move with the passion of a child.”

“Well…”

“A blood wind is blowing in the rivers and lakes. Right now, it’s limited to the murim, but this wind will eventually swallow the entire world. And this place won’t be free from its influence.”

Hwang Gyeong-mun’s gaze deepened.

The Green Forest had already suffered once due to the Demonic Cult. The mountain factions that had been lured into rebellion had suffered near-devastating damage, and Overlord Stronghold had also suffered significant losses.

While they were desperately trying to rebuild their strength, they were still far from their previous power. If exposed to the blood wind of the rivers and lakes, the Green Forest would be completely destroyed.

“Your brother stands at the center of the rivers and lakes. Whether good or bad, when he moves, a typhoon will blow in the murim.”

“…”

“The strong wind he creates will be no less than the blood wind of the Demon Cult. Though it might sound cold, now, when all eyes are on him, is our best opportunity to recover our strength.”

Hwang Hye-ryeong was not swayed by Hwang Gyeong-mun’s seemingly cold words. She knew this was the best strategy for the Green Forest.

Above all, she believed in Dam-ho.

‘Brother.’

An absolute belief that no blood wind could defeat Dam-ho. This allowed her to remain calm in any situation.

“Let’s go. We have a lot to do from now on.”

“Yes!”

The two walked side by side towards the mountain faction.

A wind was blowing where they had been standing.