Fist Demon of Mount Hua ( Novel ) - Chapter 263
Chapter 263 – When People Change, Their Environment Changes Too (1)
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Eun So-cheong looked at Bang Jin-bo with an expression of complete disbelief. Though time changes many things, Bang Jin-bo’s transformation was so dramatic it was hard to accept.
“It’s really been a long time. Have you been well?”
“Y-yes!”
“It’s been about three years? Wow! Time really has passed.”
Bang Jin-bo chatted endlessly as if truly delighted. Only then did Eun So-cheong feel somewhat relieved, as he seemed like the old Bang Jin-bo.
‘He really has changed a lot. Now that he’s lost weight, his features are so distinct.’
Bang Jin-bo’s jawline looked very sharp after losing weight. His eyes, previously buried in fat, were quite large, and his nose was high too. He had grown much taller over three years and looked quite handsome.
Eun So-cheong unconsciously lowered her head.
“What’s wrong? Are you tired? Well, you did come a long way so you must be tired.”
“Y-yes!”
“Wait a bit. I’ll make you some food that’s good for fatigue. I just got some good medicinal herbs today. If used well, they’ll make excellent food.”
“Th-thank you!”
Eun So-cheong’s voice became tiny. Bang Jin-bo watched her with worried eyes, not understanding why.
Watching this scene, Sage Hyeon-so clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk! What a dense fellow.”
“What?”
“Never mind. Forget it. Seems you’re destined to live alone forever.”
“Why me?”
Bang Jin-bo looked at Sage Hyeon-so with a puzzled expression. His appearance was so innocent that Sage Hyeon-so couldn’t help but laugh.
It was the same for Jeok Yong-cheon and Won Myeong. Only Eun So-cheong gazed at Bang Jin-bo with gentle eyes.
‘He’s become handsome.’
Her heart fluttered.
She had come simply out of vague longing. In her entire life, not a single person had treated her as sincerely without calculation as Bang Jin-bo.
Many people had shown her kindness. But it was all because she was Silver Family Castle’s only daughter. When tired of such people, Bang Jin-bo came to mind.
She had come simply wanting to see him without thinking, never imagining he would have become so handsome.
Bang Jin-bo chatted and laughed comfortably with Sage Hyeon-so. Sage Hyeon-so nodded and listened attentively to Bang Jin-bo’s stories. The two looked so close they seemed like real grandfather and grandson.
Occasionally Won Myeong joined their conversation with a comment. To strangers, they would have looked like ordinary country folk having a chat.
That’s how informal they were. It contrasted with typical martial sects’ strict hierarchy and rules.
After chatting for a while, Bang Jin-bo stood up and said:
“I’ll go ahead now.”
“Is it already that time?”
“Yes! Everyone’s appetite is so good these days, I have to prepare early or I can’t make enough.”
“Is that the disciples’ fault? It’s because your food is too delicious.”
“Hehe! That’s true.”
Bang Jin-bo laughed proudly without any shame. Won Myeong slightly shook his head at this. But he didn’t say anything.
‘If I get on his bad side, I’ll never get to eat delicious food again. At times like this, keeping my mouth shut is the best strategy.’
In fact, there were several Mount Hua Sect disciples who had gotten on Bang Jin-bo’s bad side. Though Bang Jin-bo forgave them quickly, they had to eat rock-hard tasteless food for a while.
Human taste buds are quite fickle – once accustomed to refined flavors, eating lower quality food becomes torturous. That was the current state of Won Myeong and Mount Hua Sect’s disciples.
Over the past three years, they had become accustomed to Bang Jin-bo’s food. So no one dared risk getting on his bad side.
Bang Jin-bo looked at Eun So-cheong.
“So-cheong, you’re staying overnight right?”
“Y-yes!”
“Great. Come to Lonely Moon Palace later too.”
“Lonely Moon Palace?”
“It’s where all Mount Hua Sect disciples gather to eat. Just follow the Supreme Elder.”
“Alright.”
“Well then!”
Bang Jin-bo left with a fresh smile. Eun So-cheong blankly watched his departing figure.
Sage Hyeon-so muttered:
“Wonder what delicious food he’ll make today.”
“Indeed! This is…”
Won Myeong unconsciously licked his lips. Seeing the two like this, Eun So-cheong tilted her head.
‘Just how delicious is Jin-bo’s food?’
She knew Bang Jin-bo’s cooking skills were excellent. She herself had been captivated by his food after all. But she never imagined Mount Hua Sect’s Supreme Elder and Plum Blossom Swordsman would lick their lips like this.
Shaking her head briefly, Eun So-cheong suddenly asked as if remembering:
“By the way, where is Brother Ho?”
***
“This is Mount Hua Sect?”
Eum Yu-kyung looked around from atop Dragon’s Embrace Ridge.
From the dragon spine-like ridge, Mount Hua Sect’s scenery was visible at a glance. It looked so shabby it was hard to believe it was one of the Nine Great Sects.
Hardly any people were visible, making it doubtful this had once been such a widely visited sect.
Dam-ho walked past Dragon’s Embrace Ridge toward Cloud Terrace Peak. At Cloud Terrace Peak stood True Warrior Palace, one of the few buildings maintaining its original form at Mount Hua.
True Warrior Palace was the symbol of Mount Hua’s martial might. Historically all True Warrior Palace masters had been Mount Hua’s greatest swordsmen. Like the previous Sage Hyeon-geom.
True Warrior Palace was quiet. So Eum Yu-kyung thought no one was there. But upon entering, she realized her assumption was wrong.
There were people at True Warrior Palace. About several dozen people. They were scattered sitting around the training ground in front of True Warrior Palace.
Eum Yu-kyung’s pupils wavered seeing them.
They were quiet. Yet burning hot.
Though intense heat like suppressed flames could be felt, their eyes were cold as ice.
They all stood up upon seeing Dam-ho.
“You’ve returned?”
Several dozen warriors greeted as one body.
Dam-ho silently nodded and walked past them. The warriors’ eyes watching Dam-ho contained completely contrasting emotions – extreme reverence, fear, and fighting spirit.
How could one person receive such complex gazes? Eum Yu-kyung was curious but silently followed Dam-ho.
Though a strange newcomer had appeared, not one of the warriors gathered at True Warrior Palace asked Dam-ho why. They just silently watched Eum Yu-kyung.
‘They’re strong!’
Eum Yu-kyung felt the powerful force contained in their gazes. At her level, one could gauge others’ realms just by their eyes. The Mount Hua Sect disciples’ levels appearing in her eyes were truly extraordinary.
Their ages were just late teens to early twenties.
They had young faces that would normally be third generation disciples if Mount Hua Sect was normal. In other sects they would just be learning entry level martial arts, yet sharp spirit light flowed from their eyes.
They had eyes and energy usually seen only in other sects’ first generation disciples.
‘How?’
Questions appeared in Eum Yu-kyung’s eyes.
This should be impossible considering their ages. Moreover, Mount Hua Sect’s middle-aged warriors had been annihilated.
The backbone for transmitting martial arts was gone. Martial insights aren’t passed down through just secret manuals. Unless one was a genius like Dam-ho, receiving insights from a master was the surest path to achievement.
But Mount Hua had lost almost all first and second generation disciples who could transmit insights. No matter how talented third generation disciples were, without proper master’s teachings they could never achieve good results.
So she couldn’t understand. Eum Yu-kyung wanted to ask Dam-ho the reason. But given the situation, she could only quietly follow him.
That’s when it happened.
Someone walked out from True Warrior Palace.
“Ah!”
The one exclaiming upon seeing Eum Yu-kyung was a beautiful woman. Though not as glamorous as Eum Yu-kyung, she had elegant beauty.
She held a bowl of medicine in her hands.
“D-Divine Doctor?”
Eum Yu-kyung recognized her immediately.
The elegant beauty holding the tray was Jong Ri-yeon. Over three years, Jong Ri-yeon had become even more beautiful and gained a mature air.
She greeted Eum Yu-kyung.
“We have a guest. What a beautiful lady you’ve brought.”
Jong Li-yeon glanced slightly at Dam-ho. But Dam-ho remained wooden as ever.
“She’s a guest.”
“I know. I’m Jong Ri-yeon.”
“I’m Eum Yu-kyung.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Rm. Would you wait a moment?”
Jong Ri-yeon offered the medicine bowl to a young warrior behind Dam-ho.
“Take this. It will help treat your internal injuries.”
“Thank you, Divine Doctor.”
The disciple answered energetically.
He drank the medicine without hesitation in one gulp. Though it must have been very bitter, he didn’t even frown.
The disciple immediately sat cross-legged and began circulating techniques. Usually technique circulation was done in quiet places without disturbance. Because interference during circulation could lead to qi deviation. Yet the disciple acted without hesitation.
Other disciples gathered around like guards. Their actions seemed completely natural.
‘Their unity is unimaginably solid.’
Such complete unity among warriors wasn’t easily seen. But Dam-ho and Jong Ri-yeon watched without particular interest as if used to it.
The sight that shocked Eum Yu-kyung was daily scenery to Dam-ho and Jong Ri-yeon. Such things happened here every day.
“Let’s go inside.”
Dam-ho entered True Warrior Palace. Eum Yu-kyung and Jong Li-yeon followed with quick steps.
The interior of True Warrior Palace, symbol of Mount Hua’s martial might, was simpler than expected. No unnecessary objects existed, only minimal necessary furniture occupied space.
This was previously Sage Hyeon-geom’s residence. And now Dam-ho used it. But Dam-ho rarely used this place. Only about five or six days per month.
When Dam-ho and Eum Yu-kyung sat down, Jong Ri-yeon said:
“Well then, please talk. I’ll prepare some tea.”
She left before they could answer. Knowingly giving them space.
With just the two remaining, an awkward atmosphere briefly filled the hall.
Though meeting again after three years, they had no personal emotions between them. Naturally it was awkward.
Eum Yu-kyung broke the silence first.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“Are you being chased by the Demon Cult?”
“Yes.”
“So it was finally discovered.”
At Dam-ho’s guess, Eum Yu-kyung couldn’t easily answer and lowered her head. A miserable expression appeared on her face.
“That’s right.”
“The sacred object?”
“…”
“Seems you couldn’t find it.”
“No!”
The jewel embedded in the Southern Heaven Sword taken from Sage Taiyi of Xuandao Sect wasn’t the sacred object she had been seeking. It was just a similar jewel, not the real sacred object.
“Sang Han-cheon noticed I was searching for the sacred object and laid a trap. And I fell for it. The Divine Cult was told I was trying to betray them by finding the sacred object. Most people I knew kept silent, and I had to be chased by the cult’s pursuit squads.”
Sang Han-cheon’s trap was truly meticulous. By the time Eum Yu-kyung realized she had fallen for the trap, everyone around her had turned their backs due to Sang Han-cheon’s secret plans.
Even the Protective Teaching Hall Master who had been her greatest supporter had his foundation completely destroyed by Sang Han-cheon’s schemes. Thanks to this, her foundation within the Divine Cult was completely shattered.
“Tell me the details. What happened within the Demon Cult during this time?”
Eum Yu-kyung hesitated briefly. But soon gathered her resolve and began speaking.
“That…”