Chapter 268 – When Ice Melts, Water Naturally Flows (3)

Read it only at Utoon.net!
Discord         

‘Mount Hua has been reborn.’

This was Eum Yu-kyung’s impression while staying at Mount Hua.

Mount Hua was tightly united around Sage Hyeon-so. Sect Leader Woon Kyung firmly held the center, and the skills of young warriors like Myung Kyung were developing day by day.

Though the overall power had shrunk incomparably to before, individual martial power had instead risen dramatically.

Mount Hua Sect led by Sage Hyeon-cheon was like a large lake. With its large scale came many masters and tremendous influence, but there was inevitably less tension.

Though Sage Hyeon-cheon and Sage Hyeon-geom, unprecedented warriors, continuously encouraged them, warriors away from direct threats inevitably became lazy. The prestige of being one of the Nine Great Sects made them complacent.

Mount Hua Sect led by Sage Hyeon-so was different from then.

The once massive lake had shrunk so much it could only be called a pond. But in that small pond existed the monster called Dam-ho.

Mount Hua Sect disciples had to fight desperately to survive against Dam-ho. They always had to be tense, and had to be able to exert full power anytime, anywhere.

Dam-ho never went easy on them. Because of this, they had to struggle at death’s door daily in the beginning. But when injured, Jong Ri-yeon saved them, and Bang Jin-bo restored their vitality with food. Sage Hyeon-so’s vast knowledge added depth to their martial arts.

Woon Kyung and Myung Kyung pondered daily how to develop the disciples’ martial arts. Never in Mount Hua Sect’s history had all disciples been so tightly united.

The skills of the new Thirty-Six Plum Blossom Swordsmen, Mount Hua Sect’s elite, even surpassed those of the previous Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

They followed and revered Dam-ho almost blindly. Though getting crushed by Dam-ho daily, they persistently charged at him. Repeating this process for three years, they came to admire Dam-ho.

Dam-ho was one who crawled up alone from the bottom to reach the top. Though Sage Hyeon-so helped somewhat, the martial power and achievements he attained were entirely through his own strength.

It was an achievement no ancestor in Mount Hua Sect’s history had accomplished. Even Sage Hyeon-geom, the previous Mount Hua’s greatest swordsman, hadn’t achieved such accomplishments through his strength alone.

Dam-ho was the goal of Mount Hua Sect disciples.

He never looked to the side or back, only advancing forward.

Even while limping, he never stops. His appearance of advancing only forward, only forward, moved Mount Hua Sect disciples.

Now Mount Hua Sect disciples followed Dam-ho like ducklings following their mother duck, looking only at his back. They were prepared to jump into hell’s fire pit with Dam-ho.

Few sects in the world were so tightly united. Small scale wasn’t a problem. Rather, without side branches, they could focus solely on developing individual martial power, resulting in dramatic strengthening.

“Mount Hua Sect is strong. And will become stronger.”

Eum Yu-kyung was convinced of this.

“Sister.”

From far away, Eun So-cheong called Eum Yu-kyung.

From the moment they met again at Mount Hua, Eun So-cheong had brazenly called Eum Yu-kyung “sister” and treated her familiarly. Though surely bitter inside, she never lost her smile outwardly.

Eun So-cheong would inherit everything of Silver Family Castle. No one was unaware that such an Eun So-cheong had fallen head over heels for Bang Jin-bo.

‘Silver Family Castle, possessing wealth counted among the best in the world, is supporting Mount Hua. When Mount Hua reveals itself again, the world will be turned upside down.’

Eum Yu-kyung thought this as she walked toward Eun So-cheong.

“What is it?”

“Jin-bo says to come eat snacks.”

Eun So-cheong smiled brightly. Though it seemed ridiculous, it was also understandable. The moment she heard “snacks,” saliva was pooling in her mouth too.

Eum Yu-kyung slightly shook her head. But her footsteps were already following Eun So-cheong.

At the Upper Palace Eun So-cheong led her to, Mount Hua Sect’s key figures including Sage Hyeon-so, Myung Kyung, Woon Kyung, and Jong Ri-yeon were already gathered.

Upon entering the hall, Eum Yu-kyung’s gaze quickly swept left and right. But Dam-ho was nowhere to be seen. At this, a momentary look of disappointment appeared on her face.

She had requested Dam-ho’s help three days ago. Since then, Dam-ho hadn’t given her any answer. Because of this, her anxiety grew as time passed.

Sage Hyeon-so addressed her:

“Welcome, Miss Eum. Please sit here.”

“Thank you.”

Eum Yu-kyung didn’t decline and sat where Sage Hyeon-so offered.

Everyone’s gaze was on her. Only then did Eum Yu-kyung realize this wasn’t simply a gathering for snacks.

As Eum Yu-kyung sat down, Woon Kyung joked:

“Jin-bo, this fellow told everyone to gather but when is he bringing the snacks?”

“Huh? Are you badmouthing Jin-bo now?”

When Eun So-cheong flared up, Woon Kyung pretended to be flustered.

“I wouldn’t dare, Miss Eun. How could I badmouth Mount Hua Sect’s Great Cook? Everyone in Mount Hua Sect knows the Great Cook is above the Sect Leader. If I get on his bad side, my meals would be in danger, so I can only obey quietly.”

Woon Kyung spoke in a solemn voice while exaggerating. At this ill-fitting appearance, Myung Kyung and Sage Hyeon-so smiled faintly, and Eun So-cheong couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

After becoming Sect Leader, Woon Kyung had put everything down. Authority, coldness, icy manner of speech – he put it all down and delved into Mount Hua Sect disciples’ lives.

Rolling at the bottom and being with them, he realized what truly supporting Mount Hua Sect meant.

Warmth circled his once ice-cold face, and his manner of speech softened. It was an appearance unimaginable before.

‘I am a stepping stone for Mount Hua Sect to pass to the next generation. I don’t need to do anything. Just help this generation become fertilizer for the next generation, that’s all.’

With this mindset, he could joke informally with the young girl Eun So-cheong. Thanks to this, the atmosphere in the hall was harmonious, and Eum Yu-kyung could easily blend in with them.

They conversed back and forth. As their conversation reached its peak, the door opened and Bang Jin-bo appeared.

“Ta-da! Sorry for the wait.”

In his hands was a large tray covered with a lid. People’s gazes naturally turned to the tray. Though covered with a lid, a fragrant smell flowed through the gaps, stimulating their salivary glands.

Saliva naturally pooled in people’s mouths. Their eyes shone with anticipation. Normally, Bang Jin-bo would have opened the tray’s lid by now.

Instead of opening the tray lid, Bang Jin-bo nodded behind him. People’s gazes turned to the corridor behind Bang Jin-bo. Dam-ho was walking from there.

“Ho!”

“Senior Brother.”

People variously rose from their seats. Even Mount Hua Sect’s Sect Leader Woon Kyung.

Dam-ho’s existence at Mount Hua Sect was very special.

He was Mount Hua Sect disciples’ spiritual pillar and goal, but didn’t fully belong to Mount Hua Sect. He remained at Mount Hua Sect only because his master was the Supreme Elder.

Dam-ho was just Dam-ho, and the Solitary Style was purely his martial art.

Knowing this fact, even Mount Hua Sect’s Sect Leader Woon Kyung didn’t treat him as a disciple but respectfully.

“I’m here.”

Dam-ho briefly greeted Sage Hyeon-so then sat down. It was right beside Jong Ri-yeon.

As Dam-ho sat in the empty seat, Bang Jin-bo smiled and opened the tray lid wide.

“Ta-da! Today’s food is Soup Dumplings!”

“Ooh! I thought the smell was extraordinary.”

“My mouth will feast today.”

People murmured.

Soup Dumplings were a type of dim sum. Like the meaning of “touching the heart,” dim sum was food eaten simply between breakfast and dinner, just enough to lightly touch the heart.

Thick skin filled with various seafood, meat, vegetables and other fillings was steamed, and ingredients varied greatly by region, as did taste.

The Soup Dumplings Bang Jin-bo brought were dim sum mainly eaten in southern Central Plains, with separately boiled broth inside the skin, making the rich meat juice that filled the mouth when bitten a specialty.

The way to eat Soup Dumplings was to insert a straw into the adult fist-sized dumpling, suck out the juice first, then eat the rest with a spoon.

Bang Jin-bo distributed individual plates to people then placed Soup Dumplings on them.

“Hehe! Enjoy your meal.”

“Hoho! Thanks to Jin-bo we get to eat Soup Dumplings. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing.”

“If not for you, could we taste such rare food from southern Central Plains in this barren Mount Hua?”

At Sage Hyeon-so’s praise, Woon Kyung, Myung Kyung and others nodded simultaneously.

Mount Hua Sect was located in the northwestern Central Plains, so it was difficult to taste southern foods like Soup Dumplings. Therefore, without Bang Jin-bo’s cooking, it was practically impossible to taste such food normally.

Sage Hyeon-so first inserted a straw into a Soup Dumpling, and others followed. Then almost simultaneously they sucked on the straws. The meat juice contained in the Soup Dumplings swirled in their mouths.

“Ah!”

“Mmm!”

Exclamations burst out almost simultaneously.

The warmth of the meat juice filling their mouths made even their hearts warm. Not just superior in taste but touching the heart too – that was Bang Jin-bo’s Soup Dumplings.

‘Delicious.’

Eum Yu-kyung unconsciously admired.

Though tasting his cooking daily, never once was the same food served, and there was no taste that unnecessarily stimulated just the palate.

Bang Jin-bo’s food was gently caressing her tired body and mind. It was truly healing food.

‘How can such a young boy have this skill?’

Eum Yu-kyung shook her head looking at Bang Jin-bo.

Others were busily drinking the meat juice with straws in their mouths. There was no conversation. They were completely focused solely on the food’s taste.

Dam-ho too was savoring the Soup Dumpling’s flavor with his eyes closed. At this, Eum Yu-kyung also focused on the Soup Dumpling.

Silence briefly filled the hall.

Happy smiles adorned people’s faces. Seeing this, Bang Jin-bo’s face also had a smile.

Seeing others happy eating his food made him happy too.

After coming to Mount Hua, he truly cooked to his heart’s content. There were no restrictions, no one interfering. He could make all the dishes he imagined. For Bang Jin-bo, this place was practically heaven.

Bang Jin-bo’s gaze turned to Dam-ho.

Dam-ho had finished drinking the juice and was eating the dumpling with a spoon. Slowly savoring bit by bit.

‘Brother!’

A slight shadow fell over Bang Jin-bo’s previously bright face.

Among these people, except for Sage Hyeon-so, Bang Jin-bo had been with Dam-ho the longest. He could tell what Dam-ho was thinking just by seeing his expression or gesture.

Suddenly Dam-ho’s and his gazes met. Dam-ho slightly nodded. At this, Bang Jin-bo forced a smile.

Finally the simple dim sum ended.

When everyone put down their spoons, Dam-ho opened his mouth toward Sage Hyeon-so.

“Master.”

“Speak.”

“I will go out into the martial world.”

“Have you decided?”

“Yes!”

“Then you must.”

Sage Hyeon-so nodded without surprise.

Sage Hyeon-so had watched Dam-ho much longer than Bang Jin-bo. He could understand Dam-ho’s intentions just by looking at his eyes.

Dam-ho’s eyes had changed from the moment Eum Yu-kyung entered Mount Hua. So he had been mentally prepared for this.

“Thank you.”

“…”

At Sage Hyeon-so’s unexpected words, Dam-ho silently looked at him.

“It must have been difficult for you with your temperament to stay at Mount Hua Sect, but you stayed. And helping this much for your master’s sake. I’m grateful for everything. Your master hasn’t done anything for you, yet keeps receiving.”

Because Dam-ho existed, they could do this much.

Because he became an umbrella, they could avoid the harsh rain and wind, and gain time to sprout new buds on ruins.

Though not recovering the former brilliant prosperity, they had at least secured enough power not to collapse meaninglessly. All this would have been impossible without Dam-ho.

Dam-ho shook his head.

“Without Master, there would be no me today. It’s only natural.”

“You really…”

Sage Hyeon-so’s throat choked up.

Dam-ho’s gaze turned to Jong Ri-yeon.