Chapter 279 – Bonds Cannot Be Predicted (1)

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The next day, Dam-ho and Eum Yu-kyung set out at dawn and arrived at their first destination, Dujiangyan. This was the place from which Geom Yul-cheon had sent his letter.

Dujiangyan was an ancient irrigation system built by Li Bing, a governor of Shu during ancient times, along with his son Li Lang. It served to prevent flooding and supply water to nearby farmland. Thanks to this, the agricultural lands around Dujiangyan could be cultivated without worry of water shortages, making the area extremely prosperous.

Eum Yu-kyung quietly surveyed Dujiangyan.

Numerous people walked through the streets, but hardly any paid attention to their group.

As a place where waterways and official roads intersected, Dujiangyan had long been a hub for many travelers. Even outsiders with slightly unusual appearances were not uncommon here, so the locals paid little mind to strangers. However, even among such people, the Black Ghost that Dam-ho rode stood out unmistakably.

“Wow!”

“Look at that horse. It’s absolutely stunning.”

Not a single stray hair marred its jet-black body, and its muscles rippled like endless waves with every step. The Black Ghost’s physique became even more pronounced as it moved.

Naturally, Dam-ho, who rode the Black Ghost, and Eum Yu-kyung, who rode alongside him, also drew attention.

A man with an ice-cold demeanor and a mysterious woman whose face was half-covered by a cotton veil-an ideal combination to attract notice.

Many eyes followed the two. Some gazes held pure curiosity, while others carried strong wariness.

Though Dam-ho and Eum Yu-kyung hadn’t been active in the martial world for long, both had experienced as much as seasoned veterans. They calmly accepted the numerous stares as they entered an inn.

As the two, exuding an extraordinary aura, appeared, the innkeeper hurried over.

“Welcome.”

“Do you have rooms available?”

“Yes! We do. What kind of rooms would you like?”

At the innkeeper’s words, Eum Yu-kyung glanced briefly at Dam-ho. His head and shoulders were covered in thick dust from the journey.

“We’ll take a separate annex.”

“The annex is expensive. Is that alright?”

“That’s fine. We can bathe there, right?”

“We always keep facilities ready for our guests to bathe.”

“Then we’ll take it.”

“Please follow me.”

The innkeeper led the two to the annex. Surrounded by high walls, the annex was free from outside gazes and had three rooms.

As soon as they rented the annex, Eum Yu-kyung went into a room to bathe. Leaving Eum Yu-kyung in the annex, Dam-ho headed alone to the dining area.

Since it was still early for dinner, the inn was quiet. Only three or four tables were occupied, and even those seated were engrossed in their own conversations, paying no attention to Dam-ho.

Dam-ho took a seat by the window. After ordering simple food from the waiter, he gazed outside.

Many people were passing by. While there were several who appeared to be martial artists, most were ordinary folks untrained in martial arts.

As Dam-ho quietly observed them, it happened.

Tap!

Someone silently sat across from him.

It was a woman dressed in plain clothes. Her loose-fitting attire concealed her figure, and her face was covered with a cotton veil, hiding her true appearance.

“It’s been a while, Hero Dam.”

The woman’s eyes, visible above the veil, curved gently.

Dam-ho recognized the familiarity in her gaze. After staring intently for a moment, he spoke.

“Gi Ye-hwa.”

“To think you’d recognize me. Your keen eye is as sharp as ever.”

The woman slightly lifted her veil, revealing her face.

Her beauty was as radiant as a blooming rose. Exuding the allure of a mature woman, her presence could easily captivate any man-yet Dam-ho’s gaze remained unchanged.

“How are you here?”

“Because you were looking for me.”

Gi Ye-hwa gave a faint smile.

She was the mistress of Celestial Pavilion and also the vice sect master of the Hao Sect.

Dam-ho stared intently at Gi Ye-hwa. His gaze was so intense that she slightly turned her head to avoid it.

Her gesture was incredibly alluring, enough to mesmerize any other man, but it had no effect on Dam-ho.

Covering her face with the veil again, Gi Ye-hwa spoke.

“That gaze of yours is as intense as ever. It’s hard to bear.”

“Didn’t you say you were at the headquarters?”

“That’s right.”

“How did this happen?”

“Would you believe me if I said the headquarters is in Sichuan Province?”

“…”

“I see you don’t believe me. You’re right. The headquarters isn’t in Sichuan Province. I only came here because there was something I needed to investigate.”

“It must be something significant.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because you came in person.”

“Hero Dam, you seem to overestimate me. I’m not that important.”

“I trust my own eyes.”

At Dam-ho’s curt reply, Gi Ye-hwa fell silent, at a loss for words.

Letting out a sigh, Gi Ye-hwa spoke.

“Phew! Hero Dam, you’re truly intimidating.”

“…”

“You have the ability to deduce truths without any process. From the perspective of someone in the Hao Sect, that’s a skill I’d most desire. You’re right. The headquarters determined that the situation in Sichuan Province is unusual, so they sent me here. They must have thought my direct observation and judgment would be reliable.”

When Yun-jeong’s letter arrived at the headquarters, Gi Ye-hwa had already left. The letter was forwarded to Sichuan Province, and Gi Ye-hwa received it just a few days ago.

“Even so, I never imagined I’d meet Hero Dam here.”

There was also a branch of the Hao Sect in Dujiangyan. As soon as Dam-ho entered the city, news reached Gi Ye-hwa through the local branch.

Gi Ye-hwa shook her head. Her nose tingled with a strange sensation.

Wherever Dam-ho was, a storm of blood always followed. Already, she felt as though she could smell the faint scent of blood.

“What has happened here?”

“Phew!”

Gi Ye-hwa let out another sigh.

A look of conflict appeared on her face, hidden behind the veil.

The Hao Sect was more sensitive to the world’s trends than anyone else. As an organization formed by the lowest classes for survival, this tendency was inevitable. Consequently, they were stricter about secrecy, never easily leaking even the smallest piece of information.

Gi Ye-hwa’s presence in Sichuan Province was also due to the judgment that the events here would significantly impact the Hao Sect’s survival.

Gi Ye-hwa silently gazed at Dam-ho for a moment. At that instant, her mind was racing with complex thoughts. Countless ideas crossed her mind.

Dam-ho watched her in silence. His gaze was heavy and composed.

Finally, having completed her calculations, Gi Ye-hwa spoke.

“It seems I must be honest with Hero Dam.”

“…”

“As Hero Dam knows, there are hardly any places where our Hao Sect members do not exist. Even in areas dominated by martial artists, butchers, outcasts, and courtesans are necessary. Sichuan Province is no different. Though not conspicuous, many of our members are engaged in various livelihoods here.”

“And?”

“Some of our members have gone missing.”

Dam-ho’s eyes narrowed.

“They didn’t just leave Sichuan Province?”

“One might think so. But the number of missing individuals is too large to dismiss it as such. Especially, many key figures from the Sichuan branch have disappeared.”

“Have you found the cause?”

“That’s what I need to find out now. That’s why I came to Dujiangyan.”

Gi Ye-hwa’s expression was deeply serious.

As the number of missing members increased, so did those deserting the Hao Sect. For an organization whose lifeblood was its members, this was a grave threat.

Ultimately, the Hao Sect’s leadership decided to send trusted individuals to uncover the truth. Thus, Gi Ye-hwa, the vice sect master, was chosen.

“Why are you here, Hero Dam? Surely, it’s not for Hao Sect matters.”

“…”

“What’s the matter?”

Even at Gi Ye-hwa’s question, Dam-ho did not answer. Watching him lost in thought, Gi Ye-hwa spoke.

“Tell me. Perhaps I can be of help.”

“Are you suggesting mutual assistance?”

“Hero Dam possesses martial prowess, and we have a dense information network throughout Sichuan Province. I believe we can be of sufficient help to each other. Isn’t that why you contacted me before coming here?”

“Exactly.”

At Dam-ho’s candid reply, Gi Ye-hwa smiled as if she had expected it.

Meeting Gi Ye-hwa was fortunate for Dam-ho as well.

Due to Sichuan Province’s unique, insular terrain, outsiders faced strong wariness. Gathering information here was no easy task.

Gi Ye-hwa’s face drew close enough for Dam-ho to feel her breath.

“So, are we cooperating?”

Dam-ho gazed at her face for a moment before nodding.

“Alright.”

“Good.”

Gi Ye-hwa’s smile deepened.

—

Rustle!

A boy emerged, pushing through the grass. With sun-tanned, dark brown skin and a bright smile, the boy was none other than Bang Jin-bo.

On Bang Jin-bo’s back was a large woven basket filled to the brim with various herbs.

Looking at the herbs in the basket, he muttered to himself.

“I hope this is the right one.”

Bang Jin-bo had spent the entire day wandering the mountain. He navigated the rugged and treacherous Mount Hua as if it were his own backyard.

Having climbed up and down Mount Hua for three years, his body had naturally shed excess fat and gained muscle. As a result, he now possessed a well-balanced physique.

Bang Jin-bo gazed westward. The sun was still in the sky. However, he knew well how quickly the sun set in the mountains.

Especially on a tall and rugged mountain like Mount Hua, the sun disappeared in an instant, and darkness fell swiftly. No matter how accustomed Bang Jin-bo had become to Mount Hua, the pitch-black darkness where he couldn’t see an inch ahead was dangerous.

Bang Jin-bo hurriedly employed his lightness technique.

Tap! Tap!

Like a mountain goat, he leaped from one rock to another.

It was a lightness technique called Rock-Sky Flight.

This technique was created by Dam-ho for Bang Jin-bo, who roamed the harsh terrain of Mount Hua daily to gather herbs.

As the name Rock-Sky Flight suggested, there was no better lightness technique for scaling rocks. It was perfectly optimized for Mount Hua, a mountain composed entirely of massive rock formations.

“Haha!”

Bang Jin-bo burst into laughter as he employed Rock-Sky Flight.

In the three years he had spent on Mount Hua, Bang Jin-bo had made tremendous progress. His body felt lighter, and as he freely wielded his lightness technique, he experienced a profound sense of freedom he had never felt before.

Like a mountain goat, Bang Jin-bo hopped between rocks, ascending toward the summit of Mount Hua.

How long had he been using Rock-Sky Flight? Before he knew it, he had reached Dark Dragon Ridge, considered the backbone of Mount Hua.

Beyond Dark Dragon Ridge, Lotus Peak came into view.

With a pleasant smile, Bang Jin-bo moved forward. His light, skipping steps were incredibly buoyant.

“Hmm!”

At that moment, Bang Jin-bo suddenly paused and tilted his head.

Frowning slightly, he scanned his surroundings.

“What’s this?”

It felt as if ants were crawling over his skin, a tingling sensation. It was a feeling he had never experienced since learning martial arts.

Bang Jin-bo looked around for a while. But no matter how much he searched, he couldn’t detect anything unusual. The tingling sensation on his skin had also disappeared.

“Was it my imagination?”

Scratching his head for a moment, Bang Jin-bo resumed walking.

“What are you doing over there?”

A familiar voice called out from the other side of Dark Dragon Ridge.

“Ah, Sister?”

“What are you doing by yourself?”

Approaching with a smile and light steps was none other than Jong Ri-yeon. At her appearance, Bang Jin-bo’s face lit up, and he ran toward her.

“Did you wait long?”

“I waited a lot. You said you’d be back soon, but you didn’t return until the sun was setting.”

“Sorry. Hehe!”

“So, did you gather a lot of herbs?”

“You’ll be surprised when you see them. Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

The two walked side by side, their figures soon disappearing beyond Dark Dragon Ridge.

Right after they vanished, a strong wind suddenly blew over Dark Dragon Ridge. The wind swirling above the ridge momentarily formed a human-like shape before dissipating and blowing toward Lotus Peak.