Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 100

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 99. When Many Gather, Each Raises Their Voice—3
Eun Il Myeong’s face hardened.
As for martial prowess, only the Namgung Family and the Hainan Sect could claim to rival the best under heaven. There was no reason such people would have sought him out and the Eun Family Treasure House if they needed strength.
That left only one possibility.
‘They want wealth.’
He felt Namgung Chang’s burning gaze. Behind it, O Gun Ui’s intense eyes gleamed.
Eun Il Myeong exhaled quietly, unheard by the others.
The Eun Family Treasure House possessed the greatest wealth in Hunan Province.
In name alone it was Hunan’s richest, but in truth it differed little from the Jinju Eon Family, which claimed to be wealthiest under heaven.
He had lost count of how many people and factions had coveted the Eun Family’s riches over the years. It was Eun Il Myeong who had shielded them through countless schemes, conspiracies, and threats of plunder.
The time to grow cold and calculating had come.
“This hardly seems the place for such conversation.”
“Is that so? I find it rather pleasant here. In fact, I’d say the openness makes it perfect for candid discussion.”
Namgung Chang laughed, surveying the Separate Building.
His gaze suddenly fixed on Eun So Cheong and Bang Jin Bo.
Namgung Chang dismissed Bang Jin Bo as nothing more than a chef of no consequence. The shabby appearance of the man holding a ladle clouded his judgment.
Eun So Cheong, by contrast, wore resplendent robes and carried herself with the refinement of a noble house.
“Is this your daughter?”
At that, Eun Il Myeong sighed quietly.
He had not wished to expose Eun So Cheong to these people, but he had no choice.
Eun Il Myeong gestured for Eun So Cheong to come forward.
“Greet them. These are the elders of the Namgung Family and the Hainan Sect.”
“Eun So Cheong of the Eun Family Treasure House pays her respects to the honored elders. I am grateful for your presence.”
Eun So Cheong made a fist salute and bowed.
“Haha! Delighted to meet you. Your eyes are truly clear and deep.”
“Thank you.”
Eun So Cheong replied with formal courtesy.
Her keen mind told her that this gathering was far from ordinary.
She had to guard every gesture, every word. Nothing could be left to chance.
Meanwhile, Eun Il Myeong’s mind raced furiously.
Namgung Chang and O Gun Ui.
Dealing with one would have been difficult enough; two together upset the balance of power entirely.
If only he’d had time to prepare—but their sudden announcement had left him with nothing. Perhaps that had been their intention all along.
Then Eun Il Myeong’s eyes brightened.
Now that he thought of it, there were two unexpected masters here.
‘If I could draw them in…’
He glanced covertly at Cho Yeon Un and Dam Ho.
Dam Ho still gazed at Dongting Lake with indifference, while Cho Yeon Un watched with evident interest.
Eun Il Myeong abandoned the idea of involving Dam Ho.
The risk was too great. A careless move could spread rumors that the reputable Eun Family had connections to the Mad Martial Artist known as the Fist Demon.
In times as uncertain as these, such a burden was too heavy to bear.
Cho Yeon Un was another matter. Though he was called the Nine Dragons by a mocking nickname, he was still spoken of as rivaling the legendary Nine Dragons themselves.
Moreover, his sect affiliation was the Baekjeon Sect. A record of all martial world sects that had made a name for themselves existed—the Chronicle of the Baekjeon Sect.
Both the Namgung Family and the Hainan Sect were among those recorded sects. They could not afford to disrespect the Baekjeon Sect.
Eun Il Myeong completed his calculations in an instant.
“Ah, I’ve forgotten to introduce you. This is Cho Yeon Un of the Baekjeon Sect.”
Cho Yeon Un’s brow furrowed slightly at being named, but he quickly smiled and made a fist salute to Namgung Chang and the others.
“Cho Yeon Un of the Baekjeon Sect pays his respects to the honored seniors. I apologize for my late introduction.”
“Oh! You were here? Well, this is delightful. I’m Namgung Chang.”
“O Gun Ui. Good to meet you, Cho.”
Even as they exchanged greetings, surprise flickered across both their faces.
They had not expected the Eun Family to have any connection to the Baekjeon Sect.
Namgung Chang’s eyes turned cold for an instant, but he swiftly recovered his usual expression before anyone could notice.
The moment Cho Yeon Un revealed his affiliation, Namgung Su, who had been standing aside, stepped forward.
“I am Namgung Su.”
“Pleased to meet you, Namgung. I am the humble Cho Yeon Un.”
Cho Yeon Un smiled and made a fist salute.
While Cho Yeon Un exchanged greetings with Namgung Su and the others, Hae So Wol’s eyes remained fixed on Dam Ho, who stood to one side with his arms crossed, seeming utterly indifferent to the proceedings.
Black hair. Black robes.
The serene bearing of one unmoved by the world around him.
It all felt familiar.
Hae So Wol remembered that she had met him before.
At Dongting Lake, when assassins of unknown origin had ambushed her, he had been there too.
“Miss Hae, this is Cho….”
Namgung Su, who was about to introduce Hae So Wol to Cho Yeon Un, fell silent for a moment, staring blankly at her.
In that instant, Hae So Wol reached Dam Ho’s side.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
“…….”
“I’m Hae So Wol.”
Dam Ho stared at her without answering.
Their gazes met in the empty air between them.
In Hae So Wol’s infinitely clear eyes and in Dam Ho’s gaze—sunk to an unfathomable depth—the other’s image was reflected.
The moment Hae So Wol met Dam Ho’s eyes, she felt a dizzy vertigo wash over her. His gaze carried a weight that seemed to overwhelm her very soul. Yet she did not look away.
After regarding Hae So Wol for a moment, Dam Ho finally spoke.
“Dam Ho.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Dam Ho.”
Dam Ho nodded silently.
His manner struck Namgung Su as rather arrogant. He frowned slightly as he watched Dam Ho.
Hae So Wol was one of the Nine Dragons.
Seeing an unknown man treat her with such contempt grated on him deeply.
“I am Namgung Su of the Namgung Family. If I may ask—what is your sect affiliation?”
Namgung Su’s voice carried an edge of mockery.
Dam Ho turned his head toward Namgung Su and stared at him without a word.
Thump!
In that instant, Namgung Su felt as though one side of his chest had caved in. The oppressive force radiating from Dam Ho’s gaze was crushing down upon him.
“Ugh!”
Namgung Su clenched his teeth without thinking. Thick veins bulged across his brow.
Then Dam Ho’s lips parted.
“I have no sect affiliation.”
“Tsk!”
Namgung Su ground his teeth. He felt that Dam Ho was dismissing him entirely.
A man who carried such presence without a master and sect affiliation made no sense. A Martial Artist without a proper teacher and sect could never surpass a certain threshold.
This was Namgung Su’s understanding, and it was a truth acknowledged by most who lived in the Martial World.
“If you don’t wish to speak, just say so. Don’t let your master’s name be dragged through mud.”
“Namgung.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Hae So Wol called out to Namgung Su. But his agitation did not easily subside.
Something about Dam Ho was touching a nerve in Namgung Su. Yet he could not fathom why he was turning this edge against him.
It was then that Namgung Chang approached.
“So you’re Dam Ho, are you? Pleased to meet you! I’m Namgung Chang. As you can see, I come from the Namgung Family. Given that you’re here, it seems you have quite close ties with the Eun Family Treasure House.”
“That is not the case. He has no connection whatsoever to the Eun Family Treasure House.”
Eun Il Myeong hastily denied any relationship between Dam Ho and his family. At this, Namgung Chang’s eyes gleamed.
‘There’s something here.’
The fact that Eun Il Myeong would deny the connection so forcefully meant Dam Ho was someone the family found deeply troubling.
Namgung Chang racked his mind.
‘What kind of Martial Artist, rooted in Hunan Province, would make the Eun Family Treasure House so uneasy?’
Though Namgung Chang prided himself on knowing everything under heaven, such a figure did not come readily to mind.
As he rifled through his thoughts, he suddenly dredged up a fragment of rumor he had heard in this place.
The description in that rumor matched the man standing before him.
“I heard an unbelievable rumor not long ago. A single Martial Artist, alone, destroyed the Seocheon Mountain Lodge in Xinjiang. He stirred up a storm at Hong Am Mountain Lodge as well, and recently he entered Hunan Province and has been committing atrocities.”
“…….”
“Perhaps his most recent crime was killing the patriarch of the Hyungsan Sect. Am I right? The Blood Star of Xinjiang. Or perhaps it’s better to call you the Fist Demon?”
Dam Ho’s eyebrows twitched. At that, Namgung Chang smiled.
“Does it matter?”
“It matters. You’ve committed senseless slaughter. Enough to bring the Martial World’s wrath down upon you.”
“Senseless slaughter?”
“Indeed! Looking at your deeds thus far, you’ve killed so many that calling you a Mad Martial Artist would not be out of place. If this weren’t a time of crisis, you could rightly be branded a Martial World Public Enemy.”
“It sounds as though you’re saying that once this crisis ends, you’ll brand me as such.”
“That depends on how you conduct yourself going forward.”
Namgung Chang smiled.
He thought that by now Dam Ho would understand the meaning. Most people, after all, would lower their heads at just this much.
Meanwhile, O Gun Ui’s brow was deeply furrowed.
Namgung Chang was less a martial artist and more a strategist. His martial skills were formidable, yes, but most of his faculties were honed toward analyzing his opponent and circumstances, formulating countermeasures.
O Gun Ui, by contrast, was a pure martial artist.
One who pursued the ultimate way of the sword.
In his eyes, Dam Ho’s physique was perfection itself.
Size alone does not make strength. Two bodies of equal mass reveal different power thresholds depending on how they’ve been trained.
The muscles visible through Dam Ho’s collar bore the unmistakable marks of training driven to its absolute limit. Each fiber seemed woven with such elasticity that it might burst at any moment.
O Gun Ui felt his body stir with hunger.
He’d scarcely had time to properly warm up while trailing after Namgung Chang, and now looking at Dam Ho, his blood was beginning to boil.
Yet he forced that boiling blood to cool. Namgung Chang’s business was not yet concluded.
“If you wish not to become a Martial World Public Enemy, then simply use your strength for just causes.”
“…….”
Namgung Chang’s eyes grew sharp with power. His gaze dominated every person within the Separate Building and more.
“Great change will soon sweep through the Martial World. A time will come when many forces are needed.”
“So?”
“I would hope you volunteer yourself for such work. Put your martial strength to good purpose. Then the suspicious glances directed at you will naturally fade. The whispers of you being a Public Enemy will disappear of their own accord, surely.”
“You’re asking me to become your lapdog?”
“How dare you!”
Namgung Su bristled at Dam Ho’s words. His hand had already moved to grasp the sword at his waist.
He seemed poised to draw at any moment.
Yet Namgung Chang raised his hand, restraining Namgung Su.
“Enough.”
“Uncle.”
“This is no place to spill blood.”
Namgung Su released his grip on the sword with a pained groan, though his eyes never stopped glaring at Dam Ho. A savage storm seemed to roil within them. But Dam Ho paid him no attention whatsoever.
Dam Ho’s gaze remained fixed on Namgung Chang, and Namgung Chang answered with a smile.
His eyes grew fixed on Namgung Chang, and the elder responded with a smile.
“You’re a fellow of considerable mettle. Good! That kind of backbone is what one needs to navigate the treacherous Martial World. But young friend, be cautious. The Martial World shifts unpredictably at every turn. A man who showed you goodwill yesterday may display enmity tomorrow. Always take care.”
“So it is.”
At Dam Ho’s casual tone, Namgung Chang’s eyebrows twitched. Yet, seasoned veteran that he was, he swiftly restored his genial expression.
Namgung Chang turned his gaze to Eun Il Myeong.
“Eun Treasurer.”
“Please speak.”
“This place seems ill-suited for matters of importance. If you would allow it, perhaps we might discuss this inside.”
“Of course.”
Eun Il Myeong assented reluctantly.
He had witnessed the confrontation—or near-confrontation—between Dam Ho and Namgung Chang. Had matters escalated, it might appear that the Eun Family Treasure House was taking a hostile stance against the Namgung Family.
Such a circumstance forced him to reconsider.
“Let us step inside.”
Eun Il Myeong led the way indoors.
Namgung Su’s lips moved silently. He was transmitting Sound to Namgung Chang, who was preparing to follow.
―Uncle, do you truly intend to let this man go unwatched? The Namgung Family could be made to look foolish.
―Have the Family’s shadows follow him.
Namgung Chang replied via Sound Transmission as well.
Sound Transmission was an advanced technique that compressed sound and transmitted it to another. Detecting such a conversation between others was nearly impossible.
―Should we eliminate him?
―Merely keep watch for now. I may find use for him later.
―For what?
A flash of displeasure crossed Namgung Su’s face.
―A Mad Martial Artist obsessed with blood has appeared, following Jin Cheon Roe. This could prove quite a useful tableau, would it not?
―You mean?
―A splendid impetus for establishing the Martial Alliance.
A meaningful smile curved Namgung Chang’s lips. Yet displeasure still lingered on Namgung Su’s features.
Namgung Chang entered the Separate Building with O Gun Ui and Eun Il Myeong, leaving Namgung Su and Hae So Wol behind.
‘Heaven itself aids the Martial Alliance. How opportune that a suitable sacrifice has presented itself.’
Dam Ho watched Namgung Chang follow Eun Il Myeong into the Separate Building until they vanished from sight.
“Brother?”
Bang Jin Bo approached with an uneasy expression.
Dam Ho wordlessly ruffled his hair, yet his eyes gleamed with an ominous light unlike any before.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————