Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 126

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

Chapter 126. A Butterfly’s Wings Summon a Storm—4
Hwang Hye Ryeong and Muk Il Gwang stood aboard the Yunma Dagang Vessel as it departed from Dongting Lake.
The vessel entering Dongting Lake was packed with people, while the one leaving was nearly deserted—clear evidence that far more were arriving than departing.
Dongting Lake and Akyang were like the gaping mouths of famished demons, ravenously drawing in everything under heaven.
As vast numbers of people and resources poured in all at once, Akyang enjoyed unprecedented prosperity, and the Murim Alliance swelled with martial masters seeking to claim a position within its ranks.
Conversely, few were leaving Akyang, which afforded them the luxury of finding spacious seats aboard the vessel and resting comfortably.
Hwang Hye Ryeong murmured.
“The Murim Alliance must be quite formidable. It’s as if all the martial artists in the realm have gathered in one place. Not just the great sects, but even minor factions are sending enormous contingents.”
“Their core strength will remain intact, though.”
“True enough.”
Hwang Hye Ryeong nodded slightly at Muk Il Gwang’s words.
Even the great powers like the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans would not suffer weakened strength simply by dispatching a portion of their forces.
“I’ve seen and learned a great deal in this short time.”
“A fortunate outcome.”
Hwang Hye Ryeong’s gaze turned toward the water’s surface where sunlight shattered across the ripples.
Having witnessed the true character of the Murim Alliance with her own eyes was a significant gain. It was obvious as daylight that Nokrim would be the first target for suppression once the Alliance was formally established.
A protruding stone always receives the chisel’s blow first.
‘For now, we must cease operations and closely monitor the Murim Alliance’s movements.’
Most of Nokrim’s ranks were filled with those lacking even basic literacy. They often lacked restraint and overstepped through sheer confidence in their own strength.
Even their plundering had to be kept within bounds that would not invite the Murim’s censure. Should they provoke the collective anger of the Murim through carelessness, many mountain strongholds would crumble and far more Nokrim members would meet their end.
Though she was returning having achieved her immediate purpose, Hwang Hye Ryeong’s expression remained clouded.
“What of Heuksuchae’s movements?”
“Still no word.”
“Will he truly act?”
“The odds are even.”
Hwang Hye Ryeong’s expression darkened at Muk Il Gwang’s reply.
Jo Yun San was an unpleasant man.
Her mind suddenly recalled the first time she had seen him.
On Hwang Gyeong Moon’s birthday, all the fortress masters of the Nokrim Eighteen Strongholds had been invited to Baekwangchae. Jo Yun San too had received an invitation and visited.
At that first meeting, he had said to her:
“You’ve grown quite a bit.”
Yet it was clearly their first encounter.
When Hwang Hye Ryeong expressed her confusion, Jo Yun San claimed it was a mistake. But his eyes had shone with a coldness that was utterly piercing.
Several years had passed since then, but the memory remained vivid to this day.
“There’s clearly something there.”
“What do you mean?”
Muk Il Gwang questioned her.
“Just a nagging feeling, that’s all.”
“What troubles you so?”
“Various things. It’s simply complicated.”
Hwang Hye Ryeong leaned her back against the railing and gazed up at the sky. Muk Il Gwang watched her silently.
Though Hwang Hye Ryeong ordinarily displayed great cheerfulness, there were occasional moments when she withdrew into her own private world. At such times, Muk Il Gwang would simply observe her in silence.
Lost in thought, Hwang Hye Ryeong was beautiful.
So much so that it was difficult to believe she was a rough woman who made her life in mountain strongholds—she possessed a nobility that seemed almost sacred. That is what made her all the more beautiful to look upon.
‘Miss.’
He had been drawn to her from the moment of that first meeting.
His relentless dedication to Dung Ryong Dae was, all things considered, for the sake of being at her side. These moments spent with her now were what made Muk Il Gwang happiest.
While the two of them were thus absorbed in their separate thoughts,
“What is it?”
The people on the deck suddenly began to stir.
At the commotion, Hwang Hye Ryeong rose from her seat.
“What’s happening?”
Two ships appeared in the distance.
Aboard them were martial masters outfitted in full armor, radiating an intensely murderous presence.
The two vessels were bearing directly toward the Yunma Dagang Vessel.
Hwang Hye Ryeong and Muk Il Gwang’s expressions hardened in an instant.
‘Could it be?’
Their eyes met across the void.
Among those aboard the Yunma Dagang Vessel, there were no individuals remarkable enough to draw the attention of martial masters—save for Hwang Hye Ryeong and Muk Il Gwang.
Which meant the likelihood that these newcomers’ target was them was very high.
“Il Gwang?”
“Something feels wrong about the atmosphere. We should prepare for anything.”
“Got it!”
Muk Il Gwang positioned himself behind Hwang Hye Ryeong.
Standing at seven feet tall, he had two massive axes strapped across his back. His already menacing appearance became even more formidable.
The two boats blocked the path of the Yunma Dagang Vessel, forcing it to halt abruptly.
As the Yunma Dagang Vessel stopped, the martial masters aboard the two boats leaped onto its deck.
The captain of the Yunma Dagang Vessel asked nervously.
“I am the captain of this vessel. What is the meaning of this blockade?”
Nearly thirty martial masters had boarded the ship. Each possessed the skill to leap casually to a height of ten feet.
For all the vastness of the Jianghu and the abundance of martial masters, one did not encounter such skilled fighters so readily.
One of the masters stepped forward from the group.
“We come from the Murim Alliance.”
“The Murim Alliance?”
“Indeed. We received intelligence that a Nokrim spy is hidden aboard this vessel.”
The one who spoke so confidently was Namgoong Su.
At his words, the captain shrank back like a turtle drawing into its shell.
Having crossed Dongting Lake many times, the captain understood well how things operated here.
Though the Murim Alliance had not yet formally launched, the power of its name was far from negligible.
Especially for those like the captain of the Yunma Dagang Vessel, who ferried passengers across Dongting Lake, the Murim Alliance’s name was as fearsome as death itself. To offend them was to be barred from these waters entirely.
The captain stepped aside without resistance. He recognized this was beyond his capacity to handle.
Namgoong Su swept the deck with a sharp gaze.
His eyes fell upon Hwang Hye Ryeong and Muk Il Gwang. No matter how little attention one paid, their appearance was too conspicuous to miss.
‘They match the description perfectly.’
Namgoong Su strode toward them without hesitation, the Namgoong Clan warriors following at his heels.
At last, Namgoong Su stood before Hwang Hye Ryeong.
“I am Namgoong Su of the Murim Alliance. Would you kindly tell me your name?”
“Why should I?”
“We have received intelligence.”
“About what?”
“That a Nokrim spy is aboard this vessel.”
“What does that have to do with us?”
“Everything. We believe you are that spy.”
“On what evidence?”
“Someone recently reported seeing a beautiful woman and a man bearing axes on his back in Akyang, gathering information about the Murim Alliance’s movements.”
“So what?”
“And here you stand before us—matching that description exactly.”
The corners of Namgoong Su’s mouth curved upward, while Hwang Hye Ryeong’s expression turned rigid.
She could not determine who had informed on them, but these people clearly knew everything.
At a gesture from Namgoong Su, the Namgoong Clan warriors surrounded Hwang Hye Ryeong and Muk Il Gwang.
“I would prefer if you did not resist. Though I suppose it matters little if you do.”
Namgoong Su grinned wickedly.
His uncle Namgoong Chang had warned him never to make contact, but in this moment, only one thought burned in his mind—the glory of accomplishment.
At that instant, Muk Il Gwang stepped forward.
The overwhelming presence radiating from his seven-foot frame caused the Namgoong Clan warriors to instinctively retreat.
“No one approaches the lady without my permission.”
Clang!
Muk Il Gwang drew both of his massive axes.
The Namgoong warriors felt as though a colossal bear now blocked their path.
In that moment, Namgoong Su’s voice rang out.
“What are you waiting for? Subdue this bastard!”
“Yaaaah!”
The Namgoong Clan warriors charged at Muk Il Gwang.
＊＊＊
“Is this true?”
Ki Ye Hwa’s expression had grown grave. Before her stood a neatly dressed man in a respectful posture.
He was the general manager of Cheongsangru and also the vice-director of the Akyang branch of Hao Wen.
“Since the information comes through a disciple embedded within Nokrim, it should be reliable.”
“Hmm.”
“This person has already become a figure of renown within Nokrim. It is strange that none of this has reached the outside world until now.”
“You’re calling him ambitious to that degree?”
“Yes, sir.”
At the supervisor’s words, Ki Ye Hwa rubbed her temples with her fingers.
The paper before her bore information she’d received that morning through her intelligence network.
―Confirmed: Jo Yun San is the master of Heuksuchae, one of the Nokrim Eighteen Strongholds.
Even Ki Ye Hwa hadn’t expected to obtain information about Jo Yun San so quickly.
“And him?”
“He’s currently believed to be passing through the Hamnyeong region.”
“So he hasn’t traveled far yet.”
“What should we do?”
“We need to tell him. A deal is a deal, after all.”
“May I speak frankly, Branch Director?”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you truly believe continuing our connection with him serves Hao Wen’s interests?”
“What do you mean?”
“From what’s unfolding, there’s a strong likelihood he’ll come into conflict with the Murim Alliance. If we continue tying ourselves to him, we risk falling out of favor with the Alliance.”
The supervisor’s concern was entirely reasonable.
Though Hao Wen’s influence was vast, their actual martial strength was not formidable. Hao Wen was, after all, merely an intelligence organization born from the common people’s need to protect themselves.
The Murim Alliance was an absolute power. The wisest course was never to cross such a force. At least, that was what the supervisor’s common sense dictated.
“Perhaps. But then again, it might not be that way.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Sometimes people appear in this world who overturn all convention. Such individuals often smash the existing order to pieces.”
“You’re suggesting Kwon Ma might be one of those people?”
“Right now, he’s the one with the highest probability of being exactly that.”
“Hmm.”
“Pass this information to him.”
“Understood.”
In the end, the supervisor accepted Ki Ye Hwa’s words and bowed his head.
That was when it happened.
“Luzu!”
A girl who still looked young burst into the room, her voice bright and eager.
Ki Ye Hwa’s brow creased slightly.
“What’s wrong, Un Jeong?”
“There’s an uproar at Dongting Lake right now.”
“At Dongting Lake? Why?”
“Martial masters from the Namgoong Clan clashed with key figures from the Nokrim Eighteen Strongholds.”
“The Nokrim Eighteen Strongholds?”
Ki Ye Hwa and the supervisor exchanged glances.
Something felt wrong.
Even as they spoke, Un Jeong continued.
“And Nokrim movements have been detected inside Cheongsangru too.”
“What do you mean?”
“One of the guests at Cheongsangru got drunk and started boasting that he came from Heuksuchae.”
“Really?”
“A courtesan who served the guest directly heard him say it.”
“Hmm!”
Ki Ye Hwa’s expression hardened.
She sensed instinctively that something extraordinary was unfolding.
She spoke to the supervisor.
“Tell him all of this. Every detail. He’s the one who’ll decide what comes next.”
“Understood.”
The supervisor answered and hurried out.
Ki Ye Hwa closed her eyes gently.
Darkness came for a moment. But then a vision bloomed—the entire world stained crimson with blood.
Dam Ho stood alone there.

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