Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 161

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 160. There Are Some Things That Must Never Be Touched—Part 1
Pitter-patter!
Rain fell.
Raindrops struck the water’s surface, birthing countless concentric circles that bloomed and vanished in the same breath. The deafening patter of rain hammered at the ears of all who heard it.
As the downpour intensified, most people rushed desperately into the cabin. But not all. There were those who remained—the martial artists guarding the carriage.
They stood motionless beneath rain that fell like spear-shafts, their eyes blazing with such intensity that even grim resolve seemed to emanate from them.
Dam Ho sat at the railing, watching them in silence.
Black Ghost stood at his side, rainwater streaming down her pitch-black coat.
As if sensing Dam Ho’s gaze, the leader of the martial artists guarding the carriage lifted his head and looked back at him.
He was a middle-aged man with a sturdy frame like granite, his eyes so sharp and piercing that few would dare meet them directly.
In that moment, the man’s brow twitched.
Thud!
The boat struck the dock on the opposite riverbank.
“Everyone ashore.”
The crew called out with vigor.
The middle-aged man withdrew his gaze from Dam Ho and shouted to his subordinates.
“Lower the carriage at once.”
“Yes!”
The martial artists answered with a sharp cry and began lowering the carriage.
The carriage passed directly in front of Dam Ho.
Screech!
The deck, crushed beneath the wheels, let out a pitiful groan as though it might collapse at any moment. Through a gap in the carriage, a pair of black eyes appeared again.
In that instant, one of the martial artists blocked the gap with his body, and the black eyes vanished from sight. The carriage descended from the boat and disappeared into the distance in moments.
Dam Ho disembarked as well, Black Ghost at his side. The rain showed no sign of stopping.
Dam Ho urged his mount forward without hesitation. Black Ghost snorted roughly, as if delighting in the headlong gallop through the downpour.
Black Ghost was a worthy bearer of the name Heavenly Horse. Even after charging fiercely through rain for nearly half a day, there was not the slightest hint of fatigue in her bearing.
In the distance, a city came into view.
Huaxian—a city of considerable size in Anhui Province. But Dam Ho knew none of this.
The sun was setting, the rain showed no mercy, and so he merely thought to find shelter for the night.
Because of the rain, the streets of Huaxian were uncommonly quiet. Dam Ho entered the first inn he saw.
A young girl who appeared to be no more than thirteen or fourteen came scurrying out to greet him.
“Welcome.”
“Is there a stable barn?”
“Of course. In fact, we’ve just laid fresh straw on the floor—it’s wonderfully clean. Your horse will be quite happy once she’s inside our barn.”
“Put the horse in the stable and give her good feed.”
“I’ll do that right away. You’ll be staying the night, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Please wait inside for a moment. I’ll get your horse settled and be right back.”
The girl took hold of Black Ghost’s reins and led her toward the stable. The small girl dragging the enormous Black Ghost along was quite a capable sight.
Dam Ho stepped into the inn.
Because of the rain, the common room was nearly deserted. Of the dozen or so tables, only two had guests seated at them; the rest stood empty.
Dam Ho took a seat at one of the vacant tables and gazed out the window. He had scarcely settled when the girl came hurrying back.
“Huff! I’ve settled her in the barn properly and given her oats and good feed. I’ve also drawn a fresh bucket of water, so you needn’t worry about anything tonight.”
The girl’s face was flushed, and her smile was bright with satisfaction.
Dam Ho handed her a coin. At this, her smile grew even wider.
“Oh! Thank you so much.”
“Bring me something simple to eat.”
“Would you like some wine as well?”
“Yes.”
At Dam Ho’s nod, the girl darted off to the kitchen with squirrel-like swiftness.
Dam Ho was not one to drink regularly, but tonight, for some reason, he felt inclined. Perhaps it was the rain.
Dam Ho gazed silently at the torrential downpour for a long time.
How much time had passed? The girl returned, struggling with a tray larger than herself.
“Roasted duck and Red Wine—it’s our inn’s specialty. My father made it himself, so I promise it tastes wonderful.”
True to the girl’s word, the Red Wine gave off a sweet and mellow aroma. Had any drunkard caught a whiff, they would have lost themselves entirely to the enchanting fragrance.
“Excellent.”
“Please enjoy. If you need anything, just call. Oh, and your room is the first one once you climb the stairs on this floor.”
“Yes.”
Upon hearing Dam Ho’s response, the girl hurried back to the kitchen once more, moving with the swift grace of a flying squirrel.
Left alone, Dam Ho poured Red Wine into his cup and drank.
The taste was as exquisite as the sweet aroma—the sort of fine wine that would command respect anywhere in the realm.
The roasted duck was equally delicious. Stripped of excess fat, the lean fowl suited Dam Ho’s palate remarkably well.
Dam Ho savored the Red Wine with the rain falling beyond the window and roasted duck as accompaniment. Since entering the world, this seemed to be the first time he’d indulged in such refinement alone.
It was while Dam Ho was enjoying this solitary moment that he caught sight of a band of riders galloping toward the inn through the downpour.
They entered the inn where Dam Ho was staying. A young girl hurried forward to take their horses’ reins, and the riders made their way inside.
“The rain is absolutely pouring down.”
“Miss, please sit over here.”
Two figures stepped through the door, both wearing large rain hats and rain cloaks.
The moment they entered, they removed their wide rain hats. Beneath them appeared the face of an elegant woman and that of an old man creased with age.
The woman with refined features emanated an aura of profound mystery. Most notably, her hair caught the subtle glow of deep red in a way that seemed almost to bewitch those who beheld it.
She went on to shed the cumbersome rain cloak as well. Now her graceful composure gave way to the revelation of a curvaceous form that seemed at odds with her delicate visage.
She swept back her rain-dampened hair and spoke.
“With rain falling like this, we have no choice. We’ll have to stay here for the night.”
“When the downpour is this heavy, no one can do otherwise.”
“But time is pressing…….”
“We’ll be delayed by little more than half a day at most. In that brief span, the situation won’t deteriorate significantly. Set your mind at ease. We can simply push the horses harder tomorrow to make up the distance.”
The elderly martial artist beside her offered this reassurance.
“You’re right—can mortals hope to defy Heaven’s will? Since even the weather refuses to cooperate, let’s rest comfortably today.”
“A wise choice.”
“After all your hardship, shouldn’t we indulge in a hearty meal for once?”
“Are you offering to pay, Miss?”
“You have more money than I do, Hwa No.”
“Every coin I possess belongs to the organization.”
“Will you be stingy about it?”
A man must keep public and private funds strictly separate, Miss.”
“Sigh!”
At the old man’s shameless reply, the woman shook her head. But that lasted only a moment—soon her expression softened into a smile.
“Fine then. I’ll treat Hwa No to a feast today.”
“Much obliged, Miss. I shall look forward to a proper meal.”
“Just this once, mind you.”
“Of course.”
“You there, child.”
The woman raised her hand to summon the girl.
The young girl, who had been lingering nearby, hurried over at once.
“Did you call for me?”
“What dishes does this inn specialize in?”
“Everything’s good. My father is an excellent cook.”
“How fortunate.”
The woman placed her order with the girl, who gazed at her as though spellbound.
Noticing the girl’s reaction, the woman tilted her head curiously.
“What is it?”
“You’re just…… so beautiful.”
“How kind of you to say. You’re lovely now, and when you grow, you’ll be even more beautiful.”
“Really?”
“Truly!”
At the woman’s words, the girl’s face lit up with a brilliant smile.
“What’s your name, sister?”
“My name is Jong Ri Yeon.”
“What a pretty name. Mine is so plain. They call me Dong I because I was born the second child in winter. I can’t imagine what my father was thinking when he chose it.”
Dong I pouted, and the gesture was utterly endearing. Jong Ri Yeon smiled warmly and stroked the girl’s hair.
“Dong I is a lovely name indeed. More than that—it was given to you by your father. Treasure it and hold it dear.”
“Yes, sister! I’ll place the food order now.”
Dong I rushed toward the kitchen with determined energy.
Jong Ri Yeon watched her departing figure with a gentle smile.
“Miss, your kindness is almost your undoing. Caring for such a child—and she’s only a servant girl running errands at an inn.”
“Don’t say such things, Hwa No. No one knows what that girl’s future will hold. Who’s to say she won’t become a female martial hero who shakes the Jianghu itself?”
At Jong Ri Yeon’s words, Hwa No merely smiled silently.
His mistress understood so little of the world.
‘In these times, a child’s limits are set by their parents’ means. Unless Dong I possessed some extraordinary martial gift, becoming a martial artist would be impossible.’
Yet Hwa No kept his thoughts to himself.
Hwa No appreciated Jong Ri Yeon’s artless sincerity. In this harsh world, having even one person who could still dream like her was not a bad thing.
While waiting for the food to arrive, Hwa No surveyed the interior of the inn. His eyes landed on Dam Ho.
Tangled black hair, a black robe torn to shreds—Dam Ho was the sort of figure who couldn’t help but stand out anywhere.
The moment Hwa No laid eyes on Dam Ho, every hair on his body stood on end.
He hadn’t noticed it before, but now that his attention was fixed, every nerve in his body had come alive and alert.
‘Who on earth is that man?’
Though Hwa No had now retired from the Jianghu and served as Jong Ri Yeon’s escort, he had once been a master whose name echoed through those circles.
He prided himself on having weathered every kind of trial and met countless people, yet there was not a single man—not one—who could make his spine prickle the way this Dam Ho did the moment he saw him.
“What’s the matter? Hwa No.”
As Hwa No’s expression hardened visibly, Jong Ri Yeon asked without understanding. He quickly shook his head.
“It’s nothing.”
“Your expression just now looked frightened…”
“I was simply lost in thought for a moment.”
Hwa No hastily changed the subject.
Jong Ri Yeon glanced at Dam Ho. Hwa No’s gaze had clearly been directed at him just moments before.
‘Is there something special about that man?’
Jong Ri Yeon tilted her head in curiosity.
People often say you see only what your level allows you to see.
At Jong Ri Yeon’s level of skill, she could not perceive the danger that radiated from Dam Ho.
Dam Ho, whether aware of her gaze or not, simply continued to sip from his cup at measured intervals.
Time flowed on, and the rain showed no sign of stopping. But the wine bottle before Dam Ho had emptied.
Dam Ho rose from his seat without hesitation. It was time to rest for the journey ahead.
Just as Dam Ho was preparing to leave—
Bang!
The door of the inn suddenly swung open, and a group of men strode inside.
About twenty in number, each one radiating an air of formidable bearing, they surveyed the interior of the inn before making their way directly toward the table where Jong Ri Yeon and Hwa No were seated.
The man who appeared to be their leader addressed Jong Ri Yeon.
“Are you the Divine Physician, Jong Ri Yeon?”
“Yes, that would be me.”
“We are men sent from the Namgoong Clan. The Namgoong Clan is in need of your services at this moment.”
The Divine Physician Jong Ri Yeon.
She was one of the most famous people currently in Anhui Province.
She was a physician—an exceptionally skilled one at that.
It was said that as long as a patient still drew breath, she could save them. There were even rumors that she had brought the dead back to life.
No wonder she bore the title of Divine Physician.
Anyone living in Anhui Province would know her name. And they would go to any length to forge some connection with her.
Knowing the Divine Physician was tantamount to keeping a spare life in one’s pocket.
The martial artist who had introduced himself as one of the Namgoong Clan’s men performed a formal salute with clasped fists.
“Please, help the Namgoong Clan, Doctor Jong Ri.”
At this, Jong Ri Yeon’s expression grew troubled.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I’m on my way to see a patient in urgent need right now.”
“Whatever the circumstances, surely you can change the order of your visits. We will see that you are well compensated.”
“That’s not negotiable. There’s a patient waiting whose life hangs in the balance.”
“This matter is no different.”
The voice of the Namgoong Clan’s martial artist turned firm.

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