Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 173

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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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Episode 172. Even a howling wind cannot erase the stench of blood—1
Crash!
Dam Ho skidded roughly across the ground. He tumbled nearly a dozen lengths before finally coming to rest.
Cough!
Dam Ho lay face-down, spitting blood. His face had gone utterly ashen.
His entire body screamed in agony, as if crushed beneath a colossal mortar. Even breathing was torture—the Sword Blade still jutting from his chest scraped against his lungs with each breath.
Wheeze… wheeze…
Dam Ho’s vision swam as he fixed his gaze forward, bloodstained.
Namgoong Cheon lay sprawled before him, his own breathing labored and ragged.
His condition was scarcely less dire than Dam Ho’s.
One cheekbone had caved inward, warping his face, and his shattered sternum compressed his lungs until he could manage only panting gasps.
Dam Ho’s Yukhap Hyeolsan had shattered over a dozen of the man’s bones. That it had ended merely here was only because, in that final moment, Namgoong Cheon had summoned the Hoshin Ganggi to shield himself. Without it, struck bare-bodied by Yukhap Hyeolsan, he would already be dead.
The thought alone sent ice through Dam Ho’s spine.
Then Dam Ho pushed himself upright.
The sight of him rising with the Sword Blade still embedded in his chest filled Namgoong Cheon with dread.
Dam Ho’s frame swayed as though it might collapse at any moment, yet somehow he did not fall. He shambled forward toward Namgoong Cheon.
Even in that state, the murderous intent in Dam Ho’s eyes had not dimmed one fraction. The will to kill Namgoong Cheon burned undiminished.
“Ruthless… daemon…”
Even Namgoong Cheon, master of the Jianghu, found himself nauseated by such ferocity.
He too staggered upright, trembling.
Though they had stumbled into a mutual defeat, he could not simply sit and endure what Dam Ho would inflict.
“Yes! Let us end this today. Cough!”
Namgoong Cheon forced volume into his voice, only to cough up blood. His internal injuries were grave indeed.
Dam Ho limped forward step by step, his blood-drenched form like some vengeful specter clawed from hell itself.
Namgoong Cheon watched him approach and felt his teeth clench.
In all his years, he had never imagined such a demon could walk in human form. Among the Demon Cult fighters he’d faced thirty years past, not a single one had possessed this terrible, inhuman quality.
‘If I let him live, the future calamity will know no end.’
His hands trembled violently.
He could not tell whether the trembling came from fear of Dam Ho or from the pain of his wounds.
Scrape… thud… scrape… thud…
Dam Ho’s distinctive syncopated footfalls struck an ominous rhythm into Namgoong Cheon’s chest.
Rasp!
Namgoong Cheon’s teeth clamped down hard. Yet the fear would not lift.
It was then.
“Chief!”
A cry rang out from the distance, and a band of warriors came thundering toward them—the Namgoong Clan fighters who had followed Namgoong Cheon.
At their arrival, Namgoong Cheon pointed at Dam Ho and roared.
“Kill him!”
His voice rang across the battlefield like a bell.
The Namgoong Clan fighters changed direction, rushing toward Dam Ho.
Dam Ho’s vision blurred as he watched them converge. With their arrival, any hope of escape had vanished.
The Namgoong Clan fighters bore down with terrible speed. Yet looking at them, Dam Ho felt no fear.
‘Master.’
Only a sadness that he would not see Hyun So again.
Dam Ho’s lips twisted into a smile.
If he had to die, he would take at least one more with him.
He harbored no desire to leave his name to history, but neither would he sit idle and surrender to death without struggle.
‘Come.’
It was then that Dam Ho kindled his final resolve.
“Idiot! Hold on!”
Jong Ri Yeon’s voice suddenly called from behind.
Dam Ho turned to see Jong Ri Yeon astride Black Ghost, bearing down at full gallop. Jong Ri Yeon hauled Dam Ho’s body up onto the beast.
“Hyah!”
The moment Dam Ho was mounted, Jong Ri Yeon drove Black Ghost away from the battlefield.
“Stop them!”
“Damn!”
The late-arriving Namgoong Clan fighters deployed their Gyeong Gong in pursuit, but could not catch the beast.
Black Ghost vanished from their sight in moments.
The Namgoong Clan fighters abandoned the chase and rushed back to their chief.
“Are you hurt, Chief?”
“Track him down.”
Namgoong Cheon cried out, blood spraying from his lips.
“Yes!”
“No matter what it takes, you must eliminate him. If we let him escape like this, he’ll become a calamity that haunts us for years to come.”
Namgoong Cheon’s bloodshot eyes blazed with madness.
The warriors of the Namgoong Clan glimpsed a thread of fear woven beneath that frenzy.
‘Why is the patriarch…?’
‘Could it be that the patriarch actually fears Gwon Ma?’
Questions stirred in the minds of the Namgoong Clan’s fighters.
In that moment, Namgoong Cheon shouted again.
“Hunt him down and kill him. By any means necessary—do you understand?”
“We do, sir.”
The warriors of the Namgoong Clan answered with all their strength.
Namgoong Cheon’s bloodshot eyes fixed on the direction where Dam Ho had vanished.
“He must die. If he lives, he will become a great catastrophe. Ughhh!”
Namgoong Cheon coughed up blood and collapsed into unconsciousness.
“Patriarch!”
The Namgoong Clan warriors caught the falling patriarch’s body.
＊＊＊
“Hm?”
Bang Jin Bo suddenly lifted his gaze to the sky.
“What is it?”
Hwang Hye Ryeong regarded him with a puzzled expression.
“Ah, it’s nothing. Just felt a bit odd for a moment.”
“Is that so?”
“Probably nothing. Hehe!”
Bang Jin Bo let out his characteristic laugh.
Since Dam Ho had descended the mountain, Bang Jin Bo had remained on Hua Shan, adapting to his new life there.
After the rebellion of Yun Chung and Jo Yun San, Hwang Gyeong Moon had been reorganizing Paewang Fortress and Nok Rim anew.
He expelled those who had sided with the rebellion and the remnants of the Demon Cult, promoting trustworthy individuals to positions of authority.
As a result, a tide of blood swept through Paewang Fortress and Nok Rim. The purge that swept across Nok Rim was terrifying—countless fell or were wounded.
Bang Jin Bo witnessed every moment of it with his own eyes.
Hwang Gyeong Moon punished the traitors without mercy. His iron-fisted actions proved worthy of his epithet, Tyrant King, and many of Nok Rim’s inhabitants trembled in fear.
Though many voiced their opinions about Hwang Gyeong Moon’s conduct, Bang Jin Bo paid them no mind.
He was a man who had wandered the realm alongside Dam Ho.
He had witnessed far greater horrors and violence. Because of that, he understood that Hwang Gyeong Moon had no choice.
Of course, even so, there were limits to his acceptance—but at least he no longer harbored the unconditional revulsion he once had.
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“Father is calling for me.”
“The Chief of All Strongholds?”
“Yes.”
Bang Jin Bo’s expression grew puzzled at Hwang Hye Ryeong’s reply.
More than a month had passed since he’d arrived at Paewang Fortress, yet Hwang Gyeong Moon had never summoned him until now.
Bang Jin Bo followed Hwang Hye Ryeong toward Hwang Gyeong Moon’s quarters.
“Welcome.”
Hwang Gyeong Moon greeted Bang Jin Bo warmly.
“You called for me, sir?”
“Indeed. I have something to give you.”
“Something to give me?”
“Yes.”
Hwang Gyeong Moon smiled.
Though he had ruled with an iron hand, punishing traitors during this time, his eyes held nothing but kindness as he gazed at Bang Jin Bo.
He reached into his robe and withdrew a book.
“While reorganizing the mountain stronghold, I came across this.”
“The Ohaeng Gunja Gong?”
“That’s right. It’s not widely known in the Jianghu, but it’s a superior martial art that harnesses the forces of the Five Elements.”
“Why give this to me?”
“He said so. That you were suited for a martial art that commands the forces of the Five Elements.”
“Him?”
“Yes!”
Tears welled up in Bang Jin Bo’s eyes.
It had been over a month since Dam Ho left this place. During all that time, Bang Jin Bo had missed him ceaselessly.
He’d harbored a small resentment at Dam Ho’s wordless departure, but he’d never expected to matter enough to be remembered like this.
‘Brother!’
He suddenly longed to see Dam Ho.
Hwang Gyeong Moon offered Bang Jin Bo the Ohaeng Gunja Gong.
“Learn this.”
“But sir, I have no foundation in martial arts.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll teach you myself.”
“You, Chief of All Strongholds?”
“Yes.”
“But it will be such a burden.”
“I owe him a great debt. This much I can offer. Besides, now that I’ve finished reorganizing Nokrim, the timing seems perfect.”
“Thank you. I’ll work hard at it.”
“You’d better.”
Hwang Gyeong Moon smiled as he watched Bang Jin Bo’s gratitude.
Truthfully, he didn’t believe Bang Jin Bo would master the Ohaeng Gunja Gong. A superior martial art wasn’t something anyone could learn easily.
But with his guidance, Bang Jin Bo could achieve at least the fifth level. That alone would be enough to preserve his life in the Jianghu.
“I’ll begin teaching tomorrow. Come early at dawn.”
“I will.”
“Go now.”
“Yes!”
Bang Jin Bo bowed to Hwang Gyeong Moon and rushed out. Once he had gone, Hwang Hye Ryeong asked carefully.
“Can you really spare the time?”
“I have to make time. Otherwise, that friend of his might come looking.”
Hwang Hye Ryeong understood who Hwang Gyeong Moon meant by ‘that friend,’ and smiled gently.
“Is my brother well?”
“Who could dare lay a hand on him? He’s well. Don’t worry.”
“Yes!”
Hwang Hye Ryeong nodded.
Hwang Gyeong Moon gazed at his daughter with warm affection.
Even after learning that he was Dam Ho Ga Ryeong, Hwang Hye Ryeong had treated Hwang Gyeong Moon with unchanged warmth.
He felt grateful for such a daughter, and proud of her.
Hwang Hye Ryeong suddenly asked.
“Is the reorganization of Nokrim complete?”
“Yes.”
“You must have worked hard.”
“Their roots ran deeper than I expected. It required much bloodshed.”
Hwang Gyeong Moon closed his eyes tightly. His face looked terribly weary.
For decades, Hwang Gyeong Moon had devoted himself to Nokrim.
Those he had purged were all people he’d known for decades. Disposing of them was never easy. Yet it had to be done.
Yun Chung had corrupted Nokrim over a long stretch of years. To completely eradicate his influence, much blood had to be spilled.
All of this had exhausted Hwang Gyeong Moon terribly—not physically, but spiritually, worn and wounded in his heart.
“I fear something.”
“What is it?”
“That agents of the Demon Cult may have infiltrated other sects as well.”
“That’s…”
Hwang Hye Ryeong couldn’t answer hastily.
Hwang Gyeong Moon rose and approached the window.
“The storm of blood that swept through Nokrim is merely a gentle breeze. A far greater and more vicious tempest will devour all of Heaven and Earth. We must gather strength to face what comes.”
“Ah… Father!”
“My brother will surely stand at the center of it. He wishes to live freely, but once you’ve set foot in the Jianghu, such a thing becomes impossible.”
Shadow fell across Hwang Hye Ryeong’s face.
Hwang Gyeong Moon patted her shoulder.
“Don’t worry yourself too much.”
“Yes.”
“No calamity in this world can overcome him.”

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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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