Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 25

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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 25. Finding the Path in Darkness—Part 3
Dozens of cargo carts stretched across a vast, verdant plain, carrying dozens of people within them and escorted by roughly a dozen armed men on horseback.
On the roof of the leading cart, a flag bearing the characters for “Eun Ryeon” fluttered in the wind.
“Wow!”
A boy sitting in one of the carts near the center of the procession let out a cry of delight at the sight of the endless plains.
He appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen years old. His face still carried the softness of youth, with round, full cheeks and a frame as generous as his features were kind.
The boy, whose very appearance radiated warmth, continually gasped in wonder at the landscape unfolding around him.
The middle-aged man driving the cart smiled at the sight of him.
“Jin-bo, you’re having that much fun?”
“Of course!”
But didn’t we see this same view on the way here? What’s so remarkable about it now?”
“It wasn’t as green then, was it?”
“Well, that’s true…….”
Bang Woo-gwang, the man driving the cart, nodded in agreement.
The boy who kept exclaiming in wonder was his son, Bang Jin-bo.
Bang Woo-gwang’s eyes as he gazed at his son were filled with a tender, almost sorrowful light.
‘Poor boy. If only his mother were still alive, he wouldn’t have to suffer like this, following his father everywhere.’
That was when it happened.
“We’ll make camp here tonight, everyone prepare yourselves!”
A voice rang out sharply from the front of the procession.
“Yes!”
Those driving the carts responded in unison, Bang Woo-gwang’s voice among them.
Dozens of carts converged upon the open ground.
As if by prior agreement, they arranged themselves in a circle to form a defensive wall, then began preparing for the night’s camp within.
Bang Woo-gwang positioned his own cart among the others and quickly turned to Bang Jin-bo.
“Get the cooking utensils down right away.”
“Yes!”
Bang Jin-bo began unloading the cargo stacked in the back of the cart.
The first thing he removed was a large iron wok—both the shallow, wide Guangdong-style wok with handles on either side and the deep, round Sichuan-style one came down at once.
“Heave!”
Next came a great iron pot. Bang Woo-gwang gestured to his son.
“Bring the pot over here.”
Bang Woo-gwang gathered nearby stones and constructed a makeshift hearth. He set the iron pot that Bang Jin-bo had brought onto the hearth.
“Bring the rest.”
“Yes!”
Bang Jin-bo unloaded a cooking knife and various other implements. Though the utensils were down, the work was far from finished.
He busily carried large slabs of meat and vegetables from one side of the cart, and despite the sweat pouring down his face, Bang Jin-bo wore a constant smile.
In the meantime, Bang Woo-gwang completed four makeshift hearths. Above each hearth sat a wok and an iron pot.
Now came the moment to light the fires. Bang Woo-gwang rummaged through a chest at the back of the cart and pulled something out.
The hardened lumps were dried dung mixed with straw—when thoroughly dried, they gave off almost no smell and burned with an excellent flame, making them a favorite fuel of Bang Woo-gwang’s.
Bang Woo-gwang placed the dried dung into a hearth and lit it. The well-dried fuel caught flame instantly.
“There!”
Only then did Bang Woo-gwang pause to catch his breath. But the reprieve was brief; soon he was moving about busily once more.
In front of the hearth, a thick, long wooden board was laid down. Its surface bore countless knife marks. It was a cutting board.
Bang Jin-bo stood before the cutting board.
Bang Woo-gwang smiled at his son with genuine warmth.
“Shall we begin?”
“Yes!”
With his answer, Bang Jin-bo picked up the cooking knife and set his hands in motion.
Thwack! Thwack!
Meat fell away under the blade of the great knife.
Bang Jin-bo wielded the large, heavy rectangular blade with effortless grace.
He swiftly broke down the enormous slab of meat into fine pieces, and just as quickly trimmed the various vegetables into appetizing sizes.
“Hehe!”
A natural laugh spilled from between Bang Jin-bo’s teeth. Watching his son, Bang Woo-gwang laughed as well.
“That’s my boy!”
Now came his turn.
He placed the ingredients that Bang Jin-bo had prepared into the wok, now heated to a shimmering intensity, and began to stir-fry them.
Sizzle!
White smoke rose up in an instant.
Bang Woo-gwang held a Gwa Ja in each hand, moving with practiced ease. Even the most skilled chef rarely worked the fire while wielding two of the heavy cooking vessels simultaneously.
Yet as Bang Woo-gwang manipulated both Gwa Ja at once, his face showed not the slightest strain.
Bang Jin-bo watched his father with eyes bright with admiration.
No matter how many times he saw it, his father’s mastery of the Gwa Ja never ceased to amaze him. And it was more than mere technical skill—between the movements, he would dump meat and various vegetables into the Iron Pot all at once, brewing Hwa Gwa with an aroma that was simply exquisite.
Bang Woo-gwang had completed three entirely different dishes all at once.
Jin Jeon Uh Yuk and Hoe Gwa Yuk. And Hwa Gwa, simmered with generous portions of pork.
Jin Jeon Uh Yuk was a beef dish, while Hoe Gwa Yuk and Hwa Gwa were pork preparations. Though all meat-based, their cooking methods and ingredients differed enough that preparing them simultaneously was extraordinarily demanding.
“Phew!”
Bang Woo-gwang wiped the perspiration from his brow with his sleeve and looked toward Bang Jin-bo. At that, Bang Jin-bo smiled.
“The rice is already finished. Hehe!”
Somehow, Bang Jin-bo had already set a pot on the remaining fire and prepared the rice.
“You rascal! Now you work without even being asked.”
“Of course! How long have I been at this? I’ve been trailing after you for eight years now. I’ve earned the right to call myself a proper cook.”
“Ha! Has it been that long already?”
Bang Woo-gwang’s expression grew slightly darker.
Since his wife’s death, he had wandered the Central Plains with Bang Jin-bo. That meant eight years had passed since she was gone.
“Just hold on a little longer. Once we return this time, we’ll settle down.”
“So we’re finally opening our own restaurant?”
“Ha! That’s right.”
“Woo-hooo!”
Bang Jin-bo bounced excitedly in place. Watching his son, Bang Woo-gwang smiled.
The earnings from this Expedition Journey had been quite substantial. Combined with their savings, it would be enough to open a modest restaurant. When that time came, he planned to teach Bang Jin-bo cooking properly.
“Before that, though, we’ll need to stop by the Tian Xia Di Yi Lou at Dong-jeong Lake.”
“So we’re finally going to taste the food of the greatest cook in all the realm?”
“Indeed! Once I’ve tasted this master’s cooking, I’ll recreate it for you afterward.”
“You promise?”
“Of course. Hahahaha!”
It was just as Bang Woo-gwang burst into hearty laughter.
“Ah, what an incredible aroma!”
“Of course—it’s Chef Bang. He’s finished the dishes already.”
Drawn by the smell of food, people began to gather. They were guards and merchants of the Eun Ryeon Merchant Guild.
Bang Woo-gwang and his son were employed as cooks for the Guild. Given that this was an Expedition Journey lasting nearly a year, they had been hired with special consideration.
Whenever they bivouacked like this, Bang Woo-gwang and Bang Jin-bo prepared meals for the entire caravan. The merchants and guards, who normally subsisted on preserved rations during expeditions, cheered enthusiastically whenever the father and son produced their food.
Bang Woo-gwang’s skill was equal to that of chefs working in renowned restaurants. Already exceptional, his culinary prowess had grown even deeper and more refined through a year of expedition experience. Traveling into the Western Regions alongside the merchants, he had tasted and studied countless exotic spices.
The wagon in which Bang Woo-gwang and his son rode carried the many spices he had personally acquired.
Just then, a middle-aged martial artist approached. The gruff, heavily bearded man was none other than Jo Su-gwang, the master of the Eun Ryeon Merchant Guild.
“What delightful dish will you grace us with today, Chef Bang?”
“Fortunately, we procured excellent beef and pork in the village we visited before, so I’ve prepared Jin Jeon Uh Yuk, Hoe Gwa Yuk, and pork Hwa Gwa.”
“Oh! Jin Jeon Uh Yuk, no less. My palate will be most richly pleased today.”
Jo Su-gwang smiled.
He turned his gaze to Bang Jin-bo.
“Young Jin-bo should learn his father’s culinary skills as well.”
“The boy has a finer sense for food than I do.”
“Ha! That’s most promising indeed.”
“You have reason to be optimistic.”
Bang Woo-gwang patted Bang Jin-bo’s shoulder lightly. Bang Jin-bo looked up at his father and grinned brightly.
Jo Su-gwang clapped and called out.
“Come now, you’ve worked hard enough. Chef Bang has prepared a feast—let’s all eat together.”
“Thank you for the meal.”
The guards and merchants began eating the food Bang Woo-gwang and Bang Jin-bo had made.
Watching them savor the meal, Bang Jin-bo’s face glowed with happiness.
‘Ah, this is good.’
When dawn broke the next morning, the Eun Ryeon Merchant Guild quickly broke camp. They extinguished the fire, packed the baggage, and before long the morning sun had risen.
Unlike the others, Bang Woo-gwang and his son had the luxury of ease—while everyone slept, they had already prepared the next meal for the caravan.
Breakfast was a rice porridge made from the previous evening’s leftovers. Though simple, the generous amount of meat made it a complete meal.
After everyone finished eating, Bang Woo-gwang and Bang Jin-bo quickly tidied up. Once they had loaded the various cooking utensils onto the wagon, the Eun Ryeon Merchant Guild departed.
Lying in the back of the wagon that Bang Woo-gwang drove, Bang Jin-bo gazed up at the sky.
‘It won’t be long now before we enter the Central Plains.’
When he thought about it, the past year had flown by in a blur. When Bang Woo-gwang had found work with the Eun Ryeon Merchant Guild, Bang Jin-bo had been swept westward against his own will.
In those early days of travel to the Western Regions, Bang Jin-bo had resented his father, but that resentment had long since faded away.
Bang Jin-bo withdrew a small booklet from his robes. It was a collection of culinary secrets his father, Bang Woo-gwang, had recorded whenever he found the time.
Throughout the journey by carriage, Bang Jin-bo studied the booklet and committed the recipes to memory. Of course, so far it was all theory, but once he entered the Central Plains, he would learn to cook properly.
“Hee-hee!”
Bang Jin-bo was in the midst of a childlike laugh.
Crash!
Suddenly, thunder and lightning tore across the clear sky.
“What—what is that?”
“Whoa, whoa!”
The members of the Eun Ryeon Merchant Guild startled at the panicked neighing of their horses, glancing around to regain control.
Beyond the distant hills, an enormous plume of dust rose into the air.
“What is that?”
“What on earth is happening?”
Merchants and guards murmured among themselves.
Jo Su-gwang, the head of the caravan, turned his gaze to O Ki-o, the senior guard.
“What is occurring?”
“Wait a moment, please. Yu Pyo, Cheon-g O, and I will ride ahead to investigate. Everyone must remain on high alert.”
“Understood.”
O Ki-o led Yu Pyo and Cheon-g O toward the place where the dust was billowing.
‘Has some calamity befallen Hell Valley?’
He could not recall when it had begun. The gorge that now bore the name Hell Valley had once been a genuine canyon, until one day it collapsed and became flat ground.
Though the canyon had become level terrain, people still called it Hell Valley. A wasteland of enormous boulders and earth—so notorious that even merchant caravans avoided passing near it.
Yu Pyo and Cheon-g O were experienced guards whom O Ki-o trusted implicitly. They had weathered every hardship imaginable and stood so bold that ordinarily nothing could make them blink.
Yet when they reached the site, their entire bodies trembled as if caught in a maelstrom.
“What is this?”
Hell Valley lay obliterated, as though a volcano had erupted. The scattered dust hung suspended in the air, obscuring everything in a veil of gray.
“Gasp!”
O Ki-o, Yu Pyo, and the others—their internal strength drawn taut—suddenly gasped for breath.
Two luminous blue orbs hung suspended within the ashen haze.
Like demonic eyes flickering to life in the depths of hell, the twin points of light fixed their gaze directly upon them.
“A—a person?”
O Ki-o realized those were human eyes.

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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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