Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 55

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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 55. Arrived in the Central Plains, Yet Everything Remains Unfamiliar—Part 2
Lanzhou served as both the departure point for caravans heading west to the Western Regions and the provincial capital of Gansu. As a center of culture and a crucial crossroads of trade, the city drew merchants and travelers constantly.
Though centuries had passed and the city had long since faded to the empire’s periphery, traces of its former glory lingered throughout the streets.
Rare goods from the Western Regions—difficult to find elsewhere in the Central Plains—were readily available here. The markets thrummed with vitality, crowded with haggling voices and the endless churn of commerce.
“Fine incenses brought from the Western Regions! Premium quality!”
“Moon Blades imported from the Kingdom of the Great Eaters! Only a few left. Don’t miss out!”
Two riders emerged into the market, their voices lost in the din of countless merchants calling out their wares.
“Wow!”
The plump boy with his mouth agape and eyes wide was Bang Jin Bo. The man beside him was Dam Ho.
They had finally entered the Central Plains.
Seeing the cacophony of so many people, the reality of it struck him. Bang Jin Bo’s eyes glistened with unshed tears—he was so moved.
By contrast, Dam Ho’s expression remained utterly unchanged. Still expressionless, still devoid of emotion, his face was like stone.
Dam Ho finally opened his mouth.
“Let’s find lodgings first.”
“Yes!”
Bang Jin Bo answered vigorously, his voice brimming with energy and spirit.
Along the main road, countless inns lined the street. Each was packed with guests.
They tried two or three establishments, but at each one they heard the same refrain—no rooms available.
“Finding a room is like plucking a star from the sky.”
Bang Jin Bo grumbled as they left yet another inn turned away, but he soon rallied and strode into the next one with renewed determination.
Dam Ho waited outside.
Passersby glanced at him as though studying some curious object.
A man in black robes astride a coal-black horse, his hair a deep, dark black as well. Naturally, eyes were drawn to him.
Just as they watched him, Dam Ho observed them in return.
The endless stream of people reflected in the depths of his eyes.
Countless faces passed by, yet no two were alike. Physiques differed as much as their gaits.
Some walked with confidence, others with caution. Some moved with power, others bounded along carelessly.
Dam Ho’s attention settled on those whose steps were weighty and composed. As he raised his Qi Sensing, he felt their breathing.
Long, stable breaths—and beneath them, a dynamic force.
‘Martial Artists.’
A strength that could not be sensed in those untrained in the martial arts.
On this street alone, he counted over forty people who appeared to have cultivated martial arts.
Without conscious effort, Dam Ho absorbed information about them. It was not his mind working but his body—instinctively assessing whether threats lay nearby and reacting accordingly.
The presence of so many people seemed to trigger this protective response immediately.
Among those passing through this street, none posed a threat to Dam Ho. Yet something struck him as odd: the proportion of martial artists was unusually high.
The Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Houses, and countless other schools and martial artists existed throughout the Central Plains, yet they represented only a tiny fraction of the total population. But here, martial artists seemed far too numerous.
Though the oddity registered, Dam Ho gave it no further thought. It was none of his concern.
Dam Ho closed his eyes. Within him, he felt a surge of Qi like an active volcano.
During the entire journey to this place, Dam Ho had never once contained his Qi. He had felt no need to, and since emerging into the world, his mind had been somewhat intoxicated by freedom, causing him to lose himself to a degree.
Yet contrary to his intentions, the Qi that roamed restlessly through his body, seeking an outlet, was gradually finding stability.
Like a wild horse slowly regaining its senses.
Perhaps for this reason, the Qi that once would have erupted outward with frenzied abandon was now being contained internally. The overwhelming presence that had dominated all around him began to fade.
A martial artist approached from the opposite direction, passing within arm’s reach. Yet he sensed nothing from Dam Ho and walked past without a glance, despite having cultivated considerable skill himself.
Just then, Bang Jin Bo came bounding out of the inn in a rush.
“They have rooms here! Ha-ha!”
Bang Jin Bo’s face flushed with joy, his smile radiant. No shadow remained on his features now.
Dam Ho ruffled Bang Jin Bo’s hair and followed him toward the stables attached to the rear of the inn.
Jeom So Yi was already waiting there. Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo handed over their horse.
“Give it plenty of beans and hay.”
“Don’t worry. Here at Sangmyeong Inn, we take excellent care of all our guests’ horses.”
Jeom So Yi smiled brightly.
Dam Ho tossed a coin to Jeom So Yi and entered the inn.
The first floor of the inn was a dining hall. Twenty tables were packed shoulder to shoulder with patrons, and most of them were martial artists bearing weapons.
Bang Jin Bo explained the reason.
“There’s a large manor called Hong Aam Mountain Manor in the nearby area, and its master is apparently a very famous martial artist. His birthday celebration is coming up in a few days, so many people have come to offer their congratulations.”
Dam Ho nodded silently.
Just then, a table emptied as the diners finished their meal and left.
“Let’s eat first.”
Bang Jin Bo quickly darted toward the vacant seat and sat down. His spot by the window afforded a view of the street outside.
As Dam Ho took the seat across from Bang Jin Bo, Jeom So Yi rushed over. Bang Jin Bo then spoke hurriedly.
“Senior, what dishes do they make well here?”
“Let’s see—they do everything well, but their specialty is lamb offal soup.”
“What’s that?”
“You boil all the organs and innards of a lamb together in broth. It’s a dish where you can really appreciate the flavor of the offal.”
“Wow! That sounds delicious. Senior, let’s have that.”
Bang Jin Bo looked up at Dam Ho with bright, eager eyes. When Dam Ho nodded, Bang Jin Bo let out a cheer.
“Please bring us the lamb offal soup.”
“Understood. It’ll take a little time, so please be patient.”
“Of course.”
Bang Jin Bo nodded with a smile. His small eyes grew even smaller when he grinned, yet he seemed perfectly content.
Though they had entered the Central Plains, thousands of li still lay between them and Dongting Lake, where the Tian Xia First Floor stood. Along the way, Dam Ho planned to stop at every decent eating house they passed.
The mere thought of it set Bang Jin Bo drooling. Dam Ho watched the younger man’s expression quietly.
Young Bang Jin Bo held a dream—to make people happy through cooking. For that dream, he endured hardship as they journeyed toward Dongting Lake.
Dam Ho, older than Bang Jin Bo, harbored no such dreams. He had grown strong to survive, but he dreamed of nothing at all.
For the first time, Dam Ho found himself envying Bang Jin Bo. Perhaps Dam Ho was the stronger martial artist, but he lacked the vitality that shone from the younger man.
“I wonder what it tastes like? Ah, I can’t stand the suspense.”
Bang Jin Bo rubbed his hands together eagerly, muttering to himself. When delicious food was near, half his mind seemed to float away.
Dam Ho turned his gaze toward the window. The streets outside remained crowded with passersby.
He could not fathom what thoughts occupied their minds as they lived their lives. Yet one thing was certain: they all strove with great earnestness.
The sight of people living with purpose stirred something strange and deep within Dam Ho’s chest.
As Dam Ho gazed silently at the world outside, the inn’s door suddenly swung open and two people—a man and a woman—stepped inside.
The man was in his early twenties, dressed in a blue martial robe with sharp, piercing eyes. The woman was about the same age, clad in white, equally striking in appearance.
The man had refined features and a keen gaze. At his waist hung a sword that gleamed with a soft blue light—an aura that spoke of uncommon power.
The woman beside him was strikingly beautiful, drawing the eyes of every man in the inn. An ordinary person might have found such attention unbearable, but her expression remained composed—clearly she was accustomed to it.
The man brushed dust from his clothes and spoke.
“It seems every martial artist in Gansu Province has gathered in Lanzhou.”
“What else could it be? No one in Gansu Province can ignore the Hong Aam Mountain Manor’s influence. If you can just catch the eye of Lee Shin Poong, the manor lord himself, you’ve practically guaranteed your prospects in the northern part of the province.”
“Is that so?”
“The south belongs to the Kong Tong Sect’s domain, so there’s nothing to be done there. But the north—the Hong Aam Mountain Manor holds it firmly.”
The Hong Aam Mountain Manor had appeared in the Martial World only fifty years ago. For ordinary people, that would be an eternity; for a martial sect to establish itself properly, it was absurdly brief.
Considering that the Nine Great Sects at the pinnacle of the Martial World typically boasted histories spanning centuries, the Hong Aam Mountain Manor’s rise was truly remarkable.
In merely fifty years, to achieve a standing that rivaled the Kong Tong Sect—one of the Nine Great Sects—was entirely due to the current manor lord, Lee Shin Poong.
“So you should be careful not to offend Lee Shin Poong. Act prudently, Senior.”
“What did I do?”
“You have to ask?”
“Hmph!”
The man scoffed at the woman’s rebuke.
He possessed a fierce pride. He despised bowing to others more than death itself. This tendency had caused him considerable trouble, and his sect had branded him a headache.
Yet the sect did not cast him out—all because of his exceptional martial talent.
The man’s name was Jwa Sang Cheon, a direct disciple of the Hyun Hyun Sect, which was headquartered in Jinchang, in northern Gansu Province.
The Hyun Hyun Sect was an old and established school, long rooted in Gansu Province. Though overshadowed by the fame of the Hong Aam Mountain Manor and the Kong Tong Sect, no one discounted their power—at least not within Gansu Province.
The woman was Moon Soo Gyeong, the only daughter of Moon Se Gang, the Hyun Hyun Sect’s master. In Gansu Province, she was renowned as a celebrated beauty.
The arrival of these two sent a ripple through the inn. Most of the people present were martial artists who made their livelihood in Gansu Province. They could hardly fail to recognize them.
Jwa Sang Cheon’s brow furrowed as he surveyed the interior.
“Are there no tables left?”
His tone was laden with irritation. They had already left another inn empty-handed; finding no seats here as well kindled his anger.
Moon Soo Gyeong was about to sigh and calm him when—
A group in the corner rose from their table. Only then did Jwa Sang Cheon’s expression ease.
Jeom So Yi hurried over.
“Please wait just a moment. I’ll clear the table right away.”
“Do you have any rooms left?”
“Yes, we still have two available.”
“I’ll rent both.”
“Very good, sir.”
Jeom So Yi bowed deferentially and hastily cleared the empty table. The table being cleared was right next to Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo.
Once the table was clean, Jwa Sang Cheon and Moon Soo Gyeong sat down.
Jwa Sang Cheon placed his order.
“Bring us roasted duck and a bottle of Bamboo Leaf Green Wine—the good stuff.”
“Yes, sir!”
Jeom So Yi rushed toward the kitchen.
Jwa Sang Cheon clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Tsk! What is this nonsense? Since when have we of the Hyun Hyun Sect looked to Hong Aam Mountain Manor for approval?”
“Senior brother! Please, watch your words.”
“What do you mean? It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
A heavy sigh.
Moon Soo Gyeong exhaled slowly.
Her senior martial brother possessed extraordinary talent and exceptional skill, yet he lacked a grasp of reality.
If Hong Aam Mountain Manor was the blazing sun illuminating the sky in broad daylight, then the Hyun Hyun Sect was merely the moon casting light on a portion of the night. There was no comparison in fame or power.
This was precisely why Moon Se Gang, the lord of the Hyun Hyun Sect, had sent her and Jwa Sang Cheon to offer birthday congratulations to Lee Shin Poong—a calculated gesture of respect.
It fell to Moon Soo Gyeong to keep Jwa Sang Cheon from causing trouble. His habit of speaking carelessly without forethought was already wearing on her, and they had only just arrived.
Moon Soo Gyeong leaned back in her chair and surveyed the interior of the dining hall. Most of the patrons were martial artists, and they were watching the two of them intently. Yet only one table seemed immune to the tension.
At the adjacent table sat a man in a black outer robe and a rotund boy—Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo.
Bang Jin Bo was speaking animatedly, his voice rising with enthusiasm, while Dam Ho stood with arms crossed, gazing out the window.
They were an odd pair, yet somehow they complemented each other perfectly.
‘Are they also headed to Hong Aam Mountain Manor?’
Just then, the food Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo had ordered arrived.
Bang Jin Bo’s face broke into a beaming grin as a large bowl of lamb and mixed meat soup was set before them.
“Wow!”
The aroma alone was extraordinary.
Bang Jin Bo ladled a generous portion of the soup into Dam Ho’s bowl, then filled his own to the brim.
“Let us begin our meal.”
Dam Ho picked up his spoon first, and Bang Jin Bo followed suit, savoring the soup.
“Is that five-spice powder masking the gaminess? I detect star anise and astragalus as well. And this sweetness—how did they achieve it? Ah! They’ve added flowers to the broth.”
Bang Jin Bo’s expression grew rapturous. At the sight of his utter seriousness, Moon Soo Gyeong let out a soft laugh. His intensity was almost comical.
Hearing the sudden laughter from the next table, Bang Jin Bo opened his eyes and turned to look at Moon Soo Gyeong.

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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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