Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 58

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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 58. Fate’s Mystery Runs Deep, and No One Knows What Tomorrow Holds—Part 2
Five Springs Mountain held a legend from the time of Emperor Han Wudi: the great general Guo Ju Bing had raised his whip to draw forth five springs so that his soldiers, suffering from terrible thirst, might drink.
Hong Ahn Mountain Lodge nestled halfway up Five Springs Mountain, and with dozens of grand halls and pavilions rising in neat rows, its scale surpassed anything else in Lan Zhou.
Together with the Gong Dong Faction, which occupied Gong Dong Mountain, Hong Ahn Mountain Lodge held its place as one of the two great powers in Gansu’s martial world—and it showed. The main gate was always crowded with visitors.
In the days since news broke, the stream of arrivals at Hong Ahn Mountain Lodge had swelled to several times its usual flow. In two days’ time, the Lodge Master Yi Sin Pung would celebrate his sixtieth birthday.
Countless people had come to honor Yi Sin Pung’s milestone—a regional power in his own right—and offer their congratulations.
Among them were those of every stripe seeking to gain Yi Sin Pung’s acquaintance in hopes of future favor, but there were also formal envoys sent by the great schools of Jianghu to pay their respects.
In particular, not a single martial family with roots in Gansu Province had failed to send their congratulations.
The Lodge had begun to groan under the weight of the endless stream of guests. Servants and even junior martial artists were pressed into service to receive them all.
“Master, the guest reception hall is asking for more staff to be sent over.”
“They’re saying the lodgings are insufficient. What should we do?”
Yu Gwan So, the Outer Manager of Hong Ahn Mountain Lodge, was beginning to feel the strain of it all.
It fell to him to classify guests by importance and assign accommodations accordingly. Ordinarily, Jung Myeong, the senior steward, would have shouldered the whole burden, but at present he was occupied with more pressing matters.
“Tell the reception hall to squeeze out every last hand we have. Don’t waste time on excuses.”
“But if we do that—”
“If we do what? Anyone who complains can come see me directly. As for the shortage of lodgings, tell them to speak with Inner Manager Jong Pyeong. He’s converting the storehouses into guest rooms as we speak.”
“Understood.”
At Yu Gwan So’s sharp command, the servants hurried off.
Yu Gwan So wiped the sweat from his brow as he watched them scatter.
“Blast it all. When will this ever end?”
“You’re bearing a heavy burden, Master Yu.”
“Who—ah, Chef Song?”
Yu Gwan So’s face brightened at the sight of the middle-aged man before him. It was Song Hwan, the Head Chef responsible for all meals at Hong Ahn Mountain Lodge.
Behind Song Hwan came several carts laden with provisions, attended by servants.
“Have you procured everything that was needed?”
“I have. There’s nothing more to fetch.”
“Thank goodness. Once the servants you took with you return to their posts, I’ll finally be able to breathe again.”
“I apologize for the trouble.”
“Not at all! They were released to help with the Lodge Master’s celebration, and now you tell me there’s nothing more to bring in—that’s a relief indeed. Ha-ha!”
Yu Gwan So broke into an unguarded laugh, and Song Hwan smiled warmly in return.
For a martial artist, Yu Gwan So was remarkably unpretentious, and the two men had developed a genuine rapport.
Yu Gwan So’s gaze shifted suddenly to an unfamiliar figure behind Song Hwan—a man astride a Black Horse and a stout youth on a White Horse.
“Who are they?”
“People I met in Lan Zhou. The one on the dark horse is the elder, and the stocky boy is the younger.”
“But what are they doing here?”
“The younger one has a remarkable gift for cooking.”
“Ah, I see—”
“Yes. I brought them along in hopes they could lend a hand.”
“Chef Song, you’ve taken on quite the task. Two of your senior assistants have suddenly gone missing.”
“We’ll manage somehow.”
Yu Gwan So studied Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo carefully as Song Hwan spoke.
Bang Jin Bo’s appearance left no room for doubt—his portly frame showed he had no serious martial training. But Dam Ho was different.
Yu Gwan So turned to Dam Ho and asked, “Have you learned martial arts?”
Dam Ho nodded silently in response. There was something in his manner that struck Yu Gwan So as somewhat presumptuous; a slight furrow appeared between his brows.
“What is your name?”
“Dam Ho.”
Only then did Dam Ho speak.
Yu Gwan So tilted his head slightly.
“I’ve never heard that name before.”
He studied Dam Ho once more. The man’s build and bearing bore all the marks of a trained martial artist.
“Dismount, if you will.”
For some reason, Dam Ho complied without hesitation, climbing down from the Black Horse. In that instant, Yu Gwan So’s eyes widened. He had caught Dam Ho favoring his leg slightly as he descended.
It was no illusion. Dam Ho’s foot itself was bent at an odd angle—something that could never be artificially feigned.
“Tsk!”
Yu Gwan So clicked his tongue unconsciously. At his reaction, Song Hwan too turned to look at Dam Ho’s legs.
A trained martial artist limping was as good as a death sentence—or so their understanding went.
“How did you come to be injured?”
“An accident.”
At Dam Ho’s terse reply, a look of pity crossed Yu Gwan So’s face. But it passed quickly, and he came to a decision, turning to Song Hwan.

“Are there any empty rooms among the chefs’ quarters?”
“There are still rooms left from those who’ve quit.”
“Then we can put them up there.”
“That’s what I was thinking anyway.”
“Very well. Take them in.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your consideration.”
Song Hwan bowed in gratitude.
Normally, those of uncertain standing could not be admitted to Hong Ahn Mountain Lodge—it was a long-standing rule. But Yu Gwan So had broken that custom and made an extraordinary exception.
“Please, there’s no need for such formality between us.”
“I’ll have the servants bring them some night food.”
“You must be busy preparing food for the celebration. You needn’t go to such trouble.”
“We have enough hands. Don’t worry yourself. Then!”
After bowing to Yu Gwan So, Song Hwan entered Hong Ahn Mountain Lodge. Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo followed in his wake.
“Wow!”
The moment Bang Jin Bo stepped through the gate, an exclamation burst from his lips. The pavilions before him were far more magnificent than they’d appeared from outside, and the countless martial artists moving about only added to the impression of grandeur.
In all his years, Bang Jin Bo had never seen such vast halls or so many skilled warriors in one place.
“There’s no time to stand gawking. Come along.”
“Yes!”
Song Hwan’s cold voice snapped through Bang Jin Bo’s wonder. Startled back to his senses, the boy hurried to follow.
Song Hwan led them to a guest house built behind one of the medium-sized pavilions. The structure was arranged in a ring around the pavilion’s rear courtyard, with roughly twenty rooms opening along its length. Song Hwan unlocked one of them.
The interior was bare—not a single piece of furniture to be found. All that remained was a single bedding set. There was nothing here to do but sleep.
Song Hwan spoke to Dam Ho.
“You can stay here while your brother works. If you grow bored, you’re free to wander the lodge grounds, but please—cause no trouble. As you can see, so many visitors have gathered that the lodge guards are on edge.”
“Understood.”
“There’s a stable behind the guest house for the horses.”
“Good.”
Dam Ho nodded, and Song Hwan’s attention turned to Bang Jin Bo.
“You come with me.”
“Right now?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“No.”
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
Bang Jin Bo glanced at Dam Ho for a moment, then followed Song Hwan.
Dam Ho watched their departing figures in silence before stepping into the room.
The room was cramped—barely wide enough for two grown men to lie down side by side. But this posed no difficulty for Dam Ho.
Compared to where he’d lived before, this place was paradise.
Dam Ho leaned his back against the wall and closed his eyes. Yet his mind found no peace.
Unable to bear the restlessness, Dam Ho rose and left the room.
“Wow!”
Another gasp of wonder escaped Bang Jin Bo’s lips.
The kitchen was worthy of its role—feeding the entire household of Hong Ahn Mountain Lodge consumed an entire medium-sized pavilion.
Five chefs worked at the stoves, ten assistants moved about, and more than a dozen servants bustled through, handling the rougher tasks.
Bang Jin Bo stood speechless before the overwhelming scene, his mouth hanging open.
When Song Hwan entered, one of the servants recognized him and called out.
“The Head Chef has arrived!”
At once, all the chefs at their work stopped and offered a loud greeting.
“Welcome back!”
“Mm.”
Song Hwan nodded and surveyed the kitchen.
On a table across from the stove, finished dishes were stacked high—meals prepared for the new arrivals to be served that evening.
Song Hwan took one at random and tasted it. As he ate, the chefs watched him with tense expressions.
“Not bad.”
“Phew!”
In that moment, someone’s relief escaped as an audible sigh.
As Head Chef, Song Hwan’s palate was notoriously exacting. Any dish that failed to meet his standard was thrown out on the spot.
Woo Bok Gyeom, the Second Chef, approached him.
“Who is that little one?”
“A child I met at the market in Lan Zhou. His cooking shows promise—put him in charge of one of the stoves.”
“Put him in charge of a stove?”
Woo Bok Gyeom’s eyes flew wide open.
The stove was where cooking happened. Which meant Bang Jin Bo was more than capable as a chef.
Bang Jin Bo was barely thirteen or fourteen years old. Far younger than the assistants who moved busily through the kitchen now.
In ordinary circumstances, a child that age would be washing dishes at best. Entrusting him with a stove was unthinkable.
Woo Bok Gyeom asked again.
“Are you certain we can trust the stove to this boy?”
“His father was a chef, I’m told. Better than most of the cooks I know. Stop asking questions and give him the stove.”
“Very well.”
Once Song Hwan had spoken so firmly, Woo Bok Gyeom couldn’t raise objections again. Song Hwan’s palate was famous for being exacting. If it had satisfied such refined taste, the boy was clearly a skilled chef.
Yet the age problem remained. Song Hwan might dismiss the concern, but every kitchen had its hierarchy to maintain.
Woo Bok Gyeom turned to Bang Jin Bo.
“You’ll use that stove. When the assistants bring you prepared ingredients, you’ll cook them.”
“What dish should I prepare?”
“Stir-fried Meat. Can you manage it?”
“Yes!”
“You’re certain?”
“I can do it.”
When Bang Jin Bo answered twice, Woo Bok Gyeom stopped questioning.
“Good. Make one plate first. I’ll taste it and decide from there.”
Song Hwan didn’t object to this. After all, Woo Bok Gyeom was second in command of the kitchen and deserved some authority.
“Yes!”
Bang Jin Bo answered vigorously, then untied the bundle slung across his back. A Wok and Ladle appeared, along with other cooking tools.
“Ho! He has his own equipment?”
Woo Bok Gyeom murmured, genuinely surprised this time.
It wasn’t merely polished for show. The tools bore the patina of long use.
‘So he’s cooked enough to know what he’s doing.’
Bang Jin Bo placed the Wok over the stove with practiced efficiency. It gleamed with the sheen of pig fat, carefully maintained.
He set the prepared ingredients beside the Wok and began to cook.
Sizzle!
Smoke rose from the blazing Wok.
The way Bang Jin Bo gripped the Wok with one hand while wielding the Ladle with the other bore no resemblance to a beginner’s fumbling.
“Ah!”
Gasps of admiration burst from various corners of the kitchen. But not from everyone.
‘That fat fool!’
A boy of seventeen or eighteen, grinding his teeth as he watched Bang Jin Bo.
His name was So Jin Seo. Before Bang Jin Bo arrived, he had been the strongest candidate to claim the stove.
Now, with Bang Jin Bo’s arrival, So Jin Seo would remain an assistant far longer. His eyes gleamed with envy as he watched the younger boy work.

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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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