Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 74

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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 73. Meeting and parting like the waves of the Jang Gang—Part 2
The rain stopped on the fourth day after the ship docked in Hyeong Ju. But stopping was one thing; setting sail immediately was another.
Four days of downpour had swollen the Jang Gang’s waters. The silt-brown current surged like a tidal wave, showing no sign of subsiding.
In the end, the ship remained in Hyeong Ju two more days before it could depart. The delay of five days altogether forced the Un Ma Do River Ship to make up for lost time.
“Sigh…”
A long breath escaped Bang Jin Bo’s lips as he gazed blankly at the Jang Gang.
After that day, Bang Jin Bo fell into a habit. He sighed often while watching the river, and frequently lost himself in vacant thought.
Dam Ho watched him in silence.
Though Dam Ho was indifferent to worldly affairs, he could recognize a first love taking root.
He didn’t know how to offer comfort in such circumstances. But he understood that quiet observation was better than premature words.
Then the crew suddenly grew busy.
The Ship Captain’s voice rang out across the deck.
“We’ll encounter rapids ahead. Make certain all cargo is properly secured.”
“Understood!”
Tension flickered across the captain’s face.
The passage ahead led through a stretch of rapids notorious even among the treacherous waters of the Jang Gang. More than ten vessels sank here every year.
What’s more, rain had fallen for four days. The swollen waters made the rapids fiercer still.
Tension was unavoidable. But once they navigated this stretch safely, smooth waters awaited beyond.
Nor was tension confined to the crew.
Geum Jong Gyeong, a principal of the Seon Do Express, shared the same anxiety.
“Check that all consignment cargo is securely fastened. If we lose even one piece, the company faces devastating losses.”
“Yes, sir.”
The couriers’ movements grew feverish in turn.
Anxiety etched itself into Geum Jong Gyeong’s face. Five unplanned days wasted on the Jang Gang. By the original schedule, he should have reached Dong Jeong Ho by now, should have delivered the consignment to its owner. Instead, he remained here, delayed and fretting.
“Had that been the case, I wouldn’t be this anxious.”
Geum Jong Gyeong clenched his teeth.
The consignment came from the Tang Sect itself. Lose even one item, and mere reimbursement would be the least of his troubles.
The Tang Sect was a house that kept grace and grudge in perfect balance.
They forgot nothing—neither kindnesses nor debts. To cause them loss was unthinkable.
For a moment, he regretted accepting the consignment. But he quickly shook the thought away.
“Needless worry. We’ve already entered Ho Buk Seong. What could possibly go wrong?”
Geum Jong Gyeong scanned the deck.
His gaze caught on Dam Ho, standing at the rail. The way he stood with arms folded, fearless, watching the rapids—it struck Geum Jong Gyeong as oddly out of place.
The ship pitched violently in the rapids, yet Dam Ho’s stance remained unmoved, perfectly balanced.
‘A master of the martial arts.’
Watching him, Geum Jong Gyeong was certain.
Only those trained in Martial Arts could maintain such equilibrium in turbulent waters.
As they entered the rapids proper, the crew’s activity intensified further.
“Secure that sail!”
“Oarsmen—stroke to the left!”
The sailors fought to keep the ship balanced, sweat pouring down their faces. Thick veins bulged at their temples; muscles strained against their skin.
The ship lurched as though it might capsize at any moment, and each time, the crew broke into fresh cold sweats. The captain’s tension was beyond description.
Then it happened.
Snap!
One of the thick ropes securing the consignment cargo snapped under the enormous strain. A crate on the deck tumbled loose.
“Damn!”
The couriers rushed forward in panic, hastily scooping up the items scattered across the deck.
“Careful! Lose even one piece and we’re finished.”
“Yes, sir!”
Dam Ho watched silently as they gathered the items. A flicker of something passed through his eyes, then vanished.
What the couriers fumbled to recover were silver cylinders. Each was about the length of a child’s forearm, with a flat end pierced by a dozen small holes.
Geum Jong Gyeong called out an order to the couriers.
“Retie those ropes. Make sure there’s no slipping.”
“Understood.”
“Nothing’s missing, I trust?”
“No, sir. Everything’s accounted for.”
Though Geum Jong Gyeong heard their assurance, his expression remained troubled.
‘Hidden weapons? Could the consignment be hidden weapons?’
It was plausible enough.
The Tang Sect was renowned for poison and hidden weapons. There was little else they would send. Yet guessing in his mind was far different from witnessing it with his own eyes.
Geum Jong Gyeong glanced sideways at Dam Ho, but his face remained unreadable, giving nothing away of his thoughts.
Thud!
In that instant, the ship lurched violently.
The passengers on deck were thrown momentarily into the air before crashing down—a jolt so severe it shook the vessel to its bones.
It seemed to be the rapids’ final thrash; the ship ceased its violent heaving.
Whew!
Relief came pouring out in sighs from all corners of the deck.
The Ship Captain and crew members collapsed to the floor as though their strength had drained away, gasping heavily for breath.
Despite navigating such treacherous rapids, Dam Ho remained unchanged—not a hair out of place, his posture as steady as before.
The only difference was that Bang Jin Bo had seized his leg. Without that grip on Dam Ho’s leg, Bang Jin Bo would have tumbled across the deck as ungracefully as the other passengers.
“Are you all right?”
Dam Ho helped Bang Jin Bo to his feet.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Yet despite his words, Bang Jin Bo was hardly unscathed. His clothes and hair were disheveled, soaked through and matted—and yet he had clung fiercely to the bundle containing his cooking ingredients.
Bang Jin Bo’s passion for cooking seemed unstoppable, even by rapids.
Just then, the weary voice of the Ship Captain reached their ears.
“Now that we’ve passed the worst of it, the rest of our journey should be smooth. Everyone, let’s rest a moment.”
Ahhh!
At the Ship Captain’s words, everyone released a collective sigh of relief. True to his word, the Un Ma Do River Ship moved smoothly along the river after that ordeal, and soon Dong Jeong Ho came into view.
Wow!
Bang Jin Bo gasped in wonder at the boundless expanse of the lake. To his eyes, Dong Jeong Ho was not merely a body of water but an actual sea.
A distant horizon line, vast pleasure boats floating upon the surface, tiny fishing vessels dotting the water. Dazzling sunlight glinting off the waves, massive clouds rising above them.
All of these sights filled Bang Jin Bo with an indescribable emotion. His shoulders trembled as he gazed upon the scene.
For Dam Ho, too, this was his first time seeing such a vast lake. A sudden thought crossed his mind: his master would have loved to see this view.
The Un Ma Do River Ship pressed forward, cutting through the water. As they neared their destination, the crew’s movements quickened with renewed energy.
The passengers felt it too. Several eager travelers had already begun gathering their belongings, preparing to disembark.
The couriers of Seon Do Express did the same. Under Geum Jong Gyeong’s direction, they made final preparations for transporting the consignment cargo and waited for the ship to dock.
The final destination of the Un Ma Do River Ship was Ak Yang Bu, situated at the northeastern entrance to Dong Jeong Ho.
Ak Yang Bu was a city located at the confluence of Jang Gang and Dong Jeong Ho, and had long served as a hub of commerce and transport. Its water and land routes were well-developed, and it held great importance both militarily and commercially.
The Un Ma Do River Ship gradually approached the Pier in the outskirts of Ak Yang. Many vessels were already moored at the sizeable dock.
Boom!
The Un Ma Do River Ship docked at the Pier.
As soon as the gangway lowered, the waiting passengers filed off in orderly lines.
“Finally, solid ground.”
“Now I can breathe easy.”
Smiles appeared on the faces of those who had stepped onto the Pier.
Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo followed the others off the ship, and no one was more delighted by their arrival than the two horses they had brought.
Huk Gwi, in high spirits, snorted repeatedly and pawed at the ground with his front hooves. Baek Ma did the same.
Behind them, Geum Jong Gyeong’s voice called out.
“Everyone, hurry. We must deliver the consignment cargo promptly.”
“Yes!”
The couriers of Seon Do Express responded with vigorous affirmation and set to work.
Carts laden with consignment cargo from Seon Do Express departed the Pier first, followed by other merchants. In no time, everyone had dispersed from the dock.
Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo left the Pier and entered Ak Yang.
Ak Yang was far more developed than any city they had visited before. Tall-roofed buildings with eaves that nearly touched stretched endlessly, and the streets were laid out as neatly as a checkerboard.
The people walking the streets wore fine silk garments and carried an air of refinement. Not everyone was like that, of course, but to the young eyes of Bang Jin Bo, it all appeared that way.
Bang Jin Bo’s face grew animated.
“We should find a guest house first, don’t you think?”
“Mm.”
Dam Ho nodded, and Bang Jin Bo eagerly took the lead.
As it had been throughout their journey, finding lodging was Bang Jin Bo’s responsibility. He asked around to discover which guest house served the finest food, and his research led them to the Seo Pung Guest House.
Seo Pung Guest House was the largest of all the guest houses in Ak Yang, renowned especially for its views of Dong Jeong Ho—said to be incomparable.
As the two entered, Jeom So Yi hurried over.
“Welcome.”
“Do you have rooms available?”
“Of course. I happen to have a chamber with an excellent view of Dong Jeong Ho. The sight of the sunset from there is truly sublime.”
“Perfect.”
Bang Jin Bo clapped his hands in delight.
After placing Huk Gwi and Baek Ma in the stables, Jeom So Yi led the two men to their room.
True to Jeom So Yi’s word, the view of Dong Jeong Ho from the room was extraordinary—a place where drinking wine would feel like the entertainment of immortals.
Jeom So Yi laughed as though he’d expected as much.
“Pretty great, right?”
“The best.”
Bang Jin Bo thrust his thumb upward.
“Just come down to this floor of the guest house at mealtime. And—don’t go up to the third floor under any circumstances.”
“Why not?”
“There’s an important event happening today.”
“An event?”
“The Ak Yang Geom Mun has rented out the entire third floor.”
“The entire third floor?”
“That’s right! The Ak Yang Geom Mun is the greatest martial sect in Ak Yang. For such a tremendous sect to hold an event here—it’s truly remarkable.”
Jeom So Yi’s expression was alight with excitement.
The Ak Yang Geom Mun was far more than merely the greatest sect in Ak Yang. Even across all of Ho Nam Seong, there were scarcely five sects worthy of being counted as their rivals.
That meant the Ak Yang Geom Mun was numbered among Ho Nam Seong’s Five Great Sects, and possessed influence commensurate with such a position.
Jeom So Yi himself harbored the ambition of joining the Ak Yang Geom Mun someday. To him, the chance to observe their martial artists at close hand was a profound joy.
“Rest well, then come down later.”
After bowing to Dam Ho, Jeom So Yi dashed outside.
Left alone, Bang Jin Bo collapsed onto the plush bed.
“Ah, this feels wonderful. I could sleep right here.”
“Get some rest for now.”
“What about you?”
“I have somewhere to go. I’ll be back soon.”
“Where?”
“I’ll tell you when I return. Rest while I’m gone.”
“Understood.”
Though curiosity stirred in him, Bang Jin Bo asked nothing more.
If it were something worth telling, he would have been told already. That was how Bang Jin Bo chose to think of it.
He fell asleep quickly.
Dam Ho left him there and stepped outside.

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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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