Fist Demon of Mount Hua - Chapter 79

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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 78. Those You Are Meant to Meet Will Meet Again—3
Ak Yang Geomun stood in the heart of Ak Yang as if to proclaim its dominance. A dozen armed warriors maintained posts at its entrance.
Passersby kept their heads down as they walked past the gate, careful not to catch the eye of those guards.
In the grandest and most ornate hall of Ak Yang Geomun, Sa Ma Gyeong Won, the Sect Leader of Ak Yang Geomun, sat in the seat of honor.
Sa Ma Gyeong Won was the very man who had raised Ak Yang Geomun to a place among the Ho Nam Five Major Sects. Now in his mid-fifties, he still carried a solid frame and a commanding gaze.
Hae So Wol sat before him.
It was Ak Yang Geomun that had come forward to restore order along Dong Jeong Lake after last night’s assassin attack threw the area into chaos.
Sa Ma Gyeong Won opened his tightly sealed lips.
“You are certain that Jin Cheon Noe was actually used?”
“To the best of my knowledge, yes.”
“Hmm.”
A low hum escaped Sa Ma Gyeong Won’s throat at her answer.
His face had grown rigid.
A large-scale assassination attempt in a place crowded with witnesses was grave enough. But what troubled him far more was that the assassins had resorted to Jin Cheon Noe—a weapon of mass destruction—as their final gambit.
A hundred years ago, there had been a sect called Hwa Yung Mun that specialized in crafting fire weapons. One day, a craftsman there made an error in mixing gunpowder and accidentally created something unexpected.
A device far more powerful than an ordinary Byeok Ryeok Tan—three or four times stronger, yet easy to carry. It was Jin Cheon Noe.
When Jin Cheon Noe first appeared in the world, people trembled at its terrible power.
With Jin Cheon Noe, even one without martial training could kill scores of people. Hundreds, even.
And it had happened. At a gathering in the Gang Ho, someone detonated Jin Cheon Noe. Hundreds of warriors were killed or wounded, and Hwa Yung Mun became the sworn enemy of the martial world.
Warriors who had lost family at that gathering, along with their kin and friends, attacked Hwa Yung Mun. But Hwa Yung Mun did not sit idle.
They fought back with every fire weapon and Jin Cheon Noe they possessed, and in the process, hundreds more warriors fell to those weapons.
Enraged, the martial world attacked with even greater fury. Hwa Yung Mun could not overcome the numerical disadvantage and was annihilated, sect and all.
The manufacturing secrets of Jin Cheon Noe burned away with them that day.
And so Jin Cheon Noe faded from everyone’s memory, and a hundred years passed.
“Yet now, a hundred years later, Jin Cheon Noe appears again.”
If the assassins had truly used Jin Cheon Noe, this was far beyond what Sa Ma Gyeong Won could handle alone.
Though Ak Yang Geomun belonged to the Ho Nam Five Major Sects, it did not wield power vast enough to command the entire realm.
Sa Ma Gyeong Won asked a question.
“Do you know who the assassins were?”
Hae So Wol shook her head quietly.
“You faced assassins with Jin Cheon Noe, yet you know nothing of their identity?”
“That is the truth.”
She had fought many duels during her journey here. But among all those opponents, not one had harbored enough grudge against her to use Jin Cheon Noe to take her life. She would stake her life on that.
“This is grave indeed.”
The fact that it happened here, of all places, in Ak Yang, meant it was impossible for Ak Yang Geomun to remain uninvolved.
Then, suddenly—
“Perhaps….”
“You have some idea?”
Sa Ma Gyeong Won pressed her, but Hae So Wol hesitated to answer. The matter was connected to the very reason she had come here.
Sa Ma Gyeong Won’s expression hardened.
“I am extending you courtesy and sincerity, Lady Hae. Though Ak Yang Geomun is far smaller than the great sects of the realm, we nonetheless consider ourselves the masters of Ak Yang. I have a duty to know every detail, no matter how small, of what transpires here. So if there is anything—however slight—that you suspect, I would ask that you speak it plainly.”
A considerable force emanated from Sa Ma Gyeong Won’s frame.
Ho Nam did not possess massive sects like Gu Dae Sect or O Dae Sega.
Dae Jin Mun, a powerful sect that once claimed dominion over Ho Nam, had been destroyed thirty years ago in a conflict with Ma Gyo.
After that, many sects rose to claim mastery of Ho Nam, and from that struggle emerged the Ho Nam Five Major Sects, including Ak Yang Geomun and Ui Seon Mun.
Though called the five strongest sects in the province, they lacked the political sway or martial prowess of giants like Gu Dae Sect or O Dae Sega.
Their martial strength was insufficient to dominate a region alone, yet five evenly matched sects had created a delicate balance of power that sustained their present standing.
Because of this, those from great sects like Gu Dae Sect or O Dae Sega often looked down on the Ho Nam Five Major Sects.
“Sigh.”
Hae So Wol exhaled softly. Sa Ma Gyeong Won’s presence was not frightening, but as he said, she had an obligation to make known what occurred here.
This was, after all, territory under Ak Yang Geomun’s rule.
“Then I’ll speak honestly.”
“I am listening.”
“A major gathering is to take place at Dong Jeong Lake soon.”
“A gathering, you say?”
“I don’t know the details myself. Only that several influential sects from the Central Plains are organizing it, and that they are converging here.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Doubt kindled in Sa Ma Gyeong Won’s eyes.
If such a major gathering were to occur at Dong Jeong Lake, he, as Sect Leader of Ak Yang Geomun, should naturally know of it. Yet he knew nothing of it whatsoever.
“It is classified at the highest level. Only a handful know of it. If my master had not hinted at it, I would have remained completely ignorant as well.”
“Now, how is it that you hold a gathering right in front of my own home and say nothing of it to me?”
“The news was to reach Master Sa Ma soon enough. That’s what I understood.”
Sa Ma Gyeong Won’s cheeks trembled. Shame too great to bear flushed his face a deep crimson.
“So what you’re saying is—there was a secret gathering in front of my home, and it may well be connected to this present crisis? Is that it?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm!”
Sa Ma Gyeong Won tapped his chin with one finger, thinking.
‘One doesn’t speak of any sect as a major power. At minimum, they must rank among the Gu Dae Sect or higher still—the O Dae Sega.’
Though Ak Yang Geomun wielded considerable influence in Ho Nam, he knew full well it could not compare to the Gu Dae Sect or the O Dae Sega.
Anger alone was not reason enough to act rashly. To provoke a vast sect like the Gu Dae Sect would only bring ruin upon Ak Yang Geomun.
He had to remain as composed as possible.
“Do you know why they gathered here, Miss Hae?”
“I don’t know either. I can only find out when they arrive.”
“Sigh.”
At last, Sa Ma Gyeong Won exhaled a long breath.
He had come to see there was nothing more to be gained by pressing her further.
“I see. So we must wait until the gathering convenes to know the truth.”
“That’s right.”
“I have one request for you, Miss Hae.”
“Please, speak.”
“Would you remain here until the gathering takes place?”
“What do you mean?”
“We cannot know when assassins might attempt another ambush on you.”
“I’m perfectly capable of protecting myself.”
“There is no guarantee they won’t use Jin Cheon Noe again. Should anything happen to you here, I could never face anyone again. I beg you—just this once, grant me this wish.”
“Hmm.”
This time it was Hae So Wol who fell silent, considering. Sa Ma Gyeong Won’s words were sound.
Sa Ma Gong Cheon weighed on her mind, yet there seemed no way around it. The appearance of Jin Cheon Noe was as grave a matter as the secret gathering itself.
“Very well. I’ll stay here for now.”
“A wise choice. I’ll send men to fetch your belongings. The finest guest house on the grounds shall be yours—rest comfortably there.”
“Thank you.”
Hae So Wol gave a reluctant nod.
Once their conversation ended, Hae So Wol stepped out of the main hall.
“Miss Hae.”
Sa Ma Gong Cheon, who had been waiting outside the hall, brightened at the sight of her. The bird he had thought lost had returned.
“Sigh.”
Hae So Wol let out a quiet breath.
Unbidden, a man’s face came to mind.
The man in the black robe who had sent the assassin wielding Jin Cheon Noe flying with a single strike.
She had deliberately said nothing of him to Sa Ma Gyeong Won. At the time, even she had doubted her own memory—wondered if she had imagined it all.
She had asked the people nearby afterward, but none of them remembered anything.
It was hardly surprising; common folk caught in the explosion of Jin Cheon Noe could scarcely be expected to retain such an image.
‘If that man truly did send the assassin flying in one blow, I will meet him again.’
In the early hours before dawn, Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo left the Seo Pung Gaek Jan.
Their destination was the Ferry Dock in Ak Yang. Moored at the dock was a pleasure boat for sightseeing on Dong Jeong Lake.
It was smaller than the transport vessel they had arrived on, yet still a respectable craft. The two purchased passage and boarded.
This vessel would carry them easily across Dong Jeong Lake to where Cheonha Jeil Ru stood. On the far shore lay Won Gang, and there existed the famed Cheonha Jeil Ru, whose name rang throughout the realm.
With haste, they could make the journey and return within the day.
“At last, we go to Cheonha Jeil Ru.”
Bang Jin Bo’s face already glowed with anticipation.
It was his father Bang U Gwang’s lifelong dream, and for him, a precious turning point in his own destiny.
“Food Immortal, really—isn’t it extraordinary? How on earth does a cook have to craft his art to earn the byname ‘Food Immortal’?”
Food Immortal—the byname of Do Hak Gyeong, known as the supreme master of cookery in all the realm.
Those who had once tasted a single dish from his hand could never forget it and returned again and again.
His food was said to carry the taste of paradise, infused with the power to bring happiness to those who ate it.
Bang Jin Bo could not even imagine what height of mastery one must reach to create such a taste.
“Ah! I can hardly contain my curiosity.”
Bang Jin Bo bounced on his heels, eager for the vessel to reach Won Gang.
Dam Ho watched the boy’s restless joy in silence.
Nearly fifty passengers were aboard the pleasure boat, all waiting with eager expressions for it to depart.
Soon after, the pleasure boat departed from the Ferry Dock, carrying with it the hopes of all aboard. The sails, full of wind, billowed taut and proud.
“Ahhh!”
Exclamations burst from the mouths of the passengers.
For some, it was a dream they had awaited their whole lives; for others, it was a perfect chance to indulge in the pleasures of the Jianghu.
The pleasure boat sailed smoothly along.
“Ha ha!”
“Please, accept my cup of wine.”
From time to time, they spotted smaller boats where courtesans and their patrons reveled together. These were vessels owned by the pleasure houses that lined Dong Jeong Lake.
The boats overflowed with exotic delicacies, and the laughter of wealthy men sandwiched between courtesans rang out without ceasing. It looked like nothing less than a paradise beyond the mortal world.
Many passengers aboard the pleasure boat gazed with envy at the boats carrying such men. Yet none of these sights held Dam Ho’s attention.
After half a day’s journey, the pleasure boat anchored at Won Gang. Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo disembarked at the Ferry Dock and headed toward Cheonha Jeil Ru.
Finding Cheonha Jeil Ru proved easy enough. Looking up from the Ferry Dock, one could see the massive five-story pavilion perched on the hill—that was Cheonha Jeil Ru.
Matching its imposing structure, Cheonha Jeil Ru was splendid beyond measure. Near the main entrance, countless carriages and attendants waited. They were there to attend to the masters who had entered the establishment.
Anyone who could afford to come to Cheonha Jeil Ru could hardly be of common birth or modest means. Ornate four-horse carriages were the standard, and even more elaborate vehicles were plentiful.
Two burly guards who appeared to have trained in Mugong stood watch at the main gate of Cheonha Jeil Ru.
As Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo approached, the guards blocked their path.
“Do you have a reservation?”
“No, we don’t.”
“Then you cannot enter.”
The older-looking of the two guards replied sharply to Bang Jin Bo’s answer.
“Is a reservation absolutely necessary to enter?”
“That is correct. Cheonha Jeil Ru admits only those with reservations.”
Bang Jin Bo’s face fell.
He had come full of anticipation, but unable to even pass through the gate, his spirits sank.
At that moment, Dam Ho stepped forward.
“If I make a reservation now, how long would I have to wait?”
“Nearly a month, I would say.”
“A month?”
“Indeed! And that is a conservative estimate. It could take even longer.”
The guard looked Dam Ho up and down. A faint smirk played at the corner of his mouth.
Though his black leather robe was distinctive enough, it appeared rather shabby. In such worn attire, even a resurrection wouldn’t gain him entry to Cheonha Jeil Ru.
“Then I’ll make a reservation.”
“For a reservation, you’ll need a deposit. Do you have any gold? You’ll need at least one tael of gold as a reservation fee.”
Before the guard could even finish speaking, Dam Ho tossed out a gold tael. The guard’s expression shifted slightly at how readily Dam Ho produced the coin.
But that surprise was brief; he soon spoke in his usual blunt manner.
“If you’ll tell me your name, I’ll enter it in the reservation ledger.”
“Dam Ho.”
“Wait a moment.”
The guard produced a large ledger from before him and opened it. As he ran his finger down the page, he finally spoke.
“The first day of next month is available. Will that suit you?”
Dam Ho nodded silently, and the guard wrote Dam Ho’s name into the ledger.
“That’s settled. Come by at that time.”
“Very well.”
Dam Ho turned and walked away.
Bang Jin Bo followed him reluctantly, his expression full of regret. But since there was nothing to be done about it, he could only trudge forward with heavy steps.
Just then, a carriage arrived at Cheonha Jeil Ru.
It was a six-horse carriage drawn by six white stallions without a single patch of discoloration. The ornate carriage with elaborate patterns came to a halt before the main gate.
A flag bearing the characters “En Ga Bo” was flying from the carriage’s roof.
“That’s En Ga Bo’s carriage.”
The guards who had been dismissive of Dam Ho and Bang Jin Bo hurried forward at the sight of the carriage bearing En Ga Bo’s flag.
Bang Jin Bo stopped in his tracks without thinking and stared at the carriage. He was curious about what entity could make those arrogant guards of Cheonha Jeil Ru move so hastily.
Soon the carriage door opened, and small feet daintily stepped onto the footboard. A small girl in splendid clothing emerged behind them.
She was a girl with a doll-like appearance, her most striking feature being her obsidian eyes.
“Young Miss, you’ve arrived.”
The guards hastily bowed to the girl.
The moment Bang Jin Bo saw the girl’s face, his eyes trembled rapidly.
“Ch… Cheong?”

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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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