Chapter 121
Chapter 121
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: The Threads of Fate are Inextricably Tangled in Unpredictable Ways (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Damho's first act upon waking in the morning was to head to the stables where Black Ghost was kept.
Prrrngh!
Black Ghost neighed happily in greeting. Damho gave the horse's neck a light pat.
Black Ghost's eyes fluttered shut in contentment. A wave of the horse's pleasure transmitted through Damho's hand to his neck.
"Yeah!"
Damho closed his eyes as well.
It had been nearly three months since he and Black Ghost had become companions. In that time, their bond had grown ever stronger.
Damho lingered with Black Ghost for quite a while before returning to the inn's first-floor dining hall. There, Bang Jinbo was chatting away with the head chef, who also owned the place.
The previous night, Bang Jinbo had spent his time in the kitchen of Fengtian Inn. The chef's name was Jong Munyeon, the husband of the innkeeper and the man in charge of Fengtian Inn's kitchen.
As someone who had worked as a chef for many long years, Jong Munyeon possessed vast knowledge on all matters culinary.
He hadn't dismissed Bang Jinbo upon first meeting him but instead engaged in lengthy conversations and even taught him hands-on. Immersed in the joy of cooking, Bang Jinbo had stayed up all night.
Yet there wasn't a trace of fatigue on Bang Jinbo's face—he was beaming. That was how deeply he had fallen for the pleasures of cooking.
"Hyung!"
Bang Jinbo lit up at the sight of Damho.
"Yeah!"
"You need to eat, right?"
"Mm!"
"Hehe! Chef Jong made mapo tofu. It's absolutely delicious."
"I see."
"Have a seat. I'll bring it right out."
"Mm!"
Damho took a seat by the window.
It was still early, so the dining hall was fairly empty. Only about five or six people occupied tables, all silently focused on their meals. Thanks to that, Damho could enjoy his tea in peace.
But his tranquility didn't last long.
"Seal off this area."
"We have to catch the witch no matter what."
Voices shouted from outside, and a group of people burst into the inn.
Clad in Daoist robes, they were clearly Daoists. They scanned the inn with a menacing aura.
At the sudden appearance of the Daoists, Jong Munyeon stepped forward.
As someone who had lived here for a long time, he knew who they were.
"My goodness, what brings the Daoists of the Nine Palaces Sect here?"
"We're searching for the witch who attacked our headquarters."
The eldest-looking among the Daoists stepped forward.
The old Daoist's title was Elder Iron Crown. He was the junior brother of Elder Iron Sun and the leader of the Nine Palaces Sect's nine elders.
"What? A witch?"
"Last night, our sect leader was gravely wounded in an assault by the witch."
"What?"
Jong Munyeon's eyes widened in shock.
The Nine Palaces Sect's leader could only mean Elder Iron Sun, one of the most revered Daoists in the Tongshan region.
"We've received information that the witch who attacked our sect leader was staying here."
"What? That can't be..."
Jong Munyeon's face drained of color.
There had been only one woman staying at the inn last night.
"Where? Which room is the witch in?"
"T-The private room in the back."
Elder Iron Crown's eyes flashed fiercely at Jong Munyeon's answer.
"No one inside leaves until we capture the witch."
"Yes, sir!"
Some of the Daoists replied and blocked the inn's front entrance.
A murderous intent emanated from their bodies.
It wasn't anywhere else but the Nine Palaces Sect's own headquarters where their sect leader had been attacked and gravely wounded. For the Nine Palaces Sect, it was an indelible humiliation.
They had to capture the witch who assaulted their leader and punish her. Only then could they restore even a shred of their tarnished honor.
Elder Iron Crown stormed into the private room with the other Daoists. But the room was empty. There were no signs anyone had been there—it seemed she hadn't even entered last night.
"W-Witch!"
Elder Iron Crown ground his teeth.
"Block every official road leading out of Tongshan. Not even an ant gets through."
"Yes!"
Several Daoists answered and rushed outside, while Elder Iron Crown returned to the first-floor dining hall.
Everyone who had stayed at the inn last night was gathered in the dining hall. The Nine Palaces Sect Daoists had roused them all.
The faces of those dragged out of bed were filled with dissatisfaction. But none dared voice it openly.
They had heard enough to understand the situation.
It was a major incident—the Nine Palaces Sect's leader had been attacked. Mishandling it could earn the enmity not just of the Nine Palaces Sect but of all the orthodox sects in the region.
The Nine Palaces Sect Daoists surrounded the assembled group. Most people shrank under their intimidating presence, unable to speak.
Elder Iron Crown finally spoke.
"You've all heard the gist of it. We're hunting the fiend who attacked our sect leader. We ask for your full cooperation."
"But we know nothing about her."
A small-statured merchant protested his innocence. But Elder Iron Crown's response was ice-cold.
"That's for us to decide. You just tell us what you know."
"W-Well..."
"Understood?"
"I... understand."
The merchant shrank back, cowed.
"You first. Tell us about her."
"All I know is that she showed up here suddenly yesterday evening. She dealt with a few rowdy ruffians who were hitting on her, then ate alone."
"Anyone else talk to her?"
The merchant shook his head.
"No. She didn't say another word after that. I never saw her again after she finished eating."
"Is that the truth?"
"Yes."
Elder Iron Crown questioned several more people after that. But their answers matched the merchant's.
"Tch!"
Frustrated at the lack of leads, Elder Iron Crown's expression twisted.
His gaze suddenly fell on Damho at one side of the dining hall. Everyone else wore grim faces under the Nine Palaces Sect's pressure, but he alone ate calmly.
"You there?"
Elder Iron Crown approached Damho. But Damho continued eating as if he hadn't heard.
"Did you not hear me?"
Elder Iron Crown bellowed.
Only then did Damho set down his chopsticks and look up at Elder Iron Crown.
"Gh!"
The moment their eyes met, Elder Iron Crown felt a chill, as if his neck were exposed to a predator.
His hand instinctively reached for the sword at his waist.
"What's the matter, Elder?"
At Elder Iron Crown's demeanor, the Nine Palaces Sect Daoists swarmed around Damho. But Damho himself regarded Elder Iron Crown with utter indifference.
"What is this?"
"Tch! Didn't you hear me? I said speak up if you know anything about the witch!"
"Don't know."
"What?"
"So I have nothing to say."
"You insolent—!"
Elder Iron Crown's face crumpled hideously.
The young Daoists flew into a rage first.
"How dare you! Are you ignoring the elder's words?"
"Insolent?"
Damho's eyes slid toward the young Daoist who had spoken. The young man flinched and stepped back.
The instant he met Damho's gaze, the young Daoist envisioned his own death. His back grew slick with cold sweat.
'What?'
The young Daoist shuddered.
He couldn't tell if what he'd seen was real or illusion. But the goosebumps were undeniably real.
Damho rose to his feet.
In that moment, Elder Iron Crown and the Daoists felt as if a massive black shadow loomed over them.
"Impossible!"
Only then did Elder Iron Crown and the young Daoists realize the man before them was no ordinary martial artist.
Tousled black hair, pitch-black robes like the dead of night. And deep, sunken black eyes.
He vaguely recalled hearing tales of such a warrior. But the name wouldn't come.
Damho took a step toward them.
The sight of his slightly limping left leg drew cries from their lips.
"Qu-Quanma?"
A legendary name that echoed through the current martial world.
Damho's fame had spread widely even to Hubei Province. To sects like the Nine Palaces Sect, the Fist Demon was an object of wariness.
It was well-known that the Fist Demon acted solely on whim, heedless of orthodox or demonic divides. Notions of justice or righteousness held no sway over him.
Elder Iron Crown's face stiffened.
"Are you Fist Demon Dam, the great hero?"
"And if I am?"
"Urgh!"
Elder Iron Crown faltered, at a loss for words.
The rumors about the man before him were all terrifyingly brutal. One thing was certain: none who opposed him—from sects to warriors—emerged unscathed.
Elder Iron Crown glanced sidelong at his disciples.
Their faces were ashen, like men who had encountered a tiger. He could only sigh. But he couldn't blame them alone—he felt the immense pressure himself.
Ordinary warriors like them could never withstand the presence of an absolute master like Damho.
He hadn't noticed when Damho was quiet, but the moment his identity was revealed, an overwhelming aura pressed down. Yet he couldn't just back down without a word.
"We didn't know you were staying here, Dam Daehyeop. Forgive the inconvenience, but we desperately need information on the witch. If you know anything about her, could you share it?"
"I told you. I don't know."
"Truly?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
"Then what brings you to Tongshan?"
"Just passing through."
"Destination?"
Damho didn't answer.
Elder Iron Crown's interrogative tone grated on him.
Elder Iron Crown asked again.
"Where are you headed?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"To clear up any misunderstandings between us. It's not such a difficult request, is it?"
"Ridiculous."
"What did you say?"
"Want me to repeat it? I said ridiculous."
"You dare!"
"Gonna do something about it?"
Damho stared piercingly at Elder Iron Crown.
Unable to bear Damho's gaze, Elder Iron Crown averted his eyes downward.
"Urgh!"
"If you want to catch the fiend, get moving. Stop harassing innocent people."
"Tch!"
Elder Iron Crown's face crumpled pathetically at Damho's sharp words. The young Daoists bristled, but none dared act rashly.
Elder Iron Crown clasped his fists in salute toward Damho.
"As you say, Daehyeop, we'll be on our way. And if I may speak out of concern: I truly hope you have no connection to that witch."
"Thanks."
"Then we bid you good fortune."
Elder Iron Crown saluted once more and turned away.
Grind!
He ground his teeth as if they might shatter.