Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Time Brings New Encounters (1)
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Xinyang in Henan Province was a city nestled at the foot of the Greater Separation Mountains, renowned since ancient times for its tea. The tea grown here, known as Maojian, was counted among the finest in the Central Plains.
Xinyang was also famous for South Bay Lake, a body of water twelve times larger than West Lake in Hangzhou and dotted with sixty large and small islands.
The crystal-clear lake water shimmering like jade and the lush green forests blanketing the islands like emerald jewels created a fantastical harmony that cooled the hearts of all who beheld it.
On a small island deep in the heart of South Bay Lake, hidden so secretly that only the local fishermen knew of it.
Like the other islands, this one was covered in dense green forest, making it impossible to see inside from the outside.
It was known as an uninhabited island. But contrary to what people believed, a man and a woman had been staying there for some time.
A single shabby thatched hut, hastily built.
In front of the hut was a small wooden platform, where a woman in her late teens sat.
"Hmm~♪"
The woman humming a tune while gazing at the boiling kettle was none other than Jong Ri-yeon.
As soon as the water boiled, Jong Ri-yeon brewed the tea and sipped it slowly. A satisfied smile played on her lips.
"It's delicious, as always."
The tea she was drinking was Xinyang's specialty, Maojian.
Since arriving here last winter, Jong Ri-yeon had been living off Maojian.
It suited her picky palate perfectly, making her stay here all the more enjoyable.
Jong Ri-yeon sipped her Maojian while gazing at the dense forest.
"Will he not come out today either?"
It had been three months since Dam Ho entered the forest. In all that time, he hadn't once shown himself outside.
"Hoo."
Jong Ri-yeon let out a soft sigh as she drank her tea.
They had fled here to escape the pursuit squad from the Namgung family. They had nearly been caught several times, but each time, Jong Ri-yeon's quick thinking had saved them.
At the time, Dam Ho had been on the brink of death. Yet even in that dire condition, he had slain the leader of the pursuit squad. In the end, the Namgung family had no choice but to abandon the chase.
After shaking off the Namgung pursuit, they had hidden here. Henan Province was Shaolin Temple territory, beyond the Namgung family's influence.
The Namgung family had requested Shaolin's cooperation, and Shaolin had agreed, joining the hunt. But they could not find any trace of Dam Ho and Jong Ri-yeon hidden in South Bay Lake.
Winter came with heavy snow, forcing them to finally give up the search.
With Jong Ri-yeon's miraculous acupuncture, Dam Ho recovered swiftly. Once somewhat healed, he entered the forest and did not emerge.
His battle with Namgung Cheon had ignited Dam Ho's fighting spirit. The crisis of realizing his current power was insufficient against those stronger than Namgung Cheon drove him onward.
Occasionally, chilling killing intent would radiate from deep in the forest—intent so powerful it made even the distant Jong Ri-yeon tremble.
"Hoo."
Jong Ri-yeon was awestruck by Dam Ho's determination.
She had never seen a man so obsessively, blindly relentless.
"What kind of past does it take to forge such unyielding resolve?"
Jong Ri-yeon herself was highly focused, but she could never match Dam Ho's mad level of immersion.
She brewed another cup of tea.
She hadn't been idle during their stay either. She studied medicine further and honed her acupuncture to mastery.
Thanks to that, her skills had advanced by leaps and bounds.
It was then, as Jong Ri-yeon brought the teacup to her lips.
Kwaaa!
Suddenly, a fierce surge of energy swept through the entire thicket like a storm, engulfing even Jong Ri-yeon.
"Kyaaak!"
Struck directly by the energy wave, Jong Ri-yeon screamed and dropped her teacup. Her hair was disheveled, her face pale as a ghost.
"What in the world?"
Jong Ri-yeon looked toward the source of the energy with fearful eyes.
It came from the forest where Dam Ho was.
Until now, the forest where Dam Ho trained had always brimmed with savage energy waves, keeping even Jong Ri-yeon from daring to approach.
But after that storm-like burst, no more savage energy emanated.
"What happened?"
Her eyelids trembled.
Silence descended over the forest. Even the wind seemed to stop.
Jong Ri-yeon held her breath, staring at the forest. The brief moment felt eternal.
Suddenly, her eyes widened.
Dam Ho was walking out from the forest.
'He's changed.'
Jong Ri-yeon could tell at a glance.
An eerie heat rose from Dam Ho's entire body, shimmering like heat haze before vanishing like a mirage.
The ferocious, beastly gaze filled with heat had turned ice-cold. It felt all the more terrifying.
Dam Ho walked to the platform where Jong Ri-yeon sat. She flinched involuntarily.
"Y-you're out?"
"Mm."
"Have you finished your training?"
"More or less."
Dam Ho gave a perfunctory reply and sat on the platform.
Jong Ri-yeon handed him the freshly brewed tea.
"Have some of this."
The tea was fragrant beyond words. Dam Ho sipped the hot brew slowly.
"Good."
"It's called Maojian. One of the finest teas in the world."
"Is that so?"
"And your injuries... are they fully healed?"
"Yes."
"Then we'll leave this place?"
Jong Ri-yeon beamed with joy.
She had been forced to spend the winter here against her will.
Though they had shaken off the Namgung pursuit, it wasn't safe to relax yet. If caught, their fate was all too clear.
She had to stay with Dam Ho at least until they left Henan Province.
"When do we leave?"
"Now."
"Got it."
At his words, Jong Ri-yeon hurriedly packed her things.
Her belongings amounted to just a small bundle. Inside were spare clothes and silver needles.
"Let's go."
Jong Ri-yeon said, bundle on her back.
Dam Ho set down his teacup and headed to the shore with her.
"Black Ghost."
At his call, Black Ghost came bounding from the forest.
While Dam Ho secluded himself, Black Ghost had roamed freely in the woods. Having spent winter alone, its fur gleamed, and it had grown even larger.
"Did you fare well?"
Dam Ho pressed his forehead to Black Ghost's snout. The beast let out a pleased rumble and wagged its tail like a windmill.
Dam Ho spent a moment reuniting affectionately with Black Ghost, then boarded the small dugout canoe they had used to arrive. Jong Ri-yeon and Black Ghost followed, making the little boat rock as if it might sink.
Dam Ho rowed. Each stroke propelled the boat forward ten or more feet, like a speedboat.
"Hoo!"
Standing at the bow, Jong Ri-yeon took a deep breath. The still-chilly wind filled her lungs with freshness.
The stuffiness pent up in her chest all winter vanished. A smile bloomed on her face.
Black Ghost, equally delighted, snorted repeatedly and wagged its tail.
The dugout reached the shore of South Bay Lake in no time. Dam Ho abandoned the boat without a second thought and headed for Xinyang.
True to its fame as the home of Maojian, Xinyang's streets were filled with the scent of tea. The market teemed with teahouses and inns.
"Wait a moment."
Jong Ri-yeon suddenly stopped.
Dam Ho looked at her quizzically, and she grinned broadly.
"We can't keep wandering around in those clothes, right?"
She eyed Dam Ho's outfit.
In the battle with the Namgung family, Dam Ho's black leather robe had been ruined. Afterward, he had scavenged ragged farmer's clothes from a nearby village and worn them since. Anyone would mistake him for a peasant.
They had stopped in front of a clothing shop. Jong Ri-yeon took his hand and pulled him in.
"Let's get you fitted here."
Dam Ho followed her inside without protest.
"Welcome."
A plump shopkeeper greeted them.
"May we see some fabrics?"
"Of course. Our shop has everything from Western furs to Eastern silks."
"Do you have tough, durable leather?"
"Naturally. Wolf pelts from the Tianshan Mountains to alligator hides from the south—plenty of varieties."
The shopkeeper laid out leathers of all kinds.
Jong Ri-yeon examined them meticulously for a long time, inspecting with eyes, hands, even sniffing. Finally, she chose a black leopard hide imported from southern Man.
"This one."
"Excellent choice. It was hard to acquire—originally meant for the imperial court."
"How long to make clothes from this?"
"If we rush, by tomorrow. It won't be cheap, though."
"How much?"
"With the leather and labor, twenty taels of gold."
"Twenty taels of gold?"
Conflict flickered across Jong Ri-yeon's face.
Twenty gold taels was what a decent martial artist earned in a year. Spending that on one outfit gave her pause.
But as if she'd never hesitated, she pulled ten gold taels from her bosom.
"Ten as deposit. The rest on delivery."
"You're a bold one."
"But make the clothes properly."
"Of course. No shop in all Henan makes clothes as well as we do."
The shopkeeper thumped his chest proudly.
Dam Ho looked at Jong Ri-yeon.
"You're not overdoing it?"
"You've done that much for me. I live by repaying my debts."
"I see."
"Yes! So don't worry."
"Alright then."
Dam Ho nodded.
The shopkeeper took measurements with a tape. Dam Ho described the style he wanted.
"So, a flying fish robe style. No hindrance for martial arts. Right?"
"Yes."
"Understood. We'll make the finest garment to fit your body perfectly. Don't worry—our shop's clothes..."
The shopkeeper chattered on undeterred by Dam Ho's intimidating air. Dam Ho left without listening further.
The two headed straight to a nearby inn.
They took two rooms. Jong Ri-yeon said she finally get a hot bath after so long and went in. With no luggage, Dam Ho sat at a table on the first-floor dining area.
He had entered the island in autumn and emerged only when spring was nearly done. Unwittingly isolated from the world for four or five months.
During that long time, Dam Ho had focused solely on martial arts.
It was the first time since leaving Thousand Gold Horse Pavilion that he had devoted himself to training for so long.
Out in the world, he had fought countless battles. In that short span, he endured perilous combats that others might never face in a lifetime.
He had gained insights, but lacked time to systematize them. Especially the fight with Namgung Cheon had clarified the path for his Dark Phantom Fist.
Dam Ho saw his injury as the perfect chance to organize those insights. So on South Bay Lake's island, while healing, he methodically compiled them.
Dam Ho clenched his fist.
Countless battles had scarred the back of his hand. Those scars bore witness to his life.
'The day no more scars form on this hand will be my last.'
Even then, he would burn everything without regret.