Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: 3. The Era of Dragons and Tigers (2)
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Hae So-wol strolled alone through the rear garden of the Sakju Branch.
It had already been several months since she arrived in Sakju, but life here still felt unfamiliar.
"Hm?"
As she walked by herself, Hae So-wol's eyes caught sight of someone.
The man standing alone under the moonlight was someone she knew well.
'Priest Un Gyeong.'
He was the Taoist dispatched from the Mount Hua Sect to escort Elder Hyun So back. But more than his connection to the Mount Hua Sect, the fact that he was Senior Brother to Dam Ho piqued her curiosity even more.
"Ah! Junior Sister Hae."
Un Gyeong noticed Hae So-wol's approach.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb your meditation..."
"No, not at all. But what brings you out wandering alone at this late hour, Junior Sister Hae?"
"I just couldn't sleep."
"Same here. For some reason, sleep evades me tonight."
"Have you found your stay comfortable?"
"Thanks to you and Branch Chief Gong, I've been resting well. Don't worry about us."
"How's it going with Elder Hyun So?"
"Haha! It's embarrassing. His resentment toward his old home hasn't subsided yet, so it's not easy."
Un Gyeong gave a bitter smile.
Hae So-wol had already witnessed everything. There was no reason to hide it now.
She bit her lower lip for a moment. Sensing something ominous in her expression, Un Gyeong felt the air shift.
After hesitating briefly, Hae So-wol finally spoke.
"When you met with Elder Hyun So recently..."
"Yes?"
"You talked with that child named Ha Young. And she mentioned her uncle."
"Uncle?"
"She called Elder Hyun So's old disciple that."
"Ah! You mean Heavenly Mirror?"
"Is that person's name... Dam Ho?"
"Did she mention that too? It's true. Heavenly Mirror's secular name is Dam Ho."
"Then...?"
"He's more famously known in the world by the moniker Fist Demon."
Hae So-wol closed her eyes.
It hadn't struck her deeply when she first heard it from Ha Young, but hearing it directly from Un Gyeong hit her like a shockwave.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere in Hae So-wol's expression, Un Gyeong asked cautiously.
"Why do you ask? Junior Sister Hae. Do you know Heavenly Mirror?"
"I've met him once before."
"Really?"
Un Gyeong showed his curiosity.
Dam Ho was renowned in the world as the Fist Demon, but the Mount Hua Sect knew almost nothing about him. They only had fragments of his known exploits.
"What is Heavenly Mirror like? Does he still resent Mount Hua?"
"He's never once spoken about his sect."
"Hmm!"
He had suspected as much, but hearing it from Hae So-wol made his heart ache even more.
It might have been a relief to hear that he resented and missed Mount Hua, but it was clear Dam Ho had completely forgotten the sect.
In the current situation, it was fortunate he held no grudge against Mount Hua. Yet the sect elders were trying to use Dam Ho by pulling in Elder Hyun So.
Un Gyeong thought it was truly despicable. But as a Taoist of Mount Hua, he had no choice but to follow the Sect Leader's orders.
"Do you happen to know where Heavenly Mirror is?"
"After parting with him at the Murim Alliance, I came straight here, so I don't know either."
"I see."
It was then, as Un Gyeong gave a bitter smile.
Whoosh!
Flames suddenly erupted from the hall near the main gate of the Sakju Branch.
"F-Fire!"
"It's a night raid!"
Shouts echoed noisily from all directions.
The two paled instantly.
"What?"
Hae So-wol reacted first.
She unleashed her lightness skill and raced toward the flames. Priest Un Gyeong followed, leaping into action.
"No way!"
By the time they reached the main gate, a fierce melee was underway between the intruders and the Sakju Branch warriors.
Shing!
With every flash of sword light, warriors screamed and fell.
The intruders rampaging through the Sakju Branch were slaughtering without mercy.
"Amitabha!"
Un Gyeong plunged into the fray without hesitation.
He didn't know their identities, but saving the Sakju Branch warriors came first.
Hae So-wol, meanwhile, scanned the battlefield with cold eyes.
"Demonic Cult."
Having clashed with them several times before, she instantly recognized the intruders.
Demonic Cult warriors carried a sinister aura distinct from Central Plains martial artists—one you could never forget once experienced.
At that moment, a booming voice rang out from among the Demonic Cult warriors.
"Uahaha! I am the Great Power Overlord Demon Go San-woong of the Divine Cult. I'll sweep away you Murim Alliance vermin in one go."
The Great Power Overlord Demon Go San-woong was a renowned master even in the Demonic Cult.
The warriors he led were a vanguard meant to crush the Sakju Branch's morale.
Their only order was to rampage and destroy freely. Go San-woong was faithfully carrying out the massacre.
Thud!
Hae So-wol launched herself at Go San-woong.
Her beloved sword, Wall Moon, scattered a chilling light.
"You stinking bitch..."
Go San-woong unleashed a fist strike at Hae So-wol, who dared charge him fearlessly.
Kwaaang!
His powerful fist wind tore the air ragged. But Hae So-wol didn't dodge—instead, she swung her sword down.
Shing!
The sword force gathered on her blade exploded.
The two clashed.
Even then, they didn't know. That their battle marked the start of a grand war that would stake the fate of the martial world.
That the fight beginning here would spread flames across the entire martial world.
***
Luoyang was an ancient capital with a thousand years of history.
It was said to have been the capital of nine dynasties, and as a center of scholarship and culture, it had produced countless scholars and luminaries of the era.
The Longmen Grottoes with over ten thousand Buddha statues and the White Horse Temple, the first Buddhist temple in the Central Plains, were famous.
Above all, nearby lay the Shaolin Temple, hegemon of the Central Plains martial world, giving the city a thick Buddhist hue.
The Jinhua Inn was a fairly large establishment on the outskirts of Luoyang's south gate. Though on the outskirts, its spacious stables and courtyard made it a favorite stop for many merchant caravans.
The inn's errand boy rushed out at the sight of two horses entering the main gate.
"Welcome!"
Two people rode the horses. Both had their faces and necks wrapped in scarves, hiding their features. But their builds made it clear: one man, one woman.
The one presumed to be the woman asked.
"Got rooms?"
"Of course."
"Prepare two, then."
"Not one?"
"We'll sleep separately."
"Got it. I'll set up two small rooms for you."
"Thanks."
"Head inside first. I'll show you to the rooms after stabling the horses."
At the boy's response, the two dismounted and entered the inn.
"Wow, what beauties!"
The boy muttered as he eyed the two horses.
He had worked at the Jinhua Inn for three years and seen countless steeds. But none matched the majestic black horse just handed over.
As the black horse moved, its glossy coat rippled like silk, a sight so enchanting it mesmerized.
"Ah!"
The boy couldn't help but stroke its shoulder.
As it entered the stable, the other horses whinnied in fear of its presence.
In an instant, the stable filled with the clamor of neighing horses.
As soon as the woman entered the inn, she unwrapped the scarf from her neck and face, revealing a beautiful visage.
"Whew!"
She was Jong Ri-yeon.
The man beside Jong Ri-yeon was Dam Ho. He too removed his scarf and scanned the inn's interior.
Numerous people sat at tables in small groups, but no one paid the newcomers any mind.
Jong Ri-yeon led Dam Ho to an empty table.
"Let's sit over there."
Dam Ho silently followed her.
Six days after leaving the Ye River, they had arrived in Luoyang. Exhaustion filled Jong Ri-yeon's face.
With Myeong Cheon gone, she was the one most inconvenienced. Unsure where to go, she had simply followed Dam Ho here.
For some reason, Dam Ho hadn't turned her away and allowed her to travel with him.
"This is really tough."
Jong Ri-yeon shook her head.
No major incidents had occurred on the journey. But the nonstop riding had drained her stamina, leaving her face weary.
Dam Ho silently gazed at Jong Ri-yeon. She blushed shyly under his stare.
It was then.
"Did you hear that rumor?"
Voices from a nearby table drifted to their ears.
The conversing group were merchants staying at the inn that night.
"What rumor?"
"They say the Murim Alliance and Demonic Cult clashed in Sakju."
"Isn't that a regular occurrence? There was a fight in Baek-eun last year too."
"This one's different."
"How so?"
"The scale and ferocity are on another level."
"Just one night's clash, and already hundreds dead or wounded. The Sakju Branch nearly got wiped out."
"Hmm."
"If not for Priest Un Gyeong from Mount Hua, who was dispatched to Sakju, and Junior Sister Hae from Haenam, it'd have been total annihilation."
"Really?"
Dam Ho unconsciously turned toward the merchants. Two people he knew had been mentioned. Oblivious, the merchants chattered excitedly.
"It's true."
"Damn. Things in Shanxi Province are about to get even uglier."
"You think? The Murim Alliance's already sending more experts to Sakju."
"And the Demonic Cult?"
"Probably. They won't admit it, but reinforcements must be on the way."
"Hell on earth."
The merchants shuddered.
As traveling merchants, they knew chaos meant more profit but greater peril to life.
Especially places like Sakju, where direct war raged, required serious resolve to visit.
"Better hold off on Shanxi trade routes for now and watch how things play out."
"Same here. Money's important, but dead men can't spend it."
"Sigh. Let's drink. What the hell's the world coming to?"
"Tell me about it."
"Powerless folks should just die quietly."
The merchants tilted their cups with bitter expressions.
Dam Ho felt an odd turmoil in his chest.
Not because of Priest Un Gyeong, nor the name Hae So-wol. It started the moment he heard 'Sakju'.
Dam Ho furrowed his brow deeply.