Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: There Comes a Time When Everyone Must Stand Alone (3)
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Damho lay down on the bed. But sleep did not come easily. Come to think of it, it had been quite a while since he last slept properly.
Though the night-luminescent pearl emitted a faint glow, it was impossible for it to illuminate the entire underground cavern. As a result, the boundary between night and day had blurred, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.
Now, it didn't matter if he slept or not. Even without sleep, his fatigue would naturally dissipate on its own.
In the past, he had to sit cross-legged and circulate his energy, but now, simply staying still allowed his qi to flow naturally.
He couldn't even remember when this had started.
In the darkness, the Chungcheon Heart Formula had found a new path. While studying the Demonic Cult's heart method, it had been influenced by it. As a result, the Chungcheon Heart Formula had transformed to the point where its origins were unrecognizable.
Whether this was progress or regression, he couldn't tell. But it was a fact that a new heart method, one that had never existed before, had been created.
Damho named this new heart method the Dark Soul Heart Technique. He called it that because it had been born in the darkness.
The internal energy cultivated through the Dark Soul Heart Technique was heavy and dark in nature. And even without Damho actively circulating it, it moved on its own, steadily growing stronger.
It was a spring of energy that accumulated whether he slept, moved, or even ate. Right now, at this very moment, the Dark Soul Heart Technique was operating independently, building up his qi.
Damho lay with his arms pillowed behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The sun had set, making the room dark. The ceiling was pitch black. But to Damho's eyes, it appeared as bright as midday.
Even the same darkness felt different in the underground cavern compared to the outside world. If the outside world's darkness felt light, the cavern's darkness was endlessly heavy and阴湿, much like the Dark Soul Heart Technique itself.
"Master."
Suddenly, a hoarse voice slipped from Damho's lips.
His voice carried the emotion of longing. It was the first time since emerging into the outside world that he had shown such a human feeling.
Thinking of his master always brought a pang to one side of his chest. He wanted to rush to Mount Hua right now, to see Elder Hyeon So. But it wasn't time yet.
His master had told him to return to Mount Hua only when he was confident he wouldn't be shaken even by a storm of a hundred battles.
First, he had to confirm it. Whether he truly had the strength to stand unshaken against the harsh winds of the world. Whether he could stand solely on his own power.
Lost in such thoughts, dawn was breaking before he knew it. Damho hadn't slept a wink and headed to the dining area.
The waiter tilted his head in puzzlement.
The man had come from inside, so he was clearly a guest, but he had no memory of receiving such a guest yesterday.
"Who?"
He remembered only one guest yesterday. And he recalled bringing that guest a knife and scissors.
"No way..."
"It's me."
"You really were. I didn't realize you were so handsome."
"Food?"
"Ah, yes! I've prepared it already, so please wait just a moment."
As Damho sat at the table, the waiter dashed toward the kitchen. Moments later, he returned carrying a tray of food.
"Lamb skewers, wheat pancakes, and flower cakes made with lamb meat. They're quite decent."
Damho stopped the waiter as he set down the food and tried to leave.
"How far is it from here to the Central Plains?"
"You're going alone?"
"Yes."
"It won't be easy."
"Is there a reason I can't go?"
"There are bandits rampant these days."
"Bandits?"
"Yes! They travel in packs, plundering small merchant caravans and travelers. The damage is severe. Sir, don't go alone—gather a group. It's safer with more people."
"I see."
"Think it over. Traveling that ten-day distance alone will be no small ordeal."
"Ten days..."
Damho tapped the table with his finger.
"Still, if you're set on going alone, head to the market. They'll sell everything you need for camping. Let's see, what do you need? A wind-dust cloak to block sandstorms, dry rations... Ah, and a horse to ride."
Damho finished his meal while listening to the waiter's incessant chatter.
Turpan was a city with a very unique atmosphere. The cultures of the Central Plains and the Western Regions mingled here, creating their own distinct culture, which gave off a strong exotic vibe.
Han, Uyghur, and Hui people lived intermingled in Turpan, and it was always bustling with crowds. People gathered around the green castle and frequently held markets.
According to the waiter, the markets were quite large, and if you searched diligently, you could find useful items. He even explained the prices in detail.
Damho memorized the waiter's words perfectly before stepping outside.
The streets teemed with countless people. The haggling voices were noisy.
Deep furrows formed between Damho's brows.
He had grown up in a secluded mountain valley as a child, then in the Daoist sect of Mount Hua as he got older. Until coming here, he had lived only in an uninhabited underground space. To him, this noisy scene felt extremely alien.
Damho stood blankly in the middle of the street, unable to move.
Now, there were no restraints holding him back, no walls blocking his path. Yet still, he couldn't move easily.
For the first time in his life, he had been cast alone into the world.
No parents, no master.
Now, he had to rise purely on his own strength.
He had to take that step.
Damho began to move toward the world.
His first destination was the market the waiter had mentioned.
The place where countless people set up stalls and haggled. Where everyone raised their voices to get what they wanted.
"High-quality silk garments imported from the Central Plains!"
"Spices from the Western Regions!"
The merchants' voices pierced his eardrums.
Damho walked among them.
He suppressed his killing intent so it wouldn't leak out and softened the intensity in his eyes. Even so, he was still more intense than ordinary people, but the overwhelming pressure that had once crushed those around him was greatly diminished. People passing by him felt no discomfort.
Stalls overflowed with items he had never seen before. There was luxurious-looking silk, as the merchants claimed, and jars of unknown purpose.
Some sold bizarre Western Region artifacts, others various accessories.
Damho took it all in with his eyes.
How long had he walked? Suddenly, his gaze caught a merchant selling clothes made from beast hides.
What drew Damho's eyes was a particularly black robe among the clothes the merchant had laid out. It had a loose fit like a wind-dust cloak, with a collar that rose up to the neck, making it striking.
Damho's steps turned toward the stall. The merchant's face lit up.
"Welcome!"
"These for sale too?"
"Of course. What catches your eye?"
Without a word, Damho picked up the black robe.
"Excellent taste, sir. Made from great bear hide. It's a single piece without any seams, incredibly sturdy. Most swords and blades won't pierce it."
Though laced with the merchant's typical exaggeration, the lack of visible seams made it seem genuinely tough.
"Price?"
"Uh... well..."
A flicker of conflict appeared in the merchant's eyes.
The black robe Damho held was indeed made of bear hide. It was extremely durable, but unfortunately, this was a place not far from the desert.
No one wanted to wear a stuffy bear-hide garment. It was put out at a bargain price. But seeing Damho take a liking to it sparked greed in the merchant.
"Ten silver taels..."
"..."
Their eyes met. In that instant, the merchant froze like ice.
'What... what kind of eyes...'
Eyes as deep and black as an endless abyss, showing no emotion whatsoever.
Brrr!
Chills ran up his spine unbidden.
It was terrifying.
The merchant hurriedly changed his tune.
"F-Five taels will do. That's plenty."
"That enough?"
"Yes! Of course."
Damho had no intention of haggling and simply pulled silver from his bosom and handed it over.
Damho draped the black leather robe over his body.
It fit perfectly, as if tailored to his measurements from the start. The merchant, who had been frozen, let out an exclamation at the sight.
"It suits you perfectly, sir."
Damho nodded silently.
Even without the merchant's words, the bear-hide robe pleased him greatly. Though not visible from outside, the inside had many pockets for easy storage.
Damho stowed all his banknotes and silver in the inner pockets.
While at it, he bought a leather bag from the merchant as well. Spacious enough to hold plenty of luggage.
Damho wandered the market, buying dry rations and filling the bag. It grew quite heavy.
He already knew approximate prices from the waiter. Most merchants quoted higher than that. But Damho didn't bother haggling with them.
He saw no need to, and he had plenty of money.
Damho's final stop was the livestock market at the market's outermost edge.
Every kind of animal could be found here.
From small ones like chickens and dogs to horses, cows, and camels—it seemed every beast in the world was gathered.
Entering the livestock market, the stench of animal dung assaulted his nose. Even Damho wrinkled his nose briefly at the intense smell. But he quickly adapted and walked deeper inside.
The horses were at the very back. There were many breeds.
Some were enormous, others had fur burning red like fire. Merchants shouted that their horses were divine steeds, grabbing at Damho.
But Damho ignored them, walking steadily. The horses' neighs battered his ears chaotically.
Then, suddenly, Damho's steps halted.
There was a pitch-black horse, just like the robe he wore. Unlike the others, it wasn't snorting or excited—just standing still.
It wasn't particularly large, yet strangely, no other horses approached it.
Damho stared fixedly at the black horse. It snorted and approached him.
Purrrr!
As the black horse neared, the other nearby horses panicked and backed away.
It stared straight at Damho.
Its gaze was chillingly cold. Impossible to think of as a mere horse's eyes.
A smile tugged at Damho's lips.
He liked the challenging glint in its eyes.
A cold light flashed in Damho's eyes for an instant. The black horse flinched and turned its head away.
Just then, an unfamiliar voice rang out.
"Hah! Looks like the beast has taken a liking to you, sir. This is a first."
It was a plump Hui man wearing a small cap on his head. Sweating profusely, he approached Damho.
"Greetings. I'm Deng Yuan, the owner of this fellow. Do you like him?"
Damho looked at the Hui merchant. The man grinned.
"Seems so. I'll let him go cheap—buy him."
"..."
"Truth be told, he's quite the headache. I somehow caught him running wild on the plains, but he won't be tamed or ridden. Real pain."
"How much?"
"Oh! A bold one! Fine, out of kindness, five hundred silver taels. A steal."
Before the Hui merchant finished, Damho pulled five banknotes from his pouch and tossed them over.
"Good?"
"Hah! No haggling?"
Regret crossed the Hui merchant's face.
If he'd known the man would pay so readily, he could've asked for more.
As he said, the black horse was trouble. Untamable and unrideable, impossible to sell.
Many had tried to claim ownership before, but it had thrown off everyone. Vicious temperament.
Yet Damho paid without even trying to mount it. From the merchant's view, it was a loss. But he quickly thought better.
'The demon horse might reject him and demand a refund.'
He spoke as if nailing it down.
"I'll throw in a saddle too—mount up and go. He's yours now."
The Hui merchant placed a nearby saddle on the black horse's back and stepped away.
Damho lightly patted the black horse's neck. It neighed repeatedly, as if pleased.
Damho mounted in one fluid leap. The merchant backed away several steps, expecting him to be thrown. But contrary to expectations, the black horse stood perfectly still, as if reunited with its true master.
"No way!"
The Hui merchant's jaw dropped.
Regardless, Damho patted the neck and said.
"Your name is Black Ghost. The black demon."
Hiiing!
The black horse neighed as if understanding.
And so, the black horse became the Black Ghost.