Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Section 5. To Go Far, One Takes a Rest (2)
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“Ugh!”
Bang Jin-bo groaned and tossed in his sleep. By now, his body was drenched in cold sweat.
Damho watched Bang Jin-bo’s condition in silence. Ever since Damho had returned after slaughtering Kyung Cheon-saeng and his men, Bang Jin-bo had fallen ill.
He lost consciousness from high fevers constantly, and sometimes he hallucinated. He vomited so much that now only yellow bile came up.
His eyes had lost their spark, and sudden ringing in his ears triggered seizures. Once he passed out, he wouldn’t wake for three or four days.
Bang Jin-bo was wasting away little by little like this. If time passed without any treatment, he would surely die without ever recovering his vitality.
Damho hadn’t told Bang Jin-bo that he had killed them. But Bang Jin-bo had sensed it instinctively. It was because of the thick scent of blood emanating from Damho’s body.
The body of one who has killed carries both the scent of blood and murderous intent. Damho was no exception.
Damho’s robust physique and iron will kept him unaffected, but Bang Jin-bo was different. Bang Jin-bo was just an ordinary boy.
He hadn’t trained in martial arts, nor did he have an unusually strong mind. He was the kind of unremarkable youth found anywhere. Because he was so ordinary, Bang Jin-bo couldn’t withstand the bloody scent and murderous aura coming from Damho.
Damho gazed at Bang Jin-bo for a moment before stepping outside.
The place where he and Bang Jin-bo were staying was a fairly large horse ranch located not far from Hampil.
It wasn’t your typical ranch; the people here raised horses and stayed through spring and summer, then migrated south with their herds in autumn to escape the cold.
Only a minimal staff remained to manage the ranch. The ranch owner had given Damho and Bang Jin-bo the guest quarters for entertaining visitors.
The guest quarters were on the outskirts of the ranch, making them extremely quiet.
Neigh!
As Damho emerged, Black Ghost approached.
Black Ghost never strayed from Damho’s side, even without a tether.
At that moment, someone approached Damho.
“That’s a fine horse. I’ve spent my whole life at ranches, but I’ve never seen one like that.”
The old man exclaiming in admiration was Geum Gwancheon, the ranch owner. A lifelong local who had built this place from the ground up, he now managed it alone after handing everything over to his son.
Now that spring had come, his son and the herd would soon return. He was waiting for them.
Geum Gwancheon gazed at Damho and Black Ghost with pure eyes that belied his age.
Damho patted Black Ghost’s shoulder and looked at Geum Gwancheon.
“Thank you for providing us lodging.”
“Isn’t the boy sick? It’s only natural.”
Geum Gwancheon smiled.
It was a warm, genuine smile without a trace of ulterior motive.
“But what will you do with the boy so ill?”
“Is there no physician nearby?”
“As you can see, it’s endless plains. Where would a doctor be?”
Damho furrowed his brow at the ranch owner’s reply.
Those who had reached a certain level in martial arts could infuse inner energy into another to restore their vitality. But Damho couldn’t do that.
The inner energy built through the Dark Soul Divine Art was far too wild and destructive. The moment it entered Bang Jin-bo’s body, his meridians would shatter.
Then Geum Gwancheon spoke.
“There is one method, though.”
“…….”
“Have you heard of the Red Scale Monster Fish?”
Damho shook his head. Geum Gwancheon nodded as if he’d expected that.
“You’ve probably never heard of it. Even the locals around here barely know of it. I’ve only seen it once long ago myself.”
“…….”
“Head north from here about five hundred li, and you’ll reach the Red River. The soil is so red that even clear water looks blood-red. Deep in there lives the Red Scale Monster Fish, the best thing for boosting a person’s vitality. Catch it, stew it thoroughly, and feed it to him—he’ll be up in no time.”
“Five hundred li north?”
“That’s right. Finding the way isn’t hard. The problem is the Red Scale Monster Fish—it’s elusive and ferocious, no easy catch. A full-grown one is nearly half a zhang long, a monster in its own right. That’s why the locals treat it like a spirit beast and avoid the river altogether.”
Geum Gwancheon went on to explain everything he knew about the Red Scale Monster Fish in detail.
“Take care of the boy until I return.”
“Don’t worry. Even beasts find shelter in my home; how much more a person’s child? I’ll look after him well. I pray you catch the Red Scale Monster Fish.”
“Hm!”
Damho mounted Black Ghost without hesitation or delay.
Geum Gwancheon watched him with admiration.
‘This man acts on his decisions immediately.’
Many people live in the world, but few turn thoughts into action. And among that minority, even fewer possess the power and ability to make their desires reality.
Geum Gwancheon sensed Damho belonged to that rare breed.
Black Ghost began galloping at terrifying speed.
Hot steam rose from its entire body, like heat haze shimmering.
Damho and Black Ghost moved as one.
Five hundred li was a considerable distance. But Damho wasn’t overly worried. He had Black Ghost.
At full speed, they could reach the Red River before noon tomorrow. The question was whether Bang Jin-bo could hold out that long.
‘Hang in there.’
After galloping a full day and night, they arrived at the Red River the ranch owner had described.
Neigh!
Black Ghost snorted roughly, exhausted. Damho stroked its mane.
“Good work. Rest now.”
From here on, it was his task alone.
Damho released Black Ghost freely and approached the riverbank.
As Geum Gwancheon had said, the river and surrounding soil were blood-red. That made even clear water appear entirely crimson.
Damho knelt on one knee and dipped his hand into the river.
It was bitingly cold. While spring breezes carried warmth, the water still lingered under winter’s grip.
Damho stood and surveyed the river.
The Red River was vast in width and stretched endlessly. A perfect habitat for the Red Scale Monster Fish.
The issue was locating its lair. Finding the monster fish’s habitat was the top priority.
Damho’s sharp eyes scanned the surface.
Drip, drip!
Blood dripped from the object in his hand. It was a goose he’d hunted nearby.
Damho tossed one goose into the river and waited. He’d scanned upriver without finding any trace of the Red Scale Monster Fish. Spotting it deep underwater was nearly impossible.
But Damho didn’t give up. He hunted ducks and geese nearby, threw them in, and watched for changes.
It was grueling work, but Damho persisted. This was already the twentieth time.
Even after a long wait, the surface showed no change. As Damho moved to shift position,
Bubble! Bubble!
Bubbles suddenly rose from the water.
Damho’s gaze deepened.
Splash!
In an instant, something erupted from the water with a massive spray. A monstrous fish nearly a zhang long.
Its surface gleamed with vivid red scales, like an enormous magnified eel.
Damho instinctively knew it was the Red Scale Monster Fish. His image reflected in its huge eyeball.
The Red Scale Monster Fish snatched the goose in its mouth and vanished leisurely back underwater. It happened so fast, emerging mid-river, that Damho had no chance to act.
But Damho wasn’t disappointed. Discovering this area as its lair was a major gain.
The problem was how to catch it.
Just as he had spotted it, it had seen him.
The outcome would depend on how it judged him.
Damho wandered the riverbank, gathering wood.
He crudely lashed together useless branches into a raft and trimmed a forearm-thick log into a wooden spear.
Preparations roughly complete, Damho paddled the raft to mid-river and sat cross-legged in the center.
Then he closed his eyes and waited.
One hourglass, two. Until evening passed, but the surface remained still.
Ordinary rivers and banks teemed with life.
From insects to fish, to wild beasts seeking water.
But here, no sign of life stirred. No insects chirped, no beasts approached, not even common fish rippled. Only silence reigned.
The Red Scale Monster Fish devoured everything that neared. This was its territory; no other life dared intrude.
The ranch owner had said plenty lived here. Yet only that massive one from earlier was felt.
That meant one thing.
‘Did it devour all its kin?’
The specimen Damho saw seemed four times larger than the “monster” the owner described. At that size, it truly was a monster.
It didn’t move. But Damho knew it was watching him.
It was probably pondering how to deal with this fearless human invading its domain.
Damho was the first living thing to enter its territory in ages. Naturally, it salivated. Yet it hesitated due to the ominous aura from Damho.
Damho realized this standoff wouldn’t lure it easily. He needed a stronger temptation.
Damho drew a small dagger from his bosom and slashed his arm.
Scrrch!
The razor-sharp blade only screeched off without a scratch. Reluctantly, Damho infused inner energy and cut his forearm.
Finally, a wound opened, blood flowing. Damho let it bleed freely into the water without staunching it.
Blood mingled and spread in the river. A small amount, but enough to entice the Red Scale Monster Fish.
Thump!
Concentric ripples spread on the surface. A change too subtle for ordinary senses.
Damho opened his eyes.
His gaze sank heavier than ever.
Splash!
Suddenly, the Red Scale Monster Fish burst forth with a spray. Its massive maw gaped wide toward Damho.
Unable to resist the blood’s lure, it attacked.
A strike matching its zhang-long bulk, carrying immense weight. Overwhelming pressure crushed down on Damho.
In that moment, Damho launched into the air.
Crash!
Dodging the maw, Damho’s knee smashed the fish’s head. Its skull recoiled.
The unexpected fierce impact shook its eyes. Instinctively, it realized Damho wasn’t prey it could digest.
The Red Scale Monster Fish meant to flee underwater. But Damho wouldn’t allow it.
Crunch!
Damho’s fist, already attached, shattered its tough scales and plunged into soft flesh.
The fish thrashed wildly. Its eyes filled with pain and terror. It desperately tried to shake Damho and escape.
Splash!
It dove frantically. But Damho’s fist, embedded in its flesh, wouldn’t release.
Clinging to its side, Damho was dragged into the river’s unfathomable depths.
Rapid currents and crushing pressure assaulted him. Yet Damho held fast.
He’d hunted cave monsters underwater until sick of it. He understood water well and knew how to hunt such beasts.
Damho raised the hand holding the wooden spear overhead.
Inner energy from the Dark Soul Divine Art surged into it. Then he thrust down with full force.
Crunch!
The spear buried into the fish’s body up to the handle.
The Red Scale Monster Fish convulsed violently.
Boom!
Damho’s fist slammed its head.
Like a thunderbolt exploding, massive spray erupted, dyeing the river even redder.
Moments later, Damho surfaced. He emerged from the water gripping the fish’s gill in one hand.
The massive head was gone without a trace.
Thud!
Damho casually tossed the huge Red Scale Monster Fish onto the bank. It lay limp, scales unmoving.
Now he just needed to take it back. But the problem was its size. The owner said to stew it thoroughly, but no pot could hold this beast.
Pondering briefly, Damho sliced open its belly on a hunch.
Plop!
Among the entrails, a pebble-sized object tumbled out.
‘Its inner core.’
He’d figured a spirit beast this size would have one. Not fully formed by its size, but potent enough to cure Bang Jin-bo’s illness.
Now, all that remained was the return.