Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: To Go Far, One Takes a Rest (3)
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“Ugh!”
When Bang Jin-bo opened his eyes with a low groan, the first thing he saw was Dam Ho’s face.
“Hyung!”
“Are you alright?”
“What happened?”
“You collapsed.”
“Me?”
Bang Jin-bo shook his head.
His head still hurt. He remembered suffering from a high fever, but he couldn’t recall why he was here.
“You’re not fully recovered yet.”
“Hyung! Thank you.”
Bang Jin-bo instinctively knew that Dam Ho had treated him.
Dam Ho stood up from his seat with an impassive expression.
“Rest a bit more.”
“Yes!”
Dam Ho left the room, leaving Bang Jin-bo alone inside.
“How’s the kid?”
At Geum Gwancheon’s question from outside, Dam Ho silently nodded. Relief washed over Geum Gwancheon’s face.
Awe shone in Geum Gwancheon’s eyes as he looked at Dam Ho.
He had asked for the Redscale Monster Fish, but Dam Ho had brought back its inner core. Though Geum Gwancheon knew little of the martial world, he understood that forming an inner core meant it was no ordinary spirit beast.
Even a regular Redscale Monster Fish was hard to catch—how much more so one with an inner core? He could scarcely imagine it.
And Dam Ho was the man who had caught such a beast. He was a being far beyond Geum Gwancheon’s common sense.
“Get some rest now. I’ll bring the kid his porridge.”
Geum Gwancheon held a tray with porridge. Dam Ho nodded, and Geum Gwancheon entered Bang Jin-bo’s room.
Dam Ho walked toward the vast, endless grassland. He felt no fatigue. To him, who had survived twelve years in a hellish place, the journey to catch the Redscale Monster Fish had been neither arduous nor remarkable.
Dam Ho sat on a flat rock jutting out from the grassland. As if waiting, Black Ghost approached.
Though it had traveled a long way, Black Ghost showed no signs of exhaustion. Dam Ho lay back on the rock and gazed at the sky.
Clouds raced across the endless expanse. It felt utterly different from the clouds he had seen at Mount Hua.
Mount Hua had a quiet stillness, but this place brimmed with dynamic energy.
Dam Ho suddenly reached a hand toward the sky, pretending to grasp a cloud. But nothing was caught.
He stared at his empty hand for a moment. Then his gaze fixed on the wound that now bore only a faint trace.
It was the wound he had inflicted on himself to catch the Redscale Monster Fish—a cut he could only make after infusing it with internal energy, now healing before his eyes.
He didn’t know when it had started. Wounds healed quickly, and eventually, they barely formed at all.
Whether it was from tempering his body or from the moss and monster fish he ate to survive in the underground cavern, even Dam Ho couldn’t say.
Back then, high fevers lasting days were commonplace. He crossed the line between life and death dozens of times, clinging to survival with grim determination. Each time he overcame it, he grew a little stronger, until eventually, he felt no more pain.
Isolated alone for so long, the line between good and evil had blurred for him. On this short journey here, he had killed countless people, yet he felt no guilt.
‘Am I still human?’
Dam Ho’s eyes grew hazy.
The thought struck him suddenly.
He had killed so many just to reach this point—what horrors awaited when crossing the Central Plains with Bang Jin-bo?
Such actions would have been unimaginable back at Mount Hua. Yet he couldn’t stop now.
Pffrrrt!
Black Ghost, bored, blew hot breath onto Dam Ho’s face, snapping him from his pointless reverie.
It was then, as Dam Ho raised his upper body.
Far across the grassland, an enormous dust cloud rose. It raced toward the horse ranch at blinding speed.
Dam Ho focused his gaze on the dust cloud. Through it, he saw a massive herd of horses approaching.
Riders on horseback flanked the herd, keeping watch as they herded the horses, ensuring none broke formation.
The ground trembled as they drew nearer.
Feeling the vibrations, Geum Gwancheon opened his door and stepped out.
“They’re finally back.”
Joy lit up his face.
His children and the horses, who had left the ranch for the winter, were returning. It was the moment he, who had guarded the ranch alone, had longed for.
“Father!”
A man at the front of the procession shouted as he galloped forward. He was a middle-aged man riding a pure white horse without a single mixed hair.
Geum Gwancheon waved to him.
“Jung-gwang!”
“Hahaha! Father, we’re here.”
As soon as Geum Jung-gwang dismounted, he embraced Geum Gwancheon tightly. Geum Gwancheon closed his eyes, feeling his son’s warmth.
“You’ve worked hard. How’s your health?”
“I’m in fine shape. No need to worry.”
“And your wife and children?”
“They’ll arrive soon. They’ve all missed you terribly.”
“I’ve missed them too.”
Geum Gwancheon smiled.
As Geum Jung-gwang savored the reunion, his gaze turned to Dam Ho nearby.
“And this is?”
“A guest who came while I was lonely. He’s staying a bit because his companion fell ill.”
“I see.”
Geum Jung-gwang approached Dam Ho and offered a fist salute first.
“I’m Geum Jung-gwang, young master of the Golden Horse Ranch. A guest of my father is a guest of mine. Rest well.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks needed! Hahaha! Today’s a joyous day. Enjoy it with us.”
Geum Jung-gwang laughed heartily.
He seemed as bold and open as his appearance suggested.
“Father!”
“Grandfather.”
Before his laughter faded, the rest of the family arrived one after another.
A serene-looking woman, apparently Geum Jung-gwang’s wife, greeted Geum Gwancheon. A poised young man and a girl who looked about seven or eight hurried down from their horses.
“Yes! You’re here too.”
“Grandfather, Hye-a’s here too.”
“Oh my! My little one!”
Geum Gwancheon scooped up his granddaughter. A happy smile graced his face.
It was a long-awaited reunion.
Dam Ho silently watched the family embrace. For the first time, a flicker of emotion stirred in his impassive eyes.
Their joy evoked memories of his own distant past, now nearly forgotten. He too had known such happiness once. But that time had ended as swiftly as a midsummer night’s dream.
Dam Ho knew all too well how fragile the peace of daily life could be.
He hoped such tragedy would never befall this family. One person who had endured it was enough.
Following Geum Jung-gwang’s family, a vast number of horses and laborers entered the ranch.
“They’re finally here.”
“Ranch Lord, have you been well?”
“You look even younger, Ranch Lord.”
The laborers greeted Geum Gwancheon. He responded to each with a smile.
Though they spent only half the year together, their bond spanned decades, transcending employer and employee to feel like brothers.
“But what’s this handsome beast? Did you acquire him, Father?”
Geum Jung-gwang’s eyes were fixed on Black Ghost.
Geum Gwancheon shook his head.
“This great hero brought him.”
“What a magnificent creature. Looks like Dawan stallion blood in him.”
“I thought the same.”
The Dawan stallion originated from the Great Wan Kingdom in the Western Regions. Known as a thousand-li horse, it was also called the purebred steed. Legend said Guan Yu’s Red Hare was one such Dawan stallion.
“If we could get seed from a beast like this, it’d be perfect.”
Unconcealed desire lit Geum Jung-gwang’s face.
The ranch profited from selling horses. Naturally, better bloodlines fetched higher prices and greater returns.
Generations of ranching here, yet they had never raised a horse as fine as the one Dam Ho rode.
Geum Jung-gwang approached Dam Ho.
“Great hero!”
“…….”
“While you’re here, could we breed him with our mares? We’ll pay handsomely.”
Dam Ho’s eyes flickered sharply.
Startled by the intense gaze, Geum Jung-gwang flinched back.
‘What kind of eyes…’
Only then did he realize the man before him was no ordinary person. Cold sweat trickled down his back unbidden.
Dam Ho’s gaze shifted to Geum Gwancheon behind Geum Jung-gwang.
The man who had sheltered and cared for them without asking for anything while Bang Jin-bo was ill.
“If he wants it.”
“We… we’d never force it. Don’t worry. We’ll take the best care of Black Ghost.”
Dam Ho nodded.
Geum Jung-gwang finally exhaled in relief.
Geum Gwancheon expressed his gratitude to Dam Ho.
“Thank you. It wasn’t an easy request.”
Dam Ho merely nodded silently.
“Uncle!”
Someone grabbed Dam Ho’s hand.
Looking down at the unfamiliar warmth, he saw Geum Gwancheon’s granddaughter gazing up at him.
The girl with exceptionally large eyes—Geum So-hye.
“Uncle, Uncle!”
Geum So-hye blinked her big eyes, calling Dam Ho repeatedly.
“So-hye, mind your manners with guests. You can’t do that.”
Her flustered mother tried to stop her, but Geum So-hye ignored her, mumbling with her small lips.
“Can So-hye ride that horse too?”
She pointed to Black Ghost.
Among the herd, Black Ghost stood out strikingly. Even hundreds of horses cowered before its presence, none daring to approach.
‘So cool!’
Raised with horses since birth, young Geum So-hye had an adult’s eye for them despite her age.
In her eyes, Black Ghost was utterly magnificent.
Dam Ho stared intently at Geum So-hye. Her large, dark eyes met his without a trace of fear.
Though Dam Ho feared no one under heaven, strangely, he found it hard to hold her gaze.
Dam Ho turned to look at Black Ghost.
It stood aloof as ever. The herd watched only its mood.
“Someday…”
“Uncle?”
Dam Ho released Geum So-hye’s hand.
It still carried the thick scent of blood. Hadn’t that made Bang Jin-bo fall ill?
Unaware, Geum So-hye watched Dam Ho’s retreating back with a face on the verge of tears.