Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Strong in Walking Alone (3)
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The man dressed in a black robe was Damho.
Beside him, Bang Jinbo stood with his mouth agape, constantly looking around.
“The Yangtze is as wide as the sea, they say—and it really is. I’ve never seen such a vast river before.”
Damho nodded silently.
It was his first time seeing the Yangtze as well. Not as much as Bang Jinbo, but he was plenty impressed.
When passing through sheer gorges, the current grew fierce, and in wide-open stretches like this, the water flowed gently.
The ever-changing face of nature stirred deep emotions even in Damho.
‘Narrow, and it rushes fast; wide, and it slows. Perhaps life’s flow is much the same.’
Damho shook his head.
He had grown sentimental, uncharacteristically so.
His eyes returned to their usual impassivity.
After leaving Red Rock Villa, Damho and Bang Jinbo had headed south aimlessly. Two weeks had passed, and they had finally reached the Yangtze.
They had camped outdoors the entire way, staying free from prying eyes.
Damho glanced down at his hands.
It hadn’t been long since he entered the world, yet they were already stained with the blood of countless people. It felt as if the blood never dried.
What was truly frightening was that, despite all the lives he had taken, he felt no guilt whatsoever.
Master Hyunso had always warned against falling into heart demons.
Demons come unexpectedly, he said, gnawing at the mind bit by bit without one realizing it—always stay vigilant.
Damho’s gaze deepened.
Perhaps he hadn’t merely fallen into a heart demon; perhaps he had become the demon itself.
Even now, the Dark Soul Heart Art swirled through his body, amplifying his inner energy. It had originated from the Mid-Heaven Heart Formula, but it had transformed so completely that no trace of the original remained.
The Dark Soul Heart Art was unfathomably dark and sinister. Just like Damho.
As Damho sank into thought, Bang Jinbo marveled at the surroundings, letting out exclamations nonstop.
“Wow!”
Overwhelmed by the spectacular sight he had never witnessed before, Bang Jinbo was beside himself with excitement. The mighty Yangtze and its scenery stirred great waves in the young boy’s heart.
That was when it happened.
“Hee hee!”
A clear, bright laugh suddenly rang out.
Bang Jinbo turned to see a girl about his age smiling at him.
The girl, who appeared to be twelve or thirteen, was beautiful like a doll and utterly adorable. Her large, black eyes were especially striking.
Her obsidian eyes sparkled like stars. Bang Jinbo had never seen such radiant eyes in a girl before.
She wore luxurious silk robes, and with guards surrounding her, she clearly came from high status.
The girl approached Bang Jinbo with a beaming smile.
“What’s so amazing?”
“Uh, uh? I was just…”
“Is it your first time seeing the Yangtze?”
Bang Jinbo’s face turned beet red, leaving him speechless.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? I asked if it’s your first time seeing the Yangtze.”
Bang Jinbo thought her voice sounded just like a lark’s. All other noises faded, and only her voice reached him.
He stared at her in a daze. Finding his expression amusing, the girl burst into laughter.
“Pfft! You’re such a funny kid. What’s your name?”
“I-I’m Bang Jinbo.”
“I’m Eun So-cheong. Nice to meet you.”
The girl who introduced herself as Eun So-cheong seemed to have a very cheerful personality.
One of the guards approached her. He looked cold as carved ice, yet handsome.
“Miss, you shouldn’t do this.”
“It’s fine! We’re on the boat. What could happen?”
“Even so, you never know with the world.”
“You’ll protect me, Silver Sword.”
“Of course.”
“Then it’s fine.”
Eun So-cheong flashed a wide grin.
Silver Sword Ghost Hand, Jong Ri-su.
He was a bodyguard raised by Eun So-cheong’s clan specifically for her. Having been with her since she took her first steps, they shared a special bond.
Eun So-cheong called him Silver Sword and followed him around.
Jong Ri-su eyed Bang Jinbo with a gaze full of warning.
Bang Jinbo gave a wry smile.
It was obvious at a glance that they came from completely different worlds.
“So, where are you headed, Jinbo?”
“D-Dongting Lake.”
“Why Dongting Lake?”
“To go to the World’s Best Tower there.”
“Really?”
Eun So-cheong’s eyes widened round. Her face brimmed with excitement.
“I’m going to the World’s Best Tower too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah! I’m meeting someone there.”
“Miss!”
“Huh? Oh, right. It’s a secret.”
Eun So-cheong stuck out her tongue.
Jong Ri-su looked at her with eyes that said he couldn’t talk her out of it. But seeing her innocent smile, he couldn’t bring himself to say more.
Jong Ri-su shook his head and stepped back a few paces. He had judged that Bang Jinbo posed no threat to Eun So-cheong.
Anyone could see Bang Jinbo was a chubby boy who hadn’t learned martial arts. With that body, he couldn’t harm her—and Eun So-cheong herself was no slouch in martial prowess.
Eun So-cheong’s gaze shifted to the bundle behind Bang Jinbo. A wok handle poked out from it.
“What’s that?”
“Oh, that’s a wok for cooking.”
“Really? So you’re a chef?”
“Yeah!”
Bang Jinbo blushed as he answered. Eun So-cheong looked even more surprised.
“Wow! That’s amazing. How long have you been cooking? What’s your best dish?”
“Well…”
Bombarded by her questions, Bang Jinbo didn’t know how to respond. In the end, he shot Damho a pleading look. But Damho showed no reaction.
Following Bang Jinbo’s gaze, Eun So-cheong turned to Damho. Only then did she realize this statue-like man was traveling with him.
“Hello, mister. I’m Eun So-cheong.”
With her usual wrinkle-free cheerfulness, she greeted him warmly.
Damho stared at her blankly. She grinned broadly in response. Her pure, guileless smile prompted Damho to speak.
“My name is Damho.”
His voice was terribly flat and rough, but Eun So-cheong thought it had a powerful resonance.
“Nice to meet you, mister!”
“Mm.”
“But your surnames are different from Jinbo’s. You’re not real brothers, huh?”
Eun So-cheong peppered him with questions out of sheer curiosity. Damho silently regarded her face for a long moment before replying.
“You’re a sharp one.”
Eun So-cheong’s cheeks flushed slightly.
Damho turned away from her and headed toward the stairs leading below deck.
A flicker of interest flashed in Eun So-cheong’s eyes, then vanished.
She smiled at Bang Jinbo.
“Show me the wok?”
“Huh?”
“I wanna see. I’ve never been in a kitchen before.”
“Well…”
“Show me!”
Prodded relentlessly, Bang Jinbo reluctantly shook his head and unpacked the bundle.
As the wok, ladle, spatula, and other tools emerged, Eun So-cheong gazed at them with fascination.
‘Miss.’
Jong Ri-su watched her silently, his eyes filled with pity.
Due to her noble birth, Eun So-cheong had missed out on many simple joys other children enjoyed. That made her endlessly curious about ordinary things.
‘A little freedom like this won’t hurt.’
Eun So-cheong cheered over the humble tools and listened raptly to Bang Jinbo’s stories. Jong Ri-su’s attention remained fixed on her.
Damho had gone to the deck below. Here, passengers’ horses and carts were loaded.
As he descended, the stench of horse manure hit first. Damho didn’t flinch as he walked on.
Snort!
Black Ghost whinnied as Damho approached. Damho stroked its mane, and Black Ghost wagged its tail under his touch.
Damho whispered in Black Ghost’s ear.
“Bear with it a bit longer, even if it’s cramped. Once we hit land, I’ll let you run free.”
“Was that the execution ground horse?”
Someone addressed Damho then.
Turning, he saw a ragged shiphand holding a large shovel, mid-manure cleanup.
Damho looked at him, and the shiphand grinned.
“It’s just such a fine horse. I’ve worked the Horse Transport River Ferry for years, but I’ve never seen one like that from the execution ground.”
“…”
“Be careful. Folks get greedy around top-grade horses.”
It was ambiguous—advice or threat?
Damho’s gaze darkened deeply as he regarded the shiphand.
“You can’t imagine how many lives this horse has cost.”
His voice was low, yet it rang strangely clear in the ears.
Hearing it, the shiphand shuddered, a chill gripping his whole body. Just the sound made his mind plummet into despair.
Only then did he realize Damho was what martial artists called a true master.
“I-I was just giving advice… Ack! Sorry for overstepping.”
In the end, the shiphand apologized to Damho.
He knew well what could happen if you provoked a martial artist carelessly.
“Take good care of it until we reach land. Feed it the best fodder.”
“O-Of course. Don’t worry, I’ll tend it with my life.”
“One question. How do I find Haomen at Dongting Lake?”
“Why ask me?”
Damho tossed something to the shiphand, who snatched it deftly.
A silver coin gleamed in his palm.
The shiphand’s face lit up.
Money moves ghosts. For shining silver, he’d risk his neck.
“Check the brothels.”
“Brothels?”
“Yes! Rumor has it some courtesans are tied to Haomen. That’s all I know.”
The shiphand bowed to Damho and withdrew.
Alone now, Damho looked outside.
It had started raining sometime before.