Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: When the Blood Star Moves, a Bloody Wind Blows (2)
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Strength gathered in Bang Jin-bo's eyes.
A blue flame flickered before him, heating a wok.
"Now!"
Bang Jin-bo seized the moment and tossed in the prepped vegetables.
He flicked his wrist to shake the wok, stirring the contents with a large ladle. The oil he'd coated beforehand mixed with the vegetables, sending an aroma that stimulated the senses in all directions.
As he added the finely minced meat, the scent grew even more intense. Bang Jin-bo lost track of time, entering a trance as he cooked.
Women watched Bang Jin-bo cook.
A woman with tawny skin twitched her nose and couldn't hold back her admiration.
"Whoa! That's impressive."
"Isn't it? But sis, the real show starts now."
Eun So-cheong chimed in beside her.
The woman in the fur vest with tawny skin was none other than Hwang Hye-ryeong.
"Honestly, I didn't believe you at first, but I have to admit it now."
"Right? Even the head chef at the World's Best House acknowledged his skills."
Eun So-cheong shrugged as if she'd received the praise herself. Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled at the sight.
*So-cheong's still as bright as ever.*
Unlike the refined air of the Silver family, Eun So-cheong exuded a casual vibe. Hwang Hye-ryeong had taken a liking to her free spirit and formed a friendship that transcended their statuses.
The place they were in now was a private annex of the West Wind Inn. Eun So-cheong had rented out the entire annex. Then she'd dragged Bang Jin-bo there like a kidnapper. And said one thing.
"I'm hungry!"
That was why Bang Jin-bo was cooking in the annex.
"Hehe!"
Eun So-cheong rested her chin on her hand, watching him cook. A smile never left her lips.
Hwang Hye-ryeong watched her with curiosity. Eun So-cheong's bright and lively demeanor wasn't new, but seeing her so unguarded and open-hearted was a first.
"Hmm!"
As Hwang Hye-ryeong looked intrigued, Eun So-cheong suddenly glanced at her as if remembering something.
"But sis, is it okay for you to be wandering around like this alone?"
"No problem."
"But..."
"It's fine! Everyone's too busy to notice I'm gone."
Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled. Her grin felt mischievous.
Eun So-cheong let out a sigh.
"What if you stir up the whole Green Forest again?"
"Il-gwang came with me, so it's okay."
The Il-gwang Hwang Hye-ryeong mentioned was her bodyguard. He was one of the top experts in the Green Forest.
"You know how you are, sis..."
Eun So-cheong shook her head helplessly.
People didn't know what kind of existence Hwang Hye-ryeong was.
When people thought of the jianghu, they usually pictured the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families. But one didn't have to train in those renowned sects to be a jianghu person.
Anyone who lived by the blade was part of the jianghu, and that included the Green Forest bandits.
People usually thought of mountain bandits when hearing "Green Forest bandits" and dismissed them. But when their numbers exceeded ten thousand, it was a different story.
The Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds.
That was the collective of mountain strongholds currently dominating the Green Forest. The eighteen strongholds were scattered across the Central Plains.
Each stronghold housed anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand men. Though their martial arts didn't match the disciples of sects that ruled the jianghu, no sect could ignore their overwhelming numbers.
Above all, the Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds had a Chief Stronghold Leader named Hwang Gyeong-mun.
Throwing himself into the Green Forest at just thirteen, Hwang Gyeong-mun had risen to the chief position after decades of struggle.
He led the ten thousand Green Forest bandits flawlessly with his strong leadership and martial prowess.
It was said his skills rivaled the elders of the Nine Great Sects without falling short.
Why else would he bear the moniker Tyrant Blade?
Even the upright heroes who scorned Green Forest bandits dared not mock Hwang Gyeong-mun.
Hwang Gyeong-mun had a daughter born late in life.
Her name was Hwang Hye-ryeong, the very woman sitting with Eun So-cheong.
It was said Hwang Gyeong-mun doted on her endlessly. If anything happened to her, he would mobilize the entire Green Forest Eighteen Strongholds to punish the culprit.
Whether she knew this or not, Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled at Eun So-cheong.
Just then, Bang Jin-bo brought plates to where the two sat.
"Here, the food's all ready."
"Wow!"
Eun So-cheong beamed at the heaping plates.
"I'll eat it all up, Jin-bo."
"Thanks!"
The two women picked up their chopsticks and started eating Bang Jin-bo's dish.
"Look how tender this meat is."
"How'd you season this? Never tasted anything like it."
The dish Bang Jin-bo served was Dongpo pork.
Hwang Hye-ryeong had eaten Dongpo pork so much she'd grown tired of it. She thought she knew its flavor well. But Bang Jin-bo's version was different.
"How can plain Dongpo pork taste this good?"
"Because the chef isn't plain."
Eun So-cheong gave a simple answer to Hwang Hye-ryeong's question.
"I see."
"Told you you wouldn't regret it."
"You're right. Good call staying here."
"Yeah!"
Eun So-cheong nodded vigorously, then suddenly looked at Bang Jin-bo.
"But where's the uncle?"
"Uncle?"
"Yeah, the uncle who travels with Jin-bo. He's super scary."
"Oh?"
Hwang Hye-ryeong looked indifferent.
Raised among rough types as the daughter of the Green Forest Chief Stronghold Leader, she barely knew the meaning of fear.
In fact, her martial skill was exceptional—even among Green Forest bandits, few could take her.
But Eun So-cheong, who had seen Dam Ho's prowess firsthand, felt differently. Though young, she keenly sensed how terrifying he was.
"Where's the uncle?"
"He left on some business. Might take a few days."
"What business?"
"No idea."
Bang Jin-bo looked glum.
Dam Ho had said he'd return soon, but left alone for the first time, Bang Jin-bo felt uneasy about everything.
He even worried Dam Ho might not come back, leaving him distraught.
Eun So-cheong noticed Bang Jin-bo's thoughts and patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry. Uncle will be back soon."
"You think so?"
"Of course!"
Bang Jin-bo's face finally relaxed.
*Hyung, come back soon.*
On Mount Heng stood the Hengshan School, one of the Five Great Hunan Sects.
It had once boasted prosperity rivaling the Nine Great Sects at its peak. But now its power had dwindled to barely qualify among the Five Great Hunan Sects.
Still, it held sway as the hegemon of western-central Hunan and Mount Heng. At least in this region, no person or sect could ignore the Hengshan School.
School Leader Jwa Mun-hyo was infamous for his fiery temper. He especially cherished his people, caring for them until death once a deep bond formed.
In the grand hall, Jwa Mun-hyo and the Hengshan School elders engaged in heated debate.
"School Leader, do we really need to build the Grand Imperial Hall at a time like this?"
"This is the perfect opportunity. Completing it will showcase our school's vitality and attract more disciples."
"But we lack the funds."
Elder Chae Gyu shook his head.
Chae Gyu handled the school's finances. The Hengshan School's coffers were nearly empty. Yet Jwa Mun-hyo insisted on building a new hall—the most splendid and massive in the region.
He aimed to flaunt the school's might and recruit droves of new disciples. To Chae Gyu and some elders, Jwa Mun-hyo's zeal seemed worrisome.
"Don't worry about funds."
"How?"
"I've already spoken with influential families supporting us. They'll provide aid."
"But..."
"No need to fret over money. I ask the elders not to oppose the Grand Imperial Hall anymore. This isn't for my benefit alone—it's for the good of the entire Hengshan School."
"Under...stood."
"Whew!"
Chae Gyu and the elders replied with helpless expressions. With finances resolved as Jwa Mun-hyo said, they couldn't oppose outright.
*Still, building a massive hall to flaunt power? What kind of absurd idea is this?*
A sect's rise and fall had nothing to do with hall sizes. The school leader's guidance and philosophy mattered most.
The Hengshan School's decline stemmed largely from misguided policies of past leaders. Electing the strongest martial artist as leader had caused issues.
Currently, the strongest in the Hengshan School was Leader Jwa Mun-hyo. Unfortunately, his mind hadn't developed as much as his body. That was the school's tragedy.
As Chae Gyu sighed, someone suddenly knocked on the hall door and called out.
"School Leader."
"What is it?"
"Hero So Jin-pung is here."
"So Jin-pung?"
Jwa Mun-hyo rose from his seat.
He knew the name So Jin-pung. His martial arts weren't exceptional, but his reputation in the jianghu made him worth befriending. Jwa Mun-hyo had built a long friendship with him.
Opening the hall doors revealed So Jin-pung and a Hengshan warrior.
Rushing from afar, So Jin-pung was drenched in sweat, breathing raggedly.
"What happened, Jin-pung?"
"T-Terrible news. The An Family Manor was attacked."
"The An Family Manor?"
Jwa Mun-hyo's face twisted.
Manor Lord An Gyo-ik was one of the Hengshan School's biggest patrons. Jwa Mun-hyo's sudden push for the Grand Imperial Hall renovation partly came from An Gyo-ik's substantial donation.
"Who dares attack the An Family Manor so boldly?"
"It was one man."
"One?"
"That single man reduced the entire manor to ruins. I barely escaped to inform you."
"The audacity!"
Flames seemed to ignite in Jwa Mun-hyo's eyes.
Everyone in the area knew the An Family Manor was under Hengshan School protection. Doing this knowingly was a direct insult to the school.
"Mobilize the disciples now. We're heading to the An Family Manor."
"School Leader! Shouldn't we investigate first before—"
"Ignoring the An Family Manor is insulting the Hengshan School. How can we, who live in the jianghu, endure such humiliation?"
Chae Gyu couldn't argue further—Jwa Mun-hyo had a point.
"Whew!"
His sigh echoed hollowly.
Jwa Mun-hyo hastily led a hundred warriors out of the Hengshan School.
The distance to the An Family Manor was just over thirty li. Using lightness skill, they'd arrive in less than half a shichen.
Indeed, Jwa Mun-hyo and the Hengshan warriors reached it before half a shichen passed.
"What is this?"
The Hengshan warriors' eyes shook at the sight of the manor.
The An Family Manor they knew boasted beautiful scenery. Manor Lord An Gyo-ik had poured his heart into it since settling there.
But the manor before them was unrecognizably devastated. The ruined estate was littered with corpses crushed as if by a massive hammer.
Though part of the Five Great Hunan Sects, even they rarely saw corpses up close.
Some warriors turned away, unable to look.
"Where's the culprit?"
Jwa Mun-hyo rushed inside.
There, he saw it.
A brutally crushed corpse. And a man sitting before it.
"Who the hell are you?"
Jwa Mun-hyo's roar echoed through the An Family Manor.