Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: When Many Gather, Each Raises Their Voice (2)
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Damho briefly lifted his head to gaze at the sky.
Clouds were gathering, looking like rain could fall at any moment.
The place he was currently at was the front yard of the annex at the West Wind Inn. He should have been staying in a guest room, but due to Bang Jinbo, he spent much more time here.
The view of Dongting Lake from the annex was truly spectacular. But no matter how beautiful the scenery, it stirred no particular emotion in Damho's heart.
It was just there in front of him, so he simply looked at it.
While Damho watched Dongting Lake, Bang Jinbo was busy preparing food. Beside him, Eun So-cheong stood ready with a knife.
She was now trying to learn cooking from Bang Jinbo. The sight was so amusing that Cho Yeon-un kept bursting into laughter.
"Think you can even chop ingredients with that knife? Don't hurt yourself and just stay back and watch."
"Hmph! Don't make me laugh. I can do it too."
"I told you, you'll get hurt. Don't come crying to me after."
"Whatever."
Eun So-cheong snorted and turned her head away. Cho Yeon-un teased her more.
"Tch! So you have some pride, huh? Fine! Do whatever you want. Just don't cry when you get hurt for no reason."
"Ah, you're so annoying."
Eun So-cheong even plugged her ears.
The two bickered all day yet stuck together. At this point, anyone else might have stormed off in anger.
Bang Jinbo enjoyed the lively commotion.
Listening to Cho Yeon-un and Eun So-cheong argue somehow made him feel energized. And cooking felt more enjoyable.
'I hope we can stay here longer.'
Bang Jinbo prayed this happiness would last as he glanced at Damho.
Damho leaned against a large tree, gazing at Dongting Lake. His statue-like stillness somehow looked lonely.
A heterogeneous presence that didn't fit with any surrounding scenery. It was as if only Damho lived in another world.
He worried Damho might suddenly leave again someday. But knowing he never broke a promise once made, Bang Jinbo felt relieved.
In front of Bang Jinbo lay a large fish. It was freshly caught from Dongting Lake that morning.
Bang Jinbo planned to make shuizhu yu with it.
Shuizhu yu was a dish where the fish was sliced thin, lightly fried in oil, then simmered in various seasonings and chili oil.
"Hehe!"
Bang Jinbo began dismantling the fish with the knife.
Slice, slice!
After a few passes, the scales were removed and bones filleted. In an instant, thin fillets were ready.
"Wow!"
Eun So-cheong, watching from the side, let out an exclamation.
Even Cho Yeon-un couldn't hide his admiration. He knew Bang Jinbo was a great cook, but he hadn't realized his knife skills were this exceptional.
'He'd master swordsmanship just as easily.'
His body was plumper than other kids, but that wasn't a big deal.
Practicing martial arts would naturally slim him down anyway. What mattered was aptitude and talent.
With the sensitivity Bang Jinbo handled the knife, he'd learn average sword techniques far faster than others.
Cho Yeon-un glanced at Damho. From morning until now, Damho had stood in the same pose.
No human could maintain one position that long. Even the most patient would struggle. Yet Damho did it effortlessly.
Come to think of it, he knew little about Damho.
Just the two characters of his name, and nicknames like Fist Demon or Divine Blood Star.
"Really an intriguing guy."
Cho Yeon-un smirked.
"Lady!"
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice rang out in the annex yard.
Eun So-cheong was the first to brighten.
"Silver Sword."
The newcomer was Jong Ri-su, Eun So-cheong's bodyguard.
Jong Ri-su hurried to Eun So-cheong.
"Lady."
"What's going on?"
"Don't be startled. The Pavilion Master has just arrived outside."
"Dad?"
Eun So-cheong's eyes widened.
Her father, Eun Il-myeong, was not one to easily leave the Silver Pavilion.
It was then.
"Haha! So-cheong."
With a booming voice, a man of generous build entered the annex. A middle-aged man whose double chin, thick belly, and ornate robes suited him well.
"Dad!"
Eun So-cheong jumped up and ran to him.
He was Eun Il-myeong, master of the Silver Pavilion, one of Hunan Province's Five Great Sects. Eun Il-myeong spread his arms and tightly hugged the embracing Eun So-cheong.
"Dad, what brings you here?"
"I came out for some business. Have you been well? You rascal."
Eun Il-myeong stroked Eun So-cheong's hair with a smile. His face openly showed his affection for his daughter.
Eun Il-myeong held Eun So-cheong in his arms for a while, enjoying their reunion.
"But seriously, what brings you here, Dad?"
"First, introduce me to the people here with you."
"Oh!"
Only then did Eun So-cheong snap out of it and pull away from Eun Il-myeong's embrace. She began introducing those around.
"This is Jinbo. Bang Jinbo."
"Ah, hello. Great Hero Eun."
At Eun So-cheong's introduction, Bang Jinbo shyly stepped forward and greeted him.
Eun Il-myeong's eyes gleamed.
'This is the chubby kid...'
Jong Ri-su had told him.
That lately, Eun So-cheong had taken a liking to a boy.
Eun So-cheong had been raised like a precious jewel for the past twelve years. Hearing she had feelings for some outsider boy filled him with betrayal beyond words.
Naturally, Eun Il-myeong's gaze toward Bang Jinbo turned fierce.
"Grk! So you're Jinbo."
"P-Pleased to meet you."
"Nice to meet you."
Killing intent seemed to lace Eun Il-myeong's voice.
The next one Eun So-cheong introduced was Cho Yeon-un.
"This is a no-good freeloading old man."
"Hey!"
Cho Yeon-un yelped. But Eun So-cheong just snorted, with no intention of correcting herself.
In the end, Cho Yeon-un had to introduce himself.
"Pleased to meet you, Great Hero Eun. I'm Cho Yeon-un of the White Front Sect."
"How could I not know the Drunken Dragon of the World, Young Hero Cho? Is Elder Sa well?"
"That old man's the same as ever. Probably outlive me."
"I never dreamed I'd meet Young Hero Cho here. Please visit the Silver Pavilion someday. I'll treat you properly then."
"I'm already receiving excellent hospitality. This kid's cooking skills are no joke."
Cho Yeon-un glanced at Bang Jinbo. Bang Jinbo blushed. Eun Il-myeong subtly frowned.
Cho Yeon-un smiled at Eun Il-myeong.
'Father and daughter are cut from the same cloth.'
But he couldn't show his inner thoughts.
After glaring at Bang Jinbo for a moment, Eun Il-myeong's gaze turned to Damho.
"Then that one over there..."
"That's Uncle Damho. Jinbo's big brother."
"Damho?"
Eun Il-myeong furrowed his brow at Eun So-cheong's answer.
Hearing he was Bang Jinbo's brother already soured his mood.
"In the martial world, they call him the Divine Blood Star or Fist Demon."
"Gasp!"
But as Eun So-cheong's explanation continued, his furrowed brow instantly smoothed.
Eun Il-myeong was well aware of Damho's notoriety. Any warrior based in Hunan knew of Damho.
He was no exception. He had been wary of Damho, who recently appeared and wrought bloody havoc. But he never imagined the brother of Bang Jinbo, whom his daughter associated with, was Damho.
'Could I kill him by mobilizing the Silver Pavilion's full forces?'
The temptation briefly arose. But Eun Il-myeong shook his head.
It wasn't a profitable deal.
Though called one of Hunan's Five Great Sects, the Silver Pavilion was more merchant than martial. They were accustomed to solving issues with money rather than force.
His opponent was Hunan's most infamous warrior. No need to recklessly provoke disaster.
Though Eun Il-myeong stared, Damho didn't even glance his way.
If it were anyone else, Eun Il-myeong would have exploded in rage. But he couldn't with Damho.
Like a powder keg before ignition, an ominous aura emanated from Damho's body. He couldn't even muster the courage to speak.
Damho continued gazing at Dongting Lake, ignoring Eun Il-myeong entirely.
An awkward atmosphere hung between them. Then Cho Yeon-un broke the silence.
"Don't mind that ice block of a guy. He's naturally taciturn; even we struggle to hear more than one word a day from him."
"Indeed..."
Eun Il-myeong forced agreement. An awkward smile appeared on his face.
"Dad!"
"Uh, yes?"
"What brings you here?"
"I came for business."
"Business?"
"I'm meeting someone here."
"Who?"
"You'll find out soon. We're meeting here."
"At the West Wind Inn?"
"Yes."
Eun Il-myeong patted his daughter's shoulder.
He set aside his interest in Damho. Though Damho himself was burdensome, there was something more important now.
'Who on earth is he meeting?'
Eun So-cheong slightly furrowed her brow.
Eun Il-myeong rarely left the Silver Pavilion unless it was major. He had the pride of being its master, one of Hunan's Five Great Sects, and most people came to him with requests.
Eun So-cheong looked around.
Though not visible, the Iron Sword Squad, Eun Il-myeong's guards, would be deployed nearby. He never moved without them.
Eun Il-myeong said to Eun So-cheong,
"I'll borrow this place for a bit."
"Pardon?"
"Other places aren't suitable for meeting them."
"Dad, but..."
As Eun So-cheong started to speak, an Iron Sword Squad warrior burst through the door and reported to Eun Il-myeong.
"They've arrived."
"Hmm! Already?"
Embarrassment crossed Eun Il-myeong's face.
He hadn't prepared anything, yet they were already here. It was awkward.
Before he could order his subordinates, the visitors entered.
"Haha! Pavilion Master Eun."
With a friendly laugh, a middle-aged man in light blue scholar's robes entered the annex. Three people followed him.
It was Nangong Chang, O Gun-ui, Nangong Su, and Hae So-wol.
"Hmm!"
"I am Nangong Chang of the Nangong family. Pleased to meet you like this, Pavilion Master Eun."
"Eun Il-myeong of the Silver Pavilion greets Great Hero Nangong."
Eun Il-myeong cupped his fists.
'Well, well.'
Cho Yeon-un's eyes sparkled.
He knew warriors from the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families were gathering in Evil Yang, but he hadn't expected to see an elder from the Nangong family—a key figure among the Five Great Families—here.
It was too coincidental to be chance.
Meanwhile, O Gun-ui stepped forward for greetings.
"I'm O Gun-ui of the Haenam Sect. Pleased to meet you."
Following Nangong Chang, O Gun-ui's introduction plunged Eun Il-myeong into confusion.
First the Nangong family, now the Haenam Sect.
The Silver Pavilion's fame spanned Hunan, but Nangong family and Haenam Sect's renown shook the world.
Either was too much for the Silver Pavilion to handle.
Nangong Su and Hae So-wol followed, cupping their fists.
"Nangong Su of the Nangong family greets Pavilion Master Eun."
"Hae So-wol of the Haenam Sect pays respects to Great Hero Eun."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm sorry I can't host you properly since this isn't my home."
They exchanged ceremonial greetings.
Outwardly, the mood was harmonious. But an invisible tension crackled between them.
Eun Il-myeong spoke first.
"May I ask what brings all of you to this humble Eun?"
Nangong Chang smiled in response.
"Just stopping by to say hello."