Return of the Mount Hua Sect

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m a mess, Mount Hua Divine Dragon!”

“What is it?”

Unlike Hong Dae-gwang, whose face turned pale, Chung Myung was calm.

The beggar who delivered the news frowned at the two contrasting men.

‘No, why are you here with all that grunt?’

It might not be Hong Dae-gwang’s branch, but there’s still a branch of Beggar Union here. If he calls himself a beggar of Beggar Union then he should come to the branch to do his jobs, why does he come here with pirates and bandits all around him…..

No, before that, why did Huayin Buntaju come all the way here?

“Nanjing, Taizhou (??(泰州)), Wuhu (??(芜湖)), Huanggang (??(黄冈)), Yueyang (??(岳阳)), all are at war!”

“…What are you talking about?”

“War has broken out! It seems a war has broken out between the Evil Sect and Righteous Sect in the cities on the Yangtze River!”

“Huh?”

Hong Dae-gwang’s face darkened because of the serious situation.

“It’s not just a fight, it’s a fight to end each other completely.”

Hyun Jong, who had been listening from the side, frowned and asked.

“Buntaju, are you sure about the news?”

“I- It is certain, Sect Leader. This information comes from Beggar Union Headquarters.”

“…If it’s from the headquarters, it must have been confirmed, but why all of a sudden…”

Hong Dae-gwang swallowed dry saliva and opened his mouth.

“As you know, in cities with a large population, Evil Sect and Righteous Sect coexist to some extent.”

“That’s right.”

“In Hanam, where Righteous Sects are so strong, Evil Sects cannot set foot. But other cities are different. Aren’t there quite a few Evil Sect in the island where Mount Hua is located right now?”

“That’s right.”

“Evil Sect guys also exist in Southern Edge Sect and Shaanxi where Mount Hua is located, how much more would it be elsewhere? Most of them don’t like the Evil Sect, but if they fight a war to kill each other, there will be nothing left, so they just condone it.”

On the other hand, it is difficult for Righteous Factions to set foot in the Gangnam region, where there are almost no Ten Great Sect. In particular, it was no exaggeration to say that the area around Guangxi Province and Guangdong Province, where Myriad Man Manor was located, and Zhejiang Province, where the pleasure district forms the center of the market, was entirely Evil Sect’s territory.

There was also a half-hearted reason to try to keep these Evil Sect in check by including the Hainan Sect, located in Hainan Island, in the old faction after Mount Hua left.

However, Righteous Sect and Evil Sect were bound to blend together in moderation unless they were able to claim areas for certain.

“But why all of a sudden?”

“I think it’s because of Shaolin and Wudang.”

“Hmm.”

“Shaolin and Wudang are flocking to the Yangtze River to punish the pirates, and the problem is that they have not informed the other sect of their intentions in advance. So for the other sect around the Yangtze River, this is…….”

Hyun Young took the lead.

“It seems that Ten Great Sect and Five Great Family will join hands to stop pirates in the Yangtze River?”

“That’s exactly how it seems.”

“Hoho…. Yes. I would think so too.”

Shaolin and Wudang are sects with the status of leaders even in the Ten Great Sect. The two sects joined forces with Namgung Family, the head of the Five Great Family.

Of course, the combined power of the three sects may be thirty percent of the power of the sect of Jungwon, but from the perspective of those watching from the sidelines, almost all Righteous Sects seem to join forces.

Chung Myung, who had been listening quietly, smiled and opened his mouth.

“Actually, it would be great if they completely subjugated the Yangtze River, and even if they didn’t, those great sects would take advantage of the gap in the Yangtze River and clean up the things they didn’t want to see.”

“Tha- That’s possible!”

Not all sects move in one mind, so they cannot fully understand their intentions. However, the reason for the movement was clear when looking at the situation.

Someone muttered.

“But no matter how, there was nothing until now, and all of a sudden…”

It’s not one or two sects.

How many cities were mentioned by Hong Dae-gwang? This means that there are already wars in five places. If they didn’t say it because it didn’t have to be mentioned, or if they included a small group of people who were not worthy of an emergency intelligence, there might be battles going on in dozens of places.

It literally means that war is spreading like wildfire.

“It’s all different. In their view, it’s definitely different now.”

“Because Shaolin and Wudang moved?”

“Of course those two sects, but Namgung Family has not left its territory for decades.”

“…Now that you mention it.”

“It’s not a common thing for a huge sect to leave for an expedition. You may not know it’s strange because Mount Hua always runs around when something happens…”

Chung Myung squinted his eyes.

“What? Are you saying our butts are light now?”

“That’s not what I meant…..”

“I think it is?”

Hyun Sang sighed as he looked at Hong Dae-gwang, who began to sweat profusely.

“Buntaju, ignore what Chung Myung says and just continue what you were saying.”

“…I’d love to, but I’m afraid of the consequences….”

“Sect Leader will stop him.”

In the midst of that, it was Hyun Sang who didn’t say that he would stop Chung Myung.

“Anyway… since the Great War of Magyo, the great sects have rarely left their territory. If they are to march out, it may mean that the peaceful Kangho as we know it will not continue.”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, isn’t it the case that their target isn’t a sect from the Righteous Faction, but the Evil Faction? If the forces of Murim have enough power, subduing the Evil Faction is the first thing to happen, as proven by the history of Kangho. So normally…”

“Haha. Start by defeating the bandits.”

“….”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Im Sobyong. Clear tears were falling from his eyes.

“As expected! Ta-da! I’ve already heard news that about three strongholds have been attacked! Gosh, the heroes of our Righteous Faction are so eager, it’s going to be a complete mess….”

“Don’t cry and tell the story.”

“N- No. If you’re going to cry, cry. If you’re going to laugh, laugh.”

“Because it’s funny, it’s funny…….”

Im Sobyong sighed as if the ground had caved in.

“I’ve told everyone not to fight back for now and to run to the next stronghold if anyone attacks. At least those who have switched industries had already put in a good word with the nearby Righteous Sects and did some business in the city, so they are somewhat okay….”

“You did business?”

“Publicity is key! Publicity! You have to do it if you want to make a living.”

“….”

Mountain bandits went down the mountain and did business in the city?

“….What on earth is this guy thinking….”

“Sect Leader. It came out in words. You should have thought about it.”

“Keu- Keuhum. I need to stop making mistakes….”

Im Sobyong shook his head.

“Of course, it wasn’t direct business. I requested the city’s merchants to do it. Anyway, those places might somehow survive, but in this turmoil, the stronghold won’t be able to avoid getting swept away, so who knows how many will be destroyed….”

His words trailed off and he sighed. Then Chung Myung said with a sullen face.

“What are you sighing at? It’s good to have bandits destroyed.”

“…It’s because I’m a bandit. A bandit.”

“Well, it’s karma, then. Just use this chance to drop everything and start afresh.”

Hong Dae-gwang, who was listening to nonsense, cleared his throat and changed the subject.

“That movement alone should be enough to notice the change, since other sects are also here.”

“What sect?”

“…The best sect at grinding Evil Sect. Isn’t there currently a force that could hold its ground in front of the Ten Great Sect and the Five Great Family?”

“Heavenly Comrade Alliance”?

“Mount Hua?”

“….Yes, exactly.”

Hyun Young let out a sigh.

“So it seems to other Righteous Sects that this situation is seen as a collaboration between Heavenly Comrade Alliance, Ten Great Sect and the Five Great Family, grinding Eighteen Water Fortress of Yangtze River?”

“Wouldn’t that be the case?”

No matter where one looks at it.

They are from Mount Hua and belong to the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, so they know that the relationship between the Heavenly Comrade Alliance and the Ten Great Sect is probably worse than that of the Evil Faction. Other small and medium-sized sects would not think that far.

Then, of course, it would look like they joined forces to deal with pirates of Yangtze River.

“Major sects influence the surrounding areas. The reason why the Evil Faction cannot set foot where a major sect is located is not because the major sect is directly managing the territory. It’s because the sects that depend on the major sect nip the Evil Sect’s sprouts. Whether it’s a subsidiary or completely different sect.”

Everyone nodded their heads.

The reason why there was no Evil Sect on Xi’an of Shaanxi where Huayin Sect is because of Southern Edge Sect. Sects carrying Southern Edge Sect’s power on their backs cut the buds before Evil Sect even sticks his feet.

Wasn’t the reason why Myiard Man Manor’s forces attacked Xi’an in the first place because Southern Edge Sect had closed the gate?

“And it’s the same with the Evil Factions. In other words, until now, the Evil Sect around the Yangtze River have been bullying others, riding on the power of the pirates from the Yangtze River. So the Righteous Factions that have been patient until now…”

“They started to fight back because they saw the water fortresses splitting up?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Huh….”

Hyun Jong sighed long.

‘This is a big deal.’

The battle that’s happening right here might not be much. The problem is that the fight is gradually expanding.

“Gangbuk, where the Righteous Factions are mainly located, and Gangnam, where the Evil Factions are mainly located, were divided by the Yangtze River as the starting point.”

“Yes, this place is like a boundary line between Righteousness and Evil. But that boundary line… It’s getting blurred now. They’re even connecting…”

Everyone’s heads turned to one person.

“Why?”

“….”

“No, I don’t care if there’s Evil Faction in Gangnam or Righteous Faction in Gangbuk. I’m trying to make a living! Where’s the Evil Faction and Righteous Faction in front of money?”

It is true, but it was not something that would come out of a Taoist’s mouth.

“Excuse me, Buntaju.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“How do you think this matter will turn out from your perspective? It doesn’t seem like it’s going to simply end like this, does it? Perhaps……”

Hyun Jong couldn’t bring himself to say the rest.

He was asking whether this spark might ignite a large war between the Righteous and Evil Factions, but it was too ominous to voice out loud.

But Hong Dae-gwang tactfully noticed what he was going to say.

“I don’t think it will get to that point”

“Why do you think so?”

“It’s because they’re Evil Sect.”

“Hm?”

“In the case of the Righteous Sects, if Wudang got attacked then Shaolin would come to help and if the Southern Edge Sect got attacked then Mount Hua would…”

“Attack them together.”

“…This example is a little wrong. Anyway, it is a matter of course, but Evil Sect doesn’t help each other. If the water fortresses are attacked, instead of helping, there’s a high probability they will rush from behind to tear down its power.”

“Haha. They’re like ghouls.”

“Exactly why they are Evil Factions, right?”

Hong Dae-gwang nodded.

“Yes, so I think there is a high probability that the small Evil Sect in Gangbuk will be cleaned up and the water fortresses will also end in great damage. Is there any other sect who will fight against Shaolin, Wudang or Namgung Family?”

“……Indeed, those are intimidating names.”

“Oho! Why are you leaving Mount Hua out?”

Hong Dae-gwang smiled bitterly at Hyun Young’s teasing.

“The problem is that there is a widespread perception that Righteous Factions and Evil Faction are fighting a war. Once that perception starts to spread, who knows when and where things might blow up, right?”

“Yes, I suppose so. Things that would’ve been tolerated before won’t be anymore. Whether it’s this side or that side.”

“Yes, that is the problem… Anyway, for now, I don’t think this issue will spread further.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Then Chung Myung, who had his arms crossed, chuckled.

“Will it really turn out that way?”

“Huh?”

Hong Dae-gwang looked as if he was wondering what that meant, but Chung Myung didn’t bother to explain and fell into thought.

‘It all comes down to how the Evil Factions act…’

Realistically speaking, Hong Dae-gwang would be right.

But what if someone predicted this situation from the start and has been orchestrating it all along?

Then that person would certainly try to profit from this situation.

“People don’t always act according to common sense. Especially that kind of guy.”

“That kind of guy?”

Chung Myung twisted the corners of his mouth.

‘That’s why humans are scarier than ghosts or monsters.’

Chung Myung’s gaze turned far south.

Towards the place where a person like the incarnation of desire would be watching this situation with a smile.