Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Jang Ilso laughed as if intrigued.

“You didn’t plan on doing so to begin with.”

At Chung Myung’s words, Jang Ilso’s eyes bore a strange light.

This guy is definitely interesting. Even Ho Gamyeong, who knows Jang Ilso best, cannot fully read his inner thoughts. But this guy finds out his true intentions without any hesitation.

Is there anyone else in the world who is this interesting?

“There wasn’t one, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Explosive.”

“Hahaha.”

Jang Ilso laughed mischievously.

“You probably haven’t checked yet… What a shame. You should have checked the hole yourself and twisted your stomach. Of course, I would have been just as disappointed not to see that scene.”

Chung Myung’s lips seemed to twist in distaste.

‘He played us well.’

Of course, there were explosives.

The explosion that brought down the cliff wasn’t human-made. There definitely were explosives.

But there weren’t any other explosives.

Thinking about it, it’s quite obvious. Explosive enough to bring down all the cliffs is hard to obtain even for the officials. It is almost impossible to get it and move it to the Yangtze River in a short period of time, avoiding everyone’s eyes, and planting it in an appropriate place.

Still, at that moment, no one doubted that there were explosives there. Even Chung Myung.

There are two reasons.

The sight of the cliff exploding due to the ignited explosives was too overpowering. There’s no way people who saw the spectacular scene can think rationally and calmly.

No, even if they thought there was only a one-in-ten chance that explosives were set in the cliff, they would have had to inevitably climb up.

Because no one would risk their life on a one-tenth chance.

And the other reason…

“It was also a groundwork to bring and hand over Hundred Thunder Cannons.”

“Of course.”

Jang Ilso laughed excitedly.

It’s like a game of chess. Isn’t it like Chung Myung is slowly revisiting the moves Jang Ilso made?

No matter how great a move is made, if no one understands the meaning of the move, the player feels lonely. That’s why great people need worthy opponents.

“Those who came to the Yangtze River were watching Mount Hua’s every move without missing any. I’m sure they knew that you guys had Hundred Thunder Cannons in your hands.”

“….”

“If they weren’t stupid, they would have understood the moment they faced me that the Hundred Thunder Cannons had come out of my hands. So….”

Jang Ilso smiled sinisterly.

“They must’ve thought I had a lot of explosives, thanks to you.”

“You snake like bastard…”

This was more of a compliment than a curse.

In short, that’s how it is.

Ten Great Sects were scared by non-existent explosives and desperately climbed the cliff. Thanks to that, they suffered unnecessary damage and exhausted all their energy while climbing cliffs.

“There must have been nothing on the retreat route either, right?”

“Of course.”

Jang Ilso added with a smile of admiration.

“I didn’t have the resources to send my force that far.”

“…What would you have done if they had retreated?”

“There’s nothing I can do. I have no choice but to become a dog chasing a chicken and run around in tatters.” (In Korea, ‘a dog chasing a chicken’ means one’s effort ends up for naught/with nothing to gain.)

Jang Ilso shrugs his shoulders.

“But then it proved that they are dumber than I thought, so isn’t that a benefit in its own way? I could swallow such idiots at any time.”

Chung Myung distorted his face and laughed, clutching his stomach.

This man is a real lunatic.

His stomach turned upside down as if he had swallowed something wrong. The more he looks at it one by one, the more obvious it becomes.

Everyone here was played around by Jang Ilso.

What makes it even more unbearable for Chung Myung is that even Mount Hua was being played on Jang Ilso’s palm.

It all started from luring them into the Yangtze. Jang Ilso must have been planning from the beginning to lure other factions by bringing Mount Hua into the Yangtze River.

The Ten Great Sect and Five Great Family, who had never imagined that the Evil Faction would dare to sell a trap against them, were caught in the trap.

His smile suddenly disappeared as if it had been washed away and only a cold expression remained.

“Yangzte River Non-aggression Pact….”

Chung Myung gritted his teeth.

“You sneakily excluded Heavenly Comrade Alliance from that treaty.”

“You wouldn’t have agreed anyway.”

Jang Ilso chuckled.

“You’re different from those idiots. You won’t back down. And you were the only one who could make a choice on behalf of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”

“That can’t be all, can it?”

“Ha… haha.”

Jang Ilso’s face, which was smiling brightly, hardened slightly. Chung Myung’s words seem to have gone beyond his expectations this time.

“Anyway, that’s fine. I’ll make good use of the land you handed over. Tell those pirate bastards clearly. If they so much as approach it, I’ll cut off their heads.”

“Why should I? I’m sure you understand that the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family cannot access the Yangtze River, right? But why should I guarantee your territory? Huh?”

“Because that’s what you want.”

“….”

Jang Ilso’s eyes narrowed.

Killing intent.

The thick killing intent seeped through the slits of his narrowed eyes.

“Mount Hua Divine Dragon. Mount Hua Divine Dragon….”

Jang Ilso, who quietly muttered, shook his head.

“That title is now too inadequate for you. It sends chills down my spine.”

“Don’t flatter me. It’s just a cheap trick.”

What Jang Ilso wants now is the downfall of the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family. First of all, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance will not be in his sight for now.

In terms of power, even if Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Evil Faction combined, they are either on par with or even inferior to the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family.

As long as there is no possibility that Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Evil Tyrant Alliance will join hands, Evil Tyrant Alliance will not be relieved with this one victory.

So, they stall for time using the non-aggression pact. And…

‘You will thoroughly topple the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family.’

Rumors that the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family were defeated and retreated from the Yangtze will soon spread everywhere. As will the rumor that they begged for their lives pitifully.

Because Jang Ilso will personally spread them.

Criticism will reach heaven, and the reputation and honor they have built will crash to the ground.

But in the meantime… If Heavenly Comrade Alliance can proudly hold a front in the Yangtze River?

What if the Heavenly Comrade Alliance protects the people there?

‘It would be hell for the Ten Great Sects.’

If even Heavenly Comrade Alliance had succumbed, there would be some public opinion that it couldn’t be helped. But if rumors spread that Heavenly Comrade Alliance resisted to the end, no one would dare to prefix the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family with one-word ‘Righteousness.’

In other words, it is none other than Jang Ilso who is now most desperate to praise the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

“Tsk. Boring. It should have been a gift given to someone who is scared and trying to run away.”

Jang Ilso took a sip and clicked his tongue.

“The pirates will not approach the area you occupied, let alone Kugang. If those Ten Great Sects bastards fight to block the trade route without considering survival, or if that dumb Black Dragon King excessively robs the trade ships Gangnam, it’d inconvenience me.”

“You’re talking stupidly. Even after hearing that, do you think I will let you pass for a small amount of money?”

“You intend to rip off as much as you can anyway, aren’t you? Am I wrong?”

Chung Myung smiled with his teeth revealed.

Of course, he was furious inside, to the point of grinding his teeth.

But to put it bluntly, Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Mount Hua have not lost anything from this. On the contrary, they have gained too much.

Heavenly Comrade Alliance will now take over the seat of the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family, which represented the Righteousness of Kangho in the past, and will monopolize the shipping route to Gangnam, reaping massive profits.

In return, the Evil Tyrant Alliance weakened the power of the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family and bought time to sort out their internal matters.

A hostile symbiotic relationship.

There would be no more appropriate expression about their relationship.

“What do you think, Mount Hua Divine Dragon?”

“…What?”

“Do you like my gift?”

“….”

“You can’t refuse this gift. No, you have no way to refuse. But you don’t have to thank me. After all, I’ve received plenty of gifts from you too. Hahaha!”

Chung Myung’s smile deepened.

“I’ll tell you, too.”

“Hm?”

Jang Ilso watched Chung Myung with a smile on his face. As if dying to know what he would say next.

“You’re right. You won this war.”

“Hm?”

“But it’s only a war.”

“….”

Jang Ilso’s eyes sank gently.

“Watch and you will find out. What a foolish act you did.”

“…A foolish act?”

“In comparison to war, a battle is a small thing.”

“Of course.”

“But when compared to fate, even war is trivial.”

“….”

“If you really wanted to get your hands on Kangho, you should have taken me and Mount Hua down here at all costs. The one who’s distracted by the small prey in front and misses the big one is actually you.”

“….”

“You’ll see.”

The gruesome killing intent oozed out of Chung Myung’s body.

“What it means to give Mount Hua time. It won’t be long. The moment your neck is severed, you will surely regret today, over and over. Without a doubt.”

“….”

Jang Ilso’s face turned cold.

A simple threat… No, it might just be an act of defiance.

But…

In Jang Ilso’s ears, those words didn’t sound that simple.

He needs to keep him alive. Chung Myung is essential to his plan. Thanks to his existence, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, Evil Tyrant Alliance, Ten Great Sects, and Five Great Family can maintain their balance.

If Chung Myung doesn’t exist, the Heavenly Comrade Alliance will collapse rapidly, and Ten Great Sects and Five Great Family, with no one keeping them in check, will head south with bloodshot eyes.

Yet…. on the other hand, his instincts tell him.

Perhaps letting this young one go might be more dangerous than confronting Ten Great Sects and Five Great Family.

Just as he had said.

Udeuk.

Jang Ilso clenched his fist unknowingly.

‘Should I…’

It was the very moment when Jang Ilso bit his lips in the seething killing intent.

Suddenly, he saw a group of martial artists approaching quickly in the distance.

‘That?’

Jang Ilso’s eyes widened slightly. They were still too far to see clearly, but they were undoubtedly approaching at a surprising speed.

‘Green?’

The moment he saw their green robes, Jang Ilso was able to identify those approaching.

“Tsk….”

With a taste of bitterness, Jang Ilso reluctantly unclenched his fist. No matter how much he is, it’s too much to kill Chung Myung before they arrive. And if a battle ensued here, now the odds were against Jang Ilso.

If that happens, eventually…

“…..So it was my side that was spared?”

“If only that Heo Dojin moron hadn’t done anything stupid.”

The Sichuan Tang Family. They were swiftly moving towards Chung Myung.

If they had joined the battlefield, the results would certainly have been different.

“…When did you call them?”

“One can never know how the world will turn.”

Jang Ilso stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.

‘That was close.’

He could have been the one cornered. This guy is really dangerous.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Jang Ilso finished the drink in his hand and looked down at Chung Myung.

“Regardless, I’m the one who won this war.”

“Yeah. So, enjoy it.”

Chung Myung revealed his teeth with a smile.

“That short-lived moment of joy.”

The eyes of the two men staring at each other were filled with intense killing intent.

“Hmph.”

With a light snort, Jang Ilso turned away and climbed into his carriage.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

In the carriage that began to move slowly, Jang Ilso leaned his head against the wall with a strange expression.

‘It’s vexing.’

He thought it was a complete victory. But now… wasn’t it just an extremely lucky win? If they had endured until the arrival of the Sichuan Tang Family, the Evil Tyrant Alliance would not have been able to take the upper hand on the battlefield and negotiate.

“The taste of the drink has fallen.”

A faint murmur escaped his red lips. Jang Ilso’s eyes narrowed like a snake’s.

‘Mount Hua…And Mount Hua Divine Dragon, Chung Myung.’

It was the moment Jang Ilso carved the name into his heart.

“I should prepare a proper name. It won’t do for the enemy of this Jang Ilso to be referred to as such a greenhorn title.”

Moments later, his soft chuckle echoed beyond the carriage, gradually spreading across the tranquil land.