Return of the Mount Hua Sect

“Those….”

Eudeuk!

Biting his lips tightly, he trembled with rage.

‘Those idiots.’

He hadn’t given any orders to the pirates. His command was to annihilate the Namgung Family, nothing more. Yet, those foolish men were retreating, following the instructions of Ho Gamyeong.

“This….”

Of course, Ho Gamyeong was Jang Ilso’s right-hand man, the second in command of the Evil Tyrant Alliance. Given the system of command, it is not so wrong to listen to his orders. In any case, the Eighteen Water Fortress of the Yangtze River was also a part of the Evil Tyrant Alliance.

Nevertheless, the fact that the bandits followed Ho Gamyeong’s command without even confirming with him, who was right there, twisted his guts with anger.

“Huuu.”

Black Dragon King took a deep breath.

Despite the surging rage, shouting out would only mean acknowledging that he had momentarily lost control over the water fortress to them even for a moment. Instead, he clenched his teeth and leaped off the Black Dragon Ship.

Then he approached Jang Ilso heading for the ship.

“Jang Ilso!”

Then he called with the voice of an enraged beast.

“What are you doing? Why are you letting them go just like that? It would be over if you just twist their necks.”

Jang Ilso stopped in his tracks. He didn’t turn his body, just slightly turned his head to look at the Black Dragon King.

“You want an explanation for…”

The words he was about to utter came to a halt. Black Dragon King bit the inside of his mouth tightly without realizing it.

There was not a trace of emotion in Jang Ilso’s gaze.

As soon as those colorless and odorless eyes penetrated through him, Black Dragon King felt a chill as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

“Uh….”

Jang Ilso kept silent and stared at Black Dragon King. Black Dragon King struggled to meet the transparent gaze with bloodshot eyes. As if he had to prove who he was right then and there.

However, the standoff didn’t last long. Eventually, Black Dragon King was the first to avert his gaze.

“My apologies, Ryeonju… I was too heated.”

The slight bow of his head.

It wasn’t a gesture of complete submission, but it was enough to show a sufficient level of respect for the other party.

“Hm.”

Jang Ilso glanced at him with slight displeasure and then slowly nodded his head.

“I understand why Black Dragon King is so angry. It must be because I ordered the water fortress to retreat at will.”

“N- No, that’s not necessarily…”

“But it’s not something to be too upset about.”

Jang Ilso smiled and continued speaking.

“Killing and eradicating them isn’t such a big deal, is it?”

Black Dragon King doubted his ears for a moment.

‘Not a big deal?’

They are Namgung Family. The head of the Five Great Family and the prestigious family that has been in existence for hundreds of years. Just by exterminating them, Evil Tyrant Alliance and water fortress would be leaving behind an achievement they could boast about for millennia.

And yet… not a big deal?

“It’s just catching minnows.”

Jang Ilso continued.

“If you catch a minnow, you should catch at least a snakehead using the minnow as bait. What difference will it make if you catch just one minnow?”

“…a snakehead?”

“It is quite a big fish (??(大魚)).”

Jang Ilso slowly turned his head. His gaze stopped at the Black Dragon Ship, a symbol of Eighteen Water Fortress of the Yangtze River. A strange smile appeared on his lips.

“I’ll give you a detailed explanation once we’re aboard the ship.”

Black Dragon King’s expression stiffened slightly. But the moment Jang Ilso looked back at him as if asking if there was a problem, Black Dragon King had no choice but to nod.

“…Understood.”

“Let’s go, Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes!”

Jang Ilso and Ho Gamyeong slowly headed for the Black Dragon Ship. Black Dragon King followed them without a word.

“…….”

He bit his lips quietly, glaring at Jang Ilso’s back.

The Black Dragon Ship symbolizes the authority of Black Dragon King. No one can board this ship without the permission of Black Dragon King. There is no way Jang Ilso would not know about that fact, yet now he notified Black Dragon King that he will board the Black Dragon Ship.

That’s right. It wasn’t a request or a plea; it was a notice.

This clearly states the positions of Black Dragon King and Jang Ilso.

‘Jang Ilso…’

Black Dragon King clenched his fist.

But now it was too late to stop him. If he intended to stop him, he shouldn’t have lost the initiative in that initial confrontation. The moment he couldn’t withstand that gaze and averted his eyes, Black Dragon King had lost his right to control him.

‘How….’

Three years ago.

When they first formed the Evil Tyrant Alliance, Jang Ilso was not like this. The reason why the Five Great Evil Sects established Jang Ilso as Ryeonju was because they were confident they could control him.

But now, the doubt that had taken root kept rearing its head.

Is he really controllable? This snake?

As he watched Jang Ilso boarding the ship with his red long cloth flapping, cold sweat began to seep down his back.

Bop Jeong’s face turned blank as he watched Plum Blossom Island.

The pirates that filled the island were retreating one by one, and some were seen boarding ships.

“This is….”

Muttering to himself, Bop Jeong closed his mouth.

He tried to say, ‘How on earth is this happening?’ but he couldn’t bring himself to spit it out. Because he knows how stupid those words will sound to the ears of those watching behind him.

But his concern was nothing more than an excessive worry. Even if he had said that out loud, no one would have pointed a finger at him for being foolish.

Everyone else was just as baffled by the situation as he was. In fact, even if someone from the rest of the world were to witness this scene, they wouldn’t understand what was unfolding before their eyes.

“…They seem to be retreating.”

These were words that came from the mouth of Bop Kye. But that wasn’t something he said to Bop Jeong. Bop Kye just muttered what was visible in the confusing situation.

“Namgung Family… has already been defeated?”

“…That can’t be.”

No matter how surrounded they were, Namgung Family is still Namgung Family.

Especially, isn’t Emperor Sword Namgung Hwang right there?

No matter how much Jang Ilso or Black Dragon King possesses world class martial arts, it is impossible to subdue that Emperor Sword without so much fuss.

Then….

‘What on earth is going on over there?’

Why is there no battle?

And why did the battle not take place, but the pirates who had cornered Namgung Family just retreated?

Did they show mercy and let go of their cornered enemy?

That’s laughably absurd.

If that were the case, they wouldn’t even be called pirates in the first place.

“Amitabha…. Amitabha.”

Bop Jeong recited the Buddhist chant rapidly.

He doesn’t know what is going on and how. Ever since Jang Ilso appeared on the scene, everything in his mind seemed to be in disarray.

“Bangjang, perhaps…”

Bop Jeong turned to look at Bop Kye.

“Has Namgung… joined forces with…”

“Can’t you keep your mouth shut!”

At that moment, an angry shout burst out from Bop Jeong’s mouth.

There is no way that Bop Jeong does not know what Bop Kye is trying to say. Bop Kye was about to suggest the possibility that Namgung Family might have colluded with the pirates. But that’s a speculation that should never be uttered.

“Don’t discuss unfounded matters! It’s nothing but an insult to them!”

“I’m sorry, Bangjang. But the situation is…”

Although he scolded him, Bop Jeong understood the sentiments behind Bop Kye’s words.

No, to be honest, Bop Jeong has already thought about that possibility. It seemed impossible, but he couldn’t make sense of the events unfolding otherwise.

“Amitabha. Amitabha.”

Bop Jeong bit his lip. Just then, the sight of someone in a red cloak boarding the Black Dragon Ship caught his eye clearly.

‘What on earth are you thinking?’

There is no need to think about who is the one orchestrating all these events.

Jang Ilso.

It was clear that that demon-like person was plotting something evil.

But even Bop Jeong couldn’t figure out what the man was thinking.

Eudeudeuk.

It was when Bop Jeong was gritting his teeth and staring at Jang Ilso.

“They- They’re moving.”

“…….”

The ships docked at the island and slowly moved back. Even the pirates, who had pushed the beached ships back, eventually boarded them.

“A- Are they really leaving like that?”

“…Just why?”

“What are they thinking?”

Murmurs echoed from behind.

Shaolin, which was considered one of the most strict places in the world, was so deeply confused that even when the Bangjang was right in front of them, they started muttering to themselves.

“Are they really retreating from the island?”

“…What is this….”

They could see it in their eyes.

On an island where all enemies have retreated, the survivors of Namgung Family are standing sparsely in the center.

Bop Kye spoke again with a pale face.

“Ba- Bangjang. This can only mean that they’ve made some deal…”

“Didn’t I tell you to shut up!”

As formidable anger poured out of the eyes of Bop Jeong, Bop Kye quickly silenced himself again. Bop Jeong clenched his fist tightly.

‘It can’t be such an obvious trick.’

Namgung Family made a deal with them and returned alive?

What does that mean?

It is not Bop Jeong to suspect and ostracize Namgung just because of that. What can’t one do to survive? In order to achieve a cause, a gentleman does not hesitate to crawl between the crotch of the enemy and is willing to accept licking the gallbladder.

There was no reason for Bop Jeong to get caught up in such an obvious trick.

‘That’s not it. It’s something else. But just what… what can be gained from this situation?’

But soon, Bop Jeong realized.

The fact that it might be better not to know.

“The ships…”

“Ba- Bangjang, the ship is surrounding the island again.”

The Shaolin monks exclaimed in dismay. True to their words, the ships that had left the island did not retreat completely but started slowly encircling Plum Blossom again.

“Siege?”

Why again?

If that’s the case, it would be better just to kill them all…

“Ah…”

At that moment, Bop Jeong’s eyes widened as if they were about to split open.

“Ooh!”

A sound burst out as if his soul had entirely escaped through his mouth in an instant. Even Bop Kye, who had served Bop Jeong for a lifetime, had never heard such an intense groan.

His mouth was wide open and his eyes were shaking as if there had been an earthquake.

“H- How…!”

The bows of the ships, thickly encircling the island, were clearly turned outward, towards the north side of the river.

“H- How can a person do this? How can a human being use his power to do something like this! How! How on earth!”

“Ba- Bangjang!”

Bop Kye, who did not yet understand the situation, was greatly perplexed. He could swear it was his first time seeing Bop Jeong use such curses.

“Paegun! Paegun, you fiend who should fall into hell! How can a person do this? How can a person!”

“Ba- Bangjang, calm down!”

It was just then.

The huge Black Dragon Ship, which was intimidating just to look at, slowly approached them, cutting through the current. Eventually, the ship reached the river between the Shaolin monks and Plum Blossom Island, gradually reducing its speed and coming to a halt.

No one could breathe.

No one could speak.

On the sharp bow of the Black Dragon Ship, a man dressed in a crimson cloak appeared leisurely.

Everyone was frozen, unable to twitch a finger, just staring at Paegun Jang Ilso. Every look on his face, every gesture, every fluttering hem of his cloak in the wind!

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso’s two eyes precisely targeted the Shaolin side.

“Oh dear, why are you all so angry?”

A soft, low voice penetrated their ears.

“I came here to give you…”

The silence during the brief pause in his speech made everyone’s hearts sink. Soon the demon continued with a smile.

“I came here to give you an opportunity.”

His lips, red as blood, resembled a crescent moon.