Return of the Mount Hua Sect

Yet who wouldn’t be swayed by the word ‘opportunity’?

The people in front had no choice but to listen to Jang Ilso’s words.

The breeze lightly ruffled Jang Ilso’s neat hair. His pale fingers gently swept the fallen strands back into place.

His mouth slowly began to open again.

“Really… isn’t it touching?”

Jang Ilso’s gaze slowly shifted backward. Though certainly obscured by the towering Black Dragon Ship, he seemingly made clear what he was referring to as the source of this ‘touching’ sentiment.

As his gaze reached toward Plum Blossom Island, some from Shaolin involuntarily flinched and trembled. They still can’t look straight in that direction.

Jang Ilso, who turned his gaze back to Shaolin, nodded his head in amazement and continued speaking.

“Life is precious to everyone. But the man says he will give up his own life. For Chivalrousness and honor!”

A low, chuckling sound of laughter flowed through the river.

It was truly unfathomable. Given that these words came from Jang Ilso, they should undoubtedly be a mockery, yet his tone undoubtedly carried genuine admiration. So, Shaolin, who is listening, is bound to be confused.

“Namgung has proven it. That the Chivalrousness they were crying out for did not just exist in words.”

It felt like they gained an understanding of what it meant to be sucked into words. Every word of Jang Ilso captivated them.

However…

“Shut that mouth!”

It seems that Bop Jeong could not listen to Jang Ilso’s words. He let out a tremendous lion-like roar, interrupting Jang Ilso’s speech. However, even in what should have been a powerful lion-like roar, there was an undeniable hint of urgency.

As if not silencing Jang Ilso immediately could lead to dire consequences.

“You wicked demon! Disciples of Shaolin should not be misled by the man’s words. Maintain your right mind!”

With that, Shaolin’s disciples turned their gaze to Bop Jeong.

Right mind? What did Jang Ilso say that he was misleading them?

“You don’t understand.”

“This….”

“I have told you, haven’t I? I only came here to offer you an opportunity.”

As Jang Ilso laughed softly, the face of Bop Kye, who was standing next to Bop Jeong, became cruelly distorted. That hateful smile brought back memories of that day three years ago.

“What opportunity do you mean to give us?”

“Bop Kye!”

Bop Jeong hurriedly tried to silence Bop Kye, but once the words were out, there was no taking them back.

Then, the corners of Jang Ilso’s red mouth widened as if he was waiting for those words to come out.

“Your chivalrousness… the opportunity to prove it.”

Bop Jeong’s eyes were bloodshot with rage.

“You…”

As if he couldn’t hide his anger, vivid tendons appeared on his neck.

However, Jang Ilso laughed so happily at his appearance.

“Hahahaha! Why are you so angry, Great Master?” (??(大師))

Then he spread his arms wide and pointed behind him with an exaggerated gesture.

“There! That’s where they are.”

“…….”

“Exterminate Death Demon (??(死魔))!”

The hem of his robes fluttered as if dancing.

“Rescue the commoners! Those who risked their lives for that chivalrousness are right there! In front of your eyes!”

It was uncomfortable because the tone was exaggerated, like a performance of a Peking opera, but it somehow made it impossible to look away. As Jang Ilso’s arms slowly lowered, the Shaolin monks also held their breath.

Jang Ilso slowly began to bring down the atmosphere that had been raised all at once. His eyebrows softened as if sad.

“However, sadly… they are now dying.”

A deep sigh slipped from his red lips.

“Those with deep injuries won’t last long. Surrounded by a horde of villains after exhausting all their strength, they will soon follow suit one after the other. No matter how great heroes they are, if they are isolated on an island without a grain of rice, they would obviously meet their end.”

Bop Jeong clenched the hem of his robe tightly. As the internal strength was raised, the hem of the robes turned into powder, but Bop Jeong did not even notice that fact and was busy glaring at Jang Ilso as if he were going to kill him.

“Fortunately, however….”

At that time, Jang Ilso’s transparent gaze swept over everyone from Shaolin.

“Here are heroes capable of rescuing them.”

Ttaak!

The sound of Jang Ilso snapping his fingers instantly brightened the atmosphere.

“It’s not hard. Yes, it’s not hard at all.”

“…….”

“Rescuing those in peril is what a chivalrous martial artist (??(俠士)) should naturally do, right?”

All from Shaolin bit their lips hard. It was only then that they understood what Jang Ilso was getting at.

“Of course, of course! There are obstacles. Vile scoundrels from the Evil Sects are blocking the way! But… that shouldn’t be much of a problem, right? Namgung has proven its chivalrousness with their lives, surely the world famous Shaolin won’t say they can’t do the same, will they?”

“Jang Il…”

Ttaak.

Before Bop Jeong could even start, Jang Ilso snapped his fingers again.

“I’m giving you an opportunity.”

Bop Jeong wished he could just cover his ears.

That demon digs into people’s hearts. He seems to instinctively know the weakest part of the human heart. He burrows into the weakest spot, tears it open, pours salt on it, and then tramples on it.

“From now, on the fifth day when the sun rises, we will enter that island again.”

A slightly elated voice spilled from Jang Ilso’s mouth.

“I’m sure everyone will die then… without leaving a single one behind. Every single one bears the name of Namgung.”

Bop Jeong’s fingertips trembled.

“So, before those five days pass, you must decide. Will you just watch them die by our hands, or will you fight us, open a path, and rescue them?”

“Jang Ilsoooo!”

Once again, a tremendous roar burst forth from Bop Jeong.

“How can a human do such a thing? How can someone wearing human skin do such…”

It was undoubtedly a justified fury.

Taking Bop Jeong’s actions so far into account, having hundreds of lives as hostages and luring another group of victims into a trap is surely not something that could be done by a human.

However, Jang Ilso tilted his head as if he was puzzled.

“Are those words… meant for me, Great Master?”

“You vile creature! Who else could it be if not you!”

“Aah, I thought…”

Jang Ilso let out an overt sneer.

“…Great Master were talking about yourself.”

Bop Jeong clenched his teeth until they almost bled.

“Isn’t it true? You all watched. You observed with your own eyes as they were torn apart by pirates of water fortress, trampled under their feet.”

Jang Ilso’s eyes glared firmly at everyone in Shaolin.

It was truly bizarre. Jang Ilso is the evil of Evil Sects, and those who stand here are the Chivalrous martial artists of Righteous Sects who protect the world from such Evil Sects. However, no one here could look directly at the leader of the cruel Evil Sects.

It wasn’t Jang Ilso that made them avert their gaze. It was the conscience that existed in their hearts. Jang Ilso merely touched that very conscience.

“How can someone wearing human skin leave that alone? Right? Especially Shaolin, who claims to protect the chivalrousness of Jungwon? My gosh…”

“You puuuunk!”

Bop Jeong burst into anger. If the distance was close, he might have struck Jang Ilso dead in one blow.

Unfortunately, however, there was a river between him and Jang Ilso, and all Bop Jeong could do now was to vent his anger meaninglessly.

“Hahahahaha!”

As if Bop Jeong’s response was immensely delightful, Jang Ilso laughed like a child.

“Why are you so angry, Great Master? On the contrary, isn’t this something we should be happy about? No matter how much you have Chivalrousness in your heart, if you don’t get the opportunity to prove it, you won’t be a chivalrous martial artist.”

It seemed like a reverse question.

You have claimed to uphold Chivalrousness all this time, but I’m wondering if you can really risk your lives for that Chivalrousness. Didn’t you already hesitate once because your life was too precious?

They wanted to close their eyes.

They wanted to cover their ears.

Everyone from Shaolin realized. No matter how different they act from now on, the act of stopping their steps while watching Namgung fall into absolute despair won’t just disappear.

They have already once let go of the Chivalrousness they so vehemently discussed.

Why did they stop? Because Bop Jeong instructed them to?

That can’t be true.

The truth is they were afraid. Afraid to throw their life away for someone else. Even though they had taken it for granted that they had to do it, when they were actually given the chance to do so for the first time, their ankles were grabbed by the desire not to die.

Bop Jeong was merely giving them a justification. An excuse to stop their steps and shift the blame to someone else.

“A- Amitabha.”

“Amitabha.”

Whispers of the Buddhist chant leaked out here and there. This meant that their inner hearts were shaking.

Jang Ilso dared to bring out the truth that they wanted to ignore and engraved it into their flesh, bones, and hearts.

“So, prove it to your heart’s content.”

Jang Ilso’s lips parted, revealing his pearly white teeth.

“Are you really the ones willing to risk everything for Chivalrousness like you have always been shouting about?”

“Eek…”

“Or whether you are just hypocrites who have used the guise of Chivalrousness for your own benefit.”

Jang Ilso casually tapped his lips with his fingernail.

“With that… precious life of yours.”

“…….”

“And if it’s this Jang Ilso of Evil Tyrant Alliance, it’ll be a worthy opponent for you.”

Jang Ilso drove in the final push.

“Don’t forget. Five days. That’s more than enough time to ponder. Be deeply grateful for my mercy, Great Master! Ahahahahahaha!”

Having said his piece, he turned around, letting his red robe flutter as if Shaolin meant nothing to him. There was not a single trace of regret.

No one could catch him until the figure slowly disappeared into the Black Dragon Ship.

None stood up against him to prove their Chivalrousness.

They only clenched their teeth and glared at the river with his bloodshot eyes.

“…Amitabha.”

An empty chant leaks from the mouth of Bop Jeong.

His gaze encompassed Black Dragon Ship and the densely packed fleet of Evil Tyrant Alliance blocked their path. And Plum Blossom Island that existed beyond that. He even took in the sparse sight of Namgung’s sword warriors before finally closing his eyes.

“Amitabha….”

Perhaps it would have been better not to have heard at all. They should have realized it was too late the moment the demon started whispering in their ears.

He was so scared that he couldn’t look back. It was difficult to check the expression of the disciples behind him because he was afraid of what expressions they would be making.

‘This…’

Bop Jeong wrapped his face in one hand, stunned.

‘This place is hell.’

Where the demon resides. This place will soon be hell.