Return of the Mount Hua Sect

All of this spoke of the hardships Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold had gone through.

Yet, even without looking at his face, it wasn’t hard to guess what he had been through. Above all, the arm that was cut off just below the shoulder clearly explains his situation.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold looked at the person sitting across from him with a haggard face. The person half-drooping on the throne was looking down at Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold with his legs crossed. The gaze was filled with unbearable arrogance.

He couldn’t tell if the look in those eyes was contempt, concern, or ridicule. Perhaps it contained all of the above.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold consciously straightened his shoulders. If he didn’t, they would keep drooping on their own.

Was it because of the guilt he carried?

Perhaps, but that’s not all of it.

The Jang Ilso he met for the first time in three years was not the Jang Ilso he knew.

In just three years, Jang Ilso had become someone who suited that throne all too well. So much so that even Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold was overwhelmed by his presence.

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“…Such a tasteless joke.”

Jang Ilso said in a languid voice.

“It hasn’t been long since Black Dragon King cut off his arm on Plum Blossom Island, and now Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold appears with his arm cut off…. If this continues, we will have to recruit a prosthetic maker to Evil Tyrant Alliance.”

“….”

When there was no answer from Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, Jang Ilso shook his head. There’s nothing more boring than having a conversation with someone who doesn’t appreciate jokes.

“Well then. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

At those words, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s empty pupils stared at Jang Ilso.

“Whether it’s an excuse or persuasion, try me. Though I doubt losing an arm in an unpermitted confrontation against Magyo will suffice as an excuse.”

The cruel eyes mixed with laughter pierced through Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold. It was quite different from the almost corpse-like look in Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s eyes.

However, the current Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold did not feel any fear from that gaze. The ordeal he had been through was too shocking to fear such a look.

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“…Bishop….”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold forced his mouth to open.

“That’s… not human.”

Jang Ilso’s eyes sank grimly.

“You’ve brought back quite the tale for the price of an arm.”

“…I’m not saying this to make excuses, Ryeonju.”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s lips began to tremble slightly. As if even recalling that bishop was difficult and painful.

“Nothing worked. Absolutely nothing… Even the sword I plunged into that monster’s chest couldn’t injure him.”

The moment those words came out, Jang Ilso’s eyebrows twitched.

Setting aside his personal feelings towards Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, his Ghost King Twelve Styles is a complete sword art (??(劍藝)) that even Jang Ilso cannot help but acknowledge.

But there is a person in this world who cannot even be hurt by that Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold?

‘It’s not realistic.’

Jang Ilso leaned slightly forward from his reclined position.

“Tell me in more detail.”

“As I live… It was my first time encountering something like that. It’s beyond human capacity. Nothing worked… Absolutely nothing.”

“There is nothing in this world that people cannot do anything about.”

Jang Ilso said nonchalantly.

“Kangho already completely destroyed those Magyo a hundred years ago. But now? This sounds like a poor joke.”

“…A joke, you say?”

In response to Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s question, Jang Ilso’s eyes showed a moment of irritation.

He still thought it was nonsense, but he felt even more uncomfortable because he couldn’t ignore it. The reason is very simple. It was because it was none other than Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold who was telling the joke.

If the person who conveyed these words had been Black Dragon King or Thousand-Faced Gentleman, HE would have been able to ignore it as just a frightened bastard rambling on his own.

However, it is not a loan worth a million dollars. The Mangeum godfather Jang Ilso knows will not lose his temper even when his head is cut off.

“…I don’t even understand it myself. No… to be honest, I was just scared.”

“So….”

Jang Ilso opened his mouth in a very serious tone.

“Are you saying they’re so strong that even someone as strong as you can’t do anything about it? That bishop?”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold did not answer right away but hesitated. As if he needed to organize his thoughts.

“…It’s a bit different.”

“Different?”

“Obviously he was strong. He was beyond common sense. He faced me and a hundred of my elite men at once without sustaining a single injury.”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold trembled as if remembering that scene.

“But… right. Now that I think about it, it was indeed strange.”

“Stop muttering to yourself and talk properly. Unless your head has gone crazy.”

When Jang Ilso urged him on, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, who thought for a moment, spoke in a slightly cracked voice.

“…I wasn’t able to fully utilize my skills.”

When Jang Ilso heard those words, a look flashed in his eyes.

“In more detail.”

“It wasn’t that my body was failing me. I can’t deny I was overwhelmed by his momentum, but that alone doesn’t explain it. Despite giving it my all, my sword didn’t feel like my sword. It was as if… yes, as if I was swinging my sword deep underwater.”

Jang Ilso slowly licked his lips.

“Demonic arts…”

The legends surrounding Magyo have always been exaggerated.

The most absurd thing among them is that they always pushed the entire Jungwon even though their numbers were never the majority.

No matter how much they surrendered themselves to fanaticism, they were born of the same flesh and blood as any other person, there is no way there will be much difference no matter what they learn.

But now, after listening to Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s words, he felt like the mystery of that strangeness had been solved to some extent.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold added.

“… I felt like I hit a wall. A wall that couldn’t be surmounted by anything.”

Jang Ilso’s face hardened and was lost in thought.

Reflecting on the history, it’s evident that no Evil Sects martial artist has ever gained fame in wars against Magyo. Even in the last war against Magyo, Evil Sects were simply swept away helplessly against Magyo.

Is it natural because the nature of Evil Sects is to submit to the stronger force?

That’s not even funny.

Submission only makes sense if it guarantees survival. What’s the point of submitting to Magyo, who spare no one, even those who surrender?

At that time, the absolute leaders of Evil Sects would certainly have fought against Magyo. However, strangely enough, these people, who were clearly not greatly influenced by Righteous Sects, have no record of dealing with Magyo.

If so, the interpretation becomes quite self-evident.

“It’s a matter of compatibility.”

“…Perhaps.”

Jang Ilso pressed his temples, deep in thought.

According to Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s words, the martial arts of Magyo may act as a natural counter to Evil Sects.

‘No, not just to us.’

If that were the case, Magyo wouldn’t have been able to sweep through the entire Kangho. It must be seen as something of a type that devours most of Jungwon’s martial arts.

‘But how?’

Is such a thing realistically possible?

Who on earth could create something like that? If that is possible, it must be an ability that has already surpassed that of humans.

“…No.”

Jang Ilso’s fingers pressed against his temples repeatedly, putting pressure on them.

‘No. That’s not the point.’

The moment people like Jang Ilso are faced with a situation, they try to understand the cause and effect of the situation and its principles. This is because they find it uncomfortable to deal with things that don’t accompany understanding.

However, sometimes it’s better to focus on the phenomenon itself rather than understanding it. Denying what you can’t interpret might lead you to fall into your own trap eventually.

‘Interpret it as it is.’

Even if it doesn’t make sense, even if his mind can’t comprehend it, accepting the situation is likely to yield better results than denial in this scenario.

“How many of them are there?”

“I couldn’t get an accurate count.”

Jang Ilso frowned.

“But it’s certain that it is not the majority. It seemed to me that there was no other bishop than this one I saw.”

“…It means that they are either an advanced group or a group that broke away. No, maybe that’s all that’s left of Magyo.”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold nods as if he agrees.

“Then the solution is simple. Just somehow kill that bishop.”

“Overwhelming them with numbers won’t work. His martial arts seemed specifically designed to slaughter the masses.”

“So, you’re saying, you managed to escape with just a lost arm after confronting such a creature. You’re so good at saying things like that. You don’t seem to know any shame, Great Master.”

“You’ll understand.”

Jang Ilso’s eyes narrowed for an instant.

However, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold muttered, staring into space with blank eyes as if he couldn’t see his reaction.

“If you face the monster yourself… that shame is a luxury… You’ll understand, by all means…….”

“Tsk.”

Jang Ilso clicked his tongue briefly as if he was displeased. And then he leaned back in his throne again.

‘Of all places, Hangzhou.’

In war, the most crucial element is funding. And unfortunately, the place where Magyo has emerged is one of the wealthiest lands in Gangnam. If that area is devastated, it’s clear there will be significant financial consequences for Evil Tyrant Alliance.

No matter what method is used, it must be resolved as quickly as possible.

He quietly closed his eyes and calmly summarized the situation.

‘The solution is…’

How much time has passed?

When Jang Ilso opened his eyes again, his eyes shone coldly.

“…The Way of the Immortals (??(仙道)).”

“….”

“The Way of the Immortals, then.”

Jang Ilso smiled crookedly, as if he had finally found a solution.

“If they really have supernatural power that cannot be understood with common sense, then the only things that could break it would likely be the Way of the Immortals (??(仙道) or the Way of the Buddha (??(佛道)). I never thought I’d believe in something as fanciful as the energy to vanquish evil (??(破邪)).”

He looked up at the ceiling as if in despair.

“But… rather than covering up and denying what happened, it would be better for me to become a foolish fanatic.”

Jang Ilso, who had been staring at the ceiling with his head bent, finally slowly stood up.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold asked, following his movements with his eyes.

“What are you planning to do?”

“We need a sword.”

Jang Ilso’s eyes gleamed coolly.

“The situation isn’t easy. It doesn’t seem like a simple enemy that two cripples can handle. The worst thing would be if I tried and failed. Then everything falls apart. Failure is not an option.”

“….”

“Then we need to get our hands on a proper sword. A sword that can surely sever the neck of that monster.”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold is a man with extraordinary wit. Even without a detailed explanation, he clearly knew who the ‘sword’ Jang Ilso was referring to.

“Do you think they will respond?”

“Hmph. What a foolish thing to say, Great Master. It’s not about hoping they will respond. It’s about making them respond.”

“….”

A mysterious light continued to flicker in Jang Ilso’s sly eyes.

“The world is truly interesting. Who would have thought I’d be reaching out to them? Hahahahat.”

His hearty laughter echoed through the great hall.

After laughing like that for a while, he strode out boldly, the accessories making noise as he moved.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold just looked at Jang Ilso’s back with eyes filled with both concern and anticipation.