Return of the Mount Hua Sect

However, in some relationships, trust is nothing more than a castle built on sand.

‘I knew it…’

Baek Cheon bit his lip.

The person who should not be trusted the most in this Kangho. The person who should never be trusted. Who would dare to argue that Jang Ilso was such a person?

Yet the reason he momentarily let his guard down was due to the behavior Jang Ilso had shown during the fierce battle. The feeling of being comrades who fought together usually helps martial artists overcome all conflicts, even if only momentarily.

But Jang Ilso is still Jang Ilso. This sinister snake was something that should not be trusted until the very end….

“Sasuk….”

“…Yes.”

Baek Cheon heavily pulled out his sword.

The number of Black Ghost Fortress approaching, narrowing the siege, appears to be over two hundred at best. If Red Dogs, who is guarding Jang Ilso’s surroundings, join in, the number will increase further.

Considering that these are the people who were selected and trained from the Black Ghost Fortress and Myriad Myriad Man Manor, it is not an opponent that Mount Hua’s disciples, who number only about ten, can do anything about. But….

“We must fight.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes gradually burned coldly. There is nothing new about a hopeless situation. Among the battlefields they have been through so far, was there any place that was not hopeless?

‘We just need to find a way out.’

There is no reason to fight against them. All they have to do is somehow escape through this siege and cross the Yangtze River. Of course, the distance from Hangzhou to the Yangtze River is extremely long… That’s something to worry about later. The first thing to do was to escape from this place.

Baek Cheon’s seething gaze was directed at Jang Ilso. Seeing him glaring at him so fiercely, Jang Ilso burst out laughing.

“What a naughty boy, glaring at someone like that.”

In fact, while Baek Cheon was glaring at Jang Ilso and provoking him with his gaze, all his attention was focused on Chung Myung.

Mount Hua’s strength was mostly preserved at this point. Namgung Dowi, who cleared the path from the front, is almost exhausted, and Hye Yeon has also used up a lot of his internal strength, but they could still manage to keep up.

The biggest problem right now is none other than Chung Myung. Baek Cheon glanced at his back.

‘Can he even step forward?’

When viewed objectively, it is unreasonable. The external injuries alone made it miraculous he was alive. And considering Chung Myung’s characteristic of not even groaning even when on the verge of death, the internal injuries are probably much greater than the external injuries.

But… Baek Cheon was certain.

The moment the battle breaks out, Chung Myung rushes at Jang Ilso without even looking back. That was his way.

But this time, they must stop Chung Myung rampaging at all costs. Even if only so that they could survive and not cry when they see Chung Myung turned into a corpse.

Then, in this place, the only one who could take over Chung Myung’s role was Baek Cheon.

It was the exact moment when Baek Cheon’s eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Jang Ilso, who was looking at the elite of Black Ghost Fortress closing the distance with a strange gaze, slowly opened his mouth.

“Quite… an appropriate encirclement. I almost want to praise you.”

With a crooked smile, he fixed his gaze on one spot.

“But… I don’t recall giving such an order. Right, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold?”

At those words, Baek Cheon turned his gaze without realizing it. Despite knowing he should never take his eyes off Jang Ilso, his eyes involuntarily followed Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.

Among the elites of Black Ghost Fortress, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold walked, fluttering one of his empty sleeves. Unlike Chung Myung and Jang Ilso, who were in disarray from the traces of a fierce battle, he maintained a clean appearance without a single wound.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, who received Jang Ilso’s gaze, opens his mouth without changing his expression. In an extremely emotionless voice.

“Any… good subordinate reads his superior’s will in advance and then acts accordingly.”

“Haha.”

Jang Ilso let out an ambiguous laugh. It was difficult to tell if he was pleased or displeased.

“These people are dangerous.”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s gaze left Jang Ilso and focused on Mount Hua Sect. In front of his unemotional gaze, Mount Hua’s disciples unconsciously bit their lips.

“Ryeonju must feel it too, right? These people are different from the fools of Righteous Sects, who are drunk on power and merely occupy positions. They will surely be a thorn in Ryeonju’s side someday.”

“….”

“They must be eliminated from this place now before it is too late. A tiger should be killed while it’s still a cub.”

After hearing those words, Jang Ilso slowly glanced at Mount Hua’s disciples. The last thing that caught his eye was Chung Myung.

“That certainly makes sense.”

“This….”

Baek Cheon clenched his teeth tightly. Jang Ilso slowly nodded his head as if savoring those words.

“A tiger should be killed while it’s still a cub… Yes, that’s correct. However…”

Jang Ilso’s face as he looked at Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold began to cloud his face.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit late to be saying that now?”

It was at that moment Baek Cheon felt something was off.

Neither Jang Ilso’s gaze on Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold nor Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s gaze facing such Jang Ilso’s, there was not even the slightest hint of the kindness that is commonly seen when looking at the same side.

This… Rather, it looked closer to the eyes of a beast looking at an intruder invading its territory.

‘No way?’

At that moment, Jang Ilso opened his mouth again. The words that flowed from his mouth gave Baek Cheon confidence.

“There’s no way such an elaborate encirclement was laid just to capture these folks. So… Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.”

An infinitely sinister and deadly light flowed from Jang Ilso’s eyes. It was eerie, as if just looking at it would freeze one’s heart.

“Who are you really hunting here?”

“….”

“These? No, no. That can’t be possible.”

Jang Ilso grinned, baring his teeth.

“It must be me.”

“….”

“Isn’t it?”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold looked at Jang Ilso with indifferent eyes without saying a word. Jang Ilso, who received that gaze, said as if it was amusing.

“When I think about it, it’s a good opportunity. Yes, a really good opportunity since I’ve come here leading these few and am now completely exhausted.”

“….”

“But… I never thought that Mangum Daebu, of all people, would do something so foolish. Has your much-praised abacus been completely destroyed by the hands of Magyo bastard? Do you think someone like you will be able to take my seat when I disappear? Are you serious?”

“Seat?”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, who had been listening quietly, retorted in a cold tone.

“I am unworthy of Paegun.”

“….”

“I don’t care about such positions. In any case, Evil Tyrant Alliance was created out of necessity. Once you’re gone, Gangnam will just revert to its original state.”

Those words were like the perfect wedge. It made everyone present fully understand the situation.

The siege prepared by Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold was not intended to catch Mount Hua’s disciples. His goal was none other than Jang Ilso.

“You speak such foolishness.”

Jang Ilso spoke slowly, looking at Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold with cold eyes.

“Do you think those Righteous Sects bastards will leave Gangnam alone where Evil Tyrant Alliance has disappeared?”

“You are the one who is mistaken, Jang Ilso.”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold is no longer called Jang Ilso ‘Ryeonju’.

“Mistaken, yous ay?”

“What they hate is not Evil Tyrant Alliance. It’s just you and Myriad Man Manor.”

“….”

“Even at this moment, do you think there’s any reason for those who are so busy coveting each other’s power to waste their energy in Gangnam without you? It’s not because you are there that they don’t strike Gangnam. Because of you, there’s a possibility that they’ll head to Gangnam.”

That was a pretty painful point. Even Jang Ilso couldn’t refute these words and ended up chuckling in response.

But Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s words wasn’t finished yet.

“And… why should I care about that in the first place?”

“Hmm?”

A cold smile appeared on Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s face.

“Even if the day comes when Evil Tyrant Alliance with you, Jang Ilso, rules the world, do you think there will be a place for me there?”

“….”

“Isn’t that right?”

Jang Ilso let out a grotesque smile as he listened to Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s speculation. Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold also did not move away even a bit and faced him with an eerie expression.

“When the hunt is over, the hunting dog goes into the pot. There’s only one way for a hunting dog to survive.”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s voice spread coldly across the desolate land.

“Either bite the hand of the master before he suspects anything… or be the first to rip out the master’s throat.”

“….”

“What do you think, Jang Ilso?”

This time, everyone’s attention was focused on Jang Ilso. Jang Ilso scratched the back of his head in a somewhat exaggerated gesture and clicked his tongue briefly.

“Tsk.”

Soon his long eyes drew a curve.

“I thought you’d at least wait until the Shaolin retreats…”

“You don’t look down on your enemies. but… It was Paegun fault that you no longer thought of me as their enemy.”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold glared at Jang Ilso with murderous eyes.

“If you wanted to make me your dog, you should have put on the leash properly. Did you really think I was like the dogs I’ve tamed until now?”

“…That’s a painful thing to hear.”

“In Kangho, it’s never too early to regret a bad decision. If you’ve misjudged, shouldn’t you pay the price? That’s the law of Evil Sects.”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold gestured toward Jang Ilso, Red Dogs, and Mount Hua.

“Kill them all, leaving no one behind.”

“Ryeonju….”

“There’s no need to capture him alive. Kill him. Leave no troubles behind.”

“Understood!”

Exuding deadly murderous intent, the elites of Black Ghost Fortress slowly narrowed the siege at a speed no different from before. It was indeed a cautious approach. That attitude, without even the slightest carelessness, actually put even more pressure.

“Tsk.”

Jang Ilso briefly clicked his tongue and glanced back at Chung Myung.

“Now that the situation come to this, we have no choice but to join forces, right?”

Then Chung Myung caught a glimpse of him with indifferent eyes.

“After all that grand talk, you can’t even keep track of one subordinate. Stupid bastard.”

“…If a person falls into a hole, shouldn’t you help them? You shouldn’t spit and step on them for fun. Anyway, you really have a terrible personality.”

Chung Myung, criticized for having a terrible personality by Evil Sects, shook his head and gripped his sword tightly.

Though he was posturing, it was indeed a real crisis now. For both him and Jang Ilso, all they can do right now is stand.

However, Chung Myung’s gaze turned to the backs of Mount Hua’s disciples. They surrounded the front, protecting Chung Myung with no room even for water to leak.

Just like Tang Bo had done in the past, these disciples were here to protect him now. No, perhaps not just now, but every time he fought.

Chung Myung, who was looking at their back, which had suddenly become much bigger than before, turned his gaze towards Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold. For a moment, he forced what was welling up in his heart into a corner and spoke in a cold voice.

“Maybe it’s because you’re Evil Sects bastard, but you still don’t seem to understand. Let me enlighten you then.”

Chung Myung bared his teeth fiercely.

“For those who turned Mount Hua against them, not a single one was unharmed.”

At that moment, the swords held by the disciples of Mount Hua simultaneously burst forth with sword energy.