Return of the Mount Hua Sect

‘This?’

The situation was unfolding differently than he had anticipated.

Before drawing this scheme, he thoroughly analyzed the sect known as Mount Hua. Any sect that knows even a little bit about how Kangho operates cannot fail to know how big of a variable Mount Hua is.

As the analysis was thorough, he thought he had set the perfect trap. In fact, they fell right into it. Moreover, since Black Ghost Fortress’s power was preserved and the encirclement was successful, he assumed there were no more variables.

But now Mount Hua’s response is completely outside the direction he thought.

‘Is this possible?’

No way.

Every human has an unchanging nature. People believe they have reached a correct conclusion through deep thought, but in reality, they are often guided by their inherent tendencies rather than logic.

The same goes for sects. The tendencies of a sect do not change as easily as the tendencies of a single person. No, rather, due to the nature of a sect where numerous people must come together to come to a single conclusion, the tendency is even more steadfast and cannot be easily changed.

But now Mount Hua is making choices that are completely opposite to the tendencies they have shown so far.

Mount Hua was known for charging headlong into adversity whenever it faced them. This hasn’t changed at all in the past at Black Dragon Water Fortress or on the recent Plum Blossom Island.

But now they were standing their ground and holding their position?

‘This cannot happen!’

But this impossible situation was unfolding right before his eyes? Thus, there had to be a reason.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold was soon able to discover the cause without difficulty.

‘Nokrim King.’

Im Sobyeong was looking his way while waving his fan. Despite the considerable distance, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold could feel it clearly. The clear mockery in those eyes.

Ppudeudeuk.

His teeth ground together harshly.

Even in hectic situations, he calmly understands the opponent’s goal and instantly finds the perfect countermeasure. If there was anyone capable of such a feat, it would undoubtedly be Im Sobyeong.

It was Im Sobyeong who led a long confrontation against Jang Ilso’s Myriad Man Manor while hiding his whereabouts as much as possible. His martial art might not be enough to be a variable, but even Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold cannot help but acknowledge his strategic prowess.

So, does the reason why this happened lie with Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, who knew that Im Sobyeong was there but failed to take action accordingly?

No one would dare say such a thing.

Think about it. A prestigious Righteous Sects is a group where people are united with pride in keeping their Chivalrousness. That is why they are always disgusted to even mention the existence of Evil Sects.

Mount Hua, too, is worthy of being called a prestigious sect. Not just any Evil Sects people, but Nokrim King, would they listen to the orders of such a person? It seemed impossible.

In the first place, including Nokrim King of Evil Sects in the small number of elites coming to Gangnam was already beyond comprehension. But for those disciples of Mount Hua follow Im Sobyeong’s instructions? Who could have guessed such a situation?

‘Damn it.’

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold bit his lips tightly.

‘But it’s meaningless to argue the logic now.’

What’s certain is that this absurd situation is unfolding right before his eyes.

‘But it’s still fine.’

He still holds the advantage. True, things have gotten a bit tangled, but they don’t have the strength left to break through this encirclement.

If things continue slowly in a war of attrition, they will eventually be unable to win and will eventually die without being able to overcome it.

However, one thing, another variable, was now attacking Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold. He looked at this new variable with a stern face.

‘In this situation, how can he….’

It was Chung Myung, standing in the middle of Mount Hua’s group with his eyes closed.

Basically, meditation is a dangerous act that can lead to energy deviation (??(入魔)) with just the slightest shock. Therefore, meditation must be performed in a safe place.

But that crazy guy is calmly meditating in the middle of this battlefield where life and death go hand in hand. Even if your nerves were tougher than whale tendons, you couldn’t even try. There is no other way to call him a madman.

The problem is that the madman’s actions are strangling none other than Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold.

‘…How long will it take?’

Complete recovery is absolutely impossible. Even the practicer would not hope that. But to recover enough to wield a sword and fight again?

‘One hour? Or two?’

He couldn’t make the calculation.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, who was glaring at Chung Myung as if to kill him, flinched and then looked at his own hands. Before he knew it, his palms were damp with sweat.

‘…Am I being cornered? Even in this situation?’

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s face began to gradually distort.

Chung Myung’s martial prowess is indeed threatening.

Even assuming that complete recovery is difficult, he is, after all, the one who defeated Dan Jagang. Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold knows best how monstrous Dan Jagang is. His own arm still throbs from the loss to him.

If Chung Myung were to join the battlefield with even some of his internal strength back, it’s uncertain whether they can withstand this encirclement.

‘I must end this before then.’

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold took a step forward without realizing it. It was an unconscious action, even though he knew very well that he should observe the situation from a bit further back.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, who was about to give the order to completely switch to an offensive approach, bit his lip and forcefully swallowed the words that were about to come out.

“Press them harder. Give them no quarter!”

“Yes!”

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold unconsciously tapped his thigh with his drooping finger. The movement was akin to flicking abacus beads.

Across the fiercely contested battlefield, Im Sobyeong on the other side was watching Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s movements without missing a single moment.

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso’s gaze, which was focused on Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, slowly shifted to Im Sobyeong.

Im Sobyeong’s eyes, looking around with his fan open, were chillingly cool and calm.

‘Nokrim King.’

Jang Ilso’s eyes darken for an instant.

Before the name Evil Tyrant Alliance was created, the person Jang Ilso was most wary of was not Black Dragon King, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, or Thousand-Faced Gentleman, but Nokrim King, Im Sobyeong.

Because Nokrim is strong? Because Im Sobyeong is outstanding?

Far from it.

It was because they were the most urgent threat to be dealt with.

In his eyes, Nokrim King was like a Go player (??(棋士)) who plays without tea or powder. This means that Nokrim was only a half-assed sect that only had a large number of members and absolutely lacked the number of absolute masters.

Nokrim is a place where it couldn’t even properly utilize its numbers. It is impossible to gather all Nokrim’s fortress scattered across the world’s mountains in one place, supplying what their forces consume, and maintaining the ranks.

Although it is large, it cannot concentrate its power properly, and there is no power that can be called the main force. Is there any prey more appetizing than this?

However, Im Sobyeong led such a Nokrim and withstood Myriad Man Manor’s onslaught.

While maintaining a long front line, they avoid direct conflict as much as possible and use the absence of the main force as an advantage to hide their presence and Nokchae’s whereabouts as much as possible, so as not to create a place to target in the first place.

Im Sobyeong is the person who has minimized damage to Nokrim by endlessly repeating his strategy if it could even be called as such.

The more he did so, the more convinced Jang Ilso became. Nokrim must be dealt with quickly, before Im Sobyeong could properly utilize any significant advantage.

However….

‘Who would have thought he could get that advantage from a place other than Evil Sects.’

It may be an inappropriate word for the situation, but it is not only Jang Ilso’s mistake that Im Sobyeong looks excited. For someone who had always used moves that maximized the advantage of those large numbers, for the first time, he was able to do what he wanted from the opposite perspective.

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso looked at Im Sobyeong with a strange gaze.

‘Furthermore….’

Jang Ilso, who saw Im Sobyeong’s response and Mount Hua’s formation at a glance, smiled twistedly. His bared teeth were as threatening as a beast’s.

“He reads people so well. Still.”

Jang Ilso muttered quietly and spoke to Ho Gamyeong standing next to him.

“Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes, Ryeonju-nim.”

“We need to change the plan.”

Ho Gamyeong looked at Jang Ilso with questioning eyes.

“I guess we need to adjust the rhythm a bit.”

Seeing the mischievous smile on Jang Ilso’s face, Ho Gamyeong’s gaze instantly turned towards Mount Hua’s group.

“Well… we may not be able to imitate that one.”

Red Dogs who bite people. If they stood held ground like the disciples of Mount Hua, they would not be able to exert their strength. It is only possible because it’s Mount Hua Sect. But even in this situation, there is a way to fully bring out Red Dogs’s power.

“We need to change the order to bite a little. Start by dealing with those targeting Mount Hua.”

“Then Ryeonju-nim will be in danger.”

“Tsk.”

Jang Ilso clicked his tongue in displeasure. This is why, although he trusts Ho Gamyeong very much, he couldn’t entrust him with full authority.

“To catch a big fish like Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold, shouldn’t I be willing to risk my life as bait?”

“However….”

Ho Gamyeong glances at Jang Ilso’s expression and ends up nodding his head.

“I understand, Ryeonju-nim.”

As soon as Ho Gamyeong gave the command, Red Dogs’s gaze turned all at once. It was a response so swift and perfect, it was eerie.

Jang Ilso’s eyes drew a strange arc.

“Now, Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold…”

Jang Ilso giggled.

‘Can you calculate this situation?’

Can you use those clever abacus beads to dominate here?

A person who sees people only as mere numbers.

A person who knows the illusions numbers can create better than anyone.

A person who wouldn’t hesitate to use any tactic if it means victory.

And….

Ho Gamyeong’s eyes turn to Chung Myung, who is meditating.

‘A madman who, just by standing still with his eyes closed, shakes and controls them all.’

What Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold had to deal with was hell, where monsters dominating Kangho got tangled up in their tails to bite each other.

If he can handle this situation, he will be able to catch big fish such as Jang Ilso, Chung Myung, and Im Sobyeong.

But what if he makes a mistake? The outcome is obvious.

Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold’s face slowly hardened. In contrast, Jang Ilso’s face grew brighter and brighter.

“This must be a first for you, isn’t it?”

There is no way that someone who never wants to suffer a loss would ever gamble with their life.

Jang Ilso took a step forward and took a few more steps towards the elites of Black Ghost Fortress charging towards him. As if to lure the approaching hunters.

“Now, here is the neck you desire. Do come quickly.”

At the sight of Jang Ilso blatantly approaching with his neck exposed, the eyes of Black Ghost Fortress elites began to gleam. The opportunity to achieve the tremendous achievement of ‘the one who cut off Jang Ilso’s head’ was now right before their noses.

Black Ghost Fortress elites flipped their eyes and rushed forward. Jang Ilso, who witnessed the obvious gap, let out a devilish laugh.

“Right, that’s how it should be.”

At that moment, his eyes emitted a sinister glow.