Return of the Mount Hua Sect

“I know right.”

A helpless sigh escaped Yoon Jong’s mouth.

They had fought dragons and packs of attacking wolves. After enduring all that terrible fighting, now it’s a situation where a flock of tigers, wolves, and jackals are all working together to surround them?

There was no room for calculation or hesitation. From the beginning, they were being pushed back even with allies like Jang Ilso and Red Dogs. Breaking through this place on their own was impossible, even if they died and were revived.

“…What should we do?”

“This….”

“Just think of something! You’re our Sasuk!”

“I- I’m not a strategist!”

At Baek Cheon’s shout, everyone’s eyes turned to Im Sobyeong.

“The- There’s a way, right?”

Im Sobyeong, who received those expectant gazes, smiled confidently.

“What do you think of me? Of course, there’s a way.”

“Oh?”

Hope filled everyone’s eyes. Im Sobyeong spoke decisively, receiving a look of faith.

“It would be painful if I were caught and killed by Evil Sects bastards, so I should just turn myself in cleanly at this point to protect my honor and save my corpse….”

“Are you insane?”

“What kind of nonsense is that!”

“You rotten bandit!”

“Mo- Monk. Just calm down.”

“…No….”

As criticism poured in, Im Sobyeong lamented with a face as if he was going to die of unfairness.

“Even Zhuge Liang came back to live, he couldn’t find a solution in this situation. What do you expect me to do?”

“Then you should have solved it before it got this far! What were you thinking when helping Jang Ilso?”

“It was that or we’d all be dead.”

“What’s different now?”

“Haha. Don’t we die a bit later? That little moment is important, little moment. At least we can make up our minds…. By the way, monk? Why do you clench your fist?”

Namgung Dowi, who couldn’t bear it any longer, carefully grabbed Hye Yeon’s fist. At this rate, it felt like a bright golden energy would be thrown into Im Sobyeong’s snout with that fist.

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth as he looked at the people approaching Mount Hua group.

It hadn’t been long since they fought to the death, yet seeing Red Dogs blend seamlessly among Black Ghost Fortress made Baek Cheon’s stomach turn upside down in frustration.

‘These spineless bastards.’

In a way, it could be said that Jang Ilso’s control was that great, but Baek Cheon was not in a relaxed situation to be able to generously admire such a fact.

“Damn these bastards!”

Jo-Gol radiated his sword energy menacingly towards Black Ghost Fortress who was slowly narrowing the siege.

The elites of Black Ghost Fortress that were approaching flinched and took a step back. But they soon smirked and began closing the distance again.

This reaction was unlike anything seen before. The Black Ghost Fortress had regained their confidence. The disciples of Mount Hua swallowed nervously and broke into cold sweats.

It was then.

“My, my.”

A voice that was so obvious as to whom it belonged rang out clearly. Then, the elites of Black Ghost Fortress who had been pressuring Mount Hua stopped as if it were a lie.

Jang Ilso, who immediately blocked the movements of everyone here with just a short exclamation, moved his feet leisurely alone in the frozen world. The elites of Black Ghost Fortress blocking his path quickly retreated aside to clear the way.

“You never know.”

As if enjoying the cold gaze of awe and fear, Jang Ilso took his time and walked without any hesitation like an emperor. To none other than Mount Hua.

“The heroes of Mount Hua who were in such good spirits…….”

A voice that seems to be teasing. Nevertheless, the spreading voice was impossible to protest.

“Why are you all cowering like this?”

The faces of Mount Hua disciples who heard those words became even more cruelly distorted.

“Surely you don’t think that this Jang Ilso… is such an evil person who betrays the comrades he fought with, right? Hm?”

“….”

“If you thought that way, wouldn’t I be a little disappointed?”

Baek Cheon bit his lip hard.

He fully understood what Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold must have been feeling right before his death. Is there anyone in the world who is as terrible to deal with as Jang Ilso, who had seized control of the situation?

It felt as if Jang Ilso had reached into Baek Cheon’s chest, gripping and releasing his beating heart at will.

“This is… quite embarrassing.”

Finally, Jang Ilso, who had reached a short distance away, chuckled and laughed.

“You all seem so convinced that I’m an evil person… Should I live up to those expectations…. or… should I get out of there in a nice way.”

Baek Cheon growled.

“Stop spouting nonsense. You never intended to let us go from the beginning.”

As the sharp words poured out, a strangely happy expression appeared on Jang Ilso’s face. He slowly brushed his face with his long fingers.

However, before he could say anything, Ho Gamyeong, who was following him, quickly interjected.

“Ryeonju-nim.”

Then Jang Ilso, who was looking at Mount Hua, shifted his gaze to the back.

“We must kill them.”

Ho Gamyeong was looking at Mount Hua group, or more precisely, at the center of them, at Chung Myung, who was closing his eyes.

“Though they have indeed made contributions, they are too dangerous. Especially that one…”

“Tsk, tsk. Gamyeong-ah.”

Jang Ilso, who was listening, cut him off in a tone of displeasure.

“If you say that, I’ll end up being such a bad person.”

“…I apologize, Ryeonju-nim, but this matter…”

“Of course, there is nothing more foolish than hoping for trust from Evil Sects. We and even they know that. But….”

Jang Ilso’s strange gaze turned to Mount Hua, especially Baek-cheon.

“Even if there is no trust in Evil Sects, there is loyalty, right?” (Previously from Im Sobyeong speaking about ‘loyalty’. It’s now changed to ‘trust/faith’)

“Ryeonju-nim…. Even so, isn’t it also unacceptable to abandon practical interests for the sake of loyalty?”

“Hngg.”

Jang Ilso tapped his cheek as if deeply troubled. Then he looked at Baek Cheon with wide eyes.

“That’s right.”

“….”

“It may be a pity for you, but I am a more considerate superior than you think. A subordinate is making such a pleading request, but rejecting it so coldly isn’t something a superior would do, right?”

“This bastard….”

“So, I’m deeply troubled. What should I do about this? Hahaha!”

Mount Hua’s disciples bit their lips.

It was like a cat playing with a mouse. Since the prey had already been caught, he seemed to want to toy with them before finally killing them.

Baek Cheon said, glaring at Jang Ilso with deathly eyes.

“You seem to be mistaken. If you think we’re the same as those you’ve faced before, you’re gravely mistaken. Even if we die, we will not be toyed with.”

“…Hoo?”

“If you don’t understand that, your delicate neck might just get severed, Jang Ilso.”

“Or your head might explode and die.”

“A sword might be driven into your belly.”

Looking at Mount Hua’s disciples who were all growling, Jang Ilso shook his head as if he could not stop them.

“For a wildcat, they sure know how to growl.”

Jang Ilso’s eyes turned cold.

“But… After seeing it, I’m curious. I wonder if you will be able to stand up like that even when your head is cut off.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he slightly raised his hand.

“Ah. No, no. That’s not the right way to say it to you. Let me correct myself.”

A peculiar smile appeared at the corner of Jang Ilso’s mouth.

“Can you still act tough when you see your comrade’s neck being severed right next to you?”

“You… You bastard!”

Baek Cheon gritted his teeth. His eyes started to bulge with veins.

As they dealt with Magyo together and then Black Ghost Fortress, the subtle feeling he had for Jang Ilso disappeared. Blood rushed to his head. Baek Cheon stomped on the ground as if he was going to rush forward at any moment.

At that time, a cold voice from behind grabbed his ankle.

“Try it.”

Baek Cheon’s head instinctively turned back. It was impossible to dare to look away from Jang Ilso, but it was possible after hearing this familiar voice.

“Chu… Chung Myung!”

“Hey, man!”

“…You’re so damn late. Seriously.”

Sighs of relief escaped from the mouths of those around Chung Myung.

It was a ridiculous sight.

Only one more person was added. They are still surrounded by Black Ghost Fortress and Red Dogs, and are threatened by Jang Ilso of the world and Thousand-Faced Gentleman.

But the moment that one person opened his eyes, an inexplicable feeling of relief fell on the faces of Mount Hua’s disciples. As if all this situation could be solved if only this person opened his eyes.

Chung Myung glanced at the people looking at him, then fixed his gaze on Jang Ilso. Jang Ilso was also looking at him with a peculiar smile.

“Whose neck are you planning to sever?”

The voice was as chilling as North Sea storm. Hearing that voice, Red Dogs instinctively lowered their posture. So that they can jump in at any time and protect Jang Ilso.

“Go ahead and try. Let’s see whose neck gets severed?”

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso raised his hand to gently stroke his chin.

“…With this, the story will definitely be a little different, But… Anyway, isn’t that too much? I don’t think this is a situation for bluff? Huh, Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword?”

“Just try it.”

Baek Cheon tried to block him with a worried look as if he still didn’t trust Chung Myung’s physical condition. However, Chung Myung lightly patted his shoulder and walked past him.

“There’s no reason to hold back now, right? Am I wrong?”

“…What do you mean?”

“I’m saying there is no reason to keep alive an Evil Sects cub that has reached the end of its usefulness.”

At that moment, Mount Hua’s disciples saw it clearly. Jang Ilso’s face, which was smiling eerily, suddenly hardened.

However, Jang Ilso’s hardened expression quickly disappeared as if it had never happened in the first place. Jang Ilso asked leisurely with a soft face.

“So… it wasn’t me using you, but you are using me?”

“Aren’t this the honor of three lifetimes? For Evil Sects scum to be used fully, then killed and became a manure. Ah, you don’t need to thank me. No one expects gratitude from a tool, right?”

“Hahaha…. Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”

Jang Ilso’s face distorts.

“You’re still exceptionally good at getting under people’s skin. I must admit that. But… . you should be careful. Since my patience might not be as great as you think?”

“You don’t seem to know anything, but there are things I’m good at.”

Chung Myung grabbed the sword hanging from his waist.

“Severing the head of the ugly Evil Sects bastard and let them know their place in the afterlife. How about it? Want to see for yourself?”

A chilling murderous intent flashed in Jang Ilso’s eyes. Chung Myung, who received those eyes, also smiled with murderous intent.

Righteous (?(正)) and Evil (?(邪)).

Those representing the two forces were here and now, fully revealing their malice toward each other without holding back.

A bond that was maintained tenuously because they had a common enemy: Magyo and Black Ghost Fortress. The moment that bond is severed, they are simply the most hated enemy, nothing more, nothing less.

As the two returned to their true natures, a suffocating wave of murderous intent spread in all directions.