Return of the Mount Hua Sect

No, I’m terrified to even try to breathe.

In a vast square that can only be described as immense rather than simply wide, countless people are lined up.

What was strange was that the faces of these people, who at first glance seemed to have an extraordinary aura, were all pale with fear. Their visibly trembling hands hold menacingly long spears.

Of course, everyone experiences fear from time to time in their lives. However, the reason why this scene cannot be taken for granted is that the people trembling like children are the members of Evil Tyrant Alliance, whose name alone can bring fear to Gangnam.

“Rye- Ryeonju-nim! Ple- Please! Please spare me….”

Paaaaat!

The dao that had risen into the sky descended fiercely, cutting off a man’s head. The instantly decapitated head floated in the air.

Thud.

Red blood gushes out from the body that has collapsed like a bundle of straw.

The faces of those who witnessed this scene turned even paler.

They were all members of Evil Sects. Naturally, they had seen countless deaths. Seeing someone die at this point should not evoke any special feelings.

But the sight that was unfolding before their eyes was clearly different from the ‘death’ they had seen until then.

“Next.”

The corpse, still warm, was dragged away like a rotten tree, accompanied by the cold voice of Ho Gamyeong. And in its place, another person was dragged in like some cattle being taken to the slaughterhouse.

Fear completely overwhelmed this person, and their bloodshot eyes were filled with terror. A desperate, pitiful voice erupted from them like a seizure.

“Rye- Ryeonju-nim! Ryeonju-nim! I am not one of them! I am not a fool who would resist you, Ryeonju-nim! Please believe me, I beg you! Pleeeease!”

The wailing was almost too painful to listen to.

Perhaps the person being dragged in now is also a villain who has taken the lives of countless people with those hands. Yet, in the face of their own death, they were no different from ordinary people.

“Ryeonju-niiiiiiiiim!”

He was dragged to an immense square and raised his trembling head to look at the front of The Great Hall.

“Huh…. Huuh….”

At that moment, a gasp of air escaped his lips. His frightened appearance did not at all match the fame and position he had built up.

But no one here could criticize the shabby appearance, because anyone would react the same way if they were witnessing this scene.

The main hall was newly built after Evil Tyrant Alliance was established. The center of the main hall was covered with luxurious white marble, reflecting Jang Ilso’s taste.

When sunlight poured down, the square, shining as if covered in snow, was a symbol of Evil Tyrant Alliance itself.

But the dazzling marble was now completely dyed crimson. The blood of those who died here flowed and flowed continuously.

Who could remain calm in the face of such a scene?

“Ugh….”

A terrible smell of blood assaulted his nostrils. The man’s pants instantly became soaked with moisture.

“Rye- Ryeonju-nim! Ryeonju-nim, please spare me! If you let me live, I’ll do anything! Anything! It’s all a false accusation! I’ve never once opposed you, Ryeonju-nim! Please! Please spare me! Ryeonju-niiiiiim!”

He looked upward with desperate eyes, screaming out a sound that was neither a shout nor a scream.

His gaze turned beyond the red-tinted floor to the towering steps leading to the square.

While the lower steps were completely drenched in blood, the higher steps gradually revealed their white color. At the very top, the steps shone with a purity that seemed almost sacred.

This stark contrast seemed to emphasize the difference between the man being dragged here and the person at the top of those steps.

At the summit of the stairs was a magnificent and enormous jade throne, where a man was seated leisurely.

“Rye- Ryeonju….”

A red robe with a magnificent dragon embroidered in gold thread. A pale hand protruded from the robe, lightly grasping a wine cup beside him.

“Hm.”

Lifting the cup, the man, Jang Ilso, gazed down at the screaming man with languid eyes.

“Rye- Ryeonju-nim!”

The man shouted as if he had found his last lifeline dangling over a cliff. However, Jang Ilso soon seemed to lose interest and leaned back against the back of the throne.

Instead, the one who spoke up was none other than Ho Gamyeong.

“Execute him.”

A chilling voice echoed ominously.

Reacting to that voice, those who had flinched slightly moved immediately. Then, they dragged the screaming man to the execution platform and pressed him down.

“He… Heeeeeek!”

Paaaat!

The sharp blade swung down in one breath and cut off the man’s head in one go. His head shot up, spraying blood in all directions before rolling around on the floor helplessly.

Those who watched the scene without being able to move a finger barely managed to swallow dry saliva.

The name of the man who had just been beheaded was Jo Pyo (??(趙慓)). He is one of daeju of Black Ghost Fortress, and in Fujian, he has a demon-like reputation.

But that person couldn’t even put up a proper fight and had his head cut off like an insect.

Who could have imagined such a scene just a month ago?

Those who are here do not fear death. From the moment they decided to join Evil Sects, they were prepared to become corpses covered with flies on a battlefield somewhere.

However, none of them ever imagined their final moments to be like this. It was natural that no one imagined their end being dragged in like a criminal, their throats cut off without being able to put up a fight.

Not all deaths are the same.

This worthless feast of death was enough to strike fear into even those who were prepared to become fertilizer on the battlefield.

“It’s boring.”

And, in this eerie atmosphere, there was only one person who seemed unaffected by the fear.

Jang Ilso lightly sipped the liquor in his cup and spoke.

“How many are left?”

“There is a total of 362 scheduled for today. The one hundred and seventy-eighth mark was just now.”

“Half left.”

Jang Ilso sighed and leaned back against the throne.

“If you’re bored, I can handle the rest of the executions.”

“No, no.”

At Ho Gamyeong’s words, Jang Ilso shook his head slightly.

“Since we were once people who shared a table, wouldn’t it only be polite to at least watch over their final moments? I am considerate enough for that.”

“….”

“And….”

Jang Ilso slowly lowered his head and looked at the people filling the square. A satisfied smile spread across Jang Ilso’s lips as he saw their terrified faces.

“This kind of event should be attended by someone of higher rank. Wouldn’t that make it even more meaningful?”

“You are absolutely right.”

Ho Gamyeong glanced at Jang Ilso’s expression and asked.

“Then, shall we proceed with the executions a bit faster…?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes, Ryeonju-nim.”

“They are worms, and a sinners who is difficult to keep alive, but aren’t they still human?”

“….”

“Rushing their deaths just because it’s troublesome is not right. Proceed as planned.”

“Yes, Ryeonju-nim.”

Ho Gamyeong reluctantly nodded.

Well, I’m not sure.

The fate of those scheduled for execution today will not change. And they too know that they will die today.

At first glance, continuing the execution leisurely may seem to extend the time they can live and breathe. However, if you think about it the other way around, it is nothing more than extending the time they spend trembling in fear, waiting for death in despair.

‘Pitiful.’

Ho Gamyeong wasn’t the type of person who particularly felt pity for anyone, but he couldn’t help but feel pity for those who were trembling in fear, waiting for their turn.

But that’s all, in fact, can’t be helped. From the moment they dared to harbor hostile thoughts toward Paegun, their fate was decided.

“Continue with the executions.”

“Yes!”

At the shout of Ho Gamyeong, those in charge of execution began to move busily. Another criminal was dragged out.

Jang Ilso looked down at the scene indifferently and raised his glass.

“What a beautiful spectacle.”

A life disappears, and another cup of liquor is emptied.

One life, and then another.

The bloody executions continued until the sun set in the west and the whole world was dyed in sunset.

Today, the particularly red glow of the sunset even stained the white marble where Jang Ilso sat with the hue of blood.

* * *

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso, wearing a pure white robe, stared quietly at his cup of liquor.

The slight excitement he had felt seemed to subside as he gazed into the calm, unmoving liquid.

Jang Ilso lifted his head and directed his gaze at the servant standing beside his bed.

Suddenly, Jang Ilso’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Oh, my. Why are you trembling so much?”

“Rye- Ryeonju-nim….”

The servant’s face, already pale, now turned nearly blue.

“Are you feeling unwell? Go and rest.”

“N- No, Ryeonju-nim! How could I possibly…”

“Tsk, tsk.”

Jang Ilso clicked his tongue as if he was sorry. Unlike the way he had been looking at the warriors below the stairs just a moment ago, his gaze was much gentler.

“Then go and bring me a stronger drink. The smell of blood on my body is so strong that I can’t smell the alcohol.”

“I, I will do so.”

“There’s no need to rush. Take your time.”

“Yes.”

As the servant ran outside in a hurry, her face turned pale, Jang Ilso chuckled softly.

“I don’t understand why those kids are so afraid of me.”

Actually, it was a reasonable question.

Aren’t there many tyrants who easily kill or harass lowly servants? However, Jang Ilso has never killed a single servant who hadn’t practiced martial arts. He had never lusted after their bodies, nor had he tormented them out of whim. In fact, when the servants left, he even gave them a large sum of money.

Still, it was amusing to see the gazes looking at him remained filled with fear.

“What could lowly creatures possibly understand? They probably just find it difficult to even look at you.”

“Tsk, tsk. There you go again.”

Jang Ilso sighed lightly.

“It’s not that they’re lowly. Why do you keep calling these kids, who do their jobs well, lowly?”

“….”

“The word ‘lowly’ is not used for children like that. It’s a word for those pigs who occupy positions they don’t deserve and perform duties beyond their capacity.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Don’t just say it, try to understand, Gamyeong.”

Jang Ilso scolded him. However, Ho Gamyeong looked at him with an unchanged expression and then spoke.

“Ryeonju-nim.”

“Speak.”

“…Do you plan to continue executions tomorrow?”

“Aren’t there still two days left?”

“That is the plan.”

“Then we must continue. Huft. Sitting all day is frustrating, but… that’s what it means to be Ryeonju.”

“The losses are too great, Ryeonju-nim.”

Hearing those words, Jang Ilso suddenly smiled brightly.

His face, reflected in the flickering lantern light, looked more sinister than ever.