Return of the Mount Hua Sect

“Yes.”

Ho Gamyeong spoke with a stern face.

“Even those executed today aren’t just insignificant figures. Weren’t they all people who held important positions in Black Ghost Fortress and water fortress?”

“Really?”

Jang Ilso seemed indifferent as if he wasn’t particularly interested in such details. Ho Gamyeong had expected this kind of reaction. However, it was his job to voice his concerns.

“If we keep eliminating people like that…we will inevitably end up weakening our power.”

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso glanced towards the door and mumbled something seemingly irrelevant.

“I told her to take her time, but it would be nice if she brought the liquor soon and took a rest.”

“…Ryeonju-nim.”

A sigh escaped Ho Gamyeong’s mouth.

“It’s not that I don’t understand Ryeonju-nim’s intention. However… As you know, our situation is not so easy. While the power of those to be executed is regrettable, even more regrettable is the administrative void their absence will create. It will take considerable time to fill those gaps.”

Only then did Jang Ilso look straight at Ho Gamyeong. His pale eyes remained indifferent. Ho Gamyeong swallowed dry saliva and continued speaking.

“I do not wish to go against your will, Ryeonju-nim. I just…want to ask if Ryeonju-nim could reduce the number of people you execute for the sake of Ryeonju-nim and Evil Tyrant Alliance.”

“Hmm.”

“They are already terrified. If you show mercy, they will never dare to oppose you again.”

“Gamyeong-ah, Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes, Ryeonju-nim.”

“I always feel this way.”

“Yes.”

Jang Ilso looked at Ho Gamyeong with a peculiar smile.

“You don’t seem suited for Evil Sect.”

“…Yes?”

Ho Gamyeong’s eyes widened at that absurd statement. What would people think if they heard that Ho Gamyeong, known as Poisonous Heart (????(毒心羅刹)), was not suited for Evil Sect?

It is difficult to refute these words because they came from the mouth of the world’s greatest Jang Ilso, but if these words had come from someone else’s mouth, anyone would have laughed as soon as they heard them.

“How could…”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Jang Ilso chuckled.

“An Evil Sects member talks about showing mercy and says they will never dare to oppose us again?”

“But that is….”

“I know.”

Jang Ilso said with a sigh.

“Your thought is that once they see what real fear is, they will never dare to oppose again.”

“Yes, I….”

“But, you know.”

Jang Ilso, who had stopped talking, had his eyes shining coldly.

“Humans are not as wise as you think. Most forget the lessons they’ve learned after a short time and end up thinking positively about their chances.”

“….”

“And then they think about it in their favor. Those who opposed Jang Ilso were eventually released and survived, so can’t we try once more?”

Ho Gamyeong pressed his lips tightly together.

“Yes. That’s what humans are like. Especially those in Evil Sects.”

Jang Ilso waved his hand. As if the mere thought of it disgusted him.

“Humans easily forget kindness but never forget grudges. But there is something that is even more unforgettable than resentment. Do you know what it is?”

“….”

“It’s fear.”

Jang Ilso’s eyes sank ominously.

“A fear ingrained deep within the bones. The fear that resisting will result in a fate worse than death. The fear that I can never be that man.”

“….”

“It is that kind of extreme fear that moves people.”

“Ryeonju-nim.”

Ho Gamyeong opened his mouth after quietly looking at Jang Ilso. He knew that asking was meaningless, but… this was just his pure curiosity about Jang Ilso.

“Do you not trust your subordinates, Ryeonju-nim?”

“That’s an interesting question.”

Jang Ilso chuckled heartily.

“There are people in this world worth trusting. Do you mean to tell me I should trust those wretches? I would rather trust Righteous Sects than those bastards. At least they are not fickle. They are as honest as ox.”

A sigh escaped Ho Gamyeong’s mouth. The response did not surprise him; instead, it left him feeling stifled.

“But, Ryeonju-nim, I wasn’t suggesting you show them mercy. Even wretches have their uses, don’t they?”

“Of course, that’s true. If I kept only the human-like ones, you’d be the only one left in this Evil Tyrant Alliance.”

Jang Ilso smiled strangely.

“How about it? Shall we try it again like in the old days? Like back when we had nothing and were miserable?”

As the old story came out of Jang Ilso’s mouth, a rare smile appeared on Ho Gamyeong’s lips.

“Honestly, it doesn’t sound too bad, but… we can’t go back.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a shame. Gamyeong-ah, we’ve come too far.”

“But isn’t this what you wanted, Ryeonju-nim?”

“Of course.”

Jang Ilso did not dwell in regret. He did not long for the past. His gaze is always directed not to the past but to tomorrow, not here but to a higher place.

It was strange.

Jang Ilso has acquired many things. Many things that once felt like dreams… no, more like a delusion, he has made them a reality and forcibly trampled them under his feet.

But Jang Ilso’s life is not much different from the past.

From a worthless wanderer to the leader of Myriad Man Manor and then Ryeonju of Evil Tyrant Alliance, the only things that changed for Jang Ilso were that his living quarters had become a little more luxurious and the alcohol he drank had become a little more expensive. These were things he could have easily achieved without having to become Ryeonju of Evil Tyrant Alliance.

Nevertheless, Jang Ilso was greedily devouring everything, like a demon devouring his own insatiable desires.

“Then, shouldn’t we find a way to utilize even those people? Even a rusty sword is better than no sword at all.”

Jang Ilso held a white liquor cup at eye level and looked at it quietly before speaking.

“Gamyeong -ah.”

“Yes, Ryeonju-nim.”

“A power is like a sword, don’t you think?”

“…Did you say sword?”

“Yes, that’s right. Do you know what’s important in making a renowned sword?”

“…It’s about using good iron.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“But if all you have is scrap metal, isn’t it basic to make use of it?”

“Of course. But surprisingly, the most important thing in making a renowned sword isn’t the material.”

“Then?”

“It’s about not being greedy.”

“….”

Ho Gamyeong furrowed his brow slightly. It was difficult to understand what Jang Ilso was saying.

“Suppose you have a piece of iron to make a sword with, and a little more iron to spare. How would you go about making it?”

“Well….”

Ho Gamyeong answered in a very logical manner.

“I would make the blade with one block of steel and use the leftover steel for the handle. If not that, then I’d use it for the scabbard….”

“Yes, that’s what you’d think.”

Jang Ilso also nodded as if that statement wasn’t wrong. However, the words that came out of his mouth next were somewhat different from what Ho Gamyeong had expected.

“Then you will ruin the sword.”

“…Yes?”

Jang Ilso chuckled softly, as if amused.

“If the handle is made of iron, the weight of the sword changes. It deviates from the ideal weight. If the scabbard, which is used to protect the sword, is made of iron, it will become unnecessarily hard. Then the blade will be damaged.”

“….”

“The best way is to make the blade with one block of steel and discard the rest. Or you can sell it.”

Jang Ilso turned the liquor bottle upside down. He frowned at the single drop that fell and sighed before continuing.

“But most people can’t throw away that extra iron. Using it for the scabbard or handle, as you said, is actually the better off. But do you know what most people do?”

“…I do not know.”

“They put all the extra steel into the blade.”

“….”

“It’s just a piece of trash that’s expensive, worse than a cheap iron sword. Yet people swing it around like it’s a great sword, not realizing that using it actually diminishes their own skill. No, maybe they know, but can’t let go of their greed.”

A sigh escaped Ho Gamyeong’s mouth.

“Are those people the extra steel?”

“Yes, you understand.”

Jang Ilso slowly sat up.

“That’s what greed is. Even if you know that it’s useless, hard to sell, and should throw it right away, you can’t do that. Even such an iron seems like it might be useful someday.”

“….”

“Power is not something you can keep in your arms like extra iron and forget about. Just by existing, it compels you to wield it. Do you understand?”

“Ryeonju-nim.”

“I don’t need any extras that will dull me. Power, like a renowned sword, must fit perfectly in my hand. It’s the work of a clown to wield a sword that is full of impurities and doesn’t have a sharp edge. Things that are just oversized and move erratically… should be either beheaded or burned away completely.”

A playful and sinister smile appeared on Jang Ilso’s lips.

“In the meantime, it would be a great lesson to those who are left behind, so I get the highest value out of it. Don’t you think so?”

Ho Gamyeong eventually nodded.

The enemy was extremely powerful. That was why Ho Gamyeong tried to somehow raise Evil Tyrant Alliance a little more. However, Jang Ilso seemed to have different thoughts.

If that’s the case, Ho Gamyeong must follow Jang Ilso’s will. After all, the one leading this force is not Ho Gamyeong but Jang Ilso.

“Gamyeong-ah.”

“Yes, Ryeonju-nim.”

“The wars we will face from now on will be different from those we’ve faced before. We will have to face not just one enemy, but many enemies in many places.”

“….”

“If those fools act on their own each time, we’ll lose even the battles we could win.”

Ho Gamyeong nodded.

That is a fact he also knows well.

“So first, we need to make them not people but dogs. Dogs that bark when told to bark, wag their tails when told to wag their tails. Those who don’t want to become dogs, we can just let them die as people. That’s… what true mercy is. Do you understand?”

“…Can they truly become your dogs?”

There was a ghostly look on Jang Ilso’s face.

“Of course. If I kill all those who do not follow my orders, and if they learn that not following my orders brings about a more fearful outcome than dying at the hands of the enemy… humanity will disappear.”

“….”

“It will take a long time. It will be a tedious process. But once it’s all done…”

Jang Ilso’s two eyes were staring at the ceiling. No, it seemed more accurate to say they were looking beyond the ceiling at something else.

“I will finally be qualified to hold the world in my hands.”

Ho Gamyeong’s hand trembled slightly. Had Jang Ilso ever spoken such words in the past?

“If that is your will, I will just follow.”

If that’s the case, then they must obey. Even if it means dyeing the entire Gangnam, just Evil Tyrant Alliance, in blood.

“Good.”

Jang Ilso’s eyes were filled with heated desire. Ho Gamyeong’s chest began to burn with passion.

At that moment, Jang Ilso exclaimed, ‘Ah,’ as if something had occurred to him.

“Before that, go and fetch some more liquor.”

“….”

“I need to change my attendants…”

“….”

A sigh escaped Ho Gamyeong’s mouth.