Chapter 1220

Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1220. Who would help? (5)

Editor: Hoamzz

Co-Translator: Xoxo

As the group quietly watched the precarious cart moving along the narrow path, they whispered as quietly as possible to each other.

“…It looks like something’s loaded on the cart?”

"Seems to be grain."

“Why would Evil Tyrant Alliance be carrying grain?”

“Maybe it’s something they confiscated?”

“If it were confiscated, they should be going in the opposite direction."

"...That’s true?"

Questions filled everyone's eyes. But it didn’t take long for those questions to be answered. The voices of the people leading the cart drifted over to them.

"Damn it all!"

The fierce-looking man at the front of the cart growled, his voice full of frustration.

“Why the hell are we doing this!"

Then a scholarly-looking man following behind snickered and answered.

"We do what we're told. What choice do we have?"

"Shouldn't they at least order something that makes sense! In all my life, instead of robbing those commoners, to think I would end up handing out grain to them. I just can't believe it."

At that moment, the members of Heavenly Comrade Alliance exchanged bewildered glances.

‘Handing out grain?’

'Evil Tyrant Alliance?'

Their minds became momentarily confused, but before they could organize their thoughts, the conversation continued.

“What the hell is that bastard Jang Ilso thinking…?”

“Shh!”

When the fierce-looking man got excited and crossed the line, the person next to him looked around frantically with a pale face.

Heavenly Comrade Alliance members, startled, quickly ducked lower, further hiding their presence.

"Are you crazy! You want to get yourself killed, talking like that!”

“Who’s going to kill me! Who else is out here but us?”

"Rats heard the night and birds heard the day! Keep running your mouth like that, and your head will be on a pike before the month is out! Do you even know what kind of world we’re living in?”

"....Fuck."

The fierce-looking man gritted his teeth in frustration.

"We barely have enough to eat ourselves, and they want us to pour this precious grain out to those commoners! What on earth are they thinking!"

“The higher-ups must have their reasons.”

“Reasons? Are you saying Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold didn’t have reasons when he was alive?”

"Whoa! Why are you bringing up that name again!"

When the name Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold was mentioned, the man's face turned white. His eyes darted nervously, as though terrified someone might overhear.

But the fierce-looking man only raised his voice.

“What? We can’t even mention his name now?”

"No.... "

"To tell the truth, back when Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold was alive, did we ever have to scrape by for alcohol? Back then, we had nothing to fear in the world!”

"After those damn damned Myriad Man Manor took over Evil Tyrant Alliance...."

"You punk, just shut your mouth already! What kind of trouble are you trying to get yourself into!

"We barely have enough to eat ourselves, and having to give this to those useless commoners makes my gut burst! It drives me insane!"

The disciples of Mount Hua, who were listening to the conversation, exchanged glances.

"Seems like those guys are from Black Ghost Fortress, right?"

"...Seems like it."

"Sounds like Jang Ilso is really pushing them hard..."

Im Sobyeong's gaze turned serious.

Though it might sound like common grumbling, the underlying information in that conversation was quite large and important, more than expected.

First, the grain loaded on that cart was being distributed to the commoners under Jang Ilso's orders. And despite it being Jang Ilso's order, the internal reaction to that order wasn't very good.

'Of course…'

Jang Ilso was likely stockpiling an enormous amount of resources in preparation for war with Gangbuk.

Even though Evil Tyrant Alliance had gained massive funds by swallowing up Black Ghost Fortress whole, it must have been difficult to both prepare for war and pay their subordinates satisfactory wages.

In such circumstances, it was only natural that there wouldn't be good words when they heard about giving away acquired supplies to commoners.

"Frankly speaking, what good has come to us since Evil Tyrant Alliance was formed? We were dragged out of the nice places we lived in, stationed at that cursed Yangtze River several times, and just when we thought we were finally free, here we are pulling carts!"

"That's it..."

"Screw conquering Gangbuk! What good will that do me anyway? It’s the guys at the top who benefit. I just want to earn decent money and drink my fill tonight! Isn't that right?"

The fierce-looking man looked back at his followers as if seeking agreement.

While no one dared to speak openly, likely because they were of lower rank, the looks in their eyes seemed to agree with the fierce-looking man’s words.

"Cut it out. You think anyone keeps quiet because they don't know that? Keep running your mouth like that and you'll really be skinned alive. They may call themselves Five Great Evil Sects or Evil Sects or whatever... but those Myriad Man Manor bastards aren't even human."

"......"

"Remember what happened to the guy who badmouthed Ryeonju-nim last time and got caught by Myriad Man Manor? Man... I've been called a part of the 'Evil Sects' for nearly twenty years, but I’ve never seen someone killed so brutally in my life."

The fierce-looking man seemed to agree with those words, just snorting without much response.

"They say Magyo is ruthless, but even those bastards would turn pale at the sight of what Myriad Man Manor does. You don’t even need to insult Ryeonju-nim. Just let them hear your name, and you won’t die peacefully."

"Ah, damn it all!"

The fierce-looking man gritted his teeth.

"How did the world end up like this…"

"Tsk, tsk. What's the point of blaming it? At least our situation is better. At least we're not conscripted to guard the Yangtze or forced down to Hainan. We don't have to tiptoe around everything."

"That would be better. Is this work befitting of someone carrying a sword?"

"Now, calm your temper a bit."

"I’d rather die fighting with a sword and get it over with than live like this, doing nothing but..."

The man speaking suddenly made a strange expression. Then he asked.

"...How much farther is it to the village we're heading to?"

"We'll arrive soon."

"Was this the last one?"

"Stop here, and then we'll head to Hyeongyang."

"Hyeongyang...."

The fierce-looking man grinned and nodded.

"A village deep in the mountains, I see. We should hurry then."

"...."

"Hurry up. We need to arrive before sunset!"

"Yes!"

The cart jolted forward again, picking up speed as it pressed on.

Only after the group had disappeared almost completely from view did Heavenly Comrade Alliance members who were hiding rise up.

Watching silently as the cart disappeared into the distance, they exchanged glances filled with complex, uneasy thoughts.

"Well... nothing wrong will happen, right?"

"Jang Ilso ordered them to distribute the grain. No matter how much of a scum Evil Sects bastards are, they wouldn’t cause trouble over something like this, right?"

"Right. They must know to fear Jang Ilso too."

"We're in a hurry, we really shouldn’t waste our time with them for no reason."

"That's all true. So...."

As they exchanged glances and repeated the obvious, everyone nodded in agreement.

"Let's go."

"Let’s just follow them."

"We just need to watch for a bit. If nothing happens, we can go on our way."

"But it might delay us..."

"We just won’t sleep!"

Im Sobyeong clutched his face in despair.

'I tried so hard to avoid this by sticking to the mountain paths.'

It's not that he was afraid of being seen by people. It's that he was afraid of people being seen by them!

"Um... I know it’s probably unnecessary to say this, but just in case..."

"Yes?"

"...We're in the middle of Gangnam right now."

Im Sobyeong spoke as if pleading.

"I won't stop you since it's obvious you won't listen if I say let's just go... but no matter what happens, you mustn't step in. If things escalate, something truly irreversible might happen. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Ah, of course."

"As if we don't have that much sense."

"We need to figure out what Evil Tyrant Alliance is up to. This could turn into crucial information, right?"

Put out that fire in your eyes... Anyone would think a pack of tigers was going to jump out of the bushes the way you're acting. Why are you putting so much strength into your eyes...

Baek Cheon glanced around at the group and spoke up.

"No one moves without my permission."

"Yes, Acting Sect Leader."

"Good."

Baek Cheon's eyes shone sharply.

"Let's just see what’s going on."

* * *

Heavenly Comrade Alliance members who moved quickly through the path soon discovered a small village.

Judging by its small size, it seemed to be a village sustaining itself through hunting or slash-and-burn farming.

"This looks like the place?"

"Shh."

They lowered their voices and climbed up a hill, finding a spot where they could overlook the village and see everything that was happening below.

The grain cart they had seen earlier was stopped at the village square, and in front of it, about thirty people who appeared to be villagers were standing awkwardly with frightened faces.

"...Is this everyone?"

At those words, the village elder standing in front trembled as he answered.

"Yes, yes! This is everyone living in our village!"

The grim-faced man frowned.

"This is the will of Evil Tyrant Alliance. You know what will happen if you try to deceive us about the numbers, don’t you?"

"Aigoo, noble sir... how would we dare have the courage to deceive you, sir? These are all who live in our village. Not one is missing, down to the infants, all gathered as ordered."

"Hmm. Is that so?"

The man nodded and began counting the people standing in front of him.

"Thirty-two... For a village deep in the mountains, that's quite a number."

Nodding his head, he pounded the grainsacks loaded on the cart with his hand and shouted loudly.

"Listen well! Ryeonju-nim took pity on you and sent grain. All of this is bestowed by Ryeonju-nim, so receive it with gratitude."

"R- Really?"

"Are you suggesting I gathered you all here to make jokes?"

"How, how could that be? It's just that we're so grateful..."

The village elder looked at the grain loaded on the cart with disbelief.

Just moments ago, they had been trembling in fear, wondering what disaster had befallen them when these sword-wielding men from Evil Sects stormed into the village, so to be told they would be given grain was surprising.

"Your gratitude should be directed to Ryeonju-nim. Remember the name of Jang Ilso, Paegun of Evil Tyrant Alliance."

"Of- Of course, of course. How could we be humans if we didn't know gratitude? We will live our entire lives never forgetting this kindness!"

Tears welled up in the eyes of the village elder.

The drought this year had already been severe, and they were barely surviving on roots and bark. They had been lying awake worrying that before long some might die of starvation.

Who would have thought that the infamous leader of Evil Sects would actually distribute grain to them?

It was only natural for people to feel more gratitude toward a villain sharing food right in front of them than a Buddha speaking kind words from afar.

The fierce-looking man laughed heartily and said,.

"Oh? You're grateful?"

"Yes! Yes! Noble sir, we are truly... truly thankful. Ryeonju-nim's grace is as vast as the ocean."

"Indeed, it is."

"And on behalf of the village, we also express our deepest thanks to the heroes who have brought this grain to us."

"Haha. No need to thank me."

"No, how could we not..."

"You don't understand what I'm saying."

"...Pardon?"

At that moment, the man drew the sword at his waist like lightning and slashed the village elder's chest in one strike.

Chwaak.

"Wh- What are you doing!"

It happened before the man beside him could even react.

The village elder looked down at his gaping chest in disbelief, eyes wide, before collapsing to the ground with a soft thud.

Screams of terror erupted from all around.

"I told you so. No need to thank me."

The fierce-looking man, his face splattered with blood, grinned.