Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1276. I wasn’t wrong (1)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"What did you just say?"
Ho Gamyeong asked in a low voice.
Ho Gamyeong was never someone who left a good impression. To be exact, his features were not bad, but his naturally cold and sharp expression made people wary of him.
Now, with bandages wrapped around his face and that frigid gaze, the man delivering the report couldn’t help but feel his heart drop.
“W- We’ve requisitioned ships from nearby villages. While we couldn't find vessels as large as the ones we came on, several ships of adequate size..."
"Get to the point."
The man swallowed hard.
"The sailors we brought from the mainland say they have difficulty sailing the ships we've requisitioned."
Ho Gamyeong's eyes narrowed slightly.
“I don’t understand. Isn’t a sailor someone who sails ships? Why would it be difficult to sail those ships?”
"Th- They say Hainan Island's ships have different structures from what they're used to, making everything challenging."
Ho Gamyeong let out a hollow laugh. It sounded like a martial artist complaining that they couldn’t wield a saber properly just because it was shaped differently than what they were used to.
"Bring the person in charge."
“R- Right this way!”
As if he had anticipated Ho Gamyeong’s command, the man quickly turned and shouted. A burly man who had been waiting to one side hurriedly ran over and knelt before Ho Gamyeong.
“Th- This lowly man pays respects to the military officer…”
“That’s enough.”
Ho Gamyeong cut off the man’s words as if he had no need for such formalities. The already pale man's face turned even whiter.
“You said you cannot sail the ships?”
“…Y- Yes, that’s correct.”
"Why?"
Ho Gamyeong stared at the sailor with a chilling gaze.
"Should I understand this to mean you can't handle unfamiliar ships?"
“N- No. Esteemed Advisor-nim!”
The sailor prostrated himself until his head touched the ground.
“I may be nothing but a lowly stupid seaman, but I’ve spent my entire life on the sea! How could there be a ship I cannot sail?"
Ho Gamyeong slowly nodded. Logically speaking, the man’s words made sense.
"Then?"
"H- However, Hainan Island's ships are unfamiliar to us. Though the storm has passed, the waves remain high and there's a headwind too. In these conditions, the ships we’re steering will inevitably move slower than usual.”
“Slower?”
"Yes. It will take at least half a day more to reach the mainland..."
“Half a day….”
If there was leeway, they could just take their time. But the one thing they didn’t have right now was leeway.
Half a day was more than enough time for their prey to escape Guangdong.
“So you’re saying we can’t sail them?”
“I- If you order us to, then of course we will. However... you must consider that it will take more time..."
Ho Gamyeong chuckled.
“You’re sharp. I suppose that’s why you’re here representing the others.”
This sailor's claim about not being able to sail wasn't meant literally. He knew that if they sailed without saying this and took longer than expected, Myriad Man Manor's volatile martial artists would surely hold them accountable.
This man was now trying to get Ho Gamyeong’s official acknowledgment of his excuse before that could happen.
Usually, Ho Gamyeong might have even rewarded such a person. People who think about their situation and come up with solutions are the type of people Ho Gamyeong likes the most.
But right now, all he felt was irritation rather than admiration.
'Things are getting complicated.'
Lost in thought for a moment, he ran his fingertips over the bandage wrapped around his cheek. He could clearly feel the dry cloth dampened by a sticky fluid beneath it.
"Advisor-nim! I will push these men...."
"That won't be necessary."
Ho Gamyeong cut off the subordinate’s words and turned his gaze back to the sailor.
"So you're unfamiliar with these ships. Correct?"
"Yes."
"Then we simply need to call those who are familiar."
The corners of Ho Gamyeong's mouth twisted slightly.
“I hear everyone living in Hainan Island is a sailor. Is that true?”
"If not everyone, at least one in two would know how to sail."
Ho Gamyeong nodded and turned his head. A large fishing village adjacent to the shore came into view.
“Bring them all. Don’t leave a single person behind.”
"Understood!"
A dark glint flickered in Ho Gamyeong’s eyes.
***
The gathered villagers looked with anxious eyes at those surrounding them.
Just the name Myriad Man Manor was enough to make the faint-hearted pound their heart. In Gangnam, the gear brought by the names Evil Tyrant Alliance and Myriad Man Manor was colossal.
"V- Village chief."
"Quiet..."
When someone was about to open their mouth in fear, the village chief, Elder Jong, quickly hushed him and surveyed the situation.
‘What in the world happened?’
From what he could see, the atmosphere was anything but normal. The Myriad Man Manor martial artists who had rounded them up seemed collectively consumed by malice.
"Is everyone here?"
“Y- Yes. Everyone in our village is here.”
When Elder Jong answered, Ho Gamyeong’s gaze shifted toward him.
"Are you the village chief?"
"Y- Yes, I am."
Ho Gamyeong nodded.
“We need people who can sail those ships to the mainland.”
Hearing that, the village chief glanced at the ships anchored at the shore.
"Being Hainan Island ships, people of Hainan Island would sail them best."
The faces of those who heard Ho Gamyeong's words turned ashen.
“Y- You want us to sail the ships?”
"Yes."
Ho Gamyeong added words that didn't need to be said.
“And as fast as possible. We must catch up to the ships that already departed.”
Some among the villagers immediately understood what Myriad Man Manor wanted.
'It's Hainan Sect.'
The shore where Hainan Sect had seized the ships wasn't far from here. So some knew that Hainan Sect had been planning something at the shore.
Sweat began to appear on the village chief Elder Jong's face.
"Must we go... to the mainland?"
"Yes."
"And after that...?"
“That depends on the situation.”
The old man's complexion darkened.
Though the words say they just need to sail the ships, who knows what will happen once they’re on board with you lot? If unlucky, they could be stranded on the mainland for months. If even unluckier, they might lose their lives.
In a situation like that, who would willingly step forward? Moreover, what Myriad Man Manor intends to do now was chase after Hainan Sect.
"But... noble heroes-nim."
A desperate light glimmered in the old man’s eyes.
"W- Se've already lost many days of sailing due to the storm. You're already taking our ships, and if you take our able-bodied men too, we..."
Ho Gamyeong's eyes narrowed slightly.
“Are you saying that taking a few people will starve everyone to death?”
“W- Well, you’ve taken all the usable ships. What are we supposed to…?”
"Enough."
Ho Gamyeong cut off the village chief's words cleanly.
"I'm not one who avoids arguments. In fact, I quite enjoy them. But now isn’t the time to waste precious moments on useless debate.”
"...."
“Our Lord dislikes martial artists laying hands on commoners. But that doesn’t mean he wants to protect them. The more commoners out there working and living their lives, the more beneficial it ultimately is for our Lord. However…”
Ho Gamyeong paused briefly and sneered coldly. His already chilling expression turned downright menacing.
"If, someone interferes with Evil Tyrant Alliance by siding with Hainan Sect even in this situation, there's no reason to protect them. Removing them in advance would be more advantageous for our Lord.”
At those words, a few Myriad Man Manor martial artists drew their swords.
The villagers’ faces turned deathly pale.
"Has your mind not changed?"
Ho Gamyeong sneered as he looked at the old man. But contrary to expectations that he would immediately prostrate himself trembling, a fierce light suddenly flashed in the old man's eyes.
"If you're going to kill us, then kill us."
"...What did you say?"
Even Ho Gamyeong seemed taken aback, a faint trace of surprise crossing his face.
"I said if you're going to kill us, then do it!"
He looked at the old man as if dumbfounded. The old man who had been trembling moments ago in fear of what might happen was now glaring at Ho Gamyeong with malice in his eyes.
“Have you lost your mind?”
"Lost my mind? Of course, I have!"
The old man shouted in raw and desperate voice.
"Among Hainan Sect disciples you're trying to chase down is my own child!"
"......"
"However precious one's life might be, what parent in their right mind would lend their hands to those trying to kill their child! I would rather die! Do as you please, you cursed demons of the world!”
Ho Gamyeong's eyes darkened.
If it had been just this one old man causing a ruckus, it might not be worth noting, but at the moment he raised his voice in rage, Ho Gamyeong noticed a fierce glow in the eyes of the other villagers behind him as well.
‘Is it because this is an island?’
Their ties and bonds run incredibly deep. On the mainland, no one would dare oppose Evil Tyrant Alliance's actions regardless of whose child was involved.
Ho Gamyeong nodded.
"I understand well enough."
"Advisor-nim…"
"Pursuing those who fled is important, yes. But… there are things in this world that must be done, no matter how urgent the situation.”
Ho Gamyeong spoke calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.
“Perhaps Hainan Island needs one too. An example of what happens to those who defy Evil Tyrant Alliance.”
A smile tinged with killing intent spread across Myriad Man Manor martial artists' faces.
"Advisor-nim, then..."
"Leave none alive."
Ho Gamyeong swept his gaze over the gathered people and continued.
"Kill every last one, not even a rat should survive, then burn the village."
The moment he gave that order, Myriad Man Manor martial artists bared their killing intent and lunged at the villagers. The villagers sensed their doom and tightly shut their eyes.
Just then.
"Stop!"
One person shouted and stepped forward.
"Hm?"
Ho Gamyeong looked at the person who had stepped forward.
The young man who stepped forward with a hardened face bit his lip before speaking.
"I can handle the ships. I'll select others who can sail them too."
"Hmm."
Ho Gamyeong scrutinized him with serious eyes before asking.
“And why should I bother with that? I can find sailors elsewhere.”
“…It doesn’t end once we reach the mainland, does it?”
"What do you mean?"
“Weren’t you trying to chase after Hainan Sect?”
"...."
“I can distinguish the traces they left behind and the signs they use.”
Ho Gamyeong gave a low chuckle.
"A Hainan Sect disciple."
"...I am."
After a brief silence, Ho Gamyeong nodded.
“You might make a decent hunting dog. But one dog isn’t enough. If you can bring along a few more, I’ll spare the villagers.”
"...I understand."
"Yoo Gong-ah!"
"Sang Gong!" (A wife’s common way to call her husband.)
Yoo Gong bit his lip. He had tried to avoid stepping forward as much as possible, but now there was no other way. He had abandoned his sect just to save these people. If they all died like this, everything he did would have been for nothing.
He had to save them, no matter what.
"...I'll do whatever you command. So... so please spare these people."
“A deal, is it? Great. Then make your preparations quickly. We leave in half an hour. If you’re not ready by then, consider the deal void."
"I understand."
"'I understand'?"
When Ho Gamyeong quietly repeated the question, Yoo Gong bit his lip.
"…Understood, sir."
Seeing his face overcome with humiliation, Ho Gamyeong gave a blank nod. As he was about to turn away, he suddenly halted.
"Ah, and one more thing."
"Yes?"
In an instant, a surge of energy flew from Ho Gamyeong’s hand like a lightning strike.
Puuk!
The flying force struck Elder Jong who stood at the front mercilessly.
"Village Chief!"
"F- Father!"
The old man spat blood as he went sprawling. It was obvious he was dead without even checking.
"That old man is an exception."
"...."
"Remember this. A deal is a deal. If you fail to fulfill your role properly, the rest will meet the same fate. And when that happens, they won’t die as cleanly as he did.”
Yoo Gong bit his lip until it bled.
"I... will keep it in mind, sir."
"Good."
Ho Gamyeong finally turned away and departed. The Myriad Man Manor martial artists likewise let go of their encirclement and withdrew, leaving their lingering regret behind.
Only then did Yoo Gong turn his head toward the villagers. Naturally, their gazes were anything but friendly.
Amid eyes filled with condemnation and hostility, Yoo Gong unconsciously clenched his fist.
'I wasn't wrong.'
He was right.
No, he had to be.
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