Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1283. Who came to Gangnam (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"They're coming."
Yo Pwi, vice branch leader of Hao Sect Guangdong branch, muttered while looking meaningfully at the ships approaching the shore.
“Vice Branch Leader, are those Hainan Sect bastards on those ships?"
"Seems so."
“Kuk, kuk. How ridiculous. They acted so high and mighty, only to have the ships they took seized right back.”
“Indeed.”
"What an utter disgrace."
Harsh ridicule poured out from both sides.
Ridiculing those who were now under the same roof wasn’t exactly commendable, but Yo Pwi did not bother to scold his subordinates. He understood their hostility towards Myriad Man Manor.
'Just because we're under one roof doesn't mean all ill feelings will wash away overnight.'
Originally known as one of the ‘Great Five Evil Sect’, they never got along well with each other. But their resentment towards Myriad Man Manor didn’t stem from such simple reasons alone.
Hao Sect was an intelligence organization. Although it engages in many businesses, at its core it revolves around information. This means that there are a lot of informants moving around secretly to gather information.
The original mission of Hao Sect's Guangdong Branch was to gather intelligence on Myriad Man Manor and all of Guangdong while avoiding the keen surveillance of the formidable Myriad Man Manor. Many lives had been lost in the process and it was impossible for those feelings of animosity to disappear entirely just because they were nominally on the same side.
As long as it didn’t interfere with the task, it was easier for Yo Pwi to just let them vent a little.
“They stormed into Hae Nam with all that gusto, but now it looks like they'll lose Guangdong instead."
“Is Hainan Sect too clever, or are those Myriad Man Manor idiots too stupid?”
Of course, neither was correct.
Yo Pwi watched the ships intently without adding any comments.
The ones who created this situation were neither Hainan Sect nor Myriad Man Manor, but the key figures of Heavenly Comrade Alliance on that ship.
Yo Pwi roughly chewed his lips as if to gnaw at them.
While his subordinates might rejoice in their ignorance, from his position, this wasn't something to be purely happy about. Considering the last time their traces were spotted near the Yangtze River, it was certain that these people had traversed Gangnam when they headed for Hainan Island.
For an organization claiming to have control over all information in Gangnam, the fact that these individuals traversed the region undetected was a glaring failure. Like a blind man with wide open eyes.
In such a situation, what would happen if they ended up nicely escorting them all the way to Gangbuk?
'There will certainly be questions of responsibility.'
Responsibility was fundamentally like that. It doesn’t matter much who was more at fault; what matters was who was weaker among those at fault.
‘That Paegun would certainly seize this opportunity.’
Just as he did with water fortress and Black Ghost Fortress, he would try to cut off Hao Sect’s limbs to turn it into his dog. That must be prevented at all costs. And if they handled this well, Hao Sect’s position might even be solidified. Taking the head of that Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword would be an achievement incomparable to anything else within Evil Tyrant Alliance.
Yo Pwi, his face set in grim thought, glanced at the subordinates who were still cursing Myriad Man Manor.
"If you've prattled enough, close your mouths."
At the subdued command, the subordinates immediately fell silent and held their breaths.
"Cursing Myriad Man Manor can wait until after the task. Right now, the priority isn’t laughing at them but ensuring we don’t lose track of their trail.”
“Don’t worry, Vice Branch Leader.”
“Tracking is our specialty, isn’t it?”
Yo Pwi gave a small nod. It wasn’t that they were overconfident.
Of course, it was hard to deny that Hao Sect’s intelligence capability lagged behind that of Beggar Union. How could they possibly match the scale of the so-called ‘Hundred Thousand Beggars’ of Beggar Union?
But that doesn't mean Hao Sect is inferior to Beggar Union. Hao Moon had a special skill that Beggar Union could never imitate. The ability to track and assassinate.
'Assassination.'
It would be ideal if it could succeed. But…
'It's impossible.'
Based on the intelligence they had gathered about Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, even attempting an assassination was futile. He wasn’t someone who would leave openings.
'But tracking is different.'
No matter how extraordinary Heavenly Comrade Alliance might be, Gangnam was Evil Sects territory. There was no way Hao Sect would lose their trail here.
Yo Pwi could proudly say that their coming failure would merely be the price of underestimating Hao Sect.
"The scent (향(香))?"
“I'm ready.”
The subordinates immediately pulled out small mother-of-pearl vials from their robes. Yo Pwi nodded. Judging by the red color of the bottles, they seemed to have properly brought premium-grade products.
“Check once again.”
"Yes."
“Following them won’t be too hard, but if we miss Heavenly Comrade Alliance mixed among Hainan Sect, we’ll carry that regret for eternity.”
“Yes, Vice Branch Leader.”
“When they come ashore, the strike team will risk their lives to get close and smear them with tracking scent. Once that’s done, even if they flee to hell itself, they won’t escape our pursuit. Understood?”
"Understood!"
A firm response returned. Yo Pwi gave a quiet nod.
‘Good.’
He had no doubts about their success.
After all, the Guangdong branch he led was practically the frontline of Hao Sect. Naturally, the subordinates under his command were Hao Sect’s elite operatives who had performed tasks amidst Myriad Man Manor’s presence.
Even though their opponents included the likes of Hua Mountain’s Five Swords and key figures from Heavenly Comrade Alliance, this wasn’t about taking their lives—it was merely a mission to apply some scent. There was no reason why this task couldn’t be accomplished.
And that one scent was enough. Hao Mun’s special Thousand-Li Tracking Scent (천리추종향(千里追從香)) would linger for at least ten days once applied.
From here to the Yangtze River was more than a staggering 2,500 li. With trained hounds, they could track residual traces of the scent from distances exceeding fifty li.
From here to the Yangtze River, the distance is over two thousand five hundred li. If Thousand-Li Tracking Scent were applied, dreaming of a safe return would be impossible.
“They’re almost within range.”
"Lower your positions."
"Understood!"
Yo Pwi’s eyes sank into a cold darkness.
‘If it were a fair fight based purely on martial arts, of course you would win.’
But this wasn’t that kind of duel. This was a war where victory meant killing the opponent by any means necessary. Soon, they would painfully realize just how ruthless Hao Sect could be in such a war.
Kuung!
Kuuuung!
The ship slammed roughly into a sandbank.
A faint smile spread across Yo Pwi's lips. They didn’t even have the luxury to properly dock their ships. Well, with Myriad Man Manor pursuing from behind and an encirclement forming ahead, how could they have time to dock carefully and safely?
Yo Pwi quietly clenched and unclenched his fist. Prey being hasty was a good sign. All they had to do was patiently track these anxious targets and tighten the noose.
“Wait until they disembark.”
"Understood!"
Yo Pwi suppressed the rising tension and minimized his presence as much as possible.
'Come now...'
He fixed his eyes on the ship without even blinking. However…
After a little time passed, someone who couldn’t bear the wait any longer spoke up.
"Um... they're not disembarking?"
“...That can’t be.”
“No, we can't even sense any presence to begin with?"
Yo Pwi narrowed his eyes.
'What's going on?'
They had been lying in wait while holding their breaths for quite some time, yet no one was disembarking from the ship.
"Let's... wait a bit longer. It might be a trap."
“...Yes.”
Choosing caution over hasty action, Yo Pwi bit down on his lip. But no matter how long they watched the ship, no sign of people appeared.
Finally, Yo Pwi opened his mouth.
“Ghost Fox (귀호(鬼狐)).”
"Yes!"
“Go check.”
“...Understood.”
One of the subordinates rose cautiously and approached the ship as swiftly and quietly as possible. Then instantly climbed aboard.
Yo Pwi watched tensely. After a short moment, a loud shout rang out.
“Vice Branch Leader! The ship is empty!"
“...What?”
“No one aboard!”
Yo Pwi, momentarily flustered, suddenly sat up.
“Empty?”
"Yes!"
The subordinate shouted hastily.
"Check the other ships! Now!"
"Understood!"
The subordinates standing behind rushed to the ships in perfect unison. Yo Pwi's face stiffened as he delved into his thoughts.
‘What the hell is going on here?’
A scheme? No, a scheme must serve a clear benefit. For them, time must be the most precious resource right now. What could they possibly gain by pulling off something like this?
"There's no one!"
“None here! All the ships are empty!”
Yo Pwi bit his lip tightly.
“So are you saying that the things that came by boat soared into the sky?”
"B- But they're really not here! We’ve searched even every nook and cranny of the holds. There are traces of people, but no one’s left—not even a rat!”
“Th- This....”
Yo Pwi ran hurriedly and leaped onto the ship with all his might. A cold air swept over the ship devoid of human presence. A chill ran down his spine.
'Fuck. This is bad.'
This was a task entrusted to Hao Sect. He had to succeed at all costs. No matter how much he protested that Hainan Sect and Heavenly Comrade Alliance had not come on board the ship in the first place, wouldn’t this only emphasize Hao Sect’s incompetence?
"S- Search!"
"Yes?"
“Scatter! They can’t have gone far.”
“B- But, Vice Branch Leader!”
"Move instead of babbling!"
Yo Pwi suddenly raised his voice.
“They must have jumped off and dove underwater as soon as they neared the shore. How far could they have gotten? They must have landed somewhere not far from here. Look for footprints, find where the shore is wet! Quickly!"
"U- Understood..."
As if overwhelmed by Yo Pwi's intensity, the subordinate in front turned deathly pale. Seeing this, Yo Pwi quickly came to his senses and took a deep breath.
"I got too excited. First, let's stay calm..."
"Th- That's not it..."
"Hm?"
“Gahk!”
In that instant, blood fountained from the subordinate's gaping mouth and poured down onto Yo Pwi's face.
Soaked in hot blood, Yo Pwi stared blankly at him. The subordinate’s once pale face was now turning almost black.
“...Poison?”
"P- Poison!"
"Hold your breath! Those fucking pieces of shit, there’s poison on the ship!"
"Get away from here!"
But it was already too late.
"Kuheok!"
“Uwaegh!”
Those who had entered the boats began to collapse one by one and vomitted blood. Their faces darkened hideously, making it painfully clear what fate awaited them.
"Th- This... Ugh!"
Feeling his stomach churn, Yo Pwi staggered backward and hastily circulated his internal strength.
“Blargh!”
It was such deadly poison that even Yo Pwi vomited blood for a moment. It was obvious what his subordinates would end up suffering.
Those collapsed on the deck convulsed, bubbling black bloody foam. Yo Pwi's face turned pale at the gruesome sight.
“He- Heavenly Comrade Alliance....”
He clenched his blood-soaked teeth.
"You filthy dog-like bastards! Aaaaaaaargh!"
His rage-filled scream pierced through the sound of waves, echoing miserably.
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