Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1304. What the hell is that guy? (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Jeok Ho held his breath.
He didn’t dare raise his head to gauge Jang Ilso’s expression.
People usually guess that the greatest pain they experienced while serving Jang Ilso was having to read his moods due to his cruel nature.
But that assumption comes from a lack of understanding of Myriad Man Manor and Jang Ilso himself.
The thing that those who serve Jang Ilso closely find most difficult was not having to watch Jang Ilso's expression and behave accordingly.
Quite the opposite… It was troublesome because reading Jang Ilso's moods was impossible.
This moment was no different.
If not outright furious, he at least appeared visibly displeased.
Even if it doesn't reach the level of anger, it's clear that he's at least displeased.
But Jeok Ho had observed Jang Ilso for a long time.
He knew well how utterly futile it was to judge this man based on what was visible on the surface.
Whatever appearance Jang Ilso showed, no one could know what lay within.
"Deceiving me…"
There was a faint trace of amusement in Jang Ilso’s voice.
"That Gamyeong, you say?"
Jeok Ho waited in silence without even daring to breathe audibly.
There was no need for thought.
All necessary reports had been made.
Now he simply awaited Jang Ilso's judgment.
Eventually, Jang Ilso’s indifferent voice reached Jeok Ho’s ears.
"So, is that all?"
Jeok Ho slowly lifted his head in silence.
Despite knowing it was meaningless, he instinctively studied Jang Ilso's expression, but the face that was half-hidden by steam merely looked bored as usual.
“This isn’t worth making such a fuss over. Tsk, tsk.”
“…Ryeonju-nim.”
"Is someone there?"
“Yes, Ryeonju-nim!”
A young servant who had been waiting nearby rushed forward.
Her hands held a tray with wine and cups.
Jang Ilso smiled gently and praised her.
"What a quick-witted child."
The servant's face flushed slightly.
Jang Ilso slowly poured the liquor into the cup with a languid hand and raised it.
"If you’re done, you may leave."
Jeok Ho’s fingertips trembled slightly.
Just as he had anticipated, his role was over.
His task was to report what he had discovered, and it was Jang Ilso's role to make any judgments of it.
It wasn’t something Jeok Ho could dare to speak further on.
Yet Jeok Ho couldn't easily withdraw.
Jang Ilso slowly took a sip of his drink and looked at Jeok Ho with strange eyes as he asked.
"Is there some problem?"
“….”
"Or perhaps, would you like to share a drink?"
“Ryeonju-nim….”
Jeok Ho exhaled deeply.
He knew he was overstepping his bounds, this was a time to speak straightforwardly even at the cost of overstepping.
“I am aware of Ryeonju-nim’s deep trust in Advisor.”
"Mm."
"But this matter isn't something to be dismissed so easily."
Jang Ilso looks at Jeok Ho as if he finds it amusing.
Even under that piercing gaze, Jeok Ho continued calmly.
"If it were just mobilizing small and medium sects, we could wait and assume there must be some reason. But personally reaching out to Hao Sect clearly crossed the line.”
A faint heat flickered in Jeok Ho’s eyes.
"Depending on interpretation, he could be engaging in something that must not be done."
Jang Ilso's languid gaze met Jeok Ho's.
Thick steam still hovered between them.
Jang Il-so silently stared at Jeok Ho for a long while, then laughed softly.
"Something that must not be done."
A sinister light flickered in his eyes.
"I'd like to hear what you mean by that?"
Jeok Ho bit his lip hard.
“Ryeonju-nim. Advisor has been granted immense authority. Of course, the authority to command the entire Evil Tyrant Alliance belongs solely to Ryeonju-nim alone. But as known, Advisor can act on the Lord’s behalf with said authority. That’s how he can mobilize even the smaller sects at will.”
"…So?"
“In other words….”
Jeok Ho spoke as if spitting out the words.
“If Advisor harbors other intentions and aligns himself with Hao Sect, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to use that authority to stage a rebellion.”
Jang Ilso stared blankly at Jeok Ho for a moment.
It was as if he had been struck out of nowhere.
Jeok Ho swallowed dryly as he awaited Jang Ilso’s reaction.
"...Rebellion?"
“….”
“Ha…. Hahaha.”
“….”
"Rebellion? Hahahat! Rebellion, you say! Ahahahahahahahahahat!"
What began as a small chuckle erupted into roaring laughter.
He laughed so hard that he shook his whole body and the wine spilled from his cup into the bath.
"Hahahahahahahahahahat!"
Jang Ilso laughed like that for a long while, clutching his stomach with one hand.
Finally, he wiped away the faint tears at the corners of his eyes with his fingertips and calmed himself down.
"Ah… I can’t even remember the last time I laughed like this…"
Jang Il-so spoke while beautifully curving his eyes still tinged with faint amusement.
"That was truly entertaining. Now you may go."
“Ryeonju-nim ….”
Jang Ilso leaned back against the edge of the bath, his face once again clouded with languid boredom.
“Of course, you’re simply fulfilling your duty, but you must consider my position as well. Playing along with meaningless things is only amusing at first. Gamyeong plotting rebellion? I would sooner believe that old Bop Jeong grew his hair out."
"This matter isn't..."
"Enough."
Jeok Ho flinched involuntarily.
When he raised his head, all trace of emotion vanished from Jang Ilso's eyes as if it had been washed away.
Though impossible, the air felt chillingly cold at the sight of that gaze.
"I don't think you're slandering Gamyeong. However... you should know what you're saying before opening your mouth."
"I am…."
“It was none other than me who granted Gamyeong that authority.”
Jang Ilso smiled.
His lips had regained their ruddy color.
"And now you’re telling me that my decision was wrong. Do you understand?”
"I- I didn't intend..."
“I know.”
Jang Ilso's eyes curved like crescent moons.
"If that had been your intention, this bath wouldn't still be so clear, would it?"
A chill ran down Jeok Ho's spine.
For a fleeting moment, he imagined the transparent water turning crimson, dyed with the blood spilling from his own body.
"In any case, how admirable. I understand your concern well enough, so you may go now."
But Jeok Ho stubbornly refused to back down.
Jang Ilso sighed and refilled his empty cup with alcohol.
Loyalty was fine and well, but dealing with people whose devotion outpaced their intelligence was rather tiresome.
“Ryeonju-nim.”
"You have more to say?"
"…I’m not here to discuss intentions. I’m here to discuss danger."
"Danger?"
"Yes. One cannot peer into another’s heart. Then shouldn’t we focus solely on the facts? Right now, with the forces led by Advisor, combined with the southern small and medium sects and Hao Sect's strength, they have enough strength to potentially threaten you, Ryeonju-nim."
“….”
“What I’m wary of isn’t Advisor. It is Thousand-Faced Gentleman. If he’s behind all of this…”
If such a thing happened, even one in a thousand or ten thousand chance, it would be irreversible.
On the surface, it might seem unlikely that they could directly challenge Jang Ilso, but the important thing was that Thousand-Faced Gentleman and Ho Gamyeong led the forces.
They wouldn't move easily without certainty.
In the worst-case scenario… the irreversible might already be happening.
Therefore, as quickly as possible...
"Hmm."
But Jang Ilso continued to smile faintly, his gaze fixed leisurely on the alcohol in his cup.
Looking down at the perfectly still alcohol without a trace of disturbance, he asked.
“Gamyeong colluding with Thousand-Faced Gentleman?”
“….”
“And plotting against me?”
"Even if not that far..."
“Then what choice is there? I’ll have to die.”
Jeok Ho head snapped up in shock.
He stammered with his eyes wide open.
“Rye- Ryeonju-nim?”
"Why?"
"N- No... How could you say such..."
“Don’t act like a child.”
Jang Ilso’s smile deepened.
It was a chilling smile, like one directed at an enemy, but his voice remained calm.
"If I’ve misjudged someone, then I would have no excuse even if I were to die, would I?"
"…Do you trust Advisor that much?"
"No."
Jang Ilso spoke as if bored.
“That would apply to you as well. It's a task I assigned and authority I granted. If that authority were to turn against me, the only option left would be for me to offer my neck.”
“That authority….”
"That won't do. I'm not a god. If I try to control everything, I'll end as nothing more than someone who reached only this far."
His slightly flushed lips parted, revealing stark white teeth.
“Isn’t it better to move forward and risk a knife in the back than to rot away while sitting still? Don’t you agree?”
“….”
“Now leave.”
Jeok Ho let out a deep sigh.
"...Then at least send me to Guangdong. I'll confirm with my own eyes."
“No.”
"But why..."
“If it were you, wouldn’t you arrest Gamyeong and bring him here even at the slightest hint of trouble? No matter what Gamyeong was doing.”
“….”
"There must be a reason Gamyeong is acting this way. It’s unlikely to harm me. So just leave it be."
Jang Ilso finished speaking and slowly took another sip of his wine.
Jeok Ho's face was blank.
Even someone as fiercely loyal to Jang Ilso as Jeok Ho couldn’t understand him at times like these.
"...I shall take my leave."
Jeok Ho slowly left the bathroom, leaving behind Jang Ilso who spoke no more.
Jang Ilso glanced at Jeok Ho’s retreating figure, then turned to a nearby servant with a faint smile.
"Is there perhaps other liquor prepared?"
"I- I'll bring it right away, Ryeonju-nim!"
"My, my. Don't run. The bathhouse floor is slippery. You’ll hurt yourself."
Jang Ilso chuckled softly as he watched the young servant hurry away, then leaned his head back and stared up at the ceiling.
Droplets of water hung heavy from the steam-coated surface.
Gazing at them, he murmured softly.
“Gamyeong….”
Ho Gamyeong plotting a rebellion? This wasn't even worth considering, let alone suspecting.
And even if it were true, it didn’t matter.
Death would end it all.
But it was certain that Ho Gamyeong was up to something.
Something significant enough to act without reporting to Jang Ilso, even going so far as to disregard Jang Ilso’s direct orders.
What could be so important that Ho Gamyeong would go this far?
"Not just position, but staking your life as well?"
Jang Ilso absently traced his lips with his fingertip.
As his finger slowly traced his lips, he murmured again.
"...Something is there? Isn't it?"
And whatever it was, it would undoubtedly be both incredibly dangerous and irresistibly alluring to Jang Ilso.
Since Ho Gamyeong was willing to go to any lengths to eliminate it.
A single word surfaced in Jang Ilso’s mind.
But that could not possibly exist there.
Lost in thought, Jang Ilso smirked.
When something that should not have happened had already happened, what was so strange about something that should not exist being there?
“Hmm.”
His eyes flickered.
"I suppose I should at least see it for myself."
The corners of his mouth rose ominously.
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