Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1359. That guy is coming (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"Could it be?"
"Yes!"
Hong Dae-gwang nodded vehemently..
“Those beggars…. N- No, Beggar Union upper echelons are interpreting Jang Ilso's current movements as possibly being not just about capturing Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, but part of his Gangbuk advance."
Tang Gun-ak's face grew noticeably serious.
If it’s east....”
It was possible.
Moving east along the Yangtze from here leads to Zhejiang. And the ones who should originally be preventing Evil Tyrant Alliance from crossing the river in Zhejiang were none other than Namgung Family. After all, Namgung Family is the ruler of Zhejiang, based in Anhui.
However, half of Namgung’s forces have already been lost, and their remaining forces are all stationed here in Kugang.
In other words, the eastern Yangtze was now a complete no man's land. If Jang Ilso sets his mind to entering Zhejiang, there is no force to stand in his way.
"How are Ten Great Sects reacting?"
"Naturally, it's utter chaos. Right now... orders have come from Shaolin Bangjang to track Jang Ilso's movements at any cost."
A hollow laugh escaped Tang Gun-ak's mouth.
Jang Ilso hadn’t even arrived somewhere defenseless, nor had he shown anything extraordinary yet. He was merely made a show of moving eastward.
And yet, not only Heavenly Comrade Alliance but the entire Ten Great Sects were being thrown into turmoil. Though there may be many people in the world, only Jang Ilso could overturn the world with just one small action like this.
"Bangjang must feel like a fire has been lit under his feet."
Han Yi-myung asked with a puzzled look at Tang Gun-ak's words.
“What do you mean?”
“Bangjang had likely assumed everything happening in Gangnam had little to do with Ten Great Sects. Of course, Hainan Sect was involved, but Bangjang had already regarded Hainan Sect as a dead stone.”
Everyone nodded.
“But if Jang Ilso starts moving east, the situation flips. With Namgung Family’s sogaju in Gangnam and their main forces stationed here, the ones who will have to stop the northern advance of Evil Tyrant Alliance are none other than Ten Great Sects themselves."
"Indeed..."
If Namgung were still in Zhejiang, it would be Heavenly Comrade Alliance whose feet were on fire. But with Namgung staying here, the situation has completely reversed.
Bop Jeong must now prevent them from stepping into Anhui by any means necessary.
If Evil Tyrant Alliance passes Anhui, the place it will unfold immediately after was Henan, where Wudang and Shaolin reside.
This means that Jang Ilso was currently in a position where he could stab Ten Great Sects in the heart if he so desired.
"Wait! Then...!"
At that moment, Hyun Sang’s face tensed with worry as he cut into the conversation.
"What about the children? What will happen to our children? Won't this put them in more danger?"
Tang Gun-ak shook his head.
"They won't be in more danger either way. If Jang Ilso truly intends to march north, the children will actually be much safer. Even if that’s not the case, the encirclement around them will loosen."
"Aah."
Only then did Hyun Sang nod with a slightly relieved expression.
Tang Gun-ak glanced at Hong Dae-gwang's expression before speaking again.
“This new development complicates matters for Ten Great Sects, but if we consider it carefully, it doesn’t really put us at a disadvantage. Even if this is just one of Jang Ilso’s strategies to stir confusion, we have nothing to lose."
Everyone nodded at those words.
In fact, setting aside all the intricate layers of strategy for now, it was already gratifying to see Ten Great Sects—who had been sitting idly by as though they were watching a fire from across the river—suddenly in a panic as if their own feet were ablaze.
It would be even better if Jang Ilso diverted his attention from the children sent as special envoys while engaging with Ten Great Sects. And even if it doesn't go that far, Ten Great Sects can no longer watch like spectators across the river.
"It's certainly Jang Ilso-like....”
None can compare to him when it comes to putting people in an uncomfortable position and exploiting their weaknesses until they break out in cold sweat.
“Elder Namgung.”
“Yes, Tang Gaju-nim.”
Namgung Myeong responded immediately to Tang Gun-ak’s call.
"Just in case, it would be best to have the remaining Namgung Family withdraw from Anhui."
"Understood. Since we have connections in Northern Hebei, I'll have them pack immediately and move there."
“Will that be all right?”
"Even if Sogaju were here, he wouldn’t have hesitated at all. Losing our foothold in Anhui is concerning, but ensuring the survival of our people comes first, does it not?"
Tang Gun-ak nodded. His thoughts aligned.
“Maengju-nim. Then we should take advantage of this opening and move toward Gangnam....”
Tang Gun-ak turned toward Hyun Jong to discuss their next course of action but suddenly fell silent.
Hyun Jong's face had lost all color and turned deathly pale.
“...Maengju-nim?”
Tang Gun-ak called out again, but for a moment there was no response. Only after some time did Hyun Jong's head slowly turn toward Hong Dae-gwang.
“You said east?”
Hong Dae-gwang nodded with a puzzled expression.
"Y- Yes."
“Where in the east?”
"…Pardon?"
"Where exactly are they heading? Not all east is the same."
“Ah... That’s... At first, they seemed to be heading southeast, but now their direction has shifted northeast. That’s why Ten Great Sects are in even greater turmoil. If they move northeast from the southern edge of Lake Poyang, they’ll reach Zhejiang."
Hyun Jong's face grew even paler.
“Ma...engju-nim?”
Sensing that something was terribly wrong, Tang Gun-ak called out to Hyun Jong in a serious tone.
After a while, Hyun Jong's mouth parted weakly.
“Nanjing (남경(南京)).”
“...Huh?”
“If you go northeast from there, you will arrive at Nanjing.”
“Tha- That’s right. It would be around Nanjing. Cross the river and they’ll reach Hefei. Hefei is where Namgung Family located, and it serves as the gateway to Henan. In terms of distance, it’s even closer to Henan than Wuhan is."
Hong Dae-gwang explained enthusiastically, spittle flying.
“If Jang Ilso is aiming to advance toward Gangbuk, there is no location more critical than this. Perhaps his destination isn't Nanjing..."
“How....”
Hyun Jong's fingertips trembled slightly. Tang Gun-ak couldn't contain himself and asked again.
“Maengju-nim. Please tell me why you're acting this way."
“Nanjing.”
“...Yes?”
"It was written in the letter Chung Myung sent … That’s where the children are heading.".”
Tang Gun-ak didn't grasp the meaning at first. But soon the meaning penetrated his mind.
"...Are you saying the children are heading to Nanjing?"
“....”
“N- No. Why?”
It hardly mattered why.
The children’s destination must have been decided long before Jang Ilso made his move.
But right now, there was little else Tang Gun-ak could say.
“If Jang Ilso is targeting Gangbuk… then perhaps there's no problem, but….”
Hyun Jong muttered, his face as pale as someone who had just seen a ghost in broad daylight.
"But if... if that's not it, if he already knows where the children are heading and is moving to intercept them…"
No one needed to hear the rest. The fate of the children in Gangnam was all but sealed.
Color drained from Tang Gunak’s face as well.
“Is there no way to contact the children before they cross paths with Jang Ilso? That mystical beast...!”
The one who had remained silent until now, Baek Sang, shook his head.
"It’s impossible. No matter how remarkable Baek-ah is, she cannot locate the disciples in the vast lands of Gangnam when we have no idea where exactly they are."
Tang Gun-ak felt momentarily dumbfounded. Only now did the situation fully sink in.
Jang Ilso had simply made a move to the east. With that one move, he put an inescapable noose around the necks of both Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Ten Great Sects.
And around the necks of those children in Gangnam as well....
“Paegun....”
The terrifying weight of that one word crushed Tang Gun-ak's entire body like a hundred kilograms.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Northeast?”
"Yes. It's certain."
The beggars concealed within the dense underbrush meticulously observed the distant figures in motion.
Encircling the massive four-horse carriage at the center as if protecting it were none other than the martial artists of Evil Tyrant Alliance. Moreover, they were those who could undoubtedly be called their 'main force.'
The beggars felt cold sweat trickle down their backs.
If caught in their sight, they wouldn't even die peacefully. But fear alone was not enough to make them retreat. The fate of the world itself could very well hinge on these movements.
"You go and report this."
"What about you, Leader?"
"I'll track them a little longer. The opponent is Jang Ilso. We never know what he might do.”
“Yes, understood.”
The subordinate slipped away, holding his breath to muffle his footsteps. The beggar glanced briefly at his departure before returning his attention to Evil Tyrant Alliance's movements.
His gaze fell on the eye-catching magnificent four-horse carriage. Its splendor alone exuded tremendous pressure.
‘Is he planning to wage war on the entire world?’
Inside that carriage sat a demon.
A demon that toyed with the world at his whim.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Hmm.”
Jang Ilso, lying diagonally on a splendid and comfortable silk bed, languidly observed the scenery through the window.
The view through the square window was impossibly small. But Jang Ilso felt no sense of confinement whatsoever.
Though not all visible to the eye, the scene unfolding outside was crystal clear in his mind. It was perfectly drawn and spread out before his eyes.
Those who cannot see the unseen scenery, who cannot move without movement, have no right to grasp the world.
"Lord Ryeonju. The beggars are moving."
“Hmm… I despise filth…"
Jang Ilso, who had slightly furrowed his brow, soon burst into chuckling laughter.
"But I suppose that much must be endured. I’ll be gaining quite a lot in return for tolerating that foul stench.”
Everything those beggar rats confirmed with their eyes will be transmitted across the river, without them even knowing that Jang Ilso had allowed them to see it.
"Now then... how will they move? Hmm?"
Jang Ilso opened his hand and looked out the window with expectant eyes.
Within his palm lay the vast expanse of the world. The once-quiet world slowly begins to burn again.
“Ten Great Sects, Heavenly Comrade Alliance, Evil Tyrant Alliance, and Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword....”
Enough firewood was gathered. Firewood enough to spark a massive inferno that could burn the entire world and more. And the one who will light that firewood will be Jang Ilso himself.
Jang Ilso took his eyes off the small window facing north and looked at the opposite window. The window faces south.
For a moment, a chilling madness flashed through his eyes.
“You’d better hurry. Everything might already be ashes if you wait too long. Kukukukuk.”
A cruel smile settled on Jang Ilso's red lips. It was a twisted smile, like the cruel fate awaiting the entire world.
|Note
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