Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1374. I have to make it like that (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Heup!”
The Yangtze River’s Shark burst out of the water and gasped for breath. After roughly wiping away the water streaming down his face with his hand, he floated in the water while gazing at the fierce flames spreading in the distance.
“They burn well.”
A sinister smile bloomed on his face.
Flames of that magnitude would render even the sturdiest ships utterly useless. Of course, the fast ships they had brought were also completely burned, but that didn’t matter. The water fortress still had plenty of ships left.
"As expected of Lord Ryeonju, I suppose?"
It never occurred to him that they would guard their ships so sloppily.
No, perhaps it wasn’t that they were always like this, but Lord Ryeonju’s actions had diverted the forces guarding the ships elsewhere.
Whatever the case, what was certain was that Jang Ilso's strategy had worked perfectly.
"Has everyone returned?"
“Not yet, but most…”
The Yangtze River’s Shark glanced down at the water's surface.
"It seems the fish of Yangtze River will feast today."
“....”
"The mission’s complete. Let's head back."
"Yes!"
He began swimming back toward the opposite bank. The bodies of those trained in water techniques cut through the Yangtze swiftly, like fish born and raised in water.
Leaving the still-burning riverbank behind.
❀ ❀ ❀
The flickering flames cast a red glow on Bop Jeong’s face. His expression was grim, almost menacing, as he watched the ships spewing thick black smoke while burning.
"Tho- Those… Those vile bastards…!"
Jongni Hyeong could not hold back his anger and spat out curses in a suppressed voice. The ones guarding these ships were none other than his disciples. While Bop Jeong’s eyes saw burning ships, Jong Ri-hyeong's eyes saw the corpses of his disciples being carried off the ships.
“Bangjang!”
Jongni Hyeong’s face twisted with anger as he shouted.
"We must make those vicious bastards pay by cutting them into a thousand pieces!"
“Calm down, Sect Leader Jongni.”
"Do I look like I can calm down!"
Peng Ye tried to intervene, but he only ended up bearing the brunt of Jongni Hyeong’s fury. It was an intensity that made even the usually stoic and cold Peng Ye flinch.
“This....”
Udeudeudeuk.
The sound of teeth grinding echoed from Jongni Hyeong’s mouth.
The corpses of disciples turned to charcoal were still being carried out of the ships one after another. While it was fortunate that not many disciples had been lost, these were still disciples he had raised like his own children. How could Jongni Hyeong’s heart not ache to see them reduced to charcoal in an instant?
"How could they commit such a barbaric act!"
As he vented his anger, a short, bitter laugh escaped Peng Ye’s lips.
Barbaric? What was barbaric? Killing people?
From the beginning, Evil Tyrant Alliance and Ten Great Sects had been at war. Though neither side had formally declared war, everyone in the world would think so. Even Evil Tyrant Alliance and Ten Great Sects themselves.
Could a surprise attack during wartime truly be called barbaric?
“Bangjang! Are you just going to let those water fortress scoundrels get away with this?!”
When Jongni Hyeong cursed again, Bop Jeong turned with a stern face. Then, he asked in a low voice.
"...What would you have us do?"
“What kind of question...!”
“We’ve lost all the ships we could’ve used. How do you suggest we attack them? Do you plan to swim after them? Against the water fortress, who are masters of water technique?”
At those words, Jongni Hyeong couldn't answer and only trembled.
Though anger had momentarily clouded his reason, he quickly regained his sense of reality as soon as he heard Bop Jeong's words.
The ships that had been gathered here were desperately assembled to block Evil Tyrant Alliance from crossing the river. Now that they were all lost, those gathered here had no way to cross the Yangtze.
"And we've lost even the minimal means to prevent them from moving freely across the Yangtze."
Peng Ye muttered in an emotionless voice.
"A critical mistake."
Bop Jeong, who had been listening quietly, closed his eyes tightly.
"We should have guarded the ships more firmly."
“Are you saying my disciples are incompetent?”
At Peng Ye’s offhand remark, Jongni Hyeong’s eyes sharpened as he glared at him. Given the tense situation, it was understandable that he couldn’t let such a comment slide.
This time, Peng Ye didn't just back down.
“Isn’t that what the outcome suggests?”
"Watch your words! Was it even reasonable to ask that number of people to guard so many ships in the first place?"
Jongni Hyeong pressed Peng Ye, even emanating killing intent.
"Had we maintained even half our usual numbers, those filthy water bandits wouldn’t have stood a chance! But no, more than half of the guards were suddenly summoned to the manor!”
“The enemy was just a bunch of water bandits. That number should’ve been enough to handle them.”
"Are you finished?!"
“...Enough.”
An exhausted voice leaked from Bop Jeong's lips.
The person who was alarmed by Jang Ilso's movements and ordered all those doing their duties to gather in the manor and standby was none other than Bop Jeong.
But how could anyone not have reacted that way? When the opponent was that Jang Ilso.
‘We’ve been completely played.’
Jang Ilso had known.
The mere fact that he moves would startle Bop Jeong into gathering forces, and that this would consequently weaken the ships' defenses.
He had been reading this place like the palm of his hand even from a thousand li away.
No, perhaps what was in the palm of his hand wasn’t the situation here but Bop Jeong himself.
"What good will it do to blame each other for what's already happened? Peng Gaju, please stop. These aren't words to say to someone who has lost disciples."
"I apologize."
After Peng Gaju apologized, another heavy silence fell.
The three men stood side-by-side, watching the still-raging flames. The disciples of each sect were running about desperately trying to extinguish the flames, but with oil fueling it, it didn't seem easy.
How many ships would remain usable once the flames were finally extinguished?
“Now....”
A powerless voice leaked out from Jongni Hyeong's lips. The storm of his anger had passed, leaving only exhaustion in its wake.
“Now… what should we do?”
Even Peng Ye couldn't answer those questions.
If only the enemies had carried their ship-burning momentum into an attack here, the situation would have been clearer. They could have simply fought back.
But they just burned the ship and withdrew.
They got hit hard and yet they couldn’t fight back, so they could only hold their stinging cheek and look across the river.
Peng Ye exhaled deeply.
“What can we do? We need to gather ships as quickly as possible.”
"Haven't we already gathered every available ship on the Yangtze?"
"We'll have to bring even small fishing boats as a temporary measure, and build new ships."
“That’s easier said than done. Do you think that can happen in a day or two?”
"...Then are you suggesting we just stand by and watch?"
The sharp exchange of words flared again between the two, as if the brief moment of calm had never existed. A deep sigh spilled from Bop Jeong’s lips.
What should they do?
Even for someone like Bop Jeong, what solution could there be to such a situation?
Peng Ye was right. What’s lost is lost, and now they must quickly rebuild their ships. Only then could they prevent those water fortress fleets from freely roaming the Yangtze...
"Ba- Bangjang!"
Before he could finish his thoughts, Jongni Hyeong shouted. Bop Jeong suppressed a flicker of irritation and spoke.
"First... Yes, first, as Peng Gaju said..."
"Th- That's not it! Bangjang, look over there! There!"
At those words, Bop Jeong opened his closed eyes.
‘Over there?’
All Jongni Hyeong was pointing at were the burning ships. They had already confirmed everything, what else was there to see?
"Even if we save a few ships..."
“No, not that! Look beyond the flames!”
“Beyond?”
Only then did Bop Jeong cast his gaze into the distance. Through the flickering flames, the scene behind it was glimpsed, and for a moment, Bop Jeong’s eyes widened so much that they could not have grown any wider.
“Wa- Water fortress! Those punks are moving, those punks!”
A chill ran down Bop Jeong’s spine.
The massive water fortress fleet that had long held the center of the Yangtze River near Plum Blossom Island was turning their bows in unison.
Their direction was...
'East.'
Right. Toward where Jang Ilso departed.
"Wh- Why are those bastards suddenly...?"
As Jongni Hyeong muttered blankly, Peng Ye answered in a cold tone.
"Because they can move now?"
"...What do you mean?"
"While it's true the water fortress had a blade at our throat, conversely, we also had a dagger pointed at their chin. If their fleet had retreated, we could’ve crossed the river and advanced toward the main forces of Evil Tyrant Alliance.”
"...What?"
“But it doesn’t matter now. So they'll need ships for crossing. Ships to transport them to the nearest land in Henan."
Jongni Hyeong spoke as if he still didn’t understand.
“N- No. We lost our ships, but it’s not like we’ve lost our limbs, right? If the water fortress isn’t here, crossing this river by swimming isn’t that difficult…”
"What lies over there?"
“As you said, the headquarters of Evil Tyrant Alliance....”
Jongni Hyeong stopped mid-sentence, finally understanding what Peng Ye was saying.
Across the river lies Evil Tyrant Alliance's headquarters. But what exists in that headquarters?
'Nothing.'
The headquarters itself is meaningless. What significance do a few buildings recently constructed hold?
The Evil Tyrant Alliance's headquarters only gains significance because that Jang Ilso resides there.
What could they possibly gain by burning down the headquarters when all Evil Sects have fled and only commoners remain in Gangnam?
But it was different for Evil Tyrant Alliance. They can gain tremendous advantages simply by ravaging Henan.
If they were to swim across the river here and burn down Evil Tyrant Alliance's headquarters, Jang Ilso would instead advance into Henan without glancing behind.
“Th- This....”
Jongni Hyeong's face grew pale.
"If- If that was their plan, they could have just gone with those ships from the start..."
"Then would they have been able to burn our ships?"
"...Are you saying... that Jang Ilso showed us his movements because he had foreseen all of this?”
Peng Ye didn't answer. But even a three-year-old child would know that his silence meant affirmation.
Meanwhile, the water fortress’s ships continued to steadily move eastward.
"Ba- Bangjang. What should..."
"The ships..."
Bop Jeong bit his lip hard, then spoke in a voice mixed with a sigh.
"Call back those who are trying to extinguish the fires."
"Pardon?"
A cold killing intent flashed in Bop Jeong's eyes.
“This was bound to happen. Gather the disciples. We must follow them to Anhui.”
“....”
“Let the word spread so that this news reaches Heavenly Comrade Alliance as well.”
"Ba- Bangjang?”
Jongni Hyeong flinched at the light emanating from Bop Jeong's eyes.
"Peace remains distant until we eliminate these villains."
“....”
“We’ve been dealt a blow by our enemies. That much we must accept. But Jang Ilso must know one something.”
Gone was any trace of the gentle, wise monk; Bop Jeong's voice was now nothing but cold.
“No matter how many schemes you devise, they are meaningless without sufficient strength. The moment he crosses that river will be Jang Ilso’s last. I will make sure of it.”
His prayer beads shattered in his grip, falling to the ground in pieces.
|Note
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