Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1375. I have to make it like that (5)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“M- Maengju-nim! Over there!”
"I see it as well."
Hyun Jong looked at the riverbank where black smoke was rising with a rigid expression.
"That's where Ten Great Sects' ships were moored."
Hyun Jong slowly nodded at Tang Gun-ak's words.
"Evil Tyrant Alliance, I presume?"
“Most likely.”
Unless Bop Jeong suddenly went crazy and burned his own ship, who else but Evil Tyrant Alliance would carry out such an act?
"They caught us completely off guard."
Tang Gun-ak slowly clenched and unclenched his hand hidden within his sleeve.
This was exactly what made Jang Ilso so fearsome.
When everyone’s attention is focused in one direction, he strikes at the most vulnerable spot that no one is paying attention to.
Even using himself as bait in the process.
“Maengju-nim! The water fortress fleet is moving!”
“....”
Everyone could clearly see the water fortress fleet, which had been occupying the Yangtze River, turning its direction.
Even at a glance, their movement wasn’t abrupt.
“As if they’ve been waiting for this…”
"This must have been planned from the start."
A chilling feeling crept up Tang Gun-ak’s fingertips.
“Then....”
At that moment, Maeng So, who had been standing behind them with his arms crossed, spoke up.
“Should we assume that Evil Tyrant Alliance’s forces started moving east to distract attention while they burned those ships?”
"Hmm."
A low sigh escaped from Tang Gun-ak’s lips.
It was undeniable that Jang Ilso’s personal movement caused the defenses on the other side of the river to weaken.
Even if unconsciously, the mere fact that Jang Ilso had moved away from across the river would have been enough to make everyone let their guard down.
Come to think of it, even Tang Gun-ak himself had unconsciously let his guard down—how much more so for others?
“Most likely. If it’s Jang Ilso.”
Maeng So’s gaze grew heavy.
"Using himself as bait to divert attention, then striking where that attention diverted..."
Maeng So often compares people to beasts.
But for this Paegun, he simply couldn't think of any beast that matched.
He’s more cunning than a fox and more ferocious than a tiger. Where in the world could you find such a beast?
“What matters most….”
At that moment, Hyun Jong, who had been silent, opened his mouth.
"...isn't the fact that the ships burned, but that Jang Ilso continues to move eastward."
“....”
“To where the children are heading.”
Tang Gun-ak and Maeng So looked at Hyun Jong with renewed interest.
While others worried about how Jang Ilso's move would affect this standoff, Hyun Jong's gaze remained fixed solely on Mount Hua disciples.
As Tang Gun-ak was about to speak, Hyun Jong continued first.
“Ten Great Sects must understand by now. That Jang Ilso’s actions are no mere bluff.”
“…If they’re not fools, they should have.”
Tang Gun-ak’s gaze, filled with complex emotions, turned toward the other side of the river.
'Paegun.'
It was hard to deny.
Ever since Jang Ilso established Evil Tyrant Alliance’ headquarters across the river and began secluding himself there, a thought had been planted in people’s minds—even in Tang Gun-ak’s.
- Perhaps Jang Ilso would be content merely dominating Gangnam?
A ridiculous but also realistic notion.
The land of Gangnam is extremely large. Throughout the history of Kangho, it has been extremely rare for Evil Sects to completely dominate such a massive territory.
In other words, Jang Ilso has already achieved a feat that will leave his name in the annals of Kangho’s history.
So, why would he risk everything to wage war against the colossal Ten Great Sects for more?
Just a slight shift in perspective reveals the answer. Right now, no threat exists for Jang Ilso.
Bop Jeong may serve as a focal point when opposing Jang Ilso's advance, but he lacks the ability to gather strength to attack Gangnam based on his reputation, and Heavenly Comrade Alliance, which was most hostile toward Jang Ilso, doesn’t have the strength to take on Gangnam alone.
'In other words, if Jang Ilso wishes to maintain this structure, no one in the world can shake his position.'
Everything is guaranteed. Everything.
By secluding himself in that luxurious base and making that easy choice, Jang Ilso could have maintained his position as the ruler of Gangnam for decades.
No, perhaps he could have lived as the emperor of Gangnam until the moment of his death, given his meticulousness.
And so, Tang Gun-ak doubted.
Could this situation have planted even the slightest hint of the word ‘stability’ in the mind of that hungry beast, Jang Ilso?
For no matter how much of a beast driven by desire he might be, abandoning all that and attempting a gamble with his life at stake couldn't be an easy choice.
With just a little compromise, he could have literally everything.
But the burning flames before him were mocking all such thoughts.
Those flames spoke as if they were Jang Ilso's mouth, declaring that he would never be satisfied with mere Gangnam.
Even if he were to be consumed by those flames and turned to ash, he would forever covet Gangbuk.
Feeling the chilling malice imbued in those flames, Tang Gun-ak bit his lip hard.
“Reporting!”
Just then, someone who had rushed into the manor raised their voice.
“Ten Great Sects are on the move! It seems they’re following the water fortress’ fleet moving across the river!”
Tang Gun-ak nodded in agreement.
At this point, Ten Great Sects had no other choice.
With Jang Ilso and the water fortress’ fleet moving east, they have no option but to follow, unsure of what those forces might do next.
“Shouldn’t we move as well?”
Right now, Hyun Jong must be the most anxious of all.
Though Tang Gun-ak’s words were meant to gauge his thoughts, Hyun Jong didn’t respond. Instead, he simply stared at the ships on the river with a hardened expression.
“Maengju-nim?”
When Tang Gun-ak asked again, Hyun Jong spoke with a stern face.
“Gaju-nim.”
“Yes, Maengju-nim.”
"What do you think Paegun is aiming for?"
“...Yes?”
What could he aiming for…?
Isn’t it already clear what Evil Tyrant Alliance was aiming for? After gaining complete control over the Yangtze River by burning Ten Great Sects' fleet...
“Aren’t they planning to cross to Gangbuk?”
“....”
Hyun Jong silently shook his head.
"Would Paegun really orchestrate all this for that alone?"
“....”
At those words, Tang Gun-ak fell silent.
Indeed, there was some truth to that. Until now, Jang Ilso had always aimed for more than what others expected.
"But... what else could Jang Ilso gain from this..."
Ten Great Sects. Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Evil Tyrant Alliance
The elite forces of these powers would gather in one place.
'N- No.'
That wasn’t all. If their predictions were correct, Chung Myung and the group who were moving north from Gangnam would likely also converge there.
In other words, all those who controlled the fate of the current world would gather in one place.
‘What is he trying to do?’
A chill ran down Tang Gun-ak's spine.
Others might not, but Paegun must have something he aims to gain from this situation. Something beyond anyone’s imagination.
But what on earth...
"We must hurry."
“...Yes, Maengju-nim.”
Ten Great Sects showing their movement was like expressing their willingness to open an eastward path for them as well.
So, they must move east as well. Whatever happens, they won’t be able to respond if they’re not there.
"We'll depart within the hour. Prepare."
"Yes!"
As Tang Gun-ak ran hurriedly, Hyun Jong squeezed his eyes shut.
'Chung Myung-ah.'
The innocently smiling face of Chung Myung flashed in his mind.
The face of Chung Myung, who always hid his true intentions behind a smile.
‘Did you foresee this situation too?’
Hyun Jong couldn't know.
But he believed so.
Because on this grand chessboard called Kangho, only Chung Myung could sit across from Paegun.
Hyun Jong prayed... prayed desperately that this was so.
❀ ❀ ❀
Paaaat.
Baek Cheon, who had kicked off the ground, scanned his surroundings with a hardened expression.
His heightened senses swept the area, but he couldn't detect any hostile presence.
'What on earth is going on?'
Not long ago, they had attacked and ended the lives of nearly thirty Evil Sects members. It was something they had done deliberately, even though they could have avoided it.
Yet no matter how much time passed, there were no signs of the encirclement tightening.
‘How could they fail to notice nearly thirty people gone?’
That couldn’t be.
Though Evil Tyrant Alliance might be overflowing with martial artists, thirty is not a small number anywhere.
Especially in a time like this, with enemies already tearing through their ranks from within.
So, logically, this kind of thing shouldn’t be happening…
Baek Cheon instinctively turned his head. And in that moment, his eyes met Chung Myung's.
Baek Cheon tried to sharply turn his head away to avoid Chung Myung's gaze, but…
“Hoooo.”
“....”
"This is quite straaange? We took down thirty of them, so why aren't they having a seizure? They definitely should be..."
“....”
"It's not like their people suddenly went blind, riiiight? Right, Nokrim King?"
"Haha. Why are you being like this?"
Im Sobyeong smirked and responded.
“If Dojang says that, wouldn’t the person who was foaming at the mouth, saying we’d all die if we provoked them, feel reeeeeeally awkward, eh? A gentleman should know better than to dwell on others' embarrassments. One should know when to graciously let things slide."
“Is that so?”
"Of course. How could our Acting Sect Leader have opposed with ill intent while foaming at the mouth? It was all out of goodwill. Didn’t the sages say, ‘Condemn evil, but do not scorn folly’? A wise Taoist such as yourself should understand that.”
"Hmph. When you put it that way."
“Yes, yes.”
Baek Cheon's hand holding the sword trembled.
Where were the ghosts when you needed them? Why aren’t they taking these bastards away?
One was bad enough, but putting two similar bastards together made him feel like plum blossoms were dancing in his gut.
“Tsk, tsk. That’s why I said it. How can a Taoist not trust people’s words?”
“It’s because the morals of Kangho have hit rock bottom. Who else can we blame?”
“But Chung Myung-ah.”
Just as BaekCheon was about to have a fit, Yoon Jong naturally changed the subject.
“So did Ten Great Sects really move?”
"Yeah."
“Why?”
"That I don't know."
“....”
Yoon Jong looked at Chung Myung with a ‘What kind of nonsense is this?’ expression.
You know they’re coming, but you don’t know why? What kind of nonsense was that?
Chung Myung caught that look and smirked.
"What I know isn't why the Great Bald King will move."
"Then?"
“It’s the fact that Jang Ilso will drag Ten Great Sects into this, no matter what.”
“....”
Chung Myung twisted the corners of his mouth.
A situation surrounded on all sides. This was the only way to break through this situation.
‘I’ve got all the cards. All that’s left is to fight.’
A cold killing intent swirled in Chung Myung's eyes.
|Note
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