Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1424. Is this Sichuan Tang Family? (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Gra- Grand Young Master! E- Evil Tyrant Alliance… They’ve just arrived at the city gates!”
At the Third General Chief's words, Jo Wong's (조웅(趙雄)) face stiffened with tension.
'Of all times, when Father is away on a business trip!'
Jo Wong swallowed dryly as if to soothe the fire in his throat, then quickly turned to face forward.
“Did everyone follow the instructions?”
“Yes. I have instructed everyone to come inside and remain cautious."
"Tell them not to make even a breath of sound!"
"Yes!"
Thick beads of sweat rolled down Jo Wong's forehead.
The news that Paegun was headed this way had only just reached the Sahae Trading Guild. It was already too late to run away. So all Jo Wong could do was hold his breath and pray that Jang Ilso’s hand would not reach Sahae Trading Guild.
"W- Will we be alright?"
"...We will be fine."
Jo Wong swallowed dryly once more before continuing.
“From what I’ve heard, although Paegun is feared across the land, they rarely harm commoners or those without martial arts. If we stay silent like dead mice, he will have no reason to persecute us."
But it wasn’t just Paegun’s reputation that made him think this way.
It was because the Sichuan Tang Family was in this city. Why would Paegun, who was targeting them, waste time in a place like the Sahae Trading Guild?
"B- But... we can't exactly say there's no connection between us and Paegun, can we?"
The Third General Chief opened his mouth with a trembling voice. When Jo Wong looked at him, the man hesitated before continuing.
"I've heard that Evil Tyrant Alliance regards Mount Hua as an enemy. And a- aren't young master related to someone from Mount Hua, Grand Young Master?"
“....”
“Would they leave us alone? We are the family of their enemy, and on top of that, they're Evil Sects without blood or tears!"
Jo Wong's hands trembled slightly.
His younger brother, Jo-Gol, was not just any disciple of Mount Hua. He was one of Mount Hua Five Swords with the greatest fame in Mount Hua.
If Evil Tyrant Alliance’s hatred for Mount Hua ran as deep as rumors claimed, there was no telling what they would do to Sahae Traing Guild, the home of Mount Hua Five Swords Jo-Gol.
“That won’t happen.”
“But....”
"I said it won’t. Stop worrying and go keep the household in order! Go!”
“Yes.... Yes. Grand Young Master."
Jo Wong bit his lips as he watched the general chief reluctantly turn and leave. Of course, he knew that the concerns were not wrong. But at this point, there was no other choice. Panicking would only spread terror.
They were mere merchants. If those Evil Sects decide to target Sahae Trading Guild, what good would running do? They would be slaughtered before they made it even ten li.
So now all he could do was pray to the gods of heaven and earth that Jang Ilso would pass by without knowing this was Jo-Gol's hometown.
It was that very moment.
"Th- They're coming!"
A terrified shout erupted from outside. Jo Wong flinched and unconsciously ran toward the still-open main gate.
As he poked his head out, he could see a group walking down the middle of the wide road in the distance.
'...Paegun Jang Ilso.'
He could tell at a glance.
There couldn't possibly be two people in the world who walked around in such extravagant attire. And then there were those who followed him, all wrapped in ominous crimson robes. And among them, a tall man with a fluttering red cloak. That chalk-white face etched itself chillingly into Jo Wong’s eyes.
Jo Woong, who had lost his mind for a moment, suddenly snapped to his senses and gave instructions.
"Bar the gates! Now!"
“Yes! Yes! Grand Young Master!”
Squeak!
The large gate of the Sahae Merchant Guild shut in haste.
Thud!
A heavy beam dropped into place, sealing them tight. Jo Wong, having confirmed with his own eyes that the door was firmly shut, clasped his hands together unconsciously.
'Please....'
“Hm.”
Jang Ilso leisurely looked around and walked along the city’s main road. Despite being the largest city in Sichuan Province and famous throughout the world, there was not even an ant to be seen in his eyes right now.
“My, my. I wasn't expecting a warm welcome, but this is too harsh a rejection, isn't it? I didn't know Sichuan people were so coldhearted."
Jang Ilso let out a faint laugh as he cast his gaze into the distance. The fastest route to Tang Family lay through this city. But that wasn’t the only reason he had chosen this path.
They needed to know. Who had arrived in this place. Who would be ruling it from now on.
As he curled one corner of his lips upward and began to step forward, a whispering voice from a subordinate reached him.
“Hm?”
Jang Ilso’s steps slowed to a stop. The procession instantly behind him froze in unison.
"...Oh?"
Standing in place, Jang Ilso's head turned very slowly to the side. His gaze settled on a large pavilion with a signboard that read ‘Sahae Merchant Guild’. (사해상회(四海商會))
A twisted smile curled on his lips.
Kwang!
"Ku- Kuack!”
The tightly barred gate shattered in an instant as if struck by artillery. Debris rained in all directions, and the ground trembled as though the earth itself might split open.
Everyone clutched their heads and fell to their knees. But Jo Wong couldn't. Not because he wasn't afraid, but because before he could even feel fear, he had already witnessed a sight.
A man stood beyond the broken gate.
A man wearing an elaborate robe embroidered with dragons and adorned from head to toe with ornaments so lavish they seemed exaggerated. His disturbingly pale face and blood-red lips caught the eye. But what captured Jo Wong's gaze above all were the man's eyes.
Thanks to his status as the Grand Young Master of Sahae Merchant Guild, Jo Wong had traveled far and wide across the world. Consequently, he had seen all manner of rare sights with his own eyes.
But there was no way to describe that gaze by comparing it to anything he knew.
A snake? A laughable comparison. Even the deadliest viper would recoil in terror before that gaze. Even if it were a mere beast unable to comprehend the meaning of a gaze.
Those two eyes, filled with something utterly unfathomable, were now fixed directly on Jo Wong.
“Hmm....”
Jang Ilso let out a soft hum. With that small noise, the world that had momentarily stopped began to move again. It wasn't a particularly welcome sensation for Jo Wong.
Jang Ilso took his gaze off Jo Wong and looked around the pavilion from left to right with suffocatingly slow deliberation, then spoke.
“So this is… Mount Hua Five Swords, the home of Jo-Gol, or so they say.”
After a while, Jang Ilso's halted eyes once again came to rest on Jo Wong.
“Is that right?”
Jo Wong couldn't give any answer.
Not just because that answer might tighten the noose around his neck. Even if he had the perfect response to escape this situation, he wouldn’t have been able to open his mouth.
His entire body froze like a mouse suddenly confronted by a snake. The nape of his neck went cold and every hair on his body stood on end.
Watching Jo Wong’s petrified state, Jang Ilso curled the corner of his lips.
"Seems I’m right."
Jang Ilso scanned Jo Wong as if probing him and then asked.
"Then you must be... that child’s sibling?"
Jo Wong's throat twitched as it moved. His throat, dried up from tension, hurt even from just swallowing down his own spit.
“You do look a little alike. Hm.”
Jang Ilso slowly approached Jo Wong.
Step. Step.
A walk overflowing with leisure.
Jo Wong didn't even know what he was feeling right now. The word 'fear' pales in comparison. Even if death itself were approaching, Jo Wong wouldn’t have trembled like this. Death was frightening, of course, but every man must face it eventually.
But the feeling this man gave off was different It spontaneously cut off his breath, spontaneously constricted his body. He had no idea what would happen next, no clue what he would be forced to endure. It was like being swept into pure chaos.
'Is Gol... fighting against someone like this?'
Against such a monster?
Just then, Jang Ilso arrived right in front of Jo Wong and stared at him intently. Like a snake gazing at its prey wrapped up in its coils.
“Don’t you know who I am?”
“....”
“Try answering.”
Jo Wong's body began to tremble involuntarily.
"Go on."
“J- Jang Ilso....”
“....”
“Pa- Paegun.... Paegun Jang Ilso....”
“So you do know.”
Jang Ilso smiled as if finding him endearing.
“Then you must also know. That your brother and I share quite a connection.”
A flurry of thoughts flashed through Jo Wong’s mind in an instant.
He must deny it. Even if it meant denying blood ties, he should deny this relationship. That was the only way everyone could survive.
Gol has already left the family. Our ties were severed. He is my brother, yet not my brother. So Paegun taking out his wrath on us would be unjust and meaningless.
But all those thoughts never turned into words Jo Wong, unable to bring himself to deny his brother, maintained his silence with his mouth firmly shut even as he trembled uncontrollably.
"Hooh?"
Jang Ilso, who saw him like that, nodded faintly as if he could guess his intentions.
"Good. Brotherhood is a fine thing. That’s how family should be. If you’re family, you should be prepared to share each other’s fate. Isn’t that right?”
Stepping in close, Jang Ilso raised his hand and lightly gripped the nape of Jo Wong's neck. His fingernails pricked Jo Wong's neck with a stinging sensation.
Just a light squeeze from that large hand would be enough to snap Jo Wong’s neck like rotted straw. That would be the signal that no one in this merchant guild would survive.
Jo Wong’s face turned as pale as paper as he stood at the crossroads of a terrible fate.
Jang Ilso tilted his head and leaned in closer. And into Jo Wong's ear, he whispered softly, very softly.
“So....”
It was a wicked and sweet voice, almost like a demon’s.
"Do send my regards."
Jo Wong's eyes widened involuntarily.
"Tell him I paid a visit. Understand?"
Pulling his head back, Jang Ilso looked at the stiffened Jo Wong with a wide smile in his eyes.
"Well?"
Jo Ung couldn’t even open his mouth. Instead, he squeezed every ounce of strength he had and desperately nodded his head.
At that, Jang Ilso stepped back and gave a satisfied nod.
"Good. You're a good boy."
Chuckling at the dumbfounded Jo Wong, he promptly turned away as if without the slightest lingering attachment.
"Work hard. And pay your taxes punctually. Hahahahat."
He waved his hand over his head like he was bidding farewell to an old friend, then stepped outside the main gate and walked off with his entourage trailing behind.
Jo Wong, who had been watching the whole scene as if under a spell, finally had his legs give out beneath him. Sweat that had poured from his entire body instantly soaked his clothing.
“Gra- Grand Young Master!”
The Third Generael Chief rushed over belatedly to help, but Jang Ilso pushed him away with a shaking hand.
"...I’m fine."
Jo Wong couldn't even get up and just stared blankly outside the main gate, which had become quiet as if nothing had happened.
At the spot where not even a trace of Jang Ilso remained.
|Note
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