Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1456. It won't be that bad (1)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Daegongja-nim. What should we do now…?”
Jo Woong couldn't readily provide an answer to the General Chief's question.
It had already been several days since Evil Tyrant Alliance entered Chengdu and Tang Family was burned to ashes. But all they had done so far was holding their breath and hide quietly within the trading guild without making any countermeasures.
"What is the situation?"
The general chief answered Jo Woong's question with a frightened face.
“The number of individuals suspected to be from Evil Sects is steadily increasing.”
“Evil Sects? Is it Hao Sect or water fortresses?”
"My apologies... G- Given the situation where we cannot observe outside in detail, that much..."
“…Is that so?”
Jo Woong let out a small sigh.
It wouldn't be Myriad Man Manor. If the Myriad Man Manor that chased after Tang Family had returned, Chengdu wouldn't be this quiet.
Either the small and medium-sized Evil Sects from nearby Gangnam took advantage of this opportunity to gather, or the sects belonging to Evil Tyrant Alliance other than Myriad Man Manor arrived.
Of course, either way, it was a bleak situation from the perspective of the Sahae Trading Guild.
"Daegongja-nim... What should we do now?"
At the repeated question, Jo Woong glanced back and saw his retainers trembling with anxious eyes.
Of course they were anxious. With Qingcheng and Emei annihilated and Tang Family gone, there was no longer any hill for them to lean on in this Sichuan land.
The only thing they could do now was desperately hope that Evil Tyrant Alliance, which had seized control of Sichuan, would not go so far as to take their lives. That was all.
'How futile.'
What good was it to have warehouses full of grain and wealth? What use was it for their name to resound across Sichuan?
Before the ruthless blade, all of that is merely meaningless. Jo Woong slowly closed his eyes.
‘At least… it’s fortunate that Father is away on a business trip.’
His father and the core managers of the trading company were currently on a trading trip to supply Plum Blossom Island. Even if those remaining here were taken hostage, it likely wouldn’t disrupt the continuation of Sahae Trading Guild’s name.
So, in the absolute worst case...
Just as Jo Woong steeled his resolve in his heart, the general chief stutteringly asked.
“Dae- Daegongja-nim. Um... perhaps..."
"What is it?"
“W- Won’t someone come to save us?”
“….”
“N- No. Even if it weren’t for Sahae Trading Guild, if Qingcheng and Emei were treated like that, would Ten Great Sects just sit back and do nothing? Surely they’ll come to drive those people out, right?”
“That would be ideal. But…”
Jo Woong slowly shook his head.
"They will not come here so easily."
“Huh? Why….”
Jo Woong did not bother answering in detail. Because it was obvious that speaking would only make everyone more suffocated.
If even one of the Qingcheng or Emei remained and was fiercely fighting Evil Tyrant Alliance, then Ten Great Sects would naturally have dispatched their full forces.
But there was nothing left in Sichuan now. Even Tang Family had burned down.
Would they wage a desperate war, risking annihilation, just to reclaim an ownerless mountain with nothing to gain? Would those profit-minded Ten Great Sects place such value on Sichuan?
No, probably not.
“It’s good to have hope, but don’t place too much expectation. You’ll only be left with broken heart.”
"...Are you saying Ten Great Sects won't come?"
“Yes.”
"Such..."
The general chief's face darkened rapidly. Yet he couldn’t give up so easily and asked again with urgency.
“Then what about Heavenly Comrade Alliance?”
“….”
“Are they not coming either?”
Jo Woong remained silent for a moment before looking up at the distant sky. But the general chief, seemingly unable to fathom his feelings, continued with an agitated voice.
"Though we are not formally affiliated with Heavenly Comrade Alliance... have we not traded with them through Yunnan tea dealings? And if I recall, isn't Young Master Jo-Gol’s Mount Hua Sect practically the leading force in the alliance…?”
“….”
“Isn’t this Young Master Jo-Gol’s home? Surely he wouldn’t just abandon us like this…”
"That fellow Gol is a third-class disciple of Mount Hua."
Jo Woong cut off sharply as if there was nothing more to hear. His voice was even somewhat cold.
“No matter how much people make a fuss over him being one of Five Swords of Mount Hua or whatever grand name, in what world does a third-class disciple speak for a major happening?”
"...T- That's true, but..."
“Even if it were possible, Jo-Gol is not that stupid of a kid. He may be a little impatient, but he’s always quicker with calculations than I am. If anyone understands that pushing blindly won’t solve this situation, it’s him.”
Having spoken, Jo Woong slowly turned his gaze back.
The number of people remaining in the trading guild was not even thirty. So he couldn't help but have doubts.
Had his father remained here, had the core managers of the trading guild been here, would Heavenly Comrade Alliance have moved to save them?
Jo Woong almost immediately shook his head.
‘No way.’
Even if the trading guild were intact, who would risk standing against Evil Tyrant Alliance just to save one small trading guild?
Such thoughts were merely futile attachments.
"We must steel our hearts."
“…Yes, Daegongja-nim.”
The general chief answered. But those words from Jo Woong were also words he was addressing to himself.
'I must protect them.'
They would likely experience terrible hardships.
Though Jang Ilso seemed to have lost interest in them, there was no chance that Evil Tyrant Alliance’s sect leaders bore any goodwill toward the Sahae Trading Guild. Even without mentioning Jo-Gol, the fact that they once served under the Sichuan Tang Family was enough to know how they would be treated.
They would have to endure with a feeling like chewing mud. Yet someday, these dark clouds would pass.
Jo Woong said with a deep sigh.
"You must keep the household members under strict control. Looking at the commotion outside, it still seems very dangerous."
"What commotion? There wasn't even the sound of a dead mouse out there?"
"What?"
"What did you expect? With those Evil Sects prowling about bloodshot-eyed, who would dare make a sound?"
“No. That’s true, but….”
Jo Woong tilted his head with a somewhat puzzled expression.
“Then am I the only one hearing this noise?”
"Huh? What do you...?"
“No, listen. Doesn’t it sound like commotion? Like something’s going on outside?”
"Ah, n- now that you mention it?"
The general chief slightly widened his eyes.
He could clearly feel the commotion outside the pavilion, where he hadn't even heard the sound of an ant until a moment ago. Perhaps due to the distance, it wasn't clear exactly what kind of sound it was, but it somehow felt like a busy and urgent commotion.
“It seems like something happened.”
"P- Perhaps Ten Great Sects have come to rescue..."
Jo Woong frowned at those words.
“Didn’t I say that wouldn’t happen?”
"…I’m sorry."
Accepting the general chief’s clearly disappointed apology, Jo Woong let out a long sigh. Perhaps Evil Sects guys had gotten into a fight with each other. Now that the tiger had left, it wouldn’t be strange if the dogs that had gathered started fighting each other.
"I should check."
"I- It's dangerous, Daegongja-nim. Instead of doing that, for now..."
"If they’re taking advantage of Myriad Man Manor’s absence to start looting, we can’t just sit here quietly, can we?"
The general chief shut his mouth. Certainly, his words were not wrong.
Jo Woong bit his lip and headed toward the front gate. He pushed aside the temporary wooden plank that had been set up in place of the shattered gate and carefully pushed his body through the gap.
Eventually, poking his head out onto the main road outside the trading guild, he narrowed his eyes as much as possible and watched where the sound was coming from.
'What's going on?'
If it was just some infighting among Evil Sects, that would be fortunate, but if looting was taking place, he would have to get all his people into the underground storage and lock the door...
"Hm?"
Just as Jo Woong was weighing his response to each possible scenario, his eyes widened slightly. Up ahead, there was...
"Uh…?"
And then his eyes bulged as if they might burst.
“Huh!”
Wh- What on earth is happening?
❀ ❀ ❀
Do Han-Gok (도한곡(都寒谷)) was extremely dissatisfied with his situation.
'Fuck.'
Sure, he could understand.
Chengdu was vast. Until just a few days ago, it had been under the influence of Five Great Family and Ten Great Sects.
So even if they completely occupy the city, it doesn't mean that they have put a leash on everyone's neck. If they completely withdrew after occupation, these people would try to escape Chengdu like scattered livestock. To prevent such escape, those who would guard Chengdu were absolutely necessary.
Of course, the majority of the guard force was comprised of black path sect bastards who were called up in advance from Guizhou….
'That's more of a problem.'
No matter how much you tried to tame them, Evil Sects were still Evil Sects. These damn bastards can't control their true nature even if they're let loose for just a moment.
Just as gambling addicts rush to gambling houses despite knowing they'll be ruined, these people recklessly swing their swords at civilians despite knowing full well they'll die for it if anything goes slightly wrong.
To keep them in check, someone had to stay behind. But why was Do Han-Gok himself included among those 'those who stayed'?
Normally, he wouldn’t be this resentful. But after having tasted the thrill of blood while attacking Qingcheng and Emei, the tedious task of monitoring and controlling people in this situation didn't sit well with him at all.
'Half would be enough.'
The number of Black Swordsmen brought in from the Guizhou area alone would exceed five hundred, so is there a need for even one Maninbang to remain here?
“Damn it all... drew the short straw with this daeju.”
It wasn’t that his unit, the Yama Unit of Myriad Man Manor, was weaker than the others. It's just that their daeju lacks fame compared to the other daejus. It made his stomach churn to think that this tiny difference had reduced him to a glorified watchdog.
“Tch.”
Do Han-Gok spat on the ground irritably and looked up.
The place he was currently standing was the large gate leading into Chengdu. A group was approaching his station.
The number was merely ten? No, a little more than that. Having apparently come from quite far, they were all wrapped in thick windproof clothing up to their heads.
The annoying part was that, despite clearly having seen him, they didn’t look hurried in the slightest. Despite arriving late as it was.
Udeuk.
'Those damn bastards....'
Though he too was from Evil Sects, his stomach twisted at the sight of such stray dog-like Evil Sects bastard.
His eyes flared with killing intent as he gripped the dao at his waist. With the thought that if they did anything even slightly annoying, he would make an example of them by seeing their blood.
"You lot."
"Yes?"
The group who were about to pass through the city gate hesitated at Do Han-Gok's call.
"Which you from?"
"…What?"
"Which manor do you belong to that just a dozen or so bastards have come, that's what I'm saying!"
"Ah…."
The one standing at the front stammered and couldn't answer properly, dragging out the end of his words. Do Han-Gok tightened his grip on the sword. First, slice off that bastard's neck...
"Our affiliation is, um... Mount Hua?"
"…What?"
At that moment, Do Han-Gok found himself asking absentmindedly. What did he just say…?
"Uh, and Namgung Family, Beast Palace, and Ice Palace.”
Do Han-Gok's face soon turned red and blue.
"Y- You fucking dog, daring to mock me….”
But he couldn't finish his words. Because a flash of light that suddenly bloomed like an illusion right before his eyes mercilessly struck the middle of his neck.
"Ke…urkk..."
Disbelief flooded Do Han-Gok’s eyes. But the moment he confirmed the face of the man who had unleashed the sword, that disbelief changed to shock and terror.
"Ah, I forgot to mention Tang Family."
The man at the front removed his cloak and grinned.
“It’s a dozen of us, sounds about right. But we’re not exactly ‘just’ a dozen. We came a bit excessively, you see."
Thud.
Do Han-Gok’s body collapsed to the ground, already growing cold.
"Tch. Could have listened a bit more before dying."
There were still so many to introduce.
Chung Myung stepped over Do Han-Gok’s fallen body and strode toward the wide-open gates of Chengdu.
"Well, fine. There are still many people who will recognize us. Now then, where..."
His lips twisted into a crooked grin.
“Shall we go wild?”
At that, the others behind him all threw off their cloaks in unison. With the cloak fluttering and falling in mid-air behind them, they entered Chengdu.
|Note
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