Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1457. It won't be that bad (2)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
The mountain peaks rise toward the clouded sky. A land of natural splendor unfolding curve after curve. A man silently gazed at the peaks the world calls Tianzi Mountain (천자산(天子山)).
His gaze turned toward the tall peak that pierced through the clouds.
Mountains reaching above the clouds weren’t entirely rare And yet, the reason it felt especially different this time was likely because that sharp peak looked like a spear thrusting up into the sky.
That's why some call this land by that name. A place where the earth, suppressed by the heavens, has raised its sword. The land of rebellious heart (역심(逆心)).
Against this picturesque backdrop of Zhangjiajie, Ho Gamyeong stood motionless as his adjutants watched from behind. Unease flickered across their faces.
“…Why would he set camp here?”
"Right."
After the standoff at Nanjing, Ho Gamyeong had been steadily moving toward Sichuan, then stopped moving after reaching Zhangjiajie. No, beyond just stopping, he even started deploying the troops.
Of course, taking a brief rest was no issue. Even setting up formation during that rest was something praiseworthy, not suspicious.
But the odd part is that it had already been a full day since they set camp here. Not an excessively long time, but in the current situation, every moment was as precious as gold. Such precious time was being wasted here in Zhangjiajie.
“...Shouldn’t we go to Sichuan as soon as possible?”
"Of course we should. Lord Ryeonju is occupying Sichuan and Yunnan..."
The adjutants looked at each other. No matter how they thought about it, rushing to Sichuan took priority. But there was no way a strategist like Ho Gamyeong wouldn't understand that. That was the problem.
So why was he spending time in a place like this?
One of them, who was looking at Ho Gamyeong's back with anxious eyes, hesitantly parted his trembling lips.
"Could it be...?"
“If you’re not confident you can handle the consequences, shut your mouth.”
The words trailing off were immediately cut.
Gulp.
But it seemed the meaning couldn't be erased, as someone swallowed dryly. Tension descended.
'Advisor-nim....'
Everyone knows that. They were adjutants assisting the advisor, after all.
Ho Gamyeong was no longer just a strategist. He now held military authority over half of Evil Tyrant Alliance.
Of course, Kangho's military control does not mean absolute command authority like in an army.
But the adjutants who had witnessed numerous incidents in Evil Sects couldn't help but assume one scenario.
One of the adjutants who had been watching cautiously opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.
“That can’t be true. We all know what kind of man Advisor-nim is.”
“Of course. But… that’s not the important part.”
“...What are you talking about?”
“Are you asking because you really don’t know?”
The adjutants once again shut their mouths.
Of course, they knew too. That no one harbors different intentions from the beginning. How he had behaved until now was meaningless. What matters was what choice he makes in that moment. That's all.
"And... you all know, don't you?"
No one answered. But no one was ignorant either.
What Ho Gamyeong had gone through from Hainan Island to here? And what answer did Jang Ilso give to Ho Gamyeong’s efforts?
What would they do if they were in his position?
After going through all that, will they really be able to trust and follow Jang Ilso as before? Even after painfully confirming the fact that Ho Gamyeong too was just a 'means,' a card that could be discarded at any time?
If it were them...
“Don’t think about it.”
Strategists are those who calculate possibilities as soon as they know something, first examines its possibilities. But just as they instinctively began running those calculations in their heads, someone cut them off sharply.
"Discussing it among ourselves is pointless. If there’s something we don’t understand, we should just ask the Advisor directly."
The one who spoke took a step forward. And the others, as if being pushed along, followed him toward Ho Gamyeong.
Though the distance wasn’t far, it felt like a thousand miles to them.
When they finally reached Ho Gamyeong’s side, they exchanged glances. After a brief silent exchange, one of the adjutants forced out words as if squeezing them from his throat.
“That’s... Advisor-nim.”
“....”
“Aren’t we going to Sichuan?”
There was no reply. Ho Gamyeong just stared at the peak without saying a word, just like before. The adjutants’ faces grew increasingly stiffened.
Could it be that Ho Gamyeong really...
"What if I don't go?"
And at that moment, a question that seemed to pierce through their lungs flowed from Ho Gamyeong's mouth.
"Yes?"
“If I do not go, then what will you do?”
Ho Gamyeong slowly turned to face them. His face was as hard as if cast in steel, and the adjutants shuddered uncontrollably under his gaze. His cold gaze swept over them. That look, as if void of human emotion, brought with it an indescribable pressure and tension.
“Answer me.”
The adjutants swallowed dryly.
A man who has obtained the authority to command half of Evil Tyrant Alliance refuses to join Lord Ryeonju. What else could that possibly mean?
One of those who saw the cold gaze of Ho Gamyeong opened his mouth with a trembling voice.
"Ge- General-nim. How could..."
"Let me say it again."
“....”
"If I do not move from here, if I have no intention of going to Sichuan, what will you do?"
It was a little clearer than the first question he had first thrown. No one could misunderstand unless they were fools. Especially not if they were strategists who decided the fate of an army.
‘Could it really be...’
It felt as if the blood in their bodies had gone cold all at once.
They had never considered it. They couldn’t have considered it. But now that the question had been posed, now that they had heard these words, they too had to make a decision.
Either choice would require risking their lives.
What should they do?
Amidst the extreme conflict that left everyone faltering, one person knelt down violently on the spot.
“I will simply follow Advisor-nim.”
Ho Gamyeong's eyes narrowed slightly.
“...Follow me? What do you mean by that?”
"I- It means exactly what I said! If Advisor-nim has made a decision, whatever it may be, I will simply follow it!"
It was a clever response. A strange silence descended. Everyone focused all their attention on Ho Gamyeong without moving a hair.
And at that moment, a rare smile appeared on Ho Gamyeong's lips.
“Not a bad answer.”
A chill ran down the adjutants’ spines. Don't those words seem to reveal Ho Gamyeong's intent?
'Could Advisor-nim really...?'
It was difficult to accept outright. But now wasn’t the time to seek answers. The longer they delayed their response, wouldn't their lifeline surely shorten?
“I, I....”
Just as one of the adjutants was about to speak.
"Advisor-nim!"
Someone's loud cry fell between them.
“Rye- Ryeonju-nim! Ryeonju-nim is coming!”
"Huh?"
The wide-eyed adjutants cried out in bewilderment. Ryeonju could only mean Jang Ilso. But why would Jang Ilso come here?
Had Ho Gamyeong secretly sent a report?
No, that couldn’t be. They had been with Huo Gamyeong every single moment from Nanjing to here. So how did Jang Ilso even know to come to this place?
“W- What are you talking about! How could Ryeonju-nim be coming here! That’s nonsense!”
"O- Over there!"
The adjutants' eyes moved hurriedly. Indeed, a group was approaching. As they drew closer, their colors became unmistakable.
A pained groan escaped someone’s lips.
“Ryeo- Ryeonju-nim....”
It could only be Jang Ilso.
Of course, it had already been proven in Nanjing that he wasn't the only one who could dress that way, but would there be anyone bold enough in this world to imitate Jang Ilso without permission in a place where Evil Tyrant Alliance resided?
The adjutants looked to Ho Gamyeong with flustered expressions.
“Advisor-nim.... Ryeonju-nim....”
If it hadn’t been immediately after hearing those words they were never supposed to hear from Ho Gamyeong, perhaps they would have welcomed this situation. But not now. Great confusion swept over them.
Yet Ho Gamyeong himself stared at the approaching Jang Ilso with eyes showing no particular change in emotion.
“You came just in time.”
“....”
"Let me ask you, whose orders do you follow?"
“...A- Advisor-nim?”
“Answer me.”
The adjutants quickly glanced at each other. But the answer they had to give—and could give—was already set.
“Of course… it is your command, Advisor-nim.”
“Good.”
Ho Gamyeong slowly began to walk forward to meet Jang Ilso.
'Surely not...'
The adjutants watched the scene, barely able to breathe.
The difference in military strength was evident. Those led by Jang Ilso were all elites among elites, but their numbers were few.
In contrast, the forces here which comprised of the Black Ghost Unit, the remaining Myriad Man Manor, and the small and medium-sized sects gathered in Nanjing, were so large that they could easily overwhelm those led by Jang Ilso.
Gulp.
The sound of someone swallowing dryly was heard. It was unthinkable, but what if... what if Ho Gamyeong really makes up his mind?
What would happen then?
Step. Step.
Ho Gamyeong stopped after taking only a few paces.
Jang Ilso, who approached slowly, also stood at a considerable distance from Ho Gamyeong.
In the heavy silence, Jang Ilso’s gaze swept over Ho Gamyeong and the men behind him. Very strangely, those positioned here had formed formations as if targeting him.
As if they could rush in at a moment's notice if the order was given.
Jang Ilso’s eyes briefly turned to the towering peaks that seemed to pierce the sky, then soon turned back to Ho Gamyeong. He looked at Ho Gamyeong, who was facing him with an expression that revealed nothing of his thoughts.
“…Let me ask you, Gamyeong-ah.”
Jang Ilso glared at Ho Gamyeong with a chilling gaze.
“Why didn’t you come to Sichuan?”
Ho Gamyeong just stared at Jang Ilso in silence. At that, Jang Ilso’s face twisted slightly.
“Can you not hear me?”
"...You asked why, Ryeonju-nim?"
Finally, Ho Gamyeong answered in a firm voice.
“That’s a strange question, Ryeonju-nim.”
“Hm?”
“Do you need to ask me the reason? Surely, Ryeonju-nim must already have guessed. Wasn’t it the same before?”
“....”
“No matter how I act, won’t you use me accordingly? If so, is there really a need to report it?”
The corners of Jang Ilso's mouth twist sharply at Ho Gamyeong's answer.
“Is that... your answer?”
"Is that not acceptable?"
Ho Gamyeong looked at Jang Ilso with emotionless eyes.
Intense tension flowed between them.
The men standing behind Ho Gamyeong trembled, barely daring to breathe. It seemed as if a sharp scream would break this silence at any moment, shattering everything they had known.
And at that very moment.
“Hnnnh....”
A pained groan escaped Jang Ilso’s lips.
"It's not that it isn't acceptable, but you should still report. Why is such a trivial thing so bothersome?"
Jang Ilso shook his head with somewhat exaggerated grumbling.
The adjutants were dumbfounded by this utterly out-of-place reaction. Ho Gamyeong's mouth opened calmly.
“I assumed you would come anyway.”
“Tsk, tsk. I can’t tell if you lack flexibility or have too much of it. Either way, it’s a problem.”
"One moment."
"Hm?"
At that moment, Ho Gamyeong briefly excused himself and turned to look at the adjutant who had been the first to say he would follow him. When placed before Ho Gamyeong’s icy gaze, the adjutant's face turned deathly pale. He too had intuited his fate.
“A- Advisor-nim!”
Paaaat!
The force of Ho Gamyeong’s blow cleanly severed the adjutant’s neck. Red blood spurted from the cross-section and scattered in all directions.
Jang Ilso frowned.
“...Tsk. A bit excessive for a warning."
"I apologize. It's just..."
"Enough. You must have your reasons."
Jang Ilso waved his hand indifferently.
Normally, this would never be allowed. No one under heaven would dare do something like this in front of Jang Ilso. And Jang Ilso himself would never tolerate it.
But it was different if the person who did that was Ho Gamyeong.
He doesn’t even ask for a reason. If the one who committed the rudeness is Ho Gamyeong, that is. Only Ho Gamyeong can do something like this in front of Jang Ilso.
“Advisor Ho Gamyeong greets Lord Ryeonju."
Ho Gamyeong knelt on one knee and bowed his head deeply.
In that moment, everyone present realized it.
Who the man standing before them truly was. Who the real ruler of Evil Tyrant Alliance was. All those under Evil Tyrant Alliance positioned behind Ho Gamyeong knelt toward Jang Ilso.
“We greet Lord Ryeonju!”
It was a thunderous voice that seemed to shake the earth.
Jang Ilso smirked faintly at the sight, then stepped toward Ho Gamyeong. And as soon as he reached his immediate vicinity, he firmly gripped Ho Gamyeong's shoulder.
“You must’ve had quite a bit of resentment built up. Seeing as you’re doing something you normally wouldn’t.”
“…May I speak honestly?”
“Hnh. Forget it. If I let you start, I'd have to listen for three days and nights. Just bury it forever."
Jang Ilso’s gaze briefly touched the corpse lying limp in death. A sneer formed on his crimson lips.
"Dreams should be dreamt within one's means."
His low voice cut through the heat of the world like a blade of ice.
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