Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1463. What is this we're seeing? (3)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“This.....”
Chengdu was swept through once by Heavenly Comrade Alliance. The face of Seok Hong (석홍(昔鴻)) of One Step One Kill (일보일살(一步一殺)), who had arrived belatedly after hearing the news, was wretchedly contorted.
"These idiots..."
His fingertips trembled involuntarily. The corpses scattered everywhere weren’t even the issue. Trash like that could be replenished any time.
What mattered was that the Chengdu they had seized was utterly ravaged by Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s hand.
“Da- Daeju!”
The survivors of Myriad Man Manor who had barely escaped with their lives came rushing over frantically. In One Step One Kill Seok Hong's two eyes, killing intent bloomed.
"Where are those bastards?"
"Th- They left long ago..."
"The pursuit?"
The subordinates lowered their heads without answering. Seok Hong's face was miserably distorted.
"Are you saying you didn't even form a pursuit group? What on earth were you doing!"
"The pursuit... was meaningless. S- Since the ones involved were the leaders of the sects under Heavenly Comrade Alliance, including Mo- Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, even if we chased…”
“This.....”
A grinding sound leaked out as Seok Hong clenched his teeth. Those whose hair stood on end in an instant buried their heads as if touching the ground.
"So? You gave up the pursuit, couldn't even fight back, and were trembling like mice, is that it? Those who are called people of Myriad Man Manor?"
"It was… beyond our power…"
"Beyond your power?"
"Still, we didn't lose much wealth. Since the number of the bastards was small..."
“What did you say?”
"...Pardon?"
Seok Hong glared at the one who had spoken with a hardened face.
"Are you saying those bastards even plundered Chengdu's wealth?"
“Tha- That’s....”
“What about Sahae Merchant Guild? What happened to those Sahae Merchant Guild bastards? Ryeonju-nim clearly ordered us to keep an eye on them thoroughly!"
The faces of those standing before him turned deathly pale.
"Answer. What happened to the Sahae Merchant Guild bastards?"
"Hea- Heavenly Comrade Alliance bastards..."
"What?"
“Those Heavenly Comrade Alliance bastards took them all...”
Paaaat!
A surge of sword energy pierced straight through the man’s body. Blood gushed out like a fountain from the bodies of those who fell split in half without even being able to scream.
Udeudeuk!
Seok Hong ground his teeth to the point of breaking. Red veins sprouted in his eyes.
"These... dog-like Heavenly Comrade Alliance bastards! Uwaaaaaaah!"
His enraged roar echoed through the streets of Chengdu.
❀ ❀ ❀
Inside a tent so luxurious it was hard to believe it had been hastily prepared.
Ho Gamyeong stared at Jang Ilso on a large chair covered with tiger skin. With his eyes closed, Jang Ilso’s face was clearly stiff. It wasn’t a subtle change only Ho Gamyeong could read. It was obvious enough for anyone to notice.
It was extremely rare for Jang Ilso to show that kind of expression in front of others.
“...Ryeonju-nim.”
Ho Gamyeong broke the long silence and opened his mouth.
"First, I've sent all available personnel to Chengdu with maximum mobilization, so we should be able to suppress them soon. Please do not worry too much."
However, Ho Gamyeong thought the words he had uttered were quite laughable. What difference would sending troops make now? No doubt, those bastards would have ravaged Chengdu thoroughly and disappeared long before the reinforcements even arrived.
'Damn it.'
Neither Jang Ilso nor Ho Gamyeong was by any means dull-witted. They had long since considered the possibility that their vulnerable Chengdu might be targeted.
However, what they hadn't considered wasn't the enemy's attack but the composition of those who attacked. No one in the world could have imagined such an absurd small elite force.
'Heavenly Comrade Alliance.'
Some might think it wasn’t all that impressive. They may believe it was nothing more than barging into a home when the owner was away and breaking or smashing things, not even retaking Chengdu.
But Ho Gamyeong didn't think so.
The wounds those bastards carved into Evil Tyrant Alliance while clawing at Chengdu were larger and more fatal than one might think.
What difference does it make if Evil Tyrant Alliance takes possession of Sichuan?
Evil Tyrant Alliance gaining Sichuan doesn't necessarily mean it becomes stronger. Nor is Evil Tyrant Alliance so impoverished as to immediately need Sichuan's resources.
Nevertheless, the reason that fact sounds an alarm to the world was that it became proof that Evil Tyrant Alliance's power is strong enough to trample and obtain Sichuan.
Sometimes, appearance matters more than actual strength. By seizing Sichuan, Evil Tyrant Alliance has gained an enormous benefit that goes far beyond defeating Emei, Qingcheng, and Jeomchang.
But now, due to the move Heavenly Comrade Alliance made, part of the tower they had painstakingly built has crumbled wretchedly.
Those who saw the bastards rampaging in Chengdu will come to think. That Evil Tyrant Alliance has the power to trample Sichuan, but not the power to protect it.
“Huu.”
A sigh escaped Ho Gamyeong's lips. Now was not the time to be thinking such things.
"Ryeonju-nim. If you're truly worried, I'll lead troops and make a trip to Chengdu. Then..."
At that moment, Jang Ilso opened his closed eyes.
Ho Gamyeong instinctively flinched. The gaze Jang Ilso revealed in that instant was so cold that even someone like him, who had spent so many years alongside him, instinctively shrank back.
"What's lost is lost. Even if you hold onto a dead person and wail, the dead person doesn't come back to life, right."
Ho Gamyeong knew that fact well enough. However...
"Even so, it will not be meaningless."
“Hmm.”
A short hum came from Jang Ilso’s mouth. Not his usual light hum, but a heavy one that suffocated the listener.
"Your instincts have dulled, Gamyeong-ah."
“....Yes?”
"What was lost by Chengdu being attacked will be more than you think. Ten Great Sects and Heavenly Comrade Alliance too, with this incident as a momentum, have gained their own things to say. And those bastards are the type who can utilize that fact to any extent. A single sip of water may seem insignificant, but to one dying of thirst, it can change their fate."
Ho Gamyeong's face hardened. It seemed Jang Ilso was taking this situation more seriously than he thought.
"If that's the case, Ryeonju-nim. We..."
"However!"
At that moment, a strong and resolute voice burst from Jang Ilso’s mouth. It was a voice laced with such chill that it sent a shiver down the spine.
"If it's lost, then just find it again, that's all. Such things are not important. What's truly important is something else."
Ho Gamyeong's eyes were colored with questions. Jang Ilso's voice sank low.
“What has changed?”
A wrinkle formed between his pure white eyebrows.
“It’s something that shouldn’t be possible. If it were the old them, they would never have come to Chengdu. Even if they came, they would have dragged all the haves and have-nots and would have just shed tears profusely."
“.....”
"But what changed that they can use such a move? Did I misunderstand these bastards called Heavenly Comrade Alliance?"
Only then did Ho Gamyeong understand what Jang Ilso had said.
It was something too basic.
Failure is painful. Dealing with that failure is even more important. But from a long-term perspective, failure and losses are trivial matters.
What truly matters is the cause. Only by understanding why this happened can we avoid repeating the same mistakes.
“Could it be that they considered Tang Family’s Chengdu far more important than we assumed? Perhaps something we never noticed was hidden in the Tang residence…”
Jang Ilso did not answer.
Jang Ilso usually scolded or burst into laughter when Ho Gamyeong's words diverged from his thoughts. However, the current Jang Ilso was coldly trampling on even Ho Gamyeong's words.
Wasn't this proof that the thoughts Jang Ilso harbored and the things he felt were far greater than Ho Gamyeong expected?
"Profit. Authority. Schemes. Tendencies."
“.....”
"Is it something that can be explained by such things?"
Jang Ilso muttered slowly.
"Gamyeong-ah."
"Yes, Ryeonju-nim."
“This is the first time.”
“…What is, Ryeonju-nim?”
A rough voice like scraping metal flowed through Jang Ilso's mouth.
“The feeling… of someone playing above my head.”
“.....”
"So this is what they mean when they say one's stomach is twisted."
Thick killing intent bloomed from Jang Ilso's face.
Ho Gamyeong simply could not understand him. Evil Tyrant Alliance had achieved tremendous victories. Even though being attacked in Chengdu was painful, it didn't change the fact that Evil Tyrant Alliance and Jang Ilso were the victors of this war. The world would curse Jang Ilso, and also praise him.
So why was Jang Ilso obsessing over this minor mistake instead of focusing on that colossal victory?
"Hahat."
Eudeudeudeuk.
At that moment, the armrest of the chair Jang Ilso was gripping crumbled. Simultaneously, the tiger skin covering the chair was also torn and fluttered.
“It’s hard to bear, Gamyeong-ah. Iamgining of how he'll laugh about the fact that he beat me makes it feel like my insides are being clawed by knives."
“Ryeonju-nim....”
Crunch. Red blood flowed from Jang Ilso's tightly bitten lips.
The moment his red lips were stained a darker crimson, Jang Ilso's narrow two eyes distorted.
“Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword...”
So vividly it comes to mind. The face of Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword laughing at him. Those mocking gazes.
“Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”
A voice soaked in hatred slipped out like a groan.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Hehehe.”
“.....”
“Hehehehehehehe.”
“.....”
"Uheeheeheeheeheeheeheehit!"
Those pulling the cart stared with soulless faces at the one person riding on top of it.
"Uhehehehehehet! It's sparkling! It sparkles! Euhehehehet! Sparkle, sparkle!"
Jo Woong, the eldest son of the Sahae Merchant Guild who had been walking carefully with them, cautiously asked his younger brother.
"Um... I'm sorry, but Gol. I did hear about it, but I'm asking again just to be sure... so that person is?"
“...That’s right.”
"No... It's not that I don't believe you, it's just..."
"No, I'm telling you it's correct! That human is... that Mount Hua's number one sword master, and."
Then, Five Swords, next to Jo-Gol, weakly opened their mouth and spoke each.
“The greatest rising star.”
“The general of Heavenly Comrade Alliance.”
"The one Evil Tyrant Alliance finds most troublesome..."
Jo Woong's gaze returned again. Chung Myung, seated atop a pile of glittering treasures, was now outright scattering the gold trinkets held in his hand above his head.
"Euhehehehehehet! It's money! Money! It's moneyyyyyyy! What a windfall!"
....Jo Woong's hands trembled slightly. That? That person... No, something that was even questionable to call human?
"By any chance..."
“Yes, he’s a Taoist.”
"...Then perhaps..."
"Yes. He's normally like this. It's not like he's injured or suffered qi deviation."
Jo Woong was speechless. Five Swords even glanced up at Chung Myung and nodded as if relieved.
“He’s actually in decent shape today.”
"Even without saying anything, he seems comfortable after stirring up Chengdu. If that much money had appeared when he was impatient and his temper was flaring, he would have been bathing in it altogether."
"Indeed."
Jo Woong's eyes trembled. Jo-Gol shrugged his shoulders and spoke to his brother.
“Don’t worry, Hyung-nim.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Jogeol smiled brightly.
"Even though he looks like that, he's more reliable than you'd think."
"Uheehehehehehehet!"
"He has quite a reliable side too, and he's more serious-minded than you'd think."
"Heuhahahahahahahahat!"
"I am also learning a lot from him. He's a person to whom one can sufficiently entrust their back, so Hyung-nim, please keep an eye on him too."
"Money! Money! Free moneeeeeey!"
“.....”
Looking back and forth between the beaming Jo-Gol and the frenzied Chung Myung, transparent tears welled up in Jo Woong's eyes.
“Gol...”
What kind of battles have you been fighting all this time... It was the first moment he regretted sending his younger brother to Mount Hua.
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