Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1525. Thinking back, I was wrong (5)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Hyun Jong smacked his lips with a sour expression.
“So…”
He didn’t want to, but his gaze kept shifting to Tang Gun-ak and Im Sobyeong, whose complexions had turned rather pale from having to run all the way to Mount Hua and back.
“…The disciplinary action for those who left Huayin without permission and caused trouble outside…”
“No!”
Sure enough, fire shot out from Tang Gun-ak's eyes.
"Discipline, you say! What words are those, Maengju-nim! Though it began recklessly, it ultimately ended in achievement. Punishing them would undermine Maengju-nim's authority!"
“Well....”
"No one will do work they weren't ordered to do! With that kind of mentality, we cannot overcome the current crisis where Evil Tyrant Alliance is pushing up from below and Ten Great Sects are eyeing us from the side.”
“But this case is a bit…”
At that moment, Im Sobyeong, who had been busy gasping for breath, smoothly unfurled his fan.
He probably wanted to open it with his usual stylish snap, but it seemed he had exhausted all his energy and had no strength in his wrist, so the sound was utterly listless.
"A general on the battlefield is not punished for disobeying orders. He is evaluated solely on his results."
“...That’s also a bit...”
And Nokrim King, don't cover half your face below your eyes. With your pale complexion, the darkness under your eyes makes you look like a ghost…
“Regardless, I oppose this as a representative of Nokrim.”
"I also oppose this representing the Sichuan Tang Family."
"Eunha Trading Guild also opposes!"
Even Hwang Jongwi, who had rushed over at some point and joined them, chimed in.
These three people held the largest shares in designing Huayin. For them to unanimously raise their voices like this made Hyun Jong feel uncomfortable.
How could he not understand why they were acting this way?
Though no one could deny that that Chung Myung bastard turned people's insides upside down and made the sect's affairs a complete mess... honestly speaking, in terms of ability, he did the work of a hundred ordinary strategists.
It wasn’t an exaggeration. He really did the work of a hundred men. As the saying goes, you don’t know what you have till it’s gone. Hadn’t they realized that to their very bones during the ten days that bastard Chung Myung was gone?
Moreover, this entire city project had originated from that bastard's mind. No one in the world could handle these matters as efficiently as he could.
Given these circumstances, punishing Chung Myung would mean the rest of them would have to continue to take on his workload.
"Goodness."
Chung Myung, sitting to one side of the meeting room, slouched back against his chair as far as possible and drawled. This was quite a different posture from when he had first heard about discipline and had his lips stuck out.
“I said I’ll accept the punishment. If a person commits a sin, it’s the way of the world to be punished, so why do you keep blocking it?”
Im Sobyeong's hands trembled. If eyes could kill people, Chung Myung's body would probably be split into about seventy-eight pieces right now.
But....
“There… must have been some circumstances.”
Sadly, the reality was that one couldn’t kill with a glare alone and had to say words that went against their true feelings.
“There wasn’t any, though?”
“There was!”
“No, I said there wasn’t any?”
“There was! There definitely was!”
Im Sobyeong was on the verge of shedding tears of blood. Chung Myung finally nodded his head as if out of pity.
“See? He said there were circumstances!”
“…Please stop crying and just speak.”
"Mom...."
It was both a comedy and a tragedy. Everyone shed a tear at the sheer desperation. Except for Chung Myung alone, who clicked his tongue and brought something hanging at his waist to his mouth.
“Ei, you really won't let me receive proper punishment. When a person is reflecting like this, you should give appropriate punishment."
“Chung Myung! Do you think this is a place to drink…?”
“He can drink if he wants!”
"Truly bold and excellent, is it not!"
“What are you all doing! Bring out some side dishes! The high-class ones!”
Hyun Jong, who had been about to reprimand them, was left speechless. But he couldn't bring himself to scold the three men.
Tang Gun-ak said with a tired face.
“Maengju-nim.”
“...Yes, Deputy Maengju-nim.”
"If you absolutely must discipline them… you can share some of our work. Then we won’t object to the discipline either…”
“…Ahem. I have understood well your words that there is no law for punishing a general during wartime.”
Tang Gun-ak glared fiercely, but Hyun Jong subtly avoided his gaze.
He was also old enough that working like that would kill him. Hadn't he only recently learned that martial artists could also die from overwork?
Five Swords, who were watching this whole scene from a little way back, quickly exchanged glances.
‘…Is this right?’
‘You think?’
When Chung Myung suddenly switched tactics and volunteered for Plum Blossom Cave, they thought he had lost his mind, but they didn't expect it to turn out like this... Rather than impressive, it was more....
‘Demon bastard.’
'That's not a human.'
Yoon Jong whispered softly to Baek Cheon.
“Can a Taoist act like that?”
“...Doesn't he have quite good qualities?"
“Yes? How so?"
"Aren’t Taoists supposed to understand human suffering?"
"That's.... right?"
“How does he so perfectly pick and poke at only the things that would make others suffer? Isn’t that a great quality?”
…Normally, people wouldn’t call that a quality, Sasuk…
“Anyway, tell me. What's the current situation?"
“Hng.”
At Chung Myung's question, Tang Gun-ak let out a faint groan. But only for a moment. His face soon shed all unnecessary emotions. Work was work.
“The organization of Huayin is mostly finished.”
“Already?”
"Building, dividing, and raising things isn't such a great feat. It's merely a matter of manpower."
Though Tang Gun-ak spoke matter-of-factly, those 'manpower' would know how terrifying these words were.
Because behind those words was the hidden meaning that any task could have its time easily shortened if you just grind humans into it.
“The influx of refugees has now significantly decreased… What remains is for those people to adapt and live in Huayin.”
"What about the headquarters?"
"We're building it. Though I don't know if we can call it a headquarters."
The corners of Tang Gun-ak's eyes twitched with displeasure.
From his point of view, it didn’t sit right to call a huge building stacked layer upon layer without even a proper roof a ‘headquarters’.
Frankly speaking, what kind of headquarters was that? It was a refugee camp.
“What about those joining the headquarters?”
“Hainan is supposedly on their way to Huayin now, so it shouldn’t take more than a few days. The main force of the Northern Sea Ice Palace is also said to be coming down, but the distance is so great that it will take some time. Aside from that, other small and medium sects also want to join…”
Im Sobyeong cut in to explain.
“We’re carefully selecting them. If we take in any riff-raff, it’ll surely turn into a mess.”
“Like Nokrim?”
"Yes! Exactly like th... No, you bastard! How selective Nokrim is in accepting people! Not just anyone can become a bandit, you know? Do you know how many fail right from their looks? A naïve scholar will just become a cat even if you dress him in leopard skin!”
"Then why is it such a mess?"
Im Sobyeong trembled with bloodshot eyes.
“Keueueu… I think I know why people join Evil Sects.”
“You already Evil Sects, Nokrim King.”
Tang Gun-ak chuckled dryly before summarizing.
"At first, I couldn't understand why we had to do such things, but once we actually did it, I came to understand. How important a headquarters is."
For one, it was visible. And it can accommodate people. The synergistic effect brought by these two things exceeded Tang Gun-ak's imagination.
“Well, it’s human's basic to grow fond of the place where one eats and sleeps.”
"So that’s why Nokrim is a ragtag bunch?"
"Why does Nokrim come up again here! Nokrim! Keurek...."
"Soso-ya. That person is collapsing?"
“Leave him be, Sahyung. There’s no medicine for him.”
“....”
"Why are you looking at me like that? That person really has no medicine. He's severed his meridians."
Even as Jo-Gol sighed in agreement, Tang Gun-ak continued speaking.
"It's not just the great sects. The small and medium sects that joined, attracted by Heavenly Comrade Alliance's reputation, will also feel a distinct sense of belonging once they establish themselves in Huayin. Then only ten..."
Tang Gun-ak trailed off.
What he had originally intended to say was 'the place called the Heavenly Friends Alliance might not end as merely a temporary alliance’.
But it felt too premature to voice that yet, so he held back.
Then Chung Myung spoke indifferently.
“Well, that’s obvious. Even if you’re just a tenant, live long enough in someone’s house and you’ll grow fond of it.”
“If you know that so well, then make the exterior a bit more stylish…”
"Never mind that."
An endless gloom shadowed Tang Gun-ak's face.
“Looking at those shabby things, the whole world will point its fingers at Tang Family…”
Im Sobyeong continued speaking, leaving the despondent Tang Gun-ak alone.
“Anyway, this completes the framework.”
“Framework?”
“The biggest problem with Heavenly Comrade Alliance so far is that there was no middle ground. There were no solid forces to support the high-level masters."
"Could you explain more precisely?"
“To put it more simply, it means we were always lacking in absolute numbers. That's why we always had to fight while dealing with a numerical disadvantage. We’ve done well until now, but there’s a limit. In war, numbers are always an advantage.”
Everyone nodded. Especially those who had been to Hainan nodded with terrifying speed.
"So now we can match those numbers by rallying small and medium sects."
“It won’t give us the upper hand, but at least we won’t be unilaterally pushed back because of numbers. And that's not all.”
The mischievousness that had been sparkling in Im Sobyeong's eyes vanished as if washed away.
"There are three things that must be prepared to win a war. First is military forces, second is supply, and lastly, information."
“....”
"We've gathered all allied forces scattered in all directions for military strength, built a city in Huayin for smooth supply and management. Finally, we secured Beggar Union's cooperation to gain advantage in information."
At those words, everyone naturally turned to Chung Myung.
“Which means…”
"Yes."
Im Sobyeong nodded.
He was not only the sect leader of Nokrim but also the strategist of Heavenly Comrade Alliance. That strategist of Heavenly Comrade Alliance spoke with confidence.
"A little time will be needed for stabilization, but that's literally just the time required for 'stabilization.'"
Someone audibly gulped.
“We are ready for war.”
Quiet silence descended upon the great hall.
Im Sobyeong's words made everyone realize it. That an unavoidable war would now descend upon them.
It was then that Hyun Jong stared at Im Sobyeong with serious eyes.
“Nokrim King.”
“Yes, Maengju-nim.”
“Then what must we do from now on?”
Im Sobyeong smiled faintly.
"Well. I don't think I'm the one to answer that. Shouldn't we ask the person who started all of this in the first place?"
Now everyone's gazes were fixed on Chung Myung.
"General."
“Yes, Maengju-nim.”
"Then I ask you, General. What must we do from now on?"
“That is all too obvious.”
Chung Myung, who had been slouched as if it were someone else's business, slowly pulled his body forward. And he slowly turned his head.
The place he was looking at was the large window in the room. One that faced south.
Everyone knew. Where he was looking. Who was there.
“…It’s been about a month. Since that snake bastard hasn’t moved from there.”
Everyone’s face hardened. There was no one here who didn't know who the snake bastard referred to.
'Already.'
When they came to their senses, time had passed swiftly. They had been that busy preparing for war and organizing Huayin.
"He wouldn't have spent a month just to divide Ten Great Sects from us."
"...Then?"
“He’ll be coming soon.”
Chung Myung's eyes grew cold.
“The dagger that bastard has been sharpening for a month.”
Everyone held their breath.
Something that Paegun Jang Ilso had to spend a whole month on. Just imagining what it might be sent chills down their spines.
Then Baek Cheon, who had been silent until then, opened his mouth.
“So now...we have to stop Paegun.”
No one answered. There was no need to. The answer was already decided.
Im Sobyeong's gaze turned south. His eyes were unusually gloomy.
'Jang Ilso. What are you scheming?'
* * *
Dark skin with a slightly lean body, thin lips and thick eyebrows, and a harsh impression. He was not a person of particularly likable appearance.
But that was truly just an appearance.
If one were to see the golden clothes he wore, the brilliant vermilion embroidery on them, and moreover, the clear symbol of the sun drawn in the middle of his chest, their impression of him would change.
His gaze looked down upon countless people as though they were beneath him.
These were not the eyes of one filled with confidence in what he grasped in his hands. These were eyes that only one for whom ruling was as natural as breathing could possess.
That man slowly opened his mouth.
“So? A mere thief… dares to command me?”
Tremendous radiance burst forth from the man's arrogant gaze.
"I have heard that the Thousand-Faced Gentleman has a thousand faces, but I have not heard that he has two necks. Did you think you could insult me and still dare to return alive?"
At that, the long-haired man before him answered calmly.
“A person cannot have two necks. But…”
The long-haired man, the disguised Thousand-Faced Gentleman, continued speaking while staring piercingly at the man sitting on the throne.
“The opportunity Gungju-nim will gain will not come twice either.”
A bright smile bloomed at the corner of Thousand-Faced Gentleman Tam Yeohae’s lips.
|Note
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