Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1553. Well, which one? (3)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“In the end, Heavenly Comrade Alliance made their move.”
Kongtong Sect Leader Jongni Hyeong observed Bop Jeong’s complexion. With his eyes closed and his face expressionless, it was not easy to read his emotions.
“What on earth are they thinking?”
Peng Ye muttered with a hardened face.
It wasn't only Ten Great Sects exposed to Jang Ilso's blade aimed at Gangbuk. No, in fact, Heavenly Comrade Alliance could be seen as being in a more dangerous situation.
Unlike Ten Great Sects, which were gathered based on the vague and insubstantial focal point of Hubei, Heavenly Comrade Alliance had a clear physical entity in Huayin.
Who knew when that Jang Ilso might come charging into Huayin. In such a situation, they’re dispersing their main forces?
This was something even a fool wouldn't commit.
“How much of their forces have they sent to Gangbuk? Could it be they’re just putting up a front?”
"Beggar Union hasn't sent us accurate information yet, making assessment difficult, but... it appears that at least twenty percent of Heavenly Comrade Alliance's forces have been dispatched urgently to Gangbuk."
“Beggar Union....”
Peng Ye ground his teeth.
What grated on his ears more than the ‘twenty percent’ was the fact that ‘they aren’t sending information.’
Lately, Beggar Union has been discriminating against Ten Great Sects and Heavenly Comrade Alliance to the point of being blatant. Ever since the new sect leader ascended.
His stomach churned, but there was no particular measure he could take. Without Beggar Union, their eyes and ears would be sealed, and they were currently in a situation where they couldn't leave Hubei.
"Is the twenty percent information certain?"
"Yes, it seems so."
Not just twenty percent, but ‘at least’ twenty percent.
In war, twenty percent of an army could overturn victory or defeat.
Yet to waste such precious forces just to capture stray Evil Sects?
Peng Ye shook his head. Jongni Hyeong spoke.
“Has Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s eccentric acts happened only once or twice?”
“This isn’t something to dismiss as just that.”
Peng Ye rebuked him coldly.
"As you say, it's true Heavenly Comrade Alliance has done bizarre things numerous times until now, but most of those were matters that would, at worst, end with the destruction of one or two sects. No, looking closely, it wasn't even to that extent.”
“...What does that mean?”
“The lineup of those who moved was so spectacular that there was a certain aspect of exaggeration. What I mean is that the incidents Heavenly Comrade Alliance has caused until now were such that the damage would not have been immense, even if they had gone wrong. Take the Hainan expedition, for example.”
Jongni Hyeong and Bop Kye, who were listening, nodded at the same time.
Upon hearing it, it certainly wasn't wrong. Even if the Hainan expedition had gone badly, at worst a dozen would have died for them. It only drew attention because they had gained such fame to begin with.
"But this matter is different. This is a choice that could lead to Heavenly Comrade Alliance's annihilation if it goes wrong. Why would they do such a thing..."
Peng Ye shook his head as if he couldn't understand at all.
Bop Jeong, who had been silent all along, opened his eyes and spoke.
“It is difficult to carve a water channel.”
“Bangjang.”
“But what’s more difficult than that… is blocking a water channel that has already been opened.”
The eyes of those gathered sank.
There was no one here who did not understand the meaning of those words.
“They’ve mounted the tiger and can’t get off; there's no way out. Even if they know it is the wrong path, there will be no way to turn back now. Even if it is Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword.”
(H: "He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount." This idiom is often used to describe situations where a person has become involved in a risky or troublesome endeavor and is now trapped, facing potential harm or loss whether they continue or try to retreat)
“Hmm....”
Peng Ye let out a faint groan.
It was their own doing. Heavenly Comrade Alliance, which had been boasting proudly, fell into its own trap. It would be easy to sneer at them, but the problem was that the aftereffects would not be limited only to Heavenly Comrade Alliance.
If Heavenly Comrade Alliance faltered, wouldn’t it be Ten Great Sects who would have to shoulder that burden in full?
"But... I thought they would at least know how to agonize."
Bop Jeong murmured softly. Peng Ye didn't miss the bitter smile that briefly formed at the corners of his mouth.
“I expected they would be tripped up by their own actions… but I think they handled it rather quickly.”
“What does Peng Gaju think?”
"It must be one of two. Either the one called Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword is more foolish than we anticipated... or he is no longer able to control Heavenly Comrade Alliance as he wishes."
For a moment, everyone sank into serious thought.
Was Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung foolish than they expected?
That couldn't be.
The people here were not lacking in self-confidence, yet they weren't uselessly arrogant either. At least when it came to using their heads, they acknowledged that Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword was far superior to them.
Jongni Hyeong answered.
“I suppose it’s the latter.”
"Perhaps."
"But is that possible? Considering what he has done until now, it would be natural for his right to speak to have grown even stronger."
Frankly speaking, even if Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword were to oust Hyun Jong and take the seat of alliance leader, only those who don't know better would side-eye him; those who know enough would simply nod in acceptance.
“Worldly affairs don't always flow according to logic.”
Bop Jeong allowed a faint smile.
"Let us end this discussion here. It is quite embarrassing, like spitting on my own face."
“Ahem.”
Jongni Hyeong let out a dry cough.
Bop Jeong's words were correct. Even the prestigious Shaolin Bangjang has lost control over his sect, with disciples leaving Mount Song of their own accord. So what was so remarkable about the control of the young Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword not being as effective as expected?
Bop Jeong, who had briefly glanced at the map marked with Heavenly Comrade Alliance's advance routes provided by Beggar Union, opened his mouth again.
"So... what of Evil Tyrant Alliance's movements?"
"There are no major activities yet. Zhangjiajie continues to be bustling, but compared to the noise, there isn't much..."
Jongni Hyeong was about to say, ‘Perhaps Evil Tyrant Alliance has no intention of moving at all?’
“They will move.”
"Yes?"
But before he could even voice the question, Bop Jeong spoke firmly.
"Because they showed a reaction."
Bop Jeong's eyes were dark as he looked at the map.
No matter how he thought about it, the movement shown by Evil Tyrant Alliance didn't seem like a move that could effectively produce any significant result. If that move had any significance…
‘It would be that it made Heavenly Comrade Alliance move.’
Therefore, Evil Tyrant Alliance will definitely move soon. Now that Heavenly Comrade Alliance has moved, an opening will surely be created, and the one who will pierce that opening more accurately than anyone was Jang Ilso.
Of course, Jang Ilso couldn't have predicted that Heavenly Comrade Alliance would act in such a stupid manner.
“Relay this to Beggar Union. Tell them not to take their eyes off Zhangjiajie for a single moment from now on.”
“I will convey the message, but will Beggar Union truly act according to our wishes….”
"Just relay it. The new sect leader of Beggar Union is not without thought, so I doubt they'll completely reject Ten Great Sects in this situation. Especially since his own life is on the line.”
“...Understood, Bangjang.”
Jongni Hyeong sighed deeply.
Beggar Union, which they had been using like their own hands and feet all this while, and yet why was it that even while passing on such an obvious order, he now had to watch their reaction?
“Is there still no news from Jaegal Family?”
“They say they will join as soon as they finish tidying their surroundings. Coincidentally, thanks to Heavenly Comrade Alliance's intervention, their cleanup has become easier, so it seems they will join sooner than expected.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Bop Jeong gave a short reply and stared intently at the map with hardened eyes.
'Paegun.'
He will move. He will definitely move.
So Bop Jeong wouldn't budge an inch from this place. The logic that moving creates a gap applies equally to Jang Ilso. And Bop Jeong intended to aim for that gap.
“Amitabha.”
The chant spread heavily throughout the room.
It will be a single strike. A strike delivered after enduring and enduring yet again.
‘I will return everything to its proper place.’
To the rightful place where everything originally belonged.
* * *
“Heavenly Comrade Alliance has moved.”
Ho Gamyeong's eyes shone coldly.
“It is exactly as expected.”
“Hmm.”
Jang Ilso glanced at Ho Gamyeong and then frowned lightly.
“But why the face? As if someone broke into your house?”
“They are moving far too much according to expectations.”
A deep sigh escaped Jang Ilso's lips.
"Haa. It seems I've been working you too hard. Once this war is over, I'll give you a vacation, so go somewhere with nice mountains and good water to rest properly."
"...Thank you for your concern, but my mind is perfectly sound."
Ignoring Jang Ilso, who was tilting his head as if to say, ‘Doesn’t seem like it,’ Ho Gamyeong spoke.
“For fools like Ten Great Sects to move as expected is natural, but not Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Even setting aside Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, Nokrim King Im Sobyeong is by no means someone to be taken lightly."
“Hm?”
“There is no way he didn't know what we were aiming for. And yet, for them to move in such an obvious direction…”
“You want to say he’s hiding another move?”
Ho Gamyeong nodded heavily.
He never underestimates his opponent. No, he cannot underestimate them. Because he has already confirmed that the opponent’s ability is higher than his own.
Therefore, he must be cautious in all things.
“Yes, that’s what I think.”
“Gamyeong-ah, Gamyeong-ah.”
Jang Ilso shook his head exaggeratedly. Ho Gamyeong's eyes narrowed slightly.
“Does Ryeonju-nim think otherwise?”
"What would be different? It's obvious. Are those bastards the type to move straightforwardly?"
"Then...."
He was asking why the reaction was different if their thoughts weren't different.
Jang Ilso wore a peculiar smile.
“It’s meaningless.”
"...Yes?"
“Whatever move they have hidden is meaningless. What is meaningful is not what that move is… but the fact that they made a move itself.”
This was something even the renowned Ho Gamyeong couldn’t easily understand.
“Then, Ryeonju-nim, are you viewing the current situation favorably?”
“Well. Which could it be?”
Jang Ilso chuckled softly.
“There’s no need to distinguish between good and bad. What’s important is that they made a choice.”
“That choice could be right....”
"Tsk, tsk. Gamyeong-ah. Why are you being so frustrating? I told you it’s not important whether that choice is right or wrong. What’s important is the fact that they made a choice. Don’t you understand?”
I don't understand. Ho Gamyeong sighed.
But it wasn't Jang Ilso’s fault. He was probably explaining it as kindly as he could right now.
It was just that the listener couldn’t understand.
“All we have to do is make their choice strangle their own necks. And that… is a simple task that doesn't even require any great effort.”
Jang Ilso’s red lips drew an arc. Ho Gamyeong quietly stared at his face.
Since when had this person been envisioning this situation, and how long had he been waiting for it?
“No need to look at me with those eyes.”
Jang Ilso smiled warmly.
“It’s not like I’m anything great. If it’s purely ability, then Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword or Bangjang of Shaolin are not lacking compared to me. No, in some aspects their ability is even far greater.”
“That is excessive humility.”
Anyone in the world would think that way. But Jang Ilso shook his head as if he were being sincere and said,
“It’s just that I know one thing they don’t.”
“...May I ask what that is?”
Jang Ilso's gaze slowly turned outside the tent.
“Whether it’s a dirty trick in a back alley, or a great war that will burn the entire world, what decides everything… in the end, is people.”
Jang Ilso's face had turned cold and stiff.
As if in disgust, as if in admiration, and perhaps… as if in fear.
“Now, I suppose I’ll have to let them know that too.”
Jang Ilso smiled, wiping away the emotion that briefly surfaced.
“This much is enough. Tell them to begin. It’s earlier than expected, but what can we do? They’re being so impatient. Tsk, tsk.”
“Yes. I will give the order at once.”
Ho Gamyeong turned and left.
Jang Ilso, looking down at his long-grown nails with a languid face, raised the corner of his mouth.
‘And here I thought they would show at least a little.’
There was no need to distinguish right or wrong in a choice.
But it was certainly a rather uninteresting choice.
“What an unsociable child.”
Jang Ilso's eyes, curved with laughter, gleamed.
“If you won’t show it yourself, then I’ll forcibly drag it out. Then surely we’ll come to understand each other much better.”
Like a child beginning a fun game, a white and clear smile spread across his face and lingered there for a long time.
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