Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1654. It's a Good Day (4)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
“Wudang...”
A groan-like voice flowed heavily from Hyun Jong's lips.
He should have naturally thought of it but had missed it. But this was not because he was dull. It was likely because, amidst the rapidly changing political situation, the sect known as Wudang had been that far removed.
“But in this situation?”
Hyun Jong asked as if he couldn't understand. Jaegal Zian answered with a stern face.
"The situation isn't that important. What's important is the tendency."
“Tendency?”
"Yes. Looking back, Jang Ilso's movements have always been the same. He has always targeted places where power has not gathered. Like a wolf obsessively hunting a sheep that strays from the flock.”
Everyone nodded at this.
Certainly, Jang Ilso and Evil Tyrant Alliance were like that. When Kangho was divided north and south around the Yangtze, the first place he targeted was the isolated Hainan. When Jungwon's power concentrated on the Yangtze, they targeted Sichuan, isolated on the periphery.
He used dizzying schemes that captivated and confused people, but looking at the big picture, Jang Ilso's modus operandi could be seen as rather simple and clear.
"So, the General's words make sense. The most isolated sect right now is Wudang. After striking Wudang, they'll be able to completely isolate even the remaining Shaolin. From Evil Tyrant Alliance's standpoint, it's an utterly correct move strategically."
“...”
"We must support Wudang, Maengju-nim! We have already lost Kongtong and Peng Family. We cannot lose them too."
At Jaegal Zian's words, Hyun Jong slightly frowned.
"Wudang... Are you saying they will really target Wudang?"
Despite Jaegal Zian's strong argument, Hyun Jong wore an expression that suggested something didn't sit right with him.
'Wudang?'
He doesn't think Jaegal Zian's words were without merit. But something about them felt strangely unsettling and unconvincing.
If Jang Ilso were to target Heavenly Comrade Alliance now, the alliance would have to take a very great risk. The newly formed command structure was not yet functioning properly.
Yet Jang Ilso would throw away such an opportunity and target Wudang?
That Jang Ilso of all people?
"I'm not sure."
And at that moment, Im Sobyeong opened his mouth. As if he understood Hyun Jong's heart.
"I don't think we can see it only that way."
“What do you mean?”
Jaegal Zian's complexion hardened as he asked back and turned around. However, what was held in his gaze was closer to puzzlement than displeasure.
"Certainly, Jaegal Patriarch's deduction has merit. We cannot deny that Jang Ilso's methods have generally shown such a 'tendency'."
“Then why...”
“If we are talking about Jang Ilso before he faced Shaolin in Hubei.”
Jaegal Zian flinched at those words.
"That's..."
"Evil Tyrant Alliance's movements when facing Shaolin were distinctly different from before. The past Evil Tyrant Alliance, that is, Jang Ilso, had been drawing opponents to places most advantageous to him and making them suffer one-sided losses. But what about this time?"
Jaegal Zian, who had been silent for a moment while biting his lip, soon nodded his head. He had realized something from Im Sobyeong's words.
"It was... different. Certainly..."
"Yes. Jang Ilso no longer avoids risk. When facing Shaolin, he didn't just lure the enemy into suffering losses in the most advantageous place for himself. Instead, he greatly accepted his own losses and jumped into the most dangerous place himself."
Those who knew how that war had unfolded nodded involuntarily.
"Just because he's been preserving himself until now doesn't guarantee he'll preserve himself until the end. Jang Ilso is someone who must never be predicted lightly.”
“Then, Strategist… Do you believe Jang Ilso has another aim?”
Im Sobyeong nodded vigorously in response to Jaegal Zian's question. He snapped the fan in his hand wide open.
“I think so.”
"Then what exactly is he aiming for?"
“Isn’t that obvious?”
Im Sobyeong answered instantly as though it required no thought.
“It is us.”
“U- Us?”
Jaegal Zian was dazed like someone who had been struck. But only for a moment. Befitting the patriarch of Jaegal Family, he grasped the situation in an instant and hardened his expression.
Im Sobyeong half-covered his face with his fan.
"It's easy to confront an unprepared enemy. But what could be easier than luring unprepared people to a place of your own choosing and dealing with them?"
“...”
"If I were Jang Ilso, I would use Wudang as bait to draw out Heavenly Comrade Alliance. And then attempt to swallow them whole. It is far easier to trample those who rush urgently to give support than those who have finished their preparations and are waiting.”
It was a statement one couldn't outright deny.
Whether Jang Ilso truly targets Heavenly Comrade Alliance wasn't particularly important. What's important was the fact that the moment Heavenly Comrade Alliance moves, Jang Ilso will definitely seize that opening.
Just imagining what might have happened if they had rushed to provide support in their haste made their spines run cold.
But Jaegal Zian realized anew at that moment.
"Then... What should we do?"
He understood the enemy’s aim, meaning the situation in which Heavenly Comrade Alliance could be in the greatest danger. But the problem was that there was no way to deal with it.
They could not simply leave Wudang as they were, could they?
Going to rescue Wudang would put Heavenly Comrade Alliance in danger, and trying to ensure the safety of Heavenly Comrade Alliance would result in Wudang being trampled. In this situation, what on earth should they choose?
“There’s no need to worry about that.”
“Hm? What does that mean?”
Im Sobyeong's unexpected remark made Jaegal Zian squint in disbelief. After laying out all the reasons they had to worry, now saying there was no need to worry.
"Wudang isn't foolish, are they? No, Wudang is originally an extremely clever sect. They won't be unaware of how the situation is unfolding."
"Ah..."
“If they hear the news that Evil Tyrant Alliance is advancing, they will naturally retreat to plan for the future. We simply need to join up with them without rushing.”
"Hmm. So you believe Wudang will go to Shaolin?"
“Well, that much I cannot be certain of. I have no way of knowing how closely they regard Shaolin. No, even if they regard Shaolin more closely than I expect, considering Shaolin's current situation, there's clearly a possibility they might head somewhere other than Mount Song."
Im Sobyeong pulled the fan covering his mouth a little higher.
“Anyway, the most important thing right now is the fact that Wudang will buy us time. We simply need to coordinate our movements with Wudang's actions.”
"Indeed..."
Along with Jaegal Zian, Tang Gun-ak and Murong Wigyeong also nodded.
"Certainly, if it's Wudang... with Heo Do Jin-in's cold rationality, they wouldn't act rashly."
"That should be the case."
A sigh escaped Tang Gun-ak's mouth.
He had thought they were being driven to the worst situation, but fortunately, the situation didn't seem that desperate. If so, they could find a way to enter Henan via a safe detour that would be difficult for Evil Tyrant Alliance to anticipate.
Then it might even be a blessing in disguise. They might even be able to form an alliance with Wudang Sect, who has back from seclusion.
'Thank goodness...'
Tang Gun-ak, who was about to let out a sigh of relief, suddenly flinched.
'Wait. Where did this conversation even start?'
Tang Gun-ak's head suddenly turned. His gaze was chasing the expression of one person. The expression of Chung Myung, who had been observing this urgent situation most coldly.
Tang Gun-ak opened his mouth.
“General.”
"Yes."
“What do you think?”
Chung Myung slowly turned his gaze towards Tang Gun-ak.
At that moment, Tang Gun-ak saw it.
In the two eyes of Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung, there was a chill so cold it raised goosebumps for an instant.
The moment he saw that expressionless face, Tang Gun-ak instinctively knew something was seriously wrong. Chung Myung slowly opened his mouth.
"Wudang retreating..."
“General?”
"Will that really happen?"
"Well, of course they would retreat, wouldn't they? Heo Do Jin-in isn't that foolish. In terms of being cold-headed, he's counted among the top of all Ten Great Sects' sect leaders."
“...”
“Of course, Heo Do Jin-in may have stepped down from the seat of sect leader, but his influence has not vanished. No, even if it had, Heo Sanja, who is currently the acting sect leader of Wudang, is also a clever person. You know that as well.”
“No person in this world is completely rational.”
“...”
"And there are even fewer sects that are completely rational."
“...What do you mean?”
“People tend to forget that every once in a while, you know? Even though they say it every time, they don't actually think that way.”
“What are you…”
“A sect does not move by the will of the sect leader alone. Especially not in a situation like this.”
“…What?”
Tang Gun-ak's eyes wavered. He felt he understood what those words meant.
"It wasn't only Heo Do Jin-in who lost honor and fell into the abyss at the Yangtze River disaster. No, at least Heo Do Jin-in had a choice. The ones who lost even more were the Wudang swordsmen who had to bear the stigma of being cowards regardless of their own will."
“...”
"Whether Heo Do Jin-in will understand that meaning..."
Chung Myung trailed off and let his gaze drift eastward. Towards Wuhan, where Heo Do Jin-in and Wudang would be.
* * *
"Wh- What did you just say?"
Heo Sanja looked blankly at those standing before him. His face displayed a mixture of unconcealed bewilderment, anger, and fear.
"They all said they will stay here."
"You, you people... Y- You rascals!"
Heo Sanja's hands trembled.
At least two hundred swordsmen were lined up before him, every single one of them emitting a chilling blue energy. They had gathered at the call for those willing to sacrifice their lives for Wudang's honor.
It was unlikely that his and Heo Do Jin-in's intentions of sacrificing a few lives for the sake of appearances were miscommunicated.
Which meant that all those gathered here had defied the sect leader's order to flee from the enemy.
"He- Heo Gong, you punk! What on earth are you thinking?"
"I don't know what you mean, Sect Leader."
“Wha- What?”
"Didn't you say for those willing to sacrifice their lives for Wudang's honor to step forward?"
“Heo Gong!”
“I dare say, Sect Leader."
In Heo Gong's eyes as he gripped his Pine Patterned Ancient Sword, a blue-tinged chill dwelt.
"In this Mount Wudang... there is not a single person unwilling to sacrifice their life for Wudang."
“...”
"There's even less who would flee in fear of the approaching enemy, and above else..."
Crunch.
Heo Gong's teeth dug into his lower lip.
“There is absolutely no one who would volunteer twice for the humiliation of bowing their head to the enemy to survive. Sect Leader, do not insult the disciples.”
A bleak expression appeared on Heo Sanja's face.
“Heo Gong...”
“Whether the enemy is Jang Ilso, Myriad Man Manor, or Evil Tyrant Alliance! Whether they are a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand!"
The chilling energy seeping from Heo Gong spread through the surroundings.
"I will fight. Until the moment my life is severed! I will prove that the seclusion was not in vain, and that Wudang is by no means cowards."
Shing!
As soon as his words ended, the lined-up disciples of Wudang simultaneously raised their swords and brought them to their chests.
The meaning of this sword salute was clear.
"Ahh..."
Heo Sanja groaned involuntarily. His face turned deathly pale.
'Sect leader. No, Sahyung...'
Things were going terribly, hopelessly wrong.
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