Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1744 – Invisible (4)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Sararak.
The loosely bound papers flip rapidly.
In a makeshift office, Ho Gamyeong’s face was cast in a deep shadow as he incessantly sifted through documents.
'Not enough.'
Provisions were insufficient. Supplies were the same.
Though they were employing every available method, properly supplying provisions from Gangnam all the way to this distant Henan was nearly impossible.
If an army rather than martial artists had planned an expedition of this scale, it would have been normal to allocate more soldiers to supply than to those actually deployed on the battlefield.
Ho Gamyeong pressed his throbbing temple with his fingertips. How much longer could they endure without a proper supply unit?
Riiip.
Perhaps because the hand turning the pages was rough, the corner of the report made of cheap paper tore long. Staring blankly at it, he put the report down and let out a long sigh.
What was worse than the failure of supplies was the fact that the requisitioning of rations in Gangnam itself wasn’t proceeding properly.
In other words, from the moment they vacated their positions, Evil Tyrant Alliance’s control over Gangnam was rapidly diminishing.
Of course, it wasn't unexpected, but the pace was far too fast. If this continued, the very foundation of the alliance might eventually be shaken.
'Yet why...'
Ho Gamyeong's gaze sank darkly.
In truth, it wasn't that there were no solutions. Rather, there was a very simple method.
'Plunder.'
By simply extorting food from the nearby commoners, the immediate problem could easily be solved.
No one who felt uncomfortable about such a thing would belong to Evil Sects. He could guarantee that the moment the order was given, rations would pile up at a speed that would surprise even Ho G-myeong.
Of course, even with thorough management, some sacrifice would inevitably occur, but that was something they would have to accept.
The problem was that Jang Ilso, who surely knew this method better than anyone, refused to permit it.
'Ryeonju-nim.'
Until now, Ho Gamyeong, too, had agreed with Jang Ilso's will. The reason Evil Sects had never been able to grasp the world in its hands was that they aimed only for ‘reign’ through terror, rather than ‘rule’.
Martial artists, too, were ultimately people who lived with feet on the ground. To solve problems of eating and sleeping, cooperation from the common people was absolutely necessary.
In that sense, Jang Ilso's measure of protecting the commoners was clearly not wrong. Those measures were likely the very foundation of the power that allowed Evil Tyrant Alliance to advance into Gangbuk.
However, wasn't the case different now?
Now was not the time to gather strength, but to scrape together everything and explode it. They must maintain their peak combat power even at the cost of some side effects. So why, even at a time like this, does he still forbid plundering?
Out of goodwill? Ridiculous. Such a thing couldn’t exist. There was no counting the number of commoners who had died at Jang Ilso’s hands. He's the kind of person who, if necessary, would smilingly take even the lives of subordinates fighting for him.
To a man like him, the ignorant masses who fill the world were no different from insects. And even someone who normally walks carefully to avoid killing ants would naturally run without looking at their feet if a tiger were chasing them from behind.
Ho Gamyeong recalled Jang Ilso's firm gaze. Eyes that were as smooth and soft as silk, yet cold enough to permit no dissent.
But still….
‘I must speak once more.’
Though he knew Jang Ilso wouldn't welcome it, for Ho Gamyeong, it was something that had to be done.
It was just as Ho Gamyeong had steeled his resolve and stood up.
“Strategist-nim!”
The tent entrance was violently pulled aside, and an adjutant rushed in urgently. Ho Gamyeong asked coldly.
"What is it?"
"Th- The Blood Palace has left their position."
"…What?"
A look of confusion flickered across Ho Gamyeong’s face at the unexpected report.
“And what is the Blood Palace Master doing?”
"The one leading the Blood Palace appears to be the Blood Palace Master himself."
Ho Gamyeong’s eyes instantly turned ice-cold.
'Directly?'
An order not to leave each position had already been issued under the name of the alliance leader. Yet the Blood Palace Master directly led forces and left their position?
This was no different from openly defying orders.
But precisely because of that, Ho Gamyeong became more cold-hearted than usual.
As he fell into deep silence despite the urgent situation, the adjutant who had been waiting anxiously urged him carefully.
"Strategist-nim?"
“Wait.”
Chasing after the Blood Palace Master wouldn't be difficult. But since he had deliberately committed this act, the words of others would likely be meaningless.
Especially now, when Ho Gamyeong’s own standing had plummeted following his recent failure.
His standing didn't matter much, but if he failed to control the Blood Palace Master even when facing him directly, the followers' distrust of Evil Tyrant Alliance would deepen.
'He moves knowing this full well.'
Ho Gamyeong tapped his finger on the documents.
Reporting directly to Jang Ilso was also meaningless. Since the Blood Palace had already disobeyed orders, if Jang Ilso stepped forward, he would necessarily have to punish accordingly. Because authority was originally maintained that way.
But under the current circumstances, it was also difficult to be harsh with the Blood Palace. The current Evil Tyrant Alliance couldn't easily handle the aftermath.
Only after a short, but perhaps irreversible, passage of time had passed did Ho Gamyeong finally speak.
“…Send someone to find out the reason for their movement.”
“Huh? But Strategist-nim….”
"...Must I say it twice?"
At the cold gaze of Ho Gamyeong, the adjutant flinched and bowed deeply.
“I will carry it out immediately.”
Ho Gamyeong, catching a glimpse of the figure rushing straight outside, clenched his teeth tightly.
He knew that his command just now was a meaningless formality. But right now, this was all he could do.
'Precarious.'
The Blood Palace moving as they please, the Sun Palace Master harboring ill feelings toward the alliance leader, and even the Hao Sect Sect Leader who must hate Ho Gamyeong to the bone...
If it weren't for the power of Myriad Man Manor, which was practically the foundation of Evil Tyrant Alliance, and the Black Ghost Fortress, which had been absorbed without issue, it wouldn't be strange for them to split apart immediately.
In this situation, what Ho Gamyeong could lean on was only Jang Ilso's tremendous control and the clumsy belief that the Blood Palace, too, wouldn't want the ending of being chased and killed by Righteous Sects.
Perhaps this was what it felt like to perform acrobatics atop a thousand-foot cliff.
"Hooo."
Ho Gamyeong let out a long breath and wiped his forehead. For now, he had to report to the alliance leader….
Flutter.
But another uninvited guest appeared. Someone pulled open the flap of Ho Gamyeong’s tent and stepped inside. Sensing the presence, Ho Gamyeong furrowed his brow.
No matter how much his standing had diminished, he was still the strategist of Evil Tyrant Alliance. He was by no means in a position to tolerate such disrespectful treatment.
'How dare.'
Having just heard about the Blood Palace matter, his accumulated anger surged momentarily. However, the moment he confirmed the identity of the one who entered, Ho Gamyeong instantly regained his composure.
“…What is it?”
The uninvited guest, face hidden by a black martial suit and a mask, didn’t answer immediately. Only the cheap iron sword hanging at his waist scraped, emitting a grating metallic sound.
"I asked what it is."
Ho Gamyeong asked again. The masked person this time, too, only cast a gaze without words. His hollow-looking eyes were sunken with a chilling stillness.
Ho Gamyeong had served Jang Ilso for many years and had killed countless beasts of Evil Sects while walking the path of blood until now.
But now, he felt a chill in the masked man's gaze. Though it didn't particularly contain great or overt hatred, a coldness flowed that was difficult to gauge even with Ho Gamyeong's experience.
The masked man finally opened his mouth.
“Message.”
"...What?"
"The day for a message to arrive has passed."
“….”
Ho Gamyeong stared intently at the masked man, then glanced at his desk. Soon, he found a single dust-covered envelope and turned his eyes back to the man.
“It seems there was a misunderstanding.”
The masked man showed no reaction. As if he had no desire to converse with Ho Gamyeong if there was no business. It was somewhat unpleasant behavior, but Ho Gamyeong did not show it.
He tossed the envelope in his hand toward him.
Tap.
The masked person who caught the envelope tore it on the spot. Then read the message inside with momentum almost like swallowing it, without blinking once.
Only after quite some time had passed did the masked person put away the message. He then glanced at Ho Gamyeong and spoke in a flat, toneless voice.
"One day late."
"Did I not say there was a mis..."
“If the same thing happens next time, abandon any hope that your head will remain on your shoulders. I’ll take your master’s head along with it. Bear that in mind.”
A freezing chill and a sneer flickered in Ho Gamyeong’s eyes.
"Fine, I'll accept it. Kicking a dog that barks for not being fed on time isn't the role of a good master."
“….”
The masked person didn't answer. Just giving a contemptuous gaze briefly, then turned around.
Before he left the tent, Ho Gamyeong added.
“However, even a dog has duties to uphold. It may grow angry if it is not fed, but once it eats, it should wag its tail like a dog. Not cling to some ridiculous pride.”
The masked person slowly looked back at Ho Gamyeong. Vivid blue killing intent flowed from his eyes. The boiling hatred was extraordinary at a glance.
But even while receiving that gaze, Ho Gamyeong spoke calmly.
“Don’t forget. This was a deal you wanted."
“….”
“Wasn’t it?”
At those words, the masked person completely turned around to face Ho Gamyeong directly.
Suffocating tension instantly filled the tent. It was so taut that it wouldn't have been strange if someone had drawn a sword right then and there.
But after a moment, the masked man slowly lowered his head.
Very deeply. An exaggerated movement, as if to ensure no fault could possibly be found with his etiquette.
Ho Gamyeong stood upright, silently looking down at the bowed back of the masked man.
Having finished the exaggerated bow, the masked person slowly rose again and immediately swept out of the tent. The tautly drawn tension snapped loose in an instant.
Ho Gamyeong let out a short breath, ‘Ha’.
Provoking that man was dangerous. But the price of that risk had earned him one certainty.
That they were 'trustworthy'.
Though absurd, they were trustworthy.
At least until this deal ended, they would become perfect allies regardless what happened. Because the price they would gain from this deal was too great.
And as long as they didn't betray, they still held the upper hand in this war.
"But this alone is insufficient."
Hadn't Jang Ilso told him?
It doesn't matter if managing a precarious situation was difficult. If the enemy's situation was even more precarious than yours, victory would eventually be yours.
To do that….
Hogamyeong's gaze shifted completely.
"Who would have thought the things I prepared just in case would be used like this..."
That's why you never know about the world.
He sat down and picked up his brush. But his gaze wasn't on the paper spread on the desk, but through the open window ahead.
Mount Mudang. Where his enemies reside.
“Perhaps... I have been thinking about this far too deeply all along.”
Ho Gamyeong's eyes completely regained their composure.
His hand gripping the brush wrote down phrases like a knife cutting into a wound. A dagger named 'letter' (전서(傳書)) was being sharpened keenly.
Consider supporting me by subscribing on Patreon for 5$. The Patreon membership for Mount Hua and Infinite Mage is the same. The benefit:
Advance chapters of Mount Hua : 35
Advance chapters of Magic Realm Convenience Store Worker : 144 Chapters
Advance chapters of Got a Gallery in the Wild : 10
Comments Box