Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1425

“H-Honorable Young Master! The, the Four Seas Alliance… They say the Four Seas Alliance has reached the city gates!”

Jo Woong’s face tightened at the Third Chief’s words.

‘Why now, when Father is away?’ he thought.

Jo Woong’s throat was dry. He swallowed hard and looked ahead quickly.

“Has everyone followed my instructions?” he asked.

“Yes. Everyone is inside, staying calm.”

“They must be quiet!”

“Yes!”

Sweat ran down Jo Woong’s face.

News of Paegun’s arrival had reached the Four Seas Commerce Group recently. It was too late to run. Jo Woong could only hope that Jang Il-so would not target them.

“A-Are we going to be alright?” the Third Chief asked.

“…We will be alright,” Jo Woong said.

Jo Woong swallowed again and continued, “Paegun is feared, but he doesn’t usually hurt ordinary people. If we are quiet, he will leave us alone.”

He thought this because of Paegun’s reputation, but also because the Sichuan Tang Clan was in the city. Why would Paegun waste time on the Four Seas Commerce Group when he was after them?

“B-But… what if we are connected to Paegun somehow?” the Third Chief asked, his voice shaking. He hesitated, then continued, “I heard the Four Seas Alliance hates Mount Hua. Young Master Jo Gul is from Mount Hua, isn’t he?”

“……”

“Will they leave us alone because of that? He is related to their enemy, and they are heartless!”

Jo Woong’s hand shook slightly.

His younger brother, Jo Gul, was a famous member of the Mount Hua Five Swords.

If the Four Seas Alliance truly hated Mount Hua, they might harm the Four Seas Commerce Group, Jo Gul’s home.

“That will not happen,” Jo Woong said.

“But…”

“I said it will not happen. Control the family members! Now!”

“Yes… Yes, Honorable Young Master.”

Jo Woong watched the chief leave. The chief looked worried. Jo Woong bit his lip. He knew the chief’s concerns were valid, but there was no other choice. Making trouble now would just make everyone more scared for no reason.

They were just merchants. If the Four Seas Alliance targeted them, running would be useless. They would be caught and killed quickly.

He could only hope that Jang Il-so would pass by without knowing this was Jo Gul’s home.

Just then…

“T-They’re coming!” a voice shouted from outside.

Jo Woong rushed to the main gate.

He peeked out and saw a group of people walking down the road.

‘Paegun Jang Il-so,’ he realized immediately.

No one else dressed like that. The men behind him wore dark red robes. A tall man in a red coat walked among them. Jo Woong would never forget his white face.

Jo Woong quickly gave orders, “Lock the gates! Now!”

“Yes! Yes, Honorable Young Master!”

The gate of the Four Seas Commerce Group closed quickly.

A large bolt locked the gate. Jo Woong clasped his hands together.

‘Please…’

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-so looked around the capital. The city was large and famous, but he saw no one. “I didn’t expect a welcome, but this is too much. Are the people of Sichuan so cold?”

Jang Il-so chuckled and looked ahead. The fastest way to the Sichuan Tang Clan was through the capital. But he had another reason for coming this way.

He wanted to show them who was in charge now.

Jang Il-so smiled and took a step, but then he heard a whisper from one of his men.

“Hmm?”

Jang Il-so stopped. The others stopped too.

“…Is that so?”

Jang Il-so turned slowly. He looked at the Four Seas Commerce Group building.

A twisted smile appeared on his face.

Wham!

“Ugh, ugh!”

The gate broke as if hit by a cannon. Pieces of the gate flew everywhere, and the ground shook.

Everyone covered their heads, but Jo Woong couldn’t. He was too shocked to be afraid.

A man stood beyond the broken gate.

He wore a robe with dragons and bright jewels. His face was white, and his lips were red. But Jo Woong noticed the man’s eyes most of all.

Jo Woong had traveled the world and seen many things.

But he couldn’t describe those eyes. They weren’t like a snake’s eyes. Even a snake would be scared of those eyes.

Those eyes were staring at Jo Woong.

“Hmm…”

Jang Il-so made a soft sound. The world seemed to move again. Jo Woong didn’t like it.

Jang Il-so looked around the commerce group slowly. Then he said, “I heard this is the home of Jo Gul of the Mount Hua Five Swords.”

Jang Il-so looked at Jo Woong again.

“Is that right?” he asked.

Jo Woong couldn’t answer.

He was too scared. He felt like a mouse facing a snake. His body froze. The back of his neck was cold.

Jang Il-so looked at Jo Woong and smiled. “So you are his brother?”

Jo Woong’s throat moved. It hurt to swallow.

“You look alike,” Jang Il-so said. “Hmm.”

Jang Il-so walked closer to Jo Woong.

Thud. Thud.

He walked slowly.

Jo Woong didn’t know what he felt. He was beyond fear. Even the Grim Reaper wouldn’t scare him this much. He knew he would die someday.

But this man was different. He felt trapped. He didn’t know what would happen. Everything was chaos.

‘Is Jo Gul fighting someone like this?’ he wondered.

Against a monster?

Jang Il-so stood in front of Jo Woong and stared at him. Like a snake looking at its prey.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked.

“……”

“Answer me.”

Jo Woong trembled.

“Quickly.”

“J-Jang Il-so…”

“……”

“P-Paegun… Paegun Jang Il-so…”

“You know,” Jang Il-so said with a smile.

“Then you know that your brother and I have a relationship.”

Jo Woong thought quickly.

He had to deny it. He had to deny the relationship to save everyone. Jo Gul had left the family. He was no longer related to them. It was unfair for Paegun to be angry at them.

But he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t deny his brother. He remained silent, trembling.

“Hoo?”

Jang Il-so nodded. “Yes. Brothers are good. Family should share their fate. Don’t you think so?”

Jang Il-so raised his hand and grabbed Jo Woong’s neck. His fingernails touched Jo Woong’s skin.

He could easily kill Jo Woong. Then everyone in the commerce group would die.

Jo Woong turned white. He faced a terrible fate.

Jang Il-so tilted his head and whispered in Jo Woong’s ear.

“So…”

His voice was sweet, like a demon’s.

“Give him my regards.”

Jo Woong’s eyes widened.

“Tell him I came by. Do you understand?”

Jang Il-so smiled at Jo Woong.

“The answer?”

Jo Woong nodded quickly.

Jang Il-so stepped back and nodded. “Yes. You are a good boy.”

He chuckled at Jo Woong and turned away. “Work hard. And pay your taxes on time. Hahaha!”

Jang Il-so waved and left with his group.

Jo Woong collapsed. Sweat soaked his clothes.

“H-Honorable Young Master!” The Third Chief ran to him, but Jo Woong pushed him away.

“…I’m alright.”

Jo Woong stared at the empty gate.

Jang Il-so was gone.