Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1784

*Slam!*

Jin Songwon slammed the bowl down. The porridge inside, half-cooled and thick, sloshed and then settled with a dull plop.

Baek Cheon had been watching the bowl intently. Now, he turned his gaze to Jin Songwon. Jin Songwon, his face hidden behind a plain iron mask, pointed at the bowl and grunted, “Eat.”

“Thank you,” Baek Cheon replied quietly.

Showing respect, Baek Cheon carefully lifted the bowl with both hands. His hands trembled slightly, but he held on tight. The bowl was heavier than it looked.

Jin Songwon watched Baek Cheon drink from the bowl and then scolded him, sounding surprised.

“You’re not careful at all! What if this was poison?”

“…”

“We are your enemies now. Surely you know that, right?”

Baek Cheon put down the porridge. He looked at Jin Songwon, his face utterly calm.

“If you wanted to kill me, there would have been easier ways. You wouldn’t have bothered saving me in the first place.”

“…”

“Now, why would you go to the trouble of poisoning porridge just to kill me?”

“You’re good with words.”

Jin Songwon had no reply and fell silent. Then, Baek Cheon picked up the bowl again and calmly drank it all.

Jin Songwon’s eyes darkened.

“Why didn’t you leave?”

Baek Cheon put down the bowl and replied.

“You didn’t tell me to go,” Baek Cheon said.

Jin Songwon retorted, “But I didn’t say you could stay either!”

“…”

“There’s nothing more for you to see here.”

Jin Songwon had saved Baek Cheon on a whim. Or maybe, deep down, he just wanted someone to listen to his story.

Someone who could understand his situation, someone who could ease his current emotions even a little. Furthermore, someone who might even understand him.

This also meant that from the moment the conversation ended, Baek Cheon’s reason for staying here had vanished.

No one stopped him, no one watched him. If he had wanted to, he could have left at any time.

Baek Cheon chuckled.

“Well, that’s for me to decide, isn’t it?”

Then, Jin Songwon’s face, hidden behind the mask, twitched slightly.

“I’ll say it again, the feelings that I and those here have towards you aren’t exactly good. It wouldn’t be strange if someone rushed at you right now to cut off your head.”

“I suppose not.”

Baek Cheon nodded readily.

Of course, if one were to coldly analyze the situation, Baek Cheon was not at fault.

But not everyone is capable of such cold judgment. Especially those driven into a corner.

“Knowing that, you’re still hanging around here. Does that mean you’ve lost your will to live?”

In response to Jin Songwon’s cynical words, Baek Cheon didn’t answer immediately but drank all the remaining porridge. And slowly, he placed the bowl on the floor.

“There was a time when I thought so.”

“Hmm?”

“I thought that even if I died right now, I wouldn’t particularly regret it or feel wronged. Because I thought I had nothing left to lose.”

“But you don’t think so now?”

Baek Cheon’s gaze turned towards the outside of the tent. Through the open tent entrance, he could see figures slumped against rough wooden walls. Their clothes were torn and dirty, their faces gaunt and lifeless. Some coughed weakly, others just stared blankly ahead.

“My thoughts have changed a little.”

He had seen something in the faces of these broken people, a flicker of something he thought he had lost himself.

Jin Songwon’s eyes turned bleak as he read the direction of his gaze.

“Ah, seeing those broken souls, their spirits crushed and eking out a living like insects, you’ve decided it’s too precious to die now, is that it?”

“Perhaps. Maybe so.”

“…What did you say?”

The killing intent wasn’t weak, but Jin Songwon couldn’t fully hide it. It leaked out because he was struggling to control his anger. This was truly a dangerous sign.

Baek Cheon felt this, but his expression remained unchanged, utterly calm.

“But strictly speaking, it’s a little different.”

He spoke, still fixing his gaze outside.

“I’ve simply realized that there’s something I haven’t lost yet.”

Jin Songwon looked down at Baek Cheon without a word. The taut killing intent had loosened before he knew it.

“You’ve got nothing better to do with your life.”

“That’s how it is.”

Jin Songwon sighed faintly. So faintly that Baek Cheon couldn’t hear it.

‘Different…’

In a different sense, Jin Songwon also felt a ‘difference’ from Baek Cheon.

The situation was similarly desperate. No, depending on how one looked at it, Baek Cheon might be submerged in an even deeper abyss than those here.

After all, those here had a reason to keep living, but Baek Cheon no longer had such a thing.

Even so… in this place where everyone had lost their light and color, only Baek Cheon seemed to still possess a faint glimmer of light.

The faint light in Baek Cheon was so bright compared to the darkness around him, it was almost painful for Jin Songwon to see.

Jin Songwon closed his eyes, feeling dizzy. He was tired of the mask, tired of the anger. He was so desperately lonely, he had reached out to a prisoner, a stranger, for some kind of connection. His children, who must still be in that distant place, came to mind.

And then, someone appeared in front of the tent.

He entered with a slow, deliberate pace, glanced at Baek Cheon, then whispered something to Jin Songwon before leaving in a hurry.

Jin Songwon stared at Baek Cheon in silence for a moment. Then he opened his mouth.

“I don’t know what you want to do, but it seems like that opportunity has disappeared.”

“Pardon?”

As if in answer to Baek Cheon’s question, a commotion began outside.

Those who had been like dead bodies leaning against the wall slowly rose. There were differences in speed, but everyone moved without exception.

A cold dread washed over Baek Cheon.

“Are we being deployed to the battlefield?”

“That would be fortunate.”

“Then?”

“A general mobilization order has been issued. For everyone, without exception.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes shook greatly. He immediately understood the true meaning of the words ‘general mobilization order.’

It didn’t need to be added, but Jin Songwon drove the point home as if hammering in a wedge.

“It’s an all-out war.”

Baek Cheon’s forehead was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

Hogamyeong felt his lips drying out.

‘Suddenly…’

Jang Il-so’s mind had cleared, which should be a welcome thing. It was certainly nothing to worry about.

However, it was a different story if the first order he gave after his mind cleared was a general mobilization order.

Hogamyeong, watching the Saheup Ryeon’s forces gathering one by one, glanced sideways at Jang Il-so, who was standing next to him.

It was no different.

Jang Il-so entered with a slow, deliberate pace. His eyes, half-opened, seemed to see everything and nothing at once. A faint, unsettling smile played on his lips. It was Jang Il-so’s appearance as he had seen him for many years.

But that was why it bothered him even more.

“Lord Ryeonju.”

“Speak.”

“The fact that you are issuing a general mobilization order now means…”

“Yes. You know.”

Jang Il-so smiled faintly.

“It means we’re going to wage a proper war. An all-out war.”

“So suddenly?”

“Are you worried?”

Hogamyeong took a short breath and spoke in one go.

“To be honest, I am very concerned. As I reported, the internal situation is not good. Resources are scarce, and morale is at its lowest. The bigger problem is that the relationships between those who can be said to be the core of the Saheup Ryeon have reached their worst. And…”

“And.”

Jang Il-so, cutting him off as if he knew without hearing everything, smiled bitterly.

“Doubt and criticism towards the Ryeonju are sprouting. Isn’t that right?”

Hogamyeong couldn’t bring himself to affirm or deny it and let out a groan. Of course, even excluding all of this, it was clear that now was not the right time to wage an all-out war.

“Although Cheonmyeon Susa did not perfectly accomplish his mission, he certainly left seeds of discord among them. So shouldn’t we be waiting for the seeds to sprout while reorganizing the Ryeon internally?”

“Gamyeong-ah, Gamyeong-ah… Why are you being so frustrating?”

Jang Il-so sighed deeply.

“Lord Ryeonju?”

“You know better than anyone, don’t you? That in war, the better side doesn’t always win.”

“…”

“Answer me. Which side wins in war?”

Hogamyeong bit the inside of his cheek. It wasn’t that he didn’t know the answer, but that he did. Because he knew what Jang Il-so was about to say.

“Those who wage war are bound to break down. It can’t be helped. They have to kill countless people, and their comrades die beside them, it would be strange if they didn’t break down. Even if I might die tomorrow, shouting at them to be calm and find reason is just nonsense.”

Hogamyeong nodded in agreement. Jang Il-so continued with a smile.

“That’s why in war, the better side doesn’t win, but the side that breaks down less wins.”

He had already experienced it several times.

He had won victories against forces stronger than them and struggled against those weaker than them.

What was the reason for that?

“It doesn’t matter how perfect we are. What matters is whether our situation is better than the enemy’s right now.”

The two groups that divided the world were already struggling in a quagmire from which they couldn’t escape. Just as much as the Saheup Ryeon had broken down, so had the Cheonumeng.

‘If I look at it coldly, their condition is a little worse.’

So Jang Il-so’s words were not wrong. However, Hogamyeong’s questions and concerns still remained.

“I understand your intentions, Lord Ryeonju. But… isn’t now a time when we can further solidify our victory just by waiting?”

“Do you think so?”

“Yes. Although the Mae Hwa Sword Demon defeated Cheonmyeon Susa, it’s not like Cheonmyeon Susa died or suffered irreparable injuries. The fear that Cheonmyeon Susa might do the same thing again will gnaw at them.”

“Hmm. And?”

“Also, they will be able to guess that Cheonmyeon Susa is not the only scheme we can use. That too will fuel their anxiety. So, Lord Ryeonju, for now, by buying time…”

Hogamyeong stopped talking, realizing something as he spoke. He understood why Jang Il-so thought now was the right time to attack.

Jang Il-so nodded slowly.

“Yes. That’s it. They will surely think that I am plotting another scheme and try to prepare for it.”

They too had watched Jang Il-so for a long time. Jang Il-so’s schemes had always produced the maximum effect with the minimum of movement. He preferred attacks that were like arrows shot from afar.

“That’s why.”

Jang Il-so licked his blood-red lips.

“Those who prepare for schemes do not consider all-out war. While they think we will play tricks, they will actually become more lax.”

“…”

“Both sides are equally messed up and broken.”

Jang Il-so’s gaze was fixed on the front. A dense crowd, like ants covering the ground, was gathering in front of the two men.

“Then we must crush them before they recover and trample them so they can never rise again. That is the way to win.”

Hogamyeong closed his eyes. There was no room for dissent.

The Tyrant Jang Il-so that he knew was here now.

The densely packed people and the leaders who exuded presence at the forefront waited for orders to be issued in front of Jang Il-so.

Hogamyeong, who would normally have examined the expressions and atmosphere of all of them, did not even glance at them now.

The only person he had to look at in this place was one person.

Hogamyeong, who had moved forward, turned to look at Jang Il-so.

“Preparations are complete, Lord Ryeonju.”

Even his usually cold and calm voice trembled slightly.

“Give the order!”

Hogamyeong bowed. Then, those lined up behind him also knelt on one knee in unison. Everyone knew instinctively what to do now.

Jang Il-so looked down at those bowing before him. It was a sight that could take one’s breath away for a moment, but Jang Il-so did not hold his breath and instead wore a familiar smile.

“Let’s go.”

He turned his body. The red robe, the color of dried blood, fluttered around him like a dark omen.

“To take the Central Plains.”

The blood-colored robe at the very front fluttered like a flag, and the Saheup Ryeon began to move.