Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1788

People crave power. It lets them control others, and it can be used to hurt those who are weak. Tang Gunak understood this now, staring at the horizon.

It wasn’t blue sky he saw anymore, but a dark, grey mass that seemed to swallow the light. Even for someone like Tang Gunak, who had seen many terrible things in his life, this was a sight that stole his breath. Words seemed useless.

The true power, he realized with a cold dread, was simply numbers. And they were coming.

Perhaps others were feeling the same fear he was. He needed to shake things up and bring everyone back to their senses before they were all overcome.

But even as he thought this, Tang Gunak couldn’t speak.

He knew no words could make this terrible sight seem less frightening. He knew clumsy comfort would only make things worse.

“Ugh……”

“Ugh…”

Groans came from all around.

These were all important people in the martial world, but just hearing them sigh was enough to understand how bad the situation was.

Tang Gunak clenched his fist.

A master of hidden weapons must never let his fingers slip, no matter what. He had been told this so many times, he would never forget it. But knowing and doing are two different things.

His fingertips trembled slightly as he fought the fear that the approaching wave would wash over them all.

Then, he saw something.

Something clear, even in the distant crowd. It was like a drop of red blood in a muddy pond.

Tang Gunak held his breath without realizing it.

‘Jang Il-so.’

It was strange.

This wasn’t the first time Tang Gunak had faced Jang Il-so. It wasn’t common, but it had happened a few times.

But this Jang Il-so felt different. He felt like a completely different person from the Jang Il-so Tang Gunak had met at the Myriad Man Manor.

What had changed?

“Patriarch. Those bastards……”

Mo Yong-wi-gyung mumbled, then cried out.

“We have to do something!”

He meant they might attack at any moment, so he needed to give an order.

Then, Je Gal-ja-in stepped forward.

“Calm down.”

Compared to Mo Yong-wi-gyung, his voice was calm, but it still trembled slightly. After Mo Yong-wi-gyung calmed down a little, Je Gal-ja-in said, “They won’t attack without a plan.”

“Why? Aren’t they on a roll?”

“……That’s why.”

“Yes?”

Mo Yong-wi-gyung looked confused. But Je Gal-ja-in didn’t explain.

A large army is only strong when it’s organized. Even if they tried to stay in formation, such a large force couldn’t arrive without some chaos.

So, they needed time to reorganize before attacking.

But Je Gal-ja-in couldn’t say this out loud. He knew how it would sound if he said the enemy needed time to sharpen their claws.

Je Gal-ja-in was right.

The enemy, who had been rushing in, started to slow down.

This made things harder for the Cheonwoo Alliance, who had to face the Four Evil Sects. The fear that they might attack at any moment weighed on their minds. They were more visible standing still than when they were running.

Gulp.

Someone swallowed hard. The sound seemed to express everyone’s feelings.

Eventually, the Four Evil Sects stopped, and everyone looked in one direction.

Without a word, as if they had agreed.

An absurd silence fell.

Even though there were enough people to shake the ground with their breathing, not a sound was heard.

There was no need to ask why. Someone’s presence was choking the air.

The silence was heavy. It felt like there was no room to breathe, like the tension would explode at any moment.

It would be better if someone just fell down bleeding, Tang Gunak thought, but Jang Il-so didn’t give them a chance to relax.

Jang Il-so, in his red robe, finally looked up and slowly scanned the people in front of him, from left to right.

His eerie gaze made people react in different ways. Some flinched, some bit their lips, and some showed anger.

But no one could ignore him.

Jang Il-so’s lips, pale white with an unnatural, bright red color, opened. A faint, nasal voice echoed across the silent ground.

“Heh-hem. Why do you all look so serious?”

The red corners of his lips turned up in a disturbing smile.

“It was going to happen sooner or later, wasn’t it?”

At these words, everyone felt a chill.

That’s right. They all knew. Sooner or later, they would have to fight the Four Evil Sects. They all expected a fight to the death.

But why was it so frightening?

As much as they expected it, as much as they believed it would happen someday, didn’t they also hope it wouldn’t?

“Huh? Am I wrong?”

Jang Il-so’s eyes pierced them. He moved his gaze as if looking for something, then tilted his head, as if he hadn’t found it. Then, he looked at Tang Gunak, who was standing in the center.

“Poison King.”

Tang Gunak stayed silent. He didn’t want to show how dry his mouth was. Even his lips were dry.

“You seem tired?”

“……Jang Il-so.”

“Well, it’s not easy to wear a hat that doesn’t fit.”

Jang Il-so chuckled and tapped his neck.

“You might break your neck.”

Tang Gunak could see that the Four Evil Sects behind Jang Il-so were still moving quietly. Ho Ga-myung was probably reorganizing the front lines where he couldn’t be seen.

Even this meaningless conversation was helping them.

But Tang Gunak couldn’t stop it. He didn’t want to give them time to prepare, or to waste the time his side needed to prepare.

“Jang Il-so. No, Sect Leader of the Four Evil Sects.”

Tang Gunak spoke as the acting leader, and as a martial artist.

“You can still turn back.”

“……Heh-hem?”

“There is still a chance to stop this pointless act.”

Tang Gunak stared at Jang Il-so. But Jang Il-so laughed as if it was absurd.

“Ha……. I was wondering what you were talking about……”

He shook his head.

“A position that is too high is dangerous. You don’t even know what to do, so you just say nonsense.”

“……”

“Was being the Cheonwoo Alliance Leader that hard? Enough to make the Poison King talk nonsense?”

Tang Gunak gritted his teeth. But he still didn’t stop the conversation.

“Tell me, what’s left to gain?”

“……Hmm?”

“If you start a war here, blood will flow like a river. Both sides will suffer.”

Jang Il-so looked at Tang Gunak with interest.

“So?”

“What will you gain by taking over a broken world? You’ll risk your life, and you might lose everything. Is the word ‘conquest’ really worth it?”

This was Tang Gunak’s real question.

What drives Jang Il-so? Are his goals worth the cost?

Of course, Tang Gunak wanted the Sichuan Dang Clan to be strong again. Why wouldn’t he want to make them the strongest clan in the world?

But he also knew there was too much to lose.

“Conquest is just a lie.”

“……”

“Is your life so worthless that you would throw it all away for a lie? Is that really it, Jang Il-so?”

Tang Gunak’s words were intense. Jang Il-so heard the sincerity, but his reaction was indifferent.

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Jang Il-so clicked his tongue and stroked his lips with his fingers.

“If you don’t understand, I’ll tell you.”

“……”

“I don’t want it because it’s valuable. Do you understand?”

Jang Il-so smiled. It was a mockery.

Tang Gunak felt uneasy. He knew he wasn’t the target of that mockery.

“Value only exists when you want it.”

Then who was Jang Il-so mocking?

“Even if you lose everything, even if you throw away your life, even if you can never have it…”

Jang Il-so’s voice was heavy.

“If you want it… then it becomes valuable. Worth trading everything for.”

“……Who decides that?”

“Are you stupid? Me, of course.”

“……”

“Sacrificing, wanting, being mocked, being crazy… that’s all me.”

Tang Gunak’s fingertips trembled.

Tang Gunak couldn’t understand Jang Il-so. He didn’t know where his madness came from, or where it would end.

“You are……”

Just as Tang Gunak was about to speak, Ho Ga-myung appeared behind Jang Il-so.

“Sect Leader, we’re ready.”

“Heh-hem. Good.”

Jang Il-so tilted his head back slightly. Then, he smiled at Tang Gunak.

“I’m done talking to someone weighed down by their own worries. If you want to talk more, send someone important.”

“Overlord!”

“Don’t rush. There’s no need.”

Jang Il-so smiled brightly.

“I’ve waited long enough.”

As if those words were a signal, heat poured out from the Four Evil Sects behind Jang Il-so.

They had rested and recovered. The heat was looking for a place to explode.

“What are you waiting for?”

Jang Il-so’s calm voice reached everyone’s ears.

“Attack them. Like you always do.”

Boom!

The sound of countless people running forward echoed like a drumbeat.

“Uwoaaaaaah!”

“Kill them!”

The Four Evil Sects, completely out of control, charged towards the Cheonwoo Alliance.

“Hahahahahahahahaha!”

Jang Il-so’s laughter echoed through the screams.