Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1022

Who is the richest person in the world?

People might first think of the Emperor. But is wealth just about owning things you can’t use? Others might point to the Golden King… But maybe true wealth is hidden.

There is more hidden money in the world than visible wealth. The people who really control money are not famous or seen in public. They work in secret.

Even if that statement is an exaggeration, no one can deny that Man-geum Daebu, the master of the Black Demon Fortress, is among the top three wealthiest individuals in the world. He handles not only the highly restricted salt trade—punishable by three generations of extermination for unauthorized involvement—but also all forms of black money from gambling and human trafficking.

The room where Man-geum Daebu lived wasn’t just simple, it felt empty and cold, like a place where joy had never been. An old, well-worn desk, a rickety chair, and books and ledgers filling one wall were all the items in the room. The desolate room, devoid of even a cheap scroll or a single orchid, was filled with people. Each wore a serious face.

Creak!

The old chair creaked beneath Man-geum Daebu. Expressing his discomfort with the chair’s sound instead of words, Man-geum Daebu’s hand fell from the abacus.

His hands never stopped moving. Even when he heard big news, like the Namgung Clan attacking Plum Blossom Island, or that Jang Il-so went to fight the Shaolin at the Yangtze River, his hands had not stopped.

Yet, at this moment, those hands had come to a standstill.

“Where?”

A voice, cold as ice, came from Man-geum Daebu’s lips.

One of those standing before him opened his mouth with a grim expression.

“There are those committing slaughter in Hangzhou. According to the information we have confirmed so far, they seem to be… those of the Demonic Sect.”

Man-geum Daebu’s lips twitched slightly.

“The Demonic Sect?”

“Yes.”

“Are you certain?”

“…I cannot say that we have perfectly confirmed it. However, a survivor from the Hangzhou branch reported it as such.”

“A survivor?”

Man-geum Daebu’s eyes narrowed.

“If they were able to confirm that the enemy is the Demonic Sect, they wouldn’t have run away at first sight. Are you saying they survived after facing the Demonic Sect?”

“It seems they were allowed to live.”

“Strange.”

Man-geum Daebu leaned back in his chair.

“That is not the Demonic Sect’s way. If the stories we have heard about the Demonic Sect of the past are true, you wouldn’t have missed this fact. So, what is the reason you judged them to be the Demonic Sect?”

“…The survivor said so.”

“That’s… not really an answer, is it?”

“To be precise, it was not a survivor, but someone who *was* a survivor who said so. They tore off all the skin from his face, gouged out his eyes, and cut off both arms, saying that nothing but a mouth was needed to deliver the message. As if that wasn’t enough, they riddled his body with holes and told him to run forward if he wanted to live.”

Even the great Man-geum Daebu was momentarily speechless.

“When the rear guard found the survivor, he was already out of his mind. He repeated the words ‘Demonic Sect, the Demonic Sect has come’ until he died of exhaustion.”

“…It seems that is the case.”

A sigh escaped from Man-geum Daebu’s lips.

Usually, being called cruel by evil people isn’t a bad thing. It’s almost like a compliment, like being called brave.

But this was beyond the pale. No Demonic Path member would kill someone in this way. Only those who do not see people as people could commit such an act.

“The Demonic Sect, in Hangzhou…”

Man-geum Daebu’s fingers were placed on the abacus. But his fingers, which twitched several times, could not move.

“It’s really twisted.”

A self-deprecating laugh escaped his lips.

“At this time… Why at this time?”

Then, Wi Chung cautiously opened his mouth, gauging the atmosphere.

“Daebu, I know this might be too forward, but…”

“Skip the unnecessary remarks and speak quickly.”

“Yes, Daebu. Although times have changed, dealing with the Demonic Sect has always been a matter for the entire Central Plains. Daebu… shouldn’t we tell the others? About the Demonic Sect? Get some help? Instead of… you know… dealing with this alone?”

“That’s what we should have done.”

“Yes? Then…”

“If the timing weren’t now.”

Man-geum Daebu said in an emotionless voice.

“If it were the past, of course, we would have done that. No, we wouldn’t even need to go through such troublesome efforts. We could simply inform them that the Demonic Sect has appeared, and those good people pretending to be heroes in Gangbuk would have rushed to fight them.”

Wasn’t it the righteous sects who ultimately stopped the Heavenly Demon in the past?

“But not now.”

“Why… Ah, the Impenetrable Gangnam!”

Man-geum Daebu nodded.

“That’s also a reason. But the bigger issue is that Shaolin, which can be said to be the center of the righteous sects, is confronting the Myriad Man Clan in the Yangtze River. Those who were growling and fighting each other suddenly change their attitude upon seeing the Demonic Sect?”

“…”

“If they could do that, they wouldn’t be human, but truly Buddhas or immortals. At least, it would take a considerable amount of time.”

Man-geum Daebu lightly ran his hand over his face.

‘The timing is terrible.’

Jang Il-so’s strategy of isolating himself in the Yangtze River and creating division unexpectedly resulted in the worst possible outcome.

But who could blame Jang Il-so?

Who in the world could have predicted that the remnants of the Demonic Sect, who had not shown themselves for a hundred years, would appear in Hangzhou at this very moment?

‘What if the stalemate in the Yangtze River is not resolved, and they do not move their forces? That would be the worst.’

But at the same time, it is possible. Neither the Myriad Man Clan nor Shaolin can easily withdraw first. If neither side yields, they will have to hold their ground until a knife is thrust into their backs.

In that case, only the Black Demon Fortress can face them.

The Demonic Sect.

Man-geum Daebu’s hands quickly flicked the abacus beads.

“The Demonic Sect cannot have retained the same power as in the past. At most, they would be at less than thirty percent of their former strength. In that case, we should assume that their actual power is less than ten percent.”

The reason for this judgment was simple. The Demonic Sect that once stained the Central Plains with blood, the majority of its power came solely from the existence of the ‘Heavenly Demon’.

Man-geum Daebu naturally thought that the existence of the Heavenly Demon was exaggerated. If all the transmitted stories were true, he would be something more than human.

But even if all those absurd legends are stripped away, the human ‘Heavenly Demon’ is still formidable. Since such a Heavenly Demon no longer exists, the Demonic Sect that has now appeared will not be the Demonic Sect they knew.

That must be the case. No, it has to be.

Man-geum Daebu’s hands, flicking the abacus beads, moved even faster.

“…Daebu.”

Clack!

And finally, Man-geum Daebu’s fully extended hand pressed down on the abacus. A chilling coldness settled on his face, as if he had made up his mind.

“…Wi Chung.”

“Yes, Daebu.”

“Gather those who are useful.”

Rattle rattle!

The sound of the abacus beads rubbing together was eerie. Man-geum Daebu asked with a coldly subdued face.

“You said they deliberately let the survivor live?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“That means they wanted to announce that they are the Demonic Sect.”

“Certainly… it can be seen that way.”

Man-geum Daebu lightly pressed his eyes.

“Announcing themselves means they have a separate goal in mind. If they intended to obtain it by force, they wouldn’t have used such a troublesome method. They are willing to negotiate.”

Wi Chung nodded.

Man-geum Daebu’s words were correct. They have a separate goal and intend to obtain it. If it were simply a massacre, they wouldn’t have bothered to announce who they were.

“Then what are you planning to do?”

“First of all…”

Man-geum Daebu nodded as if he had made up his mind.

“We need to find out what they want. We can’t gamble without knowing the cards they hold.”

Wi Chung looked at Man-geum Daebu with renewed admiration. It might seem like an obvious conclusion, but it is never easy to calmly assess the situation even after hearing that the Demonic Sect is committing massacres in Hangzhou.

“I will go.”

“No.”

At Wi Chung’s words, Man-geum Daebu shook his head firmly.

“I will go.”

“Daebu! It’s too dangerous.”

Man-geum Daebu replied coldly without changing his expression.

“Even if they are fools who crawled out of outdated history, if they are truly the Demonic Sect, someone of their caliber must face them.”

“But…”

“There’s no need to be afraid.”

Man-geum Daebu’s dark eyes stared at Wi Chung.

“The Demonic Sect is also just human beings made of flesh and blood. If they are humans who can talk, not speechless beasts, there is plenty of room for negotiation.”

After speaking, Man-geum Daebu paused for a moment, lost in thought.

Whether the Demonic Sect is stronger than he expected, or whether they have lost their former glory and become weak, dealing with them alone is nothing but a loss.

What if the Black Demon Fortress suffers significant damage while dealing with the Demonic Sect?

‘Jang Il-so’s blade will be directed at us.’

The most frightening thing for an injured wolf is not a tiger that might appear from somewhere, but the pack that was hunting with it just moments ago. And Jang Il-so is a wolf that never misses the scent of blood.

Then the conclusion is set.

“Prepare.”

“Yes, Daebu. I will comply.”

Those who had shown respect slipped out like the wind. It was a movement technique worthy of the Black Demon Fortress, which values time as gold.

Man-geum Daebu did not even give a glance to those who were leaving.

Tap! Tap. Tap.

The sound of the abacus beads moving gradually subsided. At the same time, the sound of Man-geum Daebu’s breathing became increasingly faint.

“They won’t be three-headed, six-armed monsters, they’re just humans after all.”

Humans cannot escape from desire. Or rather, to be precise, while there may be humans who can suppress desire, there is no group that is free from profit.

Then they can be brought to the negotiating table at any time. Isn’t that the Black Demon Fortress’s way?

But Man-geum Daebu did not know.

That there are those in the world to whom common sense does not apply at all. And how big of a mistake it is to interpret such people within the bounds of one’s own common sense.

The world has forgotten the Demonic Sect.

But… they will soon remember it again.