Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1073

Lord Gold frowned, his eyebrows drawing together in a deep line. Dust swirled around his polished boots as the sounds of fighting echoed across the rocky ground.

“What is going on?” he thought, his voice a low growl.

This was not how things were supposed to happen. His perfect plan was falling apart before his eyes.

To plan this, he had carefully watched the Mount Hua Sect. Any group that knew anything about the fighting world knew Mount Hua was a problem.

He had looked closely and thought he had made the perfect trap. And they had walked right into it. Also, the Black Ghost Squad was safe, and they had surrounded Mount Hua. He thought there were no more problems.

But now, Mount Hua was not doing what he expected.

“Is this even possible?”

It shouldn’t be.

People are often predictable. They think they make choices based on reason. But often, they just follow their natural instincts.

The same is true for groups. A group’s nature, like a person’s, doesn’t change easily. Because groups need many people to agree, their nature is even stronger and harder to change.

But Mount Hua was now doing the opposite of what they usually did.

Mount Hua always charged into trouble. This was clear with the Black Dragon Unit and during the Plum Blossom Island event.

So why were they suddenly standing still?

“This is impossible!”

But was this impossible thing happening? If so, there had to be a reason.

Lord Gold quickly found the reason.

“Green Forest King.”

Im So-byeong was fanning himself, looking at them. Even though he was far away, Lord Gold could see the clear mockery in his eyes.

Snap!

He clenched his teeth.

Even in this chaos, he calmly understood what the enemy was doing and quickly planned a response. Only Im So-byeong could do that.

Im So-byeong had hidden his movements and kept Jang Il-so’s Myriad Man House away for a long time. His fighting skills weren’t great, but Lord Gold knew he was a good strategist.

So, was this Lord Gold’s fault? Had he failed to plan for Im So-byeong, even though he knew he was here?

No one would say that.

The respected groups were united by their pride in justice. So, they hated to even mention the lesser groups.

Mount Hua deserved to be called a respected group. Could they take orders from the Green Forest King, the leader of a lesser group? It was impossible.

From the start, including the Green Forest King, a lesser figure, in a small group going to Jiangnan was crazy. Could anyone have guessed that the Mount Hua disciples would follow Im So-byeong’s orders? Who could have predicted this?

“Damn it.”

Lord Gold bit his lip.

“But there’s no point in thinking about the reasons now.”

What was certain was that this crazy situation was happening.

“But it’s still okay.”

He still had the advantage. Things were messy, but Mount Hua didn’t have the strength to break through. If he just kept wearing them down, they would eventually lose.

However, another problem was coming for Lord Gold. He stared at it with a hard look.

“In this situation, of all times…”

It was Chung Myung, standing in the middle of Mount Hua’s group with his eyes closed.

Focusing his energy to heal was dangerous and could lead to evil influence with even a small shock. So, it had to be done in a safe place.

But this madman was calmly focusing his energy in the middle of a battlefield where people were dying. No one could do that, even with strong nerves. He was a lunatic.

The problem was that this lunatic was now a threat to Lord Gold.

“…How long will it take?”

He wouldn’t fully heal. Even Chung Myung wouldn’t expect that. But how long would it take to heal enough to fight again?

“Thirty minutes? Or an hour?”

He couldn’t guess.

Lord Gold, who had been glaring at Chung Myung, flinched and opened his hand. His palm was wet with sweat.

“…Am I in trouble? In this situation, of all times?”

Lord Gold’s face twisted more and more.

Chung Myung was a strong fighter.

Even if he didn’t fully heal, he had defeated Dan Ja-gang. Lord Gold knew how strong Dan Ja-gang was. His missing arm still hurt.

If Chung Myung regained some strength and fought again, Lord Gold wasn’t sure they could hold the line.

“I have to end it before that.”

Lord Gold took a step forward without thinking. He knew he should stay back and watch.

Lord Gold was about to order a full attack but stopped himself and bit his lip.

“Push them harder! Don’t give them any rest!”

“Yes, sir!”

Lord Gold tapped his thigh with his fingers. It was like moving beads on a counting tool.

Across the battlefield, Im So-byeong watched Lord Gold closely.

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-so looked at Lord Gold, then slowly looked at Im So-byeong.

Im So-byeong’s eyes were cold and calm as he fanned himself.

“‘Green Forest King.”

Jang Il-so’s eyes turned strange.

Before the name Four Evil Blood was created, Jang Il-so was most worried about Im So-byeong, not the Black Dragon King, Lord Gold, or the Thousand-Faced Hermit.

Why? Because he wanted to destroy them.

The Green Forest King was like a chess player without strong pieces. The Green Forest was a weak group with many members but no strong leaders.

Also, the Green Forest couldn’t use its members well. Gathering the Green Forest bandits from all over, feeding them, and keeping the battle lines was impossible.

It was big but couldn’t focus its power and had no main strength. What could be easier to destroy?

But Im So-byeong had led the Green Forest to withstand the Myriad Man House.

He kept long battle lines, avoided direct fights, and hid his presence and the Poisonous Faction. There was no place to attack.

Im So-byeong had kept the Green Forest safe by doing this, even though it wasn’t much of a strategy.

The more he did this, the more Jang Il-so wanted to destroy the Green Forest quickly, before Im So-byeong could get strong cards.

But…

“‘To think that he would get that hand of cards from a place other than the lesser groups.”

It might be wrong to say this, but Im So-byeong looked excited. He had always used numbers to his advantage, but now he could do what he wanted from the opposite position.

“Hmm.”

Jang Il-so looked at Im So-byeong strangely.

“Besides….”

Jang Il-so looked at Im So-byeong and Mount Hua and smiled. His teeth were like a beast’s.

“You read people well. Still.”

Jang Il-so said to Ho Ga-myeong, who was next to him.

“Ga-myeong.”

“Yes, Leader.”

“We need to change the plan.”

Ho Ga-myeong looked at Jang Il-so.

“We need to play along a little.”

Ho Ga-myeong looked at Mount Hua and saw Jang Il-so’s smile.

“Well… I can’t follow that.”

Those who bite the Hong Clan can’t use their strength if they stay in place like Mount Hua. This is only possible because it’s Mount Hua. But even now, there’s a way to use the Hong Clan’s power.

“We need to change who’s biting. Start by dealing with the ones targeting Mount Hua.”

“Then you will be in danger, Leader.”

“Tsk.”

Jang Il-so clicked his tongue. This was why he trusted Ho Ga-myeong but couldn’t give him full power.

“If we want to catch a big fish like Lord Gold, shouldn’t we offer my life as bait?”

“But…”

Ho Ga-myeong looked at Jang Il-so and nodded.

“I understand. Leader.”

As soon as Ho Ga-myeong gave the order, the Hong Clan looked at once. It was fast and perfect.

Jang Il-so smiled strangely.

“Now, Lord Gold…”

Jang Il-so chuckled.

‘Can you guess this situation?’

Can you win by moving your counting beads?

He only sees people as numbers.

He knows the illusion of numbers better than anyone.

He will do anything to win.

And…

Ho Ga-myeong looked at Chung Myung, who was focusing his energy.

‘Even the madman who scares everyone by simply closing his eyes.’

Lord Gold had to face a hell where monsters were fighting each other.

If he could handle this, he could catch Jang Il-so, Chung Myung, and Im So-byeong.

But what if he made a mistake? The result was clear.

Lord Gold’s face hardened. Jang Il-so smiled more and more.

“This is probably your first time, isn’t it?”

He had never tried to lose and had never risked his life like this.

Jang Il-so stepped towards the Black Ghost Squad, tempting them.

“Well, the head you want is here. Come quickly.”

The Black Ghost Squad saw Jang Il-so and wanted to kill him. The chance to behead Jang Il-so was right in front of them.

The Black Ghost Squad charged forward. Jang Il-so saw their desire and laughed.

“Good, that’s how it should be.”

His eyes glowed.