Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1077

Baek Cheon knew he should be quiet, but he couldn’t help himself. He had to ask.

“What… what is going on?”

Baek Cheon asked the question, but it was what all the Mount Hua disciples were feeling. The Mount Hua disciples did not understand the Demonic Sect. They were confused why the Black Cloud Corps were not attacking Jang Il-so, and why Man-geum Daebu’s own man had attacked him.

Moreover, the Black Cloud Corps still surrounded them, blocking their view of what was happening around them. It was no wonder they struggled to understand what was happening.

Fortunately, there was a member of the Demonic Sect beside them who understood the situation perfectly and could explain it.

“Hmm.”

Im So-byeong opened his mouth, fluttering the fan he held.

“It seems the Thousand-Faced Strategist has sided with Jang Il-so.”

“…Thousand-Faced Strategist?”

Baek Cheon blinked and looked towards Jang Il-so, then at Man-geum Daebu, now a cold corpse, and the subordinate standing before him…

“Then, you’re saying Man-geum Daebu’s subordinate didn’t betray him, but that he is the Lord of the Hao Clan, the Thousand-Faced Strategist?”

“That seems to be the case.”

Im So-byeong shrugged.

“They say the Thousand-Faced Strategist’s disguise is unparalleled, that no one can recognize his transformations. He truly lives up to his name. To think that even Man-geum Daebu himself wouldn’t notice that his close aide had been replaced.”

His tone was calm, but Im So-byeong was quite surprised as well.

‘Chilling.’

If Man-geum Daebu hadn’t noticed, it meant Im So-byeong was equally at risk of being deceived.

Of course, Man-geum Daebu had an excuse. It’s like when you are focused on a big problem, you miss the small dangers around you.

‘But in the world of martial arts, things like this happen often.’

Im So-byeong realized anew just how useful that ridiculous disguise could be. Of course, the Thousand-Faced Strategist had to risk his life, so it wasn’t a trick he could use easily.

“…So, you’re saying Jang Il-so hid the Thousand-Faced Strategist from the start and led the situation to this point?”

“That seems to be the case.”

Baek Cheon was momentarily speechless, staring at Jang Il-so in disbelief.

‘What kind of person is that…’

Baek Cheon and the other disciples of Mount Hua were now prepared not to be surprised by anything Jang Il-so did. Hadn’t they experienced enough of how far this Jang Il-so was from common sense?

Even so, at this moment, they couldn’t help but wonder what was inside the head of this Jang Il-so.

“Ah, no. Then…”

Yoon Jong turned to Im So-byeong with a surprised expression.

“Did the Green Forest King also know about this?”

At those words, Jo Gul tilted his head.

“What are you talking about, Senior Brother?”

“No… the situation earlier… it was clear that the Green Forest King was coordinating with Jang Il-so, wasn’t he?”

“Now that you mention it…”

Jo Gul, Yoon Jong, and Baek Cheon simultaneously turned to Im So-byeong. Receiving their gazes, Im So-byeong’s lips twitched slightly before he unfolded his fan and half-covered his face.

“Hee hee hee!”

“…”

“Of course, it’s only natural. No matter how great Jang Il-so is, he can’t possibly compare to me in terms of strategy!”

‘He didn’t know.’

‘He really didn’t know.’

‘Such a bluff.’

The eyes of the three narrowed simultaneously, and Im So-byeong clicked his tongue.

“…I thought Jang Il-so would have prepared something, but I didn’t expect it to be the Thousand-Faced Strategist.”

“…”

“…Why are you looking at me like that? Shouldn’t I be praised for guessing that he prepared something? Jo, Jo Gul Dojang? Yoon Jong Dojang?”

There was no reply.

Baek Cheon sighed deeply. Honestly, in this situation, he couldn’t even figure out who he should admire. Should he admire Jang Il-so for hiding the Thousand-Faced Strategist and orchestrating this whole situation, or Im So-byeong for coordinating with him without even knowing what Jang Il-so had hidden?

‘Right, this man was the Green Forest King.’

It suddenly hit him. He had always seen him as sickly and foolish, forgetting that this man was the one who led the Green Forest and fought fiercely against the Myriad Man House. Considering the difference in power between the Green Forest and the Myriad Man House that he knew, he couldn’t help but realize how amazing Im So-byeong was.

‘Is this the strategy of those who compete for the world?’

It somehow felt like a different world from the one he lived in.

“…But why is the Black Cloud Corps just watching?”

Namgung Dowi asked, puzzled, and Im So-byeong shrugged.

“It’s over.”

“It’s over?”

“Yes.”

Namgung Dowi still looked like he didn’t understand. Im So-byeong tapped his head with his fan. It seemed like these honorable people needed more explanation.

“So, let’s think about it. Mount Hua fought with Wudang, and the sect leader, Hyun Jong Jin-in, lost his life to the Wudang sect leader, Heo Do-jin. What would you do?”

“Those Wudang bastards would all die that day.”

“We’d never let it go!”

“We’d set fire to Wudang Mountain and stab every escaping bastard in the back!”

“…”

“…”

Jo Gul, who had shouted last, flinched, sensing the gazes turning towards him.

“Why, why? Did I say something wrong…?”

“…Is he even human?”

“His character…”

“Even Chung Myung would be surprised at this point.”

“No! That last comment is a bit harsh!”

Jo Gul felt very wronged by the last comment, but fortunately or unfortunately, Im So-byeong took away the attention focused on him.

“Yes. That’s the way good people think. But in the Demonic Sect, such things don’t happen. They don’t have that much loyalty in the first place.”

And this was also an environmental problem that the Demonic Sect had.

Unlike the Righteous Sect, which valued appearances, the Demonic Sect lived amidst constant disputes. If they fought until one side was completely destroyed each time, the Demonic Sect itself wouldn’t be able to survive.

Of course, the disciples of Mount Hua knew this as well. But knowing it in their heads and seeing it happen before their eyes were two completely different things.

“So, this…”

Jo Gul said, as if he couldn’t understand at all.

“Isn’t this like… if we fought with Jongnam and lost, we’d become Jongnam’s disciples from that day on?”

“You bastard! Even when making an analogy…”

“How can you say such outrageous things! Are you crazy?”

“I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

Just thinking about it made them feel sick. For them, who had how much they loved Mount Hua, it was something that could never happen, even if the world turned upside down.

But those people were accepting such a situation without a second thought. He didn’t know what they were thinking inside, but at least there was no visible resistance.

‘How can they do that?’

Even if the Demonic Sect valued profit more, how could they just stand by and watch their leader’s head explode?

He didn’t even want to think about it… but if Hyun Jong were suffering the same fate right now, the disciples of Mount Hua here would have already lost their minds and done anything to kill Jang Il-so.

“…Is this the difference between the Demonic Sect and the Righteous Sect?”

He felt that the gap was bigger than he had thought.

It wasn’t just that they belonged to different places. Their tendencies and ways of thinking were all different. That’s why they couldn’t mix, like water and oil.

Baek Cheon turned to Im So-byeong as if something had come to mind.

“Then, Jang Il-so’s actions just now were also…?”

“You saw it correctly.”

Im So-byeong nodded slowly.

“For the Demonic Sect, ‘winning’ is important, but there’s something even more important, that is ‘being stronger.’ If Jang Il-so hadn’t shown his presence and had just won with schemes, he wouldn’t have been able to gain their allegiance so easily.”

“I see…”

“It seems simple, but it’s also complicated. The most important thing is to prove in some way that you are someone worth following. It was a dangerous act, but the result is… as you can see.”

That meant that Jang Il-so was already planning his next move when the Thousand-Faced Strategist ambushed Man-geum Daebu. At that point, what was important to him wasn’t finishing off Man-geum Daebu, but devouring the Black Cloud Corps, which would lose its master, without leaving anything behind.

Baek Cheon glared at Jang Il-so with a hardened face.

‘Now, at least in the Demonic Sect, there’s really no one who can stand against Jang Il-so.’

Jang Il-so was originally the leader of the Demonic Union.

But as they had seen in this Jang River incident, Jang Il-so hadn’t completely taken control of the Demonic Union. At least the Black Cloud Corps and the Hao Clan hadn’t followed Jang Il-so willingly.

But that would no longer happen.

Jang Il-so had already devoured the Surochae in the Jang River, and now he had taken control of the Black Cloud Corps in this place. And even the Thousand-Faced Strategist had sworn allegiance to Jang Il-so.

This meant only one thing: complete unification of the Demonic Sect.

That seemingly impossible feat had finally been achieved at this moment. Perhaps the disciples of Mount Hua were witnessing a historical moment with their own eyes.

It was at that moment that Baek Cheon felt an unknown thrill run down his spine.

“Huh?”

Jo Gul’s voice, breaking Baek Cheon’s thoughts, pierced Baek Cheon’s ears.

“Wait a minute, Martial Uncle. Doesn’t that mean Jang Il-so has unified the Demonic Sect now?”

Baek Cheon frowned.

“Why are you so late to the party…?”

“Ah, no. That’s not it.”

“…What is it now?”

“Th-that means all the guys here have become Jang Il-so’s subordinates, right?”

“Why are you suddenly stating the obvious…?”

Baek Cheon, who was about to speak, suddenly closed his mouth. The focus in his eyes, looking at Jo Gul, gradually blurred. And after a while, he turned his head slowly to the side. He saw the Black Cloud Corps slowly turning in their direction.

Jo Gul’s voice, sounding utterly terrified, was heard.

“Then…”

“…”

“…aren’t we in deep trouble now?”

The Black Cloud Corps, no, the Demonic Union, as they should now be called, were glaring at them with sharp eyes. Behind that wall of people, Jang Il-so was wearing a brilliant and sinister smile.

A hollow laugh involuntarily escaped Baek Cheon’s lips.

“It seems…”

He slowly raised the sword he had lowered.

“…that’s the case?”

Hong Gyeon, having realized who the changed prey was, also wore a cruel smile and began to slowly approach Mount Hua.