Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1128

Ho Gamyeong looked at Jang Il-so with a stiff expression.

“Even those being executed today aren’t just nobodies. They held important positions in the Black Demon Corps and the Waterway Company, right?”

“Is that so?” Jang Il-so seemed uninterested, as if he didn’t care. Ho Gamyeong had expected this reaction. Still, he had to say what needed to be said.

“If we get rid of these people like this, we will for sure weaken our group.”

“Hmm.” Jang Il-so glanced at the door and said, “I told them to take their time, but I want them to bring the alcohol and then rest.”

“…Lord Leader.” Ho Gamyeong sighed.

“I understand what you’re thinking, Lord Leader, but our situation isn’t easy. Losing these people is a waste, but the problems in running things that will come from their absence are even worse. It will take a long time to replace them.”

Jang Il-so finally looked at Ho Gamyeong. His pale eyes were still cold. Ho Gamyeong swallowed hard and continued.

“I’m not trying to go against you, Lord Leader. I’m just asking if we can execute fewer people, for your sake and the Wicked Faction Alliance.”

“Hmm.”

“They’re already scared. If you show mercy, they won’t dare to fight you again.”

“Gamyeong, Gamyeong.”

“Yes, Lord Leader.”

Jang Il-so looked at Ho Gamyeong with a strange smile.

“You know, I don’t think you belong in the Demonic Sect.”

“…Sorry?” Ho Gamyeong’s eyes widened at the strange comment. *What would people say if they heard that Ho Gamyeong, the Mind-Reading Rakshasa, didn’t belong in the Demonic Sect?*

It was hard to argue since the words came from Jang Il-so, but if anyone else had said this, everyone would have laughed.

“How…”

“Don’t you think so?” Jang Il-so chuckled.

“A Demonic Sect guy tells me to show mercy, and says they won’t dare to resist again.”

“But that’s…”

“I know.” Jang Il-so smiled faintly and said, “You think that once they’ve seen what’s scary, they won’t dare to resist in the future.”

“Yes, I…”

“But you see,” Jang Il-so said, cutting him off, his eyes turning cold. “People aren’t as smart as you think. Most people don’t remember the lesson; they forget it quickly.”

“……”

“And then they think it will go their way. ‘Those guys who went against Jang Il-so were let go and survived, so maybe we can try it again?’”

Ho Gamyeong pressed his lips together.

“Yes. That’s what humans are like, especially those Demonic Sect people.” Jang Il-so waved his hand, looking disgusted.

“Humans forget kindness easily, and they never forget grudges. But there’s something they can’t forget even more than grudges. Do you know what that is?”

“……”

“It’s fear.” Jang Il-so’s eyes sank eerily.

“Fear that goes deep into their bones. The fear that resisting would be worse than death. The fear that ‘I can never beat that guy.’”

“……”

“That extreme fear is what moves people.”

“Lord Leader,” Ho Gamyeong said quietly, looking at Jang Il-so. He knew it was pointless to ask, but he was curious about Jang Il-so.

“Don’t you trust your men?”

“That’s interesting,” Jang Il-so chuckled.

“There are people in this world you can trust. Do you think I trust those bug-like guys? I’d rather trust those orthodox guys. At least they are loyal.”

Ho Gamyeong sighed, feeling suffocated because the answer wasn’t new.

“But, Lord Leader, I didn’t tell you to be kind to them. Shouldn’t we use those bug-like guys if we need them?”

“Of course, that’s right. If we only had people like you, you’d be the only one left in the Wicked Faction Alliance.” Jang Il-so smiled strangely.

“What do you think? Should we do it together again like before? Like those days when we had nothing and were desperate?”

When Jang Il-so mentioned the old days, Ho Gamyeong smiled slightly.

“To be honest, I don’t think it would be so bad, but we can’t go back.”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s a shame. Gamyeong, we’ve come too far.”

“But isn’t that what you wanted, Lord Leader?”

“Of course.”

Jang Il-so doesn’t regret things. He doesn’t miss the past. He always looks to the future, to a higher place.

It’s strange.

Jang Il-so has gotten many things. Things that once seemed like a dream have become real, and he has crushed them under his feet.

But Jang Il-so’s life isn’t much different from before.

He went from being a nobody to leading the Myriad Affairs Society, and now he leads the Wicked Faction Alliance. But the only changes for Jang Il-so are that his room is a little nicer and his drinks are a little better. He could have had these things without becoming the Lord Leader of the Wicked Faction Alliance.

Still, Jang Il-so was eagerly taking everything, like a hungry ghost wanting more.

“So shouldn’t we find a way to use even those people? Even a rusty sword is better than nothing.” Jang Il-so held the white wine glass up and said quietly, “Gamyeong.”

“Yes, Lord Leader.”

“Isn’t power like a sword?”

“You said a sword?”

“Yes, that’s right. Do you know what’s important when making a good sword?”

“Using good iron.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But if you only have scrap iron, shouldn’t you just use that scrap iron?”

“Of course. But the most important thing in making a good sword is not choosing the material. It’s not being greedy.”

“……” Ho Gamyeong frowned slightly, not understanding what Jang Il-so meant.

“Let’s say you have a lump of iron and a little extra iron to make a sword. What would you do?”

“Well…” Ho Gamyeong answered simply, “I would make the blade with one lump of iron and the handle with the rest. Or, I would mix it into the scabbard…”

“Yes, that’s right.” Jang Il-so nodded, agreeing. But what he said next was different from what Ho Gamyeong expected.

“Then you’ll ruin the sword.”

“Sorry?”

Jang Il-so laughed softly, as if amused. “If the handle is also made of iron, the sword will be too heavy. If you mix iron into the scabbard, it becomes too hard, and the blade will be damaged.”

“……”

“The best way is to make the sword with one lump of iron and throw away the rest. Or sell it.” Jang Il-so turned the bottle upside down. Frowning at the single drop of alcohol, he sighed and continued.

“But most people can’t throw away that extra iron. They use it for the scabbard or the handle, like you said. But do you know what most people do? They put all the iron they have into the blade.”

“……”

“It’s just expensive and worthless trash, worse than a cheap iron sword. But people use it like it’s a great sword. They don’t know that using that sword weakens their own skills. Or maybe they know, but they can’t let go of their greed.”

Ho Gamyeong sighed.

“Are they the extra iron?”

“Yes, you know.” Jang Il-so slowly stood up.

“Greed is like that. If you know it’s useless and hard to sell, you should throw it away. But you can’t, because you think you might use it someday.”

“……”

“Power is like a sword you must always use. If you have power, you can’t just ignore it; you have to use it. Do you understand?”

“Lord Leader.”

“I don’t need anything extra that will weaken me. Power must fit perfectly in my hand like a fine sword. Only a clown would use a sword with bad parts and a dull blade. Things that are only large and move on their own must be eliminated, by beheading or burning.” A playful smile appeared on Jang Il-so’s lips.

“In the meantime, we’re teaching those who remain a good lesson, so we’re getting a very high price. Don’t you think?”

Ho Gamyeong nodded.

The enemy is very strong. That’s why Ho Gamyeong was trying to make the Wicked Faction Alliance as big as possible. But Jang Il-so seemed to have a different idea.

Then he must follow Jang Il-so’s plan, because Jang Il-so is the one who leads this group.

“Gamyeong.”

“Yes, Lord Leader.”

“The war we will face will be different from what we’ve seen so far. We will have to fight enemies in many places, not just one.”

“……”

“If those fools move on their own each time, we will lose even wars we could have won.”

Ho Gamyeong nodded, knowing this was true.

“So first, we must make them dogs, not people. Dogs that bark when told to bark, and wag their tails when told to wag their tails. Those who don’t want to be dogs should die as people. That’s true mercy. Do you understand?”

“Can they really become your dogs, Lord Leader?”

An eerie energy surrounded Jang Il-so’s face.

“Of course. If we kill all those who don’t follow, and they realize that not following my orders will bring worse results than dying at the hands of the enemy, their humanity will disappear.”

“……”

“It will take a long time. It will be a troublesome process. But if all that is finished…” Jang Il-so looked at the ceiling, as if he was looking beyond it.

“Then I will finally be ready to hold the world in my hands.”

Ho Gamyeong’s hand trembled slightly. Had Jang Il-so ever said such things before?

“If that is so, I will simply follow.” Then he must do it, even if it means staining Jiangnan with blood, not just the Wicked Faction Alliance.

“Yes.” A burning desire filled Jang Il-so’s eyes, and Ho Gamyeong’s heart also burned.

Then Jang Il-so said, “Ah,” as if he had just thought of something.

“Before that, go get some alcohol.”

“……”

“I need to change the drinking table…”

“……” Ho Gamyeong sighed.