Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1221

People watched the cart carefully as it bumped and rattled through the dark and narrow alley. Dust and the smell of old food hung in the air. They whispered quietly, their eyes following every move.

“…Looks like something’s loaded on that cart, doesn’t it?”

“Looks like grain.”

“Why would the Sapa Alliance be carrying grain?”

“Maybe they took it from someone else?”

“If they took it, they should be going the other way.”

“…You’re right.”

Doubt clouded their eyes, like shadows passing over their faces. But the doubt didn’t last long. They overheard the conversation of those pulling the cart.

“This bloody hell!”

The rough-faced man riding at the front of the cart grumbled, his voice full of annoyance.

“Why do we gotta do this kind of thing!”

Then, a scholarly-looking man following behind chuckled and replied.

“We gotta do what we’re told. What choice do we have?”

“They should order us to do things that *make sense*!” the rough-faced man grumbled. “I’ve never heard of us bullying poor farmers, and now we’re giving *them* grain. I’m completely confused!” He spat on the ground.

At that moment, the members of the Heavenly Union exchanged bewildered glances.

‘Handing out grain?’

‘The Sapa Alliance?’

Their minds raced for a moment, but before they could figure out what was happening, the conversation continued.

“What on earth is Jang Il-so thinking…?”

“Shhh!”

When the menacing man crossed the line in his excitement, the man next to him looked around frantically, his face pale.

Surprised by his loud words, the Heavenly Union members hid even better, making sure no one could see them.

“Are you crazy! What kind of trouble are you trying to get into, saying things like that!”

“What trouble *can* I get into? Who else is even here but us!”

“The walls have ears! If you keep talking like that, you’ll be hanging before the month is out! Do you even know what kind of world we live in?”

“…Bloody hell.”

The menacing-looking man ground his teeth.

“We barely have enough to eat, and now we’re supposed to give this precious grain to these poor farmers! What on earth is he thinking!”

“The higher-ups must have their reasons.”

“Reasons? Are you saying Grand Treasurer Man had no reasons, then?”

“Hey! Why are you bringing up that name again!”

The man’s face turned white at the mention of Grand Treasurer Man. His eyes darted around as if terrified someone might have heard. But the menacing-faced man raised his voice instead.

“Why? Can’t even mention his name?”

“No….”

“Let’s be honest, when Grand Treasurer Man was alive, did we ever have to worry about not having enough money for drinks? Back then, we had nothing to fear! But ever since those damned Myriad Maniacs took over the Sapa Alliance….”

“I’m telling you, shut your mouth! What kind of trouble are you trying to get into!”

“I don’t even have enough to eat, and now I have to bring this to those who are of no help to me! It’s infuriating! Infuriating!”

The disciples of Mount Hua, who had been listening intently to the two men’s conversation, looked at each other.

“Looks like they’re from the Black Cloud Corps?”

“…Seems so.”

“Jang Il-so must be cracking down on them hard….”

Im So-byeong’s eyes sank gravely.

It might sound like a common grumble, but the information contained in that conversation was quite significant.

First, the grain loaded on that cart was being given to the common people under Jang Il-so’s orders. And even though it was Jang Il-so’s order, the men didn’t seem happy about it.

‘I suppose so….’

Jang Il-so was probably gathering a lot of supplies to prepare for the war with Gangbuk.

Even though the Sapa Alliance had taken over the Black Cloud Corps and gained a lot of wealth, it would be hard to prepare for war while also paying his men well. So, giving the supplies to the common people would naturally make them unhappy.

“Honestly, what good has the Sapa Alliance ever done for us? We were taken from our comfortable lives to guard that damned Yangtze River, and now that we’re finally free, we’re stuck pulling carts!”

“Well….”

“Conquering Gangbuk, my foot. What good will that do for me! It’s only good for the higher-ups anyway. I just want to make some money and have a good time drinking tonight! Isn’t that right?”

The menacing-faced man looked back at those following him, as if wanting them to agree.

Those lower in rank didn’t dare to answer, but their eyes showed that they agreed with what the menacing-looking man had said.

“Enough. Who doesn’t know that and keeps their mouth shut? If you keep saying things like that, you’ll really be skinned alive. We called ourselves the Five Great Evils of Shinju and all sorts of heretical things, but… those Myriad Maniacs are not even human.”

“…”

“Have you forgotten what happened to the guy who badmouthed Hyeonju to the Myriad Maniacs last time? Good heavens… I’ve been called a heretic for almost twenty years, but I never imagined anyone could kill a person so cruelly.”

The menacing-faced man seemed to agree, snorting without saying anything.

“The Demonic Sect might be cruel, but even they would be horrified by the Myriad Maniacs. We can’t even die peacefully if it gets into their ears, let alone the Alliance Lord’s!”

“Aah, damn it all!”

The menacing-faced man ground his teeth.

“How did the world become like this…?”

“Tsk tsk. What’s the point of complaining about it? Still, we’re in a better situation. We’re better off than those forced to the Yangtze River or those forced to Hainan. We don’t have to worry about anyone.”

“I’d rather be there. Is this something to do with a sword?”

“Come on, calm down.”

“I’d rather just swing my sword and die. All we do is….”

The man paused, a strange expression on his face.

“…How much further is it to the village we’re going to?”

“We’ll be there soon.”

“Is this the last one?”

“We just need to stop here and then head to Hengyang.”

“Hengyang, huh….”

The menacing man grinned and nodded.

“It’s a village deep in the mountains. We should hurry.”

“…”

“Hurry up. We need to get there before sunset!”

“Yes!”

The cart started moving forward again with renewed vigor.

Only after the group had disappeared almost completely did the Heavenly Union members, who had been hiding, rise to their feet.

They stared silently at the direction the cart had disappeared, their gazes complex and strange, before turning to look at each other.

“Well… I’m sure nothing will happen, right?”

“Jang Il-so told them to give out grain, so even if they’re Sapa bastards, surely they wouldn’t cause any trouble, right?”

“That’s right. They know Jang Il-so is scary too.”

“We’re already short on time, so we’d just be wasting it for no reason.”

“Everything you’re saying is right. So….”

They exchanged glances and nodded in unison, repeating the obvious.

“Let’s go.”

“Let’s just follow them.”

“We just need to watch for a bit. If nothing happens, we can go our way.”

“But it might delay us….”

“We just won’t sleep!”

Im So-byeong covered his face with his hands, feeling miserable.

‘I’ve been sticking to mountain paths to avoid seeing this kind of thing.’

It’s not that they’re afraid of being seen by people. It’s that people are afraid of being seen by them!

“Um… I know it’s unlikely, but just to be safe….”

“Yes?”

Im So-byeong pleaded.

“We’re in the middle of Gangnam right now.”

“I know you won’t listen even if I tell you to just go, so I won’t stop you there… but no matter what happens, you must not step forward. If things get out of hand, something truly irreversible could happen. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Ah, of course.”

“Do you think we wouldn’t have thought of that much?”

“We need to see what the Sapa Alliance is up to. This could be important information, you know?”

Put out the fire in your eyes and talk… Anyone would think a pack of tigers came out of the bushes. Why are you straining your eyes so much….

Baek Cheon glanced at everyone and opened his mouth.

“No one is to step forward without my permission.”

“Yes, Acting Sect Leader.”

“Good.”

Baek Cheon’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“Let’s just see what’s going on.”

The Heavenly Union members, who had moved quickly through the narrow alley, soon found a small village.

It seemed to be a small village where people lived by hunting or farming.

“This must be it?”

“Shhh.”

They lowered their voices and climbed up the hillside, where they could clearly see what was happening in the village.

The grain cart they had seen earlier was stopped in the village square, and about thirty villagers stood nervously in front of it, their faces filled with fear.

“…Is this everyone?”

At those words, the village elder, standing in front, trembled and replied.

“Yes, yes! Th-this is everyone who lives in our village.”

The menacing man frowned.

“This is the work of the Sapa Alliance. You know what will happen if you lie about the number of people, right?”

“Aiyo, sir… What courage would we have to dare deceive you? These are all the people who live in our village. Everyone, down to the smallest baby, has gathered as you ordered.”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

The man nodded and counted the number of people in front of him.

“Thirty-two… That’s quite a few for a village deep in the mountains.”

Nodding, he patted the grain sacks on the cart and shouted loudly.

“Listen well! The Alliance Lord has taken pity on you and sent you grain. All of this is a gift from the Alliance Lord, so be grateful.”

“R-really?”

“Do you think I’d gather you all here to tell you a joke?”

“N-no, of course not. It’s just that we’re so grateful….”

The village elder looked at the grain on the cart with disbelief.

Suddenly, sword-wielding Sapa thugs had stormed into the village, and they were trembling, wondering what bad luck they would suffer this time. But now they were saying they would give out grain. It was no wonder they were surprised.

“You can thank the Alliance Lord. Remember the name of the Sapa Alliance Lord, Tyrant Jang Il-so.”

“Y-yes, yes, of course. How could we not be grateful? We will never forget this kindness for the rest of our lives!”

Tears welled up in the village elder’s eyes.

This year’s drought had been very bad, and they had been living on tree bark and roots. They had been unable to sleep at night, worrying that people would starve to death soon. Who would have known that the famous leader of the Sapa would give out grain like this?

It was only natural for people to feel more grateful to a villain who gave them food than to a Buddha who spoke kind words from afar.

The menacing man laughed loudly and said.

“Really? Are you grateful?”

“Yes! Yes! Sir. Really… We are truly grateful. The Alliance Lord’s kindness is as big as the sea.”

“Is that so, is that so.”

“And we would like to thank the heroes who brought this grain all the way here on behalf of the village.”

“Haha. There’s no need to thank me.”

“No, how could we….”

“You don’t understand what I’m saying.”

“…Yes?”

At that moment, the man drew his sword like lightning and slashed the village elder’s chest in one blow.

Crack!

“What, what are you doing!”

It had happened before the man next to him could even react.

The village elder stared wide-eyed at his bloody chest before falling to the ground.

Torn screams erupted from here and there.

“That’s why I told you, there’s no need to thank me.”

The menacing man, his face splattered with blood, grinned like a devil.