Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1257

Thud! Thud!

Anchors, each as big as a man’s body, dropped into the water one after another. The sound of them hitting the water was as loud as cannons firing across the shore.

Even if you didn’t know why, this sight would make you feel uneasy.

“Military Advisor! Anchoring is complete,” a man said, hurrying into the cabin and bowing. Ho Gamyeong was busy looking at a book. He didn’t even look up.

“Hmm.”

After a moment, Ho Gamyeong quickly closed the book.

Thud.

Without hesitating, he stood up and walked out of the cabin. As he stepped through the doorway, he saw the blue island.

It was very different from the Central Plains. But Ho Gamyeong showed no emotion as he walked forward.

Creak!

With each step, the ship’s deck groaned. He walked to the front of the ship, his emotionless eyes quickly looking over the shore. Then, he asked,

“The fishermen?”

“They were all running away. It seems no one is left on the shore.”

“But the people on the shore must have seen us.”

Ho Gamyeong looked at the boats anchored along the shore and said,

“Hainan will know soon. There’s no point in letting them get ready. We disembark.”

“Yes, Military Advisor!” The man bowed deeply, turned, and shouted loudly.

“Disembaaaark!”

“Yes!” Those waiting on each ship quickly jumped into the sea.

Splash! Splash!

As almost a thousand men jumped into the sea, the blue water was instantly covered in white foam. Those who had jumped moved forward in perfect order, gathering on the white sandy beach.

Ho Gamyeong watched with cold eyes, then stepped onto the ship’s bow and lightly jumped down onto the beach.

He stood up straight and looked around, seeing the warriors of the Myriad Man Faction lined up in formation. His eyes narrowed slightly.

A moment later, a man who was a little late bowed his head.

“Military Advisor!”

“Late.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

Ho Gamyeong shook his head briefly, looking displeased.

If other groups who break the rules saw this, they would be shocked and unable to speak. They looked more like soldiers than martial artists, so well-organized were they.

Among all the groups who don’t follow rules, only the Myriad Man Faction could look like this.

But even that wasn’t enough for Ho Gamyeong.

“Military Advisor! Preparations are complete! Orders!”

“Hmm.”

Ho Gamyeong nodded.

Anyone would feel proud if so many people were waiting for their command.

But Ho Gamyeong’s eyes showed no excitement. He was simply looking at the situation calmly.

“Shall we go forward?”

“Wait.”

Ho Gamyeong rubbed his left sleeve with his right hand. He seemed to be thinking hard. After a long while, he spoke in a calm voice.

“Strange.”

“Yes?”

“Too easy. There’s too little resistance.”

“Yes?” Munbang asked, looking puzzled.

“Well, isn’t that normal? They couldn’t have known we were coming, right? Even if fishermen saw us, the news wouldn’t have reached Hainan yet…”

But Ho Gamyeong shook his head and said coldly,

“There are no footprints.”

“…Yes?” Ho Gamyeong’s assistant, Munbang, looked at the white sandy beach again. Ho Gamyeong was right, there were no footprints.

But why was that strange?

“Military Advisor, isn’t it good that there are no footprints?”

Ho Gamyeong turned his head and stared at Munbang.

“A good thing?”

“Yes. It means no one was on this shore, so they don’t know we’re here, right?”

Ho Gamyeong frowned slightly.

“Don’t you think it’s weird? Ships are here, but no footprints.”

“…Ah!” Munbang looked at the shore again, surprised. Besides their ship, other ships were anchored there. If a ship was anchored, someone had gotten off. But there was no sign of anyone on the beach.

It was certainly strange.

“…Could a typhoon have erased them?”

“Sailors always fix their ships after a typhoon. If they saw us, they would have run away quickly. Then there should be footprints on the shore.”

“…”

“It’s not normal.”

Ho Gamyeong looked at the island in front of him.

“Then it means they knew we were coming and set a trap… Do you think those island people could do that?” Ho Gamyeong looked at Munbang. His cold eyes made Munbang’s face turn pale.

“You think the Nine Great Sects are a joke.”

“M-Military Advisor. That’s not what I meant…”

“Do you know when people are most pathetic?”

“I’m not sure…”

“When people think they are skilled, but they were just lucky.” Munbang was silent. Ho Gamyeong said in a chilling voice,

“Those who would have been trash from Guangdong if the Sect Leader hadn’t helped them now act like they’re special. It makes me want to kill them.”

Munbang quickly lowered his head.

Ho Gamyeong didn’t get angry over small things. He would sigh and move on even if someone was rude to him. Not because he was kind, but because he thought those people were better than nothing.

But there was one exception.

If someone disrespected Jang Ilso, Ho Gamyeong would change from a cold military advisor into a demon.

Munbang knew this and was terrified.

“M-Military Advisor! That’s not what I meant at all.”

“Then?”

“I’m just foolish and spoke without thinking. How could I think the Myriad Man Faction’s methods were something I earned, not something given by the Sect Leader! That’s impossible.”

Ho Gamyeong stared silently at Munbang, who was on the ground.

Even though the sun was hot, Munbang felt a chill.

“Get up.”

“Yes!” Munbang immediately stood up.

“This is the only time.”

“T-Thank you, Military Advisor!” Munbang quickly lowered his head, sweating.

It seemed like a light scolding, but Munbang knew he had almost died.

“W-What will you do then?” He quickly changed the subject. He didn’t want Ho Gamyeong to keep thinking about his mistake.

“There will be a trap,” Ho Gamyeong said quietly, looking at the thick forest.

The shore was white, and the grass was green. But the forest and mountains were darker than in the Central Plains.

If they were going to attack, it would be there.

“Shall we go around?”

“No.” The corners of Ho Gamyeong’s mouth twisted strangely.

“If they’ve set a trap, we should go for it.” Munbang stayed silent and watched Ho Gamyeong. He had questions, but he couldn’t ask them now.

“Don’t misunderstand the mission, Munbang. We’re not just here to take Hainan’s name. We’re here to destroy everything that uses the name Hainan, leaving nothing behind.”

“Ah…”

“If we go around the trap, those digging it will run away like insects. Then it will be harder to clean up.”

Ho Gamyeong looked at Hainan’s forest with emotionless eyes.

“It’s better if those we need to kill are all together. We can finish things faster.”

“Yes!”

“Go forward as planned. But!” Ho Gamyeong stared at the ship. After a moment, he spoke again.

“Tell the Chang Gui Squad to stay and guard the ship.” His face showed nothing.

“Cutting off our escape is what people who think they’re smart would do. It wouldn’t matter if we lost the ship, but it would be annoying.”

“I will do as you command!”

“Move.”

“Yes!” Munbang ran towards the Chang Gui Squad as fast as he could. He was relieved to have survived his mistake, but also still scared.

‘We’re just dealing with Hainan…’ As Ho Gamyeong said, Munbang might not deserve to be proud of the Myriad Man Faction’s power. But it was true that the Myriad Man Faction was much stronger than Hainan.

Yet, even when facing Hainan, Ho Gamyeong was planning carefully, as if testing every step before taking it.

Was it because even a tiger uses all its strength to catch a rabbit?

No. That was what was scary.

Ho Gamyeong was probably only thinking about perfectly following Jang Ilso’s orders, no matter what.

Ho Gamyeong wasn’t entering the trap because he was sure he wouldn’t get hurt. He was doing it to finish things faster, even if it meant some damage, to follow Jang Ilso’s order to quickly deal with Hainan. The only thing important to Ho Gamyeong was Jang Ilso’s order.

That made Munbang feel cold.

‘I must not make a mistake on this mission.’

Munbang decided again and raised his voice to the Chang Gui Squad.

“Move out!”

“Alright. Then… Huh?” Yoon Jong, who was watching the shore, widened his eyes and quickly turned to Baek Cheon.

“The troops are dividing?”

Baek Cheon blinked and looked at the shore. Some of the enemy troops were staying behind, guarding the ship.

“Green Forest King?”

“Hmm.” Lim Sobyeong scratched his head and chuckled.

“It seems Ho Gamyeong thinks Hainan is stronger than I thought. Well, that’s just how he is. He’s definitely smart. Excellent.”

“No, the plan has gone wrong, and you’re praising him?”

“What are we going to do?” People complained.

“Ugh, seriously.” Lim Sobyeong looked annoyed and snapped.

“Did you all watch too many historical dramas? Do you think war goes as planned? You have to be ready for anything and change your plans!”

“So, you’re saying Ho Gamyeong tricked us?”

“We’re losing?”

“We’ve lost?”

“…You guys.”

Lim Sobyeong gritted his teeth. Then Baek Cheon asked again.

“So, what do we do now?”

“Not much different.” Lim Sobyeong chuckled and said,

“We wait until the enemy is far enough away, like we planned… and then we take the ship!”

“What about those guarding it?”

“Well, that’s…” Lim Sobyeong turned his head and stared at one person.

“I trust the best faction-destroyer will handle it.”

Chung Myung, who had already drawn his sword, was staring at the Chang Gui Squad on the shore. Everyone who saw him shivered. Chung Myung’s teeth looked truly scary.