Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1305

Jeokho held his breath.

He didn’t even dare to lift his head to see how Jang Il-so was feeling.

Many people thought serving Jang Il-so was hard because he was cruel and you had to watch everything you did.

But people who really knew Jang Il-so and his group knew the real problem was different.

Those who served Jang Il-so closely found it difficult, not because they had to be careful, but because you could never understand how Jang Il-so was feeling.

It was the same now.

On the surface, Jang Il-so seemed angry. Even if he wasn’t furious, it was clear he was unhappy.

But Jeokho had known Jang Il-so for a long time. He knew it was useless to guess what Jang Il-so was thinking just by looking at his face.

No matter what Jang Il-so looked like, no one knew what was going on inside him.

“He’s deceiving me….”

There was a hint of laughter in Jang Il-so’s voice.

“That Ga-myeong, is it?”

Jeokho didn’t even breathe as he waited for Jang Il-so’s reaction. He didn’t need to think. He had already finished his reports. Now, he would just wait for Jang Il-so’s decision.

Soon, Jang Il-so’s uncaring voice reached Jeokho’s ears.

“Yes. Is that all?”

Jeokho silently and slowly raised his head.

Jeokho knew it was useless, but he still looked at Jang Il-so’s face. Steam covered part of it, and the rest looked calm as always.

“It’s not something to make such a fuss about, tsk tsk.”

“…Lord Master.”

“Anyone here?”

“Yes, Lord Master!”

A young attendant who had been waiting quickly ran over. In her hands, she held a tray with wine and a glass.

Jang Il-so smiled and praised her.

“You’re a quick-witted child.”

The attendant’s face turned slightly red.

Jang Il-so slowly poured the wine and held up the glass.

“If you’re done, you may leave.”

The tips of Jeokho’s fingers trembled slightly.

As he had already thought, his job was done. His only task was to report what he had found out, and it was entirely up to Jang Il-so to make any judgments about it. It wasn’t something he could dare to add his own opinion to.

But Jeokho couldn’t easily step back.

Jang Il-so slowly took a sip of wine and looked closely at Jeokho with a strange light in his eyes, asking:

“Is there a problem?”

“…”

“Or perhaps, would you like a drink with me?”

“Lord Master….”

Jeokho took a long breath. He knew it was bold, but now was the time to be direct, even if it meant being too forward.

“I know that you trust the military advisor a lot.”

“Hmm.”

“But this matter is not something to be taken so lightly.”

Jang Il-so looked at Jeokho as if he found him funny. Jeokho continued calmly, even as he met that gaze.

“If he had only moved the minor groups, we could have waited, thinking there was a reason. But contacting the Hao Gate is clearly going too far.”

A flicker of heat flashed in Jeokho’s eyes.

“Depending on how you see it, it could look like he’s doing something he shouldn’t.”

Jang Il-so’s relaxed gaze met Jeokho’s. Steam still filled the space between them. After a long silence, Jang Il-so chuckled softly.

“Something that should not be done, you say.”

A strange glint flashed in his eyes.

“I’d like to hear what that means.”

Jeokho bit his lip tightly.

“Lord Master, the military advisor has been given a lot of power. Of course, only you can control the Four Evil Sects. But as you know, the military advisor can act for you in all matters. Isn’t that why he can move the minor groups as he wants?”

“…And so?”

“To put it another way….”

Jeokho said the words carefully.

“If the military advisor has other plans and joins forces with the Hao Gate, he could easily start a rebellion using the power he has.”

For a moment, Jang Il-so stared blankly at Jeokho. He looked as if he had been suddenly shocked.

Jeokho swallowed hard, waiting for his reaction.

“…Rebellion?”

“…”

“Ha…. Haha.”

“…”

“Rebellion? Hahaha! Rebellion, you say! Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

The laughter started quietly and gradually became louder. He shook so much as he laughed that the wine in his glass spilled into the tub.

“Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”

Jang Il-so held his stomach with one hand and laughed like that for a long time. Then, he lightly wiped away the tears with his fingers and barely managed to stop laughing.

“Ah…. I don’t know how long it’s been since I laughed like this….”

Jang Il-so said, his eyes still curved with laughter.

“That was really fun. So now, you may leave.”

“Lord Master….”

Jang Il-so leaned back against the tub wall with a calm expression once more.

“Of course, you’re doing your job, but you have to think about my position too. Enjoying silly things is only fun for a short time. Ga-myeong planning a rebellion? That’s as likely as a pig flying!”

“This matter is not so….”

“Enough.”

Jeokho’s body flinched. He raised his head to see that all emotion had vanished from Jang Il-so’s eyes. The moment he saw that look, he felt a chill as if the air had turned cold, even though that couldn’t be possible.

“I don’t think you’re trying to insult Ga-myeong. However… you should know what you’re saying before you speak.”

“I….”

“It was me who gave Ga-myeong that power.”

Jang Il-so smiled. His lips had regained their red color.

“And you’re saying that my choice was wrong. Do you understand?”

“I, I didn’t mean to….”

“I know, I know.”

Jang Il-so’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

“If you had said that on purpose, this tub wouldn’t still be so clear, would it?”

Goosebumps rose on Jeokho’s spine. He imagined the scene of this clear water turning red with blood pouring from his body.

“Anyway, good job. I understand your concern, so be gone.”

But Jeokho stubbornly refused to leave. Jang Il-so sighed and refilled his empty glass.

It was good to have loyalty, but it was annoying to deal with those who couldn’t think as fast as they were loyal.

“Lord Master.”

“Do you still have something to say?”

“…I’m not trying to argue about intentions. I’m trying to talk about the danger.”

“Danger?”

“Yes. People’s hearts can’t be seen. So shouldn’t we just look at what’s happening? If we combine the troops that the military advisor has led, the minor groups of the South, and the power of the Hao Gate, they will have enough power to threaten you, Lord Master.”

“…”

“What I’m worried about isn’t the military advisor. It’s Cheonmyeon Susa. If he’s behind all of this….”

If that happened, even if it was unlikely, it would be impossible to fix. Of course, it might not seem like they could easily stand against Jang Il-so, but the important thing was that Cheonmyeon Susa and Ho Gamyong were the ones moving that power.

They would never move so easily unless they were sure.

In the worst case… maybe the situation is already impossible to fix. So as soon as possible….

“Hmm.”

But Jang Il-so still had a strange smile as he calmly looked at the wine in his glass. He looked down at the still wine and asked:

“Ga-myeong is trading with Cheonmyeon Susa?”

“…”

“And he’s targeting me?”

“Even if it’s not to that extent….”

“Then there’s no choice, is there? He has to die.”

Jeokho, surprised, quickly raised his head. He widened his eyes and asked again.

“Lo, Lord Master?”

“Why?”

“Ah, no…. How could you say such a thing….”

“Don’t act like a child.”

Jang Il-so’s smile deepened. It was a creepy smile, as if he were facing an enemy, but his voice was calm.

“If I’ve misjudged someone, I have nothing to say even if I die, do I?”

“…Do you trust the military advisor that much?”

“No.”

Jang Il-so said, as if he were bored.

“It’s the same even if it’s you. It’s a job I gave him, and it’s power I gave him. If that power is used against me, I have to give up my life.”

“That power….”

“That’s not something you should say. I’m not a god. If I hold onto everything, I’ll end up not being able to do much.”

His red lips parted, showing his white teeth.

“Isn’t it better to die with a knife in my back while moving forward than to rot sitting down? Isn’t it?”

“…”

“Now, be gone.”

Jeokho sighed deeply.

“…Then, at least send me to Gwangdong. I’ll see what’s happening myself.”

“No.”

“Why….”

“If it’s you, you’ll try to capture Ga-myeong the moment you see even a small problem, won’t you? No matter what Ga-myeong is doing.”

“…”

“There must be a reason why Ga-myeong is acting like that. It won’t hurt me. So just leave him alone.”

After finishing his words, Jang Il-so slowly drank his wine. Jeokho’s face was blank.

Even Jeokho, who was truly loyal to Jang Il-so, sometimes couldn’t understand this side of him.

“…I’ll be going then.”

Jeokho slowly left the bathroom, leaving behind Jang Il-so, who no longer spoke.

Jang Il-so glanced at him leaving, turned his head, smiled at the attendant, and asked:

“Do you have any other wine ready?”

“Y, yes! I’ll bring it right away, Lord Master!”

“Oh dear, oh dear. Don’t run. The bathroom is slippery, you know. You’ll get hurt.”

Jang Il-so, who smiled faintly as he watched the young attendant run out, tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. Steam covered the surface, and water droplets clung to it.

He stared closely at it and muttered softly:

“Ga-myeong….”

Ho Gamyong planning a rebellion? This was something that didn’t even need to be considered, let alone suspected.

And even if that really happened, it didn’t matter. He would just die.

But it seemed certain that Ho Gamyong was planning something. Something that he hadn’t told Jang Il-so, and even ignored the orders that Jang Il-so had given first.

What was so important that Ho Gamyong had to do this?

“It’s not a position, and you’re even risking your life?”

Jang Il-so unconsciously touched his lips with his fingertip. He slowly ran his finger across his lips and muttered:

“…There’s something there, isn’t there? Isn’t there?”

And that would probably be both dangerous and attractive to Jang Il-so. Because Ho Gamyong wanted to get rid of it at all costs.

A single word flashed through Jang Il-so’s mind. But that could never be there.

Jang Il-so, who had been lost in thought, chuckled.

An impossible thing has already happened, so what’s so strange about something that shouldn’t be there being there?

“Hmph.”

His eyes flickered.

“I should at least check it out.”

The corners of his lips turned up in a devilish smile.