Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1407

“…What did you just say?”

Beopgye felt nervous under Beopjeong’s stare. He swallowed hard. Beopjeong’s confused face showed exactly what he was thinking.

“The Cheonwoo Alliance has crossed the Jang River and entered Gangnam,” he said.

Beopjeong was silent. The silence was heavy. Beopgye quickly added more, even though Beopjeong hadn’t asked.

“According to the Beggars’ Union, after crossing the river, the Cheonwoo Alliance joined with Hae Nam and is heading south, away from the river.”

“They met Hae Nam?”

“…Yes.”

“But heading south? What does that mean? Weren’t they going to Gangnam to save Hae Nam? Why are they heading south instead of returning? Are you sure this is correct?”

“Well, based on what we know…”

Beopgye tried to moisten his dry lips.

“It looks like a few people, including the Hwasan Sword Master, stayed behind. The Cheonwoo Alliance leader seems to be taking the main group to save them…”

Beopjeong’s eyes twitched. He stared blankly at the river.

The Surochae’s fleet sliced through the Jang River’s current. Beopjeong spoke in a daze.

“So, you’re saying they took the entire Cheonwoo Alliance into Gangnam, where the Four Evil Alliances are, just to save a few disciples?”

“…Yes. That seems to be it…”

Beopjeong laughed humorlessly.

“Hyun Jong… that madman, he finally…”

If others had heard, it would have been a serious matter. Even though Beopjeong was the Abbot of Shaolin and leader of the Nine Great Sects, calling Hyun Jong a ‘madman’ was still wrong.

But Beopjeong was beyond such etiquette. He was fed up with Hyun Jong.

“What on earth! What are you thinking! What on earth!”

At Beopjeong’s shout, the Shaolin disciples looked at him, surprised. Beopgye bit his lip and gave them a look, and they slowly moved away from Beopjeong.

“No matter how important a few disciples are, how can you risk the entire Cheonwoo Alliance for them! How can someone so foolish be the Alliance Lord!”

He couldn’t understand it at all.

Of course, he couldn’t understand Hyun Jong’s actions. But what really angered Beopjeong was that the other groups in the Cheonwoo Alliance agreed to this crazy plan.

What kind of place was Gangnam?

It was the land where Jang Il-so’s Four Evil Alliances were ready for battle. And the Four Evil Alliances were gathering beyond the Jang River right now. Even a child would know what would happen when they crossed the river.

Yet, the leaders of those famous groups had accepted this ridiculous plan? Why?

“…Have they all gone mad?”

Beopjeong thought hard. Was he missing something? Was there a safe way for them to come back after going into Gangnam?

But no matter how much he thought, he couldn’t see any way he could be wrong.

The situation was very clear. He thought hard, but the truth was still the same: the Four Evil Alliances were gathering, and no one across the river could help the Cheonwoo Alliance.

Hwasan crossing the river was possible. Hwasan had always done unexpected things.

But the entire Cheonwoo Alliance crossing the river was unbelievable.

“Abbot,” Jongli Hyeong said, his face still confused. He watched Beopjeong, who seemed frozen in shock. “Why are you so angry?”

Beopjeong just stared.

“I mean,” Jongli Hyeong continued, a little nervously, “what the Cheonwoo Alliance did was really stupid, sure. But if you just look at it, isn’t it… kind of good for us?”

Beopjeong’s voice was sharp. “Good for us, you say?”

“Yes, Abbot.” Jongli Hyeong nodded quickly. “Okay, maybe there will be some trouble we didn’t expect. But all the damage will be to the Cheonwoo Alliance, right? The Four Evil Alliances can’t attack Henan if they’re busy with the Cheonwoo Alliance in Gangnam. It’s almost like they’re fighting *for* us.”

Beopjeong glared at Jongli Hyeong. Jongli Hyeong flinched.

Beopjeong said.

“Don’t stop now. What else were you going to say?”

“Yes?”

“Are you saying that even if the Cheonwoo Alliance is destroyed, they will still hurt the Four Evil Alliances, so it’s good for us?”

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…”

Jongli Hyeong looked away from Beopjeong.

He did have those thoughts, but he was embarrassed that he, as the head of a righteous group, was thinking about the benefits of others’ deaths.

Beopjeong, who had been glaring at Jongli Hyeong, spoke.

“Headmaster, what do you think will happen if the Four Evil Alliances and the Cheonwoo Alliance fight?”

“Well…”

Jongli Hyeong thought for a moment.

“The Cheonwoo Alliance is strong… but it’s still too much for them to face the Four Evil Alliances, right? The Four Evil Alliances will win. But they will also suffer a lot…”

“Damage?”

Beopjeong asked coldly.

“D, did I say something wrong?”

“What are you looking at?”

“Yes?”

“What does the Cheonwoo Alliance have? Even the Tang Family is only half the size of a great sect, and the Nam Gung has lost most of its power.”

“…”

“The Savage Beast Palace is helping them, but they aren’t as strong as the great sects, and only a few from the Ice Palace have joined. The Green Forest? Will those bandits help?”

“W, well…”

“They only have a good reputation! The Cheonwoo Alliance isn’t as strong as people think. Do you know what it means to go into enemy land where the Tyrant is?”

Blood vessels appeared in Beopjeong’s eyes.

“Hwasan? What can those few people do! The bigger the war, the less they matter!”

Jongli Hyeong lowered his head awkwardly.

‘Oh, dear…’

Beopjeong was right. He hadn’t thought of that. The groups in the Cheonwoo Alliance were famous, but only Hwasan, the Tang Family, and the Savage Beast Palace were really strong.

They weren’t weak, but could they really handle the Four Evil Alliances? It was almost impossible.

With weak forces, enemy land, and the Tyrant all together, the outcome was almost certain to be bad.

But that wasn’t why Beopjeong was angry, was it?

Was the Cheonwoo Alliance losing to the Four Evil Alliances something new and surprising?

Jongli Hyeong watched Beopjeong carefully and then spoke.

“I… I didn’t know you cared so much about them.”

Beopjeong sighed. This frustrating man still didn’t understand.

“Do you really not understand?”

“…Yes?”

“What if the Tyrant planned all of this? Where will they attack next, after destroying the Cheonwoo Alliance?”

Jongli Hyeong’s eyes widened.

“Th, that’s…”

“Even if they are hurt in destroying the Cheonwoo Alliance, do you think they’ll wait for us to get help and prepare to fight them?”

No way. Especially not Jang Il-so.

They wouldn’t care about their own condition and would try to attack the Nine Factions that hadn’t gathered yet.

“…Henan.”

“Do you understand?”

Beopjeong shouted.

“Those who were sent messages haven’t replied! No one is coming to help! If they destroy the Cheonwoo Alliance quickly, we have to stop them from crossing the river, we do!”

Jongli Hyeong felt a chill. He looked at the Jang River.

Who will the Surochae’s ships be carrying? The Four Evil Alliances, who have destroyed the Cheonwoo Alliance and are full of confidence.

Even if we follow the ships, can we stop that huge army from crossing the river with only the people we have here?

‘We can stop them…’

If the Four Evil Alliances were weak from fighting the Cheonwoo Alliance, they might be able to stop them. But if they did, Shaolin and the Common Faction would be ruined.

Then, only the groups who stayed away would take over the Central Plains, which would be empty of power.

It would be like they were rewarded for doing nothing and watching from the sidelines.

“Th, that’s…”

Jongli Hyeong’s face turned pale. Beopjeong shouted angrily.

“The only way to beat a stronger enemy is to divide them! And the Righteous groups are split into three: the Cheonwoo Alliance, us, and those who are just watching!”

“…”

“But that foolish Cheonwoo Alliance has made it easy for the Four Evil Alliances to divide and defeat us! Even worse, they have left us alone and vulnerable! Don’t you see?”

Jongli Hyeong opened his mouth. He now realized how dangerous their situation was.

“That’s why… that’s why you shouldn’t have many leaders. That’s why only Hwasan shouldn’t be the leader…”

Beopjeong’s voice trembled.

If we and the Cheonwoo Alliance had kept a strong defense on the other side of the river, the Four Evil Alliances wouldn’t have even considered crossing. Then we just needed to watch them and react in time.

But the Cheonwoo Alliance’s crazy action has ruined everything.

“Abbot, what should we do?”

Jongli Hyeong asked, and Beopjeong bit his lip. As anger faded, a cold reason returned.

Now, the only thing that matters.

‘Which side is it?’

How is Jang Il-so reacting to the Cheonwoo Alliance’s ridiculous actions?

Was it unexpected and embarrassing for Jang Il-so too?

Or did he see this coming?

If the first, there is hope. The Cheonwoo Alliance is strong enough that the Four Evil Alliances can’t ignore them.

But what if it’s the second? What if Jang Il-so predicted their actions? What if all of this was Jang Il-so’s plan to create this situation?

‘Everything is over.’

If so, the Tyrant must have another plan. A perfect plan to destroy the Cheonwoo Alliance without taking damage.

Beopjeong imagined the Jang River in flames. The flames cross the river and spread to Gangbuk. Burning the world red.

“Send a message to the Beggars’ Union and ask them to check where everyone is again! We need to know what those evil people are planning!”

“I, it’s difficult! They are also in danger and can’t move freely…”

“Don’t you understand this is not a time to worry about safety!”

Beopjeong bit his lip until it bled.

‘We must stop them. By any means possible.’

He looked beyond the river. To the land where the fate of the Central Plains would be decided.